Fluid-motion apparatus

Claim 2

A fluid-motion apparatus, such as a fluid compressor, pump, or the like, comprising: a housing; a rotor rotatably mounted in said housing; means for admitting fluid to said housing; means for discharging fluid from said housing; first walled chamber means communicating said admitting and discharging means; said rotor having a plurality of primary elements carried radially thereabout, interposed between said admitting and discharging means, for working engagement thereof with said fluid, said primary elements being cooperative with one wall of said chamber means to define, therebetween, substantially separate, longitudinally extending fluid passages; said primary elements each further defining given high-pressure and low-pressure fluid zones to either sides thereof; said elements having first outer radial edge surfaces which form an interface with second surfaces of said one wall of said chamber means; and at least one of said first and second surfaces has a materialremoved area, with surfacing which diverges away from said interface, which defines a recess which opens on both said high-pressure and low-pressure zones effective for communicating said high- and low-pressure fluid zones to control the fluid boundary layer which forms on said elements; and wherein said recess is formed at only one given location in said one surface for effecting said communication of said zones intermediate the ends of said passages.

Claim 3

A fluid-motion apparatus, such as a fluid compressor, pump, or the like, comprising: a housing; a rotor rotatably mounted in said housing; means for admitting fluid to said housing; means for discharging fluid from said housing; first walled chamber means communicating said admitting and discharging means; said rotor having a plurality of primary elements carried radially thereabout, interposed between said admitting and discharging means, for working engagement thereof with said fluid, said primary elements being cooperative with one wall of said chamber means to define, therebetween, substantially separate, longitudinally extending fluid passages; said primary elements each further defining given high-pressure and low-pressure fluid zones to either sides thereof on the rotation thereof; said elements having first outer radial edge surfaces which form an interface with second surfaces of said one wall of said chamber means; and at least one of said first and second surfaces has a recess formed therein effective for communicating said high- and low-pressure fluid zones to control the fluid boundary layer which forms on said elements; and wherein said elements comprise blades, said blades each having a configuration in general conformity with that of said first chamber, and said recess comprises a material-relieved area formed in at least one radial edge of said blades, said area having surfacing which diverges away from said one wall of said chamber means and which cooperates with said one wall of said chamber means to define a gap therebetween which opens on both said high-pressure and said low-pressure zones.

Claim 4

A fluid-motion apparatus, such as a fluid compressor, pump, or the like, comprising: a housing; a rotor rotatably mounted in said housing; means for admitting fluid to said housing; means for discharging fluid from said housing; first walled chamber means communicating said admitting and discharging means; said rotor having a plurality of primary elements carried radially thereabout, interposed between said admitting and discharging means, for working engagement thereof with said fluid, said primary elements being cooperative with one wall of said chamber means to define, therebetween, substantially separate, longitudinally extending fluid passages; said primary elements each further defining given high-pressure and low-pressure fluid zones to either sides thereof on the rotation thereof; said elements having first outer radial edge surfaces which form an interface with second surfaces of said one wall of said chamber means; and at least one of said first and second surfaces has a recess formed therein effective for communicating said high- and low-pressure fluid zones to control the fluid boundary layer which forms on said elements; and wherein said elements comprise blades, said blades each having a configuration in general conformity with that of said first chamber, and said recess comprises a material-relieved area formed in at least one radial edge of said blades, said area having surfacing which diverges away from said one wall of said chamber means and which cooperates with said one wall of said chamber means to define a gap therebetween which opens on both said high-pressure and said low-pressure zones.

Claim 5

A fluid-motion apparatus, according to claim 2, wherein: said blades each have a given length; and said relieved area extends for a limited distance along said length to define said gap intermediate the ends of said blade.

Claim 6

A fluid-motion apparatus, according to claim 2, wherein: said relieved area extends into the terminal face of said blade which is disposed adjacent to said fluid admitting means.

Claim 7

A fluid-motion apparatus, such as a fluid compressor, pump, or the like, comprising: a housing; a rotor rotatably mounted in said housing; means for admitting fluid to said housing; means for discharging fluid from said housing; first walled chamber means communicating said admitting and discharging means; said rotor having a plurality of primary elements carried radially thereabout, interposed between said admitting and discharging means, for working engagement thereof with said fluid, said primary elements being cooperative with walls of said chamber means to define, therebetween, substantially separate, longitudinally extending fluid passages; said primary elements each further defining given high-pressure and low-pressure fluid zones to either sides thereof; said elements having first surfaces adjacent to said fluid-admitting means which interface with second surface of said first chamber means; and at least one of said first and second surfaces has a recess formed therein for communicating said high- and low-pressure fluid zones to control the fluid boundary layer which forms on said elements wherein; said recess is formed at a given location in said one surface for effecting said communication of said zones intermediate the ends of said passages; and further including diffuser means disposed between said rotor and discharging means, in second walled chamber means formed in said housing; said diffuser means comprising a plurality of secondary elements radially disposed relative to said rotor, for working engagement thereof with said fluid, said secondary elements each comprises means defining other high-pressure and low-pressure fluid zones to either sides thereof; said secondary elements having third surfaces adjacent to said fluid-admitting means which interface with fourth surfaces of said second chamber means; and at least one of said third and fourth surfaces comprise other means for communicating said other high- and low-pressure fluid zones to control the fluid boundary layer which forms on said secondary elements.

Claim 8

A fluid-motion apparatus, such as a fluid compressor, pump, or the like, comprising: a housing; a rotor rotatably mounted in said housing; means for admitting fluid to said housing; means for discharging fluid from said housing; first walled chamber means communicating said admitting and discharging means; said rotor having a plurality of primary elements carried radially thereabout, interposed between said admitting and discharging means, for working engagement thereof with said fluid, said primary elements being cooperative with walls of said chamber means to define, therebetween, substantially separate, longitudinally extending fluid passages; said primary elements each further defining given high-pressure and low-pressure fluid zones to either sides thereof; said elements having first surfaces adjacent to said fluid-admitting means which interface with second surface of said first chamber means; and at least one of said first and second surfaces has a recess formed therein for communicating said high- and low-pressure fluid zones to control the fluid boundary layer which forms on said elements wherein; said recess is formed at a given location in said one surface for effecting said communication of said zones intermediate the ends of said passages; and further including diffuser means disposed between said rotor and discharging means, in second walled chamber means formed in said housing; said diffuser means comprising a plurality of secondary elements radially disposed relative to said rotor, for working engagement thereof with said fluid, said secondary elements each comprises means defining other high-pressure and low-pressure fluid zones to either sides thereof; said secondary elements having third surfaces adjacent to said fluid-admitting means which interface with fourth surfaces of said second chamber means; and at least one of said third and fourth surfaces comprise other means for communicating said other high- and low-pressure fluid zones to control the fluid boundary layer which forms on said secondary elements.

Claim 9

A fluid-motion apparatus, according to claim 5, wherein: said secondary elements each have a given length, and said other means comprise means for effecting said communicating of said other zones intermediate said length.

Claim 10

A fluid-motion apparatus, according to claim 5, wherein: said secondary elements comprise vanes, said vanes each having a configuration in general conformity with that of said second chamber, and said other means comprises a relieved area formed in at least one lateral edge of said vanes, said vane-edge area cooperating with said one wall of said second chamber to define a gap therebetween.

Claim 11

A fluid-motion apparatus, according to claim 7, wherein: said vanes each have a given length; and said vane-edge area extends for a given distance along said length to define said gap intermediate the ends of said vane.

Claim 12

A fluid-motion apparatus, according to claim 7, wherein: said vane-edge area extends into the terminal face of said vane which is disposed adjacent to said fluid discharging means.