US4390082A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reserve lubricant supply system
Assignee: GE Oil and Gas Operations LLC
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Filing: 1980-12-18
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Granted: 1983-06-28
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Expires: 2000-12-18
Abstract
Abstract A system for supplying lubricant under pressure to a rotary mounting system having bearings when the main pressurized lubricant supply system fails. The system includes a bladder or other expansible chamber in association with a lubricant reservoir. The bladder has a source of pressurized gas which is either inherently or through regulation maintained at a pressure below that of the main system and above that of the lubricant discharge from the bearings. The source of pressure for the reserve system may be pressure from a gas seal or from the rotor chamber of a pump or turbine. If regulated, the regulation may be by the main lubricant pressure or the pressure of the lubricant discharge. The system also contemplates accommodation for leaks and over pressures.
Inventors
- 👤 Judson S. Swearingen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:07
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01D; F01D25/00; F01D25/18; F01M; F01M1/00; F01M1/16; F16; F16C; F16C17/00; F16C17/12; F16C17/24; F16C32/00; F16C32/06; F16C32/0629; F16C32/064; F16C32/0644; F16C32/0681
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
In a mounting system having a lubricated bearing, a pressurized area on a first side of the lubricated bearing, a vent for the pressurized area between the pressurized area and the bearing and a pressurized main lubricant supply system, a reserve lubricant supply system comprising a reserve lubricant reservoir, a passage between said reserve lubricant reservoir and the pressurized supply of the main lubricant supply system, a gas pressurized chamber having an expansible wall common to said reservoir and a gas pressure source line in communication with said gas pressurized chamber, said source line receiving pressure from the pressurized area.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
In a mounting system having a lubricated bearing, a pressurized area on a first side of the lubricated bearing, a vent for the pressurized area between the pressurized area and the bearing and a pressurized main lubricant supply system, a reserve lubricant supply system comprising a reserve lubricant reservoir, a passage between said reserve lubricant reservoir and the pressurized supply of the main lubricant supply system, a gas pressurized chamber having an expansible wall common to said reservoir and a gas pressure source line in communication with said gas pressurized chamber, said source line receiving pressure from the pressurized area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The reserve lubricant supply system of claim 1 wherein said pressurized area is a pressurized gas seal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
102 words
In a rotary mounting system having a lubricated bearing, a pressurized gas seal on a first side of the lubricated bearing, a vent for the pressurized gas seal between the seal and the bearing and a pressurized main lubricant supply system, a reserve lubricant supply system comprising a reserve lubricant reservoir, a passage between said reserve lubricant reservoir and the pressurized supply of the main lubricant supply system, a gas pressurized chamber having an expansible wall common to said reservoir and a gas pressure source line in communication with said gas pressurized chamber, said source line receiving pressure from the gas seal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
102 words
In a rotary mounting system having a lubricated bearing, a pressurized gas seal on a first side of the lubricated bearing, a vent for the pressurized gas seal between the seal and the bearing and a pressurized main lubricant supply system, a reserve lubricant supply system comprising a reserve lubricant reservoir, a passage between said reserve lubricant reservoir and the pressurized supply of the main lubricant supply system, a gas pressurized chamber having an expansible wall common to said reservoir and a gas pressure source line in communication with said gas pressurized chamber, said source line receiving pressure from the gas seal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The reserve lubricant supply system of claim 3 wherein said gas pressure source line is directly coupled to the pressurized gas seal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The reserve lubricant supply system of claim 3 wherein said gas pressure source line is coupled between the pressurized gas seal and the vent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A reserve lubricant supply system of claim 3, 5 or 6 wherein said gas pressure source line includes a regulator valve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The reserve lubricant supply system of claim 6 wherein said regulator valve is constructed and arranged to be controlled by the pressure existing in the vent to maintain a pressure in said gas pressure source line above the pressure in the vent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
The reserve lubricant supply system of claim 6 wherein said regulator valve is constructed and arranged to be controlled by the pressure existing in the pressurized supply of the main lubricant supply system to maintain a pressure in said gas pressure source line below the pressure in the pressurized supply of the main lubricant supply system during nominal operation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The reserve lubricant supply system of claim 6 wherein said gas pressure source line includes a bleed-off orifice having a flow restriction substantially greater than the total effective restriction between said gas pressurized chamber and the source of gas seal pressure to said gas pressure source line with said regulator valve open.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
81 words
In a rotary mounting system for an impeller and having a lubricated bearing and a pressurized main lubricant supply system, a reserve lubricant supply system comprising a reserve lubricant reservoir, a passage between said reserve lubricant reservoir and the pressurized supply of the main lubricant supply system, a gas pressurized chamber having an expansible wall common to said reservoir and a gas pressure source line in communication with said gas pressurized chamber, said source line receiving pressure from the adjacent impeller.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
81 words
In a rotary mounting system for an impeller and having a lubricated bearing and a pressurized main lubricant supply system, a reserve lubricant supply system comprising a reserve lubricant reservoir, a passage between said reserve lubricant reservoir and the pressurized supply of the main lubricant supply system, a gas pressurized chamber having an expansible wall common to said reservoir and a gas pressure source line in communication with said gas pressurized chamber, said source line receiving pressure from the adjacent impeller.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The reserve lubricant supply system of claim 10 wherein said gas pressure source line includes a regulator valve.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
The reserve lubricant supply system of claim 11 wherein said regulator valve is in communication with the pressure supply of the main lubricant supply system and is designed and constructed to regulate said line to a pressure below the pressure supply of the main lubricant supply system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
The reserve lubricant supply system of claim 6 wherein said regulator valve includes a regulator supply line, said regulator supply line including an orifice restricting flow through said regulator supply line and a reservoir in communication with said regulator supply line between said orifice and said valve.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
The reserve lubricant supply system of claim 12 wherein said regulator valve includes a regulator supply line, said regulator supply line including an orifice restricting flow through said regulator supply line and a reservoir in communication with said regulator supply line between said orifice and said valve.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-06-27 | 1986-12-27 | 1987-06-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-06-27 | 1990-12-27 | 1991-06-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-06-27 | 1994-12-27 | 1995-06-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |