Split thrust bearing housing

Abstract

The invention relates to a split thrust bearing housing (1) for a rotatable shaft (13), comprising: a removable housing cover (2) having at least one housing grease channel (3); and at least one sealing assembly (4), wherein the at least one sealing assembly (4) comprises a fixed part (5) mounted on the housing (1) and a rotating part (6) intended to be mounted on the shaft (13), the fixed part (5) having a sealing grease channel (7), the fixed part (5) and the rotating part (6) being designed to cooperate with each other as a labyrinth and / or contact seal, wherein the housing grease channel (3) and the sealing grease channel (7) are connected to each other and form an extension.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority from German application number 102019207156.2, filed on May 16, 2019, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to a split thrust bearing housing for a rotatable shaft. The split thrust bearing housing includes a sealing assembly. Background Art

[0004] Conveyor pulleys are used in various industries, such as conveyor belts in the mining industry. In particular, conveyor pulleys used in heavy-duty applications such as mining are rotatably supported by bearings mounted in a housing. Conveyor pulleys are installed in many systems where conveyor pulleys support conveyor belts, such as those used to transport coal or iron ore in the mining industry. As a result, conveyor pulleys and housings are exposed to a large number of contaminants that can cause bearing failures, which sometimes require repair and replacement of bearings. Downtime for unexpected failures in transport systems to repair or even replace bearings is very costly.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to improve this further. Summary of the invention

[0006] This object is solved by the subject matter of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

[0007] Another realization of the present invention is that there is a solution to mount the seal assembly on the side of the housing to reduce the amount of contaminants that enter the housing and bearings. The disadvantage is that the housing becomes larger in size and width, which means that the bearings are placed farther away from the face of the pulley drum. As the distance between the bearing and the load-bearing pulley drum increases, any given applied load that increases the bending moment in the shaft causes stress, resulting in the need for larger and more expensive components to increase the strength to carry the load and bending stress. The solution according to the present invention extends the service life of the pulley bearings and reduces the rate of bearing failures due to contamination, while maintaining compact size and width. In addition, the present invention simplifies the process of replacing bearings in situ on the conveyor while avoiding bearing failures due to poor installation.

[0008] The object of the present invention has been achieved by providing a split thrust bearing housing for a rotating shaft, such as a shaft for a conveyor pulley. The split thrust bearing housing has a removable housing cover having at least one housing grease channel, and at least one sealing assembly. The housing grease channel is used to deliver grease to the interior of the housing through the housing cover. At least one sealing assembly includes a fixed component mounted on the housing and a rotating component intended to be mounted on the shaft. The fixed component has a sealing grease channel, which is intended to deliver grease to the sealing assembly. The fixed component and the rotating component also form a labyrinth-shaped portion, which interact to form a sealing effect in a non-contact manner. The sealing assembly also has a sealing device, which physically contacts the fixed component and the rotating component with each other. The sealing device can be a retaining ring attached to either the fixed or rotating component, which extends toward and abuts the other component. At least one sealing assembly is installed in a recess on the axial side of the housing so that the housing grease channel and the sealing grease channel are connected through a channel connection point. By providing the split thrust bearing housing, grease can be easily filled into the sealing assembly from the outside, increasing the lubricating properties and sealing effect of the grease, thereby increasing the service life. At the same time, since the grease passages are interconnected from the housing cover, not only is grease refilling easily accessible from the top of the housing, but by having the grease passages from the top of the housing cover rather than individually directly on the seal assembly, the width of the split thrust bearing housing can be reduced, which means that the bearing can be located closer to the load point of the shaft, such as closer to the end stage of a conveyor pulley, which in turn reduces the bending forces and stresses generated in the bearing by the forces acting on the shaft.

[0009] The housing cover is made in one piece, i.e. a sealing assembly attached to the housing cover cannot be understood as a housing cover. By being detachable, the housing cover can be fixed and removed using, for example, bolts. This is beneficial when repairing bearings or replacing conveyor pulleys, because it becomes easier to remove the shaft and bearing from the housing. The at least one housing grease channel is a channel for supplying grease from the radial outside of the housing to the radial inside. As an example, there can be a connection point for a grease gun that is easily accessible at the radial top of the housing cover, wherein the grease is guided to the interior of the housing through the at least one housing grease channel.

[0010] The "radial direction" is a direction substantially perpendicular to the axial extension of the shaft, the "radial outer side" is the side farthest from the shaft, and the "radial inner side" is the side closest to the shaft. The "radial top" is the radial outer side farthest from the shaft in a direction substantially opposite to gravity.

[0011] The split thrust bearing housing can have an asymmetric body where the width is minimized on the inside so that, along with the recessed seal design features, the effective distance from the bearing assembly centerline to the face of the conveyor pulley drum is minimized. Additionally, the housing body opening diameter can be maximized to enable insertion of a standard hydraulic nut, facilitating installation and / or removal of the bearing itself when enclosed in the housing body.

[0012] In an embodiment of the split thrust bearing housing, the labyrinth-shaped portion of the seal assembly extends in the radial direction, which helps the housing to remain compact.

[0013] In an embodiment of the split thrust bearing housing, the housing grease passages and the seal grease passages point in a substantially radial direction. This advantageously makes the split thrust bearing housing compact in width and makes the grease passages short, strong and easy to fill with grease. This is further advantageous when manufacturing the housing and seal assembly, wherein uncomplicated grease passages can be drilled or cast.

[0014] The housing cover may have two housing grease channels that direct grease to the sealing components on both sides of the housing.

[0015] The housing cover may also have three housing grease channels that direct grease to the seal assembly on both sides of the housing and into the bearing through the lubrication groove on the radially outer side of the outer ring, and the bearing grease channels connect the groove to the interior of the bearing.

[0016] As another example, the housing cover may have two housing grease passages directing grease to the seal assembly on one side of the housing and to the bearings. This may be relevant in situations where the pulley shaft is only connected to one side of the housing, while the other side is completely sealed or covered because no rotation occurs.

[0017] In another example, the housing cover may have one housing grease channel that directs grease only to a closed cavity on the outside of the housing, then through the bearing in an axial direction, and then to a seal assembly on the inside of the housing. This may be relevant in situations where the pulley shaft is only connected to one side of the housing, while the other side is completely sealed or covered because no rotation occurs.

[0018] In an embodiment of a split thrust bearing housing, the channel connection point has a sealing ring, such as an O-ring or a quad ring, between the seal assembly and the housing cover. This helps prevent grease from leaking into other areas, thereby reducing the amount of grease consumed and ensuring the effectiveness of the seal assembly by ensuring that the grease is delivered to the interior and labyrinth-shaped portion of the seal assembly.

[0019] In another embodiment of the split thrust bearing housing, the seal assembly is not split, which helps to simplify operation, ensure proper sealing effect, and prevent installation errors. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Exemplary embodiments will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0021] Figure 1 A cross section of a split thrust bearing housing according to the invention is shown.

[0022] Figure 2 A cross section of a bearing mounted in a split thrust bearing housing according to the invention is shown.

[0023] Figure 3 A cross section of a bearing mounted in a split thrust bearing housing according to the invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Figure 1 A cross section of a split thrust bearing housing 1 according to the invention is shown. The split thrust bearing housing 1 for a conveyor pulley has a removable housing cover 2 with at least one housing grease channel 3. At least one sealing assembly 4 comprises a fixed part 5 mounted on the housing 1 and a rotating part 6 intended to be mounted on a shaft 13. The fixed part 5 has a sealing grease channel 7. The fixed part 5 and the rotating part 6 form a labyrinth-shaped part 8 and have sealing means 9 in contact with each other. At least one sealing assembly 4 is mounted in a recess 10 on an axial side of the housing 1. The housing grease channel 3 and the sealing grease channel 7 are connected via a channel connection point 11. The housing grease channel 3 and the sealing grease channel 7 point in a substantially radial direction. The channel connection point 11 has a sealing ring 12, such as an O-ring or a square ring, between the sealing assembly 4 and the housing cover 2.

[0025] Figure 2 A cross section of a bearing 14 mounted in a split thrust bearing housing 1 according to the invention is shown. The split thrust bearing housing 1 has a seal assembly 4 and a third housing grease channel 3 on both sides connected to a lubrication groove 15 radially outside the outer bearing ring for further delivery to the inside of the bearing via a bearing grease channel 16. The figure shows an SRB which is particularly advantageous for conveyor pulleys, but it can also be other bearing types such as CRB, TRB, toroidal bearing, DGBB, etc. which are more suitable for this application. The spherical roller bearing in this figure is sealed, which further enhances the sealing performance to reduce contaminants and debris from entering the bearing.

[0026] Figure 3 A cross section of a bearing 14 mounted in a split thrust bearing housing 1 according to the invention is shown, wherein one axial side of the split thrust bearing housing 1 is sealed by an axial cover 18. In this figure there is still a third inactive housing grease channel 3, which leads to the axial cover 18, but of course it can also be completely removed to reduce processing costs.

[0027] Although the present invention has been described according to a number of preferred embodiments, the examples given are not exhaustive. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that additions, deletions, modifications and substitutions not specifically described herein may be made without departing from the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

[0028] The reference herein to a patent document or anything else identified as prior art is not to be taken as an admission that the document or other matter was known or that the information it contains was part of the common general knowledge at the priority date of any claim.

[0029] When any or all of the terms "comprising", "including" or "having" are used in this specification (including the claims), they should be interpreted as specifying the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components, but not excluding the presence of one or more other features, integers, steps or components.

[0030] Reference numerals list

[0031] 1. Split thrust bearing housing

[0032] 2. Housing cover

[0033] 3. Shell grease channel

[0034] 4. Sealing components

[0035] 5. Fixing parts

[0036] 6. Rotating parts

[0037] 7. Seal grease channel

[0038] 8. Maze-shaped part

[0039] 9. Sealing device

[0040] 10. Concave part

[0041] 11. Channel connection point

[0042] 12. Sealing ring

[0043] 13. Axis

[0044] 14. Bearings

[0045] 15. Lubricate the grooves

[0046] 16. Bearing grease channel

[0047] 17. Bearing seals

[0048] 18.Axial cover

Claims

1. A split thrust bearing housing (1) for a rotatable shaft (13), include: - a removable housing cover (2) having at least one housing grease channel (3), and - at least one sealing assembly (4), Wherein, at least one sealing component (4) comprises: - a fixing part (5) mounted on the housing (1), - a rotating part (6) intended to be mounted on a shaft (13), - the fixing part (5) has a sealing grease channel (7), a sealing device (9), wherein the sealing device (9) is located in a sealing cavity defined by the fixed component (5) and the rotating component (6), The fixed part (5) and the rotating part (6) are designed to cooperate with each other as labyrinth and / or contact seals. It is characterized in that The housing grease passage (3) and the sealing grease passage (7) are connected to each other and form an extension. The housing grease channel (3) radially extends from the radial outer side of the housing cover (2) to the radial inner surface of the housing cover (2), and The sealing grease channel (7) radially extends from the radial outer surface of the fixing component (5) to the sealing cavity.

2. The split thrust bearing housing (1) according to claim 1, in, The at least one sealing assembly (4) is mounted in a recess (10) on an axial side of the housing (1).

3. The split thrust bearing housing (1) according to claim 1, in, The housing grease channel (3) and the sealing grease channel (7) have a substantially radial direction.

4. A split thrust bearing housing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in, The thrust bearing housing (1) has a sealing ring (12) at the area where the housing grease channel (3) and the sealing grease channel (7) are connected.

5. The split thrust bearing housing (1) according to claim 4, in, The sealing ring (12) is an O-ring and / or a square ring.

6. A conveyor pulley assembly comprising a split thrust bearing housing (3) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5.

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