Motor grounding seal
First Claim
1. A bearing isolator for shaft grounding comprising:
- a. a stator surrounding a shaft and affixed to a housing, the stator having a main body and projections extending both axially and radially beyond the main body;
b. a rotor surrounding the shaft, the rotor secured to the shaft, the rotor having a main body and projections extending both radially and axially;
c. a circumferential receptor groove formed in the stator, wherein the receptor groove faces the shaft; and
d. a circumferential conductive insert, the conductive insert placed within the receptor groove and engaged with the shaft to conduct electrical currents away from the shaft to the housing, wherein the rotor and the stator are abutted and intermeshed with each other on the shaft, the rotor radial projections extending radially outwardly farther than any radial projections of the stator.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A shaft seal assembly is disclosed having a stator including a main body and axial and radial projections therefrom. The rotor may be radially extended to encompass the axial and radial projections from said stator. A passageway formed between the radial projection of stator and rotor results in an axial passageway having its opening facing rearwardly from the rotor and away from the source of impinging coolant and/or contaminant. A concentric circumferential receptor groove in the stator facing the housing allows insertion of a conductive insert for transmission of electrostatic charge away from the shaft through the shaft seal assembly to the housing and ground. The receptor groove is opposite the axial passageway and provides for both a substantially lower contaminant environment and improved engagement with the conductive insert.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A bearing isolator for shaft grounding comprising:
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a. a stator surrounding a shaft and affixed to a housing, the stator having a main body and projections extending both axially and radially beyond the main body; b. a rotor surrounding the shaft, the rotor secured to the shaft, the rotor having a main body and projections extending both radially and axially; c. a circumferential receptor groove formed in the stator, wherein the receptor groove faces the shaft; and d. a circumferential conductive insert, the conductive insert placed within the receptor groove and engaged with the shaft to conduct electrical currents away from the shaft to the housing, wherein the rotor and the stator are abutted and intermeshed with each other on the shaft, the rotor radial projections extending radially outwardly farther than any radial projections of the stator. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for extending the life of a bearing comprising:
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a. isolating the bearing from an external environment using a bearing isolator, wherein said bearing isolator is secured to a housing at a stator of said bearing isolator, wherein said bearing is positioned within said housing, wherein said housing is electrically grounded, wherein a shaft protrudes from said housing, and wherein said shaft is rotatable with respect to said housing; b. securing a rotor of said bearing isolator to said shaft, wherein said stator and said rotor are formed with a plurality of corresponding grooves and projections such that said stator and rotor are abutted and intermeshed with one another to form a labyrinth seal during use; and c. providing a path to ground from said shaft through said bearing isolator, wherein said path passes from said housing to said stator, from said stator to a conductive insert secured to said stator, and from said conductive insert to said shaft. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A bearing isolator providing an electrical path to ground away from the bearing isolator to a housing, the bearing isolator comprising:
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a. a stator securable in a housing in which a bearing is located, wherein a rotatable shaft extends from the housing, and wherein the housing is electrically grounded, the stator having a main body with a plurality of projections extending both axially and radially beyond the main body; b. a rotor securable to the rotatable shaft, the rotor having a main body with a plurality of projections extending both axially and radially beyond the main body, wherein the rotor projections correspond to the stator projections so as to form a labyrinth seal between the stator and the rotor; and c. a conductive insert secured within the stator, wherein the conductive insert provides an electrical path to ground from the shaft to the conductive insert, from the conductive insert to the stator, and from the stator to the housing. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification