A BEARING MEMBER FOR SUPPORTING A ROTATABLE AXLE

Abstract

A bearing member for supporting a rotatable axle includes a bearing housing; at least one bearing inserted into the bearing housing, wherein the bearing is configured to receive a rotatable shaft extending through the bearing; and a tilting member arranged around the bearing housing. The tilting member includes a pack of annular discs forming a through hole for receiving the bearing housing, wherein each of the annular discs includes a plurality of apertures extending through each of the discs and wherein the tilting member further includes a sleeve element provided in each of the apertures for holding the annular discs together as a stack and for receiving a fastener for attaching the tilting member to the bearing housing or said stationary machine element. The bearing member further includes at least one fastening element extending through a sleeve of the tilting member and attaching the tilting member to the bearing housing.

Claims

1. A bearing member for supporting a rotatable axle, comprising: a bearing housing; at least one bearing inserted into the bearing housing, wherein the bearing is configured to receive a rotatable shaft extending through the bearing; a tilting member arranged around the bearing housing, wherein the tilting member comprises a pack of annular discs forming a through hole for receiving said bearing housing, wherein each of the annular discs comprises a plurality of apertures extending through each of the discs and wherein the tilting member further comprises a sleeve element provided in each of the apertures for holding the annular discs together as a stack and arranged for receiving a fastener configured to attach the tilting member to said bearing housing or a stationary machine element; and at least one fastening element extending through a sleeve of the tilting member and attaching the tilting member to the bearing housing.

2. The bearing member according to claim 1, wherein the pack of annular discs comprises at least four annular discs.

3. The bearing member according to claim 1, wherein the annular discs are metal lamellas.

4. The bearing member according to claim 1, wherein the annular discs of the pack has the form of a closed polygon with a plurality of corners, and wherein said apertures are arranged in said corners.

5. The bearing member according to claim 4, wherein the annular discs have the form of an octagon.

6. The bearing member according to claim 1, wherein the annular discs are made from cold rolled sheet metal.

7. The bearing member according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the individual annular discs in the pack of annular discs is less than 1 mm.

8. The bearing member according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fastening element is attaching the tilting member to the bearing housing in every second aperture of the tilting member.

9. The bearing member according to claim 1, wherein the bearing is a roller bearing other than a spherical roller bearing.

10. An apparatus comprising: a stationary machine element; and a rotatable shaft supported by at least one of the bearing member according to claim 1, wherein the bearing housing of the at least one bearing member is further attached to the stationary machine element via said tilting member.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising at least one fastening element attaching the tilting member to the bearing housing in every second aperture of the tilting member and attaching the tilting member to the stationary machine element in every second aperture of the tilting member.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the rotatable shaft is a vertical shaft.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the rotatable shaft is a horizontal shaft.

14. The bearing member according to claim 1, wherein the pack of annular discs comprises at least eight annular discs.

15. The bearing member according to claim 1, wherein the annular discs are steel lamellas.

16. The bearing member according to claim 1, wherein the annular discs are made from cold rolled steel.

17. The bearing member according to claim 2, wherein the annular discs are metal lamellas.

18. The bearing member according to claim 2, wherein the annular discs of the pack have the form of a closed polygon with a plurality of corners, and wherein said apertures are arranged in said corners.

19. The bearing member according to claim 3, wherein the annular discs of the pack have the form of a closed polygon with a plurality of corners, and wherein said apertures are arranged in said corners.

20. The bearing member according to claim 2, wherein the annular discs are made from cold rolled sheet metal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0071] The present invention will now be explained more closely by means of a description of various embodiments and with reference to the drawings attached hereto.

[0072] FIG. 1 discloses a sectional view of a centrifugal separator according to a first embodiment of the invention.

[0073] FIG. 2 discloses a sectional view of a drive unit of the centrifugal separator in FIG. 1.

[0074] FIG. 3 discloses a sectional view through a stationary frame of the centrifugal separator along the line III-III in FIG. 2.

[0075] FIG. 4 discloses a sectional view along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3.

[0076] FIG. 5 discloses an enlarged part of the sectional view in FIG. 4.

[0077] FIG. 6 discloses a sectional view along the line VI-VI in FIG. 3.

[0078] FIG. 7 discloses an enlarged part of the sectional view in FIG. 6.

[0079] FIG. 8 discloses a perspective view from above of a part of the stationary frame.

[0080] FIG. 9 discloses a sectional view through the stationary frame of the centrifugal separator along the line IX-IX in FIG. 2.

[0081] FIG. 10 discloses a sectional view along the line X-X in FIG. 9.

[0082] FIG. 11 discloses an enlarged part of the sectional view in FIG. 10.

[0083] FIG. 12 discloses a sectional view along the line XI-XI in FIG. 9.

[0084] FIG. 13 discloses an enlarged part of the sectional view in FIG. 12.

[0085] FIG. 14 discloses a perspective view of a lower part of the stationary.

[0086] FIG. 15 discloses a sectional view similar to the one of FIG. 3 through a stationary frame of a centrifugal separator according to a second embodiment of the invention.

[0087] FIG. 16 discloses a sectional view along the line XVI-XVI in FIG. 15.

[0088] FIG. 17 discloses an enlarged part of the sectional view in FIG. 16.

[0089] FIG. 18 discloses a sectional view along the line XVIII-XVIII in FIG. 15.

[0090] FIG. 19 discloses an enlarged part of the sectional view in FIG. 18.

[0091] FIG. 20 discloses a perspective view from above of a part of the stationary frame in FIG. 15.

[0092] FIG. 21 discloses a tilting member.

[0093] FIG. 22 shows a close-up view of a tilting member.

[0094] FIG. 23 discloses a bearing member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0095] FIG. 24 discloses an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0096] FIG. 1 discloses a first embodiment of a centrifugal separator 1 for processing a product by separating a relatively heavy component and a relatively light component from the product. The centrifugal separator 1 comprises a stationary frame 2 and a spindle 3 extending in parallel with a central axis x.

[0097] The spindle 3 is supported by the stationary frame 2 and permitted to rotate in relation to the stationary frame 2. The central axis x extends through a lower end and an upper end of the centrifugal separator 1, as indicated in FIG. 1. It shall be noted that the centrifugal separator 1 may be used in another position than with the central axis x extending vertically as shown in FIG. 1.

[0098] The stationary frame 2 may also comprise a suitable base element (not disclosed) permitting the stationary frame 2 and the centrifugal separator 1 to be positioned on a ground, a floor or the like.

[0099] The centrifugal separator 1 comprises a drive unit 4, see also FIG. 2, comprising a rotating member 5 mounted on the spindle 3. The drive unit 4 is configured to rotate the spindle 3 in relation to the stationary frame 2, essentially around the central axis x. The drive unit 4 may comprise an electric motor having a stator 6 attached to the stationary frame 2 and a motor rotor 7. In the embodiments disclosed, the rotating member 5 comprises or forms the motor rotor 7 of the electric motor.

[0100] Furthermore, the centrifugal separator 1 comprises a centrifuge rotor 8 that is mounted to an upper end of the spindle 3 to rotate together with the spindle 3. The centrifuge rotor 8 encloses a separation space 9. The centrifuge rotor 8 may comprise a stack of separation disks 10 provided in the separation space 9. The separation disks 10 may be frusto-conical.

[0101] An inlet 11 for the product extends to the separation space 9. A first outlet 12 for the relatively light component and a second outlet 13 for the relatively heavy component extends from the separation space 9. The second outlet 13 may comprise a plurality of peripheral ports that extend through the centrifuge rotor 8.

[0102] The peripheral ports may be openable for intermittent discharge of the relatively heavy component, such as sludge, from the separation space 9.

[0103] In the embodiments disclosed, the inlet 11 is located in the proximity of the lower end of the centrifugal separator 1. The first outlet 12 is located in the proximity of the upper end of the centrifugal separator 1.

[0104] The spindle 3 may be hollow and form an inner channel to the separation space 9. In the embodiments disclosed, the inlet 11 for the product extends through the inner channel of the hollow spindle 3 to the inner space 9 of the centrifuge rotor 8. Alternatively, the first outlet 12 for the relatively light component may extend through the hollow spindle 3. According to a further alternative both the inlet 11 and the outlet 12 may be arranged to extend through the hollow spindle 3.

[0105] According to a still further alternative, the spindle 3 may lack any inlet or outlet, wherein both the inlet 11 and the first outlet 12 may be located in the proximity of the upper end of the centrifugal separator 1.

[0106] The centrifugal separator 1 also comprises an outer casing 14 attached to the stationary frame 2 and enclosing the centrifuge rotor 8.

[0107] In the embodiments disclosed, the centrifugal separator 1 comprises an upper bearing housing 20 and a lower bearing housing 30. The upper bearing housing 20 may be located between the rotating member 5 of the drive unit 4 and the centrifuge rotor 8. The lower bearing housing 30 may be provided outside the rotating member 5 of the drive unit 4, i.e. between the rotating member 5 of the drive unit 4 and the lower end of the centrifugal separator 1.

[0108] The upper bearing housing 20 is mounted to the stationary frame 2, see also FIG. 4. In the embodiments disclosed, the upper bearing housing 20 supports a first bearing 22 comprising an outer bearing ring 24 attached to the upper bearing housing 20 and an inner bearing ring 25 attached to the spindle 3, and a second bearing 23 comprising an outer bearing ring 24 attached to the upper bearing housing 20 and an inner bearing ring 25 attached to the spindle 3. Roller elements 26 may be provided between the outer bearing ring 24 and the inner bearing ring 25.

[0109] The first and/or second bearings 22, 23 of the upper bearing housing 20 may be configured to provide radial support to the spindle 3, and possibly also axial support in order to carry the load of the centrifuge rotor 8.

[0110] The lower bearing housing 30 is mounted to the stationary frame 2, see also FIG. 10. In the embodiments disclosed, the lower bearing housing 30 supports a first bearing 32 comprising an outer bearing ring 34 attached to the lower bearing housing 30 and an inner bearing ring 35 attached to the spindle 3, and a second bearing 33 comprising an outer bearing ring 34 attached to the lower bearing housing 30 and an inner bearing ring 35 attached to the spindle 3. Roller elements 36 may be provided between the outer bearing ring 34 and the inner bearing ring 35.

[0111] The first and/or second bearings 32, 33 of the lower bearing housing 30 may be configured to provide radial support to the spindle 3, and possibly also axial support in order to carry the load of the centrifuge rotor 8.

[0112] The upper bearing housing 20 is mounted to the stationary frame 2 via an elastic member 40 permitting the upper bearing housing 20 and thus the spindle 3 to move radially during the rotation of the spindle 3.

[0113] In the first embodiment, the upper bearing housing 20 is mounted to the elastic member 40 via an upper tilting member 41 permitting the spindle 3 to tilt in relation to the central axis x.

[0114] In the embodiments disclosed, the elastic member 40 comprises an annular elastic element 42 and a ring element 43. The elastic element 42 is attached to the frame 2 and the ring element 43 is attached to the tilting member 41.

[0115] The elastic element 42 may be made of a rubber material, such as e.g. nitrile rubber.

[0116] In the first embodiment, the elastic member 40 is located radially outside the tilting member 41, wherein the elastic element 42 may be located outside the ring element 43.

[0117] In addition to the elastic member 40 and the tilting member 41, the upper bearing housing 20 may be supported by a plurality of spring elements 27 circumferentially distributed around the spindle 3. The spring elements 27 may rest against an upper intermediate wall 28 of the stationary frame 2 and may support the upper bearing housing 20 from beneath, as can be seen in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6. The spring elements 27 permit the upper bearing housing 20 to move resiliently in an axial direction.

[0118] The upper tilting member 41 may comprise a pack of annular disks 44 extending around the upper bearing housing 20 and being attached to the upper bearing housing 20 and to the ring element 43 of the elastic member 40, see FIGS. 6 and 4.

[0119] The pack of annular disks 44 may comprise a plurality of annular disks 44, which may be identical with each other. Each of the annular disks 44 may be made from cold rolled sheet metal. Thus, a strong and flexible upper tilting member 41 may be provided, which has superior material properties in the context of the herein discussed tilting member as compared to hot rolled sheet metal. The annular disks 44 may be made from steel, such as stainless steel, spring steel, or similar, i.e. such as cold rolled steel sheet, cold rolled stainless steel sheet, cold rolled spring steel sheet, etc. A body of the upper tilting member 41 may be made up of annular disks 44 only.

[0120] In the embodiments disclosed, the pack of annular disks 44 comprises eight equidistant apertures extending through each of the annular disks 44. A respective sleeve element 47 is provided in each of the apertures. The sleeve element 47 is configured to keep the annular disks 44 together, and thus to ensure the integrity of the pack upper tilting element 41. Each of the sleeve elements 47 has a through-going hole as can be seen in Figs and 7.

[0121] In the first embodiment, the pack of annular disks 44 of the upper tilting member 41 is attached to the upper bearing housing 20 by four primary attachment members 45 equidistantly separated from each other around the annular disks 44, see FIG. 6. In particular, the upper tilting member 41 may be attached to four radially extending projections 20′ of the upper bearing housing 20, see FIGS. 7 and 8.

[0122] Furthermore, the pack of annular disks 44 of the upper tilting member 41 may be attached to ring element 43 of the elastic member 40 by four secondary attachment members 46 each being positioned between a respective pair of adjacent primary attachment members 45, see FIG. 4. In particular, the upper tilting member 41 may be attached to four radially extending projections 43′ of the ring element 43, see FIGS. 5 and 8.

[0123] Each of the primary and secondary attachment members 45, 46 may comprise a screw bolt extending through the hole of the sleeve element 47 of a respective one of the apertures through the pack of annular disks 44 of the upper tilting member 41, wherein the screw bolts of the primary attachment members 45 may engage a respective threaded hole into a respective one of the projections 20′ of the upper bearing housing 20 and the screw bolts of the secondary attachment members 46 may engage a respective threaded hole into a respective one of the projections 43′ of the ring element 43 of the elastic member 40.

[0124] The lower bearing housing 30 may be mounted to the stationary frame 2 via a lower tilting member 51 permitting the spindle 3 to tilt in relation to the central axis x. In the embodiments disclosed, the lower tilting member 51 comprises a pack of annular disks 54 extending around the lower bearing housing 30. The pack of annular disks 54 are attached to the lower bearing housing 30 and to the stationary frame 2, as can be seen in FIGS. 12 and 10.

[0125] Also the pack of annular disks 54 at the lower tilting member 51 may comprise a plurality of annular disks 54, which may identical with each other. Thus, a strong and flexible lower tilting member 51 may be provided, which has superior material properties in the context of the herein discussed tilting member as compared to hot rolled sheet metal. The annular disks 54 may be made from steel, such as stainless steel, spring steel, or similar, i.e. such as cold rolled steel sheet, cold rolled stainless steel sheet, cold rolled spring steel sheet, etc. A body of the lower tilting member 51 may be made up of annular disks 54 only.

[0126] In the embodiments disclosed, the pack of annular disks 54 comprises eight equidistant apertures extending through each of the annular disks 54. A respective sleeve element 57 is provided in each of the apertures. The sleeve element 57 is configured to keep the annular disks 54 together, and thus to ensure the integrity of the pack lower tilting element 51. Each of the sleeve elements 57 has a through-going hole as can be seen in FIG. 13.

[0127] In the embodiments disclosed, the pack of annular disks 54 of the lower tilting member 51 is attached to the lower bearing housing 30 by four primary attachment members 55 equidistantly separated from each other around the annular disks 54, see FIG. 12. In particular, the lower tilting member 51 may be attached to radially extending projections 30′ of the lower bearing housing 30, see FIG. 13.

[0128] Furthermore, the pack of annular disks 54 may be attached to the stationary frame 2 by four secondary attachment members 56 each being positioned between a respective pair of adjacent primary attachment members 55, see FIGS. 9-11.

[0129] Each of the primary attachment members 55 and the secondary attachment members 56 attaching the lower tilting member 51 comprises a screw bolt extending through the hole of the sleeve element 57 of a respective one of the apertures through the pack of annular disks 54 of the lower tilting member 51.

[0130] The screw bolts of the primary attachment members 55 may extend through the pack of annular disks 55 in a first axial direction upwards as can be seen in FIG. 12. The screw bolts of the secondary attachment members 56 may extend through the pack of annular disks 54 in an opposite second axial direction downwards as can be seen in FIG. 10.

[0131] The lower bearing housing 30 may comprise a lower convex spherical surface 39 that is supported by and may rest against a concave spherical surface 29 provided on the stationary frame 2, see FIGS. 2 and 12. The spherical surfaces 29, 39 may provide a lower support for the spindle 3 and may provide a tilting point around which the spindle 3 may tilt.

[0132] FIGS. 15-20 refers to a second embodiment which differs from the first embodiment only with respect to the attachment of the upper bearing housing 20, and in particular through the positioning of the elastic member 40 and the tilting member 41 in relation to each other. In the second embodiment, the elastic member 40 is located radially inside the tilting member 41. In the second embodiment, the configuration and arrangement of the lower bearing housing 30 are the same as in the first embodiment.

[0133] Also in the second embodiment, the elastic member 40 comprises an annular elastic element 42 and a ring element 43, as can be seen in FIGS. 17 and 19, but the elastic element 42 is located radially inside the ring element 43. The elastic element 42 is attached to the upper bearing housing 20 and the ring element 43 is attached to the tilting member 41.

[0134] In the second embodiment, the pack of annular disks 44 of the upper tilting member 41 is attached to the stationary frame 2 by four primary attachment members 45 equidistantly separated from each other around the annular disks 44, see FIGS. 18-20. In particular, the upper tilting member 41 may be attached to four radially extending projections 2′ of the stationary frame 2, see FIGS. 19 and 20.

[0135] Furthermore, the pack of annular disks 44 of the upper tilting member 41 may be attached to ring element 43 of the elastic member 40 by four secondary attachment members 46 each being positioned between a respective pair of adjacent primary attachment members 45, see FIGS. 15-17. In particular, the upper tilting member 41 may be attached to four radially extending projections 43′ of the ring element 43, see FIGS. 16 and 17.

[0136] FIGS. 21 and 22 further shows a tilting member 41 that may be used in a bearing member according to the present invention. It is to be understood that the tilting member 41 discussed herein is not only useful for supporting the bearing housing of a centrifugal separator but may be used in other apparatuses as well. FIGS. 21 and 22 show a tilting member 41 in the form of a pack of annular discs 44. The tilting member 41 is arranged for attaching a bearing housing 20 to a stationary machine element 71. Thereby it may allow the bearing housing 20 to tilt in relation to its central axis (X), i.e. the axis of rotation of the actual bearing arranged within the bearing housing. The tilting member 41 comprises a pack of annular discs 44 forming a through hole 62. This through hole 62 is thus for receiving a bearing housing 20 or a portion of a bearing housing 20

[0137] FIG. 22 shows a close-up view of a portion of the tilting member 41 and the pack of annular discs 44. An annular disc 44a comprises a plurality of straight portions 61 connected by corners 60 to form a closed polygon. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, the pack of annular discs 44 forms an octagon. Moreover, each of the annular discs 44 comprises a plurality of apertures extending through each of the discs 44a. The apertures may be located in the corners 60 of the annular discs 44. The tilting element 41 further comprises sleeve elements 47 provided in each of the apertures for holding the annular discs 44 together as a stack. Further, the sleeve elements 47 have a through opening 47a for receiving a fastening means 64, such as a screw member. The fastening means 64 is used for attaching the tilting member 41 to a bearing housing 20 or a stationary machine element 71. Some of the sleeve elements may be used for attaching the tilting member to a bearing housing 20, whereas other of the sleeve elements may be used for attaching the tilting member to a stationary machine element 71. The sleeve elements 47 may have a flange extending out on the upper surface of the pack of annular discs 44 and a washer 63 on the opposite side of the pack of annular discs 47.

[0138] As an example, the straight portions may have a width that is smaller than the through hole 62 formed by the annular discs. As an example, the diameter of the through hole 62 may be at least five times, such as at least ten times, larger than the width of the straight portion 61 of the discs 44.

[0139] The pack of annular discs 44 comprises in this embodiment more than eight annular discs. The annular discs are in the form of a steel lamella, with a thickness of about 0.5 mm.

[0140] FIG. 23 schematically illustrates a bearing member 65 comprising a bearing housing 20. The bearing housing 20 is thus a retainer for the bearing 32. In this embodiment, the bearing housing comprises a single bearing 32, but the bearing housing may also retain more than one bearing 32, such as at least two bearings 32. The bearing 32 is thus inserted into the bearing housing 20 and may have its central through hole such it may receive and support a rotatable shaft extending through the bearing 32. A tilting member 41, such as the tilting member discussed in relation to FIGS. 21 and 22 above, is arranged around an upper portion of the bearing housing 20. Further, there are fastening elements 64, such as screws, extending through some, but not all, of the sleeve elements 47. These fastening elements 64 are used to attach the tilting member 41 to the bearing housing 20. The sleeve elements 47 in which there is no fastening element 64 attaching the tilting member to the bearing housing 20 may be used for attaching the whole bearing member 65 to a stationary machine element 71. As discussed herein above, the design of the tilting member 41 makes it possible to use other bearings than spherical roller bearings for supporting a rotatable shaft 72. Thus, the tilting member 41 of the present disclosure still allows some change in the alignment of the rotational axis during use, e.g. during the rotational motion of the rotatable shaft. This is advantageous, since plain roller bearings, such as a cylindrical roller bearing or a plain roller bearing, may be used instead of a spherical bearing

[0141] FIG. 24 discloses schematically an apparatus 70 of the present invention that comprises the bearing member 65 and the tilting member 41. The apparatus 70 comprises a stationary machine element 71 and a rotatable shaft 72 that is rotatable around axis of rotation (X). the rotatable shaft 72 is supported by the stationary machine element 71 by at least one bearing member 65. In FIG. 24, the rotatable shaft 72 is supported by two bearing members 65, such as two bearing members 65 as discussed in relation to FIG. 23 above. The bearing members 65 could also be mounted with a spring element (not shown) under one or both of the bearing housings 20. In this way, the bearing members 20 of the apparatus could better withstand any axial forces. The tilting member 41 of the bearing member 47 is attached to both the bearing housing 20 and to the stationary machine element 71. As an example, the tilting member 41 may be attached to the bearing housing 20 via fastening members 64 arranged in every second sleeve element and to the stationary machine element 71 via fastening members 64 arranged in the remaining sleeve elements 47. In FIG. 22, the axis of rotation is vertical. However, the axis of rotation may as well be a horizontal axis. The apparatus 70 may be any kind of apparatus having a rotatable shaft. As an example, the apparatus 70 may be any kind of apparatus in which rotational motion must be allowed to change the alignment of the rotation axis of the rotatable shaft.

[0142] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed but may be varied and modified within the scope of the following claims.