Adjustable scroll pump
AssigneeEdwards Limited
InventorsAlan Ernest Kinnaird Holbrook, Nigel Paul Schofield, David Bedwell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The Invention provides a scroll pump comprising an orbiting scroll and a fixed scroll, wherein the orbital axis of the orbiting scroll is movable in a radial direction relative to the fixed scroll while the orbiting scroll is orbiting about its orbital axis, or wherein the fixed scroll is movable relative to the orbiting scroll in a radial direction while the orbiting scroll is orbiting about its orbital axis.
Claims13
A scroll pump comprising an orbiting scroll and a fixed scroll,
- wherein an orbital axis of the orbiting scroll is movable in a radial direction relative to the fixed scroll while the orbiting scroll is orbiting about the orbital axis, and
- wherein the scroll pump further comprises a first bearing coupled to a drive shaft for driving the orbiting scroll, wherein the first bearing is movable with the drive shaft in a direction perpendicular to a rotational axis of the drive shaft and the first bearing is coupled to a housing element of the scroll pump, the housing element being movable relative to the fixed scroll while the drive shaft is rotating.
A method for centring an orbiting scroll and a fixed scroll of a scroll pump, the orbiting scroll and the fixed scroll maintaining a radial separation during pumping, the orbiting scroll being coupled to a drive shaft via an eccentric member, and the drive shaft having an axis of rotation, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. rotating the eccentric member about the axis of rotation of the drive shaft to impart an orbiting action upon the orbiting scroll;
- b. while the orbiting scroll is orbiting moving the orbital axis of the orbiting scroll relative to the longitudinal axis of the fixed scroll in a first direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the drive shaft until the orbiting scroll engages the fixed scroll, upon said engagement the orbital axis of the orbiting scroll being in a first engagement position,
- c. moving the orbital axis of the orbiting scroll relative to the longitudinal axis of the fixed scroll in a second direction opposite the first direction until the orbiting scroll again engages the fixed scroll, upon said engagement the orbital axis of the orbiting scroll being in a second engagement position, and
- d. positioning the orbital axis of the orbiting in a first centred position halfway between the first engagement position and the second engagement position and in a first plane containing the first engagement position, second engagement position and the first centred position of the orbital axis of the orbiting scroll.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.