SUPPORT BEARING FOR SUBMERSIBLE MOTOR

Technical Field

The present utility model relates to a support, bearing for submersible motor, and more particularly, to a support bearing for submersible motor constructed such that a noise prevention member is fitted to the exterior of the support bearing to reduce a noise caused by rotation of the support bearing.

Background Art

As well known in the art, a submersible motor includes a stator, a rotator rotating by an electric current applied to the stator, a shaft installed at the rotator, and an impeller coupled to the shaft, and forcibly supplies water to a destination. The submersible motor is in various uses throughout industry.

A hot water circulation pump is a typical device equipped with the submersible motor. The hot water circulation pump can forcibly supply a hot water within a heat tank to each destination using an impeller rotating by power of the submersible motor. A general construction of the hot water circulation pump will be in more detail described with reference to FIG. 1. The hot water circulation pump includes a heat tank 110 for heating a hot water stored in a chamber 112 and a submersible motor 120 installed at the heat tank 110 and supplying a hot water to each destination.

The submersible motor 120 includes a cover body 122 installed at an inner bottom surface of the heat tank 110 and introducing a heated hot water; an impeller housing 124 installed to interpose a bottom surface in association with the cover body 122 and housing an impeller 126; and a shaft 128 positioned under the impeller housing 124 and rotating the impeller 126.

A support bearing 140 is fitted to a lower end of the

shaft 128. The support bearing 140 prevents the in-rotation shaft 128 from freely moving to the left/right and enhances the efficiency of rotation of the impeller 126 coupled to the shaft 128. The support bearing 140 is inserted into an insertion groove 138 provided at an inner center of a cap (or an end cap) 136 and gets in contact with the lower end of the shaft 128.

However, the conventional support bearing 140 has a gap (G) by a constant interval between the support bearing 140 and the insertion groove 138 so that the support bearing 140 can smoothly rotate upon rotation of the shaft 128. However, because of a phenomenon of vibration (quiver) occurring in rotation, the gap (G) causes the support bearing 140 to collide with an inner circumferential surface of the insertion groove 138, thereby causing a heavy noise.

Also, there occurs a drawback that the support bearing can be easily damaged due to an impact occurring upon collision with the insertion groove 138.

Disclosure Technical Problem

Accordingly, the present utility model is directed to a support bearing for submersible motor that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present utility model is to provide a support bearing for submersible motor in which a noise prevention member is fitted to an outer circumferential surface of the support bearing, thereby preventing formation of a gap between the support bearing and an insertion groove and preventing a noise caused by a phenomenon of vibration occurring while the support bearing rotates.

Another object of the present utility model is to provide a support bearing for submersible motor in which a noise prevention member is formed of material having a

cushion force, thereby softening an impact applied to a shaft .

A further another object of the present utility model is to provide a support bearing for submersible motor in which a plurality of protrusions are formed in an uneven form on an outer circumferential surface of a noise prevention member, thereby preventing the noise prevention member from getting in surface contact with an inner circumferential surface of an insertion groove.

Technical Solution

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present utility model, as embodied and broadly described, there is provided a support bearing for submersible motor having an impeller installed at a bottom surface of a heat tank of a hot water circulation pump and forcibly impelling a hot water supplied from the heat tank to a destination, a motor housing installed under the impeller and having a shaft rotating the impeller by external power source, and an end cap installed under the motor housing. The end cap has an insertion groove at inner center, and a support bearing contacting with a lower end of the shaft is inserted in the insertion groove. A noise prevention member is fitted to an outer circumferential surface of the support bearing and prevents formation of a gap between the support bearing and the insertion groove.

The noise prevention member may have a plurality of protrusions on outer circumferential surface in an uneven form. A spring may be installed in the insertion groove of the end cap and push the support bearing by tension force.

The insertion groove of the end cap may be filled with a lubricant.

Advantageous Effects

According to the present utility model, a noise

prevention member can be fitted to an outer circumferential surface of a support bearing, thereby preventing the support bearing from colliding with an inner circumferential surface of an insertion groove and preventing the occurrence of noise.

Also, the noise prevention member formed of material having a cushion force can be provided, thereby softening an impact, applied to the support bearing.

Also, a plurality of protrusions can be formed in an uneven form on the outer circumferential surface of the noise prevention member, thereby preventing the noise prevention member from getting in surface contact with the inner circumferential surface of the insertion groove and preventing rotation of the support bearing from being reduced due to friction.

Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a construction of a conventional submersible motor installed at a hot water circulation pump;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a construction of a submersible motor installed at a hot water circulation pump according to an exemplary embodiment of the present utility model; FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional diagram illustrating a main construction taken from the submersible motor of FIG. 2; and

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating the use state of a support bearing for submersible motor according to the present utility model.

Best Mode for Carrying out the Utility model

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present utility model will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings.

A support bearing for submersible motor will be

described below by way of the best mode of exemplary embodiments of the present utility model that the submersible motor is installed at a hot water circulation pump that forcibly supplies a hot water to each destination. However, in addition to this, the support bearing can be used for various submersible motors being used throughout industry, that is, all submersible motors being constructed such that an impeller is submerged in water.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrams illustrating detailed constructions of a hot water circulation pump and a submersible motor installed at the hot water circulation pump according to an exemplary embodiment of the present utility model .

As shown, the hot water circulation pump includes a heat tank 10 and a submersible motor 20 for forcibly circulating a hot water stored in the heat tank 10 for each destination.

The heat tank 10 is a tank for storing a hot water and heating the stored hot water at a suitable temperature. The heat tank 10 includes a chamber 12 inside and includes a through-hole 14 at a central bottom surface. The chamber 12 stores a hot water. The through-hole 14 discharges a hot water outside.

The submersible motor 14 is a means for forcibly supplying a hot water stored within the heat tank 10 to each destination. The submersible motor 14 includes a cover body 22, an impeller housing 24, a motor housing 28, and an end cap 36.

The cover body 22 is positioned within the chamber 12 of the heat tank 10. The cover body 22 covers the through- hole 14 provided on a bottom surface of the heat tank 10. The cover body 22 introduces a stored hot water from the heat tank 10 to the through-hole 14 via a flow path 14a. The flow path 14a is provided at one side of the cover body 22. The impeller housing 24 is coupled to an outer bottom surface of the heat tank 10. An impeller 26 is installed

within the impeller housing 24. The impeller 26 rotates in connection to a shaft 34 to be described later and forcibly discharges a hot water introduced into the impeller housing 24. The motor housing 28 is installed under the impeller housing 24. The motor housing 28 includes a rotator 32 and a stator 30 inside and outside. The rotator 32 rotates within the motor housing 28 by an electric current applied to the stator 30. The shaft 34 is provided at a center of the rotator 32. The shaft 34 passes through the impeller 24 in a vertical way. The shaft 34 rotates the impeller 34 by driving of the rotator 32.

The end cap 36 is positioned under the motor housing 28. The end cap 36 connects with the impeller housing 24 by a bolt 37 and supports the motor housing 28.

An insertion groove 38 is provided at an inner center of the end cap 36. The support bearing 40 is inserted into the insertion groove 38. The support bearing 40 gets in contact with a lower end of the shaft 34. The support bearing 40 prevents the shaft 34 from freely moving upon rotation. The support bearing 40 limits a height of elevation of the impeller 24 coupled to the shaft 34 by a tension force of a spring 44 to be described later.

The support bearing 40 is of a cylindrical shape and has a slant groove 40a sunk down at its upper end. The slant groove 40 is fitted to and gets in contact with the lower end of the shaft 34. Desirably, the lower end of the shaft 34 is of a conical shape corresponding to a shape of the slant groove 40a. A noise prevention member 42 is fitted to an outer circumferential surface of the support bearing 40. The noise prevention member 42 is of a cylindrical shape. The noise prevention member 42 is opened at any one of top and bottom and has a housing part 42a housing the support bearing 40 therein.

If the noise prevention member 42 is fitted to the outer circumferential surface of the support bearing 40 and the support bearing 40 is inserted into the insertion groove 38 of the end cap 36, the noise prevention member 42 prevents formation of a gap between an insertion groove 38 and the support bearing 40. Thus, upon rotation of the shaft 34, the noise prevention member 42 prevents the support bearing 40 from colliding with an inner circumferential surface of the insertion groove 38 and causing a noise. In other words, the support bearing 40 is vibrated in rotation with the shaft 34. The vibration causes the support bearing 40 to be shaken to the left/right due to the gap between the support bearing 40 and the insertion groove 38. At this time, while being shaken, the support bearing 40 is collided with the inner circumferential surface of the insertion groove 38, thereby inducing a heavy noise. Accordingly, in the present utility model, the noise prevention member 42 for sealing the gap between the support bearing 40 and the insertion groove 38 is fitted to the outer circumferential surface of the support bearing 40 to prevent the shaking of the support bearing 40. By doing so, the support bearing 40 is prevented from colliding with the inner circumferential surface of the insertion groove 38 and the occurrence of noise is prevented in use. Desirably, the noise prevention member 42 is made of material such as silicon, rubber, etc. to have a constant cushion force. This is to soften an impact occurring while the support bearing 40 is shaken and prevent a damage of the support bearing 40. A plurality of protrusions 42a are protruded in an uneven form from an outer circumferential surface of the noise prevention member 42. The protrusions 42a prevent the outer circumferential surface of the noise prevention member 42 and the inner circumferential surface of the insertion groove 38 from getting in surface contact with each other. Thus, when the support bearing 40 is rotated, the protrusions

42a reduce a friction of the noise prevention member 42 that is in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the insertion groove 38. Because of the protrusion 42a, the noise prevention member 42 does not frictionally interfere with the rotation of the support bearing 40.

A spring 44 is fitted into the insertion groove 38 of the end cap 36 in which the support bearing 40 is inserted. The spring 44 always pushes up the support bearing 40 by its tension force with supporting a bottom surface of the support bearing 40. In other words, though the support bearing 40 is worn away due to a contact with the shaft 34, the support bearing 40 always holds up (elevates) the shaft 34 in contact with the shaft 34 regardless of abrasion because the spring 44 pushes up the support bearing 40 as high as it is worn away. Accordingly, the impeller 26 coupled to the shaft 34 can rotate always at a predetermined elevation height without up/down movement. This will be described in more detail below.

A separate lubricant 46 is filled in the insertion groove 38 of the end cap 38. The lubricant 46 allows the support bearing 40 to be smoothly pushed upward by the tension force of the spring 44.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating an elevation operation of the support bearing by the tension force of the spring.

If the lower end of the shaft 34 rotates in contact with the support bearing 40, the support bearing 40 is gradually worn away at its contact surface (that is, slant surface) 40a because of friction caused by the rotation of the shaft 34.

If the spring 44 supporting the support bearing 40 elastically pushes up the support bearing 40 as high as it is worn away and the support bearing 40 and the shaft 34 are elevated (raised) , the impeller 26 coupled to the shaft 34 can rotate always at a predetermined elevation height without up/down movement. In other words, when elevating to a

predetermined height, the impeller 26 can be prevented from colliding with a bottom surface of the impeller housing 24 while rotating.

The support bearing 40 can be elevated in more natural way using the lubricant 46 filled in the insertion groove 38.

Industrial Applicability

As described above, the present utility model achieves many effects as follows. The present utility model can allow a noise prevention member fitted to an outer circumferential surface of a support bearing to prevent the support bearing from colliding with an inner circumferential surface of an insertion groove, thereby preventing the occurrence of noise. Also, the present utility model can soften an impact applied to the support bearing by manufacturing the noise prevention member using a material having a cushion force.

Also, the present utility model can provide a plurality of protrusions in an uneven form on the outer circumferential surface of the noise prevention member, thereby preventing the noise prevention member from getting in surface contact with the inner circumferential surface of the insertion groove and preventing rotation of the support bearing from being reduced due to friction. While the present utility model has been described and illustrated herein with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the utility model. Thus, it is intended that the present utility model covers the modifications and variations of this utility model that come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.