GB2238831A

GB2238831A - Bucket wheel bearing arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2238831A
Application number: GB9026119A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Heinz Walter Schneider
Original assignee: Waeschle Maschinenfabrik GmbH
Current assignee: Waeschle Maschinenfabrik GmbH
Priority date: 1989-12-08
Filing date: 1990-11-30
Publication date: 1991-06-12
Also published as: GB9026119D0; FR2655632A1; NL9002595A; DE3940670C1

Abstract

A bucket wheel comprises bucket wheel webs 3, two side plates 4 and a shaft 2 for driving the bucket wheel. The bucket wheel is rotatably supported in a housing 1 having a top inlet and bottom discharge outlet. Bearings 6 are disposed between the side plates and a flange 1a of the housing 1. <IMAGE>

Description

A BUCKET WML SLUICE The invention relates to a bucket wheel sluice

comprising a housing with a top feed aperture, a bottom discharge orifice, two side covers with a rotatably mounted bucket wheel with two side plates in the housing, the said bucket wheel being adapted to be driven by a shaft traversing at least one of the side covers.

Many constructions of bucket wheel sluice of this type have been proposed. For rotatable mounting of the bucket wheel in the housing, there are constructed at the ends of the bucket wheel shaft suitable bearing journals which are supported in bearings, in most cases rolling bearings which are themselves disposed in the side covers. If, then, during operation of such a bucket wheel sluice there is a considerable pressure difference between the inlet side and the outlet side, there may be a certain sag in the bucket wheel shaft, particularly in the region of the shaft journals so that there is a danger of the radial outer end surfaces of the bucket wheel webs, coming in contact with the inside wall or bore in the sluice housing, on the sides at which the pressure is lower, and of the bucket wheel running onto this surface and possibly seizing. As has been demonstrated, this danger can only to a certain extent be countered by a particularly flexurally rigid construction of the bucket wheel and a particularly large diardeter of shaft journal. Another possibility is to increase the gap between the inside wall of the housing and the corresponding end faces of the bucket wheel webs. However, in order to confine within tolerable limits the leakage air losses which in any case increase as the pressure differential increases, this is an option which is not readily used.

Therefore, the invention is based on the problem of providing a bucket wheel sluice of the type mentioned above, but in which a differential pressure occasioned sagging of the bucket wheel is prevented.

According to the invention, there is provided a bucket wheel sluice comprising a housing with a top feed aperture, a bottom discharge orifice; two side covers and a rotatably mounted bucket wheel with two side plates in the housing, said bucket wheel being adapted to be driven by a shaft traversing at least one of the side covers, i wherein the rotatable mounting of the bucket wheel comprises bearings disposed between each of the side plates and the part of the housing wall which surrounds these.

A preferred embodiment is characterised in that the bearings are disposed in each case between the peripheral surface of the relevant side plate and the part of the housing wall which surrounds this. Since the bearings may be ordinary roller bearings, then, the relevant inner ring is seated on the outer periphery of the relevant side plate, while the outer ring is accommodated in a suitable recess in the housing. In this way, when the side covers of the housing have been removed, the side plates of the bucket wheel remain freely accessible, for example for servicing or for the exchange of packing.

Another possibility of fitment resides in the bearings being, in each case, disposed between an axially directed centering flange constructed on the outside of the respective side cover and the part of the housing wall which surrounds the aforesaid centering flange. This embodiment has in turn the advantage that the diameter of the housing flange on which the side covers are fitted does not need to be enlarged. 20 Two examples of embodiments of a bucket wheel sluice according to the present invention are illustrated in a simplified way and by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a half- section through a bucket wheel sluice of the first embodiment; and Figure 2 is a half-section through a bucket wheel sluice of the second embodiment. The bucket wheel sluice according to Figure 1 comprises a housing 1 with a top feed aperture and a bottom discharge orifice. Accommodated in the housing 1 is a bucket wheel which consists of a shaf t 2, a plurality of bucket wheel webs 3 (only two of which are shown) and on each side of the wheel a side plate 4. A housing bore in which the bucket wheel 2, 3, 4 rotates, is closed by a side cover 5 which is bolted (not shown) to the housing 1. In the region of its connecting flange la, of the side cover 5, the housing 1 has a recess to accommodate a rolling bearing 6 in which the outer peripheral surface of side plates 4 is accommodated. For driving the bucket wheel 2, 3, 4, its shaft 2 on the side of the sluice, which is not shown in 4 3 - the drawings, is passed through the corresponding mirror opposite side plate and the mirror opposite side cover and is connected to a suitable drive. The bucket wheel 2, 3, 4 is also mounted by means of a bearing which is disposed as a mirrored opposite to the bearing 6.

The embodiment shown in Figure 2 differs from that in Figure 1 in that the roller bearing 6 is disposed of between an axially directed centering flange 4a, provided on the outside of the side plate 4, and the flange la of the housing 1 which surrounds it. As a comparison of Figure 1 and 2 shows, therefore, it is not necessary for the outside diameter of the housing of the latter embodiment to be enlarged in the region of the flange la.

Claims

1. A bucket wheel sluice comprising a housing with a top feed aperture; a bottom discharge orifice; two side covers-and a rotatably mounted bucket wheel with two side plates in the housing, said bucket wheel being adapted to be driven by a shaft traversing at least one of the side covers, wherein the rotatable mounting of the bucket wheel comprises bearings disposed between each of the side plates and the part of the housing wall which surrounds these.

2. A bucket wheel according to claim 1, wherein the bearings are in each case disposed between the peripheral surface of the relevant side plate and the part of the housing wall which surrounds this.

3. A bucket wheel according to claim 1, wherein the bearings are in each case disposed between an axially directed centering flange, constructed on the outside of the respective side plate, and the part of the housing wall which surrounds this.

4. A bucket wheel sluice substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Published 1991 at The Patent Office. State House. 66171 High Holbom. London WC I R 4IT- Further copies rilay be obtained frorn Sales Branch. Unit 6. Nine Mile Point. Cwmfelinfach, Cross I.Icys. Newport. NPI 7HZ. Printed by Multiplex techniques lid. St Mary Cray. Kent.