US1858071A - Centrifugal apparatus - Google Patents

Description

, May 10 1932- "r. CHESTER 1,858,071

- CENTRIFUGAL APPARATUS med oct. 2o. 1951 /Az 5- z, 4

INVENTOR m @gy i z l AT1-o NEYI immuun-Mayl 1o, 1932 g UNITED, STATESv 'mons CHESTER, or rITTsBUnGH, :PENNSYLVANIA eFH-C12' g p. CENTBIFUGAL erana'rus Application mea october 2o, 1931. serial'lro.' 599,949.

This invention relates to that type of cene trifugal apparatus known variously as fans, pumps, blowers or exhausters, hereinafter termed blowers, the uses of which are to 'pump, compress or expand, or otherwise generally to move, fluids which may be gaseous or liquid. l

Such a blower comprises two principal parts, a rotatably mounted impeller, and a stationary casing therefor. The impeller is between lblades.

' of radial outward flow type provided with a plurality of blades concentrically arranged as in squirrel cage or other formation about its axis so as to set into rotary motion luid Centrifugal force is thus caused to act upon the'fluid, forcing it out y of the impeller in all directions radial of the l gradually expanding or volute form having a spiral wall peripheral of the impeller,` starting from a point adjacent the impeller, leading thereabout while receding'` therefrom, and terminating at the mouth of the casing, which mouth is between the two ends of the spiral casing wall and thus directed generally tangentially of the impeller. Since the impeller is of radial outward flow type, the casingvis provided with a circularinlet opening at one or both sides, through which the fluid to be `acted upon may enter the hollow of the impeller about which the impeller blades are arranged.

Considering one inlet opening only, flow will be therethrough parallel with the axis of the impeller, thence spreading radially thereof in all directions to and between the impeller blades, the characteristic path of How thus including a 90 bend. It is an object of my invention to provide defiector means for stabilizing" the flow through this angle, too

thereby reduce the inlet loss.

It is usually aconditionfof the installationl thatI the impeller be driven at a constant speed, whereas infmany cases the volumetric demand upon the blower varies greatly. This may be accomplished by obstructing the flow either to or from` the blower, d Accordingto my 1nvent1on I provide .novel `means for controlling the inlet opening.

A further object of my invention lis\to comblne in this means the functions ofboth'y regupath of flow within the impeller; and still lating the inlet opening, and controlling the another object is to accomplish this in a novel manner by providing deflector members ad- 6.0 opening, and open or deflecting positions justable between closed positions at the inlet within the impeller.

The exact nature-of my invention together with further objects and advantages thereof will be apparent from the following descrip- -tion taken inconnection with the accompany- Aing drawmgs, in which Figs. 1 and'2are sec-` tional elevations asin the plane of line 2 2,

Fig. 3, -showing anL embodiment of myinvention with the parts adjusted to open and closed positions respectively; and'Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same, parts being broken away to show details of construction.

With reference now to the drawings, 1 is the impeller of the blower, having blades 2 ,and journalled as at 3 to be rotatablydriven.

The casing 4 is arranged about the impeller,

the casing having an inlet opening 5 leading into the hollow 6 within the impeller and surrounded by theblades'2 of the latter.

In-the embodiment shown, a casting is ar ranged at the inlet 5 having a circular peripheral portionf? defining the inlet passage,'a

plurality of radial arms 8, three beingshown,

.forming a spider supporting acentral boss 9.

For Acooperation with the rim 7 about the inlet opening to control the latter, I provide a number of deflector members 1212a, 12b,

etc., three being shown. The central yone of I `these deflector members 12 is generally circular; the remaining ones are lannular,the

largest being' of sufficient diameter to Seat upon the rim 7. The relative sizes. ofathese members are'such that when concentrically arranged, in the zone lofthe inlet opening, as

-unobstructe'd'by them.v The members' may shown Fig. 2, .they will seat one upon the other to completely close the opening; and

Y tor members for adjustment between the two illustrated positions, are provided. 'Ilie supporting means illustrated comprises va number of-members, all extending parallel with the impeller axis, and includingthe members 13 carried bythe arms 8, Iand the central member 10. There is a set of members 13, including one in each arm 8, for each deflector member. Thusvthree supporting meinbers 13b are provided for the deflector member 12b, three supporting members 13a 'are provided for the deector member12a,

and three supporting members 13 are provided for the deflector member 12. vEach supporting member 13 is preferably .se-

cured in its arm 8, extends therefrom into the hollow 6 of the impeller and is provided.

at its inner end with a head as indicated. Each deector member 12 ,is perforated to receive its supporting members 13 so as to be slidable therealong, yet supported thereupon concentric with the impeller. In addition each annular deflector member 12 has similar sliding connection with the supporting members 13 of its next smaller adjacent deector member. Thus the deiiector member 12b is provided with bosses 146 drilled to receive the supporting members 13a for the next smaller deector member 12a.

The central deflector member 12 is connected with the end of a central supporting member 10 as indicated, as by bolting thereto at 15. It will be apparent that the set of deilector members is held by the supporting arrangement described, in concentricrelation by .the supporting members 10 and 13, but is allowed thereby adjustment between open and closed positions.

The boss 9 is bored coaxial with the impeller, to slidably receive the member -10 which is threaded, but'prevented from rotation in the boss as by the key 11 .extending into slots in both the boss and the member 10. A hand wheel 16 is threaded upon the member 10 outside the boss 9 by which the member 10 is adjustable along the impeller axis.

Operation willbe apparent. Assuming the parts in the position of Fig.v2 with the impeller in operation. since the inlet isclosed the blower will deliver no iiuid. and the irnpeller will operate with but slight load on'its driving means as its blades will be movingin a substantial vacuum. As the hand wheel 16 is adjusted to allow the supporting member 10 to move inwardly toward the position of Fig. 1, atmospheric pressure and velocity of flow always tending to move the deflector members: linwardly for having an inlet opening, a

from closed position, allv4 of the deiiector members will move from the opening, unseating from the,` rim 7 and thus providing anannular eective inlet opening. As the opening adjustment of the hand wheel 16 is continued, the deflector members will together continue their opening movement until the outermost one 12b bears against the heads on the ends of its supporting members 13b. Thereafter this deiector member will remain so positioned and the remaining deflector members will continue opening. Ultimately the second delector member 12a will be stopped by the heads on its supporting members 13a. Thereafter the central deflector 'member 12 alone will continue opening movement until it is stopped by its supporting members 13. A

In the closing operation the parts move in the reverse manner.

Obviously the blower output at any time the outermost deflector member 12b' d-epends upon the instant settingl of the desaid opening when in said closed position, and each to direct low from a portion of said the opening to a portion of said impeller when in said open position.

2. In a centrifugal device comprising a rotatably mounted impeller and a casing therefor having an inlet opening, a plurality of members arranged for adjustment along the axis of said impeller between closed po sition at said opening and open position within the impeller, said members beingv adapted for cooperation one seating upon another to close said opening when in said closed position,

and each to direct flow from a portion of said opening to a portionof said impeller when in said open position, ing for the latter purpose an anticlastic surface concentric with said impeller, one of s aid members being circular and another being annular. 4

3. In a centrifugal device comprising a rotating impeller and a stationary casing thereplurality of concentric deiector members supported for adjustment along the axis of the impeller be'A tween closed positions at said opening and open positions within the impeller, said de-Y iector members including an annular member and its supporting means including a plurality of supporting members spaced about said opening, and said deflector members-including a central deiector member and its slipper-ting means including a supporting .i

member disposed alon the impeilei' axise 4. In acentrifugal evice comprising a iotating impeller and a stationary casing there 5 for having'an inlet opening, a plurality of concentric deector members supported for adjustment along the axis of the impeilenbe`1 p tween closed positions at said opening and open positions Withinv the impeller, saidzdelo ector members including an annular meml j ber and its supporting means ,including a plul i rality of supporting members spaced about said opening, said deflector membersincluding a central deector member and its supporting means including a supporting member disposed along the impeller axis, and said defiector 'members'includinga defieetor memn berintermediate .said described deector members,` and its supporting means including supporting members associated with the latter. Y

In testimonyA hereof I hereby atiix my signature.

THOMAS CmBSTER.

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