초록 ▼

A bearing isolator assembly particularly for use in a roll mill for isolating the environment from the support shaft bearing. A first isolator ring is non-rotatably mounted on the shaft and is concentric with and rotatable relative to a pair of fixed isolator rings which concentrically surround the

A bearing isolator assembly particularly for use in a roll mill for isolating the environment from the support shaft bearing. A first isolator ring is non-rotatably mounted on the shaft and is concentric with and rotatable relative to a pair of fixed isolator rings which concentrically surround the shaft and are fixed to a support housing. These isolator rings defines therebetween a narrow clearance space which defines a tortuous path which initially includes a U-shaped labyrinth, one end of which communicates with the environment, and the other end of which communicates with an enlarged annular collection chamber which has a drain port associated therewith. This collection chamber is behind a dam associated with the rotatable isolator ring, and the downstream side of the dam is positioned closely adjacent a radial wall on the fixed isolator ring to define a narrow passage therebetween. This narrow passage, and the rotation of the dam, exerts sufficient centrifugal force to prevent the fluid from flowing radially inwardly so that the fluid is returned to the collection chamber.

대표청구항 ▼

In a mill roll assembly having a pair of large-diameter rotatable rolls disposed in parallel relation, the rolls being disposed adjacent one another to define a nip therebetween through which metal stock is fed, means for discharging coolant on the metal stock in the vicinity of said nip, each roll

In a mill roll assembly having a pair of large-diameter rotatable rolls disposed in parallel relation, the rolls being disposed adjacent one another to define a nip therebetween through which metal stock is fed, means for discharging coolant on the metal stock in the vicinity of said nip, each roll having support shafts of slightly reduced diameter projecting coaxially outwardly from opposite ends thereof, each said shaft projecting into an opening in a stationary stand, and bearing means disposed within said opening for rotatably supporting said shaft on said stand, the improvement comprising: an isolator assembly coacting between said shaft and said stand adjacent the outer end of said opening for isolating said bearing means from the coolant, said isolator assembly including first, second and third isolator rings which substantially concentrically surround said shaft and are concentric with one another for cooperation between said shaft and said stand; said first isolator ring being nonrotatably secured to said stand and having an annular sleevelike hub part which projects coaxially into said opening from the outer end thereof and is sealingly coupled with the wall of said opening; said second isolator ring being nonrotatably fixed relative to said stand and cooperating with said first isolator ring to effectively close off the outer end of said opening, said second isolator ring including a sleeve part which closely surrounds said shaft to define a first radially narrow but axially elongated clearance space therebetween, said first clearance space at its axially outer end being in communication with the surrounding environment containing the coolant; said sleeve part defining thereon an exterior annular surface of substantial axial extent which is concentrically surrounded by an interior annular surface of substantial axial extent as defined on said first isolator ring, said interior and exterior surfaces being radially spaced a substantial distance apart to define an annular clearance region therebetween of substantial radial and axial extent, said region at the outer axial end thereof being closed by the cooperation of said first and second isolator rings; said third isolator ring being concentrically and nonrotatably mounted on said shaft within said opening and having a main hub portion directly adjacent the inner axial end of said sleeve part, said third ring having an annular flange part which projects axially outwardly from said main hub portion into said annular region, said flange part having an inner annular surface thereon which concentrically surrounds and is closely adjacent the exterior annular surface on said sleeve part to define a second annular clearance space therebetween of narrow radial but substantial axial extent, said second clearance space at the inner axial end thereof communicating with the axially inner end of the first clearance space through a radially directed clearance passage which extends between the opposed ends of said main hub portion and said sleeve part, said flange part having an exterior annular surface which is substantially concentric with but spaced a substantial distance from said interior annular surface as defined on said first ring to define therebetween an annular collection chamber of substantial axial and radial extent which communicates with the axially outer end of said second clearance space through a radial passage which extends across the free end of said flange part; said third ring having an annular dam-like wall fixed to and projecting radially outwardly therefrom adjacent the inner axial end of said flange part, said dam-like wall having an outer annular surface which is positioned close to but spaced from the interior annular surface on said first ring; said first ring having an annular flange portion which is fixed thereto and projects radially inwardly from said interior annular surface, said last mentioned flange portion being disposed axially inwardly of but closely axially adjacent said dam-like wall, said annular flange portion and said dam-like wall having closely adjacent and axially opposed surfaces which define therebetween a narrow passage which projects radially from a location disposed adjacent said inner annular surface to a location for communication with a third annular clearance space which is of small radial but substantial axial extent as formed between said flange portion and said main hub portion, said third clearance space at said inner axial end thereof being connected for communication with that portion of the opening containing the bearing means.