Lubricating Journal Bearings with Oil Rings = Asimple, low-cost device called an oil ring can provide primary or backup lubrication for journal bearings. But operating limits are more critical than with conventional lubrication methods. RICHARD C. ELWELL Consulting Engineer Schenectady, NY E.R.BOOSER Consulting Engineer Scotia, NY Most smooth-bore journal bearings are lubricated by systems that supply them with a generous amount of oil. Bearings using these systems are said to be fully flooded. Pressurized systems generally work well, but if a pump oF motor fails, fr a filter clogs, the oil supply can drop toa point where the journal method is not new, but until now, in the bearing upper half. which contacts (wipes) the bearing sur- the design guidelines have been keeps the ring from wandering face. If wiping is extensive, the vague. along the shaft. The lower portion bearing may need to be replaced. ‘of Uhe ring dips into the lubricant Oil rings provide a lubrication How it works: reservoir. As the shaft turns, drag method that works asa reliable ‘The oil ring is usually made of rotates the ring, which in turn lifts backup to pressurized systems. In die-cast zinc or brass, and are less oil upto the bearing. fact, when journal speeds are low to than twice the diameter of the jour- At low speeds, a few rpm, ring ‘moderate, oil rings can be the pri- nal. The ring simply hangs over the and shaft surface speeds are the mary means of oil supply. ‘The shaft or journal and rides in a slot same, As speed increases, an oil MACHINE DESIGN/OECEMBER?.1909 111film forms betaoan ring and shat which allows them to slip against ‘each other. When this happens, the ring slows to about one-tenth shaft speed. Oil delivery rate reaches « max imum at a surface speed of about 30 fps, Then, the delivery rate begins 1 fall off because centrifugal force and air currents generated by’ tive Spinning shaft throw oil frou Ue ring. This is one of the most im: portant limitations in the use of Ting-oiled bearings. At speeds over 45 fps, when the bearing needs the most oil, delivery ean be reduced to a dangerously low rate For operating speeds other than the slowest, the bearing surface does not receive as much oil as re- quired for full fuid-film lubri- cation. That is, the bearing oper ates “starved,” or with the surface of the journal closer to the bearing babbitt than it would be with @ pressurized oil supply. Starved operation is typical for disk and ‘wick-fed bearings, and is accept ‘able for many applications, such as large motors, pumps, and blowers ‘Commercially-available oil-ring bearings come with oil-level sights, fill ports, and pillow blocks for mounting. Water-eooled pillow Docks are also available, and they have higher load and speed ratings than uncooled designs. Shafts from 1 to 12-in, diameter can use a standardized design. These bear- ings tend to be long, usually about ‘twice their diameter. Sizing recommendations Most oil-ring bearings are de. signed for specific applications and to fit a limited space. Ifa standard. ined design cannot be used, a cus: tom bearing can be designed rather easily. Typical proportions for common applications such as Pumps or electric motors are: © Length/diameter ratio ranges from 0.7 to 1-1. This is based on the ‘benring’s net working length. ‘© Oil-ring bore to bearing-bore ratio ranges from 1.5 to 19. © Bearing/journal clearance ra tio spans 0,002 to 0.00275 in, fin. Selecting an oil grade re quires a balance between operating speed and viscosity, For example, a high viscosity (1S0 44 68 or SAE 30) promotes @ high oil-delivery rate fand good load capacity at speeds 12 MACHINEDESIGN/occeMaER 1960 Maximum jouralelamate (in) ‘Shaft speed (x 1,000 pn) below about 1,500 rpm. Lower vis: oll delivery when a cold machine is cosity oll (180 VG 32 oF SAK TO) re- Started duces temperature rise in higher Staying below 45 fps is rec speed bearings and eases cold- ommended in the shaft speed vs Starting problems. For general use, journal diameter graph, and may 150 ¥G 82. usually in the form of be the most crucial design prin light turbine oil, e'a good choice. ciple. This liait can be exceeded Also, this ol is often used in power- but only when other bearing char Plani pumps, motors, and fans be acteristics, such as oil-delivery rate cause iis readily available. fire better than marginal. Soectol ‘il selection alen should ncconnt designe should also be ventied by for special circumstances, such as testing before production. corrosion-producing condensation If testing is not performed, sys in the sump during long shut- tem reliability depends on controi- downs. In arcticlike conditions, it ling oil temperature. Oil couled by tay be necessary to install heaters forced air or water allows higher in the bearing sump to prevent ex- speeds and loads. But if ol cooling cessive ring drag snd insufficient is interrupted, even temporarily, USING THE OIL-RING EQUATIONS ‘A din. diameter alone bearing with a -ineffctive length, must operate at 1,800 rpm. A O46, 0:30-in wide ol ving with a 85-in. bores to supply toe Dearing with 180 VG 12 ight Curie oi. Diametral clearance in 0.002 inn, and ‘ol rserve temperature ia 122°F- Ifthe al vincnities are w= 2.46% 10" reyn finds ~ 0031 n'a what are the rings operating characteristic? From Equation 2 ring speed at initial elipia on 040) em eae x 10) RE” HM Solving Bqution {,shaftopend at the tart flip ia ert) = 20mm Fill-film operation ny begins at a shaft speed af 2.9(200) = §80 rpm. Equa. tion 3 predicts a ring speed af y= 8290080" 1800 01 65 om From Equation , the transition to high-speed delivery characteristicn occur “Then, the corresponding journal speed, found by solving Equation 3 isthe journal will pi against the bearing. Loading a ring-lubed bearing safely means not exceeding 150 ps for a downward load and 50 psi for upward loads. Allowable up-ioad ing is reduced due to the bearing ‘rea lost in the upper half from the fing slots. Water cooling. allows in creasing a load by about 50%. Bearing load per unit area is found with P= W/Ld, where W = bearing load, 1b, L = load length, in and d ~ shaft diameter, in. ‘These general limits can be ex ceeded if actual bearing capacity is calculated with a more detailed fanalysis. Using an estimated bear ing oil ow, Uke analysis works hackward to calculate the extent of the ol film between the journal and bearing. Knowing film area and thickness allows the shaft ec centricity within the bearing to be calculated. Hence, it is poanble to draw a theoretical load capacity curve of load vs. minimum film thickness. ‘The shortcoming in these calcu: lations is the accuracy of the esti mated oil delivered to the bearing. One common estimate is that 50": of this actually enters the bearing ably wipe ‘Testing is usually done for critical Oil ring speeds are calculated for three significant operating con wo From Equation 5, il delivery by the ring atthe transition speed is @ Equation 6 shows that when ring speed exceeds the transition speed, delivery rate = ur( (25) Minimum bearing oil fow, from Equation 7, is Qe, ~ 0.089 (1800) 4 (8) 4 (0.002) = 6.7 nim eecause minimum oil requirements are exceeded by ring delivery rate, the design is acceptable. Other performance characteristics can be calculated from handbooks or a previous MACHINE DESIGN article, “New Technique Simplifies Journal Benring Design”, Apr, 23, 1987. [foil ow had been ineufficient, ring oF ‘searing dimeneions could be changed, A second ring might also be added. “To examine a number of possible bearing and ring designs, the calculations can be easly written into a progeam or ‘uctlarly useful for organizing the equations and their results. 97 rpm 0.018 (0.38) 0.081" [65 (999) = 11 = 10582 ditions, Ring speed is proportional to shaft speed only. at low values Over this no-shp range, ring speed Nand shaft speed n are related by i uw where d = journal diameter, in and D ~ oil ing inner diameter, in ‘This relationship is valid up to the ring slip speed N., when viscous oil drag on the lower are of the ring exceeds the friction drive by the ro. tating journal. Slipping begins at N= 0008 Me ® where W, = ring weight, Ib, and a wil vievonity, reyno. A partial-film drive develops inYmin in? solver. Spreadsheets are par above Ny and extends to the in ception of a fullilm drive speed range. Here, viscous drive and drag. forces balance. Full-film ring speed, N; commonly begins at 2.9N, and is aa)" a where » = oil kinematic viscosity. 1m."/s. Oil rings in most small ma. chines operate in this full-film drive region, Large, slower speed applications, such as steel-mill drive motors or ship lineshatt bear ings, involve nonslip or partial-film rings. Oil delivery rate is calculated for high and low speeds, The ‘method changes at a ring transition ili-ring and snatt Surface speed are the same foriow rotatonal speeds ‘Above Ne. an ol ‘tim Denéatn tne "ing causes 10 ‘lip. Abowe Na the oil fim ‘completely Separates the ‘ing and shart. speed N;, above which an incre iating portion of ail picked up by: the ring is thrown’ off without reaching the bearing. Transition speed. ™ vate w Below the transition speed, oil delivery rate is @= oosiDn vide si where w = ring width on the jour- nal. in, Above the transition speed the delivery rate is ean (a) 6 As journal surface speed ap proaches the 45-fps limit, oil deliv ‘ery falls off quickly enough to en danger reliable operation. From experiments, minimum oil delivery required from a ring is of: ten about 10/7 of that needed to fully fill the bearing-journal clear ance. For many operating condi MACHINE DESIGN/OEcewarR? 1888-113approximately |] Allow sped, an a moore a = 09nd LC ” trough onto I delivery fram one fi rmowtbeerng Geel upevona ing itcomiared roquremonts After Sip begins oiaemery More than just round Serco omy Sseverat additions: tothe Isic wrinspeed ving design can improve Ise oper owe No conta ation, On large low speed bearings force and shat Sireunferenialgroarce in the nig spunerin me Savire scale ta ie Bosna removes rapt the supporting ei film be momner tween the ring and shaft journal, Goivery rate toss ‘This extends the no-slip and par ———— than mnmum tual-film ring operation to slightly Shatt speed, n(rom) ‘aperating conditons. higher speeds, thereby increasing ring speed and oil delivery However, on most other designs, vide no significant improvement in ring is necessary. In fact. when the 1 grooved ring bore is not recom: oil delivery ring must be split and hinged tor mended because it may wear the The most con ring mate: assembly over the journal, brass is shaft locally. Shaft grooves rials are die-cast zinc and brass. preferred iddle of the bearing Zine is easily fabricated and has Die-cast rings usually have a reduce an good sliding compatibility with trapezoidal cross section, partls tor acity. Also, steel. Also, its specific gravity is easier fabrication, but also te when ring speed is in the full-film nearly the same as that of steel. duce ring-to-slut contact area ai region, the ring-bore grooves pro- Brass is selected when a heavier friction, Split brass rings are us ally made with « T-shaped once Section so that they can be opened GROOVED BEARINGS GO “nator ‘Although ring roundness 4s WITH THE FLOW portant for proper oil delivers. ex periments show that out-of-plane Distribution grooves in the bearing allow more efficient use of limited il ow. | distortion, or warping, is more crit One common grome, ealled« race track «continuous from the ring slot to the | ical to proper operation. In une ex ‘bearing bottom, and back to the slot. The design presents groove edges to the periment, a 16.5-1n. ring was ben shaft at angles that pump oil like a viscous pump. The looped grome can bepo- | into an ellipse (1-in. out of rounds sutioned asymmetrically to the slot ww produce oil flow in one direction. The yet delivered about the same amount of oil as when found. In vestigators report that even near perfect rings experience a variety cf tncillatory motions at speeds that coincide with reduced oil delivers ‘On some high-speed bearings ring scrapers have been tested. 10 capture some of the oil that re circulates back to sump. But scrap. fers are usually not used because they slow the ring, making ite oper ion undependable One successful approach to areater oil delivery. however, 16 4 Small baffle placed below the rng lunderside as it rolls aif the shaft half «split bearing. Its edges shouldbe careully faired or tapered intothe | ‘This reclaimns sorue oil blown ont of bearing load 2one to induce cl ow out ofthe groove and into the film. Axial | the window by shaft windage. toores through the load zone should be woided because they Bled aff pres: | ‘Surface finish on the journal is sure fom the load-carrying fim. more important than with other ‘An ai vent near the top or end of any of these gress required to prevent | Deeg pre tne iy ot su oat econ ap uf fae win apes mr erated ou me | PATow, era stared. Alfie ‘ot flow well ingrooves. Alo, fa babbitedthrit surfaces built into the end | DEa"tDRs operate starved. Alun ‘Linnie ural bearing, aching ever ented radial gromesinto the | {he wal SPvin Goh wali, for sree aed areal Nneing meokioies overs lower epeeds.»jairnal operating a * improves: the 45-fps limit should have a fin: ish of 16 uin. or better. Operating 114 MACHINE DESIGN DEcENABLH 985Break edges A.rapezoidal oiiring should have 10 10 15°side rele Typical dimensions ‘are, for aring bore Dot 5.625 in. a = Sein. and = ‘in, For = 7.5 fan. and = ein. ‘above the limit, especially if there is ships or dragline excavators, re- small. Leaks are most likely to oc significant shaft bending, requires quire extra attention. If the shaft cur at housing joints and where the polishing and perhaps even lapping tilts more than a few degrees from housing is mounted to the machine. the journal toa 4-uin. finish. Test- horizontal, the ring may stick. Also, At times, even cooling air can be ing should then be done to verify if sump oil sloshes about during troublesome because it may blow the design machine motion, oil can leak out oil droplets and mist out of the the end seals. housing end seals. An easy-to-read ‘Special situations Leaks of any kind are serious be- il-level indicator, however, helps Mobile applications, such as on cause the oil reservoir is generally spot a sump going dry. .