Fluid machine with variable vanes

A fluid machine with variable vanes includes: a case, a plurality of vanes arranged along a circumferential direction of the case; a transmission ring rotatably provided in the case and configured to rotate with respect to the case; a transmission member provided on the transmission ring; and a driving assembly detachably attached to the case and including: a driving shaft; and a connection member connected to the transmission member through a through hole of the case provided at a position corresponding to the transmission member and configured to rotate together with the driving shaft, wherein the connection member is disengageably engaged with the transmission member such that the driving assembly is disconnected from the case through the through hole.

BACKGROUND

Apparatuses consistent with exemplary embodiments relate to fluid machines with variable vanes, and more particularly, to fluid machines that may be conveniently maintained because a driving assembly of the fluid machine may be easily disconnected/connected from/to a case of the fluid machine.

2. Description of the Related Art

In a fluid machine such as a compressor or an expander, a fluid flow control device such as an inlet guide vane (IGV) or a variable geometry diffuser (VGD) is used to control a flow rate to increase efficiency or to control an operation region (i.e., an operation envelop) to implement stability control.

In a device such as an IGV or a VGD, vanes are disposed at a fluid flow passage and rotated to adjust the size of the fluid flow passage. In the related art, in order to rotate the vanes, a motor and an actuator linkage for transmitting the rotation force of the motor are also integrated and assembled in the fluid machine.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,527,508 discloses a technology for rotating vanes by using crank arms in variable geometry turbo-chargers. By this operation mechanism, the vanes may be rotated by a predetermined angle. A motor and an actuator linkage have to be installed in a casing of the fluid machine in order to drive the crank arms. Also, a seal ring has to be disposed between the casing and the actuator linkage in order to prevent the leakage of a fluid from the fluid machine. Thus, in such fluid machine described above, it is difficult to repair the seal ring and the actuator linkage or replace aged components. Because all electric lines and mechanical components such as fluid outlet pipes and fluid inlet pipes connected to the fluid machine have to be first disconnected in order to disconnect the motor and the actuator linkage from the casing of the fluid machine, the maintenance of the fluid machine is difficult, time consuming, and costly.

Similarly, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2001-027124 discloses a fluid machine that rotates a variable nozzle by using an air cylinder. However, in this fluid machine, the air cylinder and a link assembly for transmitting the driving force of the air cylinder to a ring rotating a variable nozzle are connected to a casing of the fluid machine and therefore, the components are very difficult to disconnect. Also, because electric lines and pipes connected to the fluid machine have to be first disconnected in order to perform maintenance on the air cylinder and the link assembly, the maintenance of the fluid machine is also difficult and time consuming.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012-0121403 discloses a structure in which a rotary actuator is connected to a spacer ring connected to a casing of a compressor and a driving force of the rotary actuator is transmitted to vanes through a driving shaft fixed to a spacer ring thereby driving an IGV of a centrifugal compressor. In this fluid machine, the rotary actuator is fixed to the spacer ring by an attachment bracket and a pneumatic cylinder is disposed outside the driving shaft. Thus, because the electric lines and pipes connected to the fluid machine have to be first disconnected and then the spacer ring, the attachment bracket, the rotary actuator, and the driving shaft have to be disconnected in order to perform maintenance on components such as seal rings and the rotary actuator, the maintenance of the fluid machine is also difficult, time consuming, and costly.

In the fluid machine of U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012-0121403, some vanes are directly connected to a driving shaft of a rotary actuator, and other vanes are indirectly driven by a link and a driving shaft rotated by a main crank arm. According to such a structure of the fluid machine, because a high driving force is necessary to drive a driving ring, vanes, and links connected to the respective vanes, the volume of the rotary actuator increases. Also, because the space required for installing the driving ring, the vanes, and the links connected to the respective vanes increases, the size of the fluid machine increases and the structure thereof becomes more complicated.

SUMMARY

One or more exemplary embodiments include fluid machines with variable vanes, which may be conveniently maintained because disassembly/assembly thereof may be easily performed.

One or more exemplary embodiments include fluid machines that are minimized in size and are simplified in the structure of a driving assembly for driving variable vanes.

One or more exemplary embodiments include fluid machines that are configured such that a driving assembly for driving variable vanes may be easily disconnected/connected from/to a case.

According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there is provided a fluid machine with variable vanes including: a case including a passage through which a fluid passes; a plurality of vanes disposed along a circumferential direction of the passage of the case and being rotatable on the case; a transmission ring disposed rotatably on the case and connected to the vanes to rotate with respect to the case to rotate the vanes; a transmission member disposed on the transmission ring to transmit an external rotation force to the transmission ring; and a driving assembly connected to the case and including a driving shaft disposed outside the case to rotate on a direction crossing a rotation center of the transmission ring and a connection member disposed at an end of the driving shaft to rotate together with the driving shaft and connected to the transmission member at a position deviating outward from a center of the driving shaft through a through hole of the case formed at a position corresponding to the transmission member, wherein the connection member is disconnected from the transmission member to be disconnected outside from the case through the through hole to disconnect the driving assembly from the case.

The driving assembly may further include a driving unit configured to rotate the driving shaft.

The driving assembly may further include a shaft support unit configured to rotatably support the driving shaft and a seal ring disposed between the shaft support unit and the driving shaft.

The through hole of the case may have a circular cross-section, an attachment member having a circular cross-section corresponding to the through hole may be connected to the end of the driving shaft, and the connection member may be disposed at an end of the attachment member.

The connection member may be a pin having a circular cross-section, and the transmission member may include a support hole extended to movably support the pin.

A portion of the support hole of the transmission member may be opened to outside.

The support hole may extend in a direction that is parallel to the rotation center of the transmission ring while crossing a rotation center of the driving shaft.

The driving assembly may further include an end roller connected rotatably to an end of the pin and contacting the support hole.

The fluid machine may further include a fastening member configured to fasten the transmission member and the transmission ring.

The transmission member may be an integral part of the transmission ring.

The transmission member may be a pin protruding toward the connection member and having a circular cross-section, and the connection member may be a support hole extended at an end of the driving shaft to movably support the pin.

The support hole may extend in a direction crossing a radial direction with respect to a rotation center of the driving shaft.

The fluid machine may further include a roller disposed along a circumferential direction of the transmission ring and being rotatable on the transmission ring to support the transmission ring rotatably on the case.

According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there is provided a fluid machine with variable vanes, the fluid machine including: a case including a passage through which a fluid passes; a plurality of vanes arranged along a circumferential direction of the passage of the case and configured to rotate to control an amount of the fluid passing through the passage; a transmission ring rotatably provided in the case and configured to rotate with respect to the case, the plurality of vanes being attached to the transmission ring to rotate with the transmission ring; a transmission member provided on the transmission ring and configured to transmit an external rotation force to the transmission ring; and a driving assembly detachably attached to the case and including: a driving shaft provided at an exterior of the case to rotate with respect to a first axis extending in a direction crossing a rotation axis of the transmission ring; and a connection member provided at a first end of the driving shaft, connected to the transmission member through a through hole of the case provided at a position corresponding to the transmission member and configured to rotate together with the driving shaft, wherein the connection member is disengageably engaged with the transmission member such that the driving assembly is disconnected from the case through the through hole.

The driving assembly may further include a driving unit configured to rotate the driving shaft.

The driving assembly may further include: a shaft support unit configured to rotatably support the driving shaft; and a seal ring provided between the shaft support unit and the driving shaft.

The through hole of the case has a circular cross-section, and wherein the connection member includes: an attachment member having a circular cross-section corresponding to the through hole connected to the first end of the driving shaft and a pin disposed at an end of the attachment member.

The pin may have a circular cross-section, and the transmission member may include a support hole configured to movably support the pin.

A portion of the support hole of the transmission member may be opened.

The support hole may include a slot extends in a direction that is parallel to the rotation axis of the transmission ring and crossing a rotation axis of the driving shaft.

The driving assembly may further include an end roller rotatably connected to an outer surface of the pin and configured to contact the support hole.

The fluid machine may further include a fastening member configured to fasten the transmission member and the transmission ring.

The transmission member may be integrally formed with the transmission ring.

The transmission member may include a pin protruding toward the connection member and having a circular cross-section, and wherein the connection member may include a support hole formed at the first end of the driving shaft to movably support the pin.

The support hole may extend in a direction crossing an axis extending in a radial direction with respect to a rotation center of the driving shaft.

13. The fluid machine may further include a roller disposed along a circumferential direction of the transmission ring and being rotatable on the transmission ring to rotatably support the transmission ring on the case.

The connection member may be configured to engage or disengage with the transmission member in a direction parallel with the direction of a rotation axis of the driving shaft through the through hole.

The connection member may further include a pin disposed at the first end the driving shaft, and wherein the pin may be offset in a radial direction from a rotation center of the driving shaft and is configured to engage with the transmission member.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, the configurations and operations of fluid machines with variable vanes according to exemplary embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1is a perspective view schematically illustrating the connection relationship between components of a fluid machine with variable vanes according to an exemplary embodiment.FIG. 2is a front view illustrating a partial section of the components of the fluid machine ofFIG. 1.FIG. 3is a side view of the fluid machine ofFIG. 1.FIG. 4is a perspective view illustrating the connection relationship between some components of the fluid machine ofFIG. 1.

The fluid machine with variable vanes according to an exemplary embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 3may operate, for example, on a device such as an inlet guide vane or a variable-shaped diffuser of a compressor installed in a liquefied natural gas (LNG) ship.

The fluid machine includes: a case10including a passage P through which a fluid F passes; a plurality of vanes20disposed at a inner portion of the case10and which may be rotated to adjust a size of the passage P of the case10; a transmission ring30disposed inside the case10and rotated in the case10to rotate the plurality of vanes20; a transmission member40connected to the transmission ring30to transmit an external rotation force to the transmission ring30; and a driving assembly50disconnectably connected to the case10to transmit the external rotation force to the transmission member40to rotate the transmission ring30.

The case10is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape to have the passage P through which the fluid F passes (SeeFIGS. 2 and 4). The transmission ring30is rotatably disposed inside the case10, and the vanes20are rotatably disposed along the circumferential direction of the case10or the transmission ring30. Referring toFIG. 4, the transmission ring30may rotate around a transmission ring rotation center Rc.

The plurality of vanes20may be arranged along the circumferential direction of a through hole passage on one side of the case10, and each of the vanes20may rotate with respect to a vane rotation center Vc. The transmission ring rotation center Rc and the vane rotation center Vc for each vane20are formed to be substantially parallel to each other.

A cover15is connected to the other side of the case10. The cover15includes an inflow pipe attachment unit15aconnected with an inflow pipe16transmitting a fluid F to the case10.

The transmission ring30is formed in a ring shape, and includes a plurality of connection grooves37that are formed along the circumferential direction of the transmission ring30to correspond to the respective vanes20. The transmission ring30also includes a plurality of rollers39that are disposed along the circumferential direction of the transmission ring30to rotatably support the transmission ring30provided on the case10. Each roller39is rotatably connected to a roller shaft36protruding from one surface of the transmission ring30. When a rotation force is transmitted to the transmission ring30to rotate the transmission ring30, because each roller39rotates with respect to the roller shaft36while contacting an inner surface of the case10, the transmission ring30may smoothly rotate along the inner surface of the case10.

Each vane20of the plurality of vanes is connected to a vane shaft21, and the vane shaft21is connected to a vane roller22. Because the vane roller22is rotatably provided inside the case10to rotate within a predetermined angle range, the vane roller22, the vane shaft21, and the vane20may rotate together. The vane roller22includes an arm22aprotruding from the vane roller22toward the transmission ring30. The arm22aof the vane roller22is inserted into the connection groove37of the transmission ring30. Therefore, when the transmission ring30rotates, the rotation force of the transmission ring30is transmitted to the arm22ainserted into the connection groove37, and the vane roller22, the vane shaft21, and the vane20may also rotate along the inner surface of the case10.

The transmission member40is connected to the transmission ring30to transmit an external rotation force to the transmission ring30. The transmission member40has a cross-sectional shape similar to an “F” shape. The transmission member40includes an attachment unit42that is fastened to the transmission ring30by a fastening member43, and a support hole41. In the exemplary embodiment, the fastening member43is illustrated as being a bolt. However, the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, a different type of mechanical member such as a rivet or a nail may also be used as the fastening member43.

A portion of the support hole41formed in the transmission member40is formed between the two parallel portions in the “F” shape. However, the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, the support hole41of the transmission member40may be formed in the shape of a closed hole, so that the transmission member40may be formed to have a sectional shape similar to a “P” shape.

The driving assembly50is detachably attached to the case10, and includes a driving shaft51and a connection member55that is connected to the driving shaft51at one end and the transmission member40at the other end and rotates together with the driving shaft51to transmit a rotation force to the transmission member40. The driving assembly50detachably attached to the case10may be easily disconnected by a simple operation of disconnecting the connection between the transmission member40and the connection member55of the driving assembly50to separate the driving assembly50from the case10.

The driving shaft51is disposed outside the case10and rotates on a direction crossing the transmission ring rotation center Rc that is the rotation center of the transmission ring30. The driving assembly50also includes a driving unit53that generates a driving force to rotate the driving shaft51. The driving unit53may include, for example, an electric motor that rotates by an electric signal, or an actuator that generates a driving force by the force of a fluid.

The driving assembly50includes a shaft support unit52that rotatably supports the driving shaft51, and seal rings59aand59bthat are disposed between the shaft support unit52and the driving shaft51. The seal rings59aand59bare respectively disposed at one end and the other end of the driving shaft51, and maintains a seal state while the driving shaft51is rotating on the shaft support unit52.

A flange58extending radially outward from the shaft support unit52is disposed at the end of the shaft support unit52in a longitudinal direction of the shaft support unit52. The flange58is connected to the outside of the case10by a fastening unit58a. A static seal ring58bis disposed between the end of the flange58and the case10to maintain a sealed state between the case10and the flange58.

The connection member55is disposed at the end of the driving shaft51to rotate together with the driving shaft51. A through hole11having a circular cross-section is formed in a wall of the case10at a position corresponding to the support hole41of the transmission member40. The connection member55is connected to the transmission member40through the through hole11. The connection member55has a circular cross-section corresponding to the through hole11, and includes an attachment member56disposed at the end of the driving shaft51and a pin57disposed at the end of the attachment member56.

In the exemplary embodiment, the connection member55is illustrated as including the attachment member56and the pin57. However, the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, the attachment member56may be omitted from the connection member55and the pin57may be directly provided at the end of the driving shaft51to engage with the transmission member40.

Referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, the shaft support unit52including the driving shaft51may rotate with respect to a driving shaft rotation center Mc. The connection member55may rotate with respect to a driving shaft rotation center Mc. However, the pin57of the connection member55is connected to the transmission member40at a position deviating radially outward from the driving shaft rotation center Mc of the driving shaft51.

FIG. 5is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a connection between the connection member55and the transmission member40ofFIG. 4.FIG. 6is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the connection relationship between the connection member55and the transmission member40in the fluid machine ofFIG. 1.

The pin57of the connection member55is disposed at a position that is offset by a predetermined distance from the driving shaft rotation center Mc of the driving shaft51. Also, the pin57has a circular cross-section and is connected to the support hole41of the transmission member40. That is, the pin57of the connection member55is disengageably engaged with the support hole41of the transmission member40such that the driving assembly50may be easily disconnected from the case through the through hole.

When the driving shaft51is rotated to rotate the attachment member56of the connection member55, the pin57rotates around the driving shaft rotation center Mc. While the X-direction position and Y-direction position of the pin57are changed by the rotation of the pin57, the transmission member40connected with the pin57through the support hole41may not move in the X-axis direction and only the Y-direction position thereof may change. That is, because the rotation force of the driving shaft51is transmitted to the transmission member40through the pin57and the pin57presses the transmission member40in the Y-axis direction, the force of the driving shaft51is transmitted to the transmission ring30through the transmission member40to rotate the transmission ring30on the case10with respect to the transmission ring rotation center Rc.

Because the seal rings59aand59bcontact the rotating driving shaft51, the seal rings59aand59bmay be worn during the use of the fluid machine. Thus, components such as the seal rings59aand59bhave to be replaced periodically.

In the related art, because such components constituting a mechanism for driving variable vanes are united with a fluid machine, a complex operation of disconnecting all of electric lines and pipes connected to the fluid machine and disassembling/assembling the entire fluid machine may have to be performed in order to replace the components such as the seal rings59aand59b.

In the fluid machine according to the exemplary embodiment, the seal rings59aand59bmay be easily maintained. The driving assembly50may be disconnected from the case10by disconnecting the connection member55from the transmission member40and disconnecting the connection member55away from the case10through the through hole11of the case10. The operation of disconnecting the driving assembly50from the case10may be manually performed by an operator by using an apparatus such as a crane, or may be automatically performed.

After the driving assembly50is disconnected from the case10, only the driving assembly50may be disassembled to replace or repair the components such as the seal rings59aand59b. Because the driving assembly50may be easily disconnected from the case10, the driving assembly50of the fluid machine may be easily maintained even without performing a complex operation of disconnecting the case or disconnecting an electric line or a fluid inflow pipe connected to the case10.

FIG. 7is a perspective view schematically illustrating the connection relationship between a transmission member140of a fluid machine with variable vanes and a driving assembly50including a connection member155according to an exemplary embodiment.

Because the components of the fluid machine according to the exemplary embodiment illustrated inFIG. 7are similar to the components of the fluid machine according to the previous exemplary embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 6, the similar components will be denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the fluid machine ofFIG. 7, the transmission member140and the connection member155of the driving assembly50are partially modified.

The connection member155of the driving assembly50includes an attachment member156that rotates together with the driving shaft51, a pin157that is disposed at the end of the attachment member156and is disposed at a position deviating radially outward from the rotation center of the driving shaft51, and an end roller159that is rotatably connected to the end of the pin157.

The transmission member140protrudes outward from the transmission ring30and is an integral part of the transmission ring30. The transmission member140includes a support hole141that extends in a direction that is parallel to the transmission ring rotation center Rc of the transmission ring30while crossing the rotation center of the driving shaft51.

The end roller159of the connection member155is connected to the support hole141of the transmission member140. The end roller159rotates on an outer surface of the pin157during the rotation of the driving shaft51and the attachment member156. Because the force transmitted from the driving shaft51to the pin157is transmitted to the transmission member140through the support hole141, the transmission ring30may be rotated by the rotation of the driving shaft51.

FIG. 8is a perspective view schematically illustrating the connection relationship between a transmission member240of a fluid machine with variable vanes and a connection member255according to an exemplary embodiment.FIG. 9is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating the connection relationship between the connection member255and the transmission member240in the fluid machine ofFIG. 8.

In the fluid machine according to the exemplary embodiment illustrated inFIG. 8, a transmission member240disposed on a transmission ring230includes a pin240that protrudes from the transmission ring230and has a circular cross-section. Also, a connection member255disposed at the end of a driving shaft251includes an attachment member256and a support hole257that is formed in the attachment member256. The support hole257is located radially outward from the rotation center Mc of the driving shaft251and extends in a direction crossing an axis extending in a radial direction with respect to a rotation center Mc of the driving shaft251.

The support hole257of the connection member255and the transmission member240of the transmission ring230are connected to each other at a position deviating radially outward from the rotation center Mc of the driving shaft251. Thus, according to the rotation of the driving shaft251, the force of the driving shaft251is transmitted to the transmission ring230through the support hole257and the transmission member240to rotate the transmission ring230.

As described above, according to the above exemplary embodiments, in the fluid machine with variable vanes, the driving assembly may be easily disconnected/connected from/to the case. Thus, the components such as the seal rings of the driving assembly may be easily maintained without the need to disconnect the electric lines and the pipes connected to the fluid machine. Also, because the force of the driving assembly is directly transmitted to the transmission ring through a simple structure in which the connection member of the driving assembly is connected to the transmission member disposed on the transmission ring, the structure of the driving assembly of the fluid machine may be simplified and the size thereof may be minimized.

While exemplary embodiments have been particularly shown and described above, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventive concept as defined by the following claims.