US2035786A

US2035786A - Rotary fluid compressor, exhauster or circulating machine

Info

Publication number: US2035786A
Application number: US693914A
Authority: US
Inventors: William T Bradley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1933-10-17
Filing date: 1933-10-17
Publication date: 1936-03-31
Anticipated expiration: 1953-03-31

Description

March 31, 1936. BRADLEY ROTARY FLUID COMPRESSOR, EXHAUSTER, OR CIRCULATING MACHINE Filed Oct. 17, 1933 4 Sheets-sheaf. l

1 I N YEN TOR. b/zw; fflr// TTORNEY,

March 31, 1936. W, B E 2,035,786

ROTARY FLUID COMPRESSOR, EXHAUSTER, OR CIRCULATING MACHINE Filed Oct. 1'7, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 2 INVENTOR.

March 31,1936. W, T. sRAbLEy 2,035,786

ROTARY FLUID COMPRESSOR, EXHAUSTER, OR CIRCULATING MACHINE Filed Oct. 17, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 4 I I INVENTOR.

' flag M ZTTORNEY.

March 31, 1936. 2,035,786

ROTARY FLUID COMPRESSOR, EXHAUSTER, OR CIRCULATING MACHINE w. T. BRADLEY Filed Oct. 1'7, 1933 4 SheetsSheet 4 I N VEN TOR.

H .M m 1 T T A U i Patented Mar. 31, 1936 UNHTED fiTATS PATENT OFFICE ROTARY FLUID COMPRESSOR, EXHAUSTER OR CIRCULATING MACHINE 11 Claims.

This invention relates to a rotating machine to be used for compressing, exhausting or circulating a fluid, using a liquid of a higher specific gravity than the fluid acted upon. The liquid in the machine acts as a compressing, exhausting or circulating medium. It also acts as a sealing medium against back pressure, as a sealing medium between the high and low pressure chambers of the machine, and as a cooling agent for the machine as a whole.

The important object of the invention is the provision in an apparatus of this character of an arrangement such that a liquid may be used as a compressing, exhausting or circulating medium, a, sealing medium and a cooling agent.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein, for the purpose of illustration, I have shown preferred embodiments of my invention and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side and cross section elevation of one-half of the machine, taken on a vertical center line and shows the machine as it would appear when at rest.

Fig. 2 is a side and cross section elevation of one-half of the machine, taken on a vertical center line and. shows the machine as it would appear when rotating.

Fig. 2A is an enlarged cross section of a portion of the machine as shown in Fig. 2 and shows enlarged details of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a cross section of the shaft or vortex tube in the machine, showing the arrangement of the radial fins in the same.

Fig. 4 is a side and cross section elevation of one-half of the machine, in a modified form, taken on a vertical center line and showing the machine as it would appear when at rest.

Fig. 5 is a side and cross section elevation of 40 one-half of the machine, in a modified form, taken on a vertical center line and showing the machine as it would appear when rotating.

Referring now to the drawings, a reservoir is generally designated as l. The reservoir has a 5 plurality of radial fins or ribs 2 that extend from the sides and bottom of the reservoir and are used to prevent a liquid 3 of relative high specific gravity in the reservoir from rotating. The reservoir I is a receptacle for the liquid 3, which 50 is part of the machine and the cycle made by the liquid while passing through the machine begins and ends at the reservoir. The liquid 3 continues to circulate through the machine as long as the machine is in operation. The liquid 55 3 in the machine is used as a compressing, ex-

hausting or circulating medium and as a sealing medium in a back pressure seal 12 and a seal l9 located between the high and low pressure chambers of the machine. It also acts as a cool- 60 ing agent for the machine and because of its high specific gravity and the construction of the machine it may be used time and time again.

It is obvious that the liquid 3 will seek its level in the reservoir by flowing upwardly through the orifice 4 in the bottom of the hollow 5 shaft or vortex tube 5 into the cavity in the vortex tube 5 when the machine is at rest, as indicated in Fig. 1. When the vortex tube is caused to rotate by an electric motor 6 or other prime mover, the rotor of which is securely 10 mounted on the vortex tube 5, the portion of the liquid inside the vortex tube 5 will rotate with the vortex tube, being propelled by the radial fins 1 in the vortex tube. This liquid forms a vortex, due to its rotation, and, due to'15 the conical shape of the inside bottom of the vortex tube 5, rises in the vortex tube until it is opposite the liquid distributing ports 8, as indicated in Fig. 2. The liquid leaves the vortex tube 5 by way of these ports. A continuous sup- '20 ply of liquid is supplied to the vortex tube 5 by way of the orifice 4 in the bottom of the vortex tube 5, the liquid being forced into the tube by the static head of the liquid 3 in the reservoir I.

The compressing, exhausting or circulating 2 wheel 9 has a circular central recess partially through its axis in which one'end of the vortex tube 5 extends. An annular chamber I0 is positioned intermediate the periphery and the center of the wheel, and the chamber opens on the F lower face of the wheel. Radially extending through the wheel are a plurality of ports 8 which are positioned so that openings through the vortex tube are in alignment with the ports and each port 8 enters into the chamber ID. The ports 8 I designate as the liquid distributing ports. Another port II which I designate as the fluid compressing, exhausting or circulating port extends radially in the wheel 9 from the chamber ID to the outer circumferential bounding 40 surface of the wheel.

The compressing, exhausting or circulating wheel 9, mounted on and attached to the vortex tube 5, rotates with the same. The liquid entering the liquid distributing ports 8 from the top of the Vortex tube 5, as above described, passes through the liquid distributing ports 8 and, due to the centrifugal force exerted on the liquid while it is passing through the liquid distributing ports 8, the liquid is thrown across the fluid pick up chamber ID in the form of drops. These drops and a quantity of fluid from the fluid pick up chamber l0 enter the fluid compressing, exhausting or circulating ports I I. The drops of liquid 36 passing through the ports ll, completely fill the ports H as to diameter but not as to length, and the liquid 36 acts as pistons and, assisted by the centrifugal force exerted on them, force a portion of the fluid 47 ahead of them out through the back pressure liquid seal I2 and out into the high pressure chamber I3 of the machine, the fluid of relatively low specific gravity finding its way to the discharge port I4 of the machine and the liquid of relatively high specific gravity entering the back pressure seal I2.

Fluid to be discharged enters the machine through the intake. port I5, passes upwardly through the vertically positioned holes E6 in the upper bearing plate I! of the machine into the low pressure chamber I8 of the machine. From the low pressure chamber l8 it enters the fluid pick up chamber I0 of the compressing, exhausting and circulating wheel 9. From this chamber II] the fluid passes through the ports I I and back pressure seal I2 into the high pressure chamber I3 of the machine and so to the discharge port I4 of the machine.

The back pressure seal I2 is constructed around the periphery of the compressing, exhausting or circulating wheel 9 and is comprised of a groove. The liquid enters the back pressure seal I2 after passing through the compressing, exhausting or circulating ports I I, and collects in the back pressure seal until the seal is full. The surface of the liquid in the back pressure seal is in a practically vertical plane, due to the construction of the seal and due to the centrifugal force acting on the liquid in, the seal, as indicated in Fig. 2. As the upper vertical surface of the liquid in the back pressure seal I2 is closer to the center of rotation than the outer orifice of the compressing, exhausting or circulating ports I I, any pressure exerted on the surface of the liquid in the seal causes a portion of the liquid 3c in the seal I2 to flow into the ports The centrifugal force exerted by this portion of the liquid 3a overcomes the pressure on the seal I2.

Liquid entering the back pressure seal I2 from the ports II, in excess of that required for the seal I2, will spill over the upper edge of the seal I2 and drop down to the pressure seal I9 between the high and low pressure chambers I3 and I8 respectively of the machine, as indicated in Fig. 2.

The pressure seal I9 is constructed to prevent the fluid from passing from the high pressure chamber I3 to the low pressure chamber I8 of the machine. A portion of the liquid is retained in the pressure seal I9 when the machine is at rest, as indicated in Fig. 1. The liquid in the pressure seal I9 is rotated by the pressure seal fin 20, the fin being serrated on its periphery and attached to and forming part of the compressing,

exhausting or circulating wheel 9. The pressure exerted by the fluid on the liquid in the upper portion of the pressure seal I9 causes the liquid in the seal to become unbalanced with respect to the liquid in the lower portion of the seal I9, the portions of liquid referred to being above and below the pressure seal fin 26 respectively, as indicated in Fig. 2. The centrifugal force exerted on the unbalanced portion 2| of the liquid in the seal will overcome the pressure that the fluid exerts on the seal.

The liquid received by the pressure seal I9 from the back pressure seal I2 above enters the upper portion of the seal. This causes an unbalancing of the seal and forces the surface of the liquid in the lower portion of the seal closer to the center of rotation. When the surface of the liquid in the lower portion of the seal becomes closer to the center of rotation than the lower edge of the pressure seal, the liquid spills over this edge and so leaves the seal, as indicated in Fig. 2. With this arrangement the pressure seal I9 becomes a bypass for the excess liquid flowing from the high pressure chamber I3 to the low pressure chamber I 8 of the machine.

The liquid that leaves the pressure seal I9, as described above, will flow through the holes I6 in the upper bearing plate II, through the screen filter 22 to the deflector plate 23, where it is collected and conducted to the entrance 24 of the cooling coil 25 mounted on the outside of the machine. The liquid passing through the cooling coil 25 by gravity is cooled and returned to the reservoir, leaving the coil at its outlet 26 and returning to the reservoir I in the base of the machine, thus completing the cycle.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have illustrated a modification of the invention. The numeral 2? designates a reservoir, which reservoir is a receptacle for the liquid 28 in the machine and the cycle made by the liquid 28 while passing through the machine begins and ends at the reservoir 21. The liquid 28 continues to circulate through the machine as long as the machine is in operation. Radial ribs or fins 29 extend from the side and bottom of the reservoir 21 and are used to prevent the liquid 28 in the reservoir from rotating.

The liquid 28 in the machine is used as a compressing, exhausting or circulating medium, a sealing medium in the back pressure seal and a cooling agent for the machine as a whole, all as hereinafter described.

It is obvious that the liquid 28 in the reservoir 21 will flow up through the orifice 30 in the bottom of the vortex tube 3| into the cavity of the vortex tube 3| when the machine is at rest, as indicated in Fig. 4. When the vortex tube is rotating the portion of the liquid inside the vortex tube 3| will rotate with the vortex tube, being propelled by the radial fins 32 in the vortex tube. This liquid forms a vortex due to its rotations and, due to the construction of the vortex tube, rises in the vortex tube 3| until it is opposite the compressing, exhausting or circulating ports 33, as indicated in Fig. 5, leaving the vortex tube 3| by way of these ports. A continuous but limited supply of liquid is supplied to the vortex tube 3| by way of the orifice 33 in the bottom of the vortex tube 3|, the liquid being forced into the tube by the static head of the liquid 28 in the reservoir 21 plus the pressure exerted on the surface of the liquid, said surface of the liquid being part of the high pressure chamber 34 of the machine.

The vortex tube 3| is attached to the compressing, exhausting or circulating wheel 35, the circulating wheel being mounted on and attached to the shaft 36 of the electric motor 3'! and rotated by said motor. A quantity of fluid from the low pressure chamber 38 of the machine enters the compressing, exhausting or circulating ports 33 with the liquid from the vortex tube 3|, the liquid 28b entering in the form of drops or short columns that completely fill the ports 33 as to diameter but not as to length. The drops of liquid 28b, assisted by the centrifugal force exerted on them due to the rotation of the wheel 35, act as pistons and force a. quantity of the fluid 48 ahead of them out through the back pressure seal 39 into the high pressure chamber 34 of the machine, the fluid finding its way to the discharge port 46 of the machine and the liquid entering the back pressure seal 39.

The fluid enters the machine by way of the intake port 4| and passes up through the tube 42 to the inside of the vortex tube 3|, or the low pressure'chamber 38 of the machine. The fluid passes through the ports 33 and out through the back pressure seal 39, high pressure chamber 34 and discharge port 40, as described above and indicated in Fig. 5.

The back pressure seal 39, constructed around the periphery of the compressing, exhausting or circulating wheel 35, is part of the same. The liquid enters the back pressure seal 39 after passing through the compressing, exhausting or circulating ports 33 and collects in the back pressure seal 39 until the seal is full. The surface of the liquid in the back pressure seal is in a practically vertical plane, due to the construction of the seal and due to the centrifugal force acting on the liquid in the seal, as indicated in Fig. 5. As the upper edge of the back pressure seal and, incidentally, the surface of the liquid in the back pressure seal 39 are closer to the center of rotation of the wheel 35 than the outer orifice of the compressing, exhausting or circulating ports 33, any pressure exerted on the surface of the liquid 28a in the seal causes a portion of the liquid in the seal 39 to flow into the ports 33, the centrifugal force exerted by this portion of the liquid 28a overcoming the pressure on the seal 39.

The liquid of high specific gravity entering the back pressure seal 39 from the ports 33 in excess of that required for the seal 39 will spill over the upper edge of the seal 39 and enter the annular recess 43 in the wall of the machine. The liquid is conducted by the annular recess to the entrance 44 to the cooling coil 45, mounted on the outside of the machine, and passes through the cooling coil by gravity, is cooled and returns to the inside of the machine, leaving the coil at the outlet 46 and entering the reservoir 21 in the base of the machine, thus completing the cycle.

Since the construction illustrated is capable of many other forms not herein illustrated, with but slight modifications, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the specific construction hereinbefore set forth, except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In a rotary machine for compressing, exhausting, or circulating a fluid, a rotatable wheel having a hub, a centrally located cavity and an annular cavity surrounding the hub, a liquid, a reservoir for said liquid, a hollow shaft on which said wheel is mounted, means for rotating said shaft, means for admitting said liquid to said center cavity in said wheel by way of said shaft, the annular rib or hub surrounding said center cavity and rotatable therewith, said hub being perforated with radially extending ports, said ports opening at their outer end to the annular cavity surrounding said hub, a high and low pressure chamber in said machine and exteriorly of said rotatable wheel, the liquid supplied to the said center cavity flowing through said ports to said annular cavity, said annular cavity being closed on the side adjacent the high pressure chamber and open on the side adjacent the low pressure chamber of the machine, the fluid acted upon entering said annular cavity in said wheel from the low pressure chamber of the machine, the outer side of said annular cavity being V-shaped with the center line of the V in the plane of rotation of said wheel, the point of said V-shaped side being away from the center of rotation of said wheel, said annular cavity being surrounded by an annular rib or flange, said flange being perforated by radial ports or holes, said holes opening at their inner end to said annular cavity at the apex of said V-shaped outer side, said liquid entering said annular cavity from said radially extending ports in said hub and being thrown across said annular cavity in the form of drops, said liquid and said fluid entering said radial holes in said flange, and an annular groove on the periphery of said wheel communicating with said radially extending holes.

2. In a rotary machine for compressing, exhausting or circulating a fluid, a wheel having radially extending ports, an annular seal adjacent the outer edge of said wheel, a liquid for sealing said ports, an inlet passageway in said wheel for guiding said fluid to said ports, said annular seal having a portion of said liquid therein closing the end of each of said radially extending ports in said wheel and preventing the passage of fluid in one direction through said ports during the time said wheel rotates, said annular seal comprising an annular groove therein, the walls of said groove sloping inwardly and upwardly from the outer extremity of said ports, said ports opening into said annular groove near the bottom of said groove, the outside edges of the walls of said groove being closer to the center of rotation of said wheel than the orifice of said ports, the uppermost surface of liquid in said groove being closer to the center of rotation of said Wheel than the orifice of said ports when the wheel is rotating, pressure exerted on the surface of said liquid forcing a quantity of liquid into said ports; and centrifugal force, due to rotation of said wheel, being exerted by said quantity of liquid in said port overcoming the pressure on the seal; and means to rotate said wheel.

3. In a rotary machine for compressing or exhausting or circulating a fluid, a high pressure chamber and a low pressure chamber, an annular liquid seal for preventing the transmission of pressure from the high to the low pressure chamber of the machine, andmeans for permitting the liquid to pass from the high to the low pressure chamber of the machine by way of said annular liquid seal.

4. A wheel, adapted for use in a rotary machine for compressing, exhausting or circulating a fluid, having a central cavity and an annular cavity, a plurality of radially extending ports in Y said wheel, said annular cavity closed on one side and open on the other side, said radial ports in said wheel extending from said central cavity to said annular cavity, a portion of a wall defining said annular cavity being of V-shaped formation with the center of the V away from the center of said wheel, a plurality of other ports having their entrance at the apex of said V- shaped outer side, and an annular groove in said wheel into which said last named ports terminate.

5. A rotary machine for compressing, exhausting or circulating a fluid; comprising a motor having a rotor; a liquid; a rotatable vortex tube suspended in said liquid; a container for said liquid; means in said vortex tube for the passage of said liquid; the rotor of said motor being mounted on said vortex tube, the plane of rotation of said rotor being at a right angle to the longitudinal center line of said vortex tube; and a compressing, or exhausting, or circulating wheel having a passageway therein and communicating with said means in the vortex tube, said wheel mounted upon and connected to said vortex tube whereby a contiguous passageway for the liquid is provided through said vortex tube and said wheel, said motor being adapted to rotate said vortex tube and said compressing, exhausting, or circulating wheel; and means in said wheel joining said contiguous passageway Whereby fluid may be carried by said movable liquid in said passageway.

6. In a rotary machine for compressing, exhausting or circulating a fluid, a wheel having a plurality of radially extending ports and an annular cavity therein, said ports having their entrance in said annular cavity, a high pressure and a low pressure chamber in said machine, said cavity open to said low pressure chamber of the machine and closed to said high pressure chamber of the machine, a groove where each of said ports terminate, a liquid, a reservoir adapted to retain said liquid, means for the passage of said liquid from said reservoir to said ports by way 'of said cavity, means for rotating said wheel whereby the liquid is forced through said ports in the form of drops or columns of liquid by the centrifugal action thereon, a portion of said liquid adapted to be retained in said groove to serve as a seal, and means whereby fluid may be supplied to said cavity in order that the drops of liquid may force the fluid from said cavity through said ports and through said seal into the high pressure chamber of the machine.

7. In a rotary machine for compressing, ex-

hausting or circulating a fluid; a liquid; a wheel having a central inlet port connected to said liquid for the admission of said liquid and an annular cavity spaced from and surrounding said port; said cavity being adapted to admit said fluid which is to be circulated by said machine, a plurality of radially extending ports in said wheel and joining said inlet port and said annular cavity, an annular seal on said Wheel, said seal including a groove and a portion of said liquid in said groove, said radially extending ports ter- -minating at said seal, said seal preventing the passage of fluid in one direction through said ports during the time said wheel rotates, the side walls defining said groove sloping upwardly and inwardly, said ports opening in the said groove adjacent its bottom, the outer edges of the walls of said groove being nearer the center of rotation of the said wheel than the outermost orifice of said ports; a high pressure chamber, said groove terminating in said high pressure chamber; and a low pressure chamber having an outlet through said annular cavity, and centrifugal force when the wheel rotates being exerted by the liquid passing through said ports to overcome the high pressure on the seal, and means to rotate said wheel.

' 8. In a rotary machine for compressing, ex-

hausting or circulating a fluid, a high pressure chamber and a low pressure chamber intercommunicating, a rotatable wheel having an inlet for liquid and an inlet for fluid from the low pressure chamber, said inlets joined by common ports, a liquid seal for preventing the transmission of pressure from the high pressure to the low pressure chamber of the machine, said seal comprising an annular groove constructed on the wall of the machine, the walls of said grooveprojecting inwardly and upwardly, an annular fin or rib serrated on its periphery and attached to the rotating member of said machine and supported on space relationship from the walls of said groove, said groove being Wider and deeper than the thickness and length of said fin when in the groove, the space between the fin and the Walls of said groove being adapted to receive a quantity of liquid, said liquid adapted to be contacted and rotated in the groove by said fin when the machine is in motion, pressure exerted on the seal by said fluid on said high pressure chamber of the machine causing the liquid on the seal to become unbalanced, the centrifugal force, due to the rotation of the liquid in the seal, exerted by the said unbalanced portion of the liquid overcoming the pressure on the seal;

9. In a rotary machine for compressing, ex- {hausting or circulating a fluid, comprising a liquid, a hollow shaft, a plurality of longitudinally extending fins in said shaft, the lower interior wall of said shaft converging in cross-sectional area, said shaft having an opening at the bottom and a plurality of openings at the top to form a contiguous passage for a liquid, a wheel mounted upon said shaft and having openings therein aligned with the openings in said shaft,

said shaft when rotating elevating said liquid by vortex action to said wheel, wherein said liquid in drops compresses, exhausts, or circulates a fluid, utilizing the centrifugal force exerted on said drops of liquid while said liquid and said fluid are passing through radially extending ports in said Wheel.

10. In a rotary machine for compressing, exhausting or circulating a. fluid having in combination a liquid; a reservoir for said liquid; a hollow shaft vertically suspended with its lower end dipping into said liquid; said shaft being hollow throughout its length to form a passage for said liquid and sonically shaped on the inside bottom, an inlet at the bottom of the hollow shaft for the admission of liquid from said reservoir; a plurality of fins attached to the inside surface of the hollow shaft adapted to engage and rotate the liquid inside the hollow shaft when the shaft is rotating; said shaft having openings at its top forming a contiguous passageway from the interior of the shaft for the exit of said liquid; a wheel on said shaft with radially extending ports wherein the liquid inthe form of drops effects the compression of a fluid in said ports by said liquid due to the centrifugal force acting on said drops when the wheel is rotating; and means to rotate said shaft.

11. In a rotary machine for compressing, exhausting or circulating a fluid, a liquid in a reservoir, a rotatable Wheel having a plurality of radially extending ports, a fluid inlet groove in said wheel communicating with said ports, a groove adjacent the periphery of said wheel wherein said radial ports terminate, a liquid inlet in said wheel communicating with said radially extending ports, said liquid adapted to have a passage into and through said ports and adapted to be partially collected in said groove, said liquid in said groove also being adapted to cover the terminus of each port and permit the passage of fluid only outwardly in one direction through the radially extending ports during the rotation of said wheel, said wheel, ports, groove and liquid arranged to compress, exhaust, or circulate a fluid by contrifugal action when the wheel is rotating.

WILLIAM T. BRADLEY.