Machine for compressing gasses and refrigerant vapors
A machine for compressing gases and vapors includes a housing base containing an internal raceway, a spinning rotor containing a plurality of hollow cylinders, a plurality of spherical balls serving as positive displacement pistons which roll atop a housing base raceway and which reciprocate within the rotor cylinders, a static center rod containing intake and exhaust ports and a plurality of magnets providing rotational torque to the rotor, which are driven by an AC or DC motor during operation. A preferred embodiment includes the step(s) of gas or vapor intake, compression and exhaust within each rotor cylinder through a cycle during which the ball pistons reciprocate into and out of each cylinder while rolling atop the housing raceway. A preferred embodiment includes compression of gas and vapor occurring quietly, efficiently, with low mechanical vibration and in any physical orientation of the machine.
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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot Applicable
DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIXNot Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to the field of compact refrigeration and more specifically to a machine for compressing gasses and vapors. For the past decade electronic systems have become more complex and compact with circuitry and components that operate at high energy density levels. Often times these electronic systems are used in outdoor applications where moisture, dust, and debris can foul critical circuitry and electronic components causing them to fail. To alleviate this problem electronics for outdoor applications are mounted within sealed enclosures that prevent these fouling elements from coming into contact with critical components. This solution however leads to the accumulation of heat, generated by the electronics system within the enclosure, and results in operating temperatures rising rapidly beyond acceptable levels. This trend is also observable when, for example, the human body performing acute physical activity is covered by clothing, protective garments and equipment. In this case, metabolic heat generated by physical activity cannot be removed through the unexposed skin and therefore accumulates in the body core resulting in heat stress, hyperthermia and in some cases death. The relationship between the thermal management of high energy density electronics within sealed enclosures and that of the human body may at first seem unrelated, until one considers that cooling systems for each require devices that are compact, lightweight, energy efficient, capable of significant heat lift and in many cases capable of operating in any physical orientation. To provide a satisfactory device for such applications, the present invention was developed to be compact, lightweight, power efficient, reliable and capable of operating in any physical orientation as a result of its unique design. The invention eliminates many of the outstanding performance, reliability and cost issues that beleaguer other technology. The present invention, designated the Radial Ball Vapor Compressor (RBVC), compresses gasses or vapors when ball bearings (pistons) housed within individual cylinders are rotated within a spinning rotor off-center from an outer raceway. Balls closer to the center hub are compressing vapor while balls extending into the raceway are drawing vapor into rotor cylinders. During each revolution of the rotor, centrifugal force compels each ball piston to slide outward within its cylinder producing the intake sequence. Mechanical force between the cylinder rotor and the raceway drives each ball into its cylinder for the compression sequence. Specially designed intake and exhaust ports are machined into the center pin. It is important to note that the rotor and the race are each cylindrical and that race eccentricity is, in effect, created when the rotor is positioned offset from the center of the race. The compact size of the RBVC is a noteworthy feature important to satisfy the needs of many applications including those herein stated. Previously performed analysis of the technology has verified that during compression of a lubricated refrigerant, the RBVC possesses greater than 95% mechanical efficiency due to the extremely low friction of the rotary ball design.
Unfortunately, recent developments in miniaturized cooling systems have largely failed to satisfy these requirements because of the unacceptable tradeoffs between system miniaturization, efficiency and reliability. Compact vapor compression cooling devices that use refrigerants to chill water for personal cooling have been extensively funded by various research programs over the past several years but have yet to be deployed as efficient, reliable, self-contained and compact systems to prevent heat stress because of lack of reliability and excessive cost. Body ventilation systems, ice vests, and even spray cooling systems have been developed to meet this need, however, these concepts too have seen limited success due to their inadequate heat lift capabilities and the unreasonable logistics burdens associated with their use and maintenance. Thermal management techniques developed to cool critical high energy density electronics housed within environmentally sealed enclosures include thermoelectric coolers, heat pipes, liquid spray cooling systems and compact vapor compression cooling systems. Respectively, these methods suffer from low efficiency, low heat lift capacity, unsustainable logistics burdens and lack of all physical orientation operation.
Because refrigerant vapor compression cooling shows the greatest promise for alleviating bodily heat stress and high heat lift capability for high energy density electronics cooling, engineering development is ongoing to eliminate the technical challenges associated with this technology, including large space claim requirements, excessive weight, lack of dynamic all-orientation operation, high noise levels, lack of reliability, low power efficiency, high production costs. Notable performance deficiencies in current miniaturized two-phase vapor compressors have arisen primarily because engineering development efforts have been focused only on adaptation of contemporary technology such as rolling piston, positive displacement piston and epiterchoid lobe rotor (Wankel) style vapor compressors, which continue to be complex, expensive, burdensome, energy inefficient and incapable of reliably cooling military or civilian personnel and equipment under dynamic all-orientation work conditions. Over the years, refrigerant vapor compression systems have proven very efficient, have been developed with a small footprint and are an established method to achieve high heat lift per unit weight. Miniature Vapor Compression technology has been utilized in prior efforts related to personal and electronics cooling with very limited success. The technical problems still plaguing these miniature systems realistically revolve around a single element, the compressor. Thus far, limited success has been achieved in the development of advanced miniaturized technology for refrigerant vapor compression because issues such as extreme noise, vibration, compressor failure in dynamic spatial orientation and excessive power consumption have led to failures in “real world” applications. The present invention focuses on innovative compressor technology that solves these problems by providing a mechanical compressor of gasses and vapors that is compact and lightweight and can operate in any physical orientation included inverted, unlike current technology the present invention exhibits exceptional mechanical efficiency resulting from extremely low mechanical friction and few moving parts. The present invention operates with a high coefficient of performance (COP) relative to the electrical energy required to power its operation, produces higher compressed gas and vapor volume per unit compressor volume relative to existing miniaturized compressors and can accommodate a wide range of volumetric flow rates for variable heat lift applications compared to existing compressor technology, the present invention operates quietly and with low mechanical vibration.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe primary object of the invention is to provide and efficient, compact and lightweight apparatus for compressing gasses and vapors.
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for compressing gasses and vapors that contains few moving parts.
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for compressing gasses and vapors that can operate in any physical orientation for long durations.
A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for compressing gasses and vapors that possesses exemplary mechanical efficiency.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for compressing gasses and vapors that possesses exemplary coefficient of performance (COP).
Still yet another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for compressing gasses and vapors that operates quietly and with low mechanical vibration.
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for compressing gasses and refrigerant vapors that provides variable mass flow rates of compressed gasses and vapors.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a machine for compressing gasses and vapors comprising: a housing consisting of a base and a cover, a housing that when assembled comprises a hermetically sealed cavity, a spinning rotor that contains a plurality of hollow cylinders each having a port penetration at its base, a plurality of solid spherical balls that serve as positive displacement pistons and which roll on the housing base internal raceway while reciprocating into and out of the rotor cylinders, a center rod containing gas or vapor intake and exhaust ports, a plurality of magnets that provide rotational torque to the rotor and which are driven by a magnetically coupled motor, a motor that drives the rotor during operation using alternating electrical current (AC) or direct electrical current (DC), a gas or vapor intake conduit, a gas or vapor exhaust conduit and an integrated micro-controller that enables variable speed compressor operation.
The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.
Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.
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It is a feature of the current invention that the angular velocity of rotor 11 rotation can be varied by means of external motor micro controller to provide manipulation of the mass rate of gas and vapor intake and compression, yet another feature that provides exceptional RBVC performance. In the present and preferred embodiment of the current invention the need and application of large thrust bearing members required to restrain rotor 11 movement in the vertical direction are mitigated leading to the beneficial operational enhancement of enabling long duration operation in any 3-dimensional spatial orientation without bearing failure. An added benefit of the preferred embodiment of the current invention is the simplicity with which lubrication of all rotating and reciprocating components is achieved through the addition of lubricant to intake gas or vapor that is easily distributed amongst critical component contact points by means of extensive hydraulic communication.
This invention has been described as A Machine for Compressing Gases and Vapors, but is intended to cover other applications involving other cooling including, but not limited to, cooling liquid crystal display (LCD) glass in indoor and outdoor applications, cooling various video display lamps or light sources that generate heat within electronics enclosures, combinations of computer electronics and video display systems integrated into a single sealed electronics enclosure, personal cooling systems that can be worn as portable refrigeration devices. The invention is also intended to cover the compression of gases and vapors not used for refrigeration such as the compression of air, oxygen or other naturally occurring chemicals or man made gasses or vapors used for medical, commercial or industrial purposes.
This invention has been described as having an exemplary design leading to the noteworthy benefits also described herein. The present invention may however be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure to therefore cover any variations, uses or adaptations of the invention using its general design and operational principles.
While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A machine for compressing gasses and vapors comprising:
- a housing consisting of a base and a cover;
- a housing that when assembled comprises a hermetically sealed cavity;
- a spinning rotor that contains a plurality of hollow cylinders;
- a plurality of solid spherical balls that serve as positive displacement pistons and which roll on the housing base internal raceway while reciprocating into and out of the rotor cylinders;
- a center rod containing gas or vapor intake and exhaust ports;
- a plurality of magnets that provide rotational torque to the rotor and which are driven by a magnetically coupled motor;
- a motor that drives the rotor during operation using alternating electrical current (A/C) or direct electrical current (D/C);
- a gas or vapor intake conduit; and
- a gas or vapor exhaust conduit.
2. A machine for compressing gasses and refrigerant vapors as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing base is fabricated of metals, plastics or other suitable rigid materials and may take the shape of a rectangle or right circular cylinder having a raceway concentrically nested on its inside surface; and which is mechanically coupled to said housing cover also fabricated of metals, plastics or other suitable rigid materials to form a hermetically sealed cavity.
3. A machine for compressing gasses and refrigerant vapors as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rotor is fabricated of metals, plastics or other suitable combinations of rigid materials and may take the shape of a right circular cylinder or ellipsoid; and contains a plurality of right circular hollow cylinders each having a port penetration in its base, in which gas or vapor is compressed by the operation of the machine.
4. A machine for compressing gasses and refrigerant vapors as claimed in claim 1 wherein said solid spherical balls serve as ball pistons fabricated of metal plastic or other suitable rigid materials which are operably coupled to said housing base raceway and operably disposed within said rotor cylinders; and are the means of mechanically compressing gas or vapor within the machine.
5. A machine for compressing gasses and refrigerant vapors as claimed in claim 1 wherein said center rod is a non-moving element within the machine that is comprised of hollow ports in the form of slots, holes or valved openings which are in hydraulic communication with said rotor cylinders and supply uncompressed gas or vapor to the machine; and exhaust compressed gas or vapor from the machine for use by external devices or processes.
6. A machine for compressing gasses and refrigerant vapors as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a plurality of magnets that are mechanically coupled to said rotor circumference and serve to transfer rotational torque to said rotor thereby providing a means for mechanical compression of gas or vapor.
7. A machine for compressing gasses and refrigerant vapors as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a motor that is magnetically coupled to said plurality of magnets and produces rotational torque using electrically generated alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) to effect to compression of gas or vapor.
8. A machine for compressing gasses and refrigerant vapors as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a micro-electronic control circuit that provides variable AC or DC to said motor and provides for the control of the mass rate at which gas or vapor is compressed.
9. A machine for compressing gasses and refrigerant vapors as claimed in claim 1 wherein said gas or vapor intake conduit is fabricated or metal or plastic tube and is hydraulically coupled to said center rod; and through which uncompressed gas or vapor is supplied to the machine from an external device or process.
10. A machine for compressing gasses and vapors as claimed in claim 1 wherein said gas or vapor exhaust conduit is fabricated or metal or plastic tube and is hydraulically coupled to said center rod; and through which compressed gas or vapor is supplied from the machine from an external device or process.
11. A machine for compressing gasses and refrigerant vapors comprising:
- a housing consisting of a base and a cover;
- a housing that when assembled is hermetically sealed;
- a housing base that contains an internal raceway;
- a spinning rotor that contains a plurality of hollow cylinders;
- a plurality of solid spherical balls that serve as positive displacement pistons and which roll on the housing base internal raceway while reciprocating into and out of the rotor cylinders;
- a center rod containing gas or refrigerant vapor intake and exhaust ports;
- a plurality of magnets that provide rotational torque to the rotor and are driven by a magnetically coupled motor;
- a magnetically coupled motor that drives the rotor during operation using alternating electrical current (A/C) or direct electrical current (D/C);
- an integrated micro-controller that enable variable speed compressor operation;
- a gas or refrigerant vapor intake conduit; and
- a gas or refrigerant vapor exhaust conduit also comprising the steps of drawing into the machine a continuous stream of vapor or gas from an external source, compressing the vapor or gas within the machine to a pressure higher than that of its pressure upon entering the machine and delivering the compressed material to an external device in vapor or gaseous form.
12. A machine for compressing gasses and refrigerant vapors as claimed in claim 11 wherein said motor generates rotational torque using AC or DC that is transferred to said plurality of magnets that are mechanically coupled to said rotor thereby producing rotation of rotor within said hermetically sealed cavity.
13. A machine for compressing gasses and refrigerant vapors as claimed in claim 11 further comprising the step(s) of drawing gas or vapor into said rotor cylinders through an intake cycle during which said ball pistons, operably disposed within rotor cylinders, reciprocate outward from rotor center through centrifugal force while rolling atop said housing base raceway causing a vacuum within each rotor cylinder.
14. A machine for compressing gasses and refrigerant vapors as claimed in claim 13 wherein said vacuum is the means by which uncompressed gas or vapor is drawn into said machine as each rotor cylinder base port position corresponds to that of said center pin intake port.
15. A machine for compressing gasses and refrigerant vapors as claimed in claim 14 further comprising the step(S) of compressing gas or vapor within said rotor cylinders through a compression cycle during which said ball pistons, operably disposed within rotor cylinders, reciprocate inward from rotor center through mechanical force while rolling atop said housing raceway.
16. A machine for compressing gasses and refrigerant vapors as claimed in claim 15 further comprising the step(s) of exhausting compressed gas or vapor from said rotor cylinders to an external device or process through an exhaust cycle during which each rotor cylinder base port position corresponds to that of said center pin exhaust port.
17. A machine for compressing gasses and refrigerant vapors as claimed in claim 16 wherein said intake, compression and exhaust of gas and vapor occurs quietly, efficiently, with low mechanical vibration and in any physical orientation of the machine.
Type: Application
Filed: May 2, 2007
Publication Date: Nov 6, 2008
Inventors: John David Jude (Scottsdale, AZ), John Carl Bastian (Yorkville, IL)
Application Number: 11/799,873
International Classification: F01C 1/02 (20060101);