Patent ID: 8016571
Filing Date: 2011-09-13
Classification: F04D

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for mounting between a centrifugal pump and an electrical motor to provide an intake for the pump and absorb thrust created by the pump, comprising: a thrust chamber for connection between the pump and the motor, the thrust chamber having a chamber shaft extending along a longitudinal axis and a thrust bearing; an intake port in the chamber for delivering fluid to the pump and to the thrust bearing for lubricating the thrust bearing; and wherein a radial line emanating from the longitudinal axis and passing through the thrust bearing also passes through the intake port; wherein the thrust chamber comprises: a pump end member, a motor end member, and a tubular sidewall located between and connected to the pump end member and to the motor end member, the intake port being formed in the sidewall; the thrust bearing having a stationary base surrounded by the tubular sidewall and mounted on a face of the motor end member; the motor end member having an outer surface portion surrounded by the sidewall; an axially extending passage in the motor end member through which the chamber shaft extends; and a port extending from the outer surface portion of the motor end member to the passage in the motor end member for delivering fluid to the thrust bearing.