MXPA01005957A

MXPA01005957A - Locomotive air compressor with an electric motor supported by an external bearing.

Info

Publication number: MXPA01005957A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Walter E Goettel; Brian L Cunkelman; James Varney
Original assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corp
Priority date: 2000-06-14
Filing date: 2001-06-13
Publication date: 2007-09-07
Also published as: AU3342901A; BR0101606B1; CA2326788A1; BR0101606A; AU779023B2; JP2002031061A; AU779023C; CA2326788C

Abstract

The present invention provides an externally mounted assembly for supporting a rotatable shaft member driven by an electric motor. The externally mounted assembly comprises an annularly projected bearing support member disposed on a substantially vertical plane and a bearing member mounted on the bearing support member. Such bearing member is connectable with the rotatable shaft member for supporting such rotatable shaft member thereby reducing extraneous vertical and horizontal movement of such rotatable shaft member while permitting such rotatable shaft member to rotate freely.

Description

AIR COMPRESSOR FOR LOCOMOTIVE WITH AN ELECTRICAL MOTOR SUPPORTED BY AN EXTERNAL BEARING FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates, in general, to a combination of two-stage air compressor, multi-cylinder, air cooled and engine for a railway locomotive and, more particularly, the present invention relates to a crankshaft of such an air compressor driven by an electric motor that is supported by an external bearing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is well known that multi-cylinder air compressors are used in cargo and passenger locomotives to supply compressed air to the operation and control equipment of a rail air brake system. Many of these prior art air compressors have a pair of low pressure cylinders and a high pressure cylinder mounted and supported by a crankshaft in the usual manner and contain pistons, which are driven by connecting rods driven by a rotating crankshaft. One end of the crankshaft is coupled with and is driven by a suitable rotating primary motor, such as an electric motor. The other The crankshaft end is keyed and threadedly connected by a hub nut and the wheel of a cooling fan assembly. There are advantages to having the compressor directly operating the cooling fan. When the demand and speed of the air compressor increases, the speed and cooling capacity of the fan increases proportionally. The fan can only stop working when the compressor stops working or stops its rotation. It has been found that the use of a separate electric motor to drive the cooling fan is not reliable because an engine failure would result in the loss of the cooling effect and would allow the rotary compressor temperature to rise to dangerously high levels , which would cause deterioration of the lubricating oil and would result in seizure of the air compressor. The crankshaft driven by the electric motor, in the prior art, has no support on the end of the motor shaft. This is the opposite end of the fan arrow. When the arrow rotates, over time, it may tend to vibrate and may possibly swing. Any movement of the arrow, different from the rotary movement for which it is designed, may cause problems with the engine. Proper operation requires that there be a space between the stator and the rotating portion of the motor. This space must be maintained. If the rotor contacts rub against the stator, problems with the motor can occur. On the other hand, it is also important to maintain the space between the stator and the rotor to a minimum because when the space increases there is a loss of efficiency and the power of the motor. In this way, space is necessary but must be kept as small as possible. When the arrow vibrates or swings, it can cause the rotor to rub against the stator and, thus, adversely affect the motor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an external mounting device for supporting a rotating shaft member driven by an electric motor. The external mounting device comprises a bearing support member that is positioned in a substantially vertical plane and a bearing member mounted on the bearing support member. Such a bearing member can be connected to the arrow member rotating to support such a rotating shaft member, thereby reducing the vertical and horizontal horizontal motion of such a rotating shaft member, while allowing such a rotating shaft member to rotate freely. A second embodiment of the invention provides in combination with a multi-cylinder two-stage air compressor in which an electric motor is used to drive a rotary shaft member of the air compressor., there is an external mount to support the rotary shaft member of the air compressor. Such an external assembly comprises a bearing support member positioned in a substantially vertical plane and a bearing member mounted on the bearing support member. Such a bearing member can be connected to the rotary arrow member of the air compressor to secure the rotary shaft member, thereby reducing the strange vertical and horizontal movement of the rotary shaft member, while allowing such an arrow member Swivel rotate freely.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Therefore, one of the main objects of the present invention is to provide a support for the External crankshaft to housing or motor housing in a combination air compressor / electric motor to reduce any vibration of the shaft. It is also an object of the present invention to provide an external support for the crankshaft in a combination air compressor / electric motor to reduce the possibility of the rotor rubbing against the stator. A further object of the present invention is to provide a support for the crankshaft in a combination of air compressor / electric motor that is mounted on the housing or housing of the electric motor. These and various other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent upon a full reading of the following detailed description, particularly, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings as described below and in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is an axonometric drawing of the prior art of a two-stage, multi-cylinder air compressor.

Figure 2 is a schematic, block diagram of an embodiment of the invention in combination with a two-stage, multi-cylinder air compressor of the type shown in Figure 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE MODES OF THE INVENTION UNTIL NOW PREFERRED AND ALTERNATIVE Before proceeding with the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the purpose of being clearer, identical components having identical functions have been designated by numbers of identical reference through the different views illustrated in the drawings. Reference is now made to Figure 2. Illustrated therein is a block diagram of the present invention in combination with a two-stage, multi-cylinder air compressor, generally designated 10, coupled with a predetermined electric motor. , generally designated as 20. Such two-stage, multi-cylinder air compressor 10 contains pistons, which are driven by connecting rods driven by a rotating crankshaft 2. One end of the crankshaft 2 is in the hub and wheel of a cooling fan assembly 16. The outer end of the crankshaft 2 is driven by a motor predetermined electric 20. During a period of time, the crankshaft 2, as it rotates, may tend to vibrate or sway. Any movement of the crankshaft 2 other than the rotating movement for which it is designed may create problems. The proper operation of the motor requires that there be a space between the stator 4 and the rotor 6, which is the rotating portion of the motor. This space must be maintained. If the rotor 6 comes into contact with or rubs against the stator 4, problems with the motor can occur. It is also important that this space is kept to a minimum because when space increases there is loss of efficiency and engine power. The present invention provides an external support, generally designated 30, for supporting the crankshaft 2 and thereby preventing or at least minimizing any unusual vertical or horizontal movement of the crankshaft 2. There is a vertical bearing support member 12 A bearing member 14 is mounted on such a vertical bearing support member 12. Such a bearing member 14 can be connected to the crankshaft 2 of such air compressor 10. The bearing member 14 and the vertical bearing support member 12 supports the crankshaft, reducing therefore any extra movement of the crankshaft 2. Since the bearing member 14 rotates freely it does not prevent any rotary movement of the crankshaft 2. In one embodiment of the invention, such a bearing member 14 is a split bearing. It is also an embodiment of the invention that such a bearing member 14 is connected to an outer end of such a crankshaft 2. The vertical bearing support member 12 is connected to the housing or. motor housing that is used up to now to enclose the motor 20. The connection can be made by modifying the portion of the housing cover, so that the bearing member 14 can come into contact with and secure the crankshaft 2. However, it is within the scope of the invention that the vertical bearing support member 12 can replace the present cover portion of the motor housing of such predetermined electric motor 20. External mounting 30 can be included in new compressor assemblies and can be reconverted into air compressor units that are currently in use. Although the hitherto preferred modalities and a number of alternatives of the present invention have been described in detail above, it should be understood that several others may be devised adaptations and modifications of the present invention by those skilled in the relevant art of air compressor systems without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it relates.

Claims

CLAIMS Having described the invention as above, the content of the following claims is claimed as property:

1. An external mount for supporting a rotating shaft member driven by an electric motor, the assembly is characterized in that it comprises: (a) a bearing support member that is positioned in a substantially vertical plane; and (b) a bearing member mounted on the bearing support member and connectable to the rotating shaft member to support the rotary shaft member, thereby reducing the strange vertical and horizontal movement of the rotating shaft member and enabling the time such rotating shaft member rotates freely. The assembly for supporting a rotating shaft member driven by an electric motor, according to claim 1, characterized in that the bearing support member is connected to a cover of the housing or housing of the electric motor. 3. The mounting to support a rotating shaft member driven by an electric motor, from according to claim 1, characterized in that the bearing support member provides a cover for the housing or housing of the electric motor. The assembly for supporting a rotating shaft member driven by an electric motor, according to claim 1, characterized in that the bearing member is a bearing of the divided type. The assembly for supporting a rotating shaft member driven by an electric motor, according to claim 4, characterized in that the bearing member is connected to the outer end of the rotating shaft member. The assembly for supporting a rotating shaft member driven by an electric motor, in accordance with claim 2, characterized in that the assembly is mounted externally to the motor housing. 7. In combination with the two-stage, multi-cylinder air compressor in which an electric motor drives a rotating shaft member of the air compressor, the improvement characterized in that it comprises an externally mounted assembly for supporting the rotary shaft member of the air compressor. air compressor, externally mounted assembly which includes: (a) a bearing support member that is positioned in a substantially vertical plane; and (b) a bearing member mounted on the bearing support member and connectable to the rotating shaft member to support the rotary shaft member, thereby reducing the strange vertical and horizontal movement of the rotating shaft member and enabling the time, that such rotating shaft member rotates freely. 8. The combination of a two-stage multi-cylinder air compressor and an external mounting device for supporting a rotating shaft member of the air compressor, according to claim 7, characterized in that the bearing support member is connected to a cover of the housing or housing of the electric motor. 9. The combination of a two-stage multi-cylinder air compressor and an external mounting device for supporting a rotary shaft member of the air compressor, according to claim 9, characterized in that the bearing support member provides a cover for the housing or housing of the electric motor. 10. The combination of a two-stage multi-cylinder air compressor and a device external mounting for supporting a rotating shaft member driven by an electric motor, according to claim 7, characterized in that the bearing member is a bearing of the divided type. 11. The combination of a two-stage multi-cylinder air compressor and an external mounting device for supporting a rotary shaft member driven by an electric motor, according to claim 10, characterized in that the bearing member is connected to the outer end of the rotary arrow member.