Patent ID: 7849970
Filing Date: 2010-12-14
Classification: F16C,H02K

Abstract:
1. A method for cooling an axial thrust bearing of a vertical shaft of a motor, said method comprising a plurality of activities comprising: collecting oil that has contacted the axial thrust bearing in an oil sump that encloses the axial thrust bearing, the oil sump surrounding an upper region of the vertical shaft; pressurizing a portion of the collected oil with a pump having a pump outlet with a first and second branch; directing a portion of the pressurized oil from the pump outlet through said first branch to an oil-to-air tubular heat exchanger that is physically separated from the sump and the axial thrust bearing wherein the heat exchanger is in fluid communication with the sump; and simultaneously directing another portion of the pressurized oil from the pump outlet through said second branch to the axial thrust bearing.