The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 27, 1976
Filed:
Jan. 24, 1975
Willis W Gardner, Waukesha, WI (US);
Waukesha Bearings Corporation, Waukesha, WI (US);
Abstract
An annular liquid collecting chamber is provided between the aft end of a stern tube bearing for a ship's propeller shaft and the forward end of the aft stern tube seal. A floating seal ring at the aft end of the stern tube bearing retains oil in the bearing but there is leakage of a small percentage of oil into the collecting chamber. A scavenge pump is coupled to the bottom of the collecting chamber to remove any fluids that collect therein. The oil in the output of the scavenge pump is coalesced and pumped to the stern tube oil sump tank to be recycled. The aft stern tube seal includes at least three seal rings whose lips are all directed outboard. Filtered sea water is pumped into a first annular space between two of the seal rings and circulates in an outboard direction to cool and lubricate the rings and wash away any dirt. Filtered sea water at a lower pressure is applied to an annular space which is forward of the first space to lubricate the rings and to lower the pressure drop across an intermediate ring. In certain installations where there is a projecting strut, there may be collecting from both ends of the bearing.