IMPLEMENTATION THEREOF

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 61/985, 171, filed April 28, 2014, entitled "LUBRICATING MEMBERS, LUBRICATING ASSEMBLY, AND LUBRICANT DISPERSAL SYSTEM COMPRISED THEREOF." This application relates to commonly-owned applications identified as U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 14/556,170, filed on November 30, 2014 and entitled "DEVICE TO DIRECT LUBRICANT IN A LUBRICATING ASSEMBLY AND IMPLEMENTATION THEREOF" and U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 14/556, 169, filed November 30, 2014 and entitled "DEVICE TO RETAIN LUBRICANT IN A LUBRICATING ASSEMBLY AND IMPLEMENTATION THEREOF."

BACKGROUND

[0002] This disclosure relates generally to lubricating systems found on compressors and machinery that can pressurize a working fluid and, more specifically, to an improved plate member that is configured to better disperse lubricant among components in the compressor.

[0003] Most industrial machinery incorporates a myriad of moving parts that are necessary for the machinery to perform its intended functions. Compressors, for example, include many parts that are in contact and move (e.g., rotate, translate, etc.) relative to other parts, often at high speeds and/or under heavy loads. Parts that operate under these conditions for long periods of time can wear, which can eventually cause failures that interrupt operation of the machinery. To avoid such problems, compressors will utilize lubricants such as oils, greases, and like substances that can reduce friction between moving parts. The lubricants can help to avoid breakdown of the moving parts. Nominally, an effective lubricating fluid management design is required to disperse the lubricant to the rotating components and collect it for further use.

[0004] One particular lubricating fluid management design is a splash lubricating oil system. Examples of these systems have a shaft and a flat plate body (or "slinger") having a circular or disc shape and a rolled peripheral edge. In operation, the shaft member rotates the slinger to pass the rolled peripheral edge through the reservoir of lubricant. Rotation of the slinger generates centrifugal action that effectively transfers, or slings, the lubricant from the rolled peripheral edge. This action splashes the lubricant randomly on the interior surfaces of the compressor. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0005] This disclosure describes improvements to the members found in splash lubricating oil systems. These improvements provide features that can enhance performance, extend useful life, simplify manufacture, and make the members more amenable to consistent fabrication constraints (e.g., tolerances). As noted more below, at least one improvement provides a slinger member that includes a reinforcement member. Examples of the reinforcement member effectively reduce, and often prevent, deflection of the slinger member during manufacture and operation as part of the lubricating system. Another improvement provides a slinger member with a hub member that is configured to prevent rotation of the slinger member about the shaft.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] Reference is now made briefly to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0007] FIG. 1 depicts a cross-section of an exemplary embodiment of a lubricating system as part of an example of a compressor, shown illustratively as a blower;

[0008] FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view an example of a lubricating system for use on the compressor of FIG. 1;

[0009] FIG. 3 depicts the lubricating system of FIG. 2 in exploded form;

[0010] FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of the lubricating system of FIG. 2 with parts removed to focus on an example of a shaft member and a slinger member;

[0011] FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view an example of the slinger member of FIG. 4;

[0012] FIG. 6 depicts a side view of the slinger member of FIG. 5;

[0013] FIG. 7 depicts a perspective, cross-section view of the slinger member taken at line 7-7 of FIG. 5; and

[0014] FIG. 8 depicts a detail view of the slinger member of FIG. 7.

[0015] Where applicable like reference characters designate identical or corresponding components and units throughout the several views, which are not to scale unless otherwise indicated. Moreover, the embodiments disclosed herein may include elements that appear in one or more of the several views or in combinations of the several views. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] The embodiments herein incorporate improvements that address certain problems found in conventional lubricating systems for use with compressors. As used herein, the term "compressor" describes machinery (including compressors and blowers) that acts on a working fluid, for example, to pressurize the working fluid to distribute on a process line. Examples of the process lines may be found in various applications including chemical, petro-chemical, resource recovery and delivery, refinery, and like sectors and industries. However, this disclosure does not foreclose use of the improvements, in whole or in part, in applications that can benefit from the distribution of lubricant that arises from the embodiments contemplated herein.

[0017] Notably, after multiple blowers failed in the field, resulting in expensive warranty claims, an engineering analysis was undertaken of several conventional lubricating systems, including 3-D element modeling, to determine root causes for the failures and to identify design modifications that would address the problems. Evidence from this analysis suggested that the rotating components (e.g., the shaft member and the slinger member) in the conventional lubricating system may be moving relative to each other due to vibrations and dynamic forces during operation. In particular, it was found that the coupling of the conventional slinger member to the conventional shaft member may loosen, which allowed the conventional slinger member to move relative to the conventional shaft member. It was also found that the conventional slinger member may distort beyond its flatness requirement, typically a tolerance of ± 1 mm (- 0.030 inches).

[0018] This disclosure provides embodiments of a slinger member that address the findings of this analysis. These embodiments can have a generally flat, or planar, plate body that incorporates a reinforcement member in the form of, for example, one or more radial ribs disposed circumferentially about the center axis of the flat plate body. This reinforcement member increases the stiffness of the flat plate body. During manufacturing, the stiffer flat plate body can result in higher part yield (e.g., less scrap and dimensional deviations). The improvements in stiffness are also beneficial during operation of the lubricating system because the slinger member, with the reinforcement member, deflects much less than conventional parts without any reinforcement. As a further improvement, the lubricating system may incorporate a new coupling mechanism (e.g., a keyed joint) that prevents relative rotation between the slinger member and the shaft. [0019] FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a lubricating assembly 100 as seen in a cross-sectional view of a compressor. The lubricating assembly 100 is part of a lubricating system 102 found here in a blower 104. In connection with the illustrated embodiment, the blower 104 has a first side 106 and a second side 108, each of which can incorporate a cover member (e.g., a first cover member 110 and a second cover member 112). The cover members 110, 112 may form a chamber 1 14 that can house a fluid 116, typically a lubricant (and/or friction reducing substance) with viscosity suitable for lubricating parts of the blower apparatus 104. On the first side 106, the lubricating system 102 resides proximate the lower part of the chamber 1 14 to locate one or more parts of the lubricant assembly 100 in contact with the fluid 116.

[0020] Examples of the lubricating system 102 are also known as "oil slinger" systems and/or "splash lubrication oil systems." As noted herein, these names are synonymous of systems that operate rotating components to move, or "sling," lubricant (or other fluids) from a lower part of the chamber 114 to an upper part of the chamber 114. This action disperses the lubricant onto components (e.g., gears, bearings, etc.) that require lubricant to reduce friction and avoid wear and premature breakdown. The lubricating assembly 100 is configured to capture and retain some of the lubricant that falls back down toward the bottom of the chamber 114 (FIG. 1). These configurations direct the lubricant into the interior components of the lubricating system 102, thereby increasing the availability of lubricant to maintain appropriate lubrication of components during operation of the lubricating system 102.

[0021] FIGS. 2 and 3 depict the lubricating system 102 separated from the blower 104

(FIG. 1) to highlight some additional features. FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of an example of the lubricating system 102. FIG. 3 depicts an example of the lubricating system 102 in exploded form.

[0022] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the lubricating assembly 100 can include a slinger member 1 18, a bearing clamp member 120, and a lubricant guide member 122. The lubricating system 102 may include a shaft member 124 and a bearing assembly 126. In one example, the lubricant guide member 122 is configured to couple with the bearing clamp member 120 in position between the slinger member 118 and the bearing assembly 126. As best shown in FIG. 3, the bearing assembly 126 can include a bearing carrier member 128 and a bearing member 130. The lubricating system 102 can further include a locking member 132, such as a peripheral lock nut. For reference, the lubricating assembly 100 and lubricating system 102 are shown to have a front side 134 (also, "first side 134"), a back side 136 (also, "second side 136"), and a longitudinal axis 138 extending therethrough. The designation of the terms "front side" and "back side," however, also translate to individual members, e.g., the bearing clamp member 120 and the lubricant guide member 122, as indicated during the discussion herein. Likewise, use of the longitudinal axis 138 can extend to one or more of the other components of the lubricating assembly 100, as necessary.

[0023] In one implementation, the shaft member 124 has a first end, a second end, and an axis that aligns with the longitudinal axis 138. The shaft member 124 can insert into one or more components. This feature positions each of the slinger member 118, the bearing clamp member 120, and the components of the bearing assembly 126 on the shaft member 124 in alignment with the axis. On the front side 134, the first end of the shaft member 124 is typically exposed to accept the locking member 132, which engages the first end of the shaft member 124 to secure the parts of the lubricating system 102 together. The second end of the shaft member 124 can receive a belt and/or other drive mechanism. During operation of the lubricating system 102, the drive mechanism can rotate the shaft member 124 about the longitudinal axis 138. The shaft member 124, in turn, rotates the slinger member 1 18, which picks up lubricant from the bottom of the chamber 1 14 (FIG. 1) and slings the lubricant into the rest of the machinery.

[0024] FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of an example of the lubricating system 202 with several parts removed to focus this example on the slinger member 218 and the shaft member 224. The slinger member 218 includes a plate body 240 with, for example, a generally circular, annular, or disc shape. The plate body 240 can have a central axis 242 (also, "first axis 242") and an outer peripheral edge 244 that circumscribes the central axis 242. The outer peripheral edge 244 can form a curved and/or a rolled outer boundary of the slinger member 218. The slinger member 218 also includes a hub member 246 configured to couple with the plate body 240. As illustrated, the hub member 246 can have an elongated body, generally cylindrical in form and with a rounded and/or contoured outer surface. In some configurations, the elongated body may have one or more flat sides, typical of a rectangular and/or square shape. The hub member 246 has a central bore 248 forming an opening (or "aperture") through the elongated body. This opening is configured to receive the shaft member 224 therein. The opening can align with the central axis 242 of the plate body 240, although, absent the hub member 246, the central bore 248 (also "central opening 248") may be disposed and/or formed in the slinger member 218 and/or plate body 240. In one example, the shaft member 224 is configured to insert into the central bore 248. [0025] The central bore 248 has an internal surface 250 that circumscribes the central axis 242. This internal surface 250 may be smooth, or otherwise featureless, to compliment the surface finish of the shaft member 224. This smooth surface can allow the shaft member 224 to easily insert into the central bore 248. In one embodiment, the plate body 240 may be coupled to the hub member 246 with a fastener member 252. Examples of the fastener member 252 can include one or more rivets, threaded fasteners (e.g., screws) and like elements, although this disclosure contemplates use of welds and, in some cases, unitary and/or monolithic construction of the plate body 240 and hub member 246. In another example, the hub member 246 is formed integrally with the plate body 240.

[0026] It may be desirable that the hub member 246 couple securely with the shaft member 224 in a manner that will not loosen due to the vibration and dynamic loading that occurs during operation of the lubricating system 202. To this end, the system 202 may utilize a coupling mechanism to facilitate the connection between the shaft member 224 and the hub member 246. This coupling mechanism may be configured to engage each of the slinger member 218 and the shaft member 224 to prevent rotation of the slinger member 218 about the shaft member 224 and/or about the central axis 242.

[0027] The illustrated embodiment in FIG. 4 incorporates an example of the coupling mechanism that includes one or more coupling members (e.g., a first coupling member 254 and a second coupling member 256). This example has one of the coupling members 254, 256 disposed on a surface of the shaft member 224 and one of the coupling members 254, 256 disposed on the internal surface 250 of the central bore 248, respectively. The coupling members 254, 256 may be configured to cooperate with one another to prevent movement (e.g., rotation) of the slinger member 218 relative to the shaft member 224 about the central axis 242.

[0028] In one implementation, these configurations may embody a key-and-slot formation that comprises elements including a recess and a protrusion, also noted herein as a "slot" and a "boss." These elements may extend in a direction (generally, longitudinally) along the central axis 242. This type of formation uses the slot to form a longitudinal recess that penetrates a surface of one of the shaft member 224 and the slinger member 218 (for example, the internal surface 250). The boss, on the other hand, forms a longitudinal protrusion that extends radially away from the surface of one of the shaft member 224 and the slinger member 218 (for example, the internal surface 250). The longitudinal slot can be configured to receive the longitudinal protrusion with the shaft member 224 inserted into the central bore 248 on the slinger member 218. In one embodiment, the first coupling member 254 can comprise the longitudinal protrusion on the internal surface 250. The longitudinal protrusion extends radially away from the internal surface 250 and extends longitudinally along the central axis 242. The first coupling member 254 may, alternatively, comprise the longitudinal recess. In one example, the longitudinal recess penetrates the internal surface 250 (i.e., extends radially away from the central axis 242) into the hub member 246 and extends longitudinally on the internal surface 250 along the central axis 242. This disclosure does contemplate other configuration for the coupling mechanism, using one or both of the coupling members 254, 256 as well as or in addition to other combinations of elements that can minimize, if not prevent, relative movement between the hub member 246 and the shaft member 224.

[0029] Turning next to FIG. 5, which depicts just the slinger member 218, the plate body

240 can have a flat, generally planar section with an oil sling region 258 near the periphery. Construction of the plate body 240 can utilize various materials and techniques. These materials include, for example, metals (e.g., steel, stainless steel, etc.), often in the form of thin sheets. These thin sheets can undergo various forming processes that bend, twist, and generally manipulate the material to form one or more features disclosed herein. Manufacture may utilize various machining processes (e.g., drilling, cutting, turning, etc.) and other techniques (e.g., bending, forming, stamping, etc.). In the planar section, for example, the surface finish of the plate body 240 can be smooth and/or typical of surfaces that undergo secondary processes (e.g., sand blasting) and/or coating processes (e.g., powder coating) during manufacture.

[0030] As also shown in FIG. 5, the flat section can include a reinforcement member 260 that is useful to prevent deformation and/or deflection of the plate body 240. These improvements benefit manufacture of the plate body 240 as well as operation of the slinger member 218 as part of the lubricating system 202 (FIG. 4). The oil sling region 258 defines an area of the plate body 240 that is disposed radially outboard of the dashed line on the diagram. This area of the plate body 246 can include a lubricant collection member 262 disposed, at least partially, about the outer peripheral edge 244. The reinforcement member 260 can comprise a plurality of rib members (e.g., a first rib member 264 and a second rib member 266). The rib members 264, 266 can be spaced annularly apart from one another and/or disposed circumferentially (or in circumferential arrangement) about the central axis 242. The plurality of rib members can form an array with multiple rib members, for example, in which the array includes at least five (5) rib members disposed uniformly about the central axis 242. In the example of FIG. 5, the array has six (6) rib members, however the array may have more or less rib members based, for example, on the size and dimensions of the plate body 240. For example, the rib members may number and be configured to cover about 1.5 % of the total surface area of the plate body 240.

[0031] The construction of the rib members 264, 265 in FIG. 5 features a rib body 268 with a first end 270 and a second end 272. In one configuration, the second end 272 is spaced radially apart from the first end 270 along a second axis 274 that extends through each of the first end 270, the second end 272, and the central axis 242. The first end 270 can reside proximate the central axis 242 and the second end 272 resides proximate the oil sling region 258. Broadly, the rib body 268 can assume an oval shape (also "elliptical shape") that is symmetrical about the second axis 274 and about a centerline (not shown) that bisects the oval shape between the first end 270 and the second end 272. Each of the ends 270, 272 can be curved with a radius, as desired. The oval shape can also have planar and/or flat side edges that are parallel to the second axis 274 and/or parallel to one another. The planar side edges can extend between the curved ends, thus forming a closed looped configuration for the rib body 268.

[0032] In FIG. 5, the reinforcement member 260 is radially inside of the lubricant collection member 262. In one example, the rib body 260 can have a length (L) that is configured to keep the rib members (e.g., rib members 264, 266) out of the lubricant during operation of the lubricant system 202 (FIG. 4). Artisans in the relevant mechanical arts will understand the relative dimensions for the oval shape. In one example, the length (L) can measure the distance between the center of the curved ends 270, 272. Alternatively the length (L) can identify the distance from points tangent to the curved ends 270, 272. Values for the length (L) can vary in relation to the size of the plate body 240. For example, finite element modeling analysis found that the length (L) may reflect values of about 30 % of the radius of the plate body 240, and/or within a range of 25 % to 40 % of the radius of the plate body 240, to enhance stiffness of the component. With respect to the slotted features in the embodiments herein, the length (L) may be measured from the outer periphery of the rounded ends or from somewhere inside of the rounded ends, i.e., from the center point of the rounded ends and/or from a point proximate the center point of the rounded ends. In one example, the value is about 82 mm (e.g., 3.25 inches). In one example, the radial distance of the oil sling region 258 is in a range of approximately 30 mm to 40 mm, as measured from the outer peripheral edge 244 towards the central axis 242 as desired.

[0033] FIG. 6 depicts a side view of an example of the slinger member 218. Of note in this example is that the plate body 240 can be configured with a planar portion 276 and a trough portion 2a78. In one construction, the planar portion 276 is formed integrally with the trough portion 278. The flat portion 276 will, typically, include one or more of the rib members 264, 266, the configuration of these rib members 264, 266 being described herein. In one example, the rib body 268 can be configured to protrude from a surface of the plate body 240. This configuration forms a boss protrusion that extends longitudinally away from a surface of the plate body 240 in a direction along the central axis 242, as denoted generally by numeral 280. As noted above, the boss protrusion 280 may also extend radially in a direction away from the central axis 242 towards the outer peripheral edge 244. In one example, the boss protrusion 280 may be formed integrally with the plate body 240, for example, by way of a press and or stamping process. This process can apply pressure to a die (or like implement) on the back side 236 of the plate body 240, thus forming a recess 282 on the back side 236 and the boss protrusion 280 on the front side 234. Examples of the die can have be generally shaped to produce the rib body 260 with a form factor, an example of which includes the elongated slot with rounded edges at the ends 272, 274 shown throughout the one or more figures of this disclosure. In one embodiment, construction of the boss formation 280 and/or the recess formation 282 may utilize one or more separate pieces that couple with the plate body 240 to form the rib members 264, 266 of the slinger member 218.

[0034] The lubricant collection member 262 can be formed by the rolled and/or curved edge of the plate body 240. Broadly, the configuration of lubricant collection member 262 provides particular utility as relates to the implementation of the slinger member 218 and the lubricating system 200 in the blower 104 of FIG. 1. During operation, this rolled edge (and the oil sling region 258, generally) is exposed to the fluid 1 16 (FIG. 1) in the bottom of the chamber 114 (FIG. 1) when the lubricating system 202 (FIG. 4) is implemented in the rotating machinery (e.g., blower apparatus 104 of FIG. 1). The rolled edge can collect lubricant from the bottom of the chamber 1 14 (FIG. 1) and facilitate dispersal of the lubricant by way of the centrifugal forces described above.

[0035] FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate details for one configuration of the lubricant collection member 262. FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a cross-section of the slinger member 218 taken at line 7-7 of FIG. 5. FIG. 8 is a detail view of the slinger member 218 in FIG. 7.

[0036] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, with attention to the outer peripheral edge 244 and the trough portion 278, the plate body 240 has a bend radius that forms the lubricant collection member 262 with a rolled edge member 284. The rolled edge member 284 can have one or more openings 286 disposed circumferentially about the axis 242 (FIG. 7), typically equally spaced apart from one another. The rolled edge member 284 can also form an internal reservoir 288 with an opening 290 disposed radially interior to the outer peripheral edge 244. In one embodiment, on the back side 236, the bend radius forms a first portion 292 and a second portion 294 of the plate body 240. The first portion 292 is spaced apart from the second portion 294 longitudinally along the central axis 242 (FIG. 7), thus forming the internal reservoir 288 therebetween.

[0037] With reference again to FIGS. 1, 4, and 8, during operation of the lubricating system 104 (FIG. 1), the shaft member 224 (FIG. 4) transfers movement to the slinger member 218. This movement causes at least the rolled edge member 284 to pass through the reservoir 116 (FIG. 1) of lubricant at the "bottom" of the rotation. The internal reservoir 288 can retain a volume of this lubricant, effectively operating to "scoop" lubricant from the bottom of the chamber 1 14 (FIG. 1) into the opening 290 of the rolled edge member 284. Continued rotation of the slinger member 218 generates centripetal forces at the "top" of the rotation that ejects the lubricant through the openings 286. The ejected lubricant exits the internal reservoir 288 in a direction that disperses the lubricant radially away from the slinger member 218. The configuration of the openings 286 can vary in many respects (e.g., in number, spacing, size, etc.) to control the efficacy of the lubricant system 202 (FIG. 4) to disperse lubricant, e.g., about the blower 104 (FIG. 1).

[0038] In view of the foregoing discussion, embodiments of the slinger member address problems found during engineering analysis and study of the operation of conventional oil slinger systems and/or splash lubrication oil systems. One of the improvements introduces the hub member and coupling mechanism to prevent rotation of the hub member relative to the shaft. Another improvement introduces the reinforcement member (e.g., the rib members) to stiffen the plate body. This reinforcement member can prevent the slinger member from shifting during the manufacturing process (e.g., stamping). For example, use of the rib members on the plate body can meet a flatness requirement of plus or minus 1 mm (~ 0.030 inches) during manufacture. This feature of the improved slinger member can increase the production yield during manufacture and overall operation of the lubricant systems disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the rolled edge member can also operate, in whole or in part, to provide increased torsional stiffness to decrease deflections in the plate body.

[0039] As used herein, an element or function recited in the singular and proceeded with the word "a" or "an" should be understood as not excluding plural said elements or functions, unless such exclusion is explicitly recited. Furthermore, references to "one embodiment" of the claimed invention should not be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features.

[0040] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.