Side channel compressor

The present invention relates to a side channel compressor with an impeller housing, on which are mounted at least two connecting units. Each of the connecting units have at least one inlet and at least one outlet orifice. It is possible to connect the necessary pipelines in different directions to the connecting units using this arrangement. Furthermore, the side channel compressor is adapted to use in both parallel and series connections, and includes features for both providing fluid connection between compressors and for sealing the inlet and/or outlet orifice when the compressors are connected.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a side channel compressor including an 
impeller housing on which are mounted at least two connecting units. Each 
of the connecting units have at least one inlet and at least one outlet 
orifice. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
A compressor is disclosed in German Patent No. C 43 41 266. In the 
compressor shown in that patent, each of the connecting units has one 
inlet orifice or one outlet orifice. Consequently, pipelines connected to 
the side channel compressor can only lead to the compressor housing from 
one direction. Thus, routing of pipelines is restricted when using the 
compressor, or the direction for connecting the pipelines must already be 
known or stipulated at the time of manufacturing or purchase of a 
compressor. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The object of the present invention is to provide a side channel compressor 
which makes it possible to connect the necessary pipelines in different 
directions. The object of the present invention is solved by providing 
each connecting unit with at least one inlet orifice and at least one 
outlet orifice on each of the two axially opposite sides of the 
compressor. This arrangement enables a connection to be made in one or the 
other axial directions. By providing an inlet and outlet orifice on the 
periphery of the impeller housing as well, a further degree of freedom is 
achieved with respect to the direction for connecting the pipelines. 
Multi-stage compressors can be formed with the present invention by 
arranging individual housings side by side. 
If the connecting units extend axially at least into the parting plane of 
the impeller housing, then it is possible to have a direct connection of 
the corresponding inlet or outlet orifices of the individual compressors, 
since the orifices fit directly on one another in the axial direction and, 
consequently, no pipe parts are required as intermediate connections. 
It is also advantageous for the connecting units to be combined into a 
single connecting block. This results in a greater mechanical strength of 
the compressor. 
At least one sealing surface that is adapted in its shape and size to the 
shape and size of the inlet or outlet orifice is arranged on the impeller 
housing at an angular distance from the inlet or outlet orifice that 
corresponds to the angular distance existing between the inlet and the 
outlet orifices. This allows, in the case of a plurality of compressors 
arranged on a common drive shaft, for angular displacement of the 
individual impeller housings relative to each other by an angle 
corresponding to the angular distance, resulting in the inlet and outlet 
orifice facing the impeller housing of the adjacent compressor being 
sealed by the sealing surface of the other impeller housing. Thus, 
separate sealing of the orifices is not needed, as the impeller housing 
sealing surfaces accomplish sealing. It is also possible to bring the 
inlet orifice of one compressor into engagement with the outlet orifice of 
the other compressor and, thus, to connect the two compressors in series. 
The outlet orifice of one compressor and the inlet orifice of the other 
compressor are thereby sealed by the corresponding sealing surface of the 
other impeller housing, without special measures or attachments being 
required for this purpose. 
If several sealing surfaces are uniformly distributed at an appropriate 
angular distance over the periphery of the impeller housing, it is then 
possible to have a series connection of more than two compressors, or the 
impeller housings of the individual compressors can be angularly displaced 
relative to one another by a multiple of one angular distance. Thus, in 
the case of a connection of the pipelines to the side of the connecting 
units situated in the circumferential direction of the impeller housing, 
the impeller housing can be turned into a position corresponding to the 
direction of the pipelines to be connected. 
Due to the fact that the inlet and the outlet orifices of the connecting 
block are surrounded by a seat-engaging surface, it is possible to easily 
attach any component, such as pipelines, filters, silencers, valves or 
covers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
In FIGS. 1-7, reference numeral 1 denotes a drive motor that is 
flange-mounted on the impeller housing of a side channel compressor 2. In 
the exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 1 and 2, only one side 
channel compressor 2 is coupled to the drive motor 1. The side channel 
compressor 2 includes two housing halves or connecting units 3 and 4. 
Connecting block 5, composed of the connecting units 3 and 4, is provided 
on the impeller housing. Inlet and outlet orifices 6 and 7 can be situated 
in different- directions on the side channel, for example on both axial 
end faces and on the circumferential peripheral side. Attached to each of 
these orifices 6 and 7 is a tubular piece 8, which is designed, for 
example, as a silencer. Appropriate pipelines can then be joined to the 
tubular pieces 8. 
More degrees of freedom are created for connecting the pipelines by the use 
of inlet and outlet orifices 6 and 7 situated in different directions on 
the housing halves 3 and 4. Depending on the direction for laying the 
pipelines, which is determined by construction conditions at the side 
channel compressor installation site, the most favorably situated inlet or 
outlet orifice 6 or 7 can be selected for connecting the pipeline. The 
orifices 6 and 7 that are not required are each sealed by a cover 9. 
Uniformly distributed sealing surfaces 10 are premolded on the end faces of 
the housing halves 3 and 4, over their entire axial periphery. The angular 
distances 11 between these sealing surfaces 10 correspond both among 
themselves as well as with respect to the inlet or outlet orifice 6 or 7 
to the angular distance between the two orifices 6 and 7. Furthermore, in 
their shape and size, the sealing surfaces 10 correspond to the shape and 
size of the inlet and outlet orifices 6 and 7. 
FIGS. 3 and 4 each show two side channel compressors 12 and 14 which are 
connected in series, in terms of fluid flow. As indicated by an arrow, the 
fluid to be compressed is supplied via a tubular piece 8 to the inlet 
orifice 6 of the first side channel compressor 12 situated on the 
circumferential periphery of the impeller housing. The other inlet orifice 
6 situated on the outer front end 13 of the impeller housing is sealed by 
a cover 9. The impeller housing of the second side channel compressor 14 
is angularly displaced relative to the impeller housing of the first side 
channel compressor 12 by an angle corresponding to the angular distance 
between the inlet and outlet orifice 6 and 7. In this way, the inlet 
orifice 6 of this second side channel compressor 14 situated on the 
corresponding front end comes into engagement with the outlet orifice 7 
situated on the inner front end of the impeller housing of the first side 
channel compressor 12. The inlet orifice 6 situated on the inner front end 
of the first side channel compressor 12 is sealed by a corresponding 
sealing surface 10 of the impeller housing of the second side channel 
compressor 14, and the outlet orifice situated on the end face of the 
second side channel compressor 14 facing the first side channel compressor 
12 is sealed by a corresponding sealing surface 10 of the impeller housing 
of the first side channel compressor 12. Thus, the flow connections 
required for the series connection are possible merely by joining the two 
compressor housings in the appropriate angular orientation. The other 
inlet and outlet orifices 6 and 7 that are not needed are sealed by means 
of appropriate covers 9. 
The direct coupling of the corresponding inlet and outlet orifices 6 and 7 
of the two impeller housings to one another is rendered possible because 
the connecting block 5 of each impeller housing extends axially at least 
into the two parting planes of the impeller housing. As a result, the 
connecting blocks 5 of two impeller housings come directly into contact, 
so that the orifices 6 and 7 can be directly connected, with the 
interposition of a sealing element. The sealing surfaces 10 provided on 
the impeller housing likewise extend right into the side plane of the 
impeller housing, so that they align with the contact surfaces of the 
connecting blocks 5 situated on the front end of the impeller housing and, 
thus, when two impeller housings are joined, are likewise capable of 
directly sealing off the corresponding orifices 6 or 7. 
The representations in FIGS. 3 and 4 are distinguished from one another 
merely by a different connecting position of the tubular pieces 8 joined 
to the outlet orifice 7 of the second side channel compressor 14. Of 
course, the tubular piece 8 joined to the inlet orifice 6 can also be 
attached to the inlet orifice 6 of the first side channel compressor 12 
situated in the axial direction. 
FIGS. 5 through 7 show connection alternatives for operation of a plurality 
of side channel compressor 12 and 14 where flow in a compressor 12 is not 
coupled to the other compressors 14. The corresponding inlet and outlet 
orifices 6 and 7 of the individual side channel compressors 12 and 14, are 
covered depending on the required connecting direction of the pipelines to 
be connected to the side channel compressor 12 or 14. 
Of course, other connection alternatives are possible. Thus, more than two 
side channel compressors 2 can also be connected in series. The next side 
channel compressor 2, after being angularly displaced by the appropriate 
angle opposite the preceding side channel compressor 2, is attached to the 
preceding side channel compressor 2. 
In the case of an aggregate composed of more than two compressors, both 
series connection of certain compressors can be provided, as well as 
independent or parallel operation of the remaining compressors. In 
particular, the inlet and outlet orifices 6 and 7 provided on the 
periphery of the impeller housing render possible operation of the 
individual compressors that is independent in terms of flow in the case of 
aggregates comprised of more than two side channel compressors. This is 
due to the fact that the inlet and outlet orifices are accessible 
independently of one another.