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US 6,102,681 AGranted
Stator especially adapted for use in a helicoidal pump/motor
AssigneeAPS Technology, Inc.
InventorWilliam E. Turner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid handling device such as a helicoidal pump or motor having a stator formed by an elastomer material in which a plurality of fibers are encapsulated. Preferably, the fibers form a network of interlaced fibers extending in two or more directions. The fiber network preferably forms multiple layers of flexible fabric encircling the stator axis. In addition, a group of the fibers can extend radially through the fabric layers. The fibers increase the strength and stiffness of the elastomer and also create heat conduction paths that improve the heat transfer within the stator core, thereby preventing overheating of the elastomer.
Claims38
A helicoidal fluid handling device suitable for use as a positive displacement pump or motor, comprising:
- a) an elongate rotor, said rotor having at least one lobe projecting radially outward and extending helically along the length of said rotor;
- and
- b) a substantially cylindrical stator comprising an elastomeric form having an inner surface, first portions of said elastomeric form forming a number of grooves in said inner surface extending helically along the length of said stator, said number of grooves being one more than the number of lobes in said rotor, second portions of said elastomeric form forming a projection on said inner surface between each of said grooves, said projections extending helically along the length of said stator, said stator enclosing said rotor such that relative rotation between said rotor and said stator causes said portions forming said projections to undergo cyclic deformation, said cyclic deformation generating heat within said projections thereby creating a temperature gradient within said elastomeric form;
- said elastomeric form comprising means for reducing said temperature gradient by distributing said heat from said portions of said elastomeric form forming said projections to said portions forming said grooves, said means for reducing said temperature gradient comprising a network of thermally conductive fibers encapsulated in an elastomeric material, said network of thermally conductive fibers comprising at least a first group of fibers extending from said portions forming said projections to said portions forming said grooves so as to transfer heat from said portions forming said projections to said portions forming said grooves.
1 more element
A helicoidal fluid handling device suitable for use as a positive displacement pump or motor, comprising:
- a) an elongate rotor, said rotor having at least one lobe projecting radially outward and extending helically along the length of said rotor;
- and
- b) a stator enclosing said rotor, said stator comprising an elastomeric form having an inner surface, said inner surface forming a number of grooves extending helically along the length of said stator, said number of grooves being one more than the number of lobes in said rotor, said elastomeric form comprising a network of fibers encapsulated in an elastomeric material;
- said network of fibers comprising at least first, second and third groups of fibers, said fibers in said first group extending in a first direction, said fibers in said second group extending in a second direction, said fibers in said third group extending in a third direction.
1 more element
A helicoidal fluid handling device suitable for use as a positive displacement pump or motor, comprising:
- a) an elongate rotor, said rotor having at least one lobe projecting radially outward and extending helically along the length of said rotor;
- and
- b) a stator enclosing said rotor, said stator comprising an elastomeric form having an inner surface, said inner surface forming a number of grooves extending helically along the length of said stator, said number of grooves being one more than the number of lobes in said rotor, said elastomeric form comprising a network of fibers encapsulated in an elastomeric material and means for interlocking at least a portion of said fibers forming said network of fibers so as to restrain relative motion between said fibers, said means for interlocking comprises at least said portion of said fibers being brazed to each other.
A fluid handling device, comprising:
- a) an elongate rotor;
- b) a substantially cylindrical stator defining a longitudinal axis thereof and enclosing said rotor, said stator including an elastomeric form having an inner surface encircling said rotor, said elastomeric form comprising means for transferring heat radially within said elastomeric form, said heat transfer means comprising a plurality of thermally conductive fibers dispersed throughout at least a portion of said elastomeric form and encapsulated therein, at least a portion of said fibers extending along a path that is radially displaced from said longitudinal axis by a distance that varies as said fibers extend along said path, whereby said portion of said fibers conducts heat radially.
A helicoidal fluid handling device suitable for use as a positive displacement pump or motor, comprising:
- a) an elongate rotor, said rotor having at least one lobe projecting radially outward and extending helically along the length of said rotor;
- and
- b) a stator enclosing said rotor and defining an axis thereof, said stator including an elastomeric form having an inner surface forming a number of grooves and extending helically along the length of said stator, said number of said grooves being one more than the number of said lobes, said elastomeric form comprising a plurality of braided fibers encircling said axis and encapsulated in an elastomeric material.
A helicoidal fluid handling device suitable for use as a positive displacement pump or motor, comprising:
- a) an elongate rotor, said rotor having at least one lobe projecting radially outward and extending helically along the length of said rotor;
- and
- b) a substantially cylindrical stator defining a longitudinal axis thereof and comprising a elastomeric form having inner and outer surfaces, a first portion of said elastomeric form forming a number of grooves on said inner surface, each of said grooves projecting radially inward and extending helically along the length of said stator, said number of grooves being one more than the number of lobes in said rotor, a second portion of said elastomeric form forming a projection on said inner surface between each of said grooves, said projections extending helically along the length of said stator, said stator enclosing said rotor such that relative rotation between said rotor and said stator causes said portions of said elastomeric form forming said projections to undergo cyclic deformation, said cyclic deformation generating heat within said portions forming said projections;
- said elastomeric form comprising means for transferring said generated heat radially outward toward said elastomeric form outer surface, said heat transfer means comprising a network of thermally conductive fibers encapsulated in said elastomeric form, at least a portion of said fibers oriented along a path that extends at least partially through said portions of said elastomeric form forming said projections, each of said fiber paths being radially displaced from said longitudinal axis by a distance that varies along said path, whereby said fibers in said first group transfer heat radially outward toward said outer surface of said elastomeric form.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.