Fluid machine

• US 20040231331A1
• Filed: 05/13/2004
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Uno, Keiichi, Iwanami, Shigeki, Hotta, Tadashi, Takeuchi, Yasuhiro, Asa, Hironori, Uchida, Kazuhide, Suzuki, Yasushi
• Granted Patent: US 7,028,475 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/670
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/3295 Compressing means other than compressor
• CPC Class Codes: F01C 1/0215 where only one member is moving
• CPC Class Codes: F01C 13/00 Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of engines with devices driven thereby
• CPC Class Codes: F01C 20/08 characterised by varying the rotational speed
• CPC Class Codes: F01C 21/008 Driving elements, brakes, couplings, transmissions specially adapted for rotary or oscillating-piston machines or engines brakes, couplings, transmissions per se F16, B60
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 23/065 the combustion taking place in an internal combustion piston engine, e.g. a diesel engine
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 18/0215 where only one member is moving
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2240/45 Hybrid prime mover
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 29/005 Means for transmitting movement from the prime mover to driven parts of the pump, e.g. clutches, couplings, transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 1/04 with compressor of rotary type F25B1/005, F25B1/10 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2327/001 of the internal combustion type
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/0403 for the condenser
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 27/02 using waste heat, e.g. from internal-combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 40/04 Desuperheaters
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 41/20 Disposition of valves, e.g. of on-off valves or flow control valves expansion valves F25B41/31
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 30/274 using waste energy, e.g. from internal combustion engine

Abstract

A fluid machine according to the present invention has an expansion-and-compressor device selectively operating as an expansion device for collecting waste heat from an internal combustion engine and converting the collected heat energy into mechanical rotational force, and as a compressor device for compressing refrigerant for a refrigerating cycle for air conditioner. The fluid machine further comprises an electric rotating device selectively operating as an electric power generator and as an electric motor. A power transmission device is further provided between the expansion-and-compressor device and the electric rotating device for selectively transmitting the rotational force from the expansion-and-compressor device to the electric rotating device and vice versa. The power transmission device is composed of a planetary gear train so that it can change rotational speed to be transmitted to the expansion-and-compressor device or to the electric rotating device. Accordingly, the expansion-and-compressor device as well as the electric rotating device can be operated at their most efficient rotational speed.

Claims

1. A fluid machine comprising:

a housing;

a converting means for collecting heat energy from working fluid and converting the collected heat energy into mechanical rotational energy;

an output means for outputting the mechanical rotational energy;

a power transmission means provided in a power transmitting path between the converting means and the output means for transmitting the mechanical rotational energy from the converting means to the output means with rotational speed being changed,

wherein the converting means and the power transmission means are integrally housed in the housing.

2. A fluid machine according to claim 1, wherein the converting means comprises:

an expansion device for converting the heat energy from the working fluid into the mechanical rotational energy by expanding superheated steam of the working fluid so that the enthalpy of the working fluid will be decreased in an isentropic manner.

3. A fluid machine according to claim 1, wherein the power transmission means transmits the mechanical rotational energy from the converting means to the output means so that the rotational speed is increased.

4. A fluid machine according to claim 1, further comprising an electric rotating device operatively connected to the output means for generating electric power when it is operated by the mechanical rotational energy from the output means.

5. A fluid machine comprising:

an expansion-and-compressor device having a function for converting heat energy from working fluid into mechanical rotational energy by expanding superheated steam of the working fluid so that the enthalpy of the working fluid will be decreased in an isentropic manner, and a function for sucking the working fluid and compressing the same;

an electric rotating means having a function for generating electric power when the mechanical rotating energy is applied thereto, and a function for generating a rotational force when electric power is supplied thereto; and

a power transmission means provided in a power transmitting path between the expansion-and-compressor means and the electric rotating means.

6. A fluid machine according to claim 5, wherein

the power transmission means transmits the mechanical rotational energy from the expansion-and-compressor means to the electric rotating means so that the rotational speed is increased, when the expansion-and-compressor means is operated as an expansion device.

7. A fluid machine according to claim 5, wherein

the power transmission means transmits the rotational force from the electric rotating means to the expansion-and-compressor means so that the rotational speed is decreased, when the expansion-and-compressor means is operated as a compressor device.

8. A fluid machine according to claim 5, wherein

the electric rotating means comprises a rotor which is rotated when electromagnetic force is applied thereto;

and

the transmission means is arranged within a space formed by the rotor.

9. A fluid machine according to claim 5, further comprising:

an external power transmitting means for transmitting a rotational force from an external power source to the expansion-and-compressor means.

10. A fluid machine according to claim 5, further comprising:

a first housing for housing therein the expansion-and-compressor means ; and

a second housing for housing therein the electric rotating means,

wherein the first housing and the second housing are integrally connected to each other.

11. A fluid machine according to claim 10, wherein the working fluid flows through the inside of the second housing when the expansion-and-compressor means converts the heat energy of the working fluid into the mechanical rotational energy.

12. A fluid machine according to claim 10, wherein the electric rotating means and power transmission means are housed in the second housing.

13. A fluid machine for a motor vehicle comprising:

a housing;

a pulley rotationally supported by the housing and operatively connected to an internal combustion engine for the motor vehicle;

an electric rotating device housed in the housing and having a function for generating electric power when it is operated as an electric power generator and a function for generating a rotational force when it is operated as an electric motor;

an expansion-and-compressor device housed in the housing and having a function for collecting waste heat from the internal combustion engine and generating a mechanical rotational force from the collected waste heat when it is operated as an expansion device, and a function for compressing a refrigerant for a refrigerating cycle for the motor vehicle when it is operated as a compressor device;

a power transmission device housed in the housing and operatively connected between the electric rotating device and the expansion-and-compressor device,

wherein the expansion-and-compressor device is further operatively connected to the pulley through the power transmission device, so that the power transmission device transmits a rotational force of the pulley to the expansion-and-compressor device when it is operated as the compressor device,

the power transmission device transmits the mechanical rotational force from the expansion-and-compressor device to the electric rotating device when the expansion-and-compressor device is operated as the expansion device, and

the power transmission device further transmits the rotational force generated at the electric rotating device to the expansion-and-compressor device when electric rotating device is operated as the electric power generator.

14. A fluid machine according to claim 13, further comprising an electromagnetic clutch provided at the pulley for transmitting the rotational force from the engine to the expansion-and-compressor device when the electromagnetic clutch is energized.

15. A fluid machine according to claim 13, wherein the power transmission device is composed of a planetary gear train.

16. A fluid machine according to claim 13, wherein the pulley, the power transmission device, electric rotating device and the expansion-and-compressor device are coaxially arranged with each other.

17. A fluid machine according to claim 13, further comprising;

an intermediate wall provided within the housing for dividing a housing space defined by the housing into two spaces, wherein the expansion-and-compressor device is disposed in one of the spaces and the electric rotating device and the power transmission device are disposed in the other of the spaces.