US2482325A

US2482325A - Spherical air compressor

Info

Publication number: US2482325A
Application number: US775592A
Authority: US
Inventors: Davis Oscar Newton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1947-09-23
Filing date: 1947-09-23
Publication date: 1949-09-20
Anticipated expiration: 1966-09-20

Description

Sept- 20, 1949. o. N. DAVIS 2,482,325

SPHEIRICAL AIR COMPRESSOR 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 25. 1947 IN V EN TOR.

Oscar N. Dav/s BY Attorney Sept. 20, 1949. DAVIS SPHERICAL AIR COMPRESSOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 25, 1947 INVEN TOR. Oscar N. Dav/s Alla/hey Patented Sept. 20, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE srnnnrcar. AIB comnnsson Oscar Newton Davis, Wichita, Kans. Application September 23, 1941, Serial No. 775,592 2 Claims. (Cl. 230-142) This invention relates generally to the class of compressors and is directed particularly to an improved form of spherical compressor having as a principal object to provide a machine of this type. of high efliciency which will operate at a speed range ,in the class of industrial machinery and which will give a volumetric and pressure capac ity suitable to industrial uses and also suitable for supplying air under pressure for gas turbines.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel improved spherical air compressor which is of a design to combine rotary motion and volumetric displacement.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an air compressor of'the type described em: ploying partitioning vanes between two coacting rotary elements, wherein the construction is such that the vanes, which rotate with th rotary elements, do not drag upon the surrounding outer surface whereby friction and wear are reduced.

Another and more specific object of the invention is to provide a spherical air compressor employing two rotating bodies having conical faces, said bodies being supported for rotation on obtusely angled axes with the conical faces contacting, a spherical body forming the center of the structure and carrying a plurality of hingedly connected pairs of vanes slidably extended into recesses formed in the conical faces of the rotating bodies, an air intake means being provided at one side of the contacting portions of the conical surfaces and an air exhaust means being provided upon the opposite side of the contacting surfaces.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described since obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a spherical air compressor constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the compressor structure taken in the plane of the shafts, the line of section being indicated upon Figure 3 on the line 3-4.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view in elevation of the rotor unit showing in association therewith one only of the vane units.

Figure 5 is a view in elevation of the central bearing ball of the rotor, showing in connection therewith one only of the vane units in elevation.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings the numeral i0 generally designates the housing for the compressor which, as shown, is substantially of spherical form and is made up of the opposite end sections II and I2 and the central section II.

Each of the end sections constitutes a chordal section of a hollow sphere, the outer side of which, or the side of smallest diameter, being closed by an inwardly extending conical wall, such wall for the end section I I being designated l4 and for the end section i2 being designated l5. Formed integral with the wall It is the axle hub it having at the inner and outer ends of the bore II, the bearing units l8.

The wall 15 likewise has a. central hub l9 and at the inner and outer ends of the bore 20 thereof are the bearing units 2 l The inner edges or peripheries of the endsecportion of a hollow sphere; which is cut or formed so that the planes of the opposite side edges are in convergent relation as is mostclearly seen in Figure 1. Also this central section is divided into two parts for ease of manufacture and assembly of the machine, such parts being designated Ha.

Thus it will be seen that when the sections of the housing are assembled the centers of the hub bores will form an obtuse angle as shown most clearly in Figure 2.

At one side of the rotor housing a part |3a of the central section is provided with an air inlet pipe or nozzle 25 and the wall of this part l3a from which the inlet pipe or nozzle 25 extends is suitably enlarged or extended outwardly as shown in Figure 3, above and below the inlet pipe 25, to provide the air receiving chamber 36, the wall of which is eccentric to the housing so that such chamber gradually enlarges from a low point to the inlet 25 and then gradually decreases in size to a high point when the rotor unit is in place within the housing.

At the opposite side of the plane of the meeting edges of the two portions I3a from the air inlet pipe 25, the other part |3a is outwardly enlarged in the narrow or tapered end thereof as indicated at 21 and formed to provide anair outlet conduit 20 which at its two ends opens 3 into the housing through the

ports

29 and 30 and.

at the narrowest end of the central section part it opens outwardly through the discharge or outlet pipe 3 I.

At the end of the conduit 28 opposite from the outlet port 30 there is secured in the enlargement 21 a removable valve unit carrying plug 32. This plug has the inwardly directed tubular extension 33 in which is reciprocably mounted the stem 34 of a poppet type valve 35 which is v adapted to seat in the outlet port 30, the edge of which port is tapered as shown to provide a seat for the valve. A spring element 36 housed in the enlarged outer end portion of the tubular extension 33 engages the outer end of the valvestem 34 and is held under compression by the securing screw 31, whereby the valve 35 is normally firmly pressed inwardly to close the port 30. 1 4

As shown most clearly in Figure 2 the inside diameter of each of the end sections is greater than the inside diameter of the central or intermediate section. The purpose for this will be set forth in connection with the description of the rotor which is mounted in the housing.

The numeral 38 generally designates the complete rotor which is enclosed within the housing I. This rotor comprises the two

circular bodies

39 and 40 each of which is of circular form and has the spaced parallel perimeters 4| and 42 of different diameters, joined by the curved side wall 43.

At the side of greatest diameter each body has a frusto-conical wall 44 in the center of the frustum of which is formed a socket 45.

Each of the bodies 39 between the planes of '1 the perimeters 4| and 42 constitutes a chordal section of a sphere, the dimensions of one portion 39 being exact duplicates of those of the other portion so that when the two portions 'of the rotor unit are placed together the radii of the spherical surfaces 43 will be the same.

Each part 39 of the rotor unit has an axial outwardly directed hub 46 and the hub of the portion 39 has fixed therein an end of a shaft 41 by which power is delivered to the compressor while the hub of the part 49 has a stub shaft 48 secured therein.

As shown the shaft 41 extends outwardly through the hub it of the housing while the shaft 48 extends into the hub l9 of the housing and when the

rotor parts

39 and 40 are in position in the housing the conical faces 44 thereof will be in contact along a narrow line 49 which lies in the plane of the meeting edges of thetwo parts I3a of the central section and is in the portion of the housing adjacent to and between the convergent edges of the central section. Accordingly it will be understood that theline of contact between the conical faces 44 01' the

rotor parts

39 and 40 will be just past the outlet port 29 when the rotor unit is turning counter-clockwise as viewed in Figure 3 and from this line of contact as the rotor turns. the space between the conical faces of the two

parts

39 and 40 will gradually increase in width and be at its maximum at the diametrically opposite side of the center of the rotor.

Each of the

rotor parts

33 and 40 has formedtherein a series of radial slots 50 each of which opens into a substantially semi-circular channel 5| formed in the conical face or wall 44 of the part. These slots 50 operate in pairs in association with vane units each of which is designated 52.

Interposed between the centers of the rotor 4

parts

39 and 40 and seating in the sockets 45 is a centering sphere 53. This sphere has formed therein, in a circular order therearound, the tapped bores 54.

Each of the vane units 52 comprises two substantially triangular vane blades 55 and a pintle 56. Each of these pintles isreduced and screw threaded at one end as indicated at 51 for threaded engagement in a bore 54 and the vane blades 55 of each pair have the interconnecting hinge knuckles 58 through which a pintle 53 extends whereby to maintain the blades in assem-- bled relation thereon.

The blades 55' at their outer ends are longitudinally curved as indicated at 55a to conform with the imaginary sphere to which the two

parts

39 and 40 conform and to fit, with the

parts

39 and 40, snugly against the inside spherical surface of the central section part l3a opposite to that part through which the air intake pipe 25 opens.

As previously stated the interior diameters of the end sections II and I2 are greater than the interior diameter of the central section l3 and since the major portion of the curved surface of each rotor part is encircled by or enclosed by an end section, it will be seen that there remains an encircling chamber 59 around the major part of the periphery of each rotor part. There is also accordingly formed a face or shoulder 60 which is a part of the central section and which forms one wall of the chamber 59 which encircles the adjacent rotor part inwardly slightly from the perimeter 4| thereof.

Encircling each of the

rotor parts

39 and 40 and covering the major portion of the curved surface 43 thereof is a sealing band 3|. This band tightly closes the outer ends of the blade slots 50 and at its inner edge it is provided with a flange 60a which has sealing contact with the shoulder 60. Thus means is provided for preventing the escape of air under pressure by way of the vane Slots 50.

In the operation of the present compressor, rotary power is applied to the shaft 41 and if such rotation is counter-clockwise the rotor part 39 will be seen to turn in a counter-clockwise direction when viewed as in Figure 3. The entire rotor. unit consisting of the two

parts

39 and 40 and the vane units 52 and ball 53 will rotate together.

As the vane units pass the line of contact between the conical walls or surfaces 44 the space between such walls will gradually enlarge as previously described and the vane blades will be gradually withdrawn from the slots 50. Accordingly the constantly increasing space between the conical wall surfaces 44 will be divided into constantly enlarging pockets or receiving areas for air entering the inlet pipe 25. As each vane reaches the point or position where it is diametrically opposite from the line of contact between the conical wall surfaces, the chamber or pocket designated P will be enlarged to maximum capacity also the curved top edges of the vane blades will now'be in contact throughout the extent of such edges with the rounded inner surface of the central portion or section l3 of the housing so that-the air pocket will be completely closed. As such vane continuesto move around in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 3 the width of the pocket will gradually decrease due to the drawing together of the conical wall surfaces 44, thereby compressing the air in the pocket. Compression of the air now continues tothe rotation before the contactline I! is reached,

. where the reduction of volume desired has been attained, the discharge port 29 is provided so that the air may be Squeezed out through this outlet as the conical surfaces come together. 1

In order that added power will not be consumed while the discharge pressure is being brought up,

the valve 35 is provided which permits the pressure to be equalized between the constantly decreasing size of the air pocket and the discharge port. At the line 48 where the conical surfaces of the rotor parts come together the compression cycle is completed and a new cycle starts. Thus by the provision of the series of pockets in the rotating spherical body a constant uniform flow of air under pressure is delivered to the outlet nozzle 3|.

The sealing rings ii are accurately machined and rotate in close proximity to the central section of the housing, as previously stated, in order to prevent air under pressure from escaping from the pockets. A further seal may be provided by allowing oil to be thrown out by centrifugal force around the rotor unit in the chambers 59 where the sealing rings are located, where a small portion of the oil will enter the space or clearance between the rotor and the housing. Sufficient oil will pass through to provide lubrication for the various working parts and at the same time will retard the leakage of air. Y

Because of the fact that all points'are an equal distance from the axis of rotation, the rotor is in perfect balance and any desired rotative speed may be used. vAlso by this means high efficiency will be attained at nearly all speeds and pressures. By providing the hinge in the, center of the vane unit the necessary change of angle between 6 cling chamber between the members and the wall of the spherical member, and a sealing band en- 1 circling each of said members and having a radial edge face contacting a portion of the chamber housing which encircles the rotor members to form a seal between a peripheral portion of the adjacent member and the wall of the housing chamber against which said portion of the chamber contacts.

2. A compressor of the character described, comprising a housing formed to provide a substantially spherical chamber having an inlet and an outlet, said housing comprising a central circular wall portion having convergent sides whereby such portion has a wedge form and two circular end portions eaeh'positioned against one side of the central portion, the inside diameter of said central portion being materially less than theinside diameters of the end portionswhereby each side of the central portionpresents an exposed edge face located within the chamber, a rotor unit in the chamber comprising two circular bodies each having spaced parallel perimeters of different diameters joined by an outwardly curved wall face and a frusto-conical wall upon the side of greater diameter, the outside diameters of the members being approximately equal to the inside diameter of the housing central portion, the said curved wall faces of the rotor bodies conforming to the curvature of the inside surface of the central portion, the i'rusto-conical walls of the vane blades is permitted andthe hinge pin also provides necessary attaching means between the blades and the central ball 53.

I claim: 1. A compressor of the character stated comprising a substantially spherical housing chamber having an inlet and an outlet, a rotor unit in the chamber comprising two circular bodies each having spaced parallel perimeters of different diameters Joined by an outwardly curved wall face to conform to the spherical coverage of the chamber in which it is fitted and a frusto-conical wall upon the side of greatest diameter, each of said frusto-conical walls having an apical socket, said members being supported for rotation on obtusely angled axes with said frusto-oonical walls substantially contacting on a line positioned between the said inlet and outlet, a spherical body interposed between the frusto-conical walls and positioned in said sockets, said members having radial slots therein opening through the frustoconical walls, vane blades positioned in said slots and pivotally coupled with said spherical body forturningon'a'xesextendingradiallyofthe chamber between thefrmto-conical walls, means for applying driving power to one member to effect rotation of the rotor unit. the said spherical ehamberbeingolaninteriordiameterarmmdthe maiorportionsofthetwomembemgreaterthan jthcdiameterortbememb'crstoformanencirthe bodies being in opposed relation, a shaft passing centrally through each end portion of the housing and secured to the center of each body whereby the bodies rotate on obtusely angled axes with said frusto-conic'al walls s ubstantially contacting on a radial line positioned between said inlet and outlet, each of said rotor bodies having a minor portion of its curved wall surface within and contacting the inside surface of said central portion, coacting pairs of radial slots in said bodies and opening through the. said frusto-con ical walls, pairs of vane blades between said frusto-conical walls and slidably engaging in the coacting slots, each pair of blades being hingedly Joined to pivot on a radial axis, and a sealing band encircling and carried upon the curved wall face of each rotor body and having tight sliding contact with the'adiacent one of the said exposed edge faces of the central portion.

OSCAR NEWTON DAVIS.

asrmtrmcss c1ran The following references are of record in'the file of this patent: I

UNITED STATE PA'IIN'I'B H363 m u"...- Jane 2, 1939