Breather for bearing housing

by VB

In a compressor the lube oil system is having a mist eliminator which comprises a fan for creating vacuum.

If this fails there is pressure developed in bearing housing and oil vapor leaks out wetting the compressor components. There can be a possible fire in this case.

Can a breather be installed on bearing housing?
Pls explain how to select and install such a breather on bearing housing.

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Bill says...

Howdy VB. I'll have to take your word for "In a compressor the lube oil system is having a mist eliminator which comprises a fan for creating vacuum." since I don't have experience with this.

If the breather is simply to allow the housing to ingest air to eliminate vacuum, it won't take much of a size. Go to your pneumatic fittings store and ask for a sintered brass muffler for air valves. It will have a male thread of 1/8, 1/4, 3/8 NPT or even larger if you wished.

Simply tap a hole in the breather housing the same thread as the muffler. The sintered brass should help keep what's in the housing inside yet allow air to breathe in and out as required.

That's how I would do it if I were attempting to ventilate a bearing housing. Not that I'm recommending doing so. That advice will have to come from the bearing people, not me.

Cheers,

Bill