US1820344A - Centrifugal compressor - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 25, 1931. P.'D. CALDWELL 1,820,344

CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSOR Filed Nov. 25, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l a 3 Inventor J N T v 1 405% A llornc y Aug. 25, 1931.

P. D. CALDWELL CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 25, 19150 Inventor Filed Nov. 25, 19:50 3 Shets-Shedt s Invenior JEEZZdzueZZ M I 1 By wand. I I A Home y necessary.

Patented Au .2 5,1931 i i s i a I 1,820,344

UNITED STATESPA EN -j O F CE.

PRINoEn; CALDWELL, OF Los 'ANGELEs; CALIFQRNIA i I CENTRIFUGAL,CQMIPRESSbRi Application filed November 25, 19 30.? sens n /4983513.

This invention relates to a centrifugalcomtaken substantially on the line "55 of Figpressor which is particularly for use'on reure 1. I p z p w I I I frigerating and ice making machines or apj ,Referring to the'drawingsin detaihi and paratus, but it is to be understood, of course, to Figure 1 in particular, it will be seenthat 5 that a compressor in accordance with this the reference numeral designates asuitable to invention may be usedwith any kind of apbase'upon the oppositeendportionsof which paratus forwhich the sameis found adapted aremounted the standards 2 having suitable and desirable. I p i J bearings 3 on their upper ends inYwhichare An important object of the invention is'to journaled' for rotationithe opposite end por' 10 provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, tions ofan elongated, horizontally disposed a centrifugal 'compressorof the aforemen shaft 4 having fixed on one end portiona tione-d" character embodying 'a plurality of suitable coupling5 forconnecting the shaft connected fluid impellingor driving units of 4 with the shaft of an 'electricunotor (not the vcentrifugal type wherein no valves are shown) or'other suitable source ofp'ower for p I f j actuation.- The base 1 and the vshaft my 7 Another important object of the invention be of any desired length, aslwill be apparent, is to provide'a centrifugal compressor of'the Longitudinallyaligned housings 6," 7 '8,-

character described embodying a novel con- 9, aI 1d 10 a-1'e mounted vertically on the'base a struction and arrangement of fluid impelling 1 between the standards "2 through the c units together with novel means for preventp medium of the integral supporting feet 11 ing leakage of the fluid from the compress havingthe'out-turned apertured flanges 1201i sors, j I i theirjlow er e'nds'for the passage ofxsuitable Other objects of the invention are to proanchoring bolts or the like 13. The shaft-.4 l vide a centrifugal compressor for refrigerat- "extends centrally through all of thehous- ,7

25 i a d ice aking machines'which will be ings. Each of the housings comprises upper v j simple in construction, strong, durable, highand lower half sections provided with aperly efficient in operation and which may be tured flanges for bolting the sections together manufactured at low cost. v s with as'uitable gasket between themQ-"Houls'f- All of the foregoing and stillfurther obg ings 859, and 10 are provided with jackets 3 jects and advantages of the invention may'14 to providewa'ter circulating spaces -15 v become apparentfrom a study of the follow- I whichare connectedwith each other'and with ing specification; taken in connection with asuitable source ofwatersupply'by the'pipes I the aocompaying drawings wherein like char- 16 In this manner the fluid'impelling units V acters of reference designate corresponding of which the housings 8 9 and 1.0 area part 1 parts throughout the several views, and are water cooled. "Fixedoncthe shaf-J 1'for5 wherein 'i a f i V V rotation therewith in each of the housings-'5 Figure 1 is a view inside elevation of a to 10, inclusive, is acentrifugal fluid impeller compressor constructed in accordancewith '17 having a centrally "disposed chamberlS this invention. with "which a fluid'intake opening 19 com- 1 Figure2is avertical longitudinal sectional municates on one side] offthe 'impel1er17; 90.

i 45 impeller unit which is not provided with iiery {spaced inwardly, from the correspondview through one ofthe water cooled centrif- Fluid'passages 2O radiateffrom the central I ugal fluid impelled units. chamber .18."and extend to the periphery of Figure 3 is a view invertical longitudinal the impeller 17. As will be seen the impeller section through the forwardmost centrifugal 17 has its front and rear walls and its periphf 'ter cooling means i. i ingwalls and the eri hery of theliOuSlng. V Figure & is avertical cross sectional view Each impeller 17 is provided withan integral taken substantially on the line 44 of Fighub portion 21 which'p'rojects into ithefcen ure'2. i tral chamber-18. As willibe'apparent,'the

' Figure 5 is a vertical cross sectionalview hub 21 support's'the impeller on'theshafte and is provided with a longitudinal groove which registers with the longitudinal groove 22 provided in the shaft 4 for the reception of a key 23 for securing the impeller 17 to the shaft 4 against rotation. It is understood, of course, that the shaft 4 is provided with a groove or key-way 22 for each of the housin s 6 to 10, inclusive. Each of the hubs 21 of t e impellers 17 has threaded thereinto a set screw 24 for engagement with the key 23 for securing said key against longitudinal movement in the groove or keyway 22.

The forward side of each of the housings 6 to 10, inclusive, is provided with a central ly disposed opening of materially greater diameter than the shaft 4 and projecting through said opening is an annular flange 25 formed integrally with the forward side of the impeller 17 and disposed in spaced con centric relation to the shaft 4. The diameter of the flange 25 is greater than that of the fluid intake opening 19 of theirnpeller 1 7 andthus an internal flange 26 is provided which is disposed in spaced concentric rela tion to the shaft 4for. providing the fluid intake opening 19,. i

A supporting bracket 2? rises the base 1 between the housing 6 and the adjacent standard 2 and supports, on its upper end, the fluid intake conduit 28 through which the shaft 4 extends longitudinally and which is spaced concentrically from the shaft 4 in a in an t Provi e ie s e aw 29 1mag we n s memeieet e w th the fluid n ak s cies 19 n he andle 1 -A fluid n t 3 ten upw rdly f m the inta'e etlie Pe -li f th e i t 2340 onne i n h a su a fluid we r P pe (se haw e ei de s eas aidie l r mm th fla 25 in spee 1 ei a' re ati t aid lan e 2 and e minates the flange, 26; an extension rii i' ets f rwa dly tram the on u t 28 n s a ed em nts-is e a i ai e af 4 and'mounted thereinare suitable packing rii s' 2 e wesns f a s of (h is m u e a 9i 1i 33 A P r 3 i i ievide f lubr atin the hafts etth Pain 41ml ing adjus ing nut or gland 30, is threaded into the, extension 31 for compressingthe pe king r s W ei it s SO i d:

E ch, o th Mu g .6 s 0.; nelin va s provided, on its forward side with an integral, forwardly projecting. neck 36 which dispesed spaced concentric relation to the flange 25 on the impeller 17 and: the neck 36 is pnqvided with an. out-turned, integral apertured flange 3'? on itsfree end portion. Suitable packing rings 38 of compressible material are Inonnted between the neck 36 and the flees-e 2 an i ab il lanterns 3,9 a e disp d be w e g ps of e mi kn ng 3 A Oil e 'iSP 9-ride fs ln ricatin the outer periphery of the flange 2 when ma hine i n op rates: rel:-

ing rings 41 of suitable compressible material are disposed between the flanges 25 and the fluid intake conduit 28 of each unit and an oil lantern 42 is disposed between groups of the packing rings 41. Stop rings 41 are threaded on the intake conduits 28 for retaining the packing rings 41 thereon. A duct 43 is provided in the fluid intake conduit 28 to permit lubricating oil to be forced by any suitable means between the flange 25 and the conduit 28 for lubricating the inner periphery of the flange 25.

'An internally threaded annulus 44 is rigidly mounted in forwardly spaced relation 20 the flange 37 through the medium of the screws 45 upon which are mounted the spacing collars 46 which are interposed between the flange and the annulus 44. The inner periphery of' the annulus 44 is disposed in spaced, concentric relation to the fluid intake conduit 28 and threaded into said annulns for longitudinal adjustment on the conduit 28 is a compressing flange or nut which is engageable with the packing rings 41 for compressing the same to the desired degree.

The annulus 44 has its forward side recessed to rotatably receive an internally toothed ring gear 48 which is retained rotatab ly in position by a suitable retaining ring 49 which is threaded into the recess provided in the annulus 44 for the ring gear 48. A packing compressing ring 50 entends between the free end portions of the neck 36 and the flange 25 fer longitudinal adjustment and is engageable with the packing rings 38 for compressing the same when it is so desired. Threaded at spaced points into the side of the compressing ring 50 which is free of the packing rings 88 are a plurality of threaded shankshl which are journaled transversely througlnthe annulus 44. and are retained against longitudinal movement relative to the annulus 44 bythe flanges 52 which are fined on the shanks 51 and engageahle with one side of the annulus 44 and the gears 53 which are fixed on the shanks 52 and engageable with the other side of the annulus 44. Thegears are in mesh with the ring gear 48. Polygonal heads 54 are, fixed on the outer portions of the shanks 51 for receiving a suitable actuating tool such as a wrench for rotating the shanks 51. i

It will thus be seen that when one of the shanks 51 i s rotated, the remaining shanks 51 are simultaneously rotated to niove the compressing ring 50 toward or away from the packing rings 38.-

The housings 6 to 10, inclusive, are connected with each other by the conduit-s 55 which are identical in construction and arrangement with the fluid intake conduit 28 with the exception that their forwardends are secured, by belts or the like 56. to. the forwardly adjacent housing, the bolt 56 passing. through apertured flanges 57 formed integrally on the conduits 55 and anchored in f said forwardly adjacent housings. The intake opening 30 and the elements 31 to 35 which are associated with the fluid intake conduit 28 are, of course, eliminated from the unit connecting conduits 55. The conduits 55 are, of course, spaced, concentrically from the shaft 4. Therear side of each of the housings 6 to 9, inclusive, is-provided-with a' fluid outlet opening 58 in communication with the unit connecting conduits 55. A,

suitable packing gland 59 is provided on the rear wall of the rearmost housing 10 through which the shaft 4 extends for v preventing leakage of the fluid at this point. The packing unit 59 is preferably similar in construc tion to the packing unit comprised by the elements 31 to 35, inclusive. Therearmost housing 10 is provided with an upstanding gas outlet neck or opening 60 which'is at one side of the rearmost housing and is provided with, a suitable flange on its upper end for connection with a discharge pipe (not shown).

As best seen in Figure 4 of the drawings,

the oil lanterns 39 and 42 have their side,

walls provided with holes 61 to receive a suitable tool for removing said lanterns when it is so desired. All of the oil lanterns which are used in themachine are provided with these holes. I

In operation, the fluid enters the intake conduit 28 through the intake opening 30 and passes through the passage 29' and through the opening 19 into the central chamber 18 of the rotary centrifugal impeller 17 in the first housing 6. When the shaft 4 is rotating and'thus driving the impeller 17 v the fluid will be thrown by centrifugal force through the radiating passages 20 against the inner periphery of the housing 6 and will thenpass inwardly between the rear wall of the impeller 17 and the rear wall of the housing 6 and escape through theoutlet opening 58 into the unit connecting conduit 55 and pass through'the next impeller unit of which the housing 7 is an element. The operation is then repeated until the fluid reaches the housing 10, Where said fluid is expelled through the outlet opening orneck 60 into a suitable conduit or pipe (not shown). The housings 6 to 10, inclusive,are provided with removable drain plugs 63 in their lower portions. Suitable lubricating" means (not shown) may beprovided on the bearings 3 for, the shaft 4. It will also be understood that any desired numberof the fluid impelling units may be provided.

It is believed that the many advantages of acompressor in accordance with this invention will be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of con- :strimnon'im be had which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed. I Whatisclaimedis: p 1-.Acompressor of the character described comprisinga base, a series of longitudinally aligned impeller units mounted on the 'base', a rotary. shaft extending longitudinally through theunits, each unit including ahous ing'having acentrally disposed fluidinlet I opening in one side and a centrally disposed fluid outlet opening in its opposite side, con

duits connected to the'respective outlet openings and'extending-between the housings for passing the fluid therebtween, the shaft pass= ing through the openings and conduits in spaced," concentric relation thereto, an in+ tegral neck extending longitudinally from the forwardside of each housing in spaced, cone 7 ,centr1c; surround1ng relationto the ad acent conduit, a centrifugal "impeller fixed on the '85 shaftfor-rotation in each housing and spaced therefrom, an integral flange extending 1011- gitudinally from one's ide of the impeller-'between the neck and'theconduitin spaced conopening in oneside and a centrally disposed I b fluid outlet I opening" in its opposite side, conduitsconnected to the respective outlet openings and extending between .the housings for passing the fluid therebetwee n, the shaft pass 6 ing h, p gs an conduits in spaced, concentric; relation j thereto, an integral neck extending longitudinallyfroni theforward side of eachhousing in spaced, con centric, surrounding relation to'the adjacent conduit, a centrifugal impeller fixed on the shaft for rotation in each housingand spaced therefrom, an'iintegral flange extending longitudinally from 'o'ne siderofthe impeller between the neck and the conduit inspacedconcentric relation; to said neck and conduit, and sealing means between the-flange and the neck and between the flange and the condu'it, said means comprising aninternally threaded an- *nulus rigidly supported in spaced relation to the 'free end of the neck and disposed in spaced, concentric relationtothe conduit, a gland'encircling the conduit and threaded through the'annulus' for longitudinal adjustment between. the flange and the conduit,

packing rings disposed between the'fl ange 7 and the conduit for engagement an'd'compressionlbythei flange, packing rings disposedibetweent heflange and lthe neck, a ring i adapted forlongitudinal movement between 1 a the flange and the neck and engageable with the last named packing rings for compressing 4 menses the sam a pl ra i y f h n journa ed transversely for rotation through the annulus and having one end portion threaded into a th ng n a man e t sh ft said r ng l ng & udinally po ro ation of th han s and flanges on the sh nks eng g d w th th a nulus for retaining said shanks against the longitudinal movement in one direction.

3. A compressor of the character described 10 comprising a base, a series of longitudinally aligned impeller units mounted on the base, a rotary shaft extending longitudinally through the units, each unit including a housing having a centrally disposed fluid in- 15 let opening in one side and a centrally disposed fluid outlet opening in its opposite side, conduits connected to the respective outlet openings and extending between the hou ings for passing the fluid therebetween, the g0 shaft passing through the openings and cone duits in spaced, concentric relation thereto, an integral neck extending longitudinally from the forward side of each housing in spaced, concentric, surrounding relation to as the adjacent conduit, a centrifugal impeller fixed on the shaft for rotation in each housing and spaced therefrom, an integral flange extending longitudinally from one side of the impeller between the neck and the conduit 30 in spaced concentric relation to said neck and conduit, and sealing means between the flange and the neck and between the flange and the conduit, said means comprising an internally threaded annulus rigidly supported in spaced an relation to the free end'of the neck and dis.- posed in spaced, concentric relation to the conduit, a gland encircling the conduit and threaded through the annulus for longitudinal adjustment between the flange and the conduit, packing rings disposed between the flange and the conduit for engagement and compression by the flange, packing rings disposed between the flange arid the neck, a ring adapted for longitudinal movement between is the flange and the neck and engageable with the last named packing rings for compressing the same, a plurality of shanks journaled transversely for rotation through the annus ins and having one end portion threaded into the ring in a mannerto, shift said ring long-i1 tudinally upon rotation of the shanks, and flanges on the shanks engaged with the an nulus for retaining said shanks against the longitudinal movement in one. direction, gears fixed on the shanks, and an internally thread? ed ring gear mounted for rotation in the an? nulus, said ring gear meshing with the gears on the shanks and constituting means for oneratively connecting the shanks together for M simultaneous rotation.

a In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

PRINCE D. CALDWELL.

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