US Patent 8202005 Bearing module for a vacuum pump

A bearing module for supporting a rapidly rotatable shaft of a vacuum pump includes a rolling bearing for supporting rotatably the shaft, a reservoir for a lubricant having an element forming a sliding contact with a delivery structure supported on the shaft for delivery of the lubricant in the rolling bearing under action of centrifugal forces generated during rotation of the shaft, and a radial delivery element provided on a side of the rolling bearing opposite a side of the bearing at which the delivery structure is located, for returning the lubricant to the reservoir.