bearing housing oil siphon

[ardeIII]

Recently encountered a bearing failure that resulted from apparent lack of lubrication in a pump that had no previous problems in this area. The bearing housing is sump type with oil rings and Trico optomatic oiler. Older machinery guru mentioned an "oil siphon", where an oil leak along the shaft and out along deflector due to overfilling of bearing housing will continue until either the "siphon" is broken or the oil supply is gone (i.e oil supply drops below rings). I'm searching for literature on this issue, has anyone heard of this before?

 

[Strong]

"Oil siphon" -- good luck with that one! How about the more obvious issues:
1) Housing was not filled to correct level
2) Oil rings were not functional
3) Trico oiler was not filled
4) Trico oiler was not functional

Walt

 

[PetroSynergy]

I've never run across and problem of this sort, but it could be possible to have a siphon like effect. However, what would really be at fault is an inadequate seal.

 

[TenPenny]

I have heard about some big double suction pumps where the oil tended to be sucked out through the labyrinth seals...if I recall, it had to do with the coupling inside the coupling guard acting like a fan...we were discussing an oil leak at the time, and some of the rotating equipment guys mentioned this. It's all hearsay and stories, so I have no idea what/when/how true it was.

 

[1gibson]

If that theory will convince the maintenance guy to fill to the correct level, and regularly check the oil, sure!

 

[TenPenny]

Here's a paper that discussed coupling windage creating low pressure which tends to suck oil from the bearing housings.

Interesting concept.

http://www.tce1.com/Pages/Papers/EliminatingOilLeaksTutorial.pdf

 

[ABritTurner]

Siphoning will occur if the bearing is overfilled and the bearing is closed to atmospheric pressure. The only example I experienced is when a new engineer decided to close off all crane oil wells to stop ingress of dirt that was spoiling the oil. He fitted closed caps to all bearing on the cranes and the promptly siphoned of resulting in all bearing failing within one day.

New engineers are sent to works to entertain the workers and to alleviate boredom, it is also good for moral as the technical classes then believe that they have a place in industry and graduate engineers then realize their place and stop interfering in matters that don't concern them.