Integral lubrication system

Claim 2

A lubrication system for high speed rotating machinery comprising: a lubricant sump; a rotating shaft having one hollow end operably associated with Said lubricant sump and the other end supporting a rotating assembly; bearing means rotatably supporting said hollow end of said rotating shaft, said bearing means including at least one bearing remote from said lubricant sump; and means operably associated with said rotating shaft to partially evacuate the interior of the hollow end of said rotating shaft, said means to partially evacuate the interior of the hollow end of said rotating shaft including a certrifugal slinger disposed around the exterior of the hollow end of said rotating shaft remote from said lubricant sump, the hollow end of said rotating shaft having openings therein associated with said slinger to communicate said slinger with the interior of the hollow end of said rotating shaft; said hollow end of said rotating shaft having openings therein associated with said bearing means, rotation of the partially evacuated hollow end of said rotating shaft forming a vortex of lubricant therein to deliver lubricant to said bearing means through said openings in said rotating shaft.

Claim 3

A lubrication system for high speed rotating machinery comprising: a housing including a lubricant sump at the lower end thereof; a vertically disposed shaft rotatably mounted within said housing having a lower hollow end extending into the lubricant sump at the lower end of said housing; bearing means mounted within said housing to rotatably support said hollow end of said vertically disposed shaft, said bearing means including at least one bearing above the level of the lubricant sump at the lower end of said housing; and means operably associated with said vertically disposed shaft to partially evacuate the interior of the hollow end of said shaft during rotation of said shaft, said means to partially evacuate the interior of the hollow end of said shaft during rotation of said shaft including a centrifugal slinger disposed on the exterior of the hollow end of said shaft above the at least one bearing above the level of the lubricant sump, the hollow end of said shaft having openings therein associated with said slinger to communicate said slinger with the interior of the hollow end of said shaft; said hollow end of said rotating shaft having openings therein associated with said bearing means, rotation of said shaft forming a vortex of lubricant within the partially evacuated hollow end of said shaft to deliver lubricant to said bearing means through said openings in said hollow end of said shaft.

Claim 4

A lubrication system for high speed rotating machinery comprising: a housing including a lubricant sump at the lower end thereof; a vertically disposed shaft rotatably mounted within said housing having a lower hollow end extending into the lubricant sump at the lower end of said housing; bearing means mounted within said housing to rotatably support said hollow end of said vertically disposed shaft, said bearing means including at least one bearing above the level of the lubricant sump at the lower end of said housing; and means operably associated with said vertically disposed shaft to partially evacuate the interior of the hollow end of said shaft during rotation of said shaft, said means to partially evacuate the interior of the hollow end of said shaft during rotation of said shaft including a centrifugal slinger disposed on the exterior of the hollow end of said shaft above the at least one bearing above the level of the lubricant sump, the hollow end of said shaft having openings therein associated with said slinger to communicate said slinger with the interior of the hollow end of said shaft; said hollow end of said rotating shaft having openings therein associated with said bearing means, rotation of said shaft forming a vortex of lubricant within the partially evacuated hollow end of said shaft to deliver lubricant to said bearing means through said openings in said hollow end of said shaft.

Claim 5

A lubrication system for high speed rotating machinery comprising: a housing including a lubricant sump at the lower end thereof; a vertically disposed shaft rotatably mounted within said housing having a lower hollow end extending into the lubricant sump at the lower end of said housing; a stationary lubricant guide positioned within said lubricant sump below the lower hollow end of said vertically disposed shaft, said guide including an upward projecting orifice extending into the hollow end of said shaft to substantially prevent prerotation of the lubricant in the upward projecting orifice before lubricant entry into the interior of the hollow end of said shaft; bearing means mounted within said housing to rotatably support said hollow end of said vertically disposed shaft, said bearing means including at least one bearing above the level of the lubricant sump at the lower end of said housing; and means operably associated with said vertically disposed shaft to partially evacuate the interior of the hollow end of said shaft during rotation of said shaft; said hollow end of said rotating shaft having openings therein associated with said bearing means, rotation of said shaft forming a vortex of lubricant within the partially evacuated hollow end of said shaft to deliver lubricant to said bearing means through said openings in said hollow end of said shaft.

Claim 6

A lubrication system for high speed rotating machinery comprising: a housing including a lubricant sump at the lower end thereof; a vertically disposed shaft rotatably mounted within said housing having a lower hollow end extending into the lubricant sump at the lower end of said housing; a stationary lubricant guide positioned within said lubricant sump below the lower hollow end of said vertically disposed shaft, said guide including an upward projecting orifice extending into the hollow end of said shaft to substantially prevent prerotation of the lubricant in the upward projecting orifice before lubricant entry into the interior of the hollow end of said shaft; bearing means mounted within said housing to rotatably support said hollow end of said vertically disposed shaft, said bearing means including at least one bearing above the level of the lubricant sump at the lower end of said housing; and means operably associated with said vertically disposed shaft to partially evacuate the interior of the hollow end of said shaft during rotation of said shaft; said hollow end of said rotating shaft having openings therein associated with said bearing means, rotation of said shaft forming a vortex of lubricant within the partially evacuated hollow end of said shaft to deliver lubricant to said bearing means through said openings in said hollow end of said shaft.

Claim 7

A lubrication system for high speed rotating machinery comprising: a housing including a lubricant sUmp at the lower end thereof; a vertically disposed shaft assembly including a lower hollow shaft rotatably mounted within said housing and extending into the lubricant sump and an upper shaft supporting a rotating assembly and including a lower portion extending down into the lower hollow shaft; means operably disposed between the lower portion of said upper shaft and the lower hollow shaft to tension the lower portion of said upper shaft; bearing means positioned within said housing around said hollow shaft to rotatably support said shaft assembly, said bearing means including at least one bearing above the level of the lubricant sump at the lower end of said housing; and means operably associated with said vertically disposed shaft assembly to partially evacuate the interior of the lower hollow shaft; said lower hollow shaft having openings therein associated with said bearing means, rotation of said shaft assembly forming a vortex of lubricant within the partially evacuated lower hollow shaft to deliver lubricant to said bearing means through said openings in said lower hollow shaft.

Claim 8

A lubrication system for high speed rotating machinery comprising: a housing including a lubricant sUmp at the lower end thereof; a vertically disposed shaft assembly including a lower hollow shaft rotatably mounted within said housing and extending into the lubricant sump and an upper shaft supporting a rotating assembly and including a lower portion extending down into the lower hollow shaft; means operably disposed between the lower portion of said upper shaft and the lower hollow shaft to tension the lower portion of said upper shaft; bearing means positioned within said housing around said hollow shaft to rotatably support said shaft assembly, said bearing means including at least one bearing above the level of the lubricant sump at the lower end of said housing; and means operably associated with said vertically disposed shaft assembly to partially evacuate the interior of the lower hollow shaft; said lower hollow shaft having openings therein associated with said bearing means, rotation of said shaft assembly forming a vortex of lubricant within the partially evacuated lower hollow shaft to deliver lubricant to said bearing means through said openings in said lower hollow shaft.

Claim 9

The lubrication system of claim 4 wherein said rotating assembly supported on the upper shaft of said vertically disposed shaft assembly includes an inlet extending around the lubricant sump housing so that fluid flowing through said inlet cools said lubricant sump, said inlet having heat transfer surfaces adjacent said lubricant sump.

Claim 10

The lubrication system of claim 5 and in addition a stationary lubricant guide positioned within said lubricant sump and extending upward into said lower hollow shaft to prevent prerotation of the lubricant before the lubricant enters the lower hollow shaft.

Claim 11

The lubrication system of claim 6 and in addition seal means buffered by the rotating assembly inlet fluid disposed between said rotating assembly and said bearing means.

Claim 12

The lubrication system for high speed rotating machinery of claim 4 wherein said means to partially evacuate the interior of the lower hollow shaft comprises centrifugal gas pumping means having an inlet in the lower portion of the upper shaft extending down into the hollow shaft.

Claim 13

A lubrication system for high speed rotating machinery comprising: a housing having a lubricant sump at the lower end thereof; bearing means mounted within said housing including a vertically extending bearing carrier, at least two bearings mounted within said bearing carrier, at least one of said bearings mounted above the lubricant sump level, and a horizontally extending thrust bearing mounted across the bottom of the vertically extending bearing carrier in said lubricant sump; a vertically disposed shaft assembly including a lower hollow shaft mounted within said bearing carrier and supported by said at least two bearings and said thrust bearing, and an upper shaft supporting a compressor wheel and a turbine wheel, said upper shaft having a shaft extension which extends down into the lower hollow shaft, said horizontally extending thrust bearing having a central opening to the interior of said lower hollow shaft; compressor housing means positioned around said compressor wheel and including inlet means extending around the lubricant sump housing so that compressor inlet fluid flowing through said inlet means cools said lubricant sump, said inlet means including heat transfer surfaces adjacent said lubricant sump; turbine housing means positioned around said turbine wheel; labyrinth seal means including a radiation shield disposed between said compressor wheel and said turbine wheel; means operably associated with said vertically disposed shaft assembly to partially evacuate the lower hollow shaft; and compressor inlet fluid buffered seal means disposed between said bearing means and said compressor wheel to prevent lubricant from escaping from the lubricant sump; said lower hollow shaft having openings therein associated with said at least two bearings to permIt the delivery of lubricant to said bearings during rotation of said shaft assembly when a lubricant vortex is formed within said lower hollow shaft; said vertically extending bearing carrier and said horizontally extending thrust bearing having openings for the return of lubricant from said at least two bearings to said lubricant sump.

Claim 14

A lubrication system for high speed rotating machinery comprising: a housing having a lubricant sump at the lower end thereof; bearing means mounted within said housing including a vertically extending bearing carrier, at least two bearings mounted within said bearing carrier, at least one of said bearings mounted above the lubricant sump level, and a horizontally extending thrust bearing mounted across the bottom of the vertically extending bearing carrier in said lubricant sump; a vertically disposed shaft assembly including a lower hollow shaft mounted within said bearing carrier and supported by said at least two bearings and said thrust bearing, and an upper shaft supporting a compressor wheel and a turbine wheel, said upper shaft having a shaft extension which extends down into the lower hollow shaft, said horizontally extending thrust bearing having a central opening to the interior of said lower hollow shaft; compressor housing means positioned around said compressor wheel and including inlet means extending around the lubricant sump housing so that compressor inlet fluid flowing through said inlet means cools said lubricant sump, said inlet means including heat transfer surfaces adjacent said lubricant sump; turbine housing means positioned around said turbine wheel; labyrinth seal means including a radiation shield disposed between said compressor wheel and said turbine wheel; means operably associated with said vertically disposed shaft assembly to partially evacuate the lower hollow shaft; and compressor inlet fluid buffered seal means disposed between said bearing means and said compressor wheel to prevent lubricant from escaping from the lubricant sump; said lower hollow shaft having openings therein associated with said at least two bearings to permIt the delivery of lubricant to said bearings during rotation of said shaft assembly when a lubricant vortex is formed within said lower hollow shaft; said vertically extending bearing carrier and said horizontally extending thrust bearing having openings for the return of lubricant from said at least two bearings to said lubricant sump.

Claim 15

The lubrication system of claim 9 wherein said compressor inlet fluid buffered seal means comprises: a substantially frusto conical lubricant sump cap extending from the lubricant sump housing at its base to around the shaft assembly and a substantially frusto conical lubricant sump cap shroud positioned around and spaced from said lubricant sump cap to form a passageway therebetween, said lubricant sump cap having openings from the shaft assembly to the interior of the lubricant sump housing, said lubricant sump cap shroud having openings at its base to permit the entry of compressor inlet fluid to the passageway between said lubricant sump cap shroud and said lubricant sump cap.

Claim 16

A lubrication system for high speed rotating machinery comprising: a housing having a lubricant sump at the lower end thereof; bearing means mounted within said housing including a vertically extending bearing carrier, at least two bearings mounted within said bearing carrier, at least one of said bearings mounted above the lubricant sump level, and a horizontally extending thrust bearing mounted across the bottom of the vertically extending bearing carrier in said lubricant sump; a vertically disposed shaft assembly including a lower hollow shaft mounted within said bearing carrier and supported by said at least two bearings and said thrust bearing, and an upper shaft supporting a rotary assembly at the upper end of said housing, said upper shaft having a shaft extension which extends down into the lower hollow shaft, said horizontally extending thrust bearing having a central opening to the interior of said lower hollow shaft; and means operably associated with said vertically disposed shaft assembly to partially evacuate the lower hollow shaft; said lower hollow shaft having openings therein associated with said at least two bearings to permit the delivery of lubricant to said bearings during rotation of said shaft assembly when a lubricant vortex is formed within said lower hollow shaft; said vertically extending bearing carrier and said horizontally extending thrust bearing having openings for the return of lubricant from said at least two bearings to said lubricant sump.

Claim 17

A lubrication system for high speed rotating machinery comprising: a housing having a lubricant sump at the lower end thereof; bearing means mounted within said housing including a vertically extending bearing carrier, at least two bearings mounted within said bearing carrier, at least one of said bearings mounted above the lubricant sump level, and a horizontally extending thrust bearing mounted across the bottom of the vertically extending bearing carrier in said lubricant sump; a vertically disposed shaft assembly including a lower hollow shaft mounted within said bearing carrier and supported by said at least two bearings and said thrust bearing, and an upper shaft supporting a rotary assembly at the upper end of said housing, said upper shaft having a shaft extension which extends down into the lower hollow shaft, said horizontally extending thrust bearing having a central opening to the interior of said lower hollow shaft; and means operably associated with said vertically disposed shaft assembly to partially evacuate the lower hollow shaft; said lower hollow shaft having openings therein associated with said at least two bearings to permit the delivery of lubricant to said bearings during rotation of said shaft assembly when a lubricant vortex is formed within said lower hollow shaft; said vertically extending bearing carrier and said horizontally extending thrust bearing having openings for the return of lubricant from said at least two bearings to said lubricant sump.

Claim 18

The lubrication system for high speed rotating machinery of claim 11 wherein said means to partially evacuate the lower hollow shaft comprises centrifugal gas pumping means having an inlet in the upper shaft extension which extends down into the lower hollow shaft.

Claim 19

The lubrication system of claim 11 and in addition a rotary assembly inlet fluid buffered seal means disposed between the rotary assembly inlet and the lubricant sump, said seal means comprising a substantially frusto conical lubricant sump cap extending from the lubricant sump housing at its base to around the shaft assembly and a substantially frusto conical lubricant sump cap shroud positioned around and spaced from said lubricant sump cap to form a passageway therebetween, said lubricant sump cap having openings from the shaft assembly to the interior of the lubricant sump housing, said lubricant sump cap shroud having openings at its base to permit the entry of rotary assembly inlet fluid to the passageway between said lubricant sump cap shroud and said lubricant sump cap.

Claim 20

A lubrication system for high speed rotating machinery comprising: a housing including a lubricant sump at the lower end thereof; a vertically disposed shaft assembly including a lower hollow shaft rotatably mounted within said housing and extending into the lubricant sump and an upper shaft supporting rotating assembly; bearing means positioned within said housing around said hollow shaft to rotatably support said shaft assembly, said bearing means including at least one bearing above the level of the lubricant sump at the lower end of said housing, said lower hollow shaft having openings therein associated with said bearing means; the upper shaft of said vertically disposed shaft assembly including a lower portion extending down into the interior of the lower hollow shaft, said lower hollow shaft having an interior shoulder above the hollow shaft opening associated with the uppermost bearing above the level of the lubricant sump; a spacer tube concentrically disposed in a spaced relationship between the lower portion of the upper shaft and the lower hollow shaft extending downward from the interior shoulder of the lower hollow shaft to near the bottom of the lower portion of the upper shaft; means to place said spacer tube in compression between interior shoulder of the lower hollow shaft and the bottom of the lower portion of the upper shaft to tension the lower portion of said upper shaft; and centrifugal gas pumping means operably associated with said vertically disposed shaft assembly to partially evacuate the lower hollow shaft; rotation of said vertically disposed shaft forming a vortex of lubricant within the partially evacuated lower hollow shaft to deliver lubricant to said bearing means through the openings in the lower hollow shaft.

Claim 21

A lubrication system for high speed rotating machinery comprising: a housing including a lubricant sump at the lower end thereof; a vertically disposed shaft assembly including a lower hollow shaft rotatably mounted within said housing and extending into the lubricant sump and an upper shaft supporting rotating assembly; bearing means positioned within said housing around said hollow shaft to rotatably support said shaft assembly, said bearing means including at least one bearing above the level of the lubricant sump at the lower end of said housing, said lower hollow shaft having openings therein associated with said bearing means; the upper shaft of said vertically disposed shaft assembly including a lower portion extending down into the interior of the lower hollow shaft, said lower hollow shaft having an interior shoulder above the hollow shaft opening associated with the uppermost bearing above the level of the lubricant sump; a spacer tube concentrically disposed in a spaced relationship between the lower portion of the upper shaft and the lower hollow shaft extending downward from the interior shoulder of the lower hollow shaft to near the bottom of the lower portion of the upper shaft; means to place said spacer tube in compression between interior shoulder of the lower hollow shaft and the bottom of the lower portion of the upper shaft to tension the lower portion of said upper shaft; and centrifugal gas pumping means operably associated with said vertically disposed shaft assembly to partially evacuate the lower hollow shaft; rotation of said vertically disposed shaft forming a vortex of lubricant within the partially evacuated lower hollow shaft to deliver lubricant to said bearing means through the openings in the lower hollow shaft.

Claim 22

The lubrication system for high speed rotating machinery of claim 14 wherein said centrifugal gas pumping means includes a centrifugal slinger disposed on the exterior of the lower hollow shaft above the uppermost bearing above the level of the lubricant sump, said lower hollow shaft having openings therein associated with said slinger to communicate said slinger with the interior of the lower hollow shaft and the space between the lower portion of said upper shaft and said concentrically disposed spacer tube, the lower portion of said upper shaft having passageways at the bottom thereof to communicate the rotational centerline of said shaft assembly with the space between the lower portion of said upper shaft and said concentrically disposed spacer tube and provide an inlet for said centrifugal slinger.