U.S. patent application number 11/406907 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-25 for device for changing the pressure of a fluid.
Invention is credited to Walter Donald Davis, Walter Robert Davis.
Application Number | 20070248454 11/406907 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38619624 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070248454 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Davis; Walter Donald ; et
al. |
October 25, 2007 |
Device for changing the pressure of a fluid
Abstract
A device for changing the pressure of a fluid having a shaft
with rotor blades spiraling in a first direction located on the
shaft. The rotor blades rotate adjacent stator vanes that spiral
along a stator housing in a direction opposite the first direction.
The device changes the pressure of a fluid from a pressure P1 to a
pressure P2.
Inventors: |
Davis; Walter Donald;
(Lebanon, OH) ; Davis; Walter Robert; (Lebanon,
OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARSHALL & MELHORN
FOUR SEAGATE, EIGHT FLOOR
TOLEDO
OH
43604
US
|
Family ID: |
38619624 |
Appl. No.: |
11/406907 |
Filed: |
April 19, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
415/74 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04D 5/001 20130101;
F04D 3/02 20130101; F04D 19/00 20130101; F04D 3/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
415/074 |
International
Class: |
F04D 3/02 20060101
F04D003/02 |
Claims
1. A device for changing the pressure of a fluid, comprising: a
shaft having at least two substantially continuous rotor blades
spiraling in a first direction from a leading portion of said shaft
to a trailing portion of said shaft, said rotor blades rotating
adjacent at least two substantially continuous, spiraling stator
vanes, said stator vanes spiraling in a direction opposite of said
first direction, to change the pressure of a fluid from a pressure
P1 at said leading portion of said shaft to a pressure P2 at said
trailing portion of said shaft.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein said pressure P1 is greater than
said pressure P2.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein said shaft is a paraboloid.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein said fluid is located among said
rotor blades and said stator vanes and flows between said leading
portion and said trailing portion of said shaft.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein a first rotor blade decreases in
diameter at a first amount along said shaft and a second rotor
blade decreases in diameter at a second, different amount along
said shaft.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein each of said rotor blades has an
upturned outboard portion.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein each of said rotor blades has a
leading edge portion that is swept back from said leading portion
of said shaft.
8. The device of claim 7, wherein each of said stator vanes has an
upturned outboard portion.
9. The device of claim 8, wherein each of said stator vanes has a
leading edge portion that is swept back from an inlet portion of a
stator housing, said stator vanes being attached to said stator
housing.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least two rotor blades
do not contact said at least two stator blades.
11. The device of claim 1, wherein each of said stator vanes
decreases in diameter as said shaft increases in diameter from said
leading portion to said trailing portion.
12. The device of claim 1, wherein each of said rotor blades
decreases in diameter as said shaft increases in diameter from said
leading portion to said trailing portion.
13. The device of claim 1, wherein said fluid is air.
14. The device of claim 9, wherein said stator vanes extend into a
hollow interior portion of said stator housing and wherein said
interior portion has a longitudinal centerline and said shaft has a
rotational axis and wherein said longitudinal centerline of said
interior portion and said rotational axis of said shaft are
aligned.
15. The device of claim 1, wherein a fan directs said fluid into
said stator vanes and said rotor blades, and said stator vanes and
rotor blades pressurize said fluid and direct said fluid into a
combustor.
16. The device of claim 1, wherein said stator vanes and said rotor
blades are constructed of carbon fiber.
17. The device of claim 1, wherein the distance between said stator
vanes changes along said shaft.
18. The device of claim 1, wherein the distance between said rotor
blades changes along said shaft.
19. The device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of fan blades are
located on said leading portion of said shaft, said fan blades
transitioning into said rotor blades.
20. The device of claim 1, wherein said stator vanes and said rotor
blades themselves are substantially nonpermeable but said fluid can
flow between them.
21. A fluid compressor, comprising: a stator housing having an
inner wall and at least two substantially continuous stator vanes
located on said inner wall, said stator vanes extending radially
into a hollow inner portion of said stator housing from said inner
wall and said stator vanes spiraling along said inner wall from an
inlet of said stator housing to an outlet of said stator housing;
and at least two substantially continuous rotor blades spiraling
from a forward portion of a shaft to a trailing portion of said
shaft, said rotor blades spiraling in an opposite direction from
said stator vanes; wherein said shaft is located within said hollow
inner portion of said stator housing such that said at least two
rotor blades are free to rotate adjacent said at least two stator
vanes to compress a fluid within said housing.
22. The fluid compressor of claim 21, wherein said fluid is
air.
23. The fluid compressor of claim 26, wherein a fan directs said
fluid into said stator vanes and said rotor blades, and said stator
vanes and rotor blades direct said fluid into a combustor.
24. The fluid compressor of claim 21, wherein said stator vanes and
said rotor blades are constructed of carbon fiber.
25. The fluid compressor of claim 21, wherein said stator vanes and
said rotor blades themselves are substantially nonpermeable but
said fluid can flow between them.
26. The fluid compressor of claim 21, wherein at least one of said
rotor blades has an upturned side edge portion.
27. The fluid compressor of claim 21, wherein at least one of said
rotor blades has a leading edge portion that is swept back from
said leading portion of said shaft.
28. The fluid compressor of claim 21, wherein at least one of said
stator vanes has an upturned side edge portion.
29. The fluid compressor of claim 26, wherein at least one of said
stator vanes has a leading edge portion that is swept back from
said inlet of said stator housing.
30. The fluid compressor of claim 21, wherein said at least two
rotor blades do not contact said at least two stator vanes and said
at least two rotor blades are not intertwined with said at least
two stator vanes.
31. The fluid compressor of claim 21, wherein said interior portion
of said housing has a longitudinal centerline and said shaft has a
rotational axis and wherein said longitudinal centerline of said
interior portion and said rotational axis of said shaft are
aligned.
32. A compressor for a vehicle, comprising: a fan having a
plurality of rotating surfaces for drawing air into an engine; a
compressor located behind said fan for receiving at least a portion
of said air from said fan and increasing the pressure of said air
from an inlet of said compressor to an outlet of said compressor,
said compressor comprised of at least two continuous stator vanes
spiraling in a first direction and at least two continuous rotor
blades spiraling in a direction opposite of said first direction
adjacent said stator vanes; a combustor for receiving pressurized
air from said compressor, for adding fuel to said pressurized air
and for igniting the fuel and pressurized air combination to
produce a high energy air flow; and a turbine located behind said
combustor, where said high energy air flow acts on said turbine to
cause said turbine to rotate.
33. The fluid compressor of claim 32, wherein said fluid is
air.
34. The fluid compressor of claim 32, wherein said stator vanes and
said rotor blades are constructed of carbon fiber.
35. The fluid compressor of claim 32, wherein said stator vanes and
said rotor blades themselves are substantially nonpermeable but
said fluid can flow between them.
36. The fluid compressor of claim 32, wherein at least one of said
rotor blades has an upturned outboard portion.
37. The fluid compressor of claim 32, wherein at least one of said
rotor blades has a leading edge portion that is swept back from a
leading portion of said shaft.
38. The fluid compressor of claim 32, wherein at least one of said
stator vanes has an upturned outboard portion.
39. The fluid compressor of claim 32, wherein at least one of said
stator vanes has a leading edge portion that is swept back from an
inlet of a housing on which said stator vanes are attached.
40. The fluid compressor of claim 32, wherein said at least two
rotor blades are not intertwined with said at least two stator
blades.
41. The fluid compressor of claim 32, wherein said housing has an
interior portion having a longitudinal centerline and wherein said
rotor blades are mounted on a shaft having a rotational axis, said
shaft being rotatably mounted within said interior portion and
wherein said longitudinal centerline of said interior portion and
said rotational axis of said shaft are aligned.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a device, such as a
compressor or vacuum pump, for changing the pressure of a fluid,
such as water or air.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Generally speaking, devices, such as compressors or vacuum
pumps, that change the pressure of a fluid, such as water or air,
are well known to those skilled in the art. Such pressure changing
devices can be found in a wide variety of applications including,
but not limited to, jet watercraft, such as jet-skis.RTM., turbo
charges for vehicles, such as automobiles, jet engines and blowers
for inflatable devices.
[0003] It is also well known that pressure changing devices take
many different forms. One form of a pressure changing device is
commonly known as an axial flow device since the fluid it moves
travels generally parallel with respect to an axis of rotation of
the device. Typically, in an axial flow device, a rotor is located
within and parallel to a stator, to move fluid through the
device.
[0004] It has been found that such axial flow devices for changing
the pressure of a fluid can be unnecessarily heavy, large, complex,
expensive to manufacture and repair, and in some instances,
dangerous. A brief summary of such devices, as presented in U.S.
patents, appears below.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 2,397,139 teaches a fluid unit having a pair
of helices 34 and 34' nested within each other and which rotate
with the core 2. The mechanism also includes another pair of
helices 35 and 36 which rotate with the core 2 and are intermeshed
with helices 34 and 34'. An alternative embodiment of the invention
is depicted in FIG. 79 where a stationary shell 274 is located
around a rotatable core 277. The patent states in column 10, lines
55-57 that the helices of the rotatable core rotate in cooperation
with the outer helices with which they intermesh.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,585,401 provides for a helical down-hole
machine for drilling but, due to the design of the machine, it may
also be used as a pump. The machine has a plurality of segments
wherein each segment is provided with rotor and stator elements
adapted to cooperate with each other during operation. Each stator
has a surface facing the rotor that is helically grooved. The rotor
disposed within the stator is likewise provided with helical
grooves. The patent indicates that the helical grooves of the
stator and rotor form cavities of variable volume for the passage
of fluid. The stator and rotors are respectively continuously
formed at least within a single segment.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,614,232 teaches a device for moving fluid
consisting of drive means having a spiral rotor which is located
within a spiral stator. A pump means is included and is also taught
to have a spiral rotor located within a spiral stator. The spiraled
rotors of the drive means and the pump are depicted as
continuous.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,120,204 provides for a helical gear pump
comprised of an outer stator member with a female helical gear
formation and an inner rotor rotatable within the stator having a
helical male gear formation. The patent emphasizes that a good seal
must be present at all times between the stator and the rotor for
the pump to efficiently operate.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,819 teaches the use of carbon fibers for
turbine blades. The blades are not wholly constructed of carbon
fibers, but instead are comprised of a resin, the carbon fibers and
a mineral filler.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,451 provides for a pump having an inlet
housing provided with three helical vanes disposed on an interior
surface of the housing. An impeller is provided which is comprised
of a first conical surface and a plurality of vanes. The base of a
second conical surface abuts the base of the first conical surface.
The second conical surface is fitted with three helical discharge
vanes.
[0011] Other related patents include U.S. Pat. No. 2,771,900 which
provides for a continuous helical screw rotor on a conical impeller
for fluid movement; U.S. Pat. No. 5,248,896 which provides for a
continuous helical screw rotor interwoven with a continuous helical
screw stator for fluid pumping; U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,810 which
teaches a continuous helical screw rotor having a decreasing pitch
in the direction of fluid flow; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,672,855 which
provides for a pump having a root diameter of each rotor
increasing, and the thread diameter of each rotor decreasing, in
the direction of fluid flow. Additionally, the thickness of the
rotors decreases in the direction of fluid flow.
[0012] In light of the above, it would advantageous to have an
axial flow device for changing the pressure of a fluid that is
lightweight, relatively compact, efficient in its design,
inexpensive to manufacture and repair and also which is safe.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The present invention is a device for changing the pressure
of a fluid comprising a shaft having at least two substantially
continuous rotor blades spiraling in a first direction from a
leading portion of the shaft to a trailing portion of the shaft.
The rotor blades rotate adjacent at least two substantially
continuous, spiraling stator vanes. The stator vanes spiral in a
direction opposite of the first direction to change the pressure of
a fluid from a pressure P1 at the leading portion of the shaft to a
pressure P2 at the trailing portion of the shaft.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The above, as well as other advantages of the present
invention, will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art
from the following detailed description when considered in the
light of the accompanying drawings in which:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic, exploded side view of a preferred
embodiment of a rotor portion and a stator housing of the present
invention;
[0016] FIG. 1A is a schematic side view of another embodiment of a
rotor portion of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 1B is a schematic side view of yet another embodiment
of a rotor portion of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a schematic, exploded, cut-away side view of the
rotor portion and the stator housing take along lines 2-2 of FIG.
1;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a schematic, exploded, perspective view of the
rotor portion and the stator housing of FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a schematic, perspective view of the rotor portion
located in the stator housing;
[0021] FIG. 5 is a schematic, side view of the rotor portion
located in a stator housing that has been partially cut-away;
[0022] FIG. 6 is a schematic, cut-away side view of a jet
engine;
[0023] FIG. 7 is a schematic, exploded side view of another
preferred embodiment of a rotor portion and a stator housing of the
present invention;
[0024] FIG. 8 is a schematic, exploded, cut-away side view of the
rotor portion and the stator housing taken along lines 8-8 of FIG.
7;
[0025] FIG. 9 is a schematic, exploded, perspective view of the
rotor portion and the stator housing of FIG. 7;
[0026] FIG. 10 is a schematic, exploded side view of another
preferred embodiment of a rotor portion and a stator housing of the
present invention;
[0027] FIG. 11 is a schematic, exploded, cut-away side view of the
rotor portion and the stator housing take along lines 11-11 of FIG.
10; and
[0028] FIG. 12 is a schematic, exploded, perspective view of the
rotor portion and the stator housing of FIG. 10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0029] It is to be understood that the invention may assume various
alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly
specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the
specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached
drawings, and described in the following specification are simply
exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the
appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions, directions or other
physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed are
not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state
otherwise.
[0030] Referring now to FIGS. 1-3 of the present invention, a rotor
portion 20 comprising a shaft 22 and at least two rotor blades 24
located on the shaft 22, is depicted as exploded from a stator
housing portion 26. The rotor blades 24 may be integrally formed
with the shaft 22 or they may be separate pieces that are secured
to the shaft 22. Preferably, at least the rotor blades 24 are
constructed of a lightweight material, such as carbon fiber. The
rotor blades 24 may also be constructed of other materials
including, but not limited to, one or more metals, one or more
composite materials and/or one or more polymers, such as a plastic
material.
[0031] Regardless of the material from which the rotor blades 24
are constructed, it is preferred that they are substantially
non-permeable to fluid. While fluid does not flow through the rotor
blades 24 themselves, fluid does flow around the rotor blades
24.
[0032] Each rotor blade 24 preferably begins at a leading portion
28 of the shaft 22 and spirals along a central portion 30 of the
shaft 22 where it preferably terminates at a trailing portion 32 of
the shaft 22. Thus, the rotor blades 24 preferably extend
substantially continuously from the leading portion 28 of the shaft
22 to the trailing portion 32 of the shaft 22. Preferably, the
rotor blades 24 spiral along the shaft 22 in a first direction, as
shown in FIGS. 1-3.
[0033] While the figures depict the rotor blades 24 spiraling along
the shaft 22 in a first direction, it should be appreciated that
the blades 24 can spiral along the shaft 22 in a direction opposite
the first direction without departing from the scope or spirit of
the invention.
[0034] Each rotor blade 24 has a leading edge 34. As shown in FIG.
1, the leading edge 34 of each blade 24 extends from the leading
portion 28 of the shaft 22 substantially perpendicularly to an axis
of rotation 36 of the shaft 22. In an alternative embodiment
depicted in FIG. 1A, the leading edge 34 of each blade 24 is swept
back toward the trailing portion 32 of the shaft 22. The angle at
which the leading edge 34 of each blade 24 may be swept can very
without departing from the scope of the invention. A swept leading
edge 34 reduces drag on the rotor blade 24.
[0035] In yet another embodiment of the invention depicted in FIG.
1B, the leading edge 34 of one or more rotor blades 24 may define a
scoop 38. The scoop 38 may extend substantially perpendicularly
from the axis of rotation 36 of the shaft 22 or it may be swept
back and taper toward the trailing portion 32. It should also be
appreciated the present invention may comprise rotor blades 24
having one or more leading edges 34 extending perpendicularly from
the axis of rotation 36 of the shaft 22, one or more leading edges
34 that are swept back and/or one or more leading edges 34 that
define a scoop 38.
[0036] In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1-3, including FIGS. 1A
and 1B, the rotor blades 24 spiral toward the trailing portion 32
of the shaft 22 substantially equidistant from one another at a
predetermined distance. It can be appreciated, however, that the
rotor blades 24 may be located nearer one another, farther from one
another and/or the distance between them may vary along the shaft
22.
[0037] FIGS. 1-3, including FIGS. 1A and 1B, also depict an
outboard portion 40 of each rotor blade 24 having an upturned edge
42. It should be appreciated that it is not critical to the present
invention for each rotor blade 24 to have an upturned edge 42 and
that one, none, some or all of the rotor blades 24 can have an
upturned edge 42. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited
to an upturned edge 42 that continues along each rotor blade 24
from the leading portion 28 of the shaft 22 to the trailing portion
32. Instead, the upturned portion 42 can extend for any portion of
the rotor blade 24 or for portions of the rotor blade 24. An
upturned edge 42 on the rotor blade 24 assists the fluid to
transition from the rotor blade 24 to the stator vane in the
housing portion 26, discussed in more detail below.
[0038] The rotor blades 24 depicted in the figures are shown
extending from the shaft 22 at substantially the same angle, or
pitch. The rotor blades 24 may extend from the shaft 22 at a pitch
other than as depicted in the figures and it should be appreciated
that the pitch can vary along the shaft 22. Additionally, the
pitches of one or more rotor blades 24 can vary from each
other.
[0039] The shaft 22 may be one-piece or multiple pieces secured
together. The shaft 22 is preferably constructed of a lightweight
material, such as carbon fiber, however, the present invention is
not limited to just carbon fiber. Instead, the shaft may be
constructed of one or more metals, one or more ceramics, one or
more composite materials and/or one or more polymers, such as a
plastic material.
[0040] As best seen in FIGS. 1, 1A, 1B, 2 and 3, the shaft 22 is
preferably an elliptical paraboloid, or cone-shaped, with the shaft
22 tapering down from the trailing portion 32 to the leading
portion 28. The shaft 22 is depicted in the figures as
substantially solid; however, this is not a prerequisite for the
present invention. The shaft 22 may be hollow, partially solid or
entirely solid.
[0041] In the embodiment where the shaft 22 is an elliptical
paraboloid, the rotor blades 24 are wider adjacent the leading
portion 28 of the shaft 22. The rotor blades 24 gradually decrease
in width as they spiral along the shaft 22 so as to maintain a
relatively constant overall diameter of the rotor portion 20.
[0042] The rotor blades 24 preferably have a relatively constant
thickness from the leading portion 28 of the shaft 22 to the
trailing portion 32 of the shaft 22. The present invention is not,
however, limited to the rotor blades 24 having a relatively
constant thickness over the entire shaft 22. Instead, the rotor
blades 24 may be thicker near the leading portion 28 of the shaft
22 as compared to the trailing portion 32, or vice versa, and/or
they may vary in thickness (T) along the shaft 22.
[0043] The housing portion 26 comprises an outer wall 44 that
contains an inner wall 46. The inner wall 46 defines an inlet 48
and an outlet 50 for the housing portion 26. The inner wall 46 has
a complimentary shape to the above-described shaft 22. For example,
in the preferred embodiment of the shaft 22 of FIGS. 1-3, the inner
wall 46 tapers downwardly from the inlet 48 to the outlet 50 to
match the design of the shaft 22. Preferably, the taper is of a
curvilinear fashion, although it is within the scope of the present
invention to taper the inner wall 46 in a linear fashion.
[0044] At least two stator vanes 52 depend from the inner wall 46
and extend inwardly into an inner portion 54 of the housing portion
26. The stator vanes 52 may be integrally formed with the inner
wall 46 or they may be separate pieces that are secured to the
inner wall 46.
[0045] Preferably, at least the stator vanes 52 are constructed of
a lightweight material, such as carbon fiber. The stator vanes 52
may also be constructed of other materials including, but not
limited to, one or more metals, one or more ceramics, one or more
composite materials and/or one or more polymers, such as a plastic
material.
[0046] Regardless of the material from which the stator vanes 52
are constructed, it is preferred that they are substantially
non-permeable to fluid. While fluid does not flow through the
stator vanes 52 themselves, fluid does flow around the stator vanes
52.
[0047] Each stator vane 52 substantially begins at the inlet 48 and
spirals substantially continuously along the inner wall 46 where
each vane 52 terminates substantially at the outlet 50. Preferably,
the stator vanes 52 spiral along the inner wall 46 in a second
direction, which is opposite the first direction of the rotor
blades 24.
[0048] It can be appreciated that it was mentioned above that the
rotor blades 24 spiral along the shaft 22 in the first direction,
as depicted in the figures, or in the opposite direction.
Regardless of which direction the rotor blades 24 spiral along the
shaft 22 in, the stator vanes 52 spiral in the opposite
direction.
[0049] Each stator vane 52 has a leading edge 56. The leading edge
56 of each stator vane 52 extends from the inlet 48 substantially
perpendicular to the axis of rotation 36 of the shaft 22, as shown
in FIGS. 2 and 3. Alternatively, the leading edge 56 of each stator
vane 52 may be swept back toward the outlet 50. A swept leading
edge 56 on the stator vanes 52 helps reduce drag from the
fluid.
[0050] As best seen in FIG. 2, the stator vanes 52 spiral toward
the outlet 50 substantially equidistant from one another at a
predetermined distance. It can be appreciated, however, that the
stator vanes 52 may be located nearer one another, farther from one
another and/or the distance between them may vary along the inner
wall 46.
[0051] FIGS. 2-3, also depict an outboard portion 58 of each stator
vane 52 having an upturned edge 60. It should be appreciated that
it is not critical to the present invention for each stator vanes
52 to have an upturned edge 60 and that one, some, none or all of
the stators vanes 52 can have an upturned edge 60. Furthermore, the
present invention is not limited to an upturned edge 60 that
continues along each stator vane 52 from the inlet 48 to the outlet
50. Instead, the upturned edge 60 can extend for any portion of the
stator vane 52 or portions of the stator vanes 52. An upturned edge
60 on the rotor blade 24 assists the fluid to transition from the
rotor blade 24 to the stator vane 52.
[0052] In the embodiment where the shaft 22 is a paraboloid, the
stator vanes 52 are wider adjacent the inlet 48. The stator vanes
52 gradually decrease in width as they spiral along the inner wall
46 to accommodate the wider base of the shaft 22 near the outlet
50. Preferably, the stator vanes 52 create a substantially constant
inner diameter for the stator housing portion 26.
[0053] The stator vanes 52 preferably have relatively constant
thicknesses from the inlet 48 to the outlet 50. The present
invention is not, however, limited to the stator vanes 52 having a
relatively constant thickness. Instead, the stator vanes 52 may be
thicker near the inlet 48 than at the outlet 50, or vice versa,
and/or they may vary in thickness along the inner wall 46.
[0054] The stator vanes 52 depicted in the figures are shown
extending from the stator housing portion 26 at substantially the
same angle, or pitch. The stator vanes 52 may extend from the
stator housing portion 26 at a pitch other than as depicted in the
figures. Further, the pitch of the stator vanes 52 can vary along
the stator housing portion 26. Additionally, the various stator
vanes 52 may be provided with various pitches that are not the same
as one another.
[0055] Regardless of the size, shape, location or number of stator
vanes 52, it can be appreciated that the stator vanes 52 counteract
the spin imparted to the fluid from the rotor blades 24, also
regardless of the size, shape, location or number of rotor blades
24. More particularly, the pitch of the stator vanes 52 assists in
counteracting the spin imparted to the fluid from the rotor blades
24 and in converting the rotated fluid to an axial flow. The
viscosity of the fluid is also a function of the extent to which
the stators 52 counteract the spin imparted to the fluid.
[0056] Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the rotor portion 20 is
preferably located in the housing portion 26 such that at least the
initial portions of the leading edges 34 of the rotor blades 24 are
substantially in the same horizontal plane as the leading edges 56
of the stator vanes 52. It should be appreciated, however, that the
leading edges 56 of the rotor blades 24 and the leading edges 56 of
the stator vanes 52 need not be aligned.
[0057] It can also be appreciated by referring to FIGS. 4 and 5
that the outboard portions 40 of the rotor blades 24 do not touch
the outboard portions 58 of the stator vanes 52. Preferably, a
small, constant gap 62 is located between the rotor blades 24 and
the stator vanes 52, as shown in the figures. It is also within the
scope of the present invention for this gap 62 to be a dimension
other than as depicted in the figures. Further, it is within the
scope of this invention for this gap 62 to vary in size over the
length of the rotor portion 20 and the stator housing portion 26.
Additionally, it is preferred that the rotor blades 24 are not
intertwined with the stator vanes 52.
[0058] FIGS. 7-9 depict another embodiment of the present
invention. Reference numbers used for FIGS. 1-5 described above are
used for like features of the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 7-9, but
are multiplied by 100.
[0059] As shown in FIGS. 7-9, a fan 64 is located on the leading
portion 128 of the shaft 122. The fan 64 is comprised of a
plurality of blades 66. The blades 66 may be integrally formed with
the shaft 122 or they may be separately formed and secured to the
shaft 122. Preferably, the blades 66 are constructed of a
lightweight material, such as carbon fiber, although other
materials, such as one or more metals, one or more ceramics, one or
more polymers, and/or one or more composite materials, are within
the scope of the present invention.
[0060] The blades 66 of the fan 64 preferably are oriented to have
a complimentary twist to the rotor blades 124 on the shaft 122. The
blades 66 of the fan 64, however, may be set at any angle with
respect to the rotor blades 124 on the shaft 122.
[0061] The blades 66 of the fan 64 are depicted as having a larger
diameter than the diameter of the shaft 122 and its rotor blades
124. It should be appreciated that the blades 66 of the fan 64 can
be any diameter with respect to the rotor blades 124 of the shaft
122.
[0062] Preferably, the blades 66 of the fan 64 transition into the
rotor blades 124. The fan blades 66 and the rotor blades 124 can be
integrally formed as one piece, or they can be separately formed
and attached to one another to create a smooth, preferably
seamless, transition from one to the other.
[0063] As best seen in FIG. 8, the outer diameter of each rotor
blade 124 decreases from the fan 64 to the trailing portion 132 of
the shaft 122. FIG. 8 depicts the individual rotor blades 124
decreasing in diameter at different amounts from another. It is
with the scope of the present invention, however, to have the
individual rotor blades 124 decrease in diameter in the same
amounts. Regardless of whether the individual rotor blades 124
decrease in diameter along the shaft 122 in the same amount or in
different amounts from one another, it should be appreciated the
stators 152 will have a complementary design.
[0064] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, as best seen
in FIG. 8, the housing portion 126 has an inlet 148 with an initial
interior diameter large enough to receive the fan blades 66.
Preferably, the fan blades 66 are located adjacent the inner wall
146 of the housing portion 126, but do not touch the inner wall
146.
[0065] As shown in FIG. 8, the inner wall 146 adjacent the fan
blades 66 lack stator vanes 152. The present invention is not
limited, however, to this depicted embodiment. Instead, stator
vanes 152 can be located adjacent the fan blades 66 and extend
toward the fan blades 66 to any extent. Where stator vanes 152 are
located adjacent the fan blades 66, the diameter of the fan blades
66 is reduced to avoid contact with the stator vanes 152.
[0066] FIGS. 10-12 depict yet another embodiment of the present
invention. Reference numbers used for FIGS. 1-5 described above are
used for like features of the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 10-12,
but are multiplied by 200.
[0067] As before, a shaft 222 with at least two rotor blades 224 is
provided. In this embodiment, however, the rotor blades 224 are not
located, at least for a portion of the shaft 222, equidistant from
one another. Instead, as shown in FIG. 10-12, the distance between
the rotor blades 224 varies as the rotor blades 224 spiral along
the shaft 222 toward the trailing portion 232.
[0068] FIGS. 10-12 depict the rotor blades 224 completing one or
two turns around the leading portion 228 of the shaft 222 with a
relatively constant distance between them before the distance
between them gradually increases. It should be understood that this
is merely one embodiment of the invention and that the distance
between the rotor blades 224 can vary from the leading portion 228
to the trailing portion 232 of the shaft 222.
[0069] FIGS. 11 and 12 depict the housing portion 226 for the rotor
portion 200 described above. The inner wall 246 of the housing
portion 226 defines stator vanes 252 that spiral in an opposite
direction from the rotor blades 224 but which have spaces that are
substantially similar to the spaces between the rotor blades 224.
It can be appreciated, however, that the spacing between the stator
vanes 252 may vary with respect to the spacing between the rotor
blades 224.
[0070] A brief description of the method of using the present
invention, applicable to each of the embodiments disclosed above,
but using reference number for the first embodiment, comprises
locating the combined rotor portion 20 and stator housing portion
26 within a vehicle, such as a jet, a watercraft, an automobile, or
any other vehicle where it is desirable to change the pressure of a
fluid. It should be understood that the present invention is in no
way limited to vehicles. For example, the present invention may be
used as a blower, such as for inflatable devices, or as a vacuum
pump.
[0071] In the exemplary embodiment of the jet engine 68 of FIG. 6,
the rotor portion 20 is rotated within the housing portion 26
adjacent the stator vanes 52, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, for
example. When the rotor portion 20 is rotated in a first direction,
air enters the inlet 48 of the stator housing portion 26 at a first
pressure P1. The first direction of rotation is counterclockwise.
The air may be drawn into the inlet 48 by virtue of the rotor
blades 24 rotating adjacent the stator vanes 52. Alternatively, if
a fan 64 is located on the shaft 22, such as that depicted in FIGS.
7-9, the plurality of rotating blades 66 of the fan 64 pulls air
into the inlet 48. Additionally, or alternatively, if the invention
is part of the jet engine 68, as shown in FIG. 6, a fan 70 may be
located upstream of the invention to force air into the inlet
48.
[0072] Once the air enters the inlet 48, the stator vanes 52
increase the pressure of the air and move the air substantially
parallel to the axis of rotation 36 of the shaft 22. It can be
appreciated that the amount the air is compressed is a function of
many factors associated with the design of the rotor blades 24 and
stator vanes 52 including, but not limited to, the spacing between
the rotor blades 24 and the spacing between the stator vanes 52,
the gap 62 between the stator vanes 52 and the rotor blades 24, the
number of rotor blades 24 and stator vanes 52, the speed at which
the shaft 22 is rotated, and the length of the device. The air
exits the outlet 50 of the invention at a raised pressure P2.
[0073] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the compressed
air can be sent to a combustor 72 where fuel 74 is added and the
mixture is burned. The combustion product is a high energy air flow
that is passed through a turbine 76 to extract energy from the
flow.
[0074] It can be appreciated that one or more scoops 38 located on
the leading edges 34 of one or more of the rotor blades 24 can
capture and draw additional air into the inlet 48. Leading edges
34, 56 on one or more of the rotor blades 24 and/or the stator
vanes 52 that are swept will result in less fluid being drawn into
the inlet 48. Further, the use of upturned outboard edges 42, 60 of
one or more rotor blades 24 and/or stator vanes 52 help contain and
direct the flow of fluid in the invention.
[0075] It can be appreciated that the present invention can
function equally well as a vacuum device. By way of example only,
if the shaft 22 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the stator
vanes 52 will function to lower the pressure of air entering the
inlet 48.
[0076] In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes,
the present invention has been described in what is considered to
represent its preferred embodiments. However, it should be noted
that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically
illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or
scope.
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