Pocketed Lubricating Ring for High-Speed Bearing Cooling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lubricating rings for bearings in pumps face issues with lubricant transport efficiency due to centrifugal forces at high rotational speeds, leading to inadequate lubrication and cooling, which can result in bearing failure and significant economic losses, especially in harsh operating conditions.
Innovation Solution
A lubricating ring design featuring a transport surface with adjacent pockets and a running surface with radial grooves, made from plastics like polyactide or PTFE, which enhances lubricant transport and mixing, and a multi-part structure with a metallic middle part for improved mass distribution and friction, allowing for effective lubricant delivery and heat dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the lubricating ring rotates at high speed to transport lubricant, then the lubricant transport rate increases, but the centrifugal force causes the lubricant to be flung off before reaching the bearing structure
Solution Approach 1:
The transport surface is divided into multiple pockets that segment the lubricant into discrete portions. Each pocket acts as an individual container that protects its lubricant from centrifugal forces, allowing the ring to rotate at higher speeds without losing lubricant to centrifugal flinging.
Solution Approach 2:
The pockets create localized regions with different surface properties on the transport surface. These localized structures provide enhanced lubricant retention through their geometric configuration, while other regions of the ring maintain optimal rotation characteristics.
2Reliability
If the lubricant transport rate is increased, then the lubrication performance improves, but the cooling performance deteriorates due to reduced lubricant availability
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented pocket structure allows simultaneous optimization of lubrication and cooling functions. Lubricant in the pockets provides reliable lubrication, while the grooves and pocket geometry enable efficient lubricant distribution for cooling, ensuring both functions operate effectively even at high rotational speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The lubricating ring structure is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: the pockets provide lubrication delivery, the grooves enable cooling, and the overall geometry facilitates both lubricant transport and heat dissipation, making the system universally effective for both lubrication and cooling requirements.
3Productivity
If the transport surface is made smooth for efficient lubricant flow, then the lubricant transport efficiency improves, but the mixing performance deteriorates leading to temperature stratification
Solution Approach 1:
The transport surface is segmented into pockets and grooves that create controlled turbulence zones. These segmented structures enhance mixing by generating vortices and fluid motion, while the overall segmented geometry maintains efficient transport pathways, resolving the conflict between smooth flow and mixing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The pocket and groove geometry creates mechanical turbulence and vortex formation as lubricant flows through the structures. This mechanical agitation enhances mixing and eliminates temperature stratification, while the structured geometry maintains efficient transport efficiency.
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
The design significantly increases lubricant transport efficiency, reduces temperature stratification, and provides better cooling, thereby reducing the risk of bearing failure and extending operational safety and pump lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
the transfer rate of the lubricant from the lubricant reservoir to the bearing structure depends on the rotational speed of the shaft. While the rotational speed of the lubricating ring is significantly lower than that of the shaft, it is still high enough, especially at high shaft speeds, that the centrifugal force outweighs the Coulomb force.
Implementation Method 2
The lubricating ring is loosely attached to the shaft or to a part rigidly connected to the shaft, such as an oil slinger, and extends into a lubricant reservoir located below the shaft, for example, in the base of the bearing housing. As the shaft rotates, the lubrication ring rotates with it
Implementation Method 3
The lubricant is simultaneously used to dissipate the heat generated in the bearing, thus cooling it.
Implementation Method 4
The lubricant is simultaneously used to dissipate the heat generated in the bearing, thus cooling it.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A lubricating ring is proposed for transporting a lubricant from a lubricant reservoir (22) to a bearing (10). The lubricating ring is driven by a rotating shaft (20) which is supported by the bearing (10). The lubricating ring has a running surface (131) for interacting with the shaft (20) and a transport surface (111) for transporting the lubricant. The transport surface (111) has several pockets (112) for transporting the lubricant, which are arranged adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the lubricating ring. Furthermore, a bearing (10) incorporating such a lubricating ring and a pump (100) with such a bearing (10) are proposed.