Bearing Shield Deflection Element for Wet Rotor Pump Lubrication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wet rotor motor pumps in household appliances face issues with air pockets forming in the rotor space and shaft bearing, leading to increased wear and the risk of overheating due to inadequate lubrication and cooling, especially when fluid levels are low.
Innovation Solution
A deflection element is integrated into the bearing plate or receptacle of the shaft bearing to divert fluid into a channel, ensuring lubrication and cooling of the shaft bearing, even with minimal fluid, and multiple channels are arranged around the shaft to enhance fluid flow and heat dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hollow channel in the shaft is designed to supply fluid to the shaft bearing, then the shaft bearing can be lubricated, but the manufacturing cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the fluid supply function from the shaft's hollow channel structure and relocates it to a separate channel system in the end shield. This eliminates the need for complex hollow shaft manufacturing while maintaining bearing lubrication, thereby reducing manufacturing costs without compromising reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid supply system is segmented into separate components: the end shield contains the fluid channels, while the shaft remains a simple solid structure. This segmentation allows the shaft to be manufactured simply without expensive hollow channel features, while the end shield handles the complex fluid distribution function.
2Reliability
If sufficient liquid flows into the rotor space to lubricate the shaft bearing, then the shaft bearing is prevented from running dry, but the likelihood of dirt particles entering the rotor space and causing blockages increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces an intermediary channel system through the end shield that acts as a controlled interface between the rotor space and shaft bearing. This intermediary structure allows precise control of fluid flow paths, enabling lubrication while filtering out dirt particles through the channel geometry and positioning, thus preventing contamination while maintaining reliable lubrication.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the rotor space is partially filled with fluid, then the pump can operate with low fluid levels, but the shaft bearing may run dry due to insufficient fluid reaching the bearing
Solution Approach 1:
The end shield channels are pre-configured to intercept and redirect fluid before it would naturally drain away. The channel geometry and positioning are designed in advance to capture even small amounts of fluid in the rotor space and actively guide them to the shaft bearing, ensuring lubrication is maintained even when the rotor space is only partially filled with fluid.
4Reliability
If a deflection element is added to divert fluid into the channel, then the shaft bearing can be lubricated with minimal fluid, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The deflection element is merged with the end shield structure itself, forming an integrated component rather than a separate part. The channel system and deflection features are combined into a single molded or machined end shield assembly, which maintains bearing lubrication functionality while avoiding the complexity of additional separate components or assembly steps.
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
This solution prevents the shaft bearing from running dry, reduces wear, and effectively cools the shaft, thereby extending the service life of the pump and ensuring reliable operation in household appliances.
Implementation Method 1
a deflection element (22) is integrally formed on the bearing plate (14) and/or on the receptacle (17) of the shaft bearing (16), which deflection element serves to deflect the fluid into the channel (201, 202, 203, 204)
Implementation Method 2
If the rotor space is not completely but only partially filled with the fluid, the fluid rotating with the rotor is pressed outward against the rotor housing shell due to the centrifugal force
Implementation Method 3
Furthermore, the shaft and / or the shaft bearing can be cooled by the fluid, so that overheating of the shaft or the shaft bearing is avoided
Implementation Method 4
the shaft bearing and / or the shaft is lubricated by the fluid from the intermediate space, so that the shaft bearing is prevented from running dry
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a bearing shield (14) for bearing a shaft (2), especially of a wet rotor motor (1), the bearing shield (14) having a seat (17) for a shaft bearing (16), especially for a sliding bearing, said seat surrounding the shaft bearing (16) on its outer peripheral surface. The bearing shield comprises a channel (20) leading to an interspace (19) defined between the shaft end (15) and the bearing shield (14) and/or between the shaft bearing (16) and the bearing shield (14), a fluid flowing through said channel (20). A deflection element (22) is arranged on the bearing shield (14) and/or on the seat (17) and deflects the fluid towards the channel (20, 201).