US3696637A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for producing refrigeration
Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals Inc
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Filing: 1971-11-02
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Granted: 1972-10-10
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Expires: 1991-11-02
Abstract
Abstract Refrigeration system including a multi-stage compressor and two work expansion engines of the turbine type with the impellers of the expansion engines and the impeller of the final stage of the compressor being mounted on a common shaft. The work developed in the expansion engines provides the total power required for the final stage of the compressor and the final stage of the compressor provides the pressurized gas expanded in both expansion engines.
Inventors
- 👤 Leif A Ness
- 👤 Edmund P Thomas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 12:05
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B9/00; F25B9/06; F25J; F25J1/00; F25J1/0002; F25J1/0012; F25J1/0015; F25J1/003; F25J1/0032; F25J1/0035; F25J1/0037; F25J1/004; F25J1/02; F25J1/0203; F25J1/0208; F25J1/0228; F25J1/0234; F25J1/0235; F25J1/0236; F25J1/0243; F25J1/0279; F25J1/0285; F25J1/0288; F25J3/00; F25J3/02; F25J3/04; F25J3/04151; F25J3/04187; F25J3/04218; F25J3/04224; F25J3/04248; F25J3/04278; F25J3/04333; F25J3/04351; F25J3/04357; F25J3/04375; F25J3/04381; F25J3/04393; F25J3/04763; F25J3/04866; F25J2230/00; F25J2230/20; F25J2240/00; F25J2240/02; F25J2270/00; F25J2270/04; F25J2270/06; F25J2270/90; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S62/00; Y10S62/902; Y10S62/91
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
A compressor-turbine assembly comprising: a. a rotatable shaft; b. a compressor impeller secured to said shaft; c. casing means forming a compression chamber surrounding said compressor impeller and forming inlet and discharge passageways communicating with said compression chamber; d. a first turbine impeller secured to said shaft axially spaced on one side of said compressor impeller; e. casing means forming an expansion chamber surrounding said first turbine impeller and forming inlet and discharge passageways communicating with said first expansion chamber; f. a second turbine impeller secured to said shaft axially spaced on the other side of said compressor impeller; g. casing means forming an expansion chamber surrounding said second turbine impeller and forming inlet and discharge passageways communicating with said second expansion chamber; h. a first set of adjustable vanes located in the inlet passageway communicating with said first expansion chamber, and a second set of adjustable vanes located in the inlet passageway communicating with said second expansion chamber; and i. radially and circumferentially extending spaces forming annular chambers between the periphery of each of said turbine impellers and the adjustable vanes associated therewith.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
A compressor-turbine assembly comprising: a. a rotatable shaft; b. a compressor impeller secured to said shaft; c. casing means forming a compression chamber surrounding said compressor impeller and forming inlet and discharge passageways communicating with said compression chamber; d. a first turbine impeller secured to said shaft axially spaced on one side of said compressor impeller; e. casing means forming an expansion chamber surrounding said first turbine impeller and forming inlet and discharge passageways communicating with said first expansion chamber; f. a second turbine impeller secured to said shaft axially spaced on the other side of said compressor impeller; g. casing means forming an expansion chamber surrounding said second turbine impeller and forming inlet and discharge passageways communicating with said second expansion chamber; h. a first set of adjustable vanes located in the inlet passageway communicating with said first expansion chamber, and a second set of adjustable vanes located in the inlet passageway communicating with said second expansion chamber; and i. radially and circumferentially extending spaces forming annular chambers between the periphery of each of said turbine impellers and the adjustable vanes associated therewith.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The compressor-turbine assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inlet passageways communicating with said first and second turbine expansion chambers comprise radially extending passages communicating with the periphery of said turbine impellers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The compressor-turbine assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said discharge passageways communicating with said first and second turbine expansion chambers comprise discharge passages extending co-axially with said shaft and directed to discharge the expanded gas in opposite directions away from said compressor casing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
The compressor-turbine assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said compressor inlet passageway comprises a radially inwardly and axially extending passage, said compressor outlet passageway comprises a radially outwardly extending passageway, said first and second turbine inlet passageways comprise radially inwardly extending passages communicating with said vanes, and said discharge passageways comprise axially extending passages directed in opposite directions away from said compressor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The compressor-turbine assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and second turbine impellers are of different size having different tip velocities, said first and second adjustable vanes and said annular chambers comprising means for matching the tangential angles of the inlet gases to the different tip speeds of the respective turbine impellers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The compressor-turbine assembly as claimed in claim 5 including means for simultaneously actuating the first and second sets of adjustable vanes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The compressor-turbine assembly as claimed in claim 5 including means for independently adjusting said first and second sets of adjustable vanes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
The compressor-turbine assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein said compressor inlet passageway comprises a radially inwardly and axially extending passage, said compressor outlet passageway comprises a radially outwardly extending passageway, said first and second turbine inlet passageways comprise radially inwardly extending passages communicating with said vanes, and said discharge passageways comprise axially extending passages directed in opposite directions away from said compressor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
The compressor-turbine assembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein said compressor impeller includes blades having axially extending inlet portions and radially extending discharge portions, and said first and second turbine impellers include blades having radially extending inlet portions and axially extending discharge portions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
179 words
A compressor-turbine assembly comprising: a. a rotatable shaft; b. a compressor impeller secured to said shaft; c. casing means forming a compression chamber surrounding said compressor impeller and forming inlet and discharge passageways communicating with said compression chamber; d. a first turbine impeller secured to said shaft axially spaced on one side of said compressor impeller; e. casing means forming an expansion chamber surrounding said first turbine impeller and forming inlet and discharge passageways communicating with said first expansion chamber; f. a second turbine impeller secured to said shaft axially spaced on the other side of said compressor impeller; g. casing means forming an expansion chamber surrounding said second turbine impeller and forming inlet and discharge passageways communicating with said second expansion chamber; h. said compressor inlet passageway comprises a radially inwardly and axially extending passage, said compressor outlet passageway comprises a radially outwardly extending passageway, said first and second turbine inlet passageways comprise radially inwardly extending passages communicating with said turbine impellers, and said discharge passageways comprise axially extending passages directed in opposite directions away from said compressor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
179 words
A compressor-turbine assembly comprising: a. a rotatable shaft; b. a compressor impeller secured to said shaft; c. casing means forming a compression chamber surrounding said compressor impeller and forming inlet and discharge passageways communicating with said compression chamber; d. a first turbine impeller secured to said shaft axially spaced on one side of said compressor impeller; e. casing means forming an expansion chamber surrounding said first turbine impeller and forming inlet and discharge passageways communicating with said first expansion chamber; f. a second turbine impeller secured to said shaft axially spaced on the other side of said compressor impeller; g. casing means forming an expansion chamber surrounding said second turbine impeller and forming inlet and discharge passageways communicating with said second expansion chamber; h. said compressor inlet passageway comprises a radially inwardly and axially extending passage, said compressor outlet passageway comprises a radially outwardly extending passageway, said first and second turbine inlet passageways comprise radially inwardly extending passages communicating with said turbine impellers, and said discharge passageways comprise axially extending passages directed in opposite directions away from said compressor.
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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) | 1975-10-10 | 1976-04-10 | 1976-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-10 | 1980-04-10 | 1980-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-10 | 1984-04-10 | 1984-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |