Motor and bearing cooling paths
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorsBrent J. Merritt, Craig M. Beers, John M. Beck
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A compressor includes a rotor driven by a shaft and configured to compress air, and a motor for driving the shaft. At least one bearing is utilized for facilitating rotation of the shaft. A motor cooling loop is configured to provide motor cooling air to the motor. A bearing cooling loop is configured to provide bearing cooling air to the at least one bearing. A bearing support is configured to support the least one bearing. The rotor includes an opening which is configured to communicate bearing cooling air into a cavity between the rotor and the bearing support. A method for cooling a compressor is also disclosed.
Claims16
A compressor comprising:
- a rotor driven by a shaft and configured to compress air;
- a motor for driving the shaft;
- at least one bearing for facilitating rotation of the shaft;
- a motor cooling loop configured to provide motor cooling air to the motor;
- a bearing cooling loop configured to provide bearing cooling air to the at least one bearing,
- a bearing support configured to support the least one bearing, wherein the rotor includes a first opening configured to communicate bearing cooling air into a cavity between the rotor and the bearing support, and;
- a duct configured to communicate air from a second opening in the bearing support to an inlet of the compressor.
A method for cooling a compressor, comprising:
- providing a first cooling air stream to at least one bearing, the at least one bearing facilitating rotation of a shaft in a compressor, wherein the at least one bearing is supported by a bearing support;
- providing a second cooling air stream to a motor, the motor configured to rotate the shaft;
- communicating the first cooling air stream through a first opening in a rotor driven by the shaft into a cavity between the rotor and the bearing support;
- and
- communicating air from a second opening in the bearing support to an inlet of the compressor via a duct.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.