Rotary machines

Claim 2

A compressor comprising a case and mounted within said case: a. a rotor, b. an annular aperture coaxial with said rotor and surrounding the periphery of said rotor, c. at least one row of rotor blades circumferentially distributed on the periphery of the rotor and projecting into said annular aperture dividing the annular aperture into an upstream side and a downstream side, d. a row of upstream stator blades radially directed and circumferentially distributed around the interior of said annular aperture, occupying the whole height of said annular aperture and disposed upstream of said row of rotor blades, e. a row of downstream stator blades radially directed and circumferentially distributed around the interior of said annular aperture, occupying the whole height of said annular aPerture, and disposed downstream of said row of rotor blades, f. a rotor blade passage formed between said row of upstream stator blades and said row of downstream rotor blades wherein said row of rotor blades operates, g. partitions provided in each row of stator blades, each partition occupying at least one stator blade pitch, each partition in the downstream row of stator blades being substantially opposed by a corresponding partition in the upstream row of stator blades, h. a plurality of arcuate segmented flowpaths arranged around the periphery of the rotor intersecting said row of rotor blades in a direction substantially normal to the direction of travel of the rotor blades, each of said arcuate segmented flowpaths being formed between pairs of corresponding partitions in said upstream and said downstream rows of stator blades, the arcuate segmented flowpaths being arranged successively from a first arcuate segmented flowpath to a last arcuate segmented flowpath, i. a plurality of confined return flowpaths, each of said return flowpaths being associated with an arcuate segmented flowpath except the last arcuate segmented flowpath, wherein each of the return flowpaths runs from the downstream side of its associated arcuate segmented flowpath to the upstream side of the next following arcuate segmented flowpath, j. an inlet from without the case to the first arcuate segmented flowpath, and k. an outlet from the last arcuate segmented flowpath to without the case.

Claim 3

A compressor according to claim 1 additionally including: an annulus around said annular aperture and coaxial with the rotor, a toroidal chamber provided within the case, and said plurality of return flowpaths being within said toroidal chamber.

Claim 4

A compressor according to claim 2 wherein said confined return flowpaths each comprises an enclosed pipe from downstream of its associated arcuate segmented flowpath to upstream of the next following segmented flowpath.

Claim 5

A compressor according to claim 3 including two 180* off-set bends in each of said enclosed pipes.

Claim 6

A compressor according to claim 3 including two plenum chambers in each of said enclosed pipes.

Claim 7

A compressor according to claim 3 including a convergent passage immediately upstream of each arcuate segmented flowpath and a divergent passage immediately downstream of each arcuate segmented flowpath.

Claim 8

A compressor according to claim 2 including extensions of said partitions into said toroidal chamber each extension occupying the whole height of said toroidal chamber and wherein the extension of a partition in the row of downstream stator blades is integrally formed with the extension of the next following partition from its corresponding opposed partition in the row of upstream stator blades, and said confined return flowpath formed between the integrally formed partition extensions.

Claim 9

A compressor according to claim 7 additionally comprising a thicker partition between the last arcuate segmented flowpath and the first arcuate segmented flowpath in the upstream row of stator blades than the other partitions.

Claim 10

A compressor comprising a case and mounted within said case: a. a rotor, b. an annular aperture coaxial with said rotor and surrounding the periphery of said rotor, c. at least one row of rotor blades circumferentially distributed on the periphery of the rotor and projecting into said annular aperture dividing the annular aperture into an upstream side and a downstream side, d. at least one row of upstream stator blades radially directed and circumferentially distributed around the interior of said annular aperture, occupying the whole height of said annular aperture, and disposed upstream of said row of rotor blades, e. at least one row of downstream stator blades radially distributed around the interior of said annular aperture, occupying the height of said annular aperture, and disposed downstream of said row of rotor blades, f. a rotor bLade passage formed between said row of upstream stator blades and said row of downstream stator blades wherein said row of rotor blades operates, g. partitions provided in each row of stator blades, each partition occupying at least one stator blade pitch, each partition in the downstream row of stator blades being substantially opposed by a corresponding partition in the upstream row of stator blades. h. a plurality of arcuate segmented flowpaths arranged around the periphery of the rotor intersecting said row of rotor blades in a direction substantially normal to the direction of travel of the rotor blades, each of said arcuate segmented flowpaths being formed between pairs of corresponding partitions in said upstream and said downstream rows of stator blades, the arcuate segmented flowpaths being arranged successively from a first arcuate segmented flowpath to a last arcuate segmented flowpath, i. a plurality of confined return flowpaths, each of said return flowpaths being associated with an arcuate segmented flowpath except the last arcuate segmented flowpath, wherein each of the return flow paths runs from the downstream side of its associated arcuate segmented flowpath to the upstream side of the next following arcuate segmented flowpath, j. an inlet from without the case to the first arcuate segmented flowpath, k. an outlet from the last arcuate segmented flowpath to without the case, l. an annulus around said annular aperture and coaxial with the rotor, m. a toroidal chamber provided within the case, and said plurality of return flowpaths being within said toroidal chamber, n. said confined return flowpaths each comprising an enclosed pipe from downstream of its associated arcuate segmented flowpath to upstream of the next following segmented flowpath, o. two 180* off-set bends in each of said enclosed pipes, p. a convergent passage immediately upstream of each arcuate segmented flowpath and a divergent passage immediately downstream of each arcuate segmented flowpath.

Claim 11

A compressor comprising a case and mounted within said case: a. a rotor, b. an annular aperture coaxial with said rotor and surrounding the periphery of said rotor, c. at least one row of rotor blades circumferentially distributed on the periphery of the rotor and projecting into said annular aperture dividing the annular aperture into an upstream side and a downstream side, d. at least one row of upstream stator blades radially directed and circumferentially distributed around the interior of said annular aperture, occupying the whole height of said annular aperture, and disposed upstream of said row of rotor blades, e. at least one row of downstream stator blades radially distributed around the interior of said annular aperture, occupying the height of said annular aperture, and disposed downstream of said row of rotor blades, f. a rotor bLade passage formed between said row of upstream stator blades and said row of downstream stator blades wherein said row of rotor blades operates, g. partitions provided in each row of stator blades, each partition occupying at least one stator blade pitch, each partition in the downstream row of stator blades being substantially opposed by a corresponding partition in the upstream row of stator blades. h. a plurality of arcuate segmented flowpaths arranged around the periphery of the rotor intersecting said row of rotor blades in a direction substantially normal to the direction of travel of the rotor blades, each of said arcuate segmented flowpaths being formed between pairs of corresponding partitions in said upstream and said downstream rows of stator blades, the arcuate segmented flowpaths being arranged successively from a first arcuate segmented flowpath to a last arcuate segmented flowpath, i. a plurality of confined return flowpaths, each of said return flowpaths being associated with an arcuate segmented flowpath except the last arcuate segmented flowpath, wherein each of the return flow paths runs from the downstream side of its associated arcuate segmented flowpath to the upstream side of the next following arcuate segmented flowpath, j. an inlet from without the case to the first arcuate segmented flowpath, k. an outlet from the last arcuate segmented flowpath to without the case, l. an annulus around said annular aperture and coaxial with the rotor, m. a toroidal chamber provided within the case, and said plurality of return flowpaths being within said toroidal chamber, n. said confined return flowpaths each comprising an enclosed pipe from downstream of its associated arcuate segmented flowpath to upstream of the next following segmented flowpath, o. two 180* off-set bends in each of said enclosed pipes, p. a convergent passage immediately upstream of each arcuate segmented flowpath and a divergent passage immediately downstream of each arcuate segmented flowpath.

Claim 12

A compressor comprising a case and mounted within said case: a. a rotor, b. an annular aperture coaxial with said rotor and surrounding the periphery of said rotor, c. at least one row of rotor blades circumferentially distributed on the periphery of the rotor and projecting into said annular aperture dividing the annular aperture into an upstream side and a downstream side, d. at least one row of upstream stator blades radially directed and circumferentially distributed around the interior of said annular aperture, occupying the whole height of said annular aperture, and disposed upstream of said row of rotor blades, e. at least one row of downstream stator blades radially distributed around the interior of said annular aperture, occupying the whole height of said annular aperture, and disposed downstream of said row of rotor blades, f. a rotor blade passage formed between said row of upstream stator blades and said row of downstream stator blades wherein said row of rotor blades operates, g. partitions provided in each row of stator blades, each partition occupying at least one stator blade pitch, each partition in the downstream row of stator blades being substantially opposed by a corresponding partition in the upstream row of stator blades, h. a plurality of arcuate segmented flowpaths arranged around the periphery of the rotor intersecting said row of rotor blades in a direction substantially normal to the direction of travel of the rotor blades, each of said arcuate segmented flowpaths being formed between pairs of corresponding partitions in said upstream and said downstream rows of stator blades, the arcuate segmented flowpaths being arranged successively from a first arcuate segmented flowpath to a last arcuate segmented flowpath, i. a plurality of confined return flowpaths, each of said return flowpaths being associated with an arcuate segmented flowpath except the last arcuate segmeNted flowpath, wherein each of the return flowpaths runs from the downstream side of its associated arcuate segmented flowpath to the upstream side of the next following arcuate segmented flowpath, j. an inlet from without the case to the first arcuate segmented flowpath, k. an outlet from the last arcuate segmented flowpath to without the case, l. an annulus around said annular aperture and coaxial with the rotor, m. a toroidal chamber provided within the case, and said plurality of return flowpaths being within said toroidal chamber, n. extensions of said partitions into said toroidal chamber each extension occupying the whole height of said toroidal chamber and wherein the extension of a partition in the row of downstream stator blades is integrally formed with the extension of the next following partition from its corresponding opposed partition in the row of upstream stator blades, and said confined return flowpath formed between the integrally formed partition extension, o. a thicker partition between the last arcuate segmented flowpath and the first arcuate segmented flowpath in the upstream row of stator blades wider than the other partitions.

Claim 13

A compressor comprising a case and mounted within said case: a. a rotor, b. an annular aperture coaxial with said rotor and surrounding the periphery of said rotor, c. at least one row of rotor blades circumferentially distributed on the periphery of the rotor and projecting into said annular aperture dividing the annular aperture into an upstream side and a downstream side, d. at least one row of upstream stator blades radially directed and circumferentially distributed around the interior of said annular aperture, occupying the whole height of said annular aperture, and disposed upstream of said row of rotor blades, e. at least one row of downstream stator blades radially distributed around the interior of said annular aperture, occupying the whole height of said annular aperture, and disposed downstream of said row of rotor blades, f. a rotor blade passage formed between said row of upstream stator blades and said row of downstream stator blades wherein said row of rotor blades operates, g. partitions provided in each row of stator blades, each partition occupying at least one stator blade pitch, each partition in the downstream row of stator blades being substantially opposed by a corresponding partition in the upstream row of stator blades, h. a plurality of arcuate segmented flowpaths arranged around the periphery of the rotor intersecting said row of rotor blades in a direction substantially normal to the direction of travel of the rotor blades, each of said arcuate segmented flowpaths being formed between pairs of corresponding partitions in said upstream and said downstream rows of stator blades, the arcuate segmented flowpaths being arranged successively from a first arcuate segmented flowpath to a last arcuate segmented flowpath, i. a plurality of confined return flowpaths, each of said return flowpaths being associated with an arcuate segmented flowpath except the last arcuate segmeNted flowpath, wherein each of the return flowpaths runs from the downstream side of its associated arcuate segmented flowpath to the upstream side of the next following arcuate segmented flowpath, j. an inlet from without the case to the first arcuate segmented flowpath, k. an outlet from the last arcuate segmented flowpath to without the case, l. an annulus around said annular aperture and coaxial with the rotor, m. a toroidal chamber provided within the case, and said plurality of return flowpaths being within said toroidal chamber, n. extensions of said partitions into said toroidal chamber each extension occupying the whole height of said toroidal chamber and wherein the extension of a partition in the row of downstream stator blades is integrally formed with the extension of the next following partition from its corresponding opposed partition in the row of upstream stator blades, and said confined return flowpath formed between the integrally formed partition extension, o. a thicker partition between the last arcuate segmented flowpath and the first arcuate segmented flowpath in the upstream row of stator blades wider than the other partitions.