US 20060.

073303A1
(19) United States
(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2006/0073303 A1
Bloch et al. (43) Pub. Date: Apr. 6, 2006
(54) FLINGER DISC (22) Filed: Oct. 4, 2004
(75) Inventors: Heinz P. Bloch, West Des Moines, IA Publication Classification
(US); Rojean M. Thomas,
Mukwonago, WI (US); Dan E. (51) Int. Cl.
Freeland, West Allis, WI (US); Jeff T. B32B 3/02 (2006.01)
Malinowski, Hartford, WI (US) (52) U.S. Cl. ............................................................ 428/66.6
Correspondence Address:
RYAN KROMHOLZ & MANION, S.C. (57) ABSTRACT
POST OFFICE BOX 266.18
MILWAUKEE, WI 53226 (US) To achieve proper lubrication, a bearing housing or reservoir
is filled with a predetermined amount of lubricant. When the
(73) Assignee: Trico Mfg. Corp. machine, of which a bearing is a component, is operated, a
flexible flinger disc provides proper lubrication by distur
(21) Appl. No.: 10/957,876 bance of the lubricant.

10

24
Patent Application Publication Apr. 6, 2006 US 2006/0073303 A1
US 2006/0073303 A1 Apr. 6, 2006

FLINGER DISC cant condition at the upper limit of acceptable levels, and
lubricant condition immediate action required. This device
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION is effective because an operator is signaled only when the
0001 Lubrication is an important aspect of maintaining lubricant condition is at the upper limit of acceptable levels
machinery in proper operating condition. Machine elements or if immediate action is required. This reduces maintenance
Such as bearings, journals, shafts, and joints require proper costs and productivity is enhanced.
lubrication between their moving surfaces to decrease fric 0005 There are various means that different pump manu
tion, prevent contamination, reduce wear and dissipate heat. facturers are using for lubricating bearings within a pump.
Improper lubrication is likely to lead to premature compo The three most common are: 1) oil bath/splash 2) pure oil
nent wear and component or system failure. mist and 3) purge oil mist. Oil bath/splash is the most
0002. When determining the optimal lubrication between common means of lubricating the bearings.
moving machine elements, many factors should be consid 0006 Oil splash typically occurs by 3 different ways: 1)
ered. These factors include the mode of operation of the oil level is at the bottom of the bearing roller elements
machine, the type of machine element to be lubricated, the resulting in continuous contact with the oil 2) oil level is
environment of the machine, the operating speed of the below bearings, and oil rings are used to splash oil to top of
machine, the lubricant's Viscosity, the lubricant’s tempera bearing or 3) oil level is either at or slightly below bearings
ture, the lubricants ingredients, and the lubricant’s condi and Flinger discs are used to splash oil. For pure oil mist
tion. systems, no flingers or rings are used. For purge oil mist
0003 Prior art lubricators, such as the TRICO OptoMatic systems, flingers, oil rings may be used in conjunction with
oiler, supply a constant level of lubricant within a lubricant mist system.
reservoir to a machine element. The lubricant level is 0007 What method the pump manufacturer uses for
predetermined for the particular application and cannot be lubricating the bearings depends on speed as well as various
changed during the operating time of the machine to which other various factors that affect the overall temperature.
the constant level lubricator is attached. Although this type 0008. The purpose of either a flinger disc or oil ring is 1)
of lubricator provides reasonable performance in many to provide lubricant to the bearing and 2) prevent thermal
steady-state operations, multiple variables can create unac
ceptable operating conditions and lead to premature wear, or stratification of the oil (hot/cold).
even failure, of machine elements. The variables include 0009 Traditional flinger discs are limited in diameter by
“on” and “off” operating modes (machine cycling), oil the design of the housing. Oil rings generally are capable of
Viscosity, machine speed, lubricant temperature, lubricant dipping further into the oil bath. An oil ring is typically equal
condition, and lubricant vessel pressure. to 1.6 times the diameter of the shaft.
0004) Other devices, such as the TRICO Hydrollert indi 0010 Below are some cross sections from different pump
cate by LED signals the status of the equipment's lubrication manufacturers showing the different types of design for Oil
such as lubricant condition within acceptable levels, lubri Splash.
US 2006/0073303 A1 Apr. 6, 2006

Oil Splash.

FlowServe API 610 Pumps Goulds ANSI Plus With

with Bronze Oil Rings metal flinger disc
US 2006/0073303 A1 Apr. 6, 2006

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 20 to perform its function of maintaining a low friction

0011. The flinger disc of the present invention comprises precision relationship between a rotating element or shaft 18
a disk that is flexible during installation and allows for and bearing housing 60, the bearing 20 must operate in an
Submersion into the oil bath, as the traditional oil ring does. environment where it receives proper lubrication.
The ring can comprise polypropylene, but preferably 0020. To achieve proper lubrication, bearing housing or
VitonTM, or other oil compatible and resistant material. reservoir 60 is filled with a predetermined amount of lubri
0012. In a preferred embodiment, the thickness of the cant 12. When the machine, of which bearing 20 is a
disc is roughly /16" to 3/32" and submerses in the oil bath component, is in a static state, the amount of lubricant 12
about 3/s". The flinger disc preferably has a steel hub to within the housing 60, the pressure of the lubricant 12, the
maintain concentricity and be positively secured to the distribution of the lubricant 12 within the housing 60, and
shaft. the temperature of the lubricant 12 are constant.
0013 Also in a preferred embodiment, grooves are 0021. The polyurethane flinger disc of the present inven
molded into the either VitonTM or flexible plastic disc portion tion is installed on the shaft as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
at different diameters to allow for flexibility. Scissors can be
used to cut out the required diameter and adjust the level of 0022. To test the efficacy of the present invention, a
submersion into the oil. quantity of fourthermal couples were installed, 1) bottom of
0014 Perceived advantages of the present invention Sump 602) near the bearing 203) at top near the flinger disc
comprise a reduction in temperature; increased bearing life; 10 and 4) at the side port where the flinger disk 10 is shown
increased lubrication life; possibility to run at higher speeds; in FIG. 2. A total of 16 different scenarios were tested
reduction in required oil level; maintain bearing life while varying oil level, type of oil and speed of pump. Each test
consuming less oil; reduction in energy costs; elimination of was run for an 8 hour time period with continuous tempera
contamination by wearing of Oil rings. Additionally, the tures being recorded at each thermocouple. Synthetic 68
flinger disc of the present invention advantageously pro weight oil was tested first due to availability but all other
vides: 1) same Submersion level in oil as oil rings 2) not tests represent mineral oil.
sensitive to horizontality; 3) not sensitive to wear and 4) Test Results
easier assembly and disassembly of pump drive end.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 0023 Below are charts outlining the test results for the 16
different 8 hour tests that were ran.
0.015 FIG. 1. is a side view, with portions broken away,
of the workpiece to which the flinger disk of the present
invention is advantageously applied. Max temp. per Sensor Max
0016 FIG. 2 is a side view, with portions broken away, Bear- Fling- Side temp
of a flinger disk being installed into the workpiece. Bottom ing e port average
0017 FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the flinger disk of Flinger disc ISO 32 96.8 96.7 96.8 96.3 96.7
the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED Flinger disc ISO 32 92.5 92.3 92.9 95 93.2
EMBODIMENT
No disc ISO 32 81 84.2 83.3 83.3 83.0
0018. Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and
exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the
invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed Flinger disc ISO 32 97.2 96.8 96.7 96.85 96.9
merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in
other specific structure. While the preferred embodiment has Flinger disc ISO 32 90 91.4 91.1 95.4 92
been described, the details may be changed without depart
ing from the invention.
No disc ISO 32 91.8 100.8 96.5 102.4 97.9
0.019 Referring now to FIG. 1., a side view, with por
tions broken away, of the workpiece to which the flinger disk
of the present invention is advantageously applied is shown, Flinger disc ISO 68 96.7 95.2 96.1 96.7 96.2
although the invention can be applied in different work (syn) 1800 rpm Oil (a)
CL bearing
environs. In FIG. 1, the workpiece is shown as a centrifugal Flinger disc ISO 68 95.9 95.2 95.6 95 95.4
pump P with a motor M. The invention provides an optimal (min) 1800 rpm Oil (a)
lubrication condition to machine element or bearings 20 by CL bearing
Flinger disc ISO 68 (syn) 88.9 89.6 93.4 90.9 90.7
providing a flinging of the lubricant 12, such as oil. In FIG. 800 rpm Oil (a 3/8"
1, the bearings 20 are viewed from the side, with their front below CL bearing
profile generally doughnut shaped. The lubricant 12 is Flinger disc ISO 68 (min) 94.5 95.9 101 101S 98.2*
contained within a fluid reservoir, or bearing housing 60. 800 rpm Oil (a 3/8"
Typically, two bearings 20 are located within the bearing No disc ISO 68 (min) 87.7 90.3 89.8 91.1 89.7
housing 60. Bearing 20 includes an inner race, an outer race, 800 rpm Oil (a) CL
and a plurality of rolling ball elements positioned between bearing
inner race and outer race (not shown). In order for bearing
US 2006/0073303 A1 Apr. 6, 2006

0024
-continued
Average Maximum Temperature
Max temp. per sensor Max
Flinger
No Disc Flinger w/Oil (a)
Bear- Fling Side temp w/Oil (a) CL w/Oil (a) CL 3/8" below CL
Set up Bottom ing e port average ISO 32 Mineral

1800 rpm 83.0 96.7 93.2

Flinger disc ISO 68 (syn) 104.8 104.6 105.1 104.9 104.9 3600 rpm 97.8 96.9 92.0
3600 rpm Oil (a) ISO 68 Mineral

1800 rpm 89.7 95.4 98.2*

Flinger disc ISO 68 (min) 105.5 104.2 105.5 104.9 1 OSO 3600 rpm 98.1 1OS.O 99.1
ISO 68 Synthetic
3600 rpm Oil (a)
1800 rpm Not ran 96.2 90.7
3600 rpm Not ran 104.9 101.1
Flinger disc ISO 68 (syn) 97 101.7 105.8 99.9 101.1
3600 rpm Oil (a 3/8" *During this test the flinger was not touching the oil consistently due to
cupping.
below CL bearing
Flinger disc ISO 68 (min) 92 96.7 103.5 104.2 99.1 0025 A review of the results was completed and the
3600 rpm Oil (a 3/8" 0.090" thick Viton disc provided the best overall tempera
below CL bearing tures and durability.
No disc ISO 68 (min) 93.1 98 97.6 103.5 98.1 0026. The results show that the flinger disc would per
form favorably when compared to typically oil ring appli
3600 rpm Oil (a) cations where speeds tend to be 3,600 rpm.
CL bearing
0027. The additional graphs below contain temperature
readings for 0.090" thick Viton disc with oil level below the
*note: flinger not touching oil due to cupping (see below) bearings as compared to no disc and the oil in direct contact
with the bearings.
US 2006/0073303 A1 Apr. 6, 2006

ISO 32 1800 rpm

- No Disc
- 090 Viton

105.00
100.00
95.00
90.00
85.00
80.00
75.00
70.00
65.00
60.00
55.00
1 14 27 40 53 66 79 92 105 118 131 144 157 170 183 96209

ISO 68 18OO RPM

[Link]
90.00
85. OO
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
[Link]
55. OO -mill l
1 22 43 64 85 1 O6 127 148 169 19 O 211 232
US 2006/0073303 A1 Apr. 6, 2006

ISO 68 3600 RPM

s
und
s
L
E - No Disc
H - 090 Viton

sG
Ce
C

20 39 58 77 96 115 134 153 172 191 21 O 229

US 2006/0073303 A1 Apr. 6, 2006

0028. The test results from the in-house lab testing are Because the flinger disk 10 is of a flexible nature, it can be
favorable with difference in temperatures observed being slid about the shaft 18 into the void space 60. The disk 10
relatively small (+1-15%) between running with no disc and is provided with a flexibility to bend the disk to a second
running with the flinger when the oil level is dropped below cross-sectional area less than a first cross-sectional area, as
the bearing. When operating at 3600 rpm there is a more shown, for insertion into a confined space.
noticeable improvement resulting in improved performance 0035 FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the flinger disk 10
of a Viton flinger disc over traditional oil ring applications. of the present invention. As can be seen, the flinger disk 10
Comments from Test Results: is preferably provided with void spaces 24 to decrease
weight.
0029. The highest temperatures were observed when
using the flinger disc 10 and when the bearings were in 0036) The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of
direct contact with the oil 12. This would be expected due to the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous
the additional heat generated from the flinger 10 dragging modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled
through the oil 12 as well as the bearing 20. in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact
0030 Test with 68 mineral oil (a) 1800 rpm oil below construction and operation shown and described. While the
centerline is not reflective due to cupping (see below) preferred embodiment has been described, the details may
and not contacting the oil properly. be changed without departing from the invention.
0031. The flinger disc (with oil below bearing) per We claim:
forms better at the higher operating speed having the
lowest operating temperature when using 32 wt. oil and 1. A disk for insertion into an enclosed space; said disk
is only 1 degree higher than no disc with the 68 wt oil. comprising:
0032. As expected, higher temperatures occur when a non-metallic body having an outer diameter and a first
using a heavier weight oil. cross-sectional area;
0033. The results show that the flinger disc 10 would a hole through an interior region of said body;
perform favorably when compared to typically oil ring said disk of a flexibility to bend to a second cross
applications where speeds tend to be 3,600 rpm. sectional area less than said first cross-sectional area.
0034 FIG. 2 is a side view, with portions broken away,
of a flinger disk 10 being installed into the workpiece.