Flexible spinning scroll coupling device
AssigneeAir Squared, Inc.
InventorNathan D. Nicholas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A flexible coupling device for a spinning or co-rotating scroll device and associated systems and methods are provided. The coupling device may be configured to couple a first scroll and a second scroll of a co-rotating scroll device. Further, a first scroll shaft of the first scroll and a second scroll shaft of the second scroll are maintained in parallel misalignment by the coupling device. The coupling device may comprise a coupling ring and a plurality of connecting members extending from the coupling ring. Each connecting member includes a flexure arm configured to elastically move or flex between a first flexed position and a second flexed position which contributes to maintaining the parallel misalignment between the first scroll shaft and the second scroll shaft.
Claims20
A flexible coupling device for a co-rotating scroll device, comprising:
- a coupling ring comprising an inner diameter and an outer diameter, the outer diameter defining a periphery of the coupling ring;
- and
- a plurality of connecting members interconnected to the outer diameter of the coupling ring, the plurality of connecting members each having a protruding member extending radially outward from the periphery of the coupling ring in a direction away from a center of the coupling ring,
- wherein each protruding member extends from a connection point at the outer diameter of the coupling ring to a hinge point offset from the outer diameter of the coupling ring,
- wherein each connecting member of the plurality of connecting members comprises a flexure arm interconnected to the protruding member at the hinge point and extending from the hinge point, at a nonzero angle, to a flexure end point, wherein the flexure arm is configured to elastically move between a first flexed position and a second flexed position, wherein, in the first flexed position, the flexure end point is arranged a first distance from the outer diameter of the coupling ring, wherein, in the second flexed position, the flexure end point is arranged a second distance from the outer diameter of the coupling ring, and wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.
A co-rotating scroll device comprising:
- a first scroll having a first plate, a first involute extending from the first plate, and a first scroll shaft connected to the first plate;
- a second scroll having a second plate, a second involute extending from the second plate, and a second scroll shaft connected to the first plate, wherein the first involute and the second involute are nested and wherein the first scroll shaft and the second scroll shaft are parallel and misaligned;
- and
- a coupling device configured to couple the first scroll and the second scroll and comprising a coupling ring and a plurality of connecting members extending from the coupling ring.
A co-rotating scroll device comprising:
- a first scroll having a first plate, a first involute extending from the first plate, and a first scroll shaft connected to the first plate;
- a second scroll having a second plate, a second involute extending from the second plate, and a second scroll shaft connected to the first plate, wherein the first involute and the second involute are nested and wherein the first scroll shaft and the second scroll shaft are parallel and misaligned;
- and
- a coupling device configured to couple the first scroll and the second scroll, the coupling device comprising:
- a coupling ring comprising an inner diameter and an outer diameter, the outer diameter defining a periphery of the coupling ring;
- and
- a plurality of connecting members interconnected to the outer diameter of the coupling ring, the plurality of connecting members each having a protruding member extending radially outward from the periphery of the coupling ring in a direction away from a center of the coupling ring,
- wherein each protruding member extends from a connection point at the outer diameter of the coupling ring to a hinge point offset from the outer diameter of the coupling ring,
- wherein each connecting member of the plurality of connecting members comprises a flexure arm interconnected to the protruding member at the hinge point and extending from the hinge point, at a nonzero angle, to a flexure end point, wherein the flexure arm is configured to elastically move between a first flexed position and a second flexed position, wherein, in the first flexed position, the flexure end point is arranged a first distance from the outer diameter of the coupling ring, wherein, in the second flexed position, the flexure end point is arranged a second distance from the outer diameter of the coupling ring, and wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.