US3201034A

US3201034A - Fluid-flow device, particularly rotary compressor and the like and slider construction

Info

Publication number: US3201034A
Application number: US269008A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ryffel Hans
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-03-29
Filing date: 1963-03-29
Publication date: 1965-08-17
Anticipated expiration: 1982-08-17

Description

Aug. 17, 1965 H. RYFFEL 3,201,034 FLUID-FLOW DEVICE, PARTICULARLY ROTARY COMPRESSOR AND THE LIKE AND SLIDER CONSTRUCTION Filed March 29, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR HANS R FFEL Aug. 17, 1965 H. RYFFEL 3,201,034 FLUID-FLOW DEVICE, PARTICULARLY ROTARY COMPRESSOR AND THE LIKE AND SLIDER CONSTRUCTION Filed March 29, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR HANS R HEL His Mf q,

United States Patent Ofifice PnZlfiB l- Patented Aug. 17, 1965 3,201,634 FLUID-519W DEVEQE, PAR'HGULARLY RGTARY COR/WRESSGR AND THE lLlKE AND SHEER CUNSTRUCTIGN Hans Ryifel, Zurich, Switzerland, assignor to Dr. G. Diitwyler, Zurich, Switzerland r Filed Mar. 29, 1963, Ser. No. 269,003 8 Claims. (Cl. 230-153) The present invention relates torimprovements in rotary fluid-flow devices, such as a rotary pump, fluid motor or compressor. For purposes of simplification in the description, the invention will be described as applied to a compressor, but it should be understood and appreciated that it applies equally well to a fluid motor or pump without departing from the underlying principles of the invention.

With heretofore known rotary compressors of the type provided with an eccentrically arranged rotor and employing a plurality of sliders which were moved against the inner wall of the rotor housing or stator, either by centrifugal force or under spring action, the disadvantages appeared that at high rotational speeds the centrifugal force was increased to such an extent that rapid wear of the slider at its end or ends occurred at the inner wall of the stator. Such, of course, tended to increase the gap losses between the slider and inner walls of the stator, with attendant impairment of the efiiciency and operability of the compressor. Furthermore, a tilting of the sliders in their relatively short guide slots frequently occurred, or the sliders became caught even in the presence of relatively small resistance, such as hardened oil or dirt.

Thus, an important object of the present invention is to provide an improved rotary compressor or the like provided with an improved construction of slider means, whereby the afore-mentioned disadvantages are eliectively overcome or at least considerably minimized.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a fluidflow device which is extremely efiicient and reliable in operation, as well as relatively easy and economical to manufacture.

Another important object of this invention is to provide an improved rotary pistoncompressor or the like of the type comprising a rotor and a stator, and at least one sliding vane assembly of improved construction capable of reducing or maintaining gap losses between the rotor and stator to a minimum. A further important object of the present invention is to provide an improved construction of a slider element for a rotary fluid-flow device which is not readily subject to extreme conditions of Wear, nor misalignment when assembled at the rotor.

In accordance with a preferred form of the invention there is provided a rotary fluid-flow device comprising a housing having inner walls defining a fluid chamber, inlet and outlet ports communicating with said fluid chamber, a rotor member eccentrically disposed for rotation in said fluid chamber, said rotor member having contact with the Walls of said fluid chamber between said inlet and outlet ports and being provided with a diametral slot. An improved construction multiple slider is carried in said diametral slot for sliding movement relative to said rotor member and contacts said walls of said fiuid chamber at opposed ends of said multiple slider.

The multiple slider comprises at least two intersecting, symmetrical slider blades which are disposed in said diametraltslot, each slider blade comprising a pair of blade wings disposed in separate planes interconnected by an intermediate connecting member provided with a recess, with one such slider blade turned through substantially 180 degrees in its own plane relative to the next adjacent symmetrical slider blade, with the respective recess of said slider blades interengaging to form said multiple slider. In the as-assembled condition of the multiple slider a blade wing of one slider blade overlies a blade Wing of the other slide blade and with a respective blade Wing of each slider blade lying in a substantially common plane. Each of the slider blades possesses the same effective length substantially corresponding to the length of a chord of the housing chamber passing through the geometric center of the rotor member and through the shortest axis of the fluid chamber.

Still further objects and the entire scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter; it should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific example, while indicating a preferred embodiment of the invention, is given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 diagrammatically illustrates: a section through the compressor housing and rotor, taken trans versely to the axis of the rotor;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view through the corn pressor housing and rotor of the device shown in FIGURE 1, taken along lines IL-II thereof, with the slider removed from the rotor.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective representation of one slider member of a double slider or vane employed in the compressor structure of FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal view, partly in cross-section, through the double slider or vane of improved. construction according to the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a three-part slider assembly with the individual blades shown prior to assembly;

FIGURE 6 depicts the three-part slider assembly of FIGURE 5 in assembled condition;

FIGURE 7 shows a star formation slider employing two blades; and

FIGURE 8 shows a star formation slider employing three blades.

Referring now to the drawing, the new and improved rotary vane type compressor according to the invention, in its preferred form, comprises a housing 1 provided with a fluid chamber 2 having inner walls of elliptic or quite nearly elliptic configuration for example, as generally represented by reference numeral 12. The housing 1 is further provided with

ports

3 and 4 communicating with the fluid chamber 2. Within the fluid chamber 2 there is disposed for rotational movement a rotor member 5 driven through the intermediary of a shaft '7 by an electric motor 3 or other suitable drive known to the art. Depending upon the direction of rotation of the rotor 5 one of the

ports

3 or 4 forms the inlet port and the other then forms the outlet port. If it is assumed that the rotor 5 rotates in clockwise direction, that is, in the direction of the arrow of FIGURE 1, then reference numeral 4 denotes the inlet port and reference numeral 3 the outer port. By referring to FIGURE 1 it should be appreciated that, in the desired form shown, the rotor 5 is eccentrically arranged with respect to the geometric center of the elliptical chamber 2 and has its axis of rotation disposed at a desired location along the minor axis of the ellipse, the length of which axis is generally designated by reference character b. Additionally, the rotor 5 is arranged for wiping action tangent to the inner wall of chamber 2 at the top end of said chamber between the

ports

3 and 4. As can best be seen from FIGURE 2, the rotor Sis provided with an elongated, diametral slot 6 in which a shuttle or slider 14 is mounted for sliding movement in its longitudinal direction. During rotation of the rotor through the agency of'the drive motor 8, the slider 14; rotates along with said rotor and is free to slide relative thereto, whereby the respective slider ends maintain a wiping action with the inner or internal walls 12 of the fluid chamber 2 with the point of contact between the respective slider end or face and the wall of fluid chamber 2 continually changing as the slider 14- rotates.

By now referring to FIGURES 3 and 4 the details of the shuttle or slider 14 of improved construction can be easily ascertained. In the desired form illustrated, the slider 14 is constructed as a multiple slider, that is, in the depicted embodiment is formed as a double slider for example, comprising a pair of symmetrical, intertitting or interengaging slider blades or vanes 1b, 11 having a plurality of contact surfaces or edges at the respective ends of the slider l l. An inspection of FIGURE 4 will clearly indicate that at each respective end of the double slider 14, a pair of contact surfaces or edges we, Elle and lltif, 11 respectively, lie one behind the other in the peripheral direction of the fluid chamber 2. a

In FIGURE 4 the slider blade 1% has been shown in section and the other slider blade 11 in elevation. In FIGURE 3 there is shown a perspective view of the slider blade or vane it), but it will be remembered that since all the slider blades possess an identical shape, the description of slider blade ltl sui'lices to describe the other blades of the multiple slider. Thus, the slider blade It) comprises an integral body member ltlk including blade wings or ribs 180. and ltlb interconnected by a web or intermediate piece 100. It will be recognized that the intermediate piece 190, is somewhat inclined to the horizontal and that the blade Wings lltla and Nb are elevationally spaced in step-lil e or echelon formation from one another. As such, the axis of each blade wing Illa, 1% lie in separate, horizontal planes, substantially parallel to-one another. The opposed ends We and 1d of the slider blade are rounded-oft in arcuate form for example.

From FIGURE 4 it will further be seen that the distance l between the opposed contact edges ids and 1th of slider blade ill corresponds or substantially corresponds to the minor axis b of the elliptical or quite nearly elliptical fluid chamber 2. Additionally, the slider blade 1t) is provided with a slotted recess 19d in the region of the interconnecting piece 1490, which advantageously extends through half of the width of the slider blade 10. The width s of this slot or recess ltld is greater than the thickness 1 of the slider blade 10.

The multiple slider 14 constituted by the identical

shape slider blades

10, 11 is shown in the as-assembled condition in FIGURE 4. It should be recognized that in order to assemble the slider 14 from the slider blades 10, 11 'to form a multiple slider, one of the slider blades, such as blade 11 is rotated through 180 in its own plane with respect to the other slider blade 10. The respective slots ltld of the

slider blades

10, 11 are then in confronting relation, whereby such blades are pushed into one another. The slider blade 11 thus lies with its intermediate piece in the recess or slot 10:! of slider blade 19, and is movable relative to slider blade It? by an amount s This relative mobility between the intersecting and overlying slider blades ltl and 11 is necessary because the length l of these two slider blades approximately corre 'sponds to the length b of the minor axis of the elliptical or quite nearly elliptical chamber 2. Moreover, the arcuate contact surfaces or edges Ne, 11@ and 1d 11 lie apart from one another to form a space or void 14a therebetween, a distance corresponding to the amount 1 in the peripheral direction of the chamber 2. Thus, an adaptation to the two slider blades 16), 11 by the difference of rise must be rendered possible at the points of the wall 7 surface 12 corresponding to the contact points or edges common plane.

d 10a, 11a and lltlf, 11 The respective edges lite, 11c and lily, 11f of the

slider blades

10 and 11, respectively, which rotate one behind the other, together with the respective intermediate spaces or depressions 14a existing between adjacent cooperating blade edges form a labyrinth, so that a labyrinth eliect is produced. Consequently, gap losses are greatly reduced. It will be recognized that in the as-assembled condition of the multiple slider, depicted in FIGURE 4, blade wing 10a overlies blade wing 11a, and blade wing 11b overlies blade wing 1%, with a respective blade wing Ida, 11b and 11a, 101) of each

slider blade

10, 11 disposed in a substantially Instead of forming the multiple slider or shuttle 14 from two slider blades 19, 11, it would also be possible to provide a three-part blade or slider assembly as shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. In such case, only the

outer slider blades

20 and 21 would be provided with an inclined,

' intermediate connecting

piece

22 and 23, respectively,

whereas the middle slider blade 24 while still retaining a slotted portion 25 would be disposed in one common lane. Theends of the slider blades advantageously may possess an arched or approximately elliptical contour.

In lieu of only one shuttle or slider 14 as illustrated, the described rotary piston compressor could also be provided with a plurality of sliders arranged in star form in relation to one another, as shown for example in the embodiments of FIGURES 7 and 8. More specifically, in FIGURE 7 there are shown two

U-shaped slider blades

30 and 31 arranged in star formation, whereas in the embodiment of FIGURE 8 an additional I-shaped slider blade 32 is employed. The rotary piston compressor or analogous fluid-flow device, in accordance with the present invention possesses the advantage that it is of simple style and construction, and that it is also exceptionally suitable for small constructional sizes of fluid-flow equipment.

The mode of operation of the described rotary compressor is as follows: J

The zone of contact of the eccentrically disposed rotor 5 against the inner wall of the chamber 2 between the inlet port .4 and outlet port 3 (assuming clockwise rotation of the rotor) and the arched or arcuate ends llle, 11a and 16 11 of the slider 14, divides the space be tween the inner wall of the chamber and the rotor sur face generally .into three compartments or chambers. When, as in FIGURE 1, one face or end ltle, 11a of the slider 14 lies in the mentioned zone of contact of the rotor 5 with the inner wall 12 of fluid chamber 2, one such compartment disappears, that is to say, its volume becomes zero. Now, since the shape and construction of the elliptical or quite nearly elliptical fluid chamber 2 is determined by the slider length l and the eccentric positioning of the axis of rotation of rotor 5 with respect to the center of the housing, these compartments are sufliciently sealed with respect to one another in all positions of the slider 14, all of the slider blades of which have the same effective length 1, corresponding to the length of the chord of the housing chamber 2 passing through the geometric center of the rotor 5 and through the shortest axis of such housing chamber.

Now, it it is assumed that the rotor 5 is rotatably driven in clockwise direction, the port 4 is the inlet port and the port 3 the outlet port. As soon as the upper end ltle, Me of slider 14,. as shown in FIGURE 1, has passed the inlet port 4, a compartment or chamber is formed between this upper end portion of the slider and the zone of contact between rotor 5 and the inner wall 12 of chamber 2, the volumeof which chamber increases as rotation of the rotor 5 progresses. Consequently, the working medium is sucked into this last-mentioned chamber through the inlet port 4. This suction action is continued until the faces or ends 10 11 of slider 14 slide over theinlet port 4 and the thus filled chamber or compartment isclosed oil by the ends 10c, 11c and Ni, 11 of the slider 14. The medium is now conveyed around the housing cham- 8 her Zuntil the ends ltle, -11e of slider 14 slide over the outlet port 3 and further over the above-mentioned zone of contact. Here, now, the fluid-containing chamber is again defined by the slider faces or ends f, 11 and this zone of contact, and is in communication with the outlet port 3. It will be appreciated that, the volume of this chamber reduces during the courseof progressing rotation of the rotor 5. The working medium is thus expelled through the outlet port 3, until the relevant slider end slides over the opening of the outlet port 3, in which position such chamber is emptied. This action is repeated constantly during rotor rotation, working medium always being sucked into one chamber, conveyed in a second chamber and ejected from a third chamber.

While there is shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of thefollowing claims.

Having thus described the present invention what is desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent, is:

1. In a rotary fluid-flow device comprising a housing having inner walls defining a fluid chamber, inlet and outlet ports communicating with said fluid chamber, a rotor member eccentrically disposed for rotation in said fluid chamber, said rotor member having contact with the walls of said fluid chamber between said inlet and outlet ports and being provided with a diametral slot, a multiple slider carried in said diametral slot for sliding movement relative to said rotor member and contacting said walls of said fluid chamber at opposed ends of said multiple slider, said multiple slider comprising a plurality of intersecting slider blades disposed in saiddiametral slot, each slider blade comprising a pair of blade wings disposed in separate planes interconnected by an intermediate connecting member provided with a recess, said intersecting slider blades being symmetrical, with each slider blade turned through 180 degrees in its own plane relative to the adjacent slider blade with the respective recess of said slider blades interfittingly engaging with one another, each of said intersecting slider blades having opposed faces which are simultaneously in contact with the inner walls of said fluid chamber during rotation of said rotor member, said opposed faces of each of said slider blades providing respective contact faces, with the Zone of contact between each respective contact face of said multiple slider and the inner wall of said fluid chamber changing during rotation of the rotor member, said contact zone Wandering along the outer surface of the associated contact face.

2. In arotary fluid-flow device comprising a housing having inner walls defining a fluid chamber, inlet and outlet ports communicating with said fluid chamber, a rotor member eccentrically disposed for rotation in. said fluid chamber, said rotor member having contact with the walls of said fluid chamber between said inlet and outlet ports and being provided with a diametral slot, a multiple slider carried in said diametral slot for sliding movementrelative to said rotor member and contacting said walls of said fluid chamber at opposed ends of said multiple slider, said multiple slider comprising two intersecting slider blades disposed in said diametral slot, each slider blade comprising a pair of blade wings disposed in separate planes interconnected by an inclined intermediate connecting member provided with a recess, said intersecting slider blades being symmetrical, with one such slider blade turned through 180 degrees in its own plane relative to the other slider blade with the respective reces of said slider blades interengaging to form said multiple slider, and with a blade wing of one slider blade overlying a blade wing of the other slider blade and with a respective blade wing of each slider blade lying in a substantially common plane, each of said intersecting slider blades having opposed faces which are simultaneously in contact with the inner walls of said fluid chamber during rotation of said rotor member, said opposed faces of each of said slider blades providing respective contact faces, with the zone of contact between each respective contact face of said multiple sliderand the inner wall of said fluid chamber changing during rotation of the rotor member, said contact zone wandering along the outer surface of the associated contact face.

3. In a rotary fluid-flow device according to claim 2; wherein the width of the recess of each slider blade is greater than the thickness of said slider blade.-

4. In a rotary fluid-flow device according to claim 2; wherein the ends of each slider blade are rounded-off.

5. Rotary piston compressor and the like comprising a housing provided with a fluid chamber, a rotor member eccentrically disposed for rotation in said fluid chamber, said rotor member being provided with a slot, a multiple slider located in said slot for sliding movement relative to said rotor member, said multiple slider comprising a plurality of slider blades disposed adjacent one another in overlying relationship, each of said slider blades possessing the same effective length substantially corresponding to the length of a chord of said chamber passing through the geometric center of said rotor member and through the shortest axis of said fluid chamber, each slider blade com prising a pair of blade wings disposed in separate, substantially parallel planes interconnected by an intermediate connecting member provided with a recess, said slider blades being symmetrical with each lider blade turned through degrees in its own plane relative to the next adjacent symmetrical slider blade, with the respective recess of said symmetrical slider blades interengaging to form said multiple slider, each of said intersection slider blades having opposed faces which are simultaneously in contact with the inner walls of said fluid chamber during rotation of said rotor member, said opposed faces of each of said slider blades providing respective contact faces, with the zone of contact between each respective contact faces of said multiple slider and the inner wall of said fluid chamber changing during rotation of the rotor member, and said contact zone wandering along the outer surface of the associated contact face. i

6. Rotary piston compressor and the like comprisinga housing provided with a fluid chamber, a rotor member eccentrically disposed forrotation in said fluid chamber, said rotor member being provided with a slot, a multiple slider located in said slot for sliding movement relative to said rotor member, said multiple slider comprising a plurality of slider blades disposed adjacent one another in overlying relationship, each of said slider blades possessing the same effective length ubstantially corresponding to the length of a chord of said chamber passing through the geometric center of said rotor member and through the shortest axis of said fluid chamber, each slider blade comprising a pair of blade wings disposed in separate substantially parallel planes interconnected by an intermediate connecting member provided with a recess,

said slider blades being symmetrical with each slider blade turned through 180 degrees in its own plane relative to the next adjacent symmetrical slider blade, with the respective recess of said symmetrical slider blades interengaging to form said multiple slider, and with a blade wing of one slider blade overlying a blade wing of the other slider blade and with a respective blade wing of each slider blade lying in a substantially common plane, each of said intersecting slider blades having opposed faces which are simultaneously in contact with the inner walls of said fluid chamber during rotation of said rotor member, said opposed faces of each of said slider blades providing respective'contact faces, with the zone of contact-beewcen each respective contact face of said multiple slider and the inner wall of said fluid chamber changing during rotation of the rotor member, said contact zone Wandering along the outer surface of the associated contact face.

' 7. A multiple-slider for a rotary fluid-flow device comprising at least two symmetrical slider blades, each lider blade comprising a pair of blade wings disposed in separate, substantially parallel planes interconnected by an intermediate connecting member provided with a recess, each slider blade being turned through 180 degrees in its own plane relative to the next adjacent symmetrical slider blade with the respective recess of said intermediate connecting members of said symmetrical slider blades being pushed into one another in interengaging fashion to form the as-assembled multiple slider, with said slider blades intersecting one another, and with a blade wing of one slider blade overlying a blade wing of the other slider blade and with a respective blade wing of each slider blade lying in a substantial common plane.

8. A multiple-slider for a rotary fluid-flow device comprising at least two symmetrical slider blades, each slider blade comprising a pair of blade wings disposed in separate, substantially parallel planes interconnected by an inclined intermediate connecting member provided with a recess, each slider blade being turned through 180 degrees in its own plane relative to the next adjacent symmetrical slider blade with the'respective recess of said intermediate connecting members of said symmetrical slider blades & being pushed into one another in interengaging manner to form the as-assembled multiple slider, with said slider blades intersecting one another and with a blade wing of one slider blade overlying a blade wing ofthe other slider '5 blade and With a respective blade Wing of each slider blade lying in a substantially common plane,said overlying blade wings of said slider blades being provided with rounded ends.

References Gated by the Examiner V UNITED STATES PATENTS 129,299 7/72 ShotWell 103l37 238,834- 3/31- Benson Q 103l.37 1,865,666 7/32 Aruga l03l37 X 15 2,106,959 2/38 Phillips 230-153 2,459,071 1/49 Garrison 230- 153 FOREIGN PATENTS 496,648 8/19 France. 14,984 i 1908 Great Britain. 228,264 2 /25 Great Britain.

DONLEY I. STOCKING, Primary Examiner.

J'OSEBH H. BRANSON, 311., Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A ROTARY FLUID-FLOW DEVICE COMPRISING A HOUSING HAVING INNER WALLS DEFINING A FLUID CHAMBER, INLET AND OUTLET PORTS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID FLUID CHAMBER, A ROTOR MEMBER ECCENTRICALLY DISPOSED FOR ROTATION IN SAID FLUID CHAMBER, SAID ROTOR MEMBER HAVING CONTACT WITH THE WALLS OF SAID FLUID CHAMBER BETWEEN SAID INLET AND OUTLET PORTS AND BEING PROVIDED WITH A DIAMETRAL SLOT, A MULTIPLE SLIDER CARRIED IN SAID DIAMETRAL SLOT FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID ROTOR MEMBER AND CONTACTING SAID WALLS OF SAID FLUID CHAMBER AT OPPOSED ENDS OF SAID MULTIPLE SLIDER, SAID MULTIPLE SLIDER COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF INTERSECTING SLIDER BLADES DISPOSED IN SAID DIAMETRAL SLOT, EACH SLIDER BLADE COMPRISING A PAIR OF BLADE WINGS DISPOSED IN SEPARATE PLANES INTERCONNECTED BY AN INTERMEDIATE CONNECTING MEMBER PROVIDED WITH A RECESS, SAID INTERSECTING SLIDER BLADES BEING SYMMETRICAL, WITH EACH SLIDER BLADE TURNED THROUGH 180 DEGREES IN ITS OWN PLANE RELATIVE TO THE ADJACENT SLIDER BLADE WITH THE RESPECTIVE RECESS OF SAID SLIDER BLADES INTERFITTINGLY ENGAGING WITH ONE ANOTHER, EACH OF SAID INTERSECTING SLIDER BLADES HAVING OPPOSED FACES WHICH ARE SIMULTANEOUSLY IN CONTACT WITH THE INNER WALLS OF SAID FLUID CHAMBER DURING ROTATION OF SAID ROTOR MEMBER, SAID OPPOSED FACES OF EACH OF SAID SLIDER BLADES PROVIDING RESPECTIVE CONTACT FACES, WITH THE ZONE OF CONTACT BETWEEN EACH RESPECTIVE CONTACT FACE OF SAID MULTIPLE SLIDER AND THE INNER WALL OF SAID FLUID CHAMBER CHANGING DURING ROTATION OF THE ROTOR MEMBER, SAID CONTACT ZONE WANDERING ALONG THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE ASSICIATED CONTACT FACE.