Patent Application
20170167488
The embodiments disclosed herein relate to apparatus for driving fluids, and particular to such apparatus having one or more sliding end vanes for engaging a rotating cam to compress or pump the fluid.
Compressors and pumps are commonly used to transfer mechanical energy to fluids. Some of these compressors and pumps have rotary designs, which can provide efficient and continuous energy transfer. However, these rotary designs are often complicated and expensive to manufacture and maintain.
One example of a rotary compressor is described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0108438 (Kim et al.). The compressor includes a cylinder assembly having a compression space through which suction passages and discharge passages are connected. A slanted compression plate is installed in the compression space and divides the compression space into two parts. The slant plate is rotatably connected to a rotation driving unit. Vanes are located on both sides of the slant compression plate to separate each of the two partitioned compression spaces into a suction space and a compression space. As the compression plate rotates, the vanes slide along the compression plate so that the fluid enters the suction space while fluid in the compression space is compressed and discharged.
One problem with the compressor of Kim et al. is that it can be difficult to maintain seals around the suction space and compression space on each side of the compression plate. Furthermore, it can be difficult to perform maintenance on the vanes or the slanted compression plate in the event that either of them wears down or breaks.
In view of the above, there is a need for a new apparatus for driving fluids.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/742,663 filed on Jan. 16, 2013, issued to U.S. Pat. No. 8,985,980 on Mar. 24, 2015, entitled “Compressor with Rotating Cam and Sliding End Vanes”, and U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 14/663,816 filed on Mar. 3, 2015, published as U.S. Publication No. 2015-0192128A1 on Jul. 9, 2015, entitled “Compressor with Rotating Cam and Sliding End Vanes”, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein for all purposes, describe rotating compressors and cams with sliding end vanes.
According to some embodiments, there is an apparatus for driving fluid that includes a housing having an interior chamber in communication with a fluid inlet for receiving the fluid and a fluid outlet for expelling the fluid, a cam rotatably mounted within the interior chamber, the cam configured to drive fluid to flow, the cam having an annular channel formed therein, a working vane extending into the annular channel for sliding therein as the cam rotates, wherein the working vane divides the annular channel into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber such that, as the cam rotates, the inlet chamber expands and the outlet chamber contracts, a follower vane extending into the annular channel for sliding therein as the cam rotates, wherein the follower vane allows fluid to pass in the annular channel, and a rocker arm for providing dependent motion between the working vane and the follower vane.
In an embodiment, the rocker arm has a first arm end engaging the working vane and a second arm end engaging the follower vane. The first and second arm ends are on opposite sides of a rocker pivot to provide opposed motion of the working vane relative to the follower vane.
In an embodiment, the second arm end includes a rocker magnetic element. The follower vane includes a vane magnetic element that is magnetically opposed to the rocker magnetic element.
In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a spring connected at one end to the follower vane and connected at the other end to the second arm end. In an embodiment, the spring includes a coil spring or a leaf spring.
In an embodiment, the cam is reversible such that fluid will flow in a reverse direction when the cam is rotated in a reverse direction.
In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a rocker mount pivotally mounting the rocker arm to the housing.
In an embodiment, the cam has a cam rotational axis and the rocker arm has a rocker arm rotational axis. The cam rotational axis is perpendicular to the rocker arm rotational axis.
In an embodiment, the rocker arm frictionally contacts the working vane.
In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a drive mechanism for providing rotation to the cam.
In an embodiment, the follower vane has apertures to allow fluid to flow therethrough.
In an embodiment, the apertures are sized to have a height that is less than the depth of a follower vane socket.
According to some embodiments, there is an apparatus for driving fluid that includes a housing having a first interior chamber in communication with a first fluid inlet for receiving the fluid and a first fluid outlet for expelling the fluid, and a second interior chamber in communication with a second fluid inlet for receiving the fluid and a second fluid outlet for expelling the fluid, a cam rotatably mounted within the interior chamber, the cam configured to enable the fluid to flow, the cam having first and second annular channels formed therein, a first working vane extending into the first annular channel for sliding therein as the cam rotates, wherein, the first working vane divides the first annular channel into a first inlet chamber and a first outlet chamber such that, as the cam rotates, the first inlet chamber expands and the first outlet chamber contracts, a first follower vane extending into the first annular channel for sliding therein as the cam rotates, wherein the first follower vane allows fluid to pass in the first annular channel, a first rocker arm providing dependent motion between the first working vane and the first follower vane, a second working vane extending into the second annular channel for sliding therein as the cam rotates, wherein the second working vane divides the second annular channel into a second inlet chamber and a second outlet chamber such that, as the cam rotates, the second inlet chamber expands and the second outlet chamber contracts, a second follower vane extending into the second annular channel for sliding therein as the cam rotates, wherein the second follower vane allows fluid to pass in the second annular channel, and a second rocker arm providing dependent motion between the second working vane and the second follower vane.
In an embodiment, the first working vane is coincident with the second working vane.
In an embodiment, the first follower vane is coincident with the second follower vane.
In an embodiment, the first fluid inlet and the second fluid inlet are connected via an inlet conduit to a single conduit inlet, and wherein the first fluid outlet and the second fluid outlet are connected via an outlet conduit to a single conduit outlet.
In an embodiment, the fluid passes from the first annular channel to the second annular channel.
In an embodiment, the first annular channel dives a first fluid and the second annular channel drives a second fluid.
According to some embodiments, there is a method of driving fluid that includes receiving the fluid via a fluid inlet in communication with an interior chamber and expelling the fluid via a fluid outlet, rotating a cam mounted within the interior chamber and driving fluid to flow, the cam having an annular channel formed therein, reciprocating a working vane in the annular channel as the cam rotates, wherein the working vane divides the annular channel into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber such that, as the cam rotates, the inlet chamber expands and the outlet chamber contracts, and reciprocating a follower vane in the annular channel as the cam rotates, wherein the follower vane allows fluid to pass in the annular channel, wherein extension of the follower vane is dependent on the retraction of the working vane.
In an embodiment, the method includes providing opposed motion of the working vane relative to the follower vane.
Other aspects and features will become apparent, to those ordinarily skilled in the an upon review of the following description of some exemplary embodiments.
The drawings included herewith are for illustrating various examples of articles, methods, and apparatuses of the present specification. In the drawings:
Various apparatuses or processes will he described below to provide an example of each claimed embodiment. No embodiment described below limits any claimed embodiment and any claimed embodiment may cover processes or apparatuses that differ from those described below. The claimed embodiments are not limited to apparatuses or processes having all of the features of any one apparatus or process described below or to features common to multiple or all of the apparatuses described below. It is possible that an apparatus or process described below is not covered by any of the claimed embodiments. Any embodiment disclosed below that is not claimed in this document may be the subject matter of another protective instrument, for example, a continuing patent application, and the applicants, inventors or owners do not intend to abandon, disclaim or dedicate to the public any such embodiment by its disclosure in this document. Throughout the description and drawings, it will be understood, that unless otherwise specified, the reference numbering may be applicable to both sides of the illustrated double sided design, as reference numbers may not be shown so as to not obscure the drawings.
Referring to
The apparatus 100 includes at least one working vane 110 and at least one follower vane 112. The working vane 110 and follower vane 112 are mounted within the housing 102 and ride on the cam 108 in the annular channel 115. The apparatus 100 includes at least one rocker arm 136 that provides dependent motion between the working vane 112 and the follower vane 110. The rocker arm 136 biases the working and follower vanes 110, 112 towards the sloped annular channel 115. As such, it may not be necessary to have a hydraulic or spring mechanism for biasing the working vanes 110 towards the annular channel 115, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,985,980 ('980). As these systems for biasing may not be necessary, the system may be more compact, efficient, and easier to maintain and repair.
The working vane 110 extends into the annular channel 115 for sliding therein as the cam 108 rotates and operates similar to that of ('980). The working vane 110 pushes fluid through the annular channel 115 and out the fluid outlet 122. The working vane 110 divides the annular channel 115 into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber such that, as the cam 108 rotates, the inlet chamber expands and the outlet chamber contracts to drive fluid.
The follower vane 112 extends into the annular channel 115 for sliding therein as the cam 108 rotates. The follower vane 112 allows fluid to pass in the annular channel 115. The follower vane 112 may be sized and shaped to provide a following action on the cam surface while allowing fluid to flow therethrough. The follower vane 112 may he sized similar to the working vane 110 such that any wear on the cam 108 will be similar to the working vane 110. For example, the follower vane 112 has one or more apertures 146a, 146b for allowing fluid to pass therethrough. The apertures 146a, 146b in the follower vane 112 may be sized to have a height that is less than the depth of a follower vane socket 148 in the end wall 102 in order to keep the fluid in the annular channel 115.
As seen in
Referring again to
The cam body 114 is rotatably mounted with a shaft 126 within the interior chamber 104 along a cam rotational axis B. The cam rotational axis B may be per to the rocker arm rotational axis D (shown in
In an embodiment, the drive mechanism is a 2, 4, 6, or 8 multi-pole motor with variable speed drives. In an alternative embodiment, the drive mechanism is a hand crank. The hand crank driven may be quiet (e.g. for military use to pump fuel). As the speed of the fluid flow increases, there may be an increase in energy loss, and it may be desirable to maintain a constant steady speed. A constant steady speed may also provide a reduction in friction, a reduction in heat generation, and an increase in sealable.
Referring now to
In an alternative embodiment, the apparatus 100 may include multiple channels on the same side of the cam 108.
As shown in
Where the cam body 114 is double sided, when the vanes 110a, 110b, 112a, 112b are operating on the surface of both ends of the cam body 114, the first working vane 110a operates opposed and coincident to the second working vane 110b on opposite ends of the cam body 114. The first follower vane 112a operates opposed and coincident to the second follower vane 112b on opposite sides of the cam body 114. The cam body 114 may be shaped such that there is efficient emptying of the interior chamber 104 as the slope of the ramp up and ramp down portions is lengthened.
The double sided design may provide for a reduction in overall size and materials. The fluid may pass from the first annular channel 115 to the second annular channel 115 via a conduit (not shown) that connects the fluid outlet of the first annular channel 115 to the input of the second annular channel 115.
In an alternative embodiment, the first annular channel 115 dives a first fluid and the second annular channel 115 drives a second fluid As such, the double sided cam 108 may allow for the driving of two different fluids at the same time.
Alternatively, the cam body 114 may be shaped to be single sided.
Turning now to
As seen from
The contact point 142 may be contactless (e.g. using biasing elements, such as magnets, springs, or the like). The contact point 142 may allow for expansion where the temperature or pressure of the fluid changes. The contact point 142 may allow for wear. In a similar way, the contact point 140 may also be contactless. In a particular embodiment, the rocker arm 136 frictionally contacts the working vane 110 while, the rocker arm 136 does not contact the follower vane 112, as the working vane 110 may drive the movement of the rocker arm 136. The follower vane 112 may be shorter in length than the working vane 110, as may be seen from
The contact point 142 of the follower vane 112a may include magnetic elements 144a, 144b with magnetically opposing magnetic elements on each side of the contact point 142. The second arm end of the rocker arm 136 includes a rocker magnetic element 144a. The follower vane 112 includes a vane magnetic element 144b that is magnetically opposed to the rocker magnetic element 144a. For example the rocker magnetic element 144a may be a North facing magnet, and the vane magnetic element 144b may be a North facing magnet, and as such the magnetic elements 144a, 144b repel from each other. Similarly a South-South configuration may be provided.
As seen at 140 of
In an alternative, the contact point 142 of the follower vane 112 may include a spring (not shown) connected at one end to the follower vane 112 and at the other end to the second arm end of the rocker arm 136. The spring may include a coil spring or a leaf spring.
In an embodiment, the vanes 110, 112 may be attached to the rocker arm 136. For example, where the fluid is at a constant temperature and pressure, fluid expansion may be avoided.
The apparatus 100 may be used in an engine, an air compressor, a vacuum pump, or the like. The fluid being driven by the apparatus 100 may be a liquid and/or a gas. The apparatus 100 may pump low RPM at the same speed as the fluid flowing through the pipe. Slow speeds may reduce cavitation. In contrast to screw pump or centrifugal pumps, where gears may create high pressures that may create problems with air or foaming of the liquid. In the food industry, the driven fluid may be food stuff such as ketchup, pudding, and corn syrup and unnecessary heating and cavitation may he undesirable. The apparatus 100 may increase the pumping efficiency. The apparatus 100 may be more easily repaired, may be light, and may be compact in design.
While the above description provides examples of one or more apparatus, methods, or systems, it will he appreciated that other apparatus, methods, or systems may be within the scope of the claims as interpreted by one of skill in the art.
