Rotary Machine Oil Recirculation for High-Speed Lubricant Collection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lubrication systems in rotary machines, such as grease and oil bath methods, result in high maintenance downtime, lubricant leakage, and inefficiencies, especially in high-speed operations, and recirculating oil systems face difficulties in collecting and recirculating lubricant effectively, particularly with horizontal rotation axes.
Innovation Solution
A recirculating oil lubrication system with an inlet conduit, distribution conduit, collection chamber, and outlet conduit integrated into the fixed internal body, utilizing an intake channel to divert lubricant from the collection chamber to the outlet conduit, ensuring continuous lubrication despite centrifugal forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If grease is applied directly to parts in mutual contact, then lubrication is provided during operation, but maintenance becomes particularly onerous requiring long downtimes for disassembly, cleaning, and regreasing
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the lubrication function from the components themselves by providing a separate, dedicated lubrication system with nozzles that deliver lubricant directly to the contact surfaces. This separates the lubrication function from the structural components, allowing lubrication to be maintained without disassembling the machine parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The lubrication system is designed to automatically lubricate the components during operation through a recirculating pump that continuously circulates lubricant through distribution conduits and nozzles. The system serves itself by maintaining lubrication without requiring external intervention or disassembly for routine maintenance.
2Reliability
If oil bath lubrication is used with components partially immersed in oil, then lubrication is provided, but a significant quantity of oil must be contained inside the machine and sealing problems arise causing leaks
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the lubricant from the machine interior by using a recirculating system that collects used lubricant and returns it to a external reservoir. This removes the need to contain large quantities of lubricant inside the machine, eliminating sealing problems and leakage issues while maintaining effective lubrication.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a hydraulic recirculating system with a pump to continuously circulate lubricant through controlled conduits and nozzles. This hydraulic approach provides precise lubricant delivery to specific contact points without requiring the lubricant to be contained within the machine structure, preventing leakage.
3Measurement precision
If recirculating oil lubrication system is implemented, then lubrication precision is improved, but difficulties arise in collecting and recirculating lubricant effectively, particularly with horizontal rotation axes
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the dimension of lubricant collection by using centrifugal force generated by the rotating external body to move lubricant radially outward toward collection zones. This dimensional approach to lubricant movement simplifies the recirculation system for horizontal rotation axes by utilizing the rotation itself to facilitate lubricant collection rather than requiring complex mechanical collection mechanisms.
4Productivity
If high-speed rotation is performed, then productivity is improved, but centrifugal forces make lubricant collection and recirculation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful centrifugal force that complicates lubricant collection at high speeds into a beneficial mechanism by designing collection zones that utilize the outward radial movement of lubricant. The high-speed rotation itself facilitates lubricant delivery to collection points, simplifying the recirculation system while maintaining high productivity.
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 system maintains efficient lubrication with minimal lubricant content, reducing maintenance downtime, preventing leakage, and allowing precise lubrication of components, even at high speeds, while minimizing operational disruptions.
Implementation Method 1
a recirculating pump, which is provided to circulate the lubricant along a circulation circuit
Implementation Method 2
the lubricant, which is provided to lubricate at least one component of the internal body or the external body
Implementation Method 3
allowing a recirculating oil lubrication system to be implemented, and in particular allowing the lubricant to be rotated and collected
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A rotary machine (10) comprises: - an internal body (11) which extends about a main rotation axis (X) of the rotary machine and which is fixed with respect thereto, - an external body (12) which is rotatably supported outside internal body (11) and which is rotated about the main rotation axis (X), - a lubrication system (18) which is provided to lubricate at least one component (15, 16, 17) of the internal body or the external body. The lubrication system (18) comprises: - an inlet conduit (19) for a lubricant which is formed in the internal body (11) to conduct the lubricant inside the rotary machine (10), - at least one distribution conduit (20) for the lubricant, a collection chamber (21) for the lubricant which is defined between the external body (12) and the internal body (11) and - an outlet conduit (22) which communicates with the collection chamber (21) and which is formed in the internal body (11) to conduct the lubricant outside the rotary machine (10).