US3886764A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Compressor-expander having tilting vanes for use in air conditioning
Assignee: Rovac Corp
•
Filing: 1974-07-29
•
Granted: 1975-06-03
•
Expires: 1994-07-29
Abstract
Abstract A compressor-expander for use in air conditioning which includes a rotor rotating in a chamber of oval cross section having a compression side and an expansion side, each with inlet and outlet ports. Hinged to the periphery of the rotor are a plurality of axially extending vanes which are biased outwardly into engagement with the wall of the chamber to form compartments of varying volume. Each vane is equipped, along its outer edge, with a sealing member having rollers which support the member at a desired close running clearance with respect to the wall of the chamber. The sealing members have a curved profile which matches the curve of the supporting rollers so that the same running clearance is maintained in spite of the changes in the angling of the vane which occur during the rotative cycle. The rotor is formed with longitudinal grooves for receiving the sealing members and with adjacent recesses for receiving the rollers for minimizing the residual volume between adjacent vanes when the vanes are in their inwardly folded positions. The vanes are angled retreatingly with respect to the direction of rotation of the rotor so that the force resulting from inward acceleration of a vane when it is crowded inwardly due to the oval shape assists centrifugal force and the biasing force in maintaining the vane in engagement with the wall of the chamber, in spite of the tendency of the compressed air to unseat the vane from the wall. In the preferred embodiment of the invention each vane is in the form of a thin laminated leaf spring, mounted cantilever-fashion on the rotor. In alternative forms of the invention the vanes are rigid having a rockable tongue and groove engagement with the rotor surface. In a final embodiment of the invention each vane has means at its outer edge positively for positioning the vane with respect to the wall of the chamber, holding it inwardly to establish running clearance and holding it outwardly so that it does not yield or retreat in the face of the reaction pressure of the compressed air.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas C Edwards
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 16:14
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B9/00; F25B9/002; F25B9/004; F01; F01C; F01C1/00; F01C1/30; F01C1/40; F01C1/44
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
230 words
In a compressor-expander for use in air conditioning, the combination comprising a housing defining a chamber of oval cross section having a compression side and an expansion side and enclosed by end plates, a cylindrical rotor extending between the end plates and having shafts journaled therein, means defining compression side inlet and outlet ports as well as expansion side inlet and outlet ports, a heat exchanger interposed between the compression side outlet port and the expansion side inlet port, the rotor having a plurality of axially-extending vanes secured to its periphery and extending between the end plates, the vanes being retreatingly angled with respect to the direction of rotor rotation, each of The vanes being in the form of a laminated leaf spring secured cantilever-fashion to the rotor along its inner edge, each of the vanes having a sealing member in the form of an enlargement extending along the outer edge for sealing against the wall of the chamber the sealing member carrying rollers at its ends for riding against the wall of the chamber and for establishing running clearance between the sealing member and the wall, the sealing member having a curved profile as viewed axially generally following the contour of the rollers so that the running clearance of the vane with respect to the wall of the chamber remains substantially constant in all phase positions of the rotor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
230 words
In a compressor-expander for use in air conditioning, the combination comprising a housing defining a chamber of oval cross section having a compression side and an expansion side and enclosed by end plates, a cylindrical rotor extending between the end plates and having shafts journaled therein, means defining compression side inlet and outlet ports as well as expansion side inlet and outlet ports, a heat exchanger interposed between the compression side outlet port and the expansion side inlet port, the rotor having a plurality of axially-extending vanes secured to its periphery and extending between the end plates, the vanes being retreatingly angled with respect to the direction of rotor rotation, each of The vanes being in the form of a laminated leaf spring secured cantilever-fashion to the rotor along its inner edge, each of the vanes having a sealing member in the form of an enlargement extending along the outer edge for sealing against the wall of the chamber the sealing member carrying rollers at its ends for riding against the wall of the chamber and for establishing running clearance between the sealing member and the wall, the sealing member having a curved profile as viewed axially generally following the contour of the rollers so that the running clearance of the vane with respect to the wall of the chamber remains substantially constant in all phase positions of the rotor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
230 words
In a compressor-expander for use in air conditioning, the combination comprising a housing defining a chamber of oval cross section having a compression side and an expansion side and enclosed by end plates, a cylindrical rotor extending between the end plates and having shafts journaled therein, means defining compression side inlet and outlet ports as well as expansion side inlet and outlet ports, a heat exchanger interposed between the compression side outlet port and the expansion side inlet port, the rotor having a plurality of axially-extending vanes secured to its periphery and extending between the end plates, the vanes being retreatingly angled with respect to the direction of rotor rotation, each of The vanes being in the form of a laminated leaf spring secured cantilever-fashion to the rotor along its inner edge, each of the vanes having a sealing member in the form of an enlargement extending along the outer edge for sealing against the wall of the chamber the sealing member carrying rollers at its ends for riding against the wall of the chamber and for establishing running clearance between the sealing member and the wall, the sealing member having a curved profile as viewed axially generally following the contour of the rollers so that the running clearance of the vane with respect to the wall of the chamber remains substantially constant in all phase positions of the rotor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
230 words
In a compressor-expander for use in air conditioning, the combination comprising a housing defining a chamber of oval cross section having a compression side and an expansion side and enclosed by end plates, a cylindrical rotor extending between the end plates and having shafts journaled therein, means defining compression side inlet and outlet ports as well as expansion side inlet and outlet ports, a heat exchanger interposed between the compression side outlet port and the expansion side inlet port, the rotor having a plurality of axially-extending vanes secured to its periphery and extending between the end plates, the vanes being retreatingly angled with respect to the direction of rotor rotation, each of The vanes being in the form of a laminated leaf spring secured cantilever-fashion to the rotor along its inner edge, each of the vanes having a sealing member in the form of an enlargement extending along the outer edge for sealing against the wall of the chamber the sealing member carrying rollers at its ends for riding against the wall of the chamber and for establishing running clearance between the sealing member and the wall, the sealing member having a curved profile as viewed axially generally following the contour of the rollers so that the running clearance of the vane with respect to the wall of the chamber remains substantially constant in all phase positions of the rotor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which the sealing member is of shorter axial dimension than the leaf spring by the total thickness of the rollers and in which the leaf spring is notched out at the corners to accommodate the rollers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
207 words
In a compressor-expander for use in air conditioning, the combination comprising a housing defining a chamber of oval cross section having a compression side and an expansion side and enclosed by end plates, a cylindrical rotor extending between the end plates and having shaft journaled therein, means defining compression side inlet and outlet ports as well as expansion side inlet and outlet ports, a heat exchanger interposed between the compression side outlet port and the expansion side inlet port, a plurality of axially extending vanes secured to the periphery of the rotor extending between the end plates and into engagement with the outer wall of the chamber, anti-friction means at the outer edges of the vanes for supporting the outer edges in close sealing proximity to the wall, means at the inner edges of the vanes for hinging them to the rotor for relative tilting movement so that a charge of air drawn in between adjacent vanes at the compressor side inlet port when the rotor is rotated is (1) compressed, (2) flows at substantially constant pressure through the heat exchanger where theheat of compression is removed and then (3) expands on the expansion side for discharge in the cold state through the expansion side outlet port.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
207 words
In a compressor-expander for use in air conditioning, the combination comprising a housing defining a chamber of oval cross section having a compression side and an expansion side and enclosed by end plates, a cylindrical rotor extending between the end plates and having shaft journaled therein, means defining compression side inlet and outlet ports as well as expansion side inlet and outlet ports, a heat exchanger interposed between the compression side outlet port and the expansion side inlet port, a plurality of axially extending vanes secured to the periphery of the rotor extending between the end plates and into engagement with the outer wall of the chamber, anti-friction means at the outer edges of the vanes for supporting the outer edges in close sealing proximity to the wall, means at the inner edges of the vanes for hinging them to the rotor for relative tilting movement so that a charge of air drawn in between adjacent vanes at the compressor side inlet port when the rotor is rotated is (1) compressed, (2) flows at substantially constant pressure through the heat exchanger where theheat of compression is removed and then (3) expands on the expansion side for discharge in the cold state through the expansion side outlet port.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination as claimed in claim 3 in which rollers are mounted at the outer edges of the vanes for supporting the outer edges with respect to the outer wall of the chamber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination as claimed in claim 4 in which the rollers occupy positions at the outer corners of each vane and with each of the vanes being notched out to accommodate the rollers and to provide close running clearance therewith.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The combination as claimed in claim 5 in which the rotor is formed with radial recesses along its edges for registering with and receiving the rollers thereby to permit the vanes to nest against the rotor for minimizing the residual volume between adjacent vanes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
59 words
The combination as claimed in claim 3 in which each vane has a body which is thin and of curved profile to approximately conform to the surface of the rotor and in which each vane has a sealing member of enlarged, bulbous cross section for engaging the wall of the chamber thereto to provide a relatively long throttling path.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
66 words
The combination as claimed in claim 3 in which the vanes are retreatingly angled on the rotor with respect to the direction of rotor rotation and in which the vanes viewed axially are of curved profile for mating with the curvature of the rotor periphery thereby to minimize the residual volume between adjacent vanes at the minimum volume points in the rotative cycle of the rotor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The combination as claimed in claim 3 in which the hinge means at the inner edge of each vane is in the form of a leaf spring, the leaf spring being mounted cantilever fashion in the rotor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
256 words
In a compressor-expander for use in air conditioning, the combination comprising a housing defining a chamber of oval cross section having a compression side and an expansion side and enclosed by end plates, a cylIndrical rotor extending between the end plates and having shaft means journaled therein, means defining compression side inlet and outlet ports as well as expansion side inlet and outlet ports, a heat exchanger interposed between the compression side outlet port and the expansion side inlet port, the rotor having a plurality of axially-extending vanes secured to the periphery of the rotor extending between the end plates and into engagement with the outer wall of the chamber, means at the inner edges of the vanes for securing them to the periphery of the rotor for relative tilting movement so that a charge of air drawn between adjacent vanes at the compression side inlet port (1) is compressed, (2) flows at substantially constant pressure through the heat exchanger and then (3) expands on the expansion side for discharge in the cold state, rollers mounted at the outer corner positions of each vane for rolling against the outer wall of the chamber thereby to establish running clearance between the outer edge of the vane and the wall of the chamber, each of the vanes being formed with an enlargement extending along the outer edge thereof having a curved surface which, when viewed axially, generally follows the contour of the rollers so that the running clearance of the vanes remains substantially constant in all phase positions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
256 words
In a compressor-expander for use in air conditioning, the combination comprising a housing defining a chamber of oval cross section having a compression side and an expansion side and enclosed by end plates, a cylIndrical rotor extending between the end plates and having shaft means journaled therein, means defining compression side inlet and outlet ports as well as expansion side inlet and outlet ports, a heat exchanger interposed between the compression side outlet port and the expansion side inlet port, the rotor having a plurality of axially-extending vanes secured to the periphery of the rotor extending between the end plates and into engagement with the outer wall of the chamber, means at the inner edges of the vanes for securing them to the periphery of the rotor for relative tilting movement so that a charge of air drawn between adjacent vanes at the compression side inlet port (1) is compressed, (2) flows at substantially constant pressure through the heat exchanger and then (3) expands on the expansion side for discharge in the cold state, rollers mounted at the outer corner positions of each vane for rolling against the outer wall of the chamber thereby to establish running clearance between the outer edge of the vane and the wall of the chamber, each of the vanes being formed with an enlargement extending along the outer edge thereof having a curved surface which, when viewed axially, generally follows the contour of the rollers so that the running clearance of the vanes remains substantially constant in all phase positions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
70 words
The combination as claimed in claim 10 in which the rotor is formed with longitudinal grooves for registering with and receiving the enlargements along the outer edges of the vanes and in which the rotor is formed with notches at the ends of the grooves for registering with and receiving the rollers thereby to minimize the residual volume between adjacent vanes at the minimum volume points in the rotative cycle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination as claimed in claim 3 in which the vanes are angled retreatingly with repsect to the direction of rotor rotation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
119 words
The combination as claimed in claim 3 in which the vanes are retreatingly angled with respect to the direction of rotation and in which biasing springs are interposed between the vanes and the rotor for urging the vanes outwardly against the wall, the biasing springs being so designed and constructed that the sum of the (a) spring biasing force, (b) centrifugal force and (c) force due to the inward acceleration of the vane caused by the inwardly crowding oval shape of the chamber wall at a predtermined normal running speed exceeds the unseating force due to compression so that each vane is maintained in sealing engagement with the wall of the chamber until the end of the compression stroke.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
221 words
In a compressor-expander for use in air conditioning, the combination comprising a housing defining a chamber of oval cross section having a compression side and an expansion side and enclosed by end plates, a cylindrical rotor extending between the end plates and having shafts journaled therein, means defining compression side inlet and outlet ports as well as expansion side inlet and outlet ports, a heat exchanger interposed betwen the compression side outlet port and the expansion side inlet port, the rotor having a plurality of axially-extending vanes secured to the periphery of the rotor extending between the end plates and into engagement with the outer wall of the chamber, anti-friction means at the outer edges of the vanes for supporting the outer edges in sealing proximity to the wall, the vanes being in the form of outwardly sprung leaf springs supported in the rotor cantilever-fashion for relative tilting movement and inclined retreatingly with respect to the direction of rotation so that a charge of air drawn in between adjacent vanes at the compression side inlet port when the rotor is rotated (1) is compressed, (2) flows at substantially constant pressure through the heat exchanger where the heat of compression is removed and then (3) expands on the expansion side for discharge from the expansion side outlet port in the cold state.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
221 words
In a compressor-expander for use in air conditioning, the combination comprising a housing defining a chamber of oval cross section having a compression side and an expansion side and enclosed by end plates, a cylindrical rotor extending between the end plates and having shafts journaled therein, means defining compression side inlet and outlet ports as well as expansion side inlet and outlet ports, a heat exchanger interposed betwen the compression side outlet port and the expansion side inlet port, the rotor having a plurality of axially-extending vanes secured to the periphery of the rotor extending between the end plates and into engagement with the outer wall of the chamber, anti-friction means at the outer edges of the vanes for supporting the outer edges in sealing proximity to the wall, the vanes being in the form of outwardly sprung leaf springs supported in the rotor cantilever-fashion for relative tilting movement and inclined retreatingly with respect to the direction of rotation so that a charge of air drawn in between adjacent vanes at the compression side inlet port when the rotor is rotated (1) is compressed, (2) flows at substantially constant pressure through the heat exchanger where the heat of compression is removed and then (3) expands on the expansion side for discharge from the expansion side outlet port in the cold state.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
67 words
The combination as clAimed in claim 14 in which each leaf spring is formed of a plurality of thin laminations which are received along the inner edge in a groove formed in the rotor surface and in which there is a sealing member in the form of an enlargement secured to the outer edge of the spring to provide sealing engagement with the wall of the chamber.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
66 words
The combination as claimed in claim 15 in which the sealing member viewed axially has a curved outer surface for mating with the wall of the chamber and in which the rotor has longitudinally extending grooves for nested reception of the sealing members when the vanes are in inwardly folded position thereby to minimize the residual volume at the minimum volume points of the rotative cycle.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination as claimed in claim 16 in which the spring laminations are free to move parallel to one another incident to the flexing of the spring and in which lubrication is interposed between the adjacent surfaces of the laminations.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
91 words
The combination as claimed in claim 3 in which the vane is of rigid construction and in which a tongue and groove connection is provided between the inner edge of the vane and the periphery of the rotor, the tongue being of rounded profile for free tilting movement of the vane with respect to the rotor, and a spring interposed between each vane and rotor for biasing the vane outwardly toward the wall of the chamber, each vane being retreatingly angled with respect to the direction of rotation of the rotor.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
57 words
The combination as claimed in claim 18 in which the tongue is formed on the edge of the vane and in which the groove is formed in the periphery of the rotor and in which a tension spring is employed for biasing the vane and for keeping the tongue seated in the groove as the rotor rotates.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
270 words
In a compressor-expander for use in air conditioning, the combination comprising a housing defining a chamber of oval cross section having a compression side and an expansion side and enclosed by end plates, a cylindrical rotor extending between the end plates and having shafts journaled therein, means defining compression side inlet and outlet ports as well as expansion side inlet and outlet ports, a heat exchanger interposed between the compression side outlet port and expansion side inlet port, the rotor having a plurality of rigid outwardly biased vanes extending axially between the end plates and retreatingly angled with respect to the direction of rotation of the rotor, the vanes having a rounded tongue along the inner edge engaging respective mounting grooves axially formed in the periphery of the rotor for relative rocking movement, each vane having rollers in the outer corner positions for rolling against the outer wall of the chamber to establish running clearance of the vane, and with the vane being notched out at the corners to accommodate the rollers, each vane having a sealing member in the form of an enlargement along its outer edge, the enlargement having a curved profile, as viewed axially, which follows the periphery of the rollers thereby to maintain the same degree of running clearance over a large angle of tilt of the vane, the rotor having axially extending grooves for registering with and receiving the sealing members and having recesses at the ends of the grooves for registering with and receiving the rollers thereby to minimize the residual volume between adjacent vanes at the minimum volume points in the rotative cycle.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
270 words
In a compressor-expander for use in air conditioning, the combination comprising a housing defining a chamber of oval cross section having a compression side and an expansion side and enclosed by end plates, a cylindrical rotor extending between the end plates and having shafts journaled therein, means defining compression side inlet and outlet ports as well as expansion side inlet and outlet ports, a heat exchanger interposed between the compression side outlet port and expansion side inlet port, the rotor having a plurality of rigid outwardly biased vanes extending axially between the end plates and retreatingly angled with respect to the direction of rotation of the rotor, the vanes having a rounded tongue along the inner edge engaging respective mounting grooves axially formed in the periphery of the rotor for relative rocking movement, each vane having rollers in the outer corner positions for rolling against the outer wall of the chamber to establish running clearance of the vane, and with the vane being notched out at the corners to accommodate the rollers, each vane having a sealing member in the form of an enlargement along its outer edge, the enlargement having a curved profile, as viewed axially, which follows the periphery of the rollers thereby to maintain the same degree of running clearance over a large angle of tilt of the vane, the rotor having axially extending grooves for registering with and receiving the sealing members and having recesses at the ends of the grooves for registering with and receiving the rollers thereby to minimize the residual volume between adjacent vanes at the minimum volume points in the rotative cycle.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
73 words
The combination as claimed in claim 3 in which the anti-friction means at the outer edges of the vanes are in the form of projections on the vanes riding in engagement with channels formed in the end plates for maintaining a small running clearance between the outer edges of the vanes and the outer wall of the chamber, the vanes retreatingly retreatting angled with respect to the direction of rotation of the rotor.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
233 words
In a compressor-expander for use in air conditioning, the combination comprising a housing defining a chamber of oval cross section haviNg a compression side and an expansion side and enclosed by end plates, a cylindrical rotor extending between the end plates, a cylindrical rotor extending between the end plates and having shafts journaled therein, means defining compression side inlet and outlet ports, as well as expansion side inlet and outlet ports, a heat exchanger interposed between the compression side outlet port and the expansion side inlet port, the rotor having a plurality of axially extending vanes hinged to the periphery of the rotor and extending between the end plates, and means including projections on the ends of the vanes riding in tracks formed in the end plates for holding the vanes inwardly into a condition of running clearance with respect to the wall of the housing as the rotor rotates and for holding the vanes outwardly to maintain the vanes in sealing engagement with the wall of the rotor notwithstanding the pressure of the air confined between the vanes so that a charge of air drawn between adjacent vanes at the compression side intake port when the rotor is rotated (1) is compressed, (2) flows at substantially constant pressure through the heat exchanger for subtracting the heat of compression and the (3) expands on the expansion side for discharge in the cold state.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
233 words
In a compressor-expander for use in air conditioning, the combination comprising a housing defining a chamber of oval cross section haviNg a compression side and an expansion side and enclosed by end plates, a cylindrical rotor extending between the end plates, a cylindrical rotor extending between the end plates and having shafts journaled therein, means defining compression side inlet and outlet ports, as well as expansion side inlet and outlet ports, a heat exchanger interposed between the compression side outlet port and the expansion side inlet port, the rotor having a plurality of axially extending vanes hinged to the periphery of the rotor and extending between the end plates, and means including projections on the ends of the vanes riding in tracks formed in the end plates for holding the vanes inwardly into a condition of running clearance with respect to the wall of the housing as the rotor rotates and for holding the vanes outwardly to maintain the vanes in sealing engagement with the wall of the rotor notwithstanding the pressure of the air confined between the vanes so that a charge of air drawn between adjacent vanes at the compression side intake port when the rotor is rotated (1) is compressed, (2) flows at substantially constant pressure through the heat exchanger for subtracting the heat of compression and the (3) expands on the expansion side for discharge in the cold state.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-02 | 1978-12-02 | 1979-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-02 | 1982-12-02 | 1983-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-02 | 1986-12-02 | 1987-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |