Motor-driven centrifugal air compressor with internal cooling airflow

A motor-driven compressor, comprising:

• an electric motor and a rotating shaft driven thereby;
• a centrifugal compressor wheel driven by said rotating shaft;
• a housing having a first portion enclosing the electric motor and carrying a bearing system for the motor-driven rotating shaft, and a second portion forming a pressurized enclosure for the centrifugal compressor wheel;
• and
• an air flow pathway comprising a pipe from the periphery of the pressurized enclosure to the motor-enclosing housing portion for providing a flow of cooling air from the pressurized enclosure to the motor-enclosing housing portion.

A motor-driven compressor, comprising

• an electric motor and a rotating shaft driven thereby;
• a centrifugal compressor wheel driven by said rotating shaft;
• a housing having a first portion enclosing the electric motor and carrying a bearing system for the motor-driven rotating shaft, and a second portion forming compressor wheel air inlet and a pressurized enclosure for the centrifugal compressor wheel;
• means for providing a flow of cooling air from the pressurized compressor housing portion to the motor-enclosing housing portion;
• and
• a conduit means for connecting the interior of the motor-enclosing housing portion with the compressor wheel air inlet.

A motor-driven compressor, comprising:

• an electric motor and a rotating shaft driven thereby;
• a centrifugal compressor wheel driven by said rotating shaft;
• a housing having a first portion enclosing the electric motor and carrying a bearing system for the motor-driven rotating shaft, and a second portion forming compressor wheel air inlet and a pressurized enclosure for the centrifugal compressor wheel;
• and
• means for providing a flow of cooling air from the pressurized compressor housing portion to the motor-enclosing housing portion, wherein the motor-enclosing housing portion substantially encloses the electric motor and includes an exhaust outlet for the flow of cooling air and a non return valve for said inlet.

A motor-driven air compressor, comprising a centrifugal air compressor wheel, an electric motor for driving the centrifugal air compressor wheel, and a rotatable shaft carrying the centrifugal air compressor wheel and an electric motor rotor;

• a motor housing forming a motor enclosure for the electric motor, said motor housing having a cylindrical portion carrying stator windings for said electric motor and a planar wall portion extending radially from the cylindrical portion between the centrifugal compressor wheel and the electric motor, said motor housing carrying a pair of shaft bearings and the rotatable shaft and electric motor rotor;
• a compressor housing forming an enclosure for the compressor wheel, a central air inlet to the compressor wheel and a peripheral compressed air collector;
• and
• means for providing a flow of cooling air from the compressor enclosure through the cylindrical portion of the motor enclosure carrying the stator windings, wherein the flow of cooling air is supplied through an external conduit leading from the peripheral compressed air collector into the motor housing.

A motor-driven air compressor, comprising a centrifugal air compressor wheel, an electric motor for driving the centrifugal air compressor wheel, and a rotatable shaft carrying the centrifugal air compressor wheel and an electric motor rotor;

• a motor housing forming a motor enclosure for the electric motor, said motor housing having a cylindrical portion carrying stator windings for said electric motor and a planar wall portion extending radially from the cylindrical portion between the centrifugal compressor wheel and the electric motor, said motor housing carrying a pair of shaft bearings and the rotatable shaft and electric motor rotor;
• a compressor housing forming an enclosure for the compressor wheel, a central air inlet to the compressor wheel and a peripheral compressed air collector;
• and
• means for providing a flow of cooling air from the compressor enclosure through the cylindrical portion of the motor enclosure carrying the stator windings, wherein the flow of cooling air is exhausted from the motor enclosure through a non-return valve carried by the motor housing.

A motor-driven air compressor, comprising a centrifugal air compressor wheel, an electric motor for driving the centrifugal air compressor wheel, and a rotatable shaft carrying the centrifugal air compressor wheel and an electric motor rotor;

• a motor housing forming a motor enclosure for the electric motor, said motor housing having a cylindrical portion carrying stator windings for said electric motor and a planar wall portion extending radially from the cylindrical portion between the centrifugal compressor wheel and the electric motor, said motor housing carrying a pair of shaft bearings and a rotatable shaft and electric motor rotor;
• a compressor housing forming an enclosure for the compressor wheel, a central air inlet to the compressor wheel and a peripheral compressed air collector;
• and
• means for providing a flow of cooling air from the compressor enclosure through the cylindrical portion of the motor enclosure carrying the stator windings, wherein the flow of cooling air is recirculated from the motor housing to the air inlet of the compressor housing through an external conduit.

A motor-driven compressor, comprising:

• an electric motor having a stator and a rotor and a rotating shaft driven thereby;
• a centrifugal compressor wheel carried by said rotating shaft;
• a motor housing including an axially extending portion for carrying the electric motor stator and a forward portion extending radially from said axially extending portion and forming at least one projecting boss portion;
• a compressed air collector surrounding said centrifugal compressor wheel and being carried by said radially extending portion of the motor housing and forming, with said radially extending portion of the motor housing, a pressurized enclosure;
• said at least one boss being provided with a compressed air passageway leading from the pressurized enclosure into the axially extending motor-carrying housing portion for providing a flow of cooling air from the pressurized enclosure for the electric motor.