Patent US5807091A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5807091A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multi-rotor helical-screw compressor
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1997-03-03
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Granted: 1998-09-15
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Expires: 2017-03-03
Abstract
Abstract A compressor in accordance with the present invention includes a male rotor which is axially aligned with and in communication with two female rotors. The male rotor is driven by a motor, in other words the male rotor is the drive rotor. The male rotor has a plurality of lobes which intermesh with a plurality of flutes on each of the female rotors. The male rotor comprises an inner cylindrical metal shaft with an outer composite material ring mounted thereon. The ring includes the lobes of the male rotor integrally depending therefrom. The lobes of the male rotor being comprised of a composite material allows positioning of the female rotors at a small clearance from the male drive rotor. This clearance is small enough that the liquid refrigerant itself provides sufficient sealing, cooling and lubrication. The positioning of the female rotors on opposing sides of the male rotor balances the radial loading on the male rotor thereby minimizing radial bearing loads. The interface velocity between the male and female rotors during operation is low, whereby damage suffered as a result of lubrication loss is reduced. The compressor includes a housing having an inlet housing portion, a main housing portion and a discharge housing portion. An induction side plate and a discharge side plate are mounted on the male rotor. The outside diameter of the induction plate is equal to the root diameter of the male rotor. The outside diameter of the discharge plate is equal to the crest diameter of the male rotor. These plates serve two purposes, to secure the male rotor components and to equalize suction pressure at both ends of the male rotor, thereby virtually eliminating the thrust loads. Discharge porting is defined in the discharge housing portion wherein trap pocket relief is provided.
Inventors
- 👤 David N. Shaw
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 10:38
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04C; F04C18/00; F04C18/08; F04C18/082; F04C18/084; F04C18/12; F04C18/14; F04C18/16; F04C18/165
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A helical-screw rotary compressor comprising: a first rotor; at least two second rotors axially aligned with said first rotor, said first rotor in communication with said second rotors whereby said first rotor drives said second rotors, said second rotors being generally equally spaced about said first rotor; and a discharge side plate attached to said first rotor at a discharge end thereof for rotation therewith, a first continuous surface of said discharge side plate being adjacent said discharge end of said first rotor, said first of surface of said discharge side plate being generally cylindrical and having a continuous outside diameter about the same as a crest diameter of said first rotor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
A helical-screw rotary compressor comprising: a first rotor; at least two second rotors axially aligned with said first rotor, said first rotor in communication with said second rotors whereby said first rotor drives said second rotors, said second rotors being generally equally spaced about said first rotor; and a discharge side plate attached to said first rotor at a discharge end thereof for rotation therewith, a first continuous surface of said discharge side plate being adjacent said discharge end of said first rotor, said first of surface of said discharge side plate being generally cylindrical and having a continuous outside diameter about the same as a crest diameter of said first rotor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The compressor of claim 1 wherein: said first rotor comprises a male rotor having a plurality of lobes with a degree of wrap; and said at least two second rotors comprise at least two female rotors, each of said female rotors having a plurality of flutes with a degree of wrap.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
The compressor of claim 1 wherein: said first rotor comprises a male rotor having a plurality of lobes with a degree of wrap; said at least two second rotors comprise at least two female rotors, each of said female rotors having a plurality of flutes with a degree of wrap; and a drive motor in communication with said male rotor for driving said male rotor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
The compressor of claim 3 wherein said male rotor comprises: a generally cylindrical metal shaft coupled to said drive motor; and a ring having said lobes integrally depending therefrom, said ring disposed on said shaft for rotation therewith, said ring comprises of a composite material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The compressor of claim 1 further comprising: an induction side plate disposed at an induction end of said first rotor, said induction side plate being generally cylindrical and having an outside diameter about the same as a pitch diameter of said male rotor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
132 words
The compressor of claim 1 further comprising: a compressor housing having said first and second rotors disposed therein, said compressor housing comprising: (1) an induction housing portion, (2) a main housing portion, and (3) a discharge housing portion, said discharge housing portion including, (a) an inner circumferential surface for receiving said discharge side plate, with a clearance being defined between said inner circumferential surface and an outer circumference of said discharge side plate, (b) a countersunk surface depending from said inner circumferential surface and terminating at an opening, said countersunk surface depending from said inner circumferential surface allows said clearance to be sealed by a liquid in said compressor, and (c) at least two discharge porting schemes, each positioned for communication with a discharge port area of each corresponding said second rotor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
147 words
The compressor of claim 6 wherein each of said discharge porting schemes comprises: a first stepped down portion defined by an intersection of said counter sunk surface and said inner circumferential surface, an edge which generally follows a root diameter of a corresponding said second rotor and a curved edge which communicates with a periphery of remaining discharge port areas of said first rotor and said corresponding said second rotor, whereby said first stepped down portion provides trap pocket relief; a second stepped down portion depending from said first stepped down portion, said second stepped down portion generally aligned with an axial discharge port area of said corresponding said second rotor; and wherein said first and second stepped down portions lead to a discharge opening generally aligned with a radial discharge area of said first rotor and said corresponding axial discharge port area of said second rotor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
The compressor of claim 4 further comprising: an induction side plate disposed at an induction end of said male rotor, said induction side plate being generally cylindrical and having an outside diameter about the same as a root diameter of said male rotor; and a plurality of dowels attached to said induction and discharge side plates for retaining said ring on said shaft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The compressor of claim 8 wherein: said dowels are disposed in cooperating grooves formed at an outer surface of said shaft and an inner surface of said ring.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The compressor of claim 2 wherein said at least two female rotors comprises two or three female rotors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The compressor of claim 2 wherein said male rotor comprises: a generally cylindrical metal shaft; and a ring having said lobes integrally depending therefrom, said ring disposed on said shaft for rotation therewith, said ring comprised of a composite material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
166 words
A helical-screw rotary compressor comprising: a first rotor having a shaft depending from a discharge end thereof; at least two second rotors axially aligned with said first rotor, said first rotor in communication with said second rotors whereby said first rotor drives said second rotors, said second rotors being generally equally spaced about said first rotor; and a discharge side plate disposed at said discharge end of said first rotor for rotation therewith, a first surface of said discharge side plate being adjacent said discharge end of said first rotor, said discharge side plate having an opening therein at about the center thereof, said first surface of said discharge side plate having said opening at about the center thereof with the remainder of said first surface being continuous, said first surface of said discharge side plate being generally cylindrical and having a continuous outside diameter about the same as a crest diameter of said first rotor, said shaft of said first rotor extending into said opening.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
166 words
A helical-screw rotary compressor comprising: a first rotor having a shaft depending from a discharge end thereof; at least two second rotors axially aligned with said first rotor, said first rotor in communication with said second rotors whereby said first rotor drives said second rotors, said second rotors being generally equally spaced about said first rotor; and a discharge side plate disposed at said discharge end of said first rotor for rotation therewith, a first surface of said discharge side plate being adjacent said discharge end of said first rotor, said discharge side plate having an opening therein at about the center thereof, said first surface of said discharge side plate having said opening at about the center thereof with the remainder of said first surface being continuous, said first surface of said discharge side plate being generally cylindrical and having a continuous outside diameter about the same as a crest diameter of said first rotor, said shaft of said first rotor extending into said opening.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
51 words
The compressor of claim 12 wherein: said first rotor comprises a male rotor having a plurality of lobes with a degree of wrap; and said at least two second rotors comprise at least two female rotors, each of said female rotors having a plurality of flutes with a degree of wrap.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
65 words
The compressor of claim 12 wherein: said first rotor comprises a male rotor having a plurality of lobes with a degree of wrap; said at least two second rotors comprise at least two female rotors, each of said female rotors having a plurality of flutes with a degree of wrap; and a drive motor in communication with said male rotor for driving said male rotor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
The compressor of claim 14 wherein said shaft of said male rotor further comprising: a generally cylindrical metal shaft coupled to said drive motor; and a ring having said lobes integrally depending therefrom, said ring disposed on said metal shaft for rotation therewith, said ring comprises of a composite material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
The compressor of claim 12 further comprising: an induction side plate disposed at an induction end of said first rotor, said induction side plate being generally cylindrical and having an outside diameter about the same as a pitch diameter of said male rotor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
132 words
The compressor of claim 12 further comprising: a compressor housing having said first and second rotors disposed therein, said compressor housing comprising: (1) an induction housing portion, (2) a main housing portion, and (3) a discharge housing portion, said discharge housing portion including, (a) an inner circumferential surface for receiving said discharge side plate, with a clearance being defined between said inner circumferential surface and an outer circumference of said discharge side plate, (b) a countersunk surface depending from said inner circumferential surface and terminating at an opening, said countersunk surface depending from said inner circumferential surface allows said clearance to be sealed by a liquid in said compressor, and (c) at least two discharge porting schemes, each positioned for communication with a discharge port area of each corresponding said second rotor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
147 words
The compressor of claim 17 wherein each of said discharge porting schemes comprises: a first stepped down portion defined by an intersection of said counter sunk surface and said inner circumferential surface, an edge which generally follows a root diameter of a corresponding said second rotor and a curved edge which communicates with a periphery of remaining discharge port areas of said first rotor and said corresponding said second rotor, whereby said first stepped down portion provides trap pocket relief; a second stepped down portion depending from said first stepped down portion, said second stepped down portion generally aligned with an axial discharge port area of said corresponding said second rotor; and wherein said first and second stepped down portions lead to a discharge opening generally aligned with a radial discharge area of said first rotor and said corresponding axial discharge port area of said second rotor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
63 words
The compressor of claim 15 further comprising: an induction side plate disposed at an induction end of said male rotor, said induction side plate being generally cylindrical and having an outside diameter about the same as a root diameter of said male rotor; and a plurality of dowels attached to said induction and discharge side plates for retaining said ring on said shaft.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
The compressor of claim 19 wherein: said dowels are disposed in cooperating grooves formed at an outer surface of said shaft and an inner surface of said ring.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The compressor of claim 13 wherein said at least two female rotors comprises two or three female rotors.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
The compressor of claim 13 wherein said shaft of said male rotor further comprising: a generally cylindrical metal shaft; and a ring having said lobes integrally depending therefrom, said ring disposed on said metal shaft for rotation therewith, said ring comprised of a composite material.
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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) | 2001-09-14 | 2002-03-16 | 2002-09-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-14 | 2006-03-16 | 2006-09-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-14 | 2010-03-16 | 2010-09-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |