Bearing assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12372115-B2
Application number	US-202318515986-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 21, 2023
Priority date	Jun 14, 2021
Publication date	Jul 29, 2025
Grant date	Jul 29, 2025

Abstract

A bearing assembly includes: a shaft; a housing; a support structure; at least one first seal; at least one electrode connected to the support structure and arranged between the support structure and the shaft such that an oil vapor from the oil bath, which passes through the at least one first seal, must pass through a gap between the at least one electrode and the shaft in order to escape, the bearing assembly being configured for an electrical voltage to be applied between the at least one electrode and the shaft so as to direct oil particles contained in the oil vapor onto the at least one electrode such that the oil particles are separated at the at least one electrode; and a drainage channel configured for enabling oil separated at the at least one electrode to flow through the drainage channel into the oil bath.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bearing assembly, comprising:
a shaft;
a housing, wherein an oil bath is arranged inside the housing;
a support structure which is connected to the housing and arranged around the shaft;
at least one first seal which is supported by the support structure and which extends between the support structure and the shaft;
at least one electrode which is connected to the support structure and arranged between the support structure and the shaft in such a way that an oil vapor from the oil bath, which passes through the at least one first seal, must pass through a gap between the at least one electrode and the shaft in order to escape, the bearing assembly being configured for an electrical voltage to be applied between the at least one electrode and the shaft so as to direct a plurality of oil particles contained in the oil vapor onto the at least one electrode such that the plurality of oil particles are separated at the at least one electrode; and
at least one drainage channel configured for enabling oil separated at the at least one electrode to flow through the at least one drainage channel into the oil bath.

2. The bearing assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a second seal which is supported by the support structure and extends between the support structure and the shaft, wherein the second seal is arranged beyond the at least one electrode when viewed from the at least one first seal.

3. The bearing assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a siphon which is arranged in the at least one drainage channel, wherein the siphon is arranged and configured for being filled with oil deposited at the at least one electrode and thereby for sealing the at least one drainage channel such that the oil vapor from the oil bath is not able to pass therethrough.

4. The bearing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the shaft is arranged horizontally.

5. The bearing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the shaft is arranged vertically.

6. The bearing assembly according to claim 5 , further comprising a device configured for collecting the oil separated at the at least one electrode.

7. The bearing assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the device configured for collecting the oil separated at the at least one electrode includes a projection of the support structure, wherein the projection is arranged and configured for the oil separated at the at least one electrode to drip onto the projection.

Assignees

• Voith Patent Gmbh

Inventors

• Schagerl Robert
• Schabasser Martin

Classifications

• F16C17/02

  for radial load only · CPC title

• F16C33/1085

  Channels or passages to recirculate the liquid in the bearing · CPC title

• F16N2210/14

  Bearings · CPC title

• F16N2200/14

  Treating with electricity · CPC title

• F16N31/00

  Means for collecting, retaining, or draining-off lubricant in or on machines or apparatus (oil separators for separating oil from exhaust steam F22G) · CPC title