US2702729A

US2702729A - Bearing structure and mounting

Info

Publication number: US2702729A
Application number: US417876A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harry L Havens; Albert R Thompson
Original assignee: HAVENS STRUCTURAL STEEL CO
Current assignee: HAVENS STRUCTURAL STEEL CO
Priority date: 1954-03-22
Filing date: 1954-03-22
Publication date: 1955-02-22
Anticipated expiration: 1972-02-22

Description

Feb. 22, 1955 H HAVENS ET AL 2,702,729

BEARING STRUCTURE AND MOUNTING Filed March 22, 1954 ffm. 53

5 o@ .IN1/EMDR.

Harry/Havens and BY Alber R. Thompson.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent C BEARING STRUCTURE AND MOUNTING Harry L. Havens and Albert R. Thompson, Kansas City, Mo., assignors to Havens Structural Steel Company, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application March 22, 1954, Serial N0. 417,876

6 Claims. (Cl. 30S-36.1)

This invention relates to bearing structures and mountings for operation in wet atmospheres, and more particularly to a bearing structure and mounting for supporting a fan shaft and cooling tower service.

In cooling towers having induced draft it is common practice to deliver water or liquid to be cooled to a distributor in the upper portion of the tower, which delivers the liquid to be cooled to a core of decks and baes for gravitation therethrough to a collecting basin at the bottom of the cooling7 tower. A fan is arranged in the tower to draw air through one side of the tower and through the liquid gravitating through the core, the air being exhausted from the tower by the fan.

In this type of operation the bearing and mounting supporting the fan shaft is subjected to moisture-laden air and in some instances the liquid ows over the supporting structure of the fan shaft. In conventional struc tures there is some breathing in the bearing. Liquid may be drawn directly into the bearing housing or move along the fan shaft by capillary action whereby the liquid enters the bearing, resulting in corrosion and also destruction of the lubricant film on the bearing and excessive wear, requiring frequent inspection and replacement of the bearings.

'Ihe objects of the present invention are to provide a bearing structure and mounting therefor for operation in wet atmospheres that eliminates difficulty previously experienced and provides long, trouble-free operation; to provide a bearing structure with channels arranged whereby liquid entering the bearing housing either during idle periods or operation passes through the housing without entering the bearing proper; to provide pressure equalizing apertures to reduce breathing tendency of the bearing housing and also provide for drainage of any liquid entering therein; and to provide a bearing structure and mounting therefor that is economical to manufacture, easy to assemble and efficient in providing long, trouble-free operation.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention we have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a cooling tower with portions broken away to illustrate the bearing structure and mounting therein.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the bearing and mounting therefor.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the bearing housing and fan shaft.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the bearing housing on the line 4-4, Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through the bearing housing.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view through a modified form of bearing and housing.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view through the bearing housing on the line 7-7, Fig. 6.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a cooling tower having a shell 2 enclosing a core 3 consisting of spaced decks and baffles. A top member 4 is arranged at the upper end of the shell 2 and includes a portion having upwardly extending walls defining a liquid basin 5 arranged above the core 3. The basin 5 has a perforated bottom 6 which distributes the liquid and drops same downwardly into the core for further gravitation therethrough to a collecting basin arranged at the bottom of the tower. The core 2,702,729 Patented Feb. 22, 1955 ICC 3 is spaced from an end 7 of the shell, said end having an aperture 8 provided with an outwardly extending flange or ring 9. Mesh 10 is secured to the outer edge of the ange 9 and extends across the opening defined thereby to form a guard for a fan 11 mounted for rotation in the shell adjacent the flanged opening 8.

The fan 11 is fixed on a shaft 12 rotatably mounted in a bearing housing 13 which is supported by a hanger 14. The intermediate portion 15 of the housing 13 is preferably cylindrical and is carried in a clamp member 16 at the lower end of the hanger 14. The hanger preferably consists of a bar 17 secured to a bottom wall 18 of the top member 4 and legs 19 secured to and extending downwardly from adjacent the ends of the plate 17. The legs 19 extend downwardly in converging relation, with their lower ends secured as by welding to the upper clamp portion 20 of the clamp 16. The upper and

lower clamp portions

20 and 21 respectively are formed from plate members bent in V shapes terminating in outwardly directed flanges 22, the V shapes of the clamp members being of such size that the surfaces between the apices of the V shapes engage the periphery of the cylindrical intermediate portion 15 of the bearing housing 13 when the adjacent surfaces of the fianges 22 of the upper and lower clamp members are spaced. Fastoning devices 23 draw the clamp portions together and wedge the cylindrical intermediate portion 15 of the bearing housing into the respective V shapes to securely clamp and support said bearing housing. The V shapes of the clamp members are preferably arranged whereby the axes of the bearing housing 13 and shaft 12 are parallel with the upper surface of the plate 17 when said plate is to be secured to a horizontal bottom wall 18. rl`he hanger structure is preferably fabricated and assembled as a unit to the top member by suitable fastening devices 24.

Mounted on the top member 4 is a motor 25 which drives the fan 11 by means of a belt or other exible member 26 having operative engagement with a pulley or the like 27 fixed on the end 28 of the shaft 12 opposite to the fan 11, whereby when water is applied to the basin 5 and gravitates through the core 3 operation of the motor 25 drives the fan 11, inducing a draft of air from an opening in the end opposite the fan (not shown), through the core and out of the flanged opening 8.

The evaporation of liquid in the cooling of same causes the air passing by the bearing housing 13 to be wet and also some liquid drops or is drawn directly onto the housing 13. The bearing housing 13 consists of the tubular, intermediate portion 15 having a bore 29 larger than the diameter of the shaft 12 to provide suitable clearance therebetween. The intermediate portion 15 terminates in enlargements 30 which have counterbores 31 extending inwardly from the ends thereof for receiving bearings 32. In the structure illustrated in Fig. 5, the bearings are of antifriction type each having an inner race 33 preferably a light press fit on the shaft 12 and an outer race 34 which is a snug press fit in the respective counterbores 31. The outer races 34 preferably engage shoulders 35 formed by the inner end of the counterbore in the enlargement of the housing. The enlargements of the housing preferably extend beyond the races of the autifriction bearings, and ring members 36 are pressed or otherwise suitably secured in the open ends thereof in engagement with the outer races 34 to retain the antifriction bearings against movement longitudinally of the shaft 12. Suitable pressure lubricant fittings 37 are preferably arranged at the intersection of the tubular member 15 and the enlargements 30 and communicate with the interior of the housing for applying suitable lubricant to the bearings 32. Also the tubular member 15 preferably has spaced apertures 38 on the lower side thereof for equalizing internal and external air pressure and thereby preventing entrance of moisture by water vapor pressure and also to drain any accumulation of water from the inside of the bearing housing.

Cup-shaped closures 39 are mounted on the shaft 12 at each end of the bearing housing 13. The cupshaped closures consist of hubs 4t) which are keyed to the shaft 12 as by setscrews 41. The hubs 40 have radial end walls 42 with the side surfaces 43 thereof adjacent the enlargements of the bearing housing spaced as at 44 from the end of said enlargements to provide suitable clearance therebetween and also between the wall and the ring member 36. The end walls 42 terminate in annular flanges 45 that extend over the enlargements 30 with the inner surface of the flanges 45 spaced from the cylindrical outer periphery of the enlargements 30 to provide suitable clearance therebetween.

The annular flanges 45 on the closure members 39 have spaced internal grooves 46 and 47 in the portion overlying the enlargement 30. Elastic O-rings 48 are arranged in each of the grooves 46 and 47 with the interior of said O-rings resiliently engaging the periphery of the enlargement 34). The 0-rings are of such size relative to the width of the grooves 46 and 47 to provide suitable clearance between the O-rings and the sides of the grooves, and the grooves are deeper than the diameter of the cross-section of the O-riugs to provide clearance around the exterior periphery of said O-rings. A plurality of radially spaced apertures or channels 49 extend from the respective sides of the annular flanges 45 to the adjacent grooves 46 and 47 in spaced relation to the outer periphery of the O-rings 48 for escape of any liquid entering the grooves.

When a cooling tower having a bearing and mounting therefor constructed as described is operated to drive the shaft 12 and rotate the fan thereon any liquid collecting on the exterior of the closure members 39 is thrown therefrom due to centrifugal force. Any liquid collecting on the enlargements of the bearing housing and tending to move therealong under the annular anges 45 will reach the O-ring 48 in the groove 47 and in passing around the O-ring will enter the groove and be thrown to the outer periphery thereof by centrifugal force and driven through the aperture or channel 49 to the exterior of the closure member. Any liquid tending to move along the shaft as by capillary action through the bore of the hub 40 may enter the space 44, but then centrifugal force due to rotation of the closure member 39 will cause said liquid to pass through the space 44 to the annular ange 45 and move between the ange and the periphery of the enlargement 30 to the O-ring in the groove 46, and then around the O-ring into said groove 46 where centrifugal force will throw the liquid to the outer periphery of said groove and through the respective channel 49 in the exterior of the closure member 39. Any liquid collecting in the interior of the tubular intermediate portion will drain through the aperture 38 at the bottom thereof. If liquid should enter through one of the channels 49 or between the flange 45 and the periphery of the enlargement 30 while the fan is stationary, such liquid follows the grooves 46 and 47 to the bottom portion and then drains out through channels 49 so that none of the liquid reaches the shaft 12 or enters the bearing through the axial aperture in the ring 36.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 plain bearings 50 instead of antifriction bearings are illustrated, said plain bearings being pressed into the ends of the tubular member 51. In the use of plain bearings the enlargements at the ends of the tubular member 51 are not necessary. Therefore, the flanges 52 on the closure members 53 extend over the ends of the tubular member 51 with suitable clearance therebetween. The O-rings 54 in

grooves

55 and 56 resilientlyengage the periphery of the portion of the tubular member 51 extending into the cup-shaped closure members 53. There are channels 57 communicating with the

grooves

55 and 56 in the same manner as the channels 49 communicate with the grooves 46 and 47 in the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 5. Suitable oil connections 58 are arranged in the tubular member 51 and communicate with oil holes 59 in the bearings 50.

It is preferable that the lubricant ttings be arranged as illustrated in Fig. 7 at an angle of approximately 45 with the vertical axial plane extending through the center of the shaft, and that said fittings be in the lower portion of the bearings with the fitting for one bearing on one side of the vertical center and the'ttings for the other bearing on the other side of the vertical center. The lubricant fittings 58 preferably are connected to tubes 60 which lead to the exterior of the shell 2 in order to prevent liquid being cooled from entering said tubes.

The operation of the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 and manner of disposing of any liquid tending to enter the bearings is substantially the same as above described relative to the form using antifriction bearings as illustrated in Fig. 5.

It is believed obvious we have provided a bearing and mounting therefor particularly adapted for operation iu a wet atmosphere, as in cooling towers wherein liquid tending to enter the bearings is turned by barriers and thrown from the bearing housing, thereby reducing the tendency of the bearing to corrode or wear as is usually the case when liquid can enter into the bear- 1n s.

gWhat we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A bearing structure of the character described for rotatably mounting a shaft for operation in a wet atmosphere comprising, an elongate tubular housing having cylindrical end portions and an axial bore extending throughout the length of said housing, a shaft extending through said axial bore, bearing members sleeved on the shaft and mounted in the tubular housing adjacent each end thereof for rotatably mounting said shaft, closure members fixed to the shaft adjacent the ends of the housing and having portions extending over the respective cylindrical ends of the housing with operating clearance therebetween, a groove extending around the interior of each of the portions of the closure members extending over the ends of the housing, and rings in said grooves and sleeved on the peripheries of the end portions of the housing with small clearance between the sides of the rings and the sides of the grooves, said closure mem- -bers having channels extending from the exterior thereof and communicating with the grooves outwardly of the rings whereby rotation of the shaft and closure members causes the liquid entering the grooves to be forced outwardly through said channels.

2. A bearing structure of the character described for rotatably mounting a shaft for operation in a wet atmosphere comprising, an elongate tubular housing having cylindrical end portions and an axial bore extending throughout the length of said housing, a shaft extending through said axial bore, bearing members sleeved on the shaft and mounted in the tubular housing adjacent each end thereof for rotatably mounting said shaft, closure members xed to the shaft adjacent the ends of the housing, annular flanges on the closure members extending over the respective cylindrical ends of the housing with operating clearance therebetween, a groove extending around the interior of each of the portions of the annular flan'ges extending over the ends of the housing, and elastic seal rings in said grooves and sleeved on and resiliently engaging the peripheries of the end portions of the housing with small clearance between thesides of the seal rings and the sides of the grooves, said annular flanges having channels extending from the exterior thereof and communicating with the grooves outwardly of the seal rings whereby rotation of the shaft and closure members causes the liquid entering the grooves to be forced outwardly through said channels.

3. A bearing structure of the character described for rotatably mounting a shaft for operation in a wet atmosphere comprising, an elongate tubular housing having cylindrical ends and an axial bore extending throughout the length of said housing, means secured to the housing between the ends thereof for supporting said housing, said housing having spaced openings in the lower portion between the ends thereof for venting and draining said housing, a shaft extending through said axial bore, bearing members sleeved on the shaft and mounted in the tubular housing adjacent each end thereof for rotatably mounting said shaft, closure members fixed to the shaft adjacent the ends of the housing, annular flanges on the closure members extending over the respective cylindrical ends of the housing with operating clearance therebetween, a groove extending around the interior of the portions of the annular anges extending over the ends of the housing, and rings in said grooves and sleeved on the periphery of the end portions of the housing with small clearance between the sides of the rings and the sides of the grooves, said annular anges having channels extending from the exterior thereof and communicating with the grooves outwardly of the rings whereby rotation of the shaft and closure members causes any liquid entering the grooves to be forced outwardly through said channels.

4. A bearing structure of the character described for rotatably mounting a shaft for operation in a wet atmosphere comprising, an elongate tubular housing having cylindrical ends and an axial bore extending throughout the length of said housing, means secured to the housing between the ends thereof for supporting said housing, said housing having spaced openings in the lower portion between the ends thereof for venting and draining said housing, a shaft extending through said axial bore, bearingV members sleeved on the shaft and mounted in the tubular housing adjacent each end thereof for rotatably mounting said shaft, closure members fixed to the shaft adjacent the ends of the housing, annular flanges on the closure members extending over the respective cylindrical ends of the housing with operating clearance therebetween, spaced grooves extending around the interior of the portion of the annular flanges extending over the ends of the housing, and elastic seal rings in said grooves and sleeved on and resiliently engaging the periphery of the end portions of the housing with small clearance between the sides of the seal rings and the sides of the grooves, said annular anges having channels extending from the exterior thereof and communicating with the grooves outwardly of the seal rings whereby rotation of the shaft and closure members causes any liquid entering the grooves to be forced outwardly through said channels.

5. A bearing structure of the character described for rotatably mounting a shaft for operation in a wet atmosphere comprising, an elongate tubular housing having cylindrical ends and an axial bore extending therethrough, a mounting bracket having a portion adapted to be secured to a support and converging legs extending from said portion and terminating in diverging plates forming a seat for receiving the intermediate portion of the tubular housing, a clamp member having diverging plate portions arranged diametrically opposite the rstnamed diverging plate portions on the bracket for engaging said intermediate portion of the tubular housing, means at the ends of the respective diverging plate portions for drawing same together in clamping engagement with said intermediate portion of the tubular housing, a shaft extending through said axial bore in the tubular housing, bearing members sleeved on the shaft and mounted in the tubular housing adjacent each end thereof for rotatably mounting said shaft, closure members xed to the shaft adjacent the ends of the housing and having portions extending over the respective cylindrical ends of the housing with operating clearance therebetween, spaced grooves extending around the interior of the portions of the closure members extending over the ends of the housing, and seal rings in said grooves sleeved on the periphery of the end portions of the housing with small clearance between the sides of the seal rings and the sides of the. grooves, said closure members having channels extending from the exterior thereof and communicating with the grooves outwardly of the seal rings whereby rotation of the shaft and closure members causes any liquid entering the grooves to be forced outwardly through said channels.

6. A bearing structure of the character described for rotatably mounting a shaft for operation in a wet atmosphere comprising, an elongate tubular housing having cylindrical ends and an axial bore extending therethrough, a mounting bracket having a portion adapted to be secured to a support and converging legs extending from said portion and terminating in diverging plates forming a seat for receiving the intermediate portion of the tubular housing, a clamp member having diverging plate portions arranged diametrically opposite the firstnamed diverging plate portions on the bracket for engaging said intermediate portion of the tubular housing, means at the ends of the respective diverging plate portions for drawing same together in clamping engagement with said intermediate portion of the tubular housing, said housing having spaced openings in the lower portion between the ends thereof for venting and draining said housing, a shaft extending through said axial bore in the tubular housing, bearing members sleeved on the shaft and mounted in the tubular housing adjacent each end thereof for rotatably mounting said shaft, closure members fixed to the shaft adjacent the ends of the housing, annular flanges on the closure members extending over the respective cylindrical ends of the housing with operating clearance therebetween, spaced grooves extending around the interior of the portion of the annular anges extending over the ends of the housing, elastic seal rings in said grooves sleeved on and resiliently engaging the periphery of the end portions of the housing with small clearance between the sides of the seal rings and the sides of the grooves, said annular flanges having channels extending from the exterior thereof and communicating with the grooves outwardly of the seal rings whereby rotation of the shaft and closure members causes any liquid entering the grooves to be forced outwardly through Said channels, and means for introducing lubricant to the respective bearing members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 77,261 Crane Apr. 28, 1868 485,938 Hyatt Nov. 8, 1892 887,831 Muth May 19, 1908 1,287,166 Young Dec. 10, 19,18 2,165,916 Bissell July 11, 1939