Fluid-injected compressor installation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11841015-B2
Application number	US-201917044566-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 21, 2019
Priority date	Apr 11, 2018
Publication date	Dec 12, 2023
Grant date	Dec 12, 2023

Abstract

A fluid-injected compressor installation (1) comprises a screw compressor (2) with a compression housing (4) in which a pair of compressor rotors (6a, 6b) are mounted. A drive motor (3) drives the compressor rotors. An inlet (7) and an outlet (8) on the screw compressor (2) supply a gas and discharge compressed gas. A gear transmission (20) between the shaft (16) of one of the compressor rotors and the motor shaft (11), includes a driven gear (18) and a driving gear (19); a motor bearing (21) on the motor shaft (11) next to the driving gear (19); and a dynamic seal (25) next to the motor bearing (21), on the drive motor (3) side, such that the motor bearing (21) is between the driving gear (19) and the seal (25).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fluid-injected compressor installation ( 1 ), comprising:
a screw compressor ( 2 ) with a compression chamber ( 5 ) which is formed by a compression housing ( 4 ) in which a pair of cooperating screw-shaped compressor rotors ( 6 a , 6 b ) are rotatably mounted;
a drive motor ( 3 ) which is provided with a motor chamber ( 10 ) formed by a motor housing ( 9 ) in which a motor shaft ( 11 ) is rotatably mounted which drives at least one of the two aforementioned screw-shaped compressor rotors ( 6 a , 6 b );
an inlet ( 7 ) and an outlet ( 8 ) on the screw compressor ( 2 ) for the supply of a gas respectively for the discharge of compressed gas;
with the compression housing ( 4 ) and the motor housing ( 9 ) being directly joined to each other to form a compressor housing ( 14 );
wherein the compressor installation ( 1 ) further comprises:
a gear transmission ( 20 ) between the shaft ( 16 ) of one of the compressor rotors ( 6 a , 6 b ) and the motor shaft ( 11 ), consisting of a driven gear ( 18 ) on the shaft ( 16 ) of the compressor rotor ( 6 a , 6 b ) and a driving gear ( 19 ) on the motor shaft ( 11 );
a motor bearing ( 21 ) on the motor shaft ( 11 ) next to the driving gear ( 19 ) on a drive motor side ( 3 ) thereof;
a dynamic seal ( 25 ) next to the aforementioned motor bearing ( 21 ), on the drive motor ( 3 ) side, such that the motor bearing ( 21 ) is between the driving gear ( 19 ) and the seal ( 25 ),
wherein the dynamic seal ( 25 ) is a labyrinth seal which is made as a semi-circular groove ( 36 ) in the motor shaft ( 11 ) and a recess ( 37 ) in the motor housing ( 9 ) having a side ( 38 ) slanting away from the motor shaft ( 11 ) in a direction of the motor bearing ( 21 ), with the recess ( 37 ) facing the groove ( 36 ) such that fluid which reaches the labyrinth seal ( 25 ) via the motor bearing ( 21 ) ends up in the groove ( 36 ), is pushed back and radially away from the motor shaft ( 11 ) to the recess ( 37 ) in the motor housing ( 9 ), and is sent through this recess ( 37 ) back in the direction of the motor bearing ( 21 ).

2. The fluid-injected compressor installation according to claim 1 , wherein it is provided with a fluid by which both the drive motor ( 3 ) and the compressor rotors ( 6 a , 6 b ) are cooled and/or lubricated.

3. The fluid-injected compressor installation according to claim 2 , wherein it is provided with a cooling circuit ( 27 ) which first sends the fluid to the drive motor ( 3 ) and then it is injected into the screw compressor ( 2 ).

4. The fluid-injected compressor installation according to claim 3 , wherein the screw compressor ( 2 ) is provided with nozzles ( 30 ) to conduct a portion of the fluid to the gears ( 18 , 19 ).

5. The fluid-injected compressor installation according to claim 3 , wherein the cooling circuit ( 27 ) is provided with a branch ( 31 ) which will conduct fluid to the bearings ( 21 , 22 , 24 ) of the compressor installation ( 1 ).

6. The fluid-injected compressor installation according to claim 5 , wherein the cooling circuit ( 27 ) is provided with a filter in the branch ( 31 ).

7. The fluid-injected compressor installation according to claim 5 , wherein the cooling circuit ( 27 ) is provided with a cooler in the branch ( 31 ).

8. The fluid-injected compressor installation according to claim 1 , wherein the motor housing ( 9 ) is provided with drainage channels ( 34 ) for discharging a fluid.

9. The fluid-injected compressor installation according to claim 8 , wherein the drainage channels ( 34 ) discharge the fluid to the gear transmission ( 17 ).

10. The fluid-injected compressor installation according to claim 8 , wherein the drainage channels ( 34 ) means are provided in order to discharge or push the fluid to the gear transmission ( 17 ).

11. The fluid-injected compressor installation according to claim 1 , wherein the shafts ( 16 ) of the compressor rotors ( 6 a , 6 b ) and the motor shaft ( 11 ) extend in an axial direction (X-X′) which is substantially horizontal which is substantially orthogonal to gravity.

12. The fluid-injected compressor installation according claim 1 , wherein a reservoir ( 35 ) is provided to the motor bearing ( 21 ) for collecting fluid.

13. The fluid-injected compressor installation according to claim 1 , wherein the motor housing ( 9 ) is provided with a flange ( 15 ) on a screw compressor ( 2 ) side, which is formed to house the driven gear ( 18 ) and the driving gear ( 19 ).

Assignees

• Atlas Copco Airpower Nv

Inventors

• Martens Kristof Adrien Laura
• Philippi Cornelis Theodorus

Classifications

• F04C18/16 Primary

  with helical teeth, e.g. chevron-shaped, screw type {(for non-parallel axes of movement F04C18/48)} · CPC title

• F04C23/02

  Pumps characterised by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors · CPC title

• F04C27/004

  Radial sealing elements specially adapted for intermeshing-engagement type pumps, e.g. gear pumps · CPC title

• F04C29/02

  Lubrication (of machines or engines in general F01M); Lubricant separation (separation in general B01D) · CPC title

• F04C2240/30

  Casings or housings · CPC title