Patents by Inventor Patrice Bonnefoi

Patrice Bonnefoi has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11913455
    Abstract: The scroll compressor (1) includes a compression unit (6); a drive shaft (16) which is vertically orientated; upper and lower bearing arrangements (27, 28) configured to rotatably support the drive shaft (16); a centrifugal oil pump (29) including a pick-up tube (32) attached to a lower end portion (23) of the drive shaft (16) and provided with a oil inlet immersed in an oil sump (31), the centrifugal oil pump (29) being configured to deliver oil to the compression unit (6) and to the upper and lower bearing arrangements (27, 28); and a static fairing member (35) secured to a non-rotating part of the scroll compressor (1) and including a static tubular part (36) which is immersed in the oil sump (31) and which surrounds the pick-up tube (32) with a predetermined distance such that a gap is formed between the inner surface of the static tubular part (36) and the outer surface of the pick-up tube (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Danfoss Commercial Compressors
    Inventor: Patrice Bonnefoi
  • Publication number: 20230314048
    Abstract: The multi-compressor system (7) has a plurality of parallelly coupled compressors (8); inlet connection lines (15) each connected to a refrigerant suction fitting of a respective compressor (8); outlet connection lines (17) each connected to a refrigerant discharge fitting of a respective compressor (8); a common oil balancing line (18) and balancing connection lines (19) each connecting the common oil balancing line (18) to an oil balancing connection (21) of a respective compressor (8); and spring-loaded normally-open valves (25) each being arranged within a respective balancing connection line (19) or within an oil balancing connection (21) of a respective compressor (8) and each being configured to close when a pressure difference between a pressure prevailing in the low pressure volume of the respective compressor (8) and a pressure prevailing in the common oil balancing line (18) reaches a predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Thierry Legay, Patrice BONNEFOI
  • Patent number: 11754074
    Abstract: The scroll compressor (1) includes a compression unit (6); a drive shaft (16) which is vertically orientated; upper and lower bearing arrangements (27, 28) configured to rotatably support the drive shaft (16); a centrifugal oil pump (29) including a pick-up tube (32) attached to a lower end portion (23) of the drive shaft (16) and provided with a oil inlet immersed in an oil sump (31), the centrifugal oil pump (29) being configured to deliver oil to the compression unit (6) and to the upper and lower bearing arrangements (27, 28); and a static fairing member (35) secured to a non-rotating part of the scroll compressor (1) and including a static tubular part (36) which is immersed in the oil sump (31) and which surrounds the pick-up tube (32) with a predetermined distance such that a gap is formed between the inner surface of the static tubular part (36) and the outer surface of the pick-up tube (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Danfoss Commercial Compressors
    Inventor: Patrice Bonnefoi
  • Patent number: 11668301
    Abstract: The scroll compressor (2) includes a hermetic casing (3) comprising a mid shell (4) provided with a suction inlet (7); a compression unit (11) arranged within the hermetic casing (3); a drive shaft (27) configured to drive an orbiting scroll (13) of the compression unit (11); an electric motor (21) coupled to the drive shaft (27) and configured to drive in rotation the drive shaft (27) about its rotational axis, the electric motor (21) including a rotor (22) and a stator (23) which includes a stator stack (24), wherein the stator stack (24) is press-fitted in the mid shell (4), the suction inlet (7) is facing the stator stack (24), and the compression unit (11) includes a single suction opening (34) arranged at an opposite position in relation to the suction inlet (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Danfoss Commercial Compressors
    Inventors: Patrice Bonnefoi, Yann Even, Yves Rosson, Brian Angel, Meldener Gael
  • Patent number: 11572880
    Abstract: The centrifugal turbo-compressor (2) includes a hermetic casing (3); a drive shaft (6) having a longitudinal axis and rotatably arranged within the hermetic casing (3); a compression stage including an impeller (17) connected to the drive shaft (6); a gas suction inlet (42); and a gas flow path (P) fluidly connected to the gas suction inlet (42) and configured to supply the compression stage with a gas flow. The gas flow path (P) includes a relaxation chamber (46) at least partially surrounding the drive shaft (6), the gas suction inlet (42) emerging substantially radially into the relaxation chamber (46); and a plurality of inlet flow guide channels (51) fluidly connected to the relaxation chamber (46) and angularly distributed around the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft (6), the inlet flow guide channels (51) extending radially towards the drive shaft (6) and being axially offset from the gas suction inlet (42) and the relaxation chamber (46).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventors: Jonathan Vlastuin, Stan Vandesteene, Patrice Bonnefoi
  • Publication number: 20220412359
    Abstract: The refrigerant compressor includes a compressor casing (2); an oil sump (13) arranged in the compressor casing (2); and an oil level sensor arrangement (14) configured to detect an oil level in the oil sump (13), the oil level sensor arrangement (14) including a tubular element (16) secured to the compressor casing (2) and a floating element (17) surrounding the tubular element (16) and being movably mounted with respect to the tubular element (16). The compressor casing (2) includes a passage opening (24) and dimensions of the tubular element (16), the floating element (17) and the passage opening (24) are defined to allow an insertion and a removal of the tubular element (16) and the floating element (17) into and out of the compressor casing (2) through the passage opening (24).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Patrice BONNEFOI, Gabriel STREDA, Yves ROSSON, Jean-Jacques LAISSUS, Alexis DELORME
  • Patent number: 11525453
    Abstract: The bearing arrangement includes a one-piece gas bearing sleeve (32) configured to rotatably support the drive shaft (4) and made in molybdenum or in a molybdenum alloy, the one-piece gas bearing sleeve (32) including a radial bearing surface (33) configured to Surround the drive shaft (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH, Danfoss Commercial Compressors
    Inventors: Clement Martignago, Patrice Bonnefoi, Stan Vandesteene, Yves Rosson
  • Publication number: 20220290671
    Abstract: The scroll compressor (1) includes a compression unit (6); a drive shaft (16) which is vertically orientated; upper and lower bearing arrangements (27, 28) configured to rotatably support the drive shaft (16); a centrifugal oil pump (29) including a pick-up tube (32) attached to a lower end portion (23) of the drive shaft (16) and provided with a oil inlet immersed in an oil sump (31), the centrifugal oil pump (29) being configured to deliver oil to the compression unit (6) and to the upper and lower bearing arrangements (27, 28); and a static fairing member (35) secured to a non-rotating part of the scroll compressor (1) and including a static tubular part (36) which is immersed in the oil sump (31) and which surrounds the pick-up tube (32) with a predetermined distance such that a gap is formed between the inner surface of the static tubular part (36) and the outer surface of the pick-up tube (32).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventor: Patrice Bonnefoi
  • Publication number: 20220290666
    Abstract: The scroll compressor includes a compression unit; a drive shaft which is vertically orientated; a lower bearing arrangement (28) configured to rotatably support the drive shaft; and an oil pump (29) arranged at a lower end of the drive shaft and configured to deliver oil to the compression unit and to the lower bearing arrangement (28). The lower bearing arrangement (28) comprises a radial bearing housing (34) including an inner radial bearing surface (37) surrounding the lower end portion of the drive shaft; upper and lower axial thrust bearings (43, 44) configured to limit an axial movement of the drive shaft; and a pressurized oil chamber (51) fluidly connected to the oil pump (29), the pressurized oil chamber (51) being at least partially delimited by the outer surface of the lower end portion of the drive shaft, the inner radial bearing surface (37) and the upper and lower axial thrust bearings (43, 44).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventor: Patrice Bonnefoi
  • Patent number: 11242857
    Abstract: The centrifugal turbo-compressor (2) includes a hermetic casing; a drive shaft (6); a first and a second compression stage (12, 13) configured to compress a refrigerant and respectively including a first and a second impeller (18, 19) connected to the drive shaft (6) and being arranged in a back-to-back configuration; an interstage sealing device provided between the first and second impellers (18, 19). The hermetic casing includes a main casing portion (4) in which are arranged the first and second compression stages (12, 13) and the inter-stage sealing device. The first and second compression stage (12, 13) respectively includes a first and a second aerodynamic member (29, 31) each having an annular disc shape and respectively facing front-sides (21, 22) of the first and second impellers (18, 19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH, Danfoss Commercial Compressors
    Inventors: Clement Martignago, Patrice Bonnefoi, Stan Vandesteene, Yves Rosson
  • Publication number: 20210131432
    Abstract: The scroll compressor (2) includes a hermetic casing (3) comprising a mid shell (4) provided with a suction inlet (7); a compression unit (11) arranged within the hermetic casing (3); a drive shaft (27) configured to drive an orbiting scroll (13) of the compression unit (11); an electric motor (21) coupled to the drive shaft (27) and configured to drive in rotation the drive shaft (27) about its rotational axis, the electric motor (21) including a rotor (22) and a stator (23) which includes a stator stack (24), wherein the stator stack (24) is press-fitted in the mid shell (4), the suction inlet (7) is facing the stator stack (24), and the compression unit (11) includes a single suction opening (34) arranged at an opposite position in relation to the suction inlet (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Patrice Bonnefoi, Yann Even, Yves Rosson, Brian Angel, Meldener Gael
  • Patent number: 10794390
    Abstract: The Modular turbo compressor shaft (4) comprise a tubular bearing portion (5) having a first axial end portion and a second axial end portion; an impeller portion (6) arranged at the first axial end portion of the tubular bearing portion (5); and a driving portion (7) arranged at the second axial end portion of the tubular bearing portion (5). The tubular bearing portion (5) is made of a hard material, and the impeller portion (6) and/or the driving portion (7) are made of relatively soft material compared to the hard material of the tubular bearing portion (5). The impeller portion (6) and/or the driving portion (7) are at least partially extending into the tubular bearing portion (5) and are firmly connected to the tubular bearing portion (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Danfoss Silicon Power GmbH
    Inventors: Patrice Bonnefoi, Arnaud Daussin, Yves Rosson
  • Patent number: 10788037
    Abstract: This scroll compressor (2) includes a first and second fixed scrolls (4, 5) comprising first and second fixed spiral wraps (9, 12), an orbiting scroll arrangement (7) comprising first and second orbiting spiral wraps (14, 15), the first fixed spiral wrap (9) and the first orbiting spiral wrap (14) forming a plurality of first compression chambers (16) and the second fixed spiral wrap (5) and the second orbiting spiral wrap (15) forming a plurality of second compression chambers (17). The scroll compressor further includes a drive shaft (23) adapted for driving the orbiting scroll arrangement (7) in an orbital movement, and a driving motor (24) arranged for driving in rotation the drive shaft (23) about a rotation axis, the driving motor (24) being located nearby the first fixed scroll (4). The first fixed scroll (4) includes at least one first discharge passage (21) arranged to conduct the refrigerant compressed in the first compression chambers (16) towards the driving motor (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Danfoss Commercial Compressors S.A.
    Inventors: Yves Rosson, Patrice Bonnefoi, Ingrid Claudin
  • Patent number: 10760583
    Abstract: The axial bearing arrangement comprises a first axial bearing plate (12) and a second axial bearing plate (13) each having an annular ring shape, the first axial bearing plate (12) having a first surface (12.1) axially facing the second axial bearing plate (13) and a second surface (12.2) opposite to the respective first surface (12.1), the second axial bearing plate (13) having a first surface (13.1) axially facing the first axial bearing plate (12) and a second surface (13.2) opposite to the respective first surface (13.1); a spacer ring (14) clamped between the first surfaces (12.1, 13.1) of the first and second axial bearing plates (12, 13), the spacer ring (14) defining an axial distance between the first and second axial bearing plates (12, 13); and a bearing sleeve (15) abutting the second surface (13.2) of the second axial bearing plate (13) and being secured to a compressor block (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: DANFOSS A/S
    Inventors: Patrice Bonnefoi, Yves Rosson
  • Publication number: 20200132079
    Abstract: The centrifugal turbo-compressor (2) includes a hermetic casing (3); a drive shaft (6) having a longitudinal axis and rotatably arranged within the hermetic casing (3); a compression stage including an impeller (17) connected to the drive shaft (6); a gas suction inlet (42); and a gas flow path (P) fluidly connected to the gas suction inlet (42) and configured to supply the compression stage with a gas flow. The gas flow path (P) includes a relaxation chamber (46) at least partially surrounding the drive shaft (6), the gas suction inlet (42) emerging substantially radially into the relaxation chamber (46); and a plurality of inlet flow guide channels (51) fluidly connected to the relaxation chamber (46) and angularly distributed around the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft (6), the inlet flow guide channels (51) extending radially towards the drive shaft (6) and being axially offset from the gas suction inlet (42) and the relaxation chamber (46).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Jonathan Vlastuin, Stan Vandesteene, Patrice Bonnefoi
  • Patent number: 10619645
    Abstract: The centrifugal compressor includes an hermetic housing; a drive shaft (4); a first and a second compression stage (8, 9) configured to compress a refrigerant, the first and second compression stages (8, 9) respectively including a first and a second impeller (18, 19), the first and second impellers (18, 19) being connected to the drive shaft (4) and being arranged in a back-to-back configuration; a radial annular groove (27) formed between the back-sides (25, 26) of the first and second impellers (18, 19); an inter-stage sealing arrangement (35) provided between the first and second compressor stages (8, 9) and in the radial annular groove (27); a radial bearing arrangement configured to rotatably support the drive shaft (4); and a thrust bearing arrangement configured to limit an axial movement of the drive shaft (4) during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Danfoss A/S
    Inventors: Arnaud Daussin, Patrice Bonnefoi, Nicolas Nouyrigat
  • Patent number: 10605244
    Abstract: This scroll compressor includes a scroll compression unit including a first fixed scroll including a first fixed base plate and a first fixed spiral wrap, an orbiting scroll arrangement (7) including a first orbiting spiral wrap (14), the first fixed spiral wrap and the first orbiting spiral wrap (14) forming a plurality of first compression chambers. The scroll compressor further includes a refrigerant suction part suitable for supplying the scroll compression unit with refrigerant to be compressed. The orbiting scroll arrangement (7) further includes a first orbiting guiding portion (21) extending from an outer end portion of the first orbiting spiral wrap (14) and configured to guide, in use, at least a part of the refrigerant supplied to the scroll compression unit towards the first compression chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Danfoss Commercial Compressors S.A.
    Inventors: Nicolas Nouyrigat, Patrice Bonnefoi, Yves Rosson, Ingrid Claudin, Arnaud Daussin
  • Patent number: 10578109
    Abstract: A scroll compressor including a compression unit includes a first non-orbiting scroll having a receiving cavity and an orbiting scroll arrangement. The compression unit further includes a refrigerant suction part suitable for supplying the compression unit with a refrigerant flow, and a first anti-rotation device located in the receiving cavity and configured to prevent rotation of the orbiting scroll arrangement with respect to the first fixed non-orbiting scroll. The compression unit further includes an oil discharge device including an oil discharge passage, the oil discharge passage includes an oil inlet fluidly connected to the receiving cavity and at least one oil discharge outlet located in a refrigerant flow path and configured to supply the refrigerant flow with oil from the receiving cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Danfoss Commercial Compressors
    Inventors: Arnaud Daussin, Patrice Bonnefoi, Yves Rosson, Ingrid Claudin
  • Publication number: 20200011334
    Abstract: The centrifugal turbo-compressor (2) includes a hermetic casing; a drive shaft (6); a first and a second compression stage (12, 13) configured to compress a refrigerant and respectively including a first and a second impeller (18, 19) connected to the drive shaft (6) and being arranged in a back-to-back configuration; an interstage sealing device provided between the first and second impellers (18, 19). The hermetic casing includes a main casing portion (4) in which are arranged the first and second compression stages (12, 13) and the inter-stage sealing device. The first and second compression stage (12, 13) respectively includes a first and a second aerodynamic member (29, 31) each having an annular disc shape and respectively facing front-sides (21, 22) of the first and second impellers (18, 19).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Clement Martignago, Patrice Bonnefoi, Stan Vandesteene, Yves Rosson
  • Publication number: 20200011341
    Abstract: The bearing arrangement includes a one-piece gas bearing sleeve (32) configured to rotatably support the drive shaft (4) and made in molybdenum or in a molybdenum alloy, the one-piece gas bearing sleeve (32) including a radial bearing surface (33) configured to Surround the drive shaft (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2018
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Inventors: Clement Martignago, Patrice Bonnefoi, Stan Vandesteene, Yves Rosson