Rotary Compressor Guiding Means for Leakage Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotary vane compressors face issues with refrigerant leakage due to tight tolerances, which affect efficiency and are costly to manufacture, and they lack flexibility in rotation, making them prone to damage.
Innovation Solution
A rotary compressor arrangement with guiding means that provide multiple guiding points around the cylindrical piston, allowing for angular positioning of these points to manage the force generated by the fluid, ensuring continuous contact and reducing stress, and incorporating a vane that slides to create compression chambers with a tensioning device for efficient compression.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If tight tolerances are used to prevent refrigerant leakage, then compressor efficiency is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible membrane (thin film) that conformally seals against the rotor surface. This membrane acts as a compliant sealing layer that adapts to surface irregularities, preventing refrigerant leakage without requiring tight manufacturing tolerances on the rigid compressor components. The flexible membrane absorbs dimensional variations, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
2Device complexity
If hard point bearings are used to guide rotor rotation, then structural simplicity is improved, but flexibility and shock absorption are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane replaces hard point bearings with a compliant guiding mechanism. The membrane's elasticity allows it to deform and adapt to rotational movements, providing guidance while absorbing shocks and vibrations. This flexible guidance mechanism maintains structural simplicity compared to complex bearing assemblies while simultaneously providing the needed rotation flexibility and shock absorption capability.
3Device complexity
If single point contact guiding is used, then device simplicity is improved, but stress concentration and damage risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single contact point into multiple contact points along the membrane's edge that contacts the rotor surface. This distribution of contact points spreads the mechanical stress across a larger area, preventing stress concentration at any single location. The segmented contact approach maintains relative device simplicity while significantly improving reliability by reducing the risk of damage from localized overload.
4Productivity
If eccentric rotor configuration is used, then compression function is achieved, but refrigerant leakage through clearance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane is positioned between the eccentric rotor and the compressor housing to seal the clearance gap created by the eccentric configuration. The membrane's flexibility allows it to conform to the rotor's motion while maintaining continuous contact with both the rotor surface and the housing, preventing refrigerant leakage through the clearance without interfering with the compression function enabled by the eccentric geometry.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design minimizes energy dissipation, reduces vibrations, and enhances manufacturing simplicity while maintaining efficiency, providing a cost-effective solution for refrigerant compression.
Implementation Method 1
The guiding means provide at least two guiding points when contacting the external surface of the cylindrical piston, such that the guiding points are positioned in such a way with respect to the cylindrical piston that a contact point between the body and the cylindrical piston, within the inner volume, is ensured during the rotation of the cylindrical piston.
Implementation Method 2
a vane slidable within the body during rotation of the cylindrical piston in such a way that it contacts the inner wall of the cylindrical piston
Data Source
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AI summary
Rotary compressor arrangement (100) comprising a body (40) centered at a shaft axis and a cylindrical piston (10) eccentrically arranged with respect to the body (40) such that an inner volume is created between them, into which volume a compressible fluid can be introduced; the arrangement (100) further comprising guiding means arranged at an offset axis with respect to the shaft axis, the guiding means rotating around the shaft axis, entraining and guiding in rotation the cylindrical piston (10) over the body (40); the guiding means providing at least two guiding points (201, 301) when contacting the external surface of the cylindrical piston (10); the guiding points (201, 301) being positioned in such a way with respect to the cylindrical piston (10) that a contact point (400) between the body (40) and the cylindrical piston (10), within the inner volume, is ensured during the rotation of the cylindrical piston (10). Cooling/refrigerating system comprising such a rotary compressor arrangement (100).