Delbert W Crawford

US Patent:

20060231336, Oct 19, 2006

Filed:

Mar 29, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/393521

Inventors:

Delbert Crawford - San Jose CA, US

International Classification:

F16C 1/24

US Classification:

184005100

Abstract:

A lube oil system that opposes infusion of water into a submerged bearing assembly sealed within a lubricant cavity. The system includes a conduit that extends from within to outside the lubricant cavity. Tubing connects a lube oil reservoir to the conduit's end located outside the cavity. The reservoir and the tubing supply lube oil to the cavity. A passage connects a pressure inducing bell having an open lower end to the reservoir. The open end of the bell is located no higher than the lubricant cavity. Upon immersion of the open end in water, via the passage the system couples the water's hydraulic pressure from the bell to a column of air trapped atop the reservoir. The pressure of the air in the reservoir together with the pressure of lube oil in the reservoir is then coupled to the lubricant cavity via the tubing and the conduit.