Bearing chamber respirator
By introducing a filter unit and a balancing valve structure into the bearing chamber breather, the problems of contaminant entry and air pressure imbalance are solved, achieving clean and stable operation of the bearing chamber, reducing noise and vibration, and extending the service life of the bearing.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- CHINA ENERGY LONGYUAN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-06-07
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-05
AI Technical Summary
Traditional bearing housing breathers lack structures to prevent contaminants from entering, leading to premature bearing wear and corrosion. They also cannot effectively balance the air pressure inside and outside the bearing housing, affecting bearing stability and operating noise.
A bearing chamber breather comprising a housing unit, a filter unit, and a regulating unit was designed. It prevents contaminants from entering by installing filters in the gas channel, uses a balancing valve to control the air pressure balance between the bearing chamber and the outside environment, uses a differential pressure balancing valve or a pressure sensor to regulate the opening of the balancing valve, and combines a humidity sensor and a heater to handle humidity issues.
It effectively prevents contaminants from entering, maintains the air pressure balance inside and outside the bearing chamber, avoids friction problems that make it difficult for the lubricating oil film to form, reduces the noise and vibration of the bearing during operation, and improves the stability and service life of the bearing.
Smart Images
Figure CN224200991U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of bearing equipment technology, and in particular to a bearing chamber breather. Background Technology
[0002] Bearing housings are typically equipped with breathers to allow oil and gas to escape from the bearing housing, thereby maintaining normal pressure inside the bearing housing and preventing positive pressure leakage.
[0003] Currently, traditional bearing chamber breathers lack structures to prevent contaminants from entering, which can easily lead to premature wear and corrosion of bearings under harsh operating conditions. Moreover, traditional bearing chamber breathers cannot effectively achieve pressure balance inside and outside the breather. When the pressure inside the bearing chamber is too high, it is easy to cause difficulty in forming a lubricating oil film, increasing friction of components and damaging seals. When the pressure inside the bearing chamber is too low, it will affect the operational stability of the bearing and cause noise and vibration during bearing operation. Summary of the Invention
[0004] This application provides a bearing chamber breather to solve the problems existing in the prior art, prevent external pollutants from entering the bearing chamber, and effectively control the air pressure balance between the bearing chamber and the external environment.
[0005] The bearing chamber breather provided in this application includes: a housing unit comprising a first housing and a second housing connected in communication, the first housing being detachably mounted on the interface of the bearing chamber, the first housing having a gas passage connected to the bearing chamber inside, and the second housing having a breather opening connected to the outside; a filter unit comprising a filter element installed in the gas passage; and an adjustment unit comprising a balance valve disposed within the first housing or the second housing, dividing the housing unit into a first cavity and a second cavity that are adjustablely spaced apart, the first cavity being connected to the bearing chamber, the second cavity being connected to the breather opening, and the balance valve opening when there is a pressure difference between the bearing chamber and the breather opening.
[0006] Optionally, the balancing valve is a differential pressure balancing valve; or, the regulating unit further includes a first pressure sensor located in the first cavity and a second pressure sensor located in the second cavity, both of which are communicatively connected to the actuator of the balancing valve so that the actuator controls the balancing valve to open when there is a pressure difference between the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor.
[0007] Optionally, the adjustment unit further includes a humidity sensor located in the first cavity, and a heater is provided inside the bearing chamber. The humidity sensor is communicatively connected to the controller of the heater to control the heater to start when the humidity value is detected to exceed a preset value.
[0008] Optionally, the outer side of the portion of the first housing that connects to the second housing is provided with a first external thread, and the portion of the second housing that connects to the first housing is provided with a first internal thread, wherein the first external thread and the first internal thread are detachably connected.
[0009] Optionally, the gas passage extends axially along the first housing, and the filter element is detachably disposed within the gas passage.
[0010] Optionally, the filter element includes a primary filter layer, a secondary filter layer, and a final filter layer arranged sequentially in the gas channel in a direction away from the second housing, wherein the pore size of the primary filter layer, the secondary filter layer, and the final filter layer gradually decreases.
[0011] Optionally, the filter element further includes a connecting cylinder, in which the primary filter layer, the intermediate filter layer, and the final filter layer are all disposed; the inner wall of the gas channel is provided with a second internal thread, and the outer wall of the connecting cylinder is provided with a second external thread, wherein the second internal thread and the second external thread are detachably connected.
[0012] Optionally, a dehumidifier is also provided in the second cavity. The dehumidifier includes at least two layers of protective plates arranged in sequence. Each of the protective plates has a vent hole, and dehumidifying material is embedded between any two adjacent protective plates.
[0013] Optionally, the second housing includes a mounting shell and a cover plate, the vent is opened on the cover plate, the dehumidifier is disposed inside the mounting shell, and the cover plate is detachably installed inside the mounting shell.
[0014] Optionally, the bearing chamber breather further includes a monitoring unit. The monitoring unit includes a third housing connected to the second housing. The third housing contains a data receiver and a wireless transmitter with communication connection. The data receiver is communicatively connected to the first pressure sensor, the second pressure sensor, and the humidity sensor to receive the pressure values transmitted by the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor, and the humidity values transmitted by the humidity sensor. The wireless transmitter transmits the pressure values and the humidity values to the control device.
[0015] The above technical solution has the following beneficial effects:
[0016] The bearing housing breather provided in this application has a filter installed in the gas channel of the first housing, so that the outside air passes through the filter before entering the bearing housing, preventing external contaminants from entering the bearing housing and avoiding premature wear or corrosion of the bearing; the balance valve effectively controls the air pressure balance between the bearing housing and the external environment, which avoids the problem of insufficient lubricating oil film formation and increased friction caused by excessively high pressure in the bearing housing, and also avoids the problem of excessively low pressure in the bearing housing affecting the stable operation of the bearing, thereby reducing the noise and vibration of the bearing operation. Attached Figure Description
[0017] The preferred embodiments of this application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings to aid in understanding the purpose and advantages of this application, wherein:
[0018] Figure 1 A first structural view of a bearing chamber breather provided in an optional embodiment of this application.
[0019] Figure 2 Internal structural views of the first housing, second housing, and third housing provided for optional embodiments of this application.
[0020] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A magnified view of part A in the image.
[0021] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a dehumidifier provided in an optional embodiment of this application.
[0022] Figure 5 This is a first view of the structure of the perforated baffle provided in an optional embodiment of this application.
[0023] Figure 6 This is a second view of the structure of the perforated baffle provided in an optional embodiment of this application.
[0024] Figure 7 A first structural view of a wireless transmitter provided in an optional embodiment of this application.
[0025] Figure 8 A second structural view of a wireless transmitter provided in an optional embodiment of this application.
[0026] Figure 9 This is a second structural diagram of a bearing chamber breather provided in an optional embodiment of this application.
[0027] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the structure after the first housing and the second housing are combined, as provided in an optional embodiment of this application.
[0028] Figure 11 A schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the second housing provided in an optional embodiment of this application.
[0029] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:
[0030] 1-Shell unit, 10-First shell, 100-Gas passage, 11-Second shell, 110-Breathing port, 111-Mounting shell, 112-Cover plate, 12-Third shell;
[0031] 2-Filter unit, 20-Filter element, 200-Primary filter layer, 201-Intermediate filter layer, 202-Final filter layer, 203-Connecting cylinder, 204-Perforated baffle;
[0032] 3-Dehumidifier, 30-Protective plate, 300-Ventilation hole, 301-Connecting rod;
[0033] 4- Wireless transmitter. Detailed Implementation
[0034] The technical solution of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to embodiments and accompanying drawings. The directional terms such as up, down, left, right, front, back, front, back, top, and bottom mentioned or possibly used in this specification are defined relative to the structures shown in the accompanying drawings. The terms "inner" and "outer" refer to directions toward or away from the geometric center of a specific component, respectively. These are relative concepts and may therefore vary depending on their location and usage. Therefore, these or other directional terms should not be interpreted as restrictive terms.
[0035] The bearing chamber breather provided in this application, such as Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 9 As shown, it includes: housing unit 1, filter unit 2 and adjustment unit.
[0036] The housing unit 1 includes a first housing 10 and a second housing 11 that are connected to each other. The first housing 10 is detachably installed on the interface of the bearing chamber. The first housing 10 has a gas passage 100 that is connected to the bearing chamber. The second housing 11 has a vent 110 that is connected to the outside.
[0037] The outer surface of the first housing 10 may be provided with external threads, and the interface of the bearing chamber is provided with a matching internal thread. The first housing 10 is detachably installed on the bearing chamber by means of threaded connection and is connected to the bearing chamber through the gas channel 100.
[0038] The filter unit 2 includes a filter element 20 installed in the gas passage 100.
[0039] The regulating unit includes a balancing valve, which is disposed within the first housing 10 or the second housing 11, and divides the housing unit 1 into an adjustablely spaced first cavity and a second cavity. The first cavity is connected to the bearing chamber, and the second cavity is connected to the breathing port 110. When there is a pressure difference between the bearing chamber and the breathing port 110, the balancing valve is opened, and the first cavity and the second cavity are connected. When there is no pressure difference between the bearing chamber and the breathing port 110, the balancing valve is closed, and the first cavity and the second cavity are spaced apart.
[0040] When the air pressure in the bearing chamber is greater than the air pressure at the vent 110, the balancing valve opens, and the gas in the bearing chamber enters the second housing 11 through the first housing 10, and then is discharged to the outside through the vent 110 after passing through the balancing valve. When the air pressure in the bearing chamber is less than the air pressure at the vent 110, the outside gas enters the second housing 11 through the vent 110, enters the first housing 10 after passing through the balancing valve, and then enters the bearing chamber through the first housing 10. The pressure balance between the bearing chamber and the outside gas is achieved through the flow of the above-mentioned gas under the control of the balancing valve.
[0041] The bearing chamber breather provided in this application embodiment has a filter element 20 installed in the gas channel 100 of the first housing 10, so that the outside air passes through the filter element 20 before entering the bearing chamber, preventing external pollutants from entering the bearing chamber and avoiding premature wear or corrosion of the bearing; the balance valve effectively controls the air pressure balance between the bearing chamber and the external environment, which avoids the problem of insufficient lubricating oil film formation and increased friction when the pressure in the bearing chamber is too high, and also avoids the problem of insufficient pressure in the bearing chamber affecting the stable operation of the bearing, thereby reducing the noise and vibration of the bearing operation.
[0042] In one optional embodiment, the balancing valve is a differential pressure balancing valve; or, the regulating unit further includes a first pressure sensor located in the first cavity and a second pressure sensor located in the second cavity, both of which are communicatively connected to the actuator of the balancing valve so that the actuator controls the balancing valve to open when there is a pressure difference between the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor.
[0043] The differential pressure balancing valve is an existing optional valve. It automatically adjusts the valve opening by sensing changes in the pressure difference across the valve to maintain pressure balance. Details will not be elaborated here. When a differential pressure balancing valve is used, the first housing 10 can be configured as a two-section pipe structure. The differential pressure sensor is connected between the two pipe sections via a flange. Alternatively, the first housing 10 can have a flange structure at the end near the second housing 11 for mounting the differential pressure balancing valve. Or, the second housing 11 has an installation channel connected to the gas passage 100 on the side near the first housing 10, and the differential pressure balancing valve is mounted on this installation channel.
[0044] When the regulating unit is equipped with two pressure sensors, both the first and second pressure sensors can be existing strain gauge pressure sensors, capacitive pressure sensors, etc. The balancing valve can be installed in the first housing 10 or the second housing 11 using the differential pressure balancing valve installation method described above. The first and second pressure sensors are respectively installed on the inner walls of the first or second chamber. Both the first and second pressure sensors transmit the detected pressure values to the actuator. When the two pressure values are different, the actuator controls the balancing valve to open. The actuator can be an electric actuator, and the controller for pressure value analysis is integrated into the actuator and controls whether the actuator operates.
[0045] In an optional embodiment, the regulating unit further includes a humidity sensor located within the first cavity. A heater is installed inside the bearing chamber. The humidity sensor is communicatively connected to the controller of the heater to control the heater to start when the detected humidity value exceeds a preset value. The heater can be an electric heating wire or a heating coil, etc., and is installed on the inner wall of the bearing chamber. The maximum heating temperature is set to 70°C. After the humid air inside the bearing chamber is heated to a certain temperature by the heater, the relative humidity decreases, the moisture condenses into water droplets, and is discharged through the drainage structure at the bottom of the bearing chamber.
[0046] The humidity sensor can be a capacitive or resistive humidity sensor, embedded in the inner wall of the first cavity. When the humidity sensor detects that the relative humidity of the gas in the first cavity is greater than 40% (the preset value can also be any other value between 35% and 45%), it indicates that the humidity of the gas in the bearing chamber is too high. At this time, the bearing chamber needs to be dehumidified. The humidity sensor transmits the signal that heating is required to the intelligent switch or controller of the heater. The intelligent switch or controller controls the heater circuit to close and heat the gas in the bearing chamber, which can effectively dry the gas in the bearing chamber.
[0047] In an optional embodiment, the outer surface of the portion of the first housing 10 that connects to the second housing 11 is provided with a first external thread, and the portion of the second housing 11 that connects to the first housing 10 is provided with a first internal thread. The first external thread and the first internal thread are detachably connected. This detachable threaded connection between the first housing 10 and the second housing 11 allows for individual replacement and maintenance of both housings, reducing equipment costs.
[0048] In an optional embodiment, the gas passage 100 extends axially along the first housing 10, and the filter element 20 is detachably disposed within the gas passage 100. Gas entering and exiting the bearing chamber passes through the gas passage 100 of the first housing 10. Gas entering the bearing chamber is filtered by the filter element 20 before passing through the gas passage 100, preventing impurities carried in the gas from entering the bearing chamber. The filter element 20 is detachably installed within the gas passage 100, facilitating quick removal and replacement, reducing downtime, and improving maintenance efficiency.
[0049] When the first housing 10 adopts a two-section pipeline structure to install a balance valve or a differential pressure balance valve, a gas passage 100 is provided in each of the two pipeline structures.
[0050] In one alternative implementation, such as Figure 3 As shown, the filter element 20 includes a primary filter layer 200, a secondary filter layer 201, and a final filter layer 202 arranged sequentially in the gas channel 100 in a direction away from the second housing 11. The pore sizes of the primary filter layer 200, the secondary filter layer 201, and the final filter layer 202 gradually decrease, so that the gas entering the bearing chamber is filtered layer by layer by the primary filter layer 200, the secondary filter layer 201, and the final filter layer 202 along the gas channel 100, thereby increasing the filtration effect. The primary filter layer 200 uses a metal mesh to filter large particles larger than 1mm. The intermediate filter layer 201 uses a high-efficiency HEPA filter (made of PP (polypropylene) high-efficiency filter paper, PET (polyethylene terephthalate) filter paper, and PP and PET composite or glass fiber high-efficiency filter paper), which effectively blocks particles as small as 20.3um. The final filter layer 202 uses an activated carbon filter layer to adsorb harmful gases and moisture, ensuring that the air entering the bearing chamber is pure and dry.
[0051] In an optional embodiment, the filter further includes a connecting cylinder 203, within which the primary filter layer 200, the intermediate filter layer 201, and the final filter layer 202 are all disposed. The inner wall of the gas channel 100 is provided with a second internal thread, and the outer wall of the connecting cylinder 203 is provided with a second external thread. The second internal thread and the second external thread are detachably connected. When the filter element 20 needs replacement or maintenance, the connecting cylinder 203 can be completely disassembled for replacement or maintenance, ensuring stability and reliability. The connecting cylinder 203 can be a metal cylinder or a composite plastic cylinder. The primary filter layer 200, the intermediate filter layer 201, and the final filter layer 202 are sequentially embedded and fixed within the connecting cylinder 203 along its axial direction. The primary filter layer 200, the intermediate filter layer 201, and the final filter layer 202 are all connected by means such as... Figures 5 to 6 The perforated baffles 204 shown are spaced apart.
[0052] In an optional embodiment, a dehumidifier 3 is further provided in the second cavity. The dehumidifier 3 includes at least two layers of protective plates 30 arranged in sequence. Each of the protective plates 30 has a vent hole 300, and dehumidifying material is embedded between any two adjacent protective plates 30. Please refer to... Figure 4 The number of protective plates 30 can be four. The four protective plates 30 are fixedly connected by connecting rods 301 passing through them. The dehumidifying material can be a material that absorbs moisture, such as dehumidifying cotton or dehumidifying felt, and is embedded between any two adjacent protective plates 30 to dehumidify the gas when it passes through. In addition, the number of protective plates 30 can be adapted to the size of the respirator and the dehumidification requirements.
[0053] Furthermore, when the balancing valve or differential pressure balancing valve is installed inside the second housing 11, the dehumidifier 3 is located on the side of the balancing valve or differential pressure balancing valve that is away from the first housing 10.
[0054] In an optional embodiment, the second housing 11 includes a mounting shell 111 and a cover plate 112, the breathing port 110 is formed on the cover plate 112, the dehumidifier 3 is disposed inside the mounting shell 111, and the cover plate 112 is detachably installed inside the mounting shell 111. Please refer to... Figure 2 , Figure 10 and Figure 11 The second housing 11 can be a cylindrical housing that is closed at the bottom and open at the top. When the dehumidifier 3 is embedded therein, the cover plate 112 and the bottom of the second housing 11 axially limit the dehumidifier 3. The vent 110 is arranged circumferentially on the cover plate 112. When the dehumidifying material in the dehumidifier 3 absorbs enough moisture, the cover plate 112 can be removed and the dehumidifying material in the dehumidifier 3 can be removed and replaced.
[0055] like Figure 11 As shown, the cover plate 112 is located on one side of the second housing 11 and has an annular wall along its outer periphery. The vent 110 extends to the end face of the annular wall so that the vent 110 is located in the middle of the second housing 11, which facilitates the communication between the gas discharged from the bearing chamber or the gas entering the bearing chamber and the vent 110 in the middle of the dehumidifier 3, thereby increasing the dehumidification effect of the dehumidifier 3.
[0056] In an optional embodiment, the bearing chamber breather further includes a monitoring unit, which comprises a third housing 12 connected to the second housing 11. The third housing 12 contains a data receiver for communication connection and, for example,... Figure 7 , Figure 8 The wireless transmitter 4 shown has a data receiver that is communicatively connected to the first pressure sensor, the second pressure sensor, and the humidity sensor. It receives the pressure values transmitted by the first and second pressure sensors and the humidity values transmitted by the humidity sensor. The wireless transmitter 4 then transmits these pressure and humidity values to a control device. The control device can include smart devices such as mobile phones or computers, allowing users to remotely view the pressure and humidity data of the bearing chamber on their phones or tablets. This facilitates timely intervention and increases the safety of the bearing chamber. Please refer to... Figures 1 to 2 The third housing 12 is hemispherical and is fixed to the second housing 11 by means of bonding or welding. The data receiver and wireless transmitter 4 are located inside the third housing 12 and transmit the received pressure data and humidity data to the control device.
[0057] In an optional embodiment, the outer side of the breathing port 110 is provided with a dust cover. The dust cover may be an annular cover, which is provided on the outer side of the annularly arranged breathing ports 110. The annular cover has pores with a diameter larger than that of the primary filter layer 200, which plays a preliminary filtering role on the gas entering the second housing 11 and prevents large particles of impurities from clogging the breathing port 110.
[0058] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.
Claims
1. A bearing chamber breather, characterized in that, include: The housing unit includes a first housing and a second housing that are connected to each other. The first housing is detachably mounted on the interface of the bearing chamber. The interior of the first housing has a gas passage that communicates with the bearing chamber. The second housing has a vent that communicates with the outside. The filtration unit includes a filter element installed within the gas passage; The regulating unit includes a balancing valve disposed within the first housing or the second housing, which divides the housing unit into an adjustablely spaced first cavity and a second cavity. The first cavity is connected to the bearing chamber, and the second cavity is connected to the breathing port. The balancing valve opens when there is a pressure difference between the bearing chamber and the breathing port.
2. The bearing chamber breather according to claim 1, characterized in that, The balancing valve is a differential pressure balancing valve; Alternatively, the regulating unit may further include a first pressure sensor located in the first cavity and a second pressure sensor located in the second cavity, both of which are communicatively connected to the actuator of the balancing valve so that the actuator controls the balancing valve to open when there is a pressure difference between the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor.
3. The bearing chamber breather according to claim 2, characterized in that, The adjustment unit also includes a humidity sensor located in the first cavity. A heater is installed inside the bearing chamber. The humidity sensor is communicatively connected to the controller of the heater to control the heater to start when the humidity value exceeds a preset value.
4. The bearing chamber breather according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer side of the portion of the first housing that connects to the second housing is provided with a first external thread, and the portion of the second housing that connects to the first housing is provided with a first internal thread. The first external thread and the first internal thread are detachably connected.
5. The bearing chamber breather according to claim 1, characterized in that, The gas passage extends axially along the first housing, and the filter element is detachably disposed within the gas passage.
6. The bearing chamber breather according to claim 5, characterized in that, The filter element includes a primary filter layer, a secondary filter layer, and a final filter layer arranged sequentially in the gas channel in a direction away from the second housing, wherein the pore size of the primary filter layer, the secondary filter layer, and the final filter layer gradually decreases.
7. The bearing chamber breather according to claim 6, characterized in that, The filter element also includes a connecting cylinder, in which the primary filter layer, the intermediate filter layer and the final filter layer are all disposed; the inner wall of the gas channel is provided with a second internal thread, and the outer wall of the connecting cylinder is provided with a second external thread, wherein the second internal thread and the second external thread are detachably connected.
8. The bearing chamber breather according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second cavity is also equipped with a dehumidifier, which includes at least two layers of protective plates arranged in sequence. Each of the protective plates has a vent hole, and dehumidifying material is embedded between any two adjacent protective plates.
9. The bearing chamber breather according to claim 8, characterized in that, The second housing includes a mounting shell and a cover plate, the breathing port is opened on the cover plate, the dehumidifier is disposed inside the mounting shell, and the cover plate is detachably installed inside the mounting shell.
10. The bearing chamber breather according to claim 3, characterized in that, The bearing chamber breather also includes a monitoring unit. The monitoring unit includes a third housing connected to the second housing. The third housing contains a data receiver and a wireless transmitter with communication connection. The data receiver is communicatively connected to the first pressure sensor, the second pressure sensor, and the humidity sensor to receive the pressure values transmitted by the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor and the humidity values transmitted by the humidity sensor. The wireless transmitter transmits the pressure values and the humidity values to the control device.