Flushing of a touchdown bearing
AssigneeCarrier Corporation
InventorVishnu M. Sishtla
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A compressor with a touchdown bearing and a supply line for injecting a working fluid toward the touchdown bearing, and a vapor compression system incorporating the same are provided. The supply line injects working fluid approximately continuously when the compressor is operational. The compressor includes a magnetic bearing for levitating the rotating shaft when the compressor is operational. The touchdown bearing is used to support the rotating shaft when the compressor is shutdown. The touchdown bearing may be disposed, at least partially, between a pair of races. The injecting of the working fluid may cause the touchdown bearing to rotate between the races. The injecting of the working fluid may help mitigate a buildup of a debris between the touchdown bearing and the races.
Claims19
A compressor comprising:
- an electric motor for driving a rotating shaft;
- a magnetic bearing for levitating the rotating shaft when the compressor is operational, the magnetic bearing disposed adjacent to the electric motor;
- a touchdown bearing configured to rotate and support the rotating shaft when the compressor is shutdown, the touchdown bearing disposed adjacent to the rotating shaft;
- a supply line in fluid communication with the touchdown bearing, the supply line configured for continuously injecting a working fluid toward the touchdown bearing when the compressor is operational;
- and
- a spacer ring disposed adjacent to the touchdown bearing, wherein the spacer ring includes a passage disposed therein, and the working fluid is injected through the passage toward the touchdown bearing.
A vapor compression system comprising:
- a condenser for transferring heat from a working fluid to an external fluid medium;
- and
- a compressor in fluid communication with the condenser, the compressor comprising:
- an electric motor for driving a rotating shaft;
- a magnetic bearing for levitating the rotating shaft when the compressor is operational, the magnetic bearing disposed adjacent to the electric motor;
- a touchdown bearing configured to rotate and support the rotating shaft when the compressor is shutdown, the touchdown bearing disposed adjacent to the rotating shaft;
- a supply line in fluid communication with the touchdown bearing and the condenser, the supply line configured for continuously injecting working fluid from the condenser toward the touchdown bearing when the compressor is operational;
- and
- a spacer ring disposed adjacent to the touchdown bearing, wherein the spacer ring includes a passage disposed therein, and the working fluid is injected through the passage toward the touchdown bearing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.