Centrifugal turbine for breathing-aid devices

• US 6,960,854 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2002
• Issued: 11/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Covidien AG (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Mallinckrodt Developpement France
• Inventors: Nadjafizadeh, Hossein, Liegeois, Pascal, Perine, Philippe
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TRAN N
• Application Number:
  US10/496,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20050036887A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 310/89, 310/58, 310/60.R, 310 62- 63, 310/60.A, 310/156.08, 310/156.09, 310/156.12, 417/420, 417/423.1, 417/423.7, 417/423.14, 417/424.1, 415/182.1, 415/184, 415/186, 415/188, 415/203
• US Class Current: 310/89
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 17/06 Helico-centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/0606 the electric motor being specially adapted for integration in the pump
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/281 for fans or blowers
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/30 Vanes

Abstract

The invention concerns an electric turbin (1) comprising a turbine rotor (4, 7), a turbine stator (2, 3), an electric motor member (5, 6) for driving the rotor (4, 7) in rotation relative to the stator (2, 3), and having the following features: the turbine stator (2, 3) comprises a stator body defining a compression chamber (12); the turbine rotor (4, 7) includes a plurality of blades (26, 27) integral with a shaft (4) mounted coaxially rotating in the body (2, 3) of the turbine stator; the electric motor member (5, 6) comprises a toroidal motor stator (6) housed in a motor housing (16, 23) of the turbine stator (2, 3), at the center of the toroidal compression chamber (12) and a motor rotor (5) mounted on the shaft (4) of the turbine rotor, axially opposite the motor stator (6).

Claims

1. An electric turbine (1) comprising a turbine rotor (4, 7), a turbine stator (2, 3), and electric motor member (5, 6) intended to drive the rotor (4, 7) rotationally with respect to the stator (2, 3), wherein

the turbine stator (2, 3) comprises a stator body defining a generally toric compression chamber (12) provided with an annular opening;

the turbine rotor (4, 7) comprises a set of blades (26, 27) extending generally radially from a central air inlet formed by an annular intake duct (11) to the annular opening of the compression chamber (12) of the turbine stator (2, 3), this set of blades (26, 27) being fixed to a shaft (4) mounted coaxially able to rotate in the turbine stator body;

the electric motor member (5, 6) comprises a toric motor stator (6) housed and fixed in a motor housing (16, 23) of the turbine stator (2, 3), at the centre of the toric compression chamber (12), and a motor rotor (5) mounted and fixed on the turbine rotor shaft (4), axially opposite the motor stator (6).

2. A turbine according to claim 1, characterised in that one out of the motor stator (6) or rotor (5) is a permanent magnet.

3. A turbine according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one out of the motor stator (6) or rotor (5) is or are a toric winding.

4. A turbine according to claim 1, characterised in that the turbine rotor shaft (4) is mounted on at least one bearing (13, 20) coaxial with the annular intake duct (11).

5. A turbine according to claim 1, characterised in that the turbine rotor shaft (4) is mounted on at least one bearing (14) situated in the motor housing.

6. A turbine according to claim 1, characterised in that the stator body (2, 3) comprises two parts cooperating with one another and delimiting the toric compression chamber (12).

7. A turbine according to claim 1, characterised in that the blades (26, 27) are carried by an overmoulded wheel (7) forming a sleeve on the turbine rotor shaft (4).

8. A turbine according to claim 7, characterised in that said sleeve comprises a shoulder intended for the axial support of the motor rotor (5).

9. A turbine according to claim 1, characterised in that the blades (26, 27) are carried by a truncated cone-shaped wheel (7).

10. A turbine according to claim 9, characterised in that the blades (26, 27) are formed from a flat wall fixed perpendicular to the surface of the wheel (7), this wall having a generally trapezoidal shape and having a greater height in the central part of the wheel (7) than in its peripheral part.

11. A turbine according to claim 10, characterised in that at least certain (27) of said blades (26, 27) comprise, in their part disposed in the central part of the wheel, a protruding tip intended to follow the shape of the annular intake duct (11).

12. A turbine according to claim 11, characterised in that one blade out of two comprise, in their part disposed in the central part of the wheel (7), a protruding tip intended to follow the shape of the annular intake duct (11).

13. A turbine according to claim 9, characterised in that certain of said blades (26, 27) form an angle of 5 to 60 degrees with the radius of the wheel (7) passing through the end of the blade, at the periphery of the wheel (7).