Motors: How To Convert From Horizontal To Vertical Mounts

Occasionally an end user wants to take a motor designed for horizontal mounting and use it in a vertical position. This article addresses some of the key mechanical factors that should be considered when applying a horizontal ball-bearing motor in a vertical mounting position.

These key factors include:

• Axial thrust load capacity of bearing supporting rotor weight
• Rotor weight
• Weight of output shaft attachments
• Axial thrust from direct-connected driven equipment
• Bearing lubrication paths
• Bearing lubricant retention
• Shaft up or shaft down orientation
• Ingress protection
• Locking axial thrust bearing
• Axial thrust load capacity

The first four factors above are inter-related because the weight of the rotor and any shaft attachments result in axial load on the fixed (thrust) bearing. Direct-connected driven equipment such as impellers or fan/blower blades can also impart axial thrust load on the fixed bearing.

Read the entire article from our sister publication Plant Services.