U.S. patent application number 10/941574 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-24 for package-type fluidic apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to Anest Iwata Corporation. Invention is credited to Fukui, Atsushi, Sato, Kazuaki.
Application Number | 20050063844 10/941574 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34191432 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050063844 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sato, Kazuaki ; et
al. |
March 24, 2005 |
Package-type fluidic apparatus
Abstract
A package type fluidic apparatus having two housings. Each of
two housings has a plurality of chambers. A drive source and a
fluid machine constitute a fluid machine unit which is included in
each of the chambers. Between the housings, there is a sucking
path, and a sucking hole through the inner side wall of the housing
is formed to allow the housing to communicate with the sucking
path. An exhaust duct having an exhaust fan is connected to the
rear wall of each of the housings. The structure facilitates
inspection and maintenance of the fluid machine unit.
Inventors: |
Sato, Kazuaki;
(Yokohama-shi, JP) ; Fukui, Atsushi;
(Yokohama-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ZARLEY LAW FIRM P.L.C.
CAPITAL SQUARE
400 LOCUST, SUITE 200
DES MOINES
IA
50309-2350
US
|
Assignee: |
Anest Iwata Corporation
Yokohama-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
34191432 |
Appl. No.: |
10/941574 |
Filed: |
September 15, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/423.5 ;
417/423.1; 417/423.14 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F01C 21/007 20130101;
F04C 29/04 20130101; F04C 23/00 20130101; F04C 23/001 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/423.5 ;
417/423.1; 417/423.14 |
International
Class: |
F04F 005/00; F04B
017/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 22, 2003 |
JP |
2003-330494 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A package-type fluidic apparatus comprising: two housings each
comprising a chamber that has a fluid-machine unit in which a fluid
machine is connected to a drive source; a sucking path between the
two housings; a sucking hole formed in an inner side wall of each
of the housings to allow each of the housings to communicate with
the sucking path; and an exhaust duct at a rear wall of each of the
housings, said exhaust duct having an exhaust fan.
2. A package-type fluidic apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein
the two housings have substantially the same shape and size.
3. A package-type fluidic apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a
plurality of chambers are piled up in each of the housings, the
exhaust duct being connected to rear walls of said plurality of
chambers.
4. A package-type fluidic apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein
the sucking path opens at a rear end between the housings.
5. A package-type fluidic apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a
front end of the sucking path is closed by an operation display
plate and a removable inspection door between the housings.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a package-type fluidic
apparatus in which a fluid machine such as a scroll compressor, a
vacuum pump, an expander or a blower is connected to a drive
source.
[0002] To reduce noise from a compressor and a drive source for
driving it, they are often disposed within a package. A single
high-output compressor is included within the package, or a
plurality of low-output compressors are piled up to form a
high-output compressor in a package.
[0003] In particular, when a compressor is used in a factory, in
view of the maximum air consumption, a single high-output
compressor for producing it is used within a package.
[0004] However, when air produced by a high-output compressor is
used in a factory, the rate of operation is about 100% all day
long, while it decreases to less than 50% depending on time in a
day. According to a season in a year, compressed air consumption is
variable and power source for driving a compressor cannot
frequently be switched on and off when a high-output compressor is
used.
[0005] In a medium-sized or large machine in which a large air tank
is difficult to put, as frequency of starting and stopping
increases, it becomes likely to generate heat during starting of a
motor, to decrease life of an electromagnetic switch and to cause
mechanical problem of a compressor, and a motor starting current of
a compressor becomes five to six times as that of rated operation
to involve decrease in power source. In a large machine, voltage of
power source decreases owing to the starting current and adverse
effects to transforming and distribution installation so as not to
enable on/off of the power source frequently.
[0006] To solve such problems, for example, when output of the
compressor is 15 kW, four compressors having output of 3.7 kW are
included in a package. The compressors start with staggered time
and the first, second, third and fourth compressors start in order
to avoid the problem.
[0007] Depending on air consumption, it is possible to determine
the optimum number of operation. Specifically, a plurality of
compressors such as four are piled up to constitute a single
package compressor. When it operates with about 100% of compression
air, all the four compressors operate. One of the four stops with
about 70% of air consumption; two stop with less than 50%; three
stop with further decrease; and all stop with further decrease.
[0008] Thus, electric power consumption is corresponding to the
compression air consumption. Electric power consumption decreases
compared with a single high-output compressor. If the compressor
stops owing to any cause, capability for producing compression air
becomes null immediately in the single high-output compressor to
result in stop of all machines in which compression air is used,
thereby increasing damage in the factory.
[0009] On the contrary, in a plurality of compressors, even if one
stops, it will avoid the risk that operation completely stops, as
the others continue to operate. A plurality of compressors may
preferably be employed.
[0010] In a plurality of compressors, a compressor and its drive
source form a set of subsidiary unit. However, when a plurality of
the subsidiary units are disposed horizontally or stepwise, a
required area increases to unable its location. To decrease the
area, a plurality of subsidiary units are vertically piled.
[0011] It is possible to pile them up, but is limited by height of
a room and by how to transport. For maintenance of the taller
compressor, a ladder must be used thereby increasing work of
maintenance and involving danger.
[0012] In view of the disadvantages, it is an object of the
invention to provide a package-type fluidic apparatus that can be
maintained without ladders or without increase in area thereby
facilitating inspection and maintenance of the fluid machine, for
example, in case of a scroll compressor, enabling a fixed scroll to
be disassembled, tip seals of fixed and orbiting scrolls to be
replaced, a bearing to be greased up and a subsidiary unit to be
exchanged easily.
[0013] The above and other features and advantages of the invention
will become more apparent from the following description with
respect to an embodiment as shown in appended drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] A package type fluidic apparatus having two housings each
with a chamber that has a fluid-machine unit in which a fluid
machine is connected to a drive source. Between the two housings is
a sucking path. To allow each of the housings to communicate with
the sucking path a sucking hole is formed in an inner side wall of
each of the housings. The rear wall of each of the housings has an
exhaust duct with an exhaust fan.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a best-mode embodiment
of a package-type fluidic apparatus according to the present
invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of FIG. 1, removing right
and left front closing plates of a housing, electric wires to a
motor and conduits to the fluid machine;
[0017] FIG. 3 is a front upper perspective view of FIG. 1, removing
a top plate, the closing plates and an inspection door;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a top plan view in which the top plate is removed;
and
[0019] FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line V-V
in FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0020] Two housings 2,2 each of which has four chambers 1 piled up
are disposed with a space which is a sucking path 3. The housings
2,2 have the same shape and size, and the four chambers 1 have the
same shape and size.
[0021] The sucking path 3 is closed by a removable inspection door
5 between front walls 4,4 over the housings 2,2. The upper part of
the sucking path 3 is closed by an operation-display plate 5b. The
rear end of the sucking path 3 opens, and external air is taken in
through the rear opening.
[0022] The side ends of the operation-display plate 5b are mounted
with screws to the opposing ends of the housings 2,2, and the
operation-display plate 5b can be removed, if required. The
inspection door 5 is removable by pushing down a slide latch 5a
with a finger to open, so that sucking filters of fluid machines 8
in the housings 2,2 are inspected for maintenance.
[0023] On a bottom plate 6 of each of the chambers 1, a motor 7 and
the fluid machine 8 such as a compressor or a decompression device
behind the motor 7 are connected to pulleys 9,10 and a belt 11 to
form a fluid machine unit 12.
[0024] In the chamber 1 of each of the housings 2,2, a sucking hole
14 is formed through the inner side wall 13 to allow each of the
housings 2,2 to communicate with the sucking path 3. In the chamber
1 of each of the housings 2,2, an exhaust hole 16 is formed in a
rear wall 15. A tall exhaust duct 17 is provided along the four
exhaust holes 16 vertically arranged behind the housing 2. An
electric exhaust fan 18 is provided in the top wall of the exhaust
duct 17.
[0025] By driving the exhaust fans 18,18 and actuating the fluid
machine units 12 positioned depending on gas volume to be
pressurized or depressurized, a place where the gas is utilized and
reaching time to a predetermined pressure, external air flows into
the chamber 1 through the sucking path 3 and the sucking opening 14
and moves rearward. The air is discharged from the exhaust fan 18
through the exhaust duct 17.
[0026] Thus, the motor 7 and fluid machine 8 in the chamber 1 are
cooled with external air, thereby avoiding overheat generated with
continuous long-time operation and preventing damage to sliding
parts.
[0027] The motor 7 and fluid machine 8 in the chamber 1 can be
inspected and maintained by removing a closing plate at the rear
end of the sucking path 3 and then removing the inner side wall 13
facing the sucking path.
[0028] The foregoing merely relates to an embodiment of the
invention. Various changes and modifications may be made by a
person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of
claims wherein:
* * * * *