Bearing arrangement

Abstract

A bearing arrangement comprising a shaft (1), a housing (2), an oil sump (3), a carrier structure (4) and at least one first seal (6), the oil sump being arranged in the housing, the carrier structure being connected to the housing, the first seal being supported by the carrier structure and extending between the carrier structure and the shaft, and wherein the bearing arrangement comprises at least one electrode (5), the electrode being connected to the carrier structure and being arranged between the carrier structure and the shaft, such that oil mist from the oil sump, passing the first seal, has to pass a gap between the electrode and the shaft in order to be able to escape, and wherein the bearing arrangement is configured such that a voltage can be applied between the electrode and the shaft in order to divert oil particles contained in the oil mist to the electrode, and wherein the bearing arrangement comprises at least one discharge channel (8) configured such that oil deposited on the electrode can flow into the oil sump through the discharge channel.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a bearing assembly in which lubrication of the bearing is achieved via an oil groove. This bearing assembly is particularly suitable for use in hydroelectric power plants.

[0002] Document RU 2 161 730 C2 illustrates, for example, a bearing assembly. An oil mist extraction device is used to prevent oil mist leakage from the bearing housing. The oil mist extraction device is a cost factor and also incurs ongoing operating costs and energy consumption.

[0003] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a bearing device that prevents oil mist leakage to the greatest extent without requiring an oil mist suction device.

[0004] The technical problem described herein is solved by the bearing device according to the independent claim. Further advantageous technical features according to embodiments of the invention are obtained from the dependent claims.

[0005] The bearing device according to the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0006] Figure 1 The bearing device according to the invention in the first embodiment is shown.

[0007] Figure 2 The bearing device according to the invention in the second embodiment is shown.

[0008] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a bearing device according to the invention in a first embodiment is shown. The bearing device includes a shaft marked 1, a housing marked 2, and an oil-containing groove marked 3. Figure 1 The illustrated embodiment relates to one with a vertically arranged shaft 1. An oil groove 3 is arranged within the housing 2. The oil groove 3 is used for... Figure 1 The bearing surfaces and bearing sections, not shown for visual reasons, are used for lubrication and cooling. Here, the oil is heated, resulting in oil vapor or oil mist. To prevent oil mist from potentially contaminating sensitive areas outside the housing 2, the bearing assembly includes... Figure 1 The first and second seals are marked as 6 and 7, respectively. Seals 6 and 7 are supported by a bracket structure marked as 4. The bracket structure 4 is connected to the housing 2 and arranged around the shaft 1. Advantageously, the bracket structure 4 is composed of multiple segments. Seals 6 and 7 extend between the bracket structure 4 and the shaft 1. Figure 1 The seals 6 and 7 shown are designed as blade seals. However, these seals can also be constructed in any other known and suitable manner. Because a standard seal cannot achieve the desired sealing effect, additional devices must be provided to further prevent oil mist leakage.

[0009] Therefore, the aforementioned oil mist suction device is provided in the bearing assembly according to the prior art. Here, the suction pipe extends into the space between seals 6 and 7, support structure 4, and shaft 1. In known devices, seals 6 and 7 are also used to limit the suction volume flow rate.

[0010] However, the bearing device according to the present invention includes at least one electrode, said electrode in Figure 1 The symbol is marked as 5. Here, the one or more electrodes 5 are connected to the support structure 4 and arranged between the support structure 4 and the shaft 1 such that oil mist from the oil tank 3, after passing through the first seal 6, must pass through the gap between the electrode 5 and the shaft 1 in order to leak out. This means that one or more electrodes 5 are arranged around the shaft 1, and the first seal 6 is arranged between the oil tank 3 and the one or more electrodes 5.

[0011] It is known that oil particles can be deflected by an electric field. Therefore, the bearing device according to the invention is constructed such that a voltage can be applied between the electrode 5 and the shaft 1, causing oil particles contained in the oil mist to deflect towards the electrode 5, allowing them to deposit on the electrode 5. Thus, the airflow passing through the gap between the electrode 5 and the shaft 1 is cleaned and degreased. The desired effect can be optimized by the gap width and the axial length of the electrode 5. Here, the axial length is the distance the electrode 5 extends along its axial direction. The smaller the selected gap width and the larger the axial length of the electrode 5, the more effective the cleaning of the oil flow. This means that, according to the invention, the second seal 7 may be omitted, and is therefore considered optional. The optional second seal 7 is arranged axially on the same side of the electrode 5 when viewed from the perspective of the first seal 6. Optionally, the bearing device may also include more seals. These additional seals may, for example, be arranged between the first seal 6 and the electrode 5 or between the second seal 7 and the electrode 5.

[0012] The oil deposited on electrode 5 is discharged as an oil film by gravity. To remove the deposited oil, the bearing assembly includes at least one discharge channel arranged such that the deposited oil can flow into oil tank 3 through the discharge channel. Figure 1 In the middle, the discharge channel is marked 8.

[0013] exist Figure 1 In the embodiment shown with a vertical shaft 1, it is advantageous to further include a device for collecting deposited oil. Figure 1In this device, a protrusion of a support structure 4 is arranged such that oil deposited on the electrode 5 can drip onto the protrusion. A discharge channel 8 is directly connected to the upper side of the protrusion, allowing the oil collected by the protrusion to flow out smoothly. To improve oil discharge, the protrusion can be tilted such that the oil collected by the protrusion flows towards the opening of the discharge channel.

[0014] In an embodiment with a horizontally arranged shaft 1, the deposited oil accumulates at the deepest point of the surface of the electrode 5 facing the shaft 1. This may require the electrodes 5 to be circumferentially close to each other so that oil can flow from one electrode 5 to the adjacent electrode 5. However, it is also necessary to avoid oil dripping as droplets into any gaps that may exist between one electrode 5 and its adjacent electrode 5. Even in an embodiment with a vertically arranged shaft 1, there may be circumferential gaps between the electrodes 5. However, it is at least advantageous that the width of these gaps is not significantly larger than the width of the gap between the shaft 1 and the electrode 5.

[0015] In an embodiment with a horizontally arranged shaft 1, at least one discharge channel 5 connects to the location where the deposited oil has accumulated, i.e., for example, at the deepest point on the electrode surface. A suitable additional connection point is located at the deepest point of the support structure 4 along the axial direction adjacent to the electrode 5. Advantageously, the connection ports are arranged on the two axial sides of the electrode 5 in question.

[0016] Figure 2 Another embodiment according to the invention is shown. The bearing device shown includes a siphon tube, designated 9, which is arranged within a discharge channel 8. The siphon tube 9 is arranged such that it is filled with deposited oil and thereby seals the discharge channel 8, preventing oil mist from flowing from the oil trough 3 through the discharge channel.

[0017] The bearing device according to the present invention can prevent oil mist leakage to a maximum extent, without the need for an oil suction device. Here, the energy required to establish and maintain a static electric field between the shaft and the electrode is far less than the energy consumption of an oil suction device.

[0018] Finally, it should be noted that in conventional bearing assemblies, shaft 1 is grounded. That is, in this case, the bearing assembly according to the invention includes a power source designed and arranged such that it can establish a potential between electrode 5 and ground. If shaft 1 is not grounded, then the power source must be connectable to both electrode 5 and shaft 1.

[0019] List of reference numerals

[0020] 1 axis

[0021] 2. Shell

[0022] 3. Oil tank

[0023] 4. Support Structure

[0024] 5 electrodes

[0025] 6. Seals

[0026] 7. Seals

[0027] 8. Discharge Channel

[0028] 9. Siphon tube

Claims

1. A bearing assembly comprising a shaft (1), a housing (2), an oil groove (3), a support structure (4), and at least one first seal (6), the oil groove being disposed within the housing (2), the support structure being connected to the housing (2) and disposed around the shaft (1), the first seal being supported by the support structure (4) and extending between the support structure (4) and the shaft (1), characterized in that, The bearing device includes at least one electrode (5) connected to the support structure (4) and arranged between the support structure (4) and the shaft (1), such that oil mist from the oil tank (3) passing through the first seal (6) must pass through the gap between the electrode (5) and the shaft (1) in order to overflow, and wherein the bearing device is configured such that a voltage can be applied between the electrode (5) and the shaft (1) to divert oil particles contained in the oil mist toward the electrode (5), thereby allowing the oil particles to deposit on the electrode (5), and wherein the bearing device includes at least one discharge channel (8) configured such that oil deposited on the electrode (5) can flow into the oil tank (3) through the discharge channel (8).

2. The bearing device according to claim 1, wherein, The bearing assembly includes a second seal (7) supported by the bracket structure (4) and extending between the bracket structure (4) and the shaft (1), wherein the second seal (7) is arranged on the same side of the electrode (5) when viewed from the perspective of the first seal (6).

3. The bearing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The bearing device includes a siphon (9) arranged within the discharge channel (8), wherein the siphon (9) is arranged such that it is filled with oil deposited on the electrode (5) and thereby seals the discharge channel (8) so that no oil mist can pass through the discharge channel from the oil tank (3).

4. The bearing device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The shaft (1) is arranged horizontally.

5. The bearing device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The shaft (1) is arranged vertically.

6. The bearing device according to claim 5, wherein, The bearing device includes a means for collecting oil deposited on the electrode (5).

7. The bearing device according to claim 6, wherein, The device for collecting oil deposited on the electrode (5) includes a protrusion of the support structure (4), wherein the protrusion is arranged such that oil deposited on the electrode (5) can drip onto the protrusion.

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