Rotary compressor-expander having spring biased vanes

Claim 2

A rotary unitary compressor-expander for use in a refrigeration device comprising in combination, a stator including a hollow member enclosed by respective end members defining a chamber having a wall of oval cross section, a rotor rotatably mounted in axial position in the stator chamber, the rotor having a plurality of equally spaced radial vane slots, a plurality of vanes snugly slideable in the respective vane slots, each of said vanes having a base portion and having a radially presented vane tip, the base portion having aligned axially extending stubshafts fitted with cam followers, a continuous inwardly facing cam track at each end of the stator chamber for engaging the respective cam followers on each of the vanes, spring band biasing means operatively associated with the vanes for urging the vanes radially outwardly to keep the cam followers thereon biased against the cam tracks, said cam tracks being of oval configuration geometrically synchronized to the oval wall of the chamber so that the tips of said vanes are maintained in continuous clearance sealing engagement with the wall, the cam tracks serving to resist the biasing force and to positively retract the vanes inwardly during portion of the rotational cycle thereby to avoid crowding, with resultant wear and friction at the tips of the vanes.

Claim 3

A rotary unitary compressor-expander for use in a refrigeration device comprising in combination, a stator including a hollow member enclosed by respective end members defining a chamber having a wall of oval cross section, a rotor rotatablY mounted in axial position in the stator chamber, the rotor having a plurality of equally spaced radial vane slots, a plurality of vanes snugly slideable in the respective vane slots, each of said vanes having a flat base portion and having a radially presented vane tip, the base portion having aligned axially extending stubshafts, closely fitted rollers on the stubshafts, a continuous inwardly facing cam track in each of the end members for engaging the respective rollers on each of the vanes, continuous spring band means arranged to press outwardly on the vanes to bias the vanes and to keep the rollers thereon biased radially outwardly against the cam tracks, said tracks being of oval configuration and so symmetrically sized and positioned with respect to the oval wall of the chamber that the tips of said vanes are maintained in continuous clearance sealing engagement with such wall, the cam tracks serving to resist the biasing force and to positively retract the vanes inwardly during portions of the rotational cycle thereby to avoid crowding with resultant wear and friction at the tips of the vanes.

Claim 4

A rotary unitary compressor-expander for use in a refrigeration device comprising in combination, a stator including a hollow member enclosed by respective end members defining a chamber having a wall of oval cross section, a rotor rotatablY mounted in axial position in the stator chamber, the rotor having a plurality of equally spaced radial vane slots, a plurality of vanes snugly slideable in the respective vane slots, each of said vanes having a flat base portion and having a radially presented vane tip, the base portion having aligned axially extending stubshafts, closely fitted rollers on the stubshafts, a continuous inwardly facing cam track in each of the end members for engaging the respective rollers on each of the vanes, continuous spring band means arranged to press outwardly on the vanes to bias the vanes and to keep the rollers thereon biased radially outwardly against the cam tracks, said tracks being of oval configuration and so symmetrically sized and positioned with respect to the oval wall of the chamber that the tips of said vanes are maintained in continuous clearance sealing engagement with such wall, the cam tracks serving to resist the biasing force and to positively retract the vanes inwardly during portions of the rotational cycle thereby to avoid crowding with resultant wear and friction at the tips of the vanes.

Claim 5

A rotary unitary compressor-expander for use in a refrigeration device comprising in combination, a stator including a hollow member enclosed by respective end members defining a chamber having a wall of oval cross section, a hollow rotor rotatably mounted in axial position in the stator chamber, the rotor having a plurality of equally spaced radial vane slots, a plurality of vanes snugly slideable in the respective vane slots, each of said vanes having a flat base portion with spaced notches formed therein and having a radially presented vane tip, the base portion having aligned axially extending stubshafts, closely fitted rollers on the stubshafts, a continuous inwardly facing cam track in each of the end members for engaging the respective rollers on each of the vanes, a pair of continuous spring bands axially spaced in the hollow of the rotor and arranged to press outwardly in the notches of the vanes to keep the rollers thereon biased radially outwards against the cam tracks, said cam tracks being of oval configuration and so symmetrically sized and positioned with respect to the oval wall of chamber that the tips of said vanes are maintained in continuous clearance sealing engagement with the wall of the chamber while prevented from contacting such wall, thereby to minimize friction, reducing wear and increasing efficiency.

Claim 6

A rotary unitary compressor-expander for use in a refrigeration device comprising in combination, a stator including a hollow member enclosed by respective end members defining a chamber having a wall of oval cross section, a hollow rotor rotatably mounted in axial position in the stator chamber, the rotor having a plurality of equally spaced radial vane slots, a plurality of vanes snugly slideable in the respective vane slots, each of said vanes having a flat base portion with spaced notches formed therein and having a radially presented vane tip, the base portion having aligned axially extending stubshafts, closely fitted rollers on the stubshafts, a continuous inwardly facing cam track in each of the end members for engaging the respective rollers on each of the vanes, a pair of continuous spring bands axially spaced in the hollow of the rotor and arranged to press outwardly in the notches of the vanes to keep the rollers thereon biased radially outwards against the cam tracks, said cam tracks being of oval configuration and so symmetrically sized and positioned with respect to the oval wall of chamber that the tips of said vanes are maintained in continuous clearance sealing engagement with the wall of the chamber while prevented from contacting such wall, thereby to minimize friction, reducing wear and increasing efficiency.

Claim 7

A rotary unitary compressor-expander for use in a refrigeration device comprising in combination, a stator including a hollow member enclosed by respective end members defining a chamber having a wall of oval cross section, a rotor rotatably mounted in axial position in the stator chamber, the rotor having a plurality of equally spaced radial vane slots, a plurality of vanes snugly slideable in the respective vane slots, each of said vanes having a flat base portion and having a radially presented vane tip, the base portion having aligned axially extending stubshafts, closely fitted rollers on the stubshafts, a continuous inwardly facing cam track at each end of the stator chamber for engaging the respective rollers on each of the vanes, means including a resilient spring band arranged to press outwardly on the vanes to bias the vanes and to keep the rollers thereon biased radially outwardly against the cam tracks, said cam tracks being of oval configuration and so symmetrically sized and positioned with respect to the oval chamber that the tips of said vanes are maintained in continuous clearance sealing engagement with the wall, the cam tracks serving to resist the biasing force and to positively retract the vanes inwardly during portions of the rotational cycle thereby to minimize wear and friction at the tips of the vanes, the band being of laminated construction formed of a thin helically wound strip with unsecured ends and outwardly sprung to take up radial movement of the vane.

Claim 8

A rotary unitary compressor-expander for use in a refrigeration device comprising in combination, a stator including a hollow member enclosed by respective end members defining a chamber having a wall of oval cross section, a rotor rotatably mounted in axial position in the stator chamber, the rotor having a plurality of equally spaced radial vane slots, a plurality of vanes snugly slideable in the respective vane slots, each of said vanes having a flat base portion and having a radially presented vane tip, the base portion having aligned axially extending stubshafts, closely fitted rollers on the stubshafts, a continuous inwardly facing cam track at each end of the stator chamber for engaging the respective rollers on each of the vanes, means including a resilient spring band arranged to press outwardly on the vanes to bias the vanes and to keep the rollers thereon biased radially outwardly against the cam tracks, said cam tracks being of oval configuration and so symmetrically sized and positioned with respect to the oval chamber that the tips of said vanes are maintained in continuous clearance sealing engagement with the wall, the cam tracks serving to resist the biasing force and to positively retract the vanes inwardly during portions of the rotational cycle thereby to minimize wear and friction at the tips of the vanes, the band being of laminated construction formed of a thin helically wound strip with unsecured ends and outwardly sprung to take up radial movement of the vane.

Claim 9

A rotary unitary compressor-expander for use in A refrigeration device comprising in combination, a stator including a hollow member enclosed by respective end members defining a chamber having a wall of oval cross section, a rotor rotatably mounted in axial position in the stator chamber, the rotor having a plurality of equally spaced radial vane slots, a plurality of vanes snugly slideable in the respective vane slots, each of said vanes having a base portion and having a radially presented vane tip, the base portion having aligned axially extending stubshafts, closely fitted rollers on the stubshafts, a continuous inwardly facing cam track at each end of the stator chamber for engaging the respective rollers on each of the vanes, spring band biasing means operatively associated with the vanes for urging the vanes radially outwardly to keep the rollers thereon biased against the cam tracks, said cam tracks being of oval configuration and geometrically synchronized to the oval wall of the chamber so that the tips of said vanes are maintained in continuous clearance sealing engagement with such wall, the cam tracks serving to resist the biasing force and to positively retract the vanes inwardly during portions of the rotational cycle thereby to avoid crowding, with resultant wear and friction at the tips of the vanes.

Claim 10

A rotary unitary compressor-expander for use in A refrigeration device comprising in combination, a stator including a hollow member enclosed by respective end members defining a chamber having a wall of oval cross section, a rotor rotatably mounted in axial position in the stator chamber, the rotor having a plurality of equally spaced radial vane slots, a plurality of vanes snugly slideable in the respective vane slots, each of said vanes having a base portion and having a radially presented vane tip, the base portion having aligned axially extending stubshafts, closely fitted rollers on the stubshafts, a continuous inwardly facing cam track at each end of the stator chamber for engaging the respective rollers on each of the vanes, spring band biasing means operatively associated with the vanes for urging the vanes radially outwardly to keep the rollers thereon biased against the cam tracks, said cam tracks being of oval configuration and geometrically synchronized to the oval wall of the chamber so that the tips of said vanes are maintained in continuous clearance sealing engagement with such wall, the cam tracks serving to resist the biasing force and to positively retract the vanes inwardly during portions of the rotational cycle thereby to avoid crowding, with resultant wear and friction at the tips of the vanes.

Claim 11

The combination as claimed in claim 5 in which each vane is of composite construction including a flat vane body of light plastic having brackets thereon for mounting the aligned stubshafts, the brackets being radially moveable on the vane body into fitted position of precise dimension between the stubshafts and the tip of the vane thereby to insure a close running fit between the tips of all the vanes and the oval wall of the chamber, the brackets having means for fixing the same in fitted positions.

Claim 12

The combination as claimed in claim 6 in which the biasing means comprises a pair of continuous spring bands, and the stubshafts include respective stubshaft extensions for coacting with the spring bands whereby said bands are positioned outboard of the rotor.

Claim 13

The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which each vane is of composite construction including a flat vane body of light plastic and including brackets mounting the stubshafts, said stubshafts being of durable material and extending in axial alignment from the brackets, the brackets having grooves mating with the respective lateral edges of the vane body to provide relative radial sliding movement and with the brackets being pinned to the vane body in a fitted position in which there exists a precise radial dimension between the stubshafts and the tip of the vane.

Claim 14

The combination as claimed in claim 8 in which the biasing means comprises a pair of continuous spring bands, and the stubshafts include respective stubshaft extensions for coacting with the spring bands whereby said bands are positioned outboard of the rotor.

Claim 15

The combination as claimed in claim 5 in which the portion of each vane slot engaged with the vane includes insert members fixed to the rotor for providing a smooth surface to contact the vanes thereby reducing vane to vane slot friction.

Claim 16

The combination as claimed in claim 10 in which the insert members include a pattern of radially extending channels terminating in a pattern of ports at the engaged surfaces and in which means are provided for supplying to the channels a portion of the air compressed in the chambers thereby to establish a film or air at the engaged surfaces for lubricating the same.

Claim 17

The combination as claimed in claim 5 in which the biasing means includes a pair of continuous spring bands arranged to press outwardly on the vanes.

Claim 18

The combination as claimed in claim 12 in which each vane is provided with a resilient cushion mounted thereon at the region of engagement between the vane and the band to thereby increase the range of resilient follow up action of the vane.

Claim 19

The combination as claimed in claim 12 in which each vane is of composite construction incLuding a flat vane body of light plastic the stubshafts being of elongated construction including a slotted extension portion mating with the base portion of the vane body, the extension portion being pinned to the vane body in a fitted position in which there exists a precise radial dimension between the stubshafts and the tip of the vane, the extension portions of the stubshafts engaging the spring bands thereby to minimize wear.

Claim 20

The combination as claimed in claim 14 in which the portion of each vane engaged with the vane slot includes a plurality of radially extending internal channels terminating in a pattern of ports at the engaged surfaces and in which means are provided for continuously supplying to the channels a portion of the air compressed in the chambers thereby to establish a film of air at the engaged surfaces for lubricating the same.

Claim 21

The combination as claimed in claim 15 in which each vane includes a plurality of radially extending channels including a pattern of ports in both the portion of the vane engaged with the vane slot and the portion of the vane extending into the chamber so that a portion of air compressed in the chamber flows through the channel to the vane slot thereby to establish a film of air at the engaged surfaces for lubricating the same.

Claim 22

The combination as claimed in claim 14 in which rotation of the rotor in a given direction defines a compression half and an expansion half of the compressor-expander and the stator includes thermal blocking means interposed between the halves of the stator to retard heat transfer through the stator between the compression and expansion sides to more nearly approach the efficiency of adiabatic expansion on the expansion side.

Claim 23

The combination as claimed in claim 17 in which the vanes are formed of a plastic material having thermal insulating properties.

Claim 24

The combination as claimed in claim 17 in which the thermal blocking means comprises slots formed in the exterior of the stator to decrease the area for heat transfer between said halves through the stator.

Claim 25

The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which the stubshafts are formed separately from the vane which carries them and in which means are provided for precisely locating the radial position of the stubshafts with respect to the tip of the vane thereby to insure a close running fit between the tips of all the vanes and the oval wall of the chamber.

Claim 26

The combination as claimed in claim 20 in which the biasing means comprises a pair of continuous spring bands, and the stubshafts include respective stubshaft extensions for coacting with the spring bands whereby said bands are positioned outboard of the rotor.

Claim 27

The combination as claimed in claim 20 further including a lubrication retaining force extending inwardly from each cam track toward the respective stubshafts and interposed between the vane brackets and the vane rollers.

Claim 28

The combination as claimed in claim 4 in which the cam tracks comprise an extension of the oval wall of the stator chamber.

Claim 29

The combination as claimed in claim 23 in which stationary fences are provided at the ends of the stator between the vanes and the respective rollers thereon for sealing engagement with the lateral edges of the vanes.

Claim 30

The combination claimed in claim 20 in which the stator chamber is of enlarged size to produce a gap between the oval wall and the vane tips when the rollers are biased against the cam tracks, the wall of chamber being coated with a layer of graphitic material uniformly distributed in a binder to close said gap, said graphite material being softer than the material comprising the tips of the vanes so as to undergo intentional wear during run-in and until the rollers are freely seated on the cam tracks thereby to provide the clearance sealing engagement between the tips of the vanes and the coated wall.

Claim 31

The combination as claimed in claim 25 in which the inner wall of the stator is coated with a layer of material having thermal insulating as well as lubricating properties thereby to further enhance the adiabatic nature of the expansion.

Claim 32

The combination as claimed in claim 26 in which the layer of insulating and lubricating material consists of graphitic material uniformly distributed in an insulating binder.

Claim 33

The combination as claimed in claim 27 in which the insulating binder is an epoxy resin.