Manifold for lube and seal oil apparatus

Abstract

A manifold for a lube oil or oil seal apparatus includes a block having a plurality of ports on exterior surfaces. A plurality of passages extend through the block to fluidically couple certain of the ports. In one aspect, a pair of ports on different exterior surfaces are coupled by a common passages to enable a fluid operative device attachable to one of the ports to be mounted on either side of the manifold. In another aspect, mounting connections are provided on the block for attachment to complementary mounting connections on a filter to directly mount the filter to the block. In another aspect, certain of the ports are defined for receiving a fluid responsive instrument.

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] Large process pumps and drivers often use hydrodynamic bearings due to their established reliability over anti-friction bearings at high bearing surface velocity. The oil film that forms in bearings provides the needed separation between the pump shaft and pump bearings. This continuously replenished oil film also removes bearing heat and wear parties. A constant oil supply is essential to keep the bearing system in balance. A loss of oil supply means a loss of cooling, loss of oil film properties, and eventually the loss of a bearing.

[0002] FIG. 1 shows a prior art API610, 8th edition Lube Oil System schematic. The base system requires the main lube oil pump to be shaft driven off of the process pump. A single auxiliary lube oil pump is electric motor driven. The balance of the system includes an oil reservoir, single shell and tube cooler, and a duplex filter. Each pump is equipped with its own relief and check valves. Typical pump drivers include turbines, AC mo...

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