US1986584A

US1986584A - Refrigerant pumping system

Info

Publication number: US1986584A
Application number: US635385A
Authority: US
Inventors: Solomon E Koplar
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1932-09-29
Filing date: 1932-09-29
Publication date: 1935-01-01
Anticipated expiration: 1952-01-01

Description

Jan. 1, 1935.

' s. E. KOPLAR REF-RIGERANT PUMPING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 29, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 V U Jblomofl 6. Zop/an Jan. 1, 1935. S. E LAR 1,986,584

' REFRIGERANT PUMPING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 29, l932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I l g 2 Solo 0% 6: 260a,.-

Jan. 1, 1935. s. E. KOPLAR 1,986,584

REFRIGERANT PUMP ING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 29, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet :5

HI? I 70 dblomafl Jan. 1 1935. s. E. KOPLAR REFRIGER-ANT PUMPING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 29, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 VEcr U Patented Jan. 1, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERANT PUMPING SlZSTEM Solomon E. Koplar, Chicago, 111. Application September 29, 1932, Serial No. 635,385

11 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerant pumping systems and is particularly concerned with improved pumping apparatus which embodies novel means for sealing and lubricating the pump parts, thereby making the apparatus particularly adapted for the pumping of a refrigerant Heretofore, pumps of the rotary type embodying pumping sectionsarranged at an angle of have been used in connection with oil burners and Experiments with the above described pumps.

have disclosed that their inability to operate at the higher pressure was primarily due to the angle between the pumping-sections, and that if the angle were changedso as to-.be greater than 90 and less than the friction was materially decreased, thestarting characteristicsiwere highly improved, and the higher pressures could be attained without difiiculty.

Furthermore, it has heretofore been a problem to properly seal and lubricate the pump parts to maintain their operation over a long period of time at the high pressure required in refrigerat ing systems.

Having the foregoing limitations in mind to:

the present pumps of this character, the present invention proposes to provide a refrigerant. pump ing system wherein the pressure of the refrigerant is utilized to force oil into the pump for lubricating and sealing its parts.

It isa further object of the invention to provide a refrigerant pumping system in which oil is taken up by the refrigerant in its passage through the pump, this oil being thereafter'separated out and reconducted to the pump for lubricating and sealing its parts.

-It is a further object of the invention to provide in a refrigerant pumping system, a pump of the angular rotary type having a chamber at the junction of its pump sections, this chamber being adapted to receive oil ,under pressure, whereby the pump parts are lubricated and sealed.

Another object of, the invention is to provide in a refrigerant pumping system, means adapted to control the supply of lubricating oil to'the pump in accordance with the pressure of the refrigerant.

It is also an object of this invention to provide in a refrigerant pumping system, a pump of the,

angular rotary type which is so designed and constructed as to have low frictional losses, thereby enabling the pump to start easily and. operate at relatively high efiiciency. A still further object of the invention is to provide in connection with a fluid pump, means for automatically adjusting the pump in such a manner as to cause it to operate with a relatively high order of efficiency, irrespective of whether the pump is furnishing the pumped fluid at high or low relative pressures. In accordance with the general features of this invention it is proposed to provide a refrigerant pump of the rotary angular type having the pumping sections disposed at an obtuse angle to each other. The housing defining the pumping sections is so constructed as to form a chamber or cavity at the junction of the sections, this cavity or chamber being in communication with the pistons and cylinders of the pumping sections. under pressure and flows past the movable parts of the pump and is taken up by the refrigerant during its passage through the pump. "The oil is then separated from the refrigerant and is forced by the refrigerant. back into the central chamber of the pump. In this manner a circulatory oiling system is provided and the pump parts are effectively lubricated and sealed.

As a further feature of this invention it is proposed to provide an unloading device for controlling the supply of oil to the aforementioned central chamber, so that this supply will be interrupted when the pump is stopped and will again be established as soon as the pump is started. Thisis accomplished by means of an unloading device having a valve disposed in the oil inlet to the pump, thisv valve being subjected on one side to the oil pressure within the central chamber of the pump and on the other side to the discharge pressure of the refrigerant. It will therefore be observed that as soon as the pump stops, the decreased pressure of the refrigerant will enable the oil pressure which has been built up in the pump chamber to close the valve, thereby disconnecting the oil supply. Moreover, as soon as the pump is started, a check valve is opened due to the pressure at the discharge of the pump, and the refrigerant pressure which has been established in the system will act to cause the valve to open and admit oil under pressure to the central chamber 'of the pump. In this manner automatic control of the flow of oil to the pump is attained.

Other objects and features of this invention will more fully appear from the following detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a single embodiment thereof, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved Oil is introduced into this chamber pumping apparatus embodying the features of this invention, the actuating means not being shown;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus;

Figure 3 is an elevation of a pump head for one of the pumping sections, in this instance the horizontal section, showing the inlet and .outlet ports therein;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical section through the pump utilized in my invention;

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section through the horizontal pumping section of the pump, showing the passageway to the horizontal bores, taken' substantially on line V--V of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a similar sectional view through the angularly disposed pumping section, taken substantially on line VIVI of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a sectional view through the head for the horizontal pumping section, taken substantially on line VIIVII of Figure 3;

Figure 8 is a longitudinal section through the unloading device, showing the details of its interior, taken substantially on line VIII.Vl1I of Figure 1;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing a modified port arrangement; and

Figure 10' isan enlargedfragmentary section showing details ofvalve means to interconnect an auxiliary port to the outlet port, taken substantially on line-XX of Figure 9.

As shownon'the drawings? As illustrative ofmy' invention, I have chosen to show'in Figure 1, pumping apparatus embodying the features of my invention, which are adapted for use in a refrigerating system. Since my invention is concerned with the pumping apparatus and devices cooperating therewith in the pumping operation, it has not been deemed necessary to show the various instrumentalities comprising the evaporating system, as these would be of conventional construction, and are well known in the art.

. The refrigerant pumping system of my invention broadly embraces a refrigerant pump generally indicated at A, which may be driven by any suitable power means (not shown) such as an electric motor or the like.. separating means 3 for separating the oil from the refrigerant and applying pressurethereto, and an unloading device C for controlling the supply of oil to the pump in accordance with the pressure of the'refrigerant discharged from the pump.

The pump structure .comprises

cylindrical housings

10 and 11 which are detachably secured together at their inner ends by means of cooperating

flanges

12 and 13 and bolts 14 in such a -manner that the housings will be disposed at an angle to each other, in this instance, an angle of substantially 105. Removably secured to the outer ends of the housings by means of bolts 15 are heads 16 and 1'7 which facilitate pipe connections to the pump in a manner that will be subsequently described in detail. The entire pump assembly is supported on a base structure 18 which is secured to a flange portion 19 on the housing 10 by means of bolts 20. The housings and heads of the pump are provided with

suitable fins

21 and 22 which are suitably disposed to be engaged by circulating air, whereby the pump may be aircooled.

At the junction of the

housings

10 and 11, a chamber 23 is formed. Rotatably disposed between this chamber and the head 16 is a cylina shoulder 25 which is formed in a central bore 26 of the cylinder, this shoulder abutting the end of a shaft' 27 having its other end contracted at 28 to extend through the head 1'7. The contracted end 28 is threaded for receiving a nut 29 by means of which a shoulder 30 is drawn tervals about the central axis of the cylinder,.

each of these bores being adapted to reciprocably receive therein a plunger 33 which is of hollow construction and closed at its outer end by means of a plug 34. N

The outer end of the cylinder 24 is closed by a plate member 35 which is secured at its center by means of a threaded end 36 of a shaft 37, which extends through the plate and threadedly engages the cylinder in such a manner that when the shaft is screwed into the cylinder, a shoulder 36 is drawn against the outer side of the plate.

Suitable ports 39 are provided in the plate 35, and each of these ports communicates with one of the bores in the cylinder.

' The shaft 37 extends outwardly through the head 16 and is rotatably supported in a bearing bracket 40 which together with the head 16 is secured to the housing 10 by the bolts 15. This shaft adjacent its outer end has fixedly secured thereto a plurality of fan blades 41 which, when the pump is running, will circulate air against the 'fianges on the housings and heads. The outer end of this shaft is connected through a suitablecoupling 42 to the driving shaft 43 of an electric motor or any other suitable power means.

The housing 11 contains a similar pumping structure which comprises a cylinder 44 having a central bore 45 which surrounds the bearing portion 31 of the shaft 27, whereby the cylinder is rotatably mounted. This cylinder is held against axial displacement by means of the head 17 and its abutment at its inner end against the inner end of cylinder 24. The cylinder 44 is likewise provided with a plurality of angularly spaced bores 46 which are adapted to reciprocably receive therein plungers 47. These plungers are of hollow construction and are closed at their irmer ends-by suitable plugs 48. The outer end of the cylinder 47 is closed by means of a plate 49 which surrounds the portion 31 of. the shaft 27 and is secured to the end of the cylinder by means of any suitable fastening means such as pins. This plate is provided with a plurality of port openings 50, each of which is in communication with one of the bores 46.

The plungers in the corresponding bores of the two cylinders are rigidly connected-together at their adjacent ends by means of an angular connection 51 so that, when the shaft 3'1 and cylinder 24 are rotated, the angularly disposed plungers will reciprocate in their respective bores and transmit the rotative movement of cylinder 24 to the cylinder 44, all in a manner well understood in the art. During the rotative movement of these cylinders, the interconnected pairs of plungers will be reciprocated in their respective bores and produce a pumping action.

The head 16 is provided at one side with an inlet passageway 52 adapted to be connected by suitable piping 53.to a suction connection 54 which is adapted to be connected to the vacuum inletpassageway a port passageway 55 extends through the head and terminates at the inner face thereof in an arcuate channel 56 which is concentric with-the axis of the cylinder 24 and in the path of the ports 39 which communicate with each of the cylindrical bores 32 therein. At its opposite side the head has an outlet passageway 57 which is adapted for connection to a discharge pipe 58 and communicates with a port passageway 59 extending through the head and terminating in the inner face thereof in an arcuate channel 60which is disposed on the opposite side of the axis of the head from the channel 56. The channel 60 is likewise disposed in the path of the ports 39 which communicate with the respective longitudinal bores of the cylinder. In

- substantial quadrature to the inlet and outlet passageways, another passageway 61 is arranged, this passageway being adapted for connection to a suitable pipe 62 which is connected to a vacuum gauge 63. The passageway 61 is in communication through a port opening or passageway 64 with the channel 56. With this arrangement, it

' will be appreciated that the vacuum gauge will indicate the vacuum orsuction on the intake side of the pump.

The head 17 is constructed in a similar manner to the head 16, except that in the case of head 17, it is not necessary to provide a vacuum or suction connection to the gauge. Referring to Figure 6, the head 17 is provided with an inlet passageway 65 which is adapted for receiving a suitable pipe connection 66 and communicates through a port passageway 67 with an arcuate channel 68 which is concentric with the axis of the cylinder 44 and in the path of the ports 50 which communicate with the respective bores46 therein. On the opposite side of the head 17 from the inlet passageway is an outlet passageway 69 which is adapted for a suitable pipe connection 70 and communicates with a port passageway 71 which extends through the head and terminates in an arcuate channel 72 which is likewise disposed in the path of travel of .the port openings 50 and is concentric to the axis-of the cylinder 44.

The unloading device C comprises a sectional housing in which the respective sections are secured together by

end clamping members

73 and 74 which are tightened in operative position by means of clamping bolts 75. Withinthe housing is a plunger or piston 76 which is disposed for reciprocable movement within a chamber-77. The

- lower side. of the plunger 76 is connected to ,a stem 78 which carries at its lower end a valve 79 which is cooperatively associated with a valve seat 80. This valve is disposed between an oil inlet connection pipe 81 and an oil outlet connection 82 which communicates withthe' chamber 77. The upper surface of the piston 76 is in communication with a chamber 83 having an inlet pipe con-.

nection 84 forming an inlet for refrigerant. Abo've the chamber 83 is a chamber 85 which is in communication with a pipe connection 86 which forms an outlet for the refrigerant. Intermediate the

chambers

83 and 85 is a downwardly seating check valve 87 whichis arranged tocooperate with a seat 88.

The separator comprises a tank 89 having an inlet connection 90 in its top and an outlet connection 91 also in its top which is adapted for connection to the pressure side of the refrigerating system. A pressure gauge 92 is secured in the top of this tank to indicate'the refrigerant pressure. The bottom of the tank 89 contains an outlet connection 93, the purpose of which will later be explained.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, it will be observed that the

inlet connections

53 and 66 of the pump housings are connected together through a pipe connection 94 and that the discharge or

outlet connections

58 and 70 are respectively connected through

pipes

95 and 96 to a T connection which is in communication with connection 84 of the unloader. The connection 86 of the unloader is connected through pipe 97 to the connection 90 of the separator. The connection 81 of the unloader is connected to connection 93 at the bottom of the separator tank by means of a pipe 98 and the connection 82 from the unloader communicates with the chamber 23 at the junction of the pump housings.

The operation of my refrigerant pumping system will be substantially as follows:

The pump is started by means of suitable control equipment for starting the power means which drive the pump, the power means being so connected as to drive the shaft 37 in a counter clockwise directionwhenfacing the outer end of housing 10. As the shaft 37 rotates it carries;

plungers

33 and 47 to the cylinder 44. Rotation of .these cylinders will cause the pairs of plungers to be reciprocated in their respective bores. In the described construction, six plungers are provided in each cylinder so that when the lowermost plungers have reached their outermost limit of travel, the uppermost plungers will have reached their innermost limit of travel, and the other plungers will be disposed at intermediate compression and suction positions, each plunger successively' reaching its position of full suction in the topmost position as shown in Figure 4 and its full compression position when it. -'reaches the lowermost position shown in Figure 5'. The same action takes place as regardsthe action of the plungers within housing 11.

Due to this action of the plungers, refrigerant will be drawn from the common: suction connection 54 and discharged through connections 58 and .70, through

pipes

95 and 96 respectively to the common T connection 84 into chamber 83 of the unloader. This pressure of refrigerant lifts the check valve 87 to enable refrigerant to pass refrigerant acts upon the plunger 76 which is moved downwardly thereby to open the valve 79 and enable oil to flow from the tank 89 through connection 93. pipe 98 and connection 81 past valve 79 of the unloader and thence into chamber 77 and out of the pipe connection 82 into the chamber 23 of the pump.

It will be observed'that due to the pressure of refrigerant in the tank 89, the oil will be forced into the pump under pressure, and that as the pump operates, the -oil will-engage the pistons and cylinder walls and travel into the refrigerant pumping portion of the cylinder, where it is picked up by the refrigerant and carried to the tank 89 where it will settle'to the bottom by virtue of the' action of gravity thereon. Since the pressure of oil in the chamber 23 acts upon the bottom side of the plunger 76 in the unloader, it will be apparent that as soon as the pump is stopped, thereby enabling the pressure in the refrigerating system to close the check to continue forcing oil into the chamber 23. However since the closing of the check valve and stopping of the pump relieves the pressure 'on the upper surface of the plunger '76, the oil pressure from tank 89 will act to close the valve 79 and shut off the supply of oil to the chamber 23.

In the foregoing description I have described one arrangement of inlet and outlet ports for the heads 16 and 1'7, and while this arrangement has proved to be very satisfactory, a modified arrangement is disclosed in Figures 9 and 10 which embraces an auxiliary valve arrangement whereby the starting of the pump is facilitated.

Referring to Figure 5, for example, it will be observed that, when the pump is stopped, the rotatable cylinder may come to rest in a position such that the port 39 of at least one of the bores, which bore contains a plunger 33 that has started on its compression stroke, has not reached the channel 60. Consequently, oil may be forced into this bore from the chamber 23, and, since there is no outlet from the bore in this position of the cylinder, the bore ahead of the plunger will become filled with oil and tend to lock the pump against easy starting.

To prevent such a condition, it is contemplated that the modified form of head as shown in Figures 9 and 10 may be used, if desired. This feature although shown as applied to head 16, would.

also be incorporated in head 1'7. Parts in the modified form, which correspond to the head disclosed in Figure 3, are indicated by the samenuway 100 by a spring 104. This spring at its inner end engages the valve member and at its outer end bears against a plug 105 threaded into the outer end of the valve chamber. This plug also provides 'an adjustment whereby the spring may be compressed more or less to cause the valve to open at a greater or less pressure, as desired.

With this modified head, when the pump is stopped and the cylinders are in the position transmitted to the valve which is thereby maintained closed while the pump is, running. The modified head arrangement in addition to enabling the pump to start easily, also operates auto- 'matically to change the characteristics of the outlet connections, when the pump operation is changed from high pressure to low pressure, and vice versa. Due to the effect of this change in the characteristics of the outlet connections, a high pump operating efliciency is attained when t the pump is operated at low pressure.

Referring to Figures 9 and 10, the channel 60 is designed and positioned to give the best opcrating efiiciency for the pump, when the pump is operating at high pressure. It has heretofore been observed that with a single fixed outlet port of such character, the efiiciency of the pump is materially decreased, when operating at comparatively low pressures. obtain in effect a longer channel 60, which has been found to give a high pump ef iciency at the lower pressures, the auxiliary channel 99, its as sociated valve mechanism and passageway 10.2 are provided.

Now, when the pump is pumping fluid-into a Therefore, in order to high pressure system, the system pressure is communicated to the lower side of the valve 103,

through the channel '60, passageway 102 and' valve chamber 101. The upperside of this valve is subjected to the partially compressed fluid in the bore which is in communication with the auxiliary channel 99 and passageway 100; and since the force acting on the upper side of this valve is less than that acting on'the underside,

the valve will remain closedf Thus, the -fully' compressed fluid passes out through channel-60,

which is designed to give a high efficiency at the high pressure operation of the pump.

At low system pressure, thepressure acting upon the underside of the valve 103 is less than that acting on the upper side thereof, and the valve will open to discharge the partially compressed fluid in the bore in communication with the channel 99. plunger therein is not required to fully compress the fluid to a higher pressure as the bore moves into communication with the channel 60. This action of the valve 10 3 during low pressure op- This bore being relieved, the.

-eration decreases the-amount of power required,

and consequently increases the efiicienoy of the pump over that which would otherwise be obtained.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the refrigerant pumping system of my invention provides novel pumping apparatus which is so constructed that it will operate with very lbw frictional losses; which utilizes the refrigerant pressure to force the lubricant to circulate past the pump parts to lubricate and seal the same; a system having pumping apparatus embodying novel lubricating and sealing arrangement for 'the' parts of'the pump; a system wherein the supply of lubricant to the pump is controlled in accordance with the pressure of the refrigerant being pumped; and a pump having high efiiciency irrespective of whether it isoperating at a high or low pressure.

While I have shown and described my invention in a preferred form, changes and modifications in structure. and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and I, therefore, do not, limit my ber, whereby the pump parts are lubricated, an ,7

outlet from the pump sections, means connected to said outlet for separating the refrigerant and oil taken up by the refrigerant in its passage through the pump sections, the separated oil being subjected to the pressure of the refrigerant, and a connection from said meansto the oil supply connection to conduct theseparated oil back to said chamber.

, 2. In a refrigerating system; a refrigerant pump having its parts lubricated, a connection :to supply oil under pressure to the pump parts,

a main discharge connection from saidpump, a check valve in said discharge connection, a

t 10 plungeractuated valve to control the supply of the plunger, whereby the -oil supply to the pump spaced bores, pistons reciprocable in said bores,.

is automatically closed when the pump is shut down and opened when the pump is running.

3. ma pump of thecharacter described a rotatable member having a plurality of angularly a discharge connection from said pump, means to connect each bore to the discharge connection when its associated piston is substantially at the end of its discharge stroke, andmeans operative, when the pump is stopped, to prematurely connect the bores to the discharge connection.

4. In a refrigerant pumping system, a pump having a cylindrical housing, a cylinder rotatable in said housing, said cylinder having a plurality of longitudinal bores angularly spaced at regular intervals about the center-line of rotation of the cylinder, pistons reciprocable in said "bores when the cylinderis rotated, an outlet passage from the pump, means to connect each bore to the outlet passage as its associatedpiston ap- -proaches full compression position, and means to connect all the bores having pistons on their' compression stroke' to(the outlet passage, when the pump is stopped.

5. In a pump of the character described arotatable member having a plurality of angularly spaced bores, each bore having an end defining.

, passage in communication with the main and auxiliary ports, and valve means arranged to connect and disconnect the auxiliary port relative to the outlet passage.

- .6. In a pump of the character described a rotatable member having a plurality oflangularly spaced bores, each bore having an end defining,

an opening, tall-said openings being disposed on a common'axis circle, a housing for said member defining a main port and an auxiliary port disposed in the line of travel of said openings, the auxiliary port being arranged to register with the openings prior to the main port, an outlet passage in communication with the main and I auxiliary ports, a valve operative to connect and disconnect the auxiliary portrelative to the out let passage, one face of the valve being subject to pressure in the auxiliary port and the opposite face thereof being subject to pressure in the main port, whereby the valve will be closed,

' when the pumpisrunning, and open, when the .70 Pump is s pf d with bore openings inrgistra- -tion with the main'and auxiliaryports respec--- tively. I L

'7. An unloading device adapted for use in connection with a fluid pump having its parts lubri cated from an oil pressure supply, said device chamber, each of said chambers having an inlet connection and an outlet connection, the fluid chamber having its inlet adapted for connection to the pump discharge, and the oil chamber its inlet for connection to the oil supply and its outlet to the parts to be lubricated, a valve to control the flow of oil through the oil chamber, and a piston connected to said valve and reciprocable in the connection between said chambers, one side of the piston being subjected to the fluid pressure and the other side to oil pressure, whereby the valve is closed, when the oil pressure predominates and opened, when the fluid pressure predominates.

8. In arefrigerant system, a refrigerant pump comprising a housing defining a fluid pressure chamber interconnected with an oil pressure having its parts lubricated, an oil supply connection to the pump parts'subject to the system pressure, a main discharge connection from the pump, a check valve'in said connection, and a plunger actuated valve to control the supply of oil to the pump,'one side of said plunger being, subjected to the pump discharge pressure and ative to compress a fluid, an outlet passagefor the compressed fluid from said elements, valve means to control the flow of compressed fluid into the outlet passage when pumping at high pressure, and auxiliary outlet means actuated by the outlet pressure to augment the action of said valve means, when pumping at low pressure; said auxiliary outlet being connected to said pump to deliver fluid at less than' fully compressed pressure.

10. In a pumping device having elements operative to compress a fluid, amain outlet passage forthe compresesdfluid'from said elements, an auxiliary outlet associated with the main outlet and adapted to deliver partially compressed fluid, and valve means tocontroi the flow of fluid from said elements to said-outlets, said means being automatically operable in accordance with the deliverypressure'ofthe compressed fluid, whereby the auxiliary outlet functions when the pump is delivering the compressed fluid at a relatively low pressure. \r

11. In a pump of the character described, a rospaced bores, each bore having an end defining an opening, all said'openings being disposed on a common axis circle, a housing for said member defining a main port and an auxiliary port disposed in the line of travel of said openings, the

auxiliary port being arranged to register with the openings prior to the main port, an outletpassage in communication with the main and auxiliary ports,'and valve means arranged to connect and disconnect the auxiliary port relative to the outlet passage, said valve means being autatable member having a plurality of angularly tomatically actuated to open position, when the pump is operating at low pressure, and closed position when the pump is operating at high SOLOMON E. KOPLAR.