Screw Compressor Gearbox Integrated Oil and Coolant Channels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing screw compressors face challenges with complex mounting surfaces, external pipes for oil and coolant connections, which lead to increased costs, reliability issues, maintenance difficulties, and reduced compactness due to the need for additional seals and potential for incorrect connections.

Innovation Solution

Integrating oil and coolant channels within the gearbox housing, eliminating the need for external pipes by locating inputs and outputs on the mounting surfaces of the compressor element, which simplifies sealing and reduces the risk of leaks and misconnections, while allowing for more compact design and easier maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If external pipes are used for oil and coolant connections, then the compressor element can be connected to external supply and output, but the device complexity increases and reliability decreases due to pipe tearing, breakage, and leak risks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection capabilityVSAvoidpipe reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the oil and coolant channels directly into the gearbox housing structure, eliminating the need for separate external pipes. The mounting surface of the compressor element is integrated with the gearbox housing, creating a unified structure where fluid channels are built-in rather than added as separate components. This integration eliminates pipe tearing, breakage, and leak risks while maintaining connection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If external pipes with connecting flanges are used, then oil and coolant can be supplied and removed, but the manufacturing complexity increases due to additional sealing surfaces and tightening requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid connectionVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the fluid connection functions directly into the mounting surface structure of the compressor element and gearbox housing. The oil and coolant channels are molded or machined as integral parts of the housing, eliminating the need for separate connecting flanges and sealing surfaces. This reduces manufacturing steps and eliminates the complexity of multiple sealing arrangements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If external pipes are installed, then oil and coolant connections are established, but maintenance accessibility is reduced due to pipe obstruction of bolts, sensors, and filters

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection functionVSAvoidmaintenance accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

By integrating the oil and coolant channels into the gearbox housing structure, the patent eliminates external pipes that would obstruct maintenance access. The fluid connections are accessed through the mounting surface interface, which is typically more accessible and does not block bolts, sensors, or filters located on the exterior of the compressor assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Adaptability or versatility

If external pipes are used for oil and coolant connections, then the compressor can be supplied with lubrication and cooling, but the space requirement increases reducing compactness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelubrication and cooling capabilityVSAvoidcompressor footprint

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the oil and coolant channels within the existing gearbox housing volume, eliminating the need for external pipe routing. The fluid channels utilize the internal cavity space of the gearbox housing, which does not increase the external dimensions or footprint of the compressor assembly, thereby maintaining compactness while providing full lubrication and cooling capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3283770B1Screw compressor, compressor element and gearbox applied thereby

Publication Date: 2020.10.14 ATLAS COPCO AIRPOWER NV

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Figure 3~4
Figure 5

AI summary

Screw compressor that is composed of a compressor element (2,2') with a housing (4) in which two helical rotors (6,7) are mounted on bearings (10) by their shafts (8,9), and a gearbox (3) with a housing (14) with a mounting surface (13) that is built onto a mounting surface (12) of the housing (4) of the compressor element (2,2'), and which is coupled in a torque-transmitting way to a shaft (8,9) of at least one of the aforementioned rotors (6,7), whereby the compressor element (2) is provided with an oil circuit with an input (34) and an output (35) for oil and a cooling jacket (26) with an input (27) and output (28) for a coolant, characterised in that the aforementioned inputs (27,34) and outputs (28,35) for the oil and for the coolant are located in the aforementioned mounting surface (12) of the housing (4) of the compressor element (2), whereby these inputs (27,34) and outputs (28,35) connect to channels (29) for the respective supply and removal of the oil and the coolant that are at least partially integrated internally in the gearbox (3).