Dry sump lubrication system for centrifugal pumps

Abstract

A lubrication system is provided for a centrifugal pump of the type having a bearing housing for maintaining the lubrication of a plurality of pump shaft rolling element bearings. The system includes a lubricant reservoir forming a volume, and having at least one supply port for supplying lubricant to the bearing housing, and at least one return port for returning lubricant to the lubricant reservoir. A lubricant recirculation pump has at least one supply stage and at least one suction stage. A connector is provided between the supply port of the reservoir and the suction stage of the lubricant recirculation pump for the supply of lubricant to the suction stage of the recirculation pump. A connector is also provided for interconnecting the supply stage of the lubricant recirculation pump to the bearing housing for the delivery of lubricant to the bearing housing. Lastly, a connector is provided for interconnecting the bearing housing and the at least one suction stage of the lubricant recirculation pump for the return of lubricant to the lubricant recirculation pump.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to lubrication systems for centrifugal pumps, and particularly, to a pump-mounted dry sump lubrication system for centrifugal pumps.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Centrifugal pumps, as the name implies, employ centrifugal force to lift liquids from a lower to a higher level or to produce a pressure. This type of pump, in its simplest form, comprises an impeller consisting of a connecting hub with a number of vanes and shrouds, rotating in a volute collector or casing. Liquid drawn into the center, or eye, of the impeller is picked up by the vanes and accelerated to a high velocity by rotation of the impeller. It is then discharged by centrifugal force into the casing and out the discharge branch of the casing. When liquid is forced away from the center of the impeller, a vacuum is created and more liquid flows into the center of the impeller. Consequently there is a flow through the pump. There are many forms of centrifugal...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]The present invention is directed to a circulating lubrication system for centrifugal pumps of the type having a bearing housing, for maintaining the lubrication of a plurality of pump shaft rolling element bearings and that addresses the problems described above. More particularly, the lubrication system is designed to operate as a “dry” bearing housing sump. This means that substantially all of the lubricant is circulated continuously through the bearing housing so that at any point in time while the pump and system are operating, only a minimal volume of lubricant is in the bearing housing. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, removing excess oil volume from contact with the rolling element bearings has the effect of reducing parasitic losses, thus lowering bearing operating temperatures, while increasing operating efficiency of the pump.

Problems solved by technology

Since, as described above, slurry pumps in particular are not always mounted or moved on a level surface, the bearing housing may be tilted along its primary axis such that a single return line might not be sufficient to remove all or even any of the lubricant flow from the bearing housing.

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