IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,852,166
Granted Patent B2
US 11,852,166 · App. 17/591,191 · Granted Dec 26, 2023

Motor and bearing cooling paths

Inventors: Brent J. Merritt (Southwick, MA); Craig M. Beers (Wethersfield, CT); John M. Beck (Windsor, CT)
Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
F04D29/5806F04D25/082F04D29/4206F04D29/584
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,852,166
App. No.
17/591,191
Granted
Dec 26, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A compressor includes a rotor driven by a shaft and configured to compress air and a motor for driving the shaft. At least one bearing facilitates rotation of the shaft. A motor cooling loop is configured to provide motor cooling air to the motor. A bearing cooling loop is configured to provide bearing cooling air to the at least one bearing. A bearing support is configured to support the least one bearing, the bearing support includes an opening. A duct is configured to communicate air from the opening to an inlet of the compressor. A method for cooling a compressor is also disclosed.

Claims (26)

1. A method for cooling a compressor, comprising:

providing a first cooling air stream to at least one bearing, the at least one bearing facilitating rotation of a shaft in a compressor, wherein at least one seal is configured to limit the flow of the first cooling air stream;

providing a second cooling air stream to a motor, the motor configured to rotate the shaft; and

communicating air leaked from the at least one seal to an add-heat housing of the compressor via a duct external to the compressor.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising communicating the air leaked from the at least one seal through a passage in a bearing support, the bearing support configured to support the at least one bearing.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing the first cooling air stream to the motor.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one bearing includes a first journal bearing upstream from the motor and a second journal bearing downstream from the motor, and further comprising providing the first cooling air stream to the first journal bearing via a transfer tube.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the air leaked from the at least one seal is communicated to the duct via a leaked air outlet.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the leaked air outlet extends through a housing of the motor.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the add-heat housing is adjacent an inlet of the compressor.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the air leaked from the at least one seal is a source of air for an inlet of the compressor.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one bearing includes a first journal bearing upstream from the motor and a second journal bearing downstream from the motor, and wherein a bearing support supports the first journal bearing.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least one seal is upstream from the bearing support.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least one seal is downstream from the bearing support.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising communicating air leaked from the at least one seal through an opening in the bearing support to the add-heat housing of the compressor.

13. A method for cooling a compressor, comprising:

providing a first cooling air stream to at least one bearing, the at least one bearing facilitating rotation of a shaft in a compressor, wherein at least one seal is configured to limit the flow of the first cooling air stream, wherein the at least one bearing includes a first journal bearing upstream from a motor and a second journal bearing downstream from the motor, and wherein the at least one seal is situated upstream from a bearing support configured to support the first journal bearing;

providing a second cooling air stream to the motor, the motor configured to rotate the shaft; and

communicating air leaked from the at least one seal through an opening in the bearing support to an add-heat housing of the compressor such that the air leaked from the at least one seal is a source of air for an inlet of the compressor.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising providing the first cooling air stream to the first journal bearing via a transfer tube.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the at least one seal is downstream from the bearing support.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the at least one seal is upstream from the bearing support.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising communicating air leaked from the at least one seal to the add-heat housing of the compressor via a duct external to the compressor.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the add-heat housing is adjacent an inlet of the compressor.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein the air leaked from the at least one seal is communicated to the duct via a leaked air outlet.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the leaked air outlet extends through a housing of the motor.

Continuity (2)
Division 16530511 · Aug 2, 2019
Related Publication 20220154731A1 · May 19, 2022
Cited By (1)
US 12,710,057