Fluid machine

A fluid machine comprising:

• an expansion-and-compression device having a function of an expansion device for converting heat energy from working fluid into mechanical rotational energy by expanding superheated steam of the working fluid so that the enthalpy of the working fluid will be decreased in an isentropic manner and having a function of a compressor device for drawing the working fluid and compressing the same in a refrigeration cycle, wherein the direction of rotation of the expansion-and-compression device when the expansion-and-compression device acts as the expansion device is opposite to the direction of rotation of the expansion-and-compression device when the expansion-and-compression device acts as the compressor device;
• an electric rotating means having a function for generating electric power when the mechanical rotating energy is applied thereto and having a function for generating a rotational force when electric power is supplied thereto;
• and
• a power transmission means provided in a power transmitting path between the expansion-and-compression device and the electric rotating means.

A fluid machine for a motor vehicle comprising:

• a housing;
• a pulley rotationally supported by the housing and operatively connected to an internal combustion engine for the motor vehicle;
• an electric rotating device housed in the housing and having a function for generating electric power when it is operated as an electric power generator and a function for generating a rotational force when it is operated as an electric motor;
• an expansion-and-compression device housed in the housing, wherein the expansion-and-compression device has a function of an expansion device for collecting waste heat from the internal combustion engine and generating a mechanical rotational force from the collected waste heat when it is operated as an expansion device and the expansion-and-compression device has a function of a compressor device for compressing a refrigerant a refrigeration cycle for the motor vehicle when it is operated as a compressor device;
• a power transmission device housed in the housing and operatively connected between the electric rotating device and the expansion-and-compression device,
• wherein the expansion-and-compression device is further operatively connected to the pulley through the power transmission device, so that the power transmission device transmits a rotational force of the pulley to the expansion-and-compression device when it is operated as the compressor device,
• the power transmission device transmits the mechanical rotational force from the expansion-and-compression device to the electric rotating device when the expansion-and-compression device is operated as the expansion device, and
• the power transmission device further transmits the rotational force generated at the electric rotating device to the expansion-and-compression device when electric rotating device is operated as the electric power generator.