Variable inlet guide vane apparatus and compressor including same
AssigneeCopeland Corporation
InventorsCody N. Kahan, Cyril A. Duffala
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A variable inlet guide vane apparatus for imparting a motion to a fluid flow entering into a compressor. The variable inlet guide vane apparatus includes a housing defining a fluid flow passageway. The housing includes a first and second housing portion, a ring gear, and a plurality of guide vanes. The guide vanes include a stem, a gear, and a vane. The stem is disposed between the first and second housing portions, the vane is arranged within the fluid flow passageway, and the gears are arranged exterior the housing.
Claims18
An inlet guide vane apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- a housing assembly defining a fluid flow passageway, the housing assembly comprising:
- a first housing portion;
- and
- a second housing portion connected to and positioned axially upstream of the first housing portion, wherein the first and second housing portions cooperatively define a plurality of guide vane openings extending radially through the housing assembly and into the fluid flow passageway;
- a ring gear rotatable relative to the housing assembly and restricted from axial translation in a first direction relative to the housing assembly;
- and
- a plurality of guide vanes connected to the housing assembly, each guide vane comprising:
- a stem extending from a first end to a second end, wherein at least a portion of the stem is disposed within one of the guide vane openings;
- a vane gear disposed at the first end of the stem and operably connected to the ring gear, wherein the ring gear and the vane gear are accessible from an exterior of the housing assembly;
- and
- a vane disposed at the second end of the stem and within the fluid flow passageway of the housing assembly, wherein each of the guide vanes is rotatable relative to the housing assembly such that an orientation of the vane within the fluid flow passageway is selectively adjustable, wherein connection of the first housing portion to the second housing portion operably connects the vane gear of each guide vane to the ring gear.
A compressor comprising:
- a compressor housing including an inlet;
- a driveshaft rotatably supported within the compressor housing;
- an impeller connected to the driveshaft and operable to impart kinetic energy to incoming refrigerant gas upon rotation of the driveshaft;
- an inlet guide vane apparatus connected to the compressor inlet, the inlet guide vane apparatus comprising:
- a housing assembly defining a fluid flow passageway, the housing assembly comprising:
- a first housing portion;
- and
- a second housing portion connected to and positioned axially upstream of the first housing portion, wherein the first and second housing portions cooperatively define a plurality of guide vane openings extending radially through the housing assembly and into the fluid flow passageway;
- a ring gear rotatable relative to the housing assembly and restricted from axial translation in a first direction relative to the housing assembly;
- and
- a plurality of guide vanes connected to the housing assembly, each guide vane comprising:
- a vane gear disposed at the first end of the stem and operably connected to the ring gear, wherein the ring gear and the vane gear are accessible from an exterior of the housing assembly;
- and
- a vane disposed at the second end of the stem and within the fluid flow passageway of the housing assembly, wherein each of the guide vanes is rotatable relative to the housing assembly such that an orientation of the vane within the fluid flow passageway is selectively adjustable, wherein connection of the first housing portion to the second housing portion operably connects the vane gear of each guide vane to the ring gear.
A method of assembling an inlet guide vane apparatus including a housing assembly and a plurality of guide vanes, wherein the housing assembly includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion, and wherein each guide vane includes a stem extending from a first end to a second end, a first vane gear disposed at the first end of the stem, and a vane disposed at the second end of the stem, the method comprising:
- rotatably connecting a ring gear to the first housing portion;
- connecting the first housing portion to the second housing portion such that the second housing portion is positioned axially upstream of the first housing portion, and such that the first and second housing portions cooperatively define a plurality of guide vane openings extending radially through the housing assembly;
- and
- positioning the plurality of guide vanes relative to the second housing portion such that, when the first housing portion is connected to the second housing portion, at least a portion of the stem of each guide vane is disposed within one of the guide vane openings, wherein the ring gear and the vane gear are accessible to an operator from an exterior of the housing assembly, wherein connecting the first housing portion to the second housing portion operably connects the first vane gear of each guide vane to the ring gear.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.