Shaft support and lubrication assembly

Abstract

A shaft support and lubrication system can include two vise bearings, a lantern ring, and two or more sets of packings. The vise bearings can be rigid cylinder tubes. The lantern ring can be a flexible cylindrical tube with one or more outer grooves on an outer diameter, one or more inner grooves on an inner diameter, and one or more through holes from either the outer diameter or the one or more outer grooves to either the inner diameter or the one or more inner grooves. When arranged coaxially and installed on a shaft, the shaft support and lubrication system provide physical stabilization and provide lubrication or cleaning solution to the shaft.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A shaft support and lubrication assembly, comprising:
 a first vise bearing comprising a rigid cylindrical tube, the first vise bearing having an inner diameter and an outer diameter;   a second vise bearing comprising a rigid cylindrical tube, the first vise bearing having an inner diameter and an outer diameter;   a lantern ring comprising a flexible cylindrical tube having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, wherein the lantern ring comprises one or more outer grooves on the outer diameter, one or more inner grooves on the inner diameter, and one or more through holes from either the outer diameter or the one or more outer grooves to either the inner diameter or the one or more inner grooves;   one or more first packings located between the first vise bearing and the lantern ring, the one or more first packings having an inner diameter and an outer diameter; and   one or more second packings located between the second vise bearing and the lantern ring, the one or more first packings having an inner diameter selected and an outer diameter;   wherein the first vise bearing, the second vise bearing, the lantern ring, the one or more first packings, and the one or more second packings are aligned coaxially.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the inner diameter of the first vise bearing, the inner diameter of the second vise bearing, the inner diameter of the lantern ring, the inner diameter of the one or more first packings, and the inner diameter of the one or more second packings are selected based on a diameter of a shaft supported by the assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the outer diameter of the first vise bearing, the outer diameter of the second vise bearing, the outer diameter of the lantern ring, the outer diameter of the one or more first packings, and the outer diameter of the one or more second packings are selected based on a diameter of a seal cavity into which the assembly is installed. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the one or more outer grooves on the outer diameter of the lantern ring comprise at least two outer grooves on the outer diameter of the lantern ring. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the one or more inner grooves on the inner diameter of the lantern ring comprise at least two inner ridges on the inner diameter of the lantern ring. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the one or more inner grooves on the inner diameter of the lantern ring run substantially perpendicular to a length of the lantern ring. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the lantern ring is bent from a straight arrangement to a cylindrical arrangement. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the one or more first packings and the one or more second packings is bent from a straight arrangement to a cylindrical arrangement. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first and second vise bearings comprises two halves of a cylindrical tube. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein each of the two halves comprise two mating surfaces. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein each of the mating surfaces comprises a centering element configured to align the mating surface with an opposing mating surface. 
     
     
         12 . A system with a shaft support and lubrication assembly, comprising:
 a housing defining a seal cavity, the seal cavity having a diameter;   a shaft passing through the seal cavity, the shaft having a diameter;   a shaft support and lubrication assembly which comprises:
 a first vise bearing and a second vise bearing located around the shaft in the seal cavity, each of the first and second vise bearings being a rigid cylindrical tube, having an inner diameter selected based on the diameter of the shaft, and having an outer diameter based on the diameter of the seal cavity, 
 a lantern ring located around the shaft and in the seal cavity between the first vise bearing and the second vise bearing, the lantern ring being a flexible cylindrical tube having an inner diameter selected based on the diameter of the shaft and an outer diameter based on the diameter of the seal cavity, wherein the lantern ring comprises one or more outer grooves on the outer diameter, one or more inner grooves on the inner diameter, and one or more through holes from either the outer diameter or the one or more outer grooves to either the inner diameter or the one or more inner grooves, 
 one or more first packings located around the shaft and in the seal cavity between the first vise bearing and the lantern ring, the one or more first packings having an inner diameter selected based on the diameter of the shaft and an outer diameter based on the diameter of the seal cavity, and 
 one or more second packings located around the shaft and in the seal cavity between the second vise bearing and the lantern ring, the one or more first packings having an inner diameter selected based on the diameter of the shaft and an outer diameter based on the diameter of the seal cavity; and 
   a gland follower removably attached to the second vise bearing and configured to exert a force on the second vise bearing.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the first vise bearing abuts a portion of the housing, and wherein a force exerted by the gland follower on the second bearing results in a compressive force being applied on the one or more first packings and the one or more second packings. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the one or more outer grooves on the outer diameter of the lantern ring comprise at least two outer grooves on the outer diameter of the lantern ring. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the one or more inner grooves on the inner diameter of the lantern ring comprise at least two inner grooves on the inner diameter of the lantern ring. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the lantern ring is bent from a straight arrangement to a cylindrical arrangement. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12  wherein at least one of the one or more first packings and the one or more second packings is bent from a straight arrangement to a cylindrical arrangement. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12  wherein at least one of the first and second vise bearings comprises two halves of a cylindrical tube and each of the two halves comprises two mating surfaces. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17  wherein each of the mating surfaces comprises a centering element configured to align the mating surface with an opposing mating surface. 
     
     
         20 . A method of replacing a lantern ring of a system which comprises a housing defining a seal cavity, a shaft passing through the seal cavity, and a shaft support and lubrication assembly located around the shaft and in the seal cavity, comprising:
 removing a gland follower away from a second vise bearing of the shaft support and lubrication assembly, wherein the shaft support and lubrication assembly further comprises a first vise bearing, a lantern ring comprising a flexible cylindrical tube and located between the first vise bearing and the second vise bearing, one or more first packings located between the first vise bearing and the lantern ring, and one or more second packings located between the second vise bearing and the lantern ring;   removing the second vise bearing away from the shaft;   removing the second one or more packings away from the shaft;   removing the lantern ring which is worn out away from the shaft;   installing a new lantern ring around the shaft in the seal cavity;   installing the same or a new one or more second packings around the shaft in the seal cavity;   installing the same or a new second vise bearing around the shaft in the seal cavity;   attaching the same or a new gland follower to the same or new second vise bearing so as to exert an axially compressive force on the shaft support and lubrication assembly.