Patent ID: 8192185
Filing Date: 2012-06-05
Classification: F01C,F04C

Abstract:
1. An expander-compressor unit comprising: a closed casing having a bottom portion utilized as an oil reservoir; a compression mechanism disposed in the closed casing so as to be located above or below an oil level of an oil held in the oil reservoir; an expansion mechanism disposed in the closed casing so that a positional relationship of the expansion mechanism with respect to the oil level is vertically opposite to that of the compression mechanism; an oil pump disposed between the compression mechanism and the expansion mechanism and configured to supply the oil held in the oil reservoir to one of the compression mechanism and the expansion mechanism that is located above the oil level; and a shaft coupling the compression mechanism, the oil pump, and the expansion mechanism, the shaft having an intermediate eccentric portion for the oil pump, an upper eccentric portion for the compression mechanism or the expansion mechanism located above the oil level, a lower eccentric portion for the expansion mechanism or the compression mechanism immersed in the oil held in the oil reservoir, wherein: the shaft includes a lower shaft provided with the intermediate eccentric portion and the lower eccentric portion, and an upper shaft coupled to the lower shaft and provided with the upper eccentric portion; the expansion mechanism or the compression mechanism immersed in the oil held in the oil reservoir has a bearing member for supporting a portion of the lower shaft above the lower eccentric portion; and the intermediate eccentric portion has a diameter equal to or less than that of the portion of the lower shaft supported by the bearing member.