Screw compressor

Claim 2

In a screw compressor having a housing defining a working space, and at least two cooperating screw rotors disposed in the working space for compressing the fluid, one rotor being drivingly engaged with a drive motor and the second rotor being engaged with said one rotor to be driven thereby, an axial thrust resulting along the axes of the rotors from the cooperation thereof in use, the improvement comprising hydraulic means for balancing the axial thrust of the rotors, said rotors each journalled at least in part by a support member secured to the housing and having an axial opening therein, said support member being received in said axial opening, a thrust member between the housing and said one rotor remote from the drive motor, said hydraulic means actuating the thrust member to balance the axial thrust of said one rotor.

Claim 3

A screw compressor as in claim 1 wherein the hydraulic means includes passage means in the support member for the said one rotor for supplying pressurizing fluid to the thrust member.

Claim 4

A screw compressor as in claim 1 including drive shaft means connecting the drive motor and the said one rotor, the drive shaft means being journalled in said housing, and passage means in the said one rotor and drive shaft means, the hydraulic means communicating with said passage means for supplying lubricant to lubricate the journal surfaces between the drive shaft Means and said housing.

Claim 5

A screw compressor as in claim 1 including an outer casing having a lubricant sump therein, said housing being carried in said casing, and pump means operatively connected to the drive shaft means for supplying lubricant from the sump to said hydraulic means.

Claim 6

A screw compressor as in claim 1 including means for communicating lubricant to the working space to seal the clearance between the screw rotors and between the screw rotors and the housing in order to increase the efficiency of operation.

Claim 7

A screw compressor as in claim 5 wherein the pump means are operatively connected to both the hydraulic means and the communicating means.

Claim 8

In a screw compressor having a housing defining a working space, and a least two cooperating screw rotors disposed in the working space for compressing the fluid, an axial thrust resulting along the axes of the rotors from the cooperation thereof in use, the improvement comprising hydraulic means for balancing the axial thrust of the rotors, said rotors each journalled at least in part by support members secured in the housing and having an axial opening therein, said support member being received in said axial opening, said housing including an annular member and end plates defining the working space, an electric drive motor, means for supporting the electric drive motor secured to an end plate, an outer casing enclosing said housing, support means affixed to said outer casing and bearing against an end plate and supporting means to retain the housing in place within the outer casing, said supporting means including a portion having a recess therein, a seal in the recess for sealing between the outer casing and the said portion so as to define a discharge chamber and a suction chamber within said outer casing.

Claim 9

In a screw compressor having a housing defining a working space, and a least two cooperating screw rotors disposed in the working space for compressing the fluid, an axial thrust resulting along the axes of the rotors from the cooperation thereof in use, the improvement comprising hydraulic means for balancing the axial thrust of the rotors, said rotors each journalled at least in part by support members secured in the housing and having an axial opening therein, said support member being received in said axial opening, said housing including an annular member and end plates defining the working space, an electric drive motor, means for supporting the electric drive motor secured to an end plate, an outer casing enclosing said housing, support means affixed to said outer casing and bearing against an end plate and supporting means to retain the housing in place within the outer casing, said supporting means including a portion having a recess therein, a seal in the recess for sealing between the outer casing and the said portion so as to define a discharge chamber and a suction chamber within said outer casing.

Claim 10

In a screw compressor having a housing defining a working space and at least two cooperating screw rotors disposed in the working space for compressing the fluid, an axial thrust resulting along the axes of the rotors from the cooperation thereof in use, the improvement comprising hydraulic means for balancing the axial thrust of the rotor, said rotors each journalled at least in part by support members secured to the housing and having an axial opening therein, said support member being received in said axial opening, said housing including an annular member and end plates defining the working space, an electric drive motor, means for supporting the electric drive motor secured to an end plate, an outer casing enclosing said housing, and support means affixed to said support means and bearing against an end plate and said supporting means to retain the housing in place within the outer casing, the support means affixed to the outer casing comprising spaced apart sets of support members, one set engaging an end plate and the other set engaging the supporting means.

Claim 11

In a screw compressor having a housing defining a working space and at least two cooperating screw rotors disposed in the working space for compressing the fluid, an axial thrust resulting along the axes of the rotors from the cooperation thereof in use, the improvement comprising hydraulic means for balancing the axial thrust of the rotor, said rotors each journalled at least in part by support members secured to the housing and having an axial opening therein, said support member being received in said axial opening, said housing including an annular member and end plates defining the working space, an electric drive motor, means for supporting the electric drive motor secured to an end plate, an outer casing enclosing said housing, and support means affixed to said support means and bearing against an end plate and said supporting means to retain the housing in place within the outer casing, the support means affixed to the outer casing comprising spaced apart sets of support members, one set engaging an end plate and the other set engaging the supporting means.

Claim 12

A screw compressor as in claim 8 wherein alignment means extend between one set of support members and associated end plate to properly orient the housing within the outer casing.