BEARING ALIGNMENT DEVICE AND SEAL ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

An alignment apparatus includes a first stator, located in a stator of a piece of rotating equipment, and a second stator couplingly connected to the first stator and able to be angularly rotated relative to the first stator. The second stator can seal an interface between a shaft and housing in the piece of rotating equipment. The alignment apparatus permits angular misalignment between a stator, a housing and a rotor shaft, and may be used, for example, in a bearing protector or an isolator installed on a Pillow Box.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are as follows:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross section view of a pillow block assembly with a prior art labyrinth seal bearing protector

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross section view of a pillow block assembly with two non-contacting labyrinth seals, of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged longitudinal cross section view of a non-contacting labyrinth seal of the of the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 corresponds to FIG. 2 and is a longitudinal cross section view of a pillow block assembly with the shaft angularly misaligned.

FIG. 5 corresponds to FIG. 4 and shows a partial longitudinal cross section of the invention, showing the seal in a positive angularly misaligned condition.

FIG. 6 corresponds to FIG. 4 and shows a partial longitudinal cross section of the invention, showing the seal in a negative angularly misaligned condition.

FIG. 7 shows an enlarged longitudinal cross-section view of a contacting face seal of the invention;

FIG. 8 shows an enlarged longitudinal cross-section view of a contacting Lip seal of the invention;

Claims

1. An alignment apparatus, comprising: a first stator locatable into a stator of a piece of rotating equipment; and,a second stator couplingly connected to said first stator and being angularly rotatable relative to said first stator, said second stator being capable of sealing an interface between a shaft and a housing in the piece of rotating equipment.

2. The alignment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an interface between said first stator and said second stator coincides with a natural angular movement of a bearing.

3. The alignment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first stator contains at least one elastomer member mounted in a sealable engagement between said first stator and the housing.

4. The alignment apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a non-contacting bearing seal with said second stator being configured to requirements of said non-contacting bearing seal.

5. The alignment apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said non-contacting bearing seal is a labyrinth seal.

6. The alignment apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a contacting bearing seal with said second stator being configured to requirements of said contacting bearing seal.

7. The alignment apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said contacting bearing seal is a mechanical face seal.

8. The alignment apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said contacting bearing seal is a lip seal.

9. The alignment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first stator and said second stator contain at least one deformable solid toroid member mounted in a sealable engagement between said first stator and said second stator.

10. The alignment apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said deformable toroid member is slidable on a surface of said first stator member, said surface running substantially parallel to a seating interface of said first stator and said second stator.

11. The alignment apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said deformable toroid member is slidable on a surface of said second stator member, said surface running substantially parallel to a seating interface of said first stator and said second stator.

12. The alignment apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said deformable toroid member is slidable on surface of both said first stator member and said second stator member, said surfaces running substantially parallel to a seating interface of said first stator and said second stator.

13. The alignment apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an alignment support member, said second stator being in radial contact with said alignment support member with said alignment support member being axially displaced from a seating interface of said first stator and said second stator.

14. The alignment apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said alignment support member is located outside of a fluid media being sealed.

15. The alignment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first stator and said second stator are rotationally couplingly connected by male-into-female drive means.