Bearing housings for mobile machinery and mobile machinery with bearing housings

Abstract

Bearing housing for mobile machinery and mobile machinery with bearing housing. The present invention relates to a bearing housing for mobile machinery (100), wherein the bearing housing (115) includes a bearing chamber (200) for accommodating a bearing (116) and a lubricant chamber (202) disposed in the bearing chamber (200) for accommodating lubricant, and the bearing chamber (200) is in fluid communication with the lubricant chamber (202) via an opening (222) such that lubricant can flow between the bearing chamber (200) and the lubricant chamber (202), the bearing housing (200) including a wall portion (215) with a heat sink (10) for dissipating heat of lubricant to the environment, characterized in that the heat sink (10) includes a conduit (11) for lubricant, through which the lubricant chamber (202) and the bearing chamber (200) are in fluid communication, such that lubricant can be introduced from the lubricant chamber (202) into the bearing chamber (200) via the conduit (11) to dissipate heat to the environment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a bearing housing for mobile machinery according to the preamble of independent claim 1. The invention also relates to mobile machinery with a bearing housing according to independent claim 11. Background Technology

[0002] Flow machinery used for conveying fluids, such as centrifugal pumps, compressors, fans, expanders, or turbines, typically includes a stationary mechanical housing surrounding a rotor, such as an impeller, arranged on a shaft that rotates about the axis of the flow machinery. The flow machinery also has at least one bearing unit with radial and / or axial (thrust) bearings to support the shaft and rotor. Typically, the bearing unit has a separate bearing housing that is securely connected to the housing of the flow machinery. In this case, the bearing housing includes a bearing axis, a bearing chamber for housing the bearing, and a lubricant chamber for housing lubricant. The lubricant chamber and the bearing chamber are in fluid communication via an opening, allowing the bearing to be cooled and lubricated by the lubricant during operation of the flow machinery. Furthermore, the lubricant chamber has a wall portion for dissipating heat to the environment, wherein this wall portion has an inner surface pointing towards the lubricant chamber and an outer surface pointing towards the environment.

[0003] To dissipate the frictional heat generated in the bearings during the operation of flowing machinery, heat sinks are not required, but they are typically included to increase the surface area of ​​the housing and thus increase the overall cooling capacity. These heat sinks are part of the housing, not separate components. Alternatively, cooling can also be achieved by water or by increasing the size of the lubricant chamber and / or by increasing the amount of lubricant. Current methods cool the housing itself, and the lubricant is cooled indirectly only through contact with the housing. This is very inefficient and limits the maximum heat dissipation across the bearing.

[0004] However, in practice it has been shown that under certain operating conditions, such as high outside air temperatures, the aforementioned cooling technology is insufficient and expensive, leading to increased wear or even bearing failure or high bearing housing costs.

[0005] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to improve the bearing housing in such a way that adequate cooling of the bearing and lubricant can be achieved even at high ambient and high product temperatures, and thus the ambient temperature range for operation of mobile machinery can be extended, the operating range can be increased (e.g., operating speed), and in particular, the maximum heat dissipation across the bearing is increased. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention, which addresses this problem, is characterized by the features of independent claims 1 and 11.

[0007] The dependent claims relate to particularly advantageous embodiments of the invention.

[0008] Therefore, the present invention relates to a bearing housing for mobile machinery, wherein the bearing housing includes a bearing chamber for housing a bearing and a lubricant chamber disposed thereon for housing lubricant. The bearing chamber is in fluid communication with the lubricant chamber via an opening, allowing lubricant to flow between the bearing chamber and the lubricant chamber. Furthermore, the bearing housing includes a wall portion with heat sinks for dissipating heat from the lubricant into the environment.

[0009] According to the present invention, the heat sink includes a conduit for lubricant, through which a lubricant chamber and a bearing chamber are in fluid communication, such that lubricant can be introduced from the lubricant chamber into the bearing chamber via the conduit to dissipate heat to the environment.

[0010] Therefore, the bearing housing according to the invention has a heat sink that increases the total surface area of ​​the bearing housing. Since the heat of the lubricant can be transferred to the environment more effectively by the lubricant flowing through the heat sink, this increases the heat exchange with the environment because the heat exchange between the lubricant and the wall portion used to dissipate heat to the environment is increased.

[0011] This ensures adequate cooling of the bearings and lubricants even at high ambient temperatures, thus extending the operating temperature range for mobile machinery. Sufficient lubrication and cooling are guaranteed even at outside air temperatures above 50°C, thereby extending bearing life.

[0012] Therefore, in operation, the lubricant flows through conduits in the heat sink and is thus directly cooled by the heat sink, rather than indirectly cooled only through contact with the bearing housing in the lubricant chamber. This is highly efficient and maximizes the maximum heat dissipation across the bearing housing.

[0013] To increase heat dissipation, the conduits are preferably arranged in a tortuous manner within the heat sink, such that a large portion of the heat sink volume is filled by the conduits. The more tortuous the conduits and the larger the volume they occupy within the heat sink, the more effectively heat is released to the environment. In particular, a large portion of the heat sink volume is 50% to 90%, especially 60% to 80%.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, heat sinks are arranged on the outer surface of the wall portion (outer heat sinks), which face toward the environment.

[0015] Alternatively, the lubricant chamber is filled with lubricant up to the lubricant level in the operating state, and the heat sink is designed as an inner heat sink extending inside the lubricant chamber, preferably, the inner heat sink is completely below the lubricant level.

[0016] In practice, bearing housings may include external and internal heat sinks. This increases the total surface area available for heat exchange between the bearing housing and the environment.

[0017] In addition, the heat sink may include cooling conduits through which cooling fluid flows to additionally cool lubricant flowing through the conduits.

[0018] Lubricant can be guided from the lubricant chamber through conduits in the heat sink to the bearing housing via forced oil circulation (and back to the lubricant chamber or directly to the bearing through an opening). This has proven advantageous if the opening is formed as a groove. The result is improved lubricant supply from the bearing chamber to the lubricant chamber and expanded lubricant circulation. Preferably, the groove extends in the direction of the bearing axis.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment, the bearing housing may include a bearing axis, wherein heat sinks extend in the direction of the bearing axis and / or wherein the heat sinks extend in a circumferential direction relative to the bearing axis. Thus, the heat sinks can extend vertically from the outer surface relative to the bearing axis. This simplifies the manufacturing of the bearing housing. Alternatively, the heat sinks may also extend helically relative to the bearing axis.

[0020] In practice, heat sinks can be designed such that they have a generally rectangular cross-sectional area in a section perpendicular to the bearing axis. Furthermore, the bearing housing may include multiple heat sinks. Alternatively, the heat sinks can be designed as a stack of fins comprising multiple fins. Of course, the bearing housing may also comprise multiple stacks of fins.

[0021] In a highly advantageous embodiment, the heat sinks are detachably arranged on the bearing housing, particularly detachably screwed onto the bearing housing. Therefore, the heat sinks are removable and can be constructed via additive manufacturing or conventional methods. The movable heat sinks allow for modification to accommodate bearing thermal loads and environmental conditions. For example, if a high bearing thermal load exists, multiple heat sinks can be added (attached) to a set number; if a lower bearing thermal load exists, multiple heat sinks can be removed to a set number. This increases the system's flexibility. In embodiments according to the invention, the heat sinks can be arranged parallel to each other.

[0022] In practice, conduits can be designed in different ways. For example, a conduit may include a cooling chamber corresponding to a storage section within the conduit, which improves cooling efficiency. Furthermore, the conduit may include multiple detours. The conduit may be arranged inside the heat sink and / or on the surface of the heat sink. If the conduit is arranged on the surface of the heat sink, it is preferably arranged in a tortuous manner such that the conduit covers a large portion of the surface. In particular, the large portion of the surface is 50% to 90%, especially 60% to 80%, of the surface of the heat sink.

[0023] The present invention also relates to flow machinery with a bearing housing according to the invention. Here, the flow machinery may be a pump, particularly a centrifugal pump. Preferably, the flow machinery includes a bearing arranged in a bearing housing and a shaft rotatably mounted in the bearing. In a preferred embodiment, a delivery wheel is arranged in a lubricant chamber and rotatably fixed to the shaft for guiding lubricant through a conduit.

[0024] In practice, mobile machinery may include a spiral housing arranged in a bearing housing about a conveyor wheel for discharging a flow of lubricant to a heat sink, the flow of which may be generated by the conveyor wheel. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Other advantages, features and details of the invention are derived from the following description of embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or functionally identical elements are indicated by the same reference numerals.

[0026] The attached diagram shows: Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the mobile machinery according to the present invention. Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of the bearing housing according to the present invention. Figure 3 This is a perspective view of an embodiment of the stacked sheet according to the present invention. Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the bearing housing according to the present invention; Figure 5 It is a cross-sectional view of a stack of plates with a cooling chamber. Detailed Implementation

[0027] In the following description, important applications are referenced by way of example, namely, the design of flow machinery as centrifugal pumps.

[0028] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a flow mechanism according to the present invention is shown, the flow mechanism being generally designated by reference numeral 100. An embodiment of the flow mechanism 100 is a centrifugal pump 100 for conveying fluids (e.g., water, crude oil, or multiphase liquids). Clearly, the invention is not limited to... Figure 1 The centrifugal pump 100 shown is not limited to such a centrifugal pump, but generally refers to flow machinery 100. For example, flow machinery 100 may also be another type of pump, compressor, fan, expander or turbine.

[0029] Centrifugal pump 100 includes a housing 101, which may be composed of a plurality of housing portions connected to each other to form housing 101. The housing 101 of centrifugal pump 100 includes an inlet 102 through which fluid to be pumped enters pump 100, and an outlet 103 for discharging fluid. At least one impeller 104 is disposed inside housing 101 to pump fluid. Figure 1 The centrifugal pump shown is designed as a multistage pump with several impellers 104, in this case five impellers 104. All impellers 104 are arranged in a row on shaft 110 in a torsion-proof manner. During pump operation, the impellers 104 rotate about an axial direction A via shaft 110, which is defined by the longitudinal axis of shaft 110. Fluid flow is... Figure 1 The arrows in the middle are indicated by arrows without reference numerals.

[0030] Shaft 110 is driven by a drive unit (not shown here), such as an electric motor or any other motor, to which shaft 110 is connected. The end of shaft 110 connected to the drive unit is called the driving end 111 of the shaft, while the other end of shaft 110 is called the non-driving end 112. Figure 1 The diagram shows the drive terminal 110 connected to the drive unit (not shown) on the left.

[0031] From the drive end 111 of shaft 110 to the non-drive end 112, pump 100 includes the following components: a drive end bearing housing 115 that houses a radial (or bearing journal) bearing 116; a mechanical seal 117 for sealing pump 100 to prevent fluid leakage along shaft 110; a plurality of impellers 104; a relief piston 118 for compensating for axial thrust generated by impellers 104; another mechanical seal 119 for sealing the non-drive side of shaft 110 to prevent leakage of the fluid to be pumped; a non-drive end bearing housing 1 that houses another radial (or journal-shaped) bearing 120; and a thrust (or axial) bearing 121 for supporting the non-drive end 112 of shaft 110 relative to the radial and axial directions A.

[0032] Therefore, the centrifugal pump 100 has bearings 116, 120, 121 on both sides of the plurality of impellers 104, in this example, at the drive end 111 of the shaft 110 and at the non-drive end 112 of the shaft 110.

[0033] The bearing housing 115 disposed at the drive end 111 of the shaft 110 is designed according to the present invention. Of course, the bearing housing according to the present invention can also be disposed at the non-drive end 112, or at both ends of the centrifugal pump 100, that is, at the drive end 111 and the non-drive end 112.

[0034] according to Figure 1The centrifugal pump 100 has a thrust (or axial) bearing 121 as mentioned above. The bearing housing according to the invention is also particularly suitable for pumps without a thrust (or axial) bearing. These pumps have a two-part venting device for axial thrust compensation instead of a venting piston 118. Figure 1 The venting device includes a co-rotating venting disc and a fixed opposing venting disc, forming a gap extending radially through which a portion of the pressurized fluid in the pump is discharged to the outside. In this way, the pump shaft remains in equilibrium in the axial direction between the force generated by the axial thrust and the reaction force generated by the venting device. Opposite to the venting piston 118, the venting device is "self-adjusting" and compensates for the entire axial thrust, thus eliminating the need for a separate axial bearing at the pump.

[0035] The bearing housing 115 will now be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment of the bearing housing 115 for accommodating the drive end 111 of the shaft 110.

[0036] Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a bearing housing 115 according to the present invention is shown, the bearing housing 115 being used to house the drive end 111 of a shaft 110 of a flow machinery 100. The bearing housing 115 includes a bearing axis LA, a bearing chamber 200 for housing a bearing 116, and a lubricant chamber 202 disposed within the bearing chamber 200 for housing lubricant. The bearing chamber 200 is in fluid communication with the lubricant chamber 202 via an opening 222, allowing lubricant to flow between the bearing chamber 200 and the lubricant chamber 202. Furthermore, the bearing housing 115 includes a wall portion 215 with heat sinks 10 for dissipating heat from the lubricant to the environment. To effectively dissipate heat from the lubricant to the environment, the heat sinks 10 include conduits 11 through which lubricant is introduced from the lubricant chamber 202 into the bearing chamber 200. The lubricant chamber 202 and the bearing chamber 200 are in fluid communication via the conduits 11.

[0037] Heat sink 10 is arranged on the outer surface 216 of the wall portion 215, which faces the environment. For better cooling, the outer surface 216 can be pressurized by a fluid such as water or air, for example by a fan.

[0038] The heat sink 10 extends in the direction of the bearing axis LA and extends from the outer surface 216 in a direction perpendicular to the bearing axis LA. Alternatively, the heat sink may extend in the circumferential direction relative to the bearing axis LA.

[0039] The heat sink 10 is detachably arranged on the bearing housing 115. In particular, the heat sink 10 can be screwed onto the bearing housing 115.

[0040] To increase heat dissipation, the conduit 11 is arranged in a tortuous manner within the heat sink 10, such that a large portion of the volume of the heat sink 10 is filled by the conduit 11. The more tortuous the conduit 11 is and the larger the volume it occupies within the heat sink 10, the more effectively heat can be released to the environment. Therefore, 50% to 90%, particularly 60% to 80%, of the volume of the heat sink 10 is filled with the conduit 11.

[0041] Figure 3 A perspective view of an embodiment of the sheet stack 1 according to the present invention is shown.

[0042] The heat sink 1 includes a plurality of heat sinks arranged on a plate 12, which can be attached to the outer surface 216 of the bearing housing 115. Therefore, the heat sink can be detachably arranged on the bearing housing 115.

[0043] Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the bearing housing 115 according to the present invention is shown.

[0044] The bearing housing 115 includes multiple fin stacks 1 with a plurality of heat sinks 10. The fin stacks are detachably arranged on the bearing housing 115. Therefore, the fin stacks 10 are removable and can be constructed via additive manufacturing. The removable fin stacks 1 allow for variations in the heat sinks to accommodate bearing thermal loads and environmental conditions. For example, multiple heat sinks can be added by attaching fin stacks with a larger number of heat sinks, thereby providing a larger surface area for heat exchange. This increases the flexibility of the system.

[0045] The delivery wheel 230 is arranged in the lubricant chamber 202 and is rotatably fixed to the shaft 110. If the shaft 10 rotates while the pump is in operation, the delivery wheel 230 also rotates. The spiral housing 232 is arranged around the delivery wheel 230 for discharging a flow of lubricant to the heat sink 10, which can be generated by the delivery wheel 230.

[0046] The spiral housing 232 (also called the volute) is designed to guide the flow out of the delivery wheel 230 in order to convert the kinetic energy of the lubricant flow into static pressure; it is used to collect the fluid discharged from the delivery wheel 230 and guide the fluid to the inlet 16 of the discharge nozzle 231 into the conduit 10. The delivery wheel 230 and the spiral housing 232 thus create a forced lubricant circulation, which allows the lubricant to be guided from the lubricant chamber through the conduit 11 in the heat sink 10 to the bearing housing (and back to the lubricant chamber through the opening).

[0047] Figure 5A cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the heat sink 10 is shown. A conduit 11 of the heat sink 10 is disposed inside the heat sink. Therefore, the conduit 11 includes a cooling chamber 13, which is a storage portion within the conduit 11 that improves cooling efficiency. The cooling chamber 13 can have any suitable shape and can be designed in different ways depending on the application.

Claims

1. A bearing housing for mobile machinery (100), wherein, The bearing housing (115) includes a bearing chamber (200) for accommodating a bearing (116) and a lubricant chamber (202) disposed in the bearing chamber (200) for accommodating lubricant, and the bearing chamber (200) is in fluid communication with the lubricant chamber (202) via an opening (222) such that the lubricant can flow between the bearing chamber (200) and the lubricant chamber (202). The bearing housing (115) includes a wall portion (215) with heat sinks (10) for supplying heat to the surrounding area. The heat sink (10) dissipates heat from the lubricant, characterized in that the heat sink (10) includes a conduit (11) for the lubricant, through which the lubricant chamber (202) and the bearing chamber (200) are in fluid communication, such that the lubricant can be introduced from the lubricant chamber (202) into the bearing chamber (200) through the conduit (11) to dissipate heat to the environment, and the lubricant is returned from the bearing chamber (200) to the lubricant chamber (202) through the opening (222) via forced lubricant circulation.

2. The bearing housing according to claim 1, wherein, The heat sink (10) is arranged on the outer surface (216) of the wall portion (215), the outer surface (216) facing the environment.

3. The bearing housing according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The conduit (11) is arranged in a tortuous manner in the heat sink (10) such that most of the volume of the heat sink (10) is filled by the conduit (11).

4. The bearing housing according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a bearing shaft (LA), wherein, The heat sink (10) extends in the direction of the bearing axis (LA), and / or, wherein the heat sink (10) extends in the circumferential direction relative to the bearing axis (LA).

5. The bearing housing according to claim 4, wherein, The heat sink (10) extends from the outer surface (216) of the wall portion (215) in a direction perpendicular to the bearing axis (LA).

6. The bearing housing according to claim 4, wherein, The heat sink (10) is designed such that the heat sink (10) has a basically rectangular cross-sectional area in a section perpendicular to the bearing axis (LA).

7. The bearing housing according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The heat sink (10) is detachably arranged on the bearing housing (115).

8. The bearing housing according to claim 7, wherein, The heat sink (10) is detachably screwed onto the bearing housing (115).

9. The bearing housing according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The conduit (11) includes a cooling chamber (13).

10. The bearing housing according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a plurality of heat sinks (10).

11. The bearing housing according to claim 10, wherein, The plurality of heat sinks (10) are arranged in parallel to each other.

12. A mobile machine having a bearing housing (115) according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. The mobile machinery according to claim 12, wherein, The mobile machinery (100) is a pump.

14. The mobile machinery according to claim 13, wherein, The pump is a centrifugal pump.

15. The mobile machinery according to any one of claims 12 to 14, comprising a bearing (116) arranged in the bearing chamber (200) and a shaft (110) rotatably mounted in the bearing (116).

16. The mobile machinery according to claim 15, wherein, The delivery wheel (230) is arranged in the lubricant chamber (202) and is rotatably fixed to the shaft (110) for guiding the lubricant through the conduit (11).

17. The flow machinery according to claim 16, comprising a spiral housing (231) arranged in the bearing housing (115), the spiral housing (231) being arranged around the conveyor wheel (230) for discharging a flow of lubricant to the heat sink (10), the flow of lubricant being generated by the conveyor wheel (230).

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