Patent Publication Number: US-10316858-B2

Title: Compressing apparatus housing and compressing apparatus

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0173251, filed on Dec. 4, 2014, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     Apparatuses consistent with exemplary embodiments relate to compressing apparatus housings and compressing apparatuses. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Compressors for compressing fluids such as air, gas, and steam are used in various fields, and there are various types of compressors. 
     In the related art, compressors may be classified into displacement-type compressors and turbo-type compressors. In detail, compressors may be classified into one of a reciprocating compressor, a rotary screw compressor, a turbo compressor, a diaphragm compressor, and a rotary sliding vane compressor. 
     Such compressors may be independently used as a stand-alone, but according to the design intent, a plurality of compressors may be arranged to construct a multistage compressing apparatus. When a plurality of compressors are combined or arranged to construct a multistage compressing apparatus, a higher compression ratio may be implemented. 
     Meanwhile, Korean Patent Publication No. 1997-0021766 discloses a turbo compressor in which a gearbox and scrolls are separately manufactured, where the gearbox houses a gear train, and the scroll houses an impeller. 
     SUMMARY 
     One or more exemplary embodiments include compressing apparatus housings and compressing apparatuses, which make it possible to easily implement the shape of a flow path unit and reduce manufacturing costs thereof. 
     Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the presented exemplary embodiments. 
     According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there is provided a compressing apparatus housing including: an inner housing unit configured to house at least a portion of an impeller unit; an outer housing unit including an inner housing receiving unit configured to receive at least a portion of the inner housing unit; and an intermediate housing unit provided between the inner housing unit and the outer housing unit and configured to form a flow path together with at least one of the inner housing unit and the outer housing unit. 
     The inner housing unit may include a flange unit configured to be attached to the outer housing unit. 
     The flange unit may include a seal installation groove provided at a portion thereof facing the outer housing unit. 
     The inner housing unit may include an inner housing flow path groove formed to form the flow path. 
     The outer housing unit may include an outer housing flow path groove formed to form the flow path unit. 
     The outer housing unit may include an upper outer housing and a lower outer housing connected to the upper outer housing. 
     The intermediate housing unit may have a hollow cylindrical shape. 
     The intermediate housing unit may include a fluid guide unit configured to guide a fluid flowing through the flow path unit. 
     The intermediate housing unit may include a flow hole configured to connect the flow path from a first side of the intermediate housing unit to a second side of the intermediate housing unit opposite to the first side. 
     The flow path may be formed only on an inner side of the intermediate housing unit with respect to a radial direction of the compressing apparatus housing. 
     According to an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, there is provided a compressing apparatus including: at least one impeller unit; an inner housing unit configured to house at least a portion of the at least one impeller unit; an outer housing unit including an inner housing receiving unit configured to house at least a portion of the inner housing unit; and an intermediate housing unit provided between the inner housing unit and the outer housing unit and configured to form a flow path together with at least one of the inner housing unit and the outer housing unit. 
     The inner housing unit may include a flange unit configured to be attached to the outer housing unit. 
     The flange unit may include a seal installation groove provided at a portion thereof facing the outer housing unit. 
     The inner housing unit may include an inner housing flow path groove formed to form the flow path. 
     The outer housing unit may include an outer housing flow path groove formed to form the flow path unit. 
     The outer housing unit may include an upper outer housing and a lower outer housing connected to the upper outer housing. 
     The intermediate housing unit may have a hollow cylindrical shape. 
     The intermediate housing unit may include a fluid guide unit configured to guide a fluid flowing through the flow path unit. 
     The intermediate housing unit may include a flow hole configured to connect the flow path from a first side of the intermediate housing unit to a second side of the intermediate housing unit opposite to the first side. 
     The compressing apparatus may further include a driving gear train configured to drive the impeller unit, wherein the outer housing unit may further include a gear train receiving unit configured to house the driving gear train. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of a compressing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along a line II-II of  FIG. 1  to show an internal structure of the compressing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic enlarged view of a portion A illustrated in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic perspective view of an inner housing unit according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic partial plan view of a lower outer housing according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic perspective view of an intermediate housing unit according to an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic cutaway view of the intermediate housing unit of  FIG. 6 , which shows an inside surface of the intermediate housing unit; and 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a compressing apparatus according to a modification of an exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. In this regard, the present exemplary embodiments may have different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the descriptions set forth herein. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments are merely described below, by referring to the figures, to explain aspects of the present description. As used herein, expressions such as “at least one of,” when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list. 
     Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Also, in the specification and the drawings, like reference numerals denote like elements, and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted. 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of a compressing apparatus  100  according to an exemplary embodiment.  FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along a line II-II of  FIG. 1  to show an internal structure of the compressing apparatus  100  according to an exemplary embodiment.  FIG. 3  is a schematic enlarged view of a portion A illustrated in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 4  is a schematic perspective view of an inner housing unit  120  according to an exemplary embodiment.  FIG. 5  is a schematic partial plan view of a lower outer housing  132  according to an exemplary embodiment.  FIG. 6  is a schematic perspective view of an intermediate housing unit  140  according to an exemplary embodiment.  FIG. 7  is a schematic cutaway view of the intermediate housing unit  140  of  FIG. 6 , which shows an inside surface of the intermediate housing unit  140 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 7 , the compressing apparatus  100  performs multistage compression and includes an impeller unit  110 , an inner housing unit  120 , an outer housing unit  130 , an intermediate housing unit  140 , and a driving gear train  150 . The inner housing unit  120 , the outer housing unit  130 , and the intermediate housing unit  140  constitute a compressing apparatus housing H. 
     The compressing apparatus  100  according to the exemplary embodiment performs multistage compression. However, the exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, the compressing apparatus  100  according to the exemplary embodiment may also include a single impeller unit  110  to have a single compression stage. 
     The impeller unit  110  is a centrifugal impeller and is disposed in the inner housing unit  120 . The impeller unit  110  includes a base plate  111 , a plurality of blades  112  installed on the base plate  111 , and a rotation shaft  113  connected to the base plate  111 . 
     The rotation shaft  113  is connected to a pinion gear  151  of the driving gear train  150  to be transmitted power, which will be described later. 
     The impeller unit  110  according to the exemplary embodiment is a centrifugal impeller. However, the exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, the impeller unit  110  is not limited to a centrifugal impeller but may be other types of impellers such as an axial-flow impeller and a mixed-flow impeller. 
     The inner housing unit  120  houses at least a portion of the impeller unit  110  and may have a hollow cylindrical shape. According the to exemplary embodiment, the inner housing unit  120  may be manufactured by casting or the like. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 , the inner housing unit  120  includes an inflow portion  121 , a body portion  122 , a shroud portion  123 , a flange portion  124 , and a diffuser portion  125 . 
     A fluid flows through the inflow portion  121  and then flows into the impeller unit  110 . 
     The body portion  122  extends from the inflow portion  121 , and an inner housing flow path groove  122   a  is formed in the body portion  122 . The an inner housing flow path groove  122   a  constitutes a flow path portion S together with the intermediate housing unit  140 . 
     Also, for material and weight reduction, an empty space E is formed in the body portion  122 . 
     According to the present exemplary embodiment, the empty space E is formed in the body portion  122 ; however, exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, an empty space may not be formed in the body portion  122  according to some exemplary embodiments. 
     The shroud portion  123  extends from the body portion  122  and is disposed at a position facing the blade  112  of the impeller unit  110 . 
     The flange portion  124  is formed on one side of the inner housing unit  120 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a seal installation groove  124   a  and a mounting hole  124   b  are formed at a portion of the flange portion  124  that faces the outer housing unit  130 . 
     A seal ring  124   c  is disposed in the seal installation groove  124   a , and the seal ring  124   c  contacts the outer housing unit  130  to perform a seal operation. 
     In an assembly process, a bolt B is inserted into the mounting hole  124   b  to perform a fixation to the outer housing unit  130 . 
     The diffuser portion  125  extends from the shroud portion  123 , and a plurality of diffuser vanes are formed therein. 
     The diffuser portion  125  is installed in the inner housing unit  120  according to the exemplary embodiment, but exemplary embodiments are not limited thereto. That is, according to exemplary embodiments, a diffuser portion  125  may be installed inside an inner housing receiving portion  130   a  of the outer housing unit  130 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the outer housing unit  130  includes an upper outer housing  131  and a lower outer housing  132 , and a support unit  132   a  is installed under the lower outer housing  132 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , the inner housing receiving portion  130   a  is formed in the outer housing unit  130  to house at least a portion of the inner housing unit  120 . 
     Also, an outer housing flow path groove  130   b  is formed in the outer housing unit  130 , and after the assembly process, the outer housing flow path groove  130   b  constitutes the flow path unit S together with the intermediate housing unit  140 . 
     The outer housing flow path groove  130   b  is formed in the outer housing unit  130  according to the exemplary embodiment. However, the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, the outer housing flow path groove  130   b  may not be formed in the outer housing unit  130 . In this case, only the inner housing flow path groove  122   a  and the intermediate housing unit  140  constitute the flow path unit S. 
     Also, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , an installation hole  130   c _ 1  is formed in an inner housing installation unit  130   c  (as a portion of the outer housing unit  130 ) that faces the flange unit  124  of the inner housing unit  120 . The flange portion  124  is fixed to the outer housing unit  130  when the bolt B, which has passed through the mounting hole  124   b  of the flange portion  124 , passes through the installation hole  130   c _ 1  and is fixed by a nut N. 
     According to the exemplary embodiment, the seal installation groove  124   a  is formed in the flange portion  124  of the inner housing unit  120  and a seal installation groove is not formed in the inner housing installation unit  130   c  of the outer housing unit  130 . However, the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, according to exemplary embodiments, the seal installation groove may be formed in at least one of the flange portion  124  of the inner housing unit  120  and the inner housing installation unit  130   c  of the outer housing unit  130 . For example, the seal installation groove may be formed only in the flange unit  124 , may be formed only in the inner housing installation unit  130   c , or may be formed in both the flange unit  124  and the inner housing installation unit  130   c.    
     In addition, a gear train receiving unit  130   d  is formed in the outer housing unit  130 . The gear train receiving unit  130   d  is a space in which the driving gear train  150  is disposed to drive the impeller unit  110 . 
     According to the exemplary embodiment, the gear train receiving unit  130   d  is formed in the outer housing unit  130 ; however, the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, according to an exemplary embodiment, the gear train receiving unit  130   d  may not be formed in the outer housing unit  130 . In this case, a scroll and a gearbox may be formed separately instead of being formed integrally, so that the outer housing unit  130  may constitute a scroll and the gear train receiving unit  130   d  may be formed in a separate gearbox. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the intermediate housing unit  140  is disposed between the inner housing unit  120  and the outer housing unit  130 . 
     The intermediate housing unit  140  may be formed of material such as metal or synthetic resin. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the intermediate housing unit  140  includes a first portion  141  and a second portion  142  that are separately manufactured. When the first portion  141  and the second portion  142  are combined together in the assembly process, the intermediate housing unit  140  may have a hollow cylindrical shape. 
     According to the exemplary embodiment, the first portion  141  and the second portion  142  of the intermediate housing unit  140  are separately manufactured; however, the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, in some an exemplary embodiment, the intermediate housing unit  140  may be integrally formed to have a hollow cylindrical shape from the beginning. In this case, in the assembly process, for combination with the inner housing unit  120 , a fluid guide unit  140   a  may be formed of a transformable material or may not be formed. 
     When the intermediate housing unit  140  is disposed between the inner housing unit  120  and the outer housing unit  130 , the intermediate housing unit  140  constitutes the flow path unit S together with the inner housing unit  120  and the intermediate housing unit  140  also constitutes the flow path unit S together with the outer housing unit  130 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
     According to the exemplary embodiment, the intermediate housing unit  140  constitutes the flow path unit S together with not only the inner housing unit  120  but also the outer housing unit  130 . However, the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , according to an exemplary embodiment, an intermediate housing unit  240  may constitute a flow path unit S only together with an internal housing unit  220  without forming a flow path unit with the outer housing unit  130 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a fluid guide unit  140   a  is formed on an outside surface and an inside surface of the intermediate housing unit  140  to guide a fluid flowing through the flow path unit S. 
     The fluid guide unit  140   a  protrudes from the outside surface of the intermediate housing unit  140 . The fluid guide unit  140   a  forms a portion of the flow path unit S and stably guides a fluid flow. 
     The manufacturer may construct a desired flow path unit S by properly designing the shape, height, and surface roughness of the fluid guide unit  140   a  according to the design intent. 
     According to the exemplary embodiment, the fluid guide unit  140   a  is formed on both the outside surface and the inside surface of the intermediate housing unit  140 ; however, the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. According to an exemplary embodiment, when the flow path unit S is disposed only on the inside surface or only the outside surface of the intermediate housing unit  140 , the fluid guide unit  140   a  may be formed only on one of the surfaces where the flow path unit S is disposed. In some cases, the fluid guide unit  140   a  may not be formed in the intermediate housing unit  140 . 
     Also, a flow hole  140   b  is formed in the intermediate housing unit  140  to connect the flow path unit S to the fluid guide unit  140   a . That is, because the flow path unit S according to the exemplary embodiment is disposed not only on the inside surface but also on the outside surface of the intermediate housing unit  140 , there is a need for the flow hole  140   b  which connects the flow path unit S and the fluid guide unit  140   a  through which a fluid moves. 
     According to the exemplary embodiment, the flow hole  140   b  is disposed in the intermediate housing unit  140 ; however, the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. According to an exemplary embodiment, when the flow path unit S is disposed only the inside surface or only on the outside surface of the intermediate housing unit  140 , the flow hole  140   b  may not be formed. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the driving gear train  150  includes a pinion gear  151  connected to the rotation shaft  113 , a bull gear  152  connected to the pinion gear  151 , and a main driving shaft  153  connected to the bull gear  152 . 
     The driving gear train  150  is disposed in the gear train receiving unit  130   d  of the outer housing unit  130 . When the main driving shaft  153  rotates, the resulting power is transmitted through the bull gear  152  and the pinion gear  151  to the rotation shaft  113  of the impeller unit  110  to rotate the impeller unit  110 . 
     The driving gear train  150  according to the exemplary embodiment includes the pinion gear  151 , the bull gear  152 , and the main driving shaft  153 , but the exemplary embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, the driving gear train  150  according to the exemplary embodiment has only to transmit the power to the rotation shaft  113  to rotate the impeller unit  110 , and a detailed structure thereof is not limited. 
     Hereinafter, a method of manufacturing the compressing apparatus  100  according to an exemplary embodiment will be described. 
     First, the manufacturer prepares the upper outer housing  131  and the lower outer housing  132 , in which the inner housing receiving unit  130   a , the outer housing flow path groove  130   b , and the gear train receiving unit  130   d  are formed. Also, the manufacturer prepares components of the impeller unit  110 , the inner housing unit  120 , the intermediate housing unit  140 , and the driving gear train  150  to be installed in the compressing apparatus  100 . 
     Subsequently, the manufacturer assembles and disposes the impeller unit  110  and the driving gear train  150  in the inner housing receiving unit  130   a  and the gear train receiving unit  130   d  of the lower outer housing  132 , respectively. 
     The manufacturer assembles the first portion  141  and the second portion  142  of the intermediate housing unit  140  on the outside surface of the inner housing unit  120 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the assemblage is performed such that the fluid guide unit  140   a  of the intermediate housing unit  140  is inserted into a proper position of the inner housing flow path groove  122   a  of the inner housing unit  120 . 
     After forming an assembly by assembling the intermediate housing unit  140  on the inner housing unit  120 , the manufacturer inserts the assembly into the inner housing receiving unit  130   a  of the outer housing unit  130 . 
     Thereafter, the manufacturer connects and fixes the upper outer housing  131  to the lower outer housing  132 . Herein, the upper outer housing  131  may be fixed to the lower outer housing  132  by screw coupling or by welding. In the fixing process, the manufacturer performs sealing by disposing the seal ring  124   c  in the seal installation groove  124   a  of the inner housing unit  120 , and also performs sealing by disposing a seal member such as a seal ring (not illustrated) between the upper outer housing  131  and the lower outer housing  132 . 
     Also, the manufacturer fixes the flange unit  124  of the inner housing unit  120  and the inner housing installation unit  130   c  of the outer housing unit  130  to each other to fix the inner housing unit  120  to the outer housing unit  130 . That is, the manufacturer sequentially passes the bolt B through the mounting hole  124   b  of the flange unit  124  and the installation hole  130   c _ 1  of the inner housing installation unit  130   c  and then connects the nut N thereto to fix the inner housing unit  120  to the outer housing unit  130 . 
     Hereinafter, a process of operating the compressing apparatus  100  according to an exemplary embodiment will be described. 
     When the user starts to operate the compressing apparatus  100 , the main driving shaft  153  rotates. When the main driving shaft  153  rotates, the bull gear  152  rotates and the pinion gear  151  engaged with the bull gear  152  also rotates. 
     When the pinion gear  151  rotates, the rotation shaft  113  rotates and the impeller unit  110  also rotates to perform a compression operation. 
     The pressure of a fluid, which has flowed into through the inflow unit  121  of the compressing apparatus  100 , is increased sequentially through the blade  112  of the impeller unit  110 , the diffuser unit  125 , and the flow path unit S, and the compressed fluid again flows into a next-stage impeller unit or is discharged through an outlet (not illustrated) of the compressing apparatus  100  in the case of a single-stage configuration or a final-stage configuration. 
     As described above, the compressing apparatus housing H of the compressing apparatus  100  according to the exemplary embodiment includes the inner housing unit  120 , the outer housing unit  130 , and the intermediate housing unit  140 , and the intermediate housing unit  140  is disposed between the inner housing unit  120  and the outer housing unit  130  to constitute the flow path unit S. Thus, various shapes of the flow path unit S may be easily implemented, and the manufacturing process thereof may be simplified. 
     That is, the manufacturer may easily manufacture the compressing apparatus housing H having the flow path unit S of a desired shape, by designing the flow path unit S suitable for a desired fluid flow by simulation or experiments and then forming the shape of the fluid guide unit  140   a  of the intermediate housing unit  140  to be suitable for the shape of the flow path unit S. In particular, because the flow path unit S of various sizes and shapes may be easily implemented by simply changing only the shape of the fluid guide unit  140   a  of the intermediate housing unit  140 , the compressing apparatus  100  of various performances may be manufactured at low cost. That is, because it is not necessary to perform a design modification on all scrolls in order to change the shape of the flow path unit S, various demands of the user on the compressing apparatus  100  may be satisfied at low cost. 
     In particular, because the manufacturer may apply the inner housing unit  120  of a single size to the outer housing units  130  of various sizes by simply adjusting the size and thickness of the intermediate housing unit  140 , the manufacturing cost may be reduced by reducing the number of types of the inner housing unit  120 . Because the inner housing unit  120  has a complex structure, the total manufacturing cost may be reduced by reducing the number of types of the inner housing unit  120  while increasing the number of types of the intermediate housing unit  140  that has a relatively simple structure. 
     Also, according to the exemplary embodiment, the manufacturing cost may be reduced by reducing the number of manufacturing processes and the number of components by simplifying the layout of the internal space of the compressing apparatus  100 . Also, because the internal space of the compressing apparatus  100  may be efficiently disposed in a designing process thereof, the volume of the compressing apparatus  100  may be reduced and the convenience of operations for the assembly process or the maintenance process may be improved. 
     Hereinafter, a compressing apparatus  200  according to an exemplary embodiment will be described with reference to  FIG. 8 . Herein, differences from the compressing apparatus  100  described above will be described below. 
       FIG. 8  is a schematic partial cross-sectional view of a compressing apparatus  200  according to an exemplary embodiment. 
     The empty space E of the above exemplary embodiment as shown in  FIG. 2  is not formed in a body unit  222  of the inner housing unit  220  included in the compressing apparatus  200 . 
     Also, the outer housing flow path groove  130   b  of the above exemplary embodiment as shown in  FIG. 2  is not formed in an outer housing unit  230 . Accordingly, a fluid guide unit  240   a  of the intermediate housing unit  240  is formed along the inside surface of the intermediate housing unit  240 , and a flow path unit S is constituted by an inner housing flow path groove  222   a  and the intermediate housing unit  240 . 
     An impeller unit  210 , an inflow unit  221 , a shroud unit  223 , a flange unit  224 , and a diffuser unit  225  illustrated in  FIG. 8  are substantially identical to the impeller unit  110 , the inflow unit  121 , the shroud unit  123 , the flange unit  124 , and the diffuser unit  125  described above. 
     In the structure of the compressing apparatus  200  according to an exemplary embodiment, because the outside surface of the intermediate housing unit  240  may be smoothly formed, the convenience of assemblage may be improved. For example, in an assembly process, an assembly of the intermediate housing unit  240  and the inner housing unit  220  may be inserted into an inner housing receiving unit  230   a  of the outer housing unit  230  after the outer housing unit  230  is completely assembled. 
     Because the configurations, operations, and effects other than the above-described configurations, operations, and effects of the compressing apparatus  200  according to an exemplary embodiment are identical to the configurations, operations, and effects of the compressing apparatus  100  according to the above exemplary embodiment described with respect to  FIGS. 1-7 , redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted herein. 
     As described above, according to the above-described exemplary embodiments, the compressing apparatus housings and the compressing apparatuses make it possible to easily implement the shape of the flow path unit and reduce the manufacturing costs thereof. 
     It should be understood that the exemplary embodiments described herein should be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within each exemplary embodiment should typically be considered as available for other similar features or aspects in other exemplary embodiments. 
     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.