Liquid cooling of fixed and orbiting scroll compressor, expander or vacuum pump
AssigneeAir Squared, Inc.
InventorsBryce R. Shaffer, Nathan D. Nicholas, Justin D. Mattice, John P. D. Wilson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A scroll device has a fixed scroll, and orbiting scroll, and at least one cooling chamber configured to receive coolant to cool the fixed scroll or the orbiting scroll. A flexible conduit that curves around an orbital axis of the orbiting scroll may transfer coolant into or out of the at least one cooling chamber. The scroll device may have a motor with a motor jacket configured to receive coolant for cooling the motor. One or more involutes of the scroll device may comprise a wall coated or plated with a solid abrasion-resistant lubricant.
Claims18
A scroll device comprising:
- a fixed scroll comprising a first involute and a first cooling chamber;
- an orbiting scroll comprising a second involute and a second cooling chamber, the orbiting scroll mounted to the fixed scroll via a mechanical coupling, the orbiting scroll configured to orbit relative to the fixed scroll around an orbital axis;
- a first flexible conduit in fluid communication with the first cooling chamber and the second cooling chamber, the first flexible conduit extending radially around the orbital axis from a first side of the scroll device to a second side of the scroll device;
- and
- a second flexible conduit extending from the first side to the second side of the scroll device, the second flexible conduit in fluid communication with a coolant inlet and the second cooling chamber,
- wherein the first cooling chamber comprises a first inlet and a first outlet, and the second cooling chamber comprises a second inlet and a second outlet, and further wherein the second flexible conduit channels coolant from the coolant inlet to the second inlet, and the first flexible conduit channels coolant from the second outlet to the first inlet.
A scroll device comprising:
- an orbiting scroll mounted to a fixed scroll via at least one mechanical coupling, the orbiting scroll configured to orbit relative to the fixed scroll around an orbital axis, the fixed scroll comprising:
- a first involute extending toward the orbiting scroll;
- a first cooling chamber;
- a second cooling chamber;
- a first plurality of cooling fins extending away from the fixed scroll into the first cooling chamber;
- a first flexible conduit in fluid communication with the first cooling chamber, the first flexible conduit having a first end connected to the fixed scroll, a second end connected to the orbiting scroll, and a length that radially bends around the orbital axis;
- and
- a second flexible conduit in fluid communication with a coolant inlet and the second cooling chamber, the second flexible conduit having a length that radially bends around the orbital axis,
- wherein the first cooling chamber comprises a first inlet and a first outlet, and the second cooling chamber comprises a second inlet and a second outlet, and further wherein the second flexible conduit channels coolant from the coolant inlet to the second inlet, and the first flexible conduit channels coolant from the second outlet to the first inlet.
A liquid-cooled scroll device comprising:
- a fixed scroll comprising a first coolant passageway;
- an orbiting scroll comprising a second coolant passageway;
- a motor operably connected to the orbiting scroll, the motor causing the orbiting scroll to orbit relative to the fixed scroll around an orbital axis;
- a first flexible conduit that radially curves around the orbital axis, the first flexible conduit in fluid communication with the first coolant passageway and the second coolant passageway;
- and
- a second flexible conduit in fluid communication with a coolant inlet and the second coolant passageway, the second flexible conduit that radially curves around the orbital axis,
- wherein the first coolant passageway comprises a first inlet and a first outlet, and the second coolant passageway comprises a second inlet and a second outlet, and further wherein the second flexible conduit channels coolant from the coolant inlet to the second inlet, and the first flexible conduit channels coolant from the second outlet to the first inlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.