Baffle Plate Isolates Lubricating Oil in Rotary Machine Coupling
Solution Overview
Problem
In a compressor with oil bath lubrication, lubricating oil can reach the coupling and increase in temperature due to friction, leading to accelerated deterioration, which is undesirable for re-use.
Innovation Solution
A rotary machine system with a baffle plate positioned between the bearing device and the coupling unit to prevent contact between the lubricating oil and the rotating coupling, thereby suppressing temperature increase. The baffle plate is supported by the casing via intervals and allows for pressure release and lubricating oil discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lubricating oil is supplied to the bearing device for lubrication, then the bearing device can perform lubrication effectively, but the lubricating oil may reach the coupling unit and increase in temperature due to friction, leading to accelerated deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The space around the bearing device and coupling unit is divided into separate regions by the baffle plate. The baffle plate creates a first space containing the bearing device and a second space containing the coupling unit, preventing lubricating oil from the first space from reaching the coupling unit in the second space, thus isolating the temperature increase issue to only the bearing device region.
Solution Approach 2:
The baffle plate serves as an intermediary barrier between the bearing device and the coupling unit. It physically blocks the path of lubricating oil that would otherwise reach the coupling unit, preventing direct contact and the subsequent frictional heating that would cause oil deterioration.
2Power
If the coupling unit is designed with a disk-shaped disk portion protruding in radial direction to transmit more driving force, then torque transmission is improved, but the structure becomes more complex and occupies more space
Solution Approach 1:
The disk-shaped disk portion of the coupling unit serves multiple functions: it provides a larger surface area for torque transmission between the driving shaft and driven shaft, acts as a structural reinforcement element, and helps position the coupling components. This multi-functional design achieves improved power transmission without proportionally increasing overall structural complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Prevents frictional heat generation in the coupling, effectively suppressing the temperature increase of the lubricating oil and enabling its re-use, while enhancing driving force transmission and pressure management.
Implementation Method 1
the temperature of the lubricating oil increases due to friction when the lubricating oil reaches the coupling
Implementation Method 2
a bearing device which performs lubrication by oil bath lubrication (forced lubrication)
Data Source
AI summary
A rotary machine system (1) includes a first rotary machine (4) having a driving shaft (5) capable of being driven about an axis, a second rotary machine (2) having a driven shaft (3) rotatable about the axis and a bearing device (11) slidably supporting the driven shaft (3) on an axial end portion side with a pad surface (37) such that lubricating oil is supplied to the pad surface (37), a coupling unit (6) connecting the driving shaft (5) and the driven shaft (3) to each other such that rotation of the driving shaft (5) is transmitted to the driven shaft (3), and a baffle plate (7) disposed between the bearing device (11) and the coupling unit (6) and separating a space on the bearing device (11) side and a space on the coupling unit (6) side from each other.