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US 4,192,152 AGranted
Scroll-type fluid displacement apparatus with peripheral drive
AssigneeArthur D. Little, Inc.
InventorsAllen E. Armstrong, John E. McCullough
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Peripherally-driven scroll apparatus. The orbiting scroll member is attached through radially-compliant linking means to eccentrics mounted on three equally spaced crankshafts to accommodate differential thermal expansion without the generation of any appreciable elastic forces to increase bearing loads. Means are provided to prevent axial deflections in the stationary scroll members while permitting their supports to be designed and constructed for strength rather than stiffness. The apparatus may be staged and employed as a compressor or expander.
Claims34
A positive fluid displacement apparatus, comprising in combination
- (a) an orbiting scroll member comprising a plate having mirror-imaged involute wraps affixed to opposite surfaces of said plate and three, equally-spaced peripheral extensions;
- (b) first and second oppositely disposed stationary scroll members, each comprising an end plate having an involute wrap affixed thereto engageable with an involute wrap of said orbiting scroll member, whereby when said orbiting scroll member is orbited with respect to said stationary scroll members the flanks of said engaging wraps along with said plate of said orbiting scroll member and the internal facing surfaces of said end plates of said stationary scroll members define mirror-imaged moving pockets of variable volume and zones of high and low fluid pressures;
- (c) first and second oppositely disposed stationary scroll support members affixed to said first and second stationary scroll members, respectively, only around their peripheries, each of said support members having three, equally-spaced peripheral projections axially aligned with the peripheral projections of the opposed scroll support member;
- (d) three equally spaced crankshafts, each having affixed thereto a satellite gear and each being supported in said axially aligned projections of said opposed scroll support members and rotatable with respect to said stationary scroll members;
- (e) an orbiting scroll eccentric affixed to each of said crankshafts and interposed between said peripheral projections;
- (f) radially compliant linking means mechanically connecting said orbiting scroll member through said peripheral extension to said eccentrics whereby there is provided a three-link connection around said orbiting scroll member;
- (g) fluid passage means in fluid communication with said zones of high and low fluid pressures;
- (h) a central gear engageable with said satellite gears and mounted on a rotatable shaft;
- and
- (i) energy converting means connected to said rotatable shaft arranged to either drive said shaft or absorb energy from its rotation.
7 more elements
A multistage positive fluid displacement apparatus, comprising in combination
- (a) at least two scroll means, each of which serves as a stage and comprises in combination
- (1) an orbiting scroll member comprising a plate having mirror-imaged involute wraps affixed to opposite surfaces of said plate and three, equally-spaced peripheral extensions;
- (2) first and second oppositely disposed stationary scroll members, each comprising an end plate having an involute wrap affixed thereto engageable with an involute wrap of said orbiting scroll member, whereby when said orbiting scroll member is orbited with respect to said stationary scroll members the flanks of said engaging wraps along with said plate of said orbiting scroll member and the internal facing surfaces of said end plates of said stationary scroll members define mirror-imaged moving pockets of variable volume and zones of high and low fluid pressures;
- (3) first and second oppositely disposed stationary scroll support members affixed to said first and second stationary scroll members, respectively, only around their peripheries, each of said support members having three, equally-spaced peripheral projections axially aligned with the peripheral projections of the opposed scroll support member;
- (b) three equally spaced crankshafts, each having affixed thereto a satellite gear and each being supported in said axially aligned projections of said opposed scroll support members and rotatable with respect to said stationary scroll members of said scroll means;
- (c) orbiting scroll eccentrics, one for each of said orbiting scroll members, affixed to each of said crankshafts;
- (d) radially compliant linking means mechanically connecting said orbiting scroll members through said peripheral extensions to said eccentrics whereby there is provided a three-link connection around each of said orbiting scroll members;
- (e) a central gear engageable with said satellite gears and mounted on a rotatable shaft;
- (f) housing means defining therein a volume in which said scroll means, said crankshafts and said gears are located;
- (g) fluid passage means in fluid communication with said zones of high and low fluid pressures of said scroll means;
- and
- (h) energy converting means connected to said rotatable shaft arranged to either drive said shaft or absorb energy from its rotation.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.