Two-Piece Bearing Housing For A Centrifugal Pump

Abstract

A two-piece bearing housing is provided for use in centrifugal pumps having or requiring multiple chambers for enclosing or confining bearings or seals, and/or providing lubricant or coolant to the bearings and seals of the pump, the two-piece housing providing several improvements including the ability to make the two pieces from different materials, the reduction in scrap castings due to imprecision achieved in the casting process and improved structures in the housing for monitoring the lubricant chambers in the housing.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A bearing housing for a centrifugal pump, comprising:
 an outer housing forming a chamber which is structured to retain a fluid for lubricating or cooling the sealing elements of a centrifugal pump; and   a separately formed inner housing sized for positioning within said chamber of said outer housing and being axially aligned with said outer housing, said inner housing forming a chamber for retaining a fluid for lubricating or cooling elements of the rotating assembly of the centrifugal pump, said inner housing having a window formed through said inner housing for observation of said chamber formed by said outer housing, the window being oriented at an angle to a defined centerline of the bearing housing and said inner housing having means for detachable securement to said outer housing.   
     
     
         19 . The bearing housing of  claim 18  further comprising a window formed through said inner housing oriented for observation of the chamber within the inner housing, said window being oriented at an angle to a defined centerline of said bearing housing. 
     
     
         20 . The bearing housing of  claim 18  wherein said outer housing is made of a different material than the material from which said inner housing is formed. 
     
     
         21 . The bearing housing of  claim 20  wherein said outer housing is formed from material that has a higher measurement of hardness than the material from which said inner housing is made. 
     
     
         22 . A centrifugal pump having a pump casing and a drive shaft positioned through said pump casing to support an impeller positioned within the pump casing, said centrifugal pump further comprising a bearing housing having an outer housing forming a chamber which is structured to retain a fluid for lubricating or cooling the sealing elements of the centrifugal pump and a separately formed inner housing sized for positioning within said chamber of said outer housing and being axially aligned with said outer housing, said inner housing forming a chamber for retaining a fluid for lubricating or cooling elements of the rotating assembly of the centrifugal pump, said inner housing having means for detachable securement to said outer housing and said inner housing having a window formed through said inner housing oriented for enabling observation into said chamber formed between said outer housing and said inner housing, said window being oriented at an angle to a centerline of said centrifugal pump defined by the axis of the drive shaft. 
     
     
         23 . The centrifugal pump of  claim 22  wherein said chamber in said outer housing is a mechanical seal oil chamber. 
     
     
         24 . The centrifugal pump of  claim 22  wherein said chamber in said inner housing is a bearing oil chamber. 
     
     
         25 . The centrifugal pump of  claim 22  wherein said outer housing of said bearing housing is made of a different material than the material from which said inner housing is formed. 
     
     
         26 . The centrifugal pump of  claim 25  wherein said outer housing is formed from material that has a higher measurement of hardness than the material from which said inner housing is made. 
     
     
         27 . A centrifugal pump having a pump casing and a drive shaft positioned through said pump casing to support an impeller positioned within the pump casing, said centrifugal pump further comprising a bearing housing having an outer housing providing a mechanical seal oil chamber for cooling or lubricating the seals of a rotating assembly positioned through said bearing housing and an inner housing sized for positioning within the mechanical seal oil chamber of the outer housing, said inner housing having an internal fluid chamber positioned for cooling or lubricating bearings of the rotating assembly and having a window formed through said inner housing positioned for viewing said mechanical seal oil chamber, the outer housing and inner housing being separately formed by a separate casting process wherein said outer housing is cast using a different material from that material which is used to cast said inner housing, and the outer housing and inner housing being detachably joined together by securement means. 
     
     
         28 . The centrifugal pump of  claim 27  wherein said outer housing is cast from a material that has a higher degree of hardness than the material from which the inner housing is cast.