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US 8,408,806 B2Granted
Auxiliary bearing system with oil ring for magnetically supported rotor system
AssigneeDresser-Rand Company
InventorJoseph A. Tecza
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An auxiliary bearing system having a sleeve through which a shaft extends. A gap may be defined between the sleeve and the shaft when a primary bearing system supports the shaft, and the sleeve may engage and rotate with the shaft when the primary bearing system does not support the shaft. An oil ring may extend circumferentially around the sleeve and rotate in response to the rotating sleeve when the sleeve engages and rotates with the shaft. The rotating oil ring may distribute lubricant within the auxiliary bearing system.
Claims20
An auxiliary bearing system, comprising:
- a sleeve through which a rotating shaft extends, the shaft comprising a first slinger and a second slinger distal from the first slinger, wherein a gap is defined between the sleeve and the shaft when a primary bearing system supports the shaft, and wherein the sleeve engages and rotates with the shaft when the primary bearing system does not support the shaft;
- a bearing mount through which the shaft extends, the bearing mount defining an inside surface;
- a plurality of oil seals adapted to sealingly engage the shaft, the plurality of oil seals comprising:
- a first pair of oil seals disposed within the bearing mount and extending radially inward from the inside surface of the bearing mount, the first slinger being axially positioned between the first pair of oil seals;
- and
- a second pair of oil seals disposed within the bearing mount and extending radially inward from the inside surface of the bearing mount, the second slinger being axially positioned between the second pair of oil seals;
- and
- an oil ring extending circumferentially around the sleeve and rotating in response to the rotating sleeve when the sleeve engages and rotates with the shaft, wherein the rotating oil ring distributes lubricant within the auxiliary bearing system.
5 more elements
A method of supporting a shaft, the method comprising:
- rotating a shaft, the shaft comprising a first slinger and a second slinger distal from the first slinger;
- supporting the shaft with a primary bearing system during normal operation;
- and
- supporting the shaft with an auxiliary bearing system when the primary bearing system is not supporting the shaft, the auxiliary bearing system comprising a bearing mount, the step of supporting the shaft with the auxiliary bearing system comprising:
- engaging the shaft with a sleeve disposed circumferentially around the shaft;
- rotating the sleeve in response to the rotating shaft;
- rotating an oil ring in response to the rotating sleeve, the oil ring being disposed circumferentially around the sleeve;
- collecting lubricant from a reservoir with the rotating oil ring;
- distributing the lubricant within the auxiliary bearing system with the rotating oil ring;
- and
- sealing the distributed lubricant within the auxiliary bearing system via a plurality of oil seals adapted to sealingly engage the shaft, the plurality of oil seals comprising:
- a first pair of oil seals disposed within the bearing mount and extending radially inward from an inside surface defined by the bearing mount, the first slinger being axially positioned between the first pair of oil seals;
- and
- a second pair of oil seals disposed within the bearing mount and extending radially inward from the inside surface of the bearing mount, the second slinger being axially positioned between the second pair of oil seals.
11 more elements
A rotor system, comprising:
- a rotating shaft having a first slinger and a second slinger distal from the first slinger;
- a first bearing system configured to support the shaft during normal operation of the rotor system;
- and
- a second bearing system configured to support the shaft when the first bearing system is not supporting the shaft, the second bearing system comprising:
- a sleeve through which the shaft extends, wherein a gap is defined between the sleeve and the shaft when the first bearing system supports the shaft, and wherein the sleeve engage and rotates with the rotating shaft when the second bearing system supports the shaft;
- an oil ring extending circumferentially around the sleeve and the shaft, the oil ring configured to rotate in response to the rotation of the sleeve;
- a lubricant-containing reservoir disposed below the shaft, wherein the oil ring is in contact with the lubricant in the reservoir and distributes the lubricant within the second bearing system when the oil ring rotates, thereby lubricating and cooling the second bearing system;
- a bearing mount in which the reservoir is formed and through which the shaft extends, the bearing mount defining an inside surface;
- and
- a plurality of oil seals adapted to sealingly engage the shaft, the plurality of oil seals comprising:
- a first pair of oil seals disposed within the bearing mount and extending radially inward from the inside surface of the bearing mount, the first slinger being axially positioned between the first pair of oil seals;
- and
- a second pair of oil seals disposed within the bearing mount and extending radially inward from the inside surface of the bearing mount, the second slinger being axially positioned between the second pair of oil seals.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.