Traction motor with self-contained drive end bearing lubrication

1. A lubrication device for a traction motor, comprising:

an inner cover, the inner cover having a first side and a second side, the second side having a first mating surface;

an outer cover, the outer cover having a first side and a second side, the first side having a second mating surface; and

a paddle wheel, the first mating surface of the inner cover and the second mating surface of the outer cover fitting together to form a casing, the paddle wheel nesting inside the casing, positioned between the inner cover and the outer cover.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the inner cover, the outer cover, and the paddle wheel are annular in shape.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein a first sealing element is placed between the first mating surface of the inner cover and the second mating surface of the outer cover to form a substantially fluid tight seal.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the second mating surface of the outer cover has an annular lip to assist in forming the substantially fluid tight seal.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the paddle wheel is non-contacting with the inner cover and the outer cover and the paddle wheel is free to rotate within the casing.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the inner cover is non-rotating and is non-contacting with the paddle wheel in radial and axial directions and the outer cover is non-rotating and is non-contacting with the paddle wheel in radial and axial directions.

7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the outer cover has at least one second sealing element attached to the first side of the outer cover, the second sealing element being annular in shape.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the paddle wheel has a first side and a second side and the paddle wheel has at least one paddle-like feature, the at least one paddle-like feature is placed radially along the first side of the paddle wheel.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the inner cover has a first location with at least one aperture extending through the first side to the second side of the inner cover and a second location with at least one aperture extending through the first side to the second side of the inner cover.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the at least one aperture at the first location and the at least one aperture at the second location are offset approximately 180 degrees with respect to one another.

11. A traction motor assembly, comprising:

a traction motor drive shaft;

a drive end bearing to facilitate rotation of the traction motor drive shaft;

a bearing housing arranged to contain the drive end bearing; and

a drive end bearing lubrication device for lubrication of the motor drive end bearing, the motor drive end bearing lubrication device having an inner cover, the inner cover having a first side and a second side, the second side having a first mating surface, an outer cover, the outer cover having a first side and a second side, the first side having a second mating surface; and

a paddle wheel, the first mating surface of the inner cover and the second mating surface of the outer cover fitting together to form a casing and the paddle wheel nesting inside the casing between the inner cover and the outer cover, the casing and the paddle wheel having a central opening extending through the inner cover, the outer cover and the paddle wheel, the traction motor drive shaft extending through the central opening in the casing and the paddle wheel.

12. The traction motor assembly of claim 11 , wherein the inner cover, the outer cover and the paddle wheel are annular in shape and a first sealing element is placed between the first mating surface of the inner cover and the second mating surface of the outer cover to form a substantially fluid tight seal.

13. The traction motor assembly of claim 11 , wherein the paddle wheel has a first side and a second side, the first side having at least one paddle-like feature, the at least one paddle-like feature is placed radially along the first side.

14. The traction motor assembly of claim 11 wherein the inner cover and outer cover are non-rotating and are non-contacting with the paddle wheel in radial and axial directions, the paddle wheel is free to rotate within the casing, and the paddle wheel is rigidly coupled to the traction motor drive shaft, the paddle wheel rotating in conjunction with the traction motor drive shaft.

15. The traction motor assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first side of the inner cover of the motor drive end bearing lubrication device is positioned adjacent to the bearing housing and the outer cover has at least one second sealing element attached to the first side of the outer cover, the second sealing element being annular in shape.

16. The traction motor assembly of claim 11 , wherein the inner cover has a first location with at least one aperture extending through the first side to the second side of the inner cover, a second location with at least one aperture extending through the first side to the second side of the inner cover, and the at least one aperture at the first location and the at least one aperture at the second location are offset approximately 180 degrees with respect to one another.

17. A method of lubricating a traction motor drive end bearing, comprising:

providing a motor drive end bearing lubrication device on a traction motor drive shaft, the motor drive end bearing lubrication device having an inner cover, the inner cover having a first mating surface, an outer cover, the outer cover having a second mating surface and a paddle wheel, the paddle wheel having a first side, a second side, and the paddle wheel having at least one paddle-like feature, the at least one paddle-like feature is placed radially along the first side of the paddle wheel;

the inner cover first mating surface and the outer cover second mating surface fitting together to form a casing, the paddle wheel nesting inside the casing, the first side of the paddle wheel facing the second side of the inner cover, the paddle wheel being free to rotate within the casing, a first sealing element being placed between the inner cover first mating surface and the outer cover second mating surface to form a substantially fluid tight seal and;

rotating the paddle wheel to create circulation of a lubricant within the traction motor drive end bearing.

18. The method of claim 17 , further includes the inner cover, the outer cover and the paddle wheel having a central opening, the traction motor drive shaft extending through the central opening, the paddle wheel rigidly coupling to the traction motor drive shaft and rotating in conjunction with the traction motor drive shaft, the inner cover and outer cover being non-rotating and non-contacting with the paddle wheel in radial and axial directions.

19. The method of claim 17 , further includes providing the inner cover with a first location having at least one aperture extending through a first side to a second side of the inner cover, a second location having an at least one aperture extending through the first side to the second side of the inner cover, and offsetting the at least one aperture at the first location and the at least one aperture at the second location by approximately 180 degrees with respect to one another.

20. The method of claim 19 , further includes the lubricant communicating through the drive end bearing lubrication device through the at least one aperture at the first location of the inner cover, circulating the lubricant using the paddle wheel within the lubrication device, directing the lubricant into the drive end bearing through the at least one aperture at the second location of the inner cover, the outer cover having at least one second sealing element attached to the first side of the outer cover, the second sealing element being annular in shape and configured to prevent the lubricant from traveling beyond the paddle wheel.