Water pump bearing with integrated mechanical seal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9989095-B2
Application number	US-201414537087-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 10, 2014
Priority date	Nov 14, 2013
Publication date	Jun 5, 2018
Grant date	Jun 5, 2018

Abstract

An integrated shaft bearing assembly is provided having a housing with at least one bearing located in the housing that supports a shaft that extends through the housing. A vent ring is located at one axial end of the housing, with the vent ring having a radial flange that extends toward the shaft. A face seal assembly including a seal support ring is fixed on the shaft. The face seal assembly includes a bellows spring connected to the seal support ring, a face seal carrier connected to the bellows spring, with the face seal carrier supporting a face seal against the face of the radial flange. Here the vent ring is integrated with the integrated shaft bearing and provides a surface for the mechanical seal as well as venting to avoid pressure build up in a region of the mechanical seal between the mechanical seal and the bearing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An integrated shaft bearing assembly, comprising:
a housing;
at least one bearing located in the housing that supports a shaft that extends through the housing;
a vent ring located at one axial end of the housing, the vent ring having a radial flange that extends toward the shaft, wherein the vent ring is configured to avoid pressure build up between a face seal assembly and the bearing; and
the face seal assembly including a seal support ring fixed on the shaft, a bellows spring connected to the seal support ring, a face seal carrier connected to the bellows spring, and the face seal carrier supporting a face seal against a face of the radial flange.

2. The integrated shaft bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the vent ring includes at least one recess or opening in an axially extending portion thereof.

3. The integrated shaft bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein a dust seal is located on a radially inner end of the radial flange about an opening defined through the vent ring, the dust seal contacting the shaft.

4. The integrated shaft bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the seal support ring is press fit on the shaft.

5. The integrated shaft bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bellows spring is formed as a metal bellows or a polymeric material.

6. The integrated shaft bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the face seal is formed from a PTFE coated butyl rubber or polymeric material.

7. The integrated shaft bearing assembly of claim 1 , further comprising grease seals located on each axial end of the housing.

8. The integrated shaft bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the vent ring includes at least one opening facing the housing.

9. A method of assembling a water pump, comprising:
providing an integrated shaft bearing assembly including a housing, at least one bearing located in the housing that support a shaft that extends through the housing, grease seals located on each axial end of the housing, a vent ring located at one axial end of the housing, the vent ring having a radial flange that extends toward the shaft, wherein the vent ring is configured to avoid pressure build up between a face seal assembly and the bearing; and the face seal assembly including a seal support ring fixed on the shaft, a bellows spring connected to the seal support ring, a face seal carrier connected to the biasing sleeve, and the face seal carrier supporting a face seal against a face of the radial flange;
pressing the integrated shaft bearing assembly into a water pump housing as an integrated unit;
attaching an impeller to one end of the shaft; and
attaching a drive pulley to an opposite axial end of the shaft.

Assignees

• Schaeffler Technologies Gmbh & Co Kg
• Schaeffler Technologies Ag

Inventors

• Russalian Vigel

Classifications

• F04D29/628

  especially adapted for liquid pumps · CPC title

• F04D29/049

  Roller bearings · CPC title

• Y10T29/49236

  Fluid pump or compressor making · CPC title

• F16C33/76 Primary

  of ball or roller bearings · CPC title

• F16C33/7886

  mounted outside the gap between the inner and outer races, e.g. sealing rings mounted to an end face or outer surface of a race · CPC title