US3591308A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rotor guard for centrifugal compressor
Assignee: Chicago Pneumatic Tool Co LLC
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Filing: 1969-06-04
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Granted: 1971-07-06
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Expires: 1989-06-04
Abstract
Abstract A safety device to protect a rotor impeller in a centrifugal compressor from damage that might otherwise occur when the impeller, because of some fault, engages an opposed wall of its chamber. The device includes a hollow tubular body supported in the walls of the compressor. It has one end connected with a pressure switch arranged in a power control electrical circuit, and has an opposite abradable thin end projecting into the impeller chamber. The device is pressurized with fluid and, when its thin end is caused to be abraded away by the impeller, the pressure fluid will be dumped, causing actuation of the switch and consequent discontinuance of power to the compressor. The pressure fluid for the device may be supplied from the compressor system or from an external source. In condenser steam turbines, the tubular body of the device may be connected with a vacuum element and arranged so that when the thin end is abraded away the tubular body will become pressurized by the process fluid to cause actuation of the pressure switch.
Inventors
- 👤 Ernest W Blattner
- 👤 Arnold M Heitmann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 13:59
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04D; F04D15/00; F04D15/02; F04D15/0245; F04D15/0272; F01; F01D; F01D21/00; F01D21/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
In a centrifugal fluid compressor including a rotor carrying an impeller having rotation in a space defined between a pair of opposed walls of the compressor, one of the walls having a recessed shoulder in a bore opening axially into the space in opposed relation to the blade face of the impeller, a rotor guard comprising a tubular body having a cap fixed over one end and seated upon the recessed shoulder and having a forward end projecting into the space, a connector supporting an opposite end of the tubular body in further wall of the compressor, a fluid pressure switch, piping means connecting the said opposite end of the tubular body with the pressure switch, an orifice connecting the tubular body with a constant source of pressure fluid, and a narrow passage in the cap sealed by means of a thin abradable wall at the forward end of the cap, the passage being relatively larger in diameter than the orifice, the pressure switch being responsive in a particular direction to pressurization of the interior of the tubular body with fluid from the source and being responsive in an opposite direction upon the thin wall being abraded away to relieve the fluid from the tubular body through the narrow passage, the impeller being adapted upon losing axial clearance relative to said one wall to engage and abrade away the thin wall.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
231 words
In a centrifugal fluid compressor including a rotor carrying an impeller having rotation in a space defined between a pair of opposed walls of the compressor, one of the walls having a recessed shoulder in a bore opening axially into the space in opposed relation to the blade face of the impeller, a rotor guard comprising a tubular body having a cap fixed over one end and seated upon the recessed shoulder and having a forward end projecting into the space, a connector supporting an opposite end of the tubular body in further wall of the compressor, a fluid pressure switch, piping means connecting the said opposite end of the tubular body with the pressure switch, an orifice connecting the tubular body with a constant source of pressure fluid, and a narrow passage in the cap sealed by means of a thin abradable wall at the forward end of the cap, the passage being relatively larger in diameter than the orifice, the pressure switch being responsive in a particular direction to pressurization of the interior of the tubular body with fluid from the source and being responsive in an opposite direction upon the thin wall being abraded away to relieve the fluid from the tubular body through the narrow passage, the impeller being adapted upon losing axial clearance relative to said one wall to engage and abrade away the thin wall.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
In a centrifugal fluid compressor as in claim 1, wherein the said opposite end of the tubular body has a collar disposed with a slide fit part way into the interior of the connector, the rear end of the collar being subject to fluid pressure within the interior of the rotor guard whereby the cap end of the tubular body is held seated upon the recessed shoulder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
In a centrifugal fluid compressor as in claim 2, wherein an O-ring seal is provided about the periphery of the collar having sealing engagement with the surrounding wall of the connector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
In a centrifugal fluid compressor as in claim 1, wherein a sleeve seal is fitted upon said opposite end of the tubular body, and a sleeve nut threadedly engaging a rear portion of the connector compressively engages the sleeve seal into tight engagement with the tubular body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
In a centrifugal fluid compressor as in claim 1, wherein the level of the pressure in the rotor guard is greater than the ambient pressure in the said space of the compressor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
208 words
A safety guard comprising a hollow tubular body having a reduced passage at one end and a readily abradable thin wall sealing over the end of the passage, a pressure-responsive switch connected to the opposite end of the tubular body, an orifice the diameter of which is reduced relative to said passage connecting with the interior of the tubular body intermediately of the ends of the latter, the switch being adapted to respond in a particular direction in response to a relaxed pressure condition developing within the interior of the tubular body and to respond in the opposite directioN in response to a pressurized condition developing within the interior of the tubular body, the tubular body being adapted to be supported in the housing of a rotor in a manner so as to have its abradable wall end project into a rotor chamber in opposed spaced relation to the blade face of the rotor''s impeller, the abradable wall being adapted to be abraded away upon being engaged by the impeller blades so as to open the interior of the tubular body through the reduced passage to pressures within the rotor chamber, and the orifice being adapted for selective connection with a suction device or a fluid pressure source.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
208 words
A safety guard comprising a hollow tubular body having a reduced passage at one end and a readily abradable thin wall sealing over the end of the passage, a pressure-responsive switch connected to the opposite end of the tubular body, an orifice the diameter of which is reduced relative to said passage connecting with the interior of the tubular body intermediately of the ends of the latter, the switch being adapted to respond in a particular direction in response to a relaxed pressure condition developing within the interior of the tubular body and to respond in the opposite directioN in response to a pressurized condition developing within the interior of the tubular body, the tubular body being adapted to be supported in the housing of a rotor in a manner so as to have its abradable wall end project into a rotor chamber in opposed spaced relation to the blade face of the rotor''s impeller, the abradable wall being adapted to be abraded away upon being engaged by the impeller blades so as to open the interior of the tubular body through the reduced passage to pressures within the rotor chamber, and the orifice being adapted for selective connection with a suction device or a fluid pressure source.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-05 | 1975-01-04 | 1975-07-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-05 | 1979-01-04 | 1979-07-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-05 | 1983-01-04 | 1983-07-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |