Lubrication system for vertical spindle motor

Claim 1

In a motor having a substantially vertical spindle with a bearing toward the upper end thereof and incorporating cooling means for the winding of said motor, a lubrication system which is also a cooling system for enabling operation of said motor in a vacuum, comprising, means defining a lubricant reservoir at the lower end of said spindle, a passage in said spindle extending along the axis thereof and having at least a portion of increasing diameter upwardly to cause conduction of lubricant upwardly along its length by centrifugal force, said passage communicating with said reservoir at the lower end of said spindle and said portion of increasing diameter, said portion of said Passage in said spindle being of sufficient size and diameter increase to provide a lubricant flow substantially greater than that necessary to lubricate said bearing, said lubricant flow thereby serving as a coolant for said spindle, outlet means extending radially at the upper end of said spindle to provide communication from said passage to the outer surface of said spindle above said bearing, means for receiving lubricant emanating from said outlet means and for directing only the amount of lubricant necessary for proper lubrication to said bearing, and means defining a return path to said reservoir for lubricant received by said receiving means, said return path defining means having at least a portion located in thermal proximity to said cooling means for said motor winding.