Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
lQ~659S
I
The object of this invention is a manufacturing process
1~ to ma~e pa-~s for rotary fluid machines and a manufacturing device
to i~plement the process.
This invention relates particularly to rotative machines
for fluids, driving or driven, ~here the working fluid is a liquid
- 1 -
or a gas, which include a stator and a rotor, and the operation of !
2 the machine results rrom the cooperation of the vanes of vane
3 wheels placed in the rotor and sliding in spiral-like passages of ¦
4 revolution in the form of channels or ~rooves provided in thP
5 j stator, each channel having both an inlet and an outlet for the
6 l working fluid. The roles of the rotor and of the stator can be
7 ,, reversed, whereupon the "rotor" then remains immobile and the
8 ' "stator" becomes mobile.
9 It is difficult to manufacture the aforesaid rotary fluid
10 ; machine part containing the spiral-like channels or grooves by
11 conventional machining. Moreover, the difficul~y increases the
12 '- more the cross section of the channel to be obtained has a configu-l
13 , ra~ion which limits the possibility of an axial feed of a machining
14 tool in relation to the disc in which the channels are to be
-15 formed.
16 The manufacturing of the channels or grooves in a disc
17 or similar items is most often done by milling. In this case, one
18 or more milling cutters turning at high speed around their own
19 ; axes are put into movement in relation to the disc so as to
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20 ,; generate the desired trajectory. However, to create the
21 il aforesaid channels by milling requires a great number of work
22 feeds to generate in successive movements different limiting
23 l, surfaces and also to generate different channels. Such a process
24 ,, of manufacturing is, thereforel long ar.d delicate and difficult
25 1 to achieve. It generates difficult tooling problems and very
26 il often does not result in channels which have the desired sealing
27 , while cooperating with the vane members or similar devices.
28 ¦ The present invention proceeds from tne very simple
29 concept of providing, for the manufacture of the rotary fluid
machine part containing the aforesaid spiral-like channels or
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~ski-8
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1 grooves, an assembly which reproduces, from the cinematic point r
2 of view, the rotative machine itself, having as one of its
3 ~ elements a disc member and, as another element, a "vane" tool
4 )jhaving branches or sectors similar in configuration to the vanes
5 I!of the vane wheels which circulate in the spiral-like channels of
6 ~ the rotary fluid machine. By imposing on the disc and on the
7 Ivane tool the same law of movement as that projected for the
8 ! rotary fluid machine, the branches or sectors of the vane tool
g ' machine into ~he disc spiral-like channels which will precisely
cooperate with the configuration and movement of the vanes of the ,
11 vane wheels of the rotary fluid machine.
12 With the present invention, the machining of the disc
13 ,is then a simple planing or turning operation, providing
14 simultaneous production of all the spiral-like passa~es required
for the disc which is to form either the rotor or stator o~ the
16 rotary fluid machine. Such an operation can be carried out at
17 ; high speed, which leads to fast production of the discs containing !
18 , the spiral-like channels or grooves. The machining can be done
19 in one work feed or in several successive phases of work.
20 ,~ The present invention thus relates, in particular, to
21 li a machining process which comprises a first phase during which
22 a multiplicity of channels spiral-li~e in form, are machined on
23 i,.a disc by a tool having the configuration of a vane wheel and at
24 ¦1 least one subsequent phase during which the same tool is used to
25 ¦,perform a complementary machinin~ operation.
26 1i The present invention also provides for z novel machine
27 ~ to achieve the aforesaid manufacturlng process. It has a general ¦
28 " organization of a lathe with a part-holder driven by the spindle
29 of the lathe and a cross slide with ~oolholder carried by the
saddle of the lathe. A vane tool comprising several branches or
B _ 3 _
,
~Q ~ 6 ~ 5
1 or sector~, similar to ~he general c~nfiguration o~ a vanP ~7heel
of the rotary fluid machine, is carried by the cross slide
3 , toolholder and rotated around an axis, the position of the aYiS
4 , in relation to the disc corresponding with the position of a vane j
5 11 wheel in the rotor of the rotary fluid machin~ circulating in
6 , spiral-like passages formed in the stator of the rotaEy .luid
7 ', machine. Means are provided for putting the vane tool into
8 I rotation according to a law of motion which is identical to that
9 ' of the vane wheel during the relative rotation of tne stator
; and rotor of the rotary fluid machine.
11 : The present invention also provides for a novel machine
12 , structure having means to vary the law of movement of the
13 aforesaid tool and disc member on one side and on the other of
14 the law of movement corresponding to the predetermined oper~.ion
of the rotary fluid machine. This variation is utilized to obtain
16 the spiral-like passages in a form which is different from the
,: . I
17 i form of the vane tool but which will correspond to the form of
18 the vanes of the vane wheels of the projected rotary fluid machinei
19 j The present invPntion also provides for an adapter
20 li mechanism which enables an easy and rapid transfo~mation of an
21 ¦! ordinary lathe into a machine for manufacturing a machine part
22 1 with spiral-like passages of revolution in the form of channels
23 j or grooves.
24 li The invention provides for machining by using a vane
25 li tool having sectors of special shape which are adapted to machine
26 1l channels or gooves whose side wall s~lrfaces have different or
27 ' varying slopes. '
28 l, Thus, the invention contemplates a vane tool structure
29 in which the separate branches or sectors are of different
configurations, and each branch participates in the machining of
~ of the portions of the spiral-like channels for which it r~as
2 designed,
3 ; It will thus be seen that the present invention resolves,
4 ,, the difficulty of machining the parts of rotar~ fluid machines in
'' which the cooperation of a vane or similar member with a wall of
6 a channel in which the fluid flows, takes place along different
7 zones of the vane, the location of the zone being a function of L~e
8 position of the vane during its circulation relative to the channel.
9 - In order to obtain a satisfactory sealing along its
trajectory, a vane or a similar part has a rounded edge and the
11 cooperation of this edge with the wall of the channel takes place
12 on different generating lines.
13 The presen~ invention also contemplates the provision
14 of a vane tool characterized by a multiplic~ty of cutting edges
which correspond to the different generating lines of the vane
16 which are to cooperate with the channels of the disc in a rotary
17 , fluid machine.
18 In one embodiment of the invention, the vane tool
19 1i includes a plurality of branches or sectors which differ between
j themselves by the position of the cutting edges. A machine with-
21 ~, the same vane tool thus allows for the manufacture of a suitable
22 ,I channel for cooperating with a v~ne having rounded edges or sides.l
23 1l According to another embodiment OI the invention, cutting
24 I~!edges at different positions are provided on differen~ vane tools
~5 liwhich are successively mounted on the toolholder of the cutting
26 ,,machine.
27 1 The presen~ invention also provides for the manufacture ¦
28 ' of the vane wheels for rotary fluid machines including a part
29 containing passages of revslution in the form of channels or
grooves, by machining a circular blank of the wheel with a plate
1~ - 5 -
tool having the cutting edges distributed on the surfaces
limiting portions of the spiral-like channels similar to those
of the rotary fluid machine part with which the wheel being
cut is to cooperate. The law of movement imposed between the
plate tool with cutting edges and the blank is the same as the
law of movement between the rotary fluid machine part with the
channels and the vane wheels of the rotary fluid machine.
It will also be understood that the present invention
may be utilized in any rotary fluid machine in which the channels
are formed on a cylinder, a cone, or a portion of a sphere. Thus,
the invention is useful in centrifugal machines generally.
Objects and advantages of the invention are set forth
in part herein and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be
learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized
and attained by means of instrumentalities and combinations
pointed out in the appended claims.
The invention consists in the novel processes, parts,
constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements
herein shown and described.
It will be understood that the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description as well
are exemplary and explanatory of the invention but are not
restrictive thereof.
The present invention provides a method and an apparatus
for the manufacture of a machine part containing a spiral-like
passage of revolution in a rotary fluid machine in which the
conversion of pressure energy of fluids is obtained by the
28 circulation of at least two spaced vane members in at least one
~ 6 -
spiral-like passage of revolution in the form of a channel
defined by a pair of rib members having top surfaces and
side walls, and wherein the vane members are parts o at
least two vane wheels each of which is mounted for rotation
about its own axis in a first part of the machine, the
spiral-like passages of revolution are formed in a second
part of the machine and at least one of the first and second
parts of the machine is rotatable, and wherein the spiral-
like passages of revolution are generated by a combined rota-
tion of the vane members about the axis o* rotation of their
respective vane wheels and by rotation of the first part of
the machine in relation to the second part of the machine.
The method for the manufacture of the machine part
containing the spiral-like passages of revolution by a turning
operation is comprised of the steps of: providing at least one
vane tool having cutting sectors formed in the shape of the
vane members of the vane wheels of the machine, providing
a blank member to be formed into the second part of the
machine, rotating the blank member about a first axis of
rotation which is in the same direction as that of the
relative rotation between the first and second parts of the
machine, rotating the vane tool about a second axis of
rotation which is in the same direction as the axis of rotation
of the vane wheels in the first part of the machine, and
bringing the rotating vane tool into cutting engagement with
the rotating blank member according to the same combined
relative law of movement as between the rotating vane wheels
and the relative rotation between the first and second parts of
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the machine during operation of the machine, whereby the vane
tool cutting sectors cut into the blank member in a direction
normal to the direction of rotation of the second axis of
rotation to thereby cut in the manner of a turning operation
at least one channel in the blank member which forms the at
least one spiral-like passage of revolution in which the at
least two spaced vane members circulate during operation of
the rotary fluid machine.
The apparatus for the manufacture of the machine part
containing the spiral-like passages of revolution is defined
as: at least one vane tool having cutting sectors formed in
the shape of the vane members of the vane wheels of the
machine, means mounting a blank member to be formed into the
second part of the machine for rotation about a first axis
of rotation which is in the same direction as the relative
axis of rotation between the first and second parts of the
machine, means mounting the vane tool for rotation about a
;~ second axis of rotation which is in the same direction as
the axis of rotation of the vane wheels in the first part of
the machine, means bringing the rotating vane tool into
cutting engagement with the ~otating blank member according
to the same combined relative law of movement as between the
rotating vane wheels and the relative rotation between the
first and second parts of the machine during operation of the
machine, whereby the vane tool cutting sectors cut into the
blank member in a direction normal to the direction of rotation
of the second axis of rotation to thereby cut in the manner of
28 a turning operation at least one channel in the blank member
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,
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which forms at least one spiral-like passage of revolution
in which the at least two spaced vane members circulate
during operation of the rotary fluid machine.
The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and
constituting a part hereof, illustrate preferred embodiments
of the invention, and together with the description, serve
to explain the principles of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a schematic view of a stator for a
rotary fluid machine in -the form of a disc having spiral-
like passages
- 7b -
of revolution in the f ~ ~ ~ nels or grooves;
~ FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary schematic view o~ a por~ion ~-
3 l' of a rotor for a rotary fluid machine having a vane wheel adzpted
4 ll to cooperate with the stator shown in Figure l;
5 1 FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary schematic view, partly in
6 ~ section, of a portion of the rotor shown in Figure 2;
7 ,' FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary schematic view,
8 l, partly in elevation and partly in cross section, of a channel of
9 ,, the stator shown in Figure 1, the channel being defined by side ana
10 ,, bottom walls formed.by the disc and a top wall formed by the
11 , cooperating rotor shown in Figure 2;
12 ' FIGURE 5 is a schematic view in elevation of a disc to
13 ~ be machined according to the method and means of the present
14 ' invention;
15 .. FIGURE 6 is a view in elevation of the machining device ,
16 " of the invention;
17 .. FIGURE 7 is a plan view of the machine shown in Figure 6,
18 . FIGURE 8 is aschematic view of the vane tool of the , -
19 il invention;
20 1! FIGURE 9 is an enlarged view in cross section of the
21 1! vane shown in Figure 2;
22 1l FIGURE 10 is an enlarged schematic view of the vane
23 l, tool shown in Figure 8, and further shows in cross section the
24 ,,config~ration of its different vane branches or sectors;
25 jl FIGURE 11 is a view in front elevation of a stator
26 ¦~with spiral~ e passages formed therein according to the method
27 i~of the invention and utilizing the vane tool shown in Figure 10;
28 , FIGURE 12 is a view analogous to Figure 25, showing
29 " another cn~nnel structure for a stator for a rotary fluid machine ¦ ~`` formed according to the invention;
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~s~ 8
~6~ ~
FIGVRE 13 is z fragmentary schematic view in
2 perspective of another embodiment of a vane tool according to tn
3 invention having divergent edges;
4 , FIGURE 14 is 2 schematic view illustrating the first
i phase of the method of manufacture of the invention;
6 ¦ FIGURE 15 is a view similar to Figure 14, illustrating
7 ,'the second phase of the method of manufacture of the invention,
8 ~, FIGURE 16 is a view similar to Figures 14 and 15,
9 . illustrating the third phase of the method of manufacture of the
invention; -
11 FIGURE 17 is a view similar to Figures 14-16, illustrat-
12 ing the final phase of the ~ethod of manufacture of the invention;~
13 FIGURE 18 is a view in front elevation of a vane wheel
14 for a rotary fluid machine;
FIGURE 19 is a schematic view of an adapter mechanism
16 . according to the invention mounted on a conventional lathe for
17 . carrying out the method of manufacture of the invention;
18 " FIGURE 20 is a view in a schematic section of a vane
19 i,member;
~ I' FIGURE 21 is a schematic view concerning a frontal
21 ¦i edge of a vane member;
22 tl FIGURE 22 is a perspective view of a vane tool ~ith
23 I branches constructed in accordance with the invention;
24 1l FIGURE 23 is a fragment2ry schematic view,partly in
''se~tion, illustrating the machining of a cylinder according to the
26 1l method of manufacture OI the invention; -
27 il F-LGURE 24 shows a cylinder mounted lor ~achining
28 according to the method of manufacture of the invention;
29 ~ FIGURE 25 is a fragmentary schematic view in axial
section illustrating the manufacturing o a disc of a centrifugal '
-- B g
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s
machine according to the method of manufacture of the invention;
FIGURE 26 is a front view of the aisc shown in
Figure 25; and
FI~URE 27 is a view of a plate tool constructed
according to the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The invention provides, among other things, for the
machining of a stator 11 with spiral-like passages of revolution
in the form of channels or grooves, the center lines of which
are schemati2ed at 121, 122, 123, 124 on Figure 1. The
passages 121, 122, 123 and 124 connect a central fluid opening
13 of the disc with one or more peripheral fluid openings 14.
Circulating in the channels 121, 122, 123 and 124 are vanes
15 of the vane wheels 16 (Figures 2 and 3), the latter being -
housed in the slots 17 made in a rotor 18 mounted for rotation
relative to the stator 11 about the axis 19. The rotor 18
has on its side in front of the stator 11, a surface 21 which
cooperates sealingly with the surface 22 of the stator 11
(see Figure 4). The surface 22 is prolonged by side wall surfaces
23 and 24 (Figure 4) which define, with the bottom 25, a channel
or groove 12.
In the structure shown schematically in Figures 2
and 4, the surfaces 21 and 22 are planar. In other structures,
the cooperating surfaces of the rotor and stator are curved
and form a surface of revolution about axis 19. Each of the
vane wheels 16 is independently mounted for rotation about
27 its own axis 26, which is transverse to axis 19.
~3 - 10 -
It will be understood that Figures 1-4
schematically illustrate stator and rotor elements for a
rotary fluid machine, in which the rotor 18 houses one or
more vane wheels 16 having a plurality of vanes 15 which
circulate in spiral-like passages of revolution 121-124 in
the form of channels or grooves, all of which elements are
described and illustrated in detail in one or more of my
previously issued U.S. patents 3,904,331, granted September 9,
1975; 4,061,449, granted December 6, 1977; 4,090,825, granted
May 23, 1978. Also it will be understood that Figure 1
is only a schematic illustration of a stator, which is repre-
sentative of the stators disclosed in my prior patent and
in Figures 11 and 12. As is more fully described hereinafter,
Figure 11 is a detailed showing of a stator formed from the
tool of Figure 10 and Figure 12 is a detailed showing of a
stator element formed from the tools of Figures 14-17 and 22,
all in accordance with the present invention.
For the machining of the channels or the grooves
according to the method of the invention, a disc 20 to be
machined, shown in Figure 5, is secured to th.e part-holder
31 of a spindle 32 of a lathe, as shown in Figures 6 and 7.
The disc 20 therefore rotates around the horizontal axis 33.
The saddle 34 of the lathe can be displaced in one direction
or the other by the axial feed means 35. On the saddle 34
. is mounted a cross slide 36 which.can be adjusted transversely
by the cross feed means 37. On the cross slide 36 is mounted
; 27 a toolholder 38 carrying a vane tool 39.
,, ,
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~ILQ~S~
In accordance with the invention, van~ tool 39,
shown in greater detail in Figures 8 and 10, has the shape
of a rotary fluid machine vane wheel, described and shown in
greater detail in my aforementioned U.S. patent 4,090,825
at Figures 10-15, i.e. it comprises branches or sectGrs 41
which have a contour corresponding fundamentally to the contour
of the vanes of a vane wheel 16 ~Figure 2) intended to circulate
within the channels to be formed in the disc 20. Vane tool 39
is fixed on the vertical axis 42 of the toolholder 38, which
is distant from the axis 33, and is driven for rotation about
axis 42 by a positive transmission taken from the driving
mechanism of the spindle 32 such as, for example, spline shaft
40, shown in Figure 7, powered directly from the gear box of
the lathe.
A law of movement is imposed between the axis 42 of
toolholder 38 and the spindle 32, which is identical to the
relative movement which takes place between the stator and the
vane wheels housed by the rotor auring the operation of the
rotary fluid machine for which the stator is being machined.
This movement is described in greater detail in my aforementioned
: previously issued patents. t
The initial position of the vane tool 39 is adjusted
by the controls 37. By approaching progressively the saddle 34
to the disc 20 by acting on the axial feed controls 35, vane tool
39 forms, by its branches or sectors 41, spiral-like channels
12 in the materail of the disc 20, the cross sections of which
are conjugated with the contour of the operating portions of the
28 vane tool sectors 41.
- 12 -
65~
When the desired depth is reached, the saddle
34 is displaced in the opposite direction, which removes
the sectors 41 from the grooves just formed. It will be
understood that the adjustment of the position of vane tool
39 and its feeding movement into cutting engagement with
disc 20 may be accomplished manually by an operator or
automatically by suitable mechanical, hydraulic or electric
8 means, not shown and not deemed to be a part of the invention.
,
,
12a ~
;' 13
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1 In the structure sho~m on ~igure 6, the ~,ean pl~ne ~f
~ the body of the vane tool 39 is above the aY.is of rotation 33,
3 ; However, the invention provides for a mode of machining in ~Jhicn
4 ,, this mean plane passes through the axis 33 or below iL,
~ Figure 9 shows on an enlarged scale a cross section of
6 ~ the vane 15 of a vane wheel i6 which is intended to circulate
7 ,I within the channels being machined in disc 20, The edges 42 and
8 ; 42~ of the vane 15 are rounded and cooperate with the lateral
9 walls or flanks of the channels of the stator by diffPrent
generating lines depending on the position of the vane in a channel
11 . of the stator,
12 ,, For the construction of the vane tool 39 with five
13 branches or sectors 41, there are chosen along sections 42 and
14 42' of the edges of vane 15, in addition to the extremities 42.2 ',
and 42.3, three other equidistant points, namely 42,1 half way
16 between 42,2 and 42,3, 42.4 e~uidistant from 42.1 and 42,2 and 42,$
17 ' equidistant from 42,1 and from 42,3. The same procedure is done
18 , on the opposite edge 42'. A transversal edge 43.1 of ~he branch
19 , 41.1 of the vane tool 39 has a shape of a flat hexagon (Figure 10),
20 ' having opposite apexes 47.1 and 47'.1 corresponding to points I -
21 ¦, 42.1 and 42'.1 on vane 15 in Figure 9. The sides of vane 15
22 " originating in these two apexes, 44.1 and 45.1 on one side and
23 44'.1 and 45'.1 on the other, are oblique to satisfy the conditions
24 ~, of machining of the tool 43.1 and are connected together by the
1, long sides 46.1 and 46'.1. The branch 41.1 of the vane tool 39
26 ',j is, therefore, opera~ive in the section 43.1 by its edges 47.1
27 !l and 47l.1;
28 i~ In the same way, the branch 41,2 of the vane tool 3g is
29 operative, in the plane 43.2, by its edges 47.2 and 47'.2 which
: corresponds to the angles 42.2 and 42'.2 of the vane 15; the
. - 13 -
,
branch 41.3 has edges as shown in 47.3 and 47'.3 on the
section made by the plane 43.3 which correspond to angles
42.3 and 42'.3 of vane 15; branch 41.4 has edges as shown
in 47.4 and 47'.4 which correspond to angles 42.4 and 42l.4
of vane 15; and branch 41.5 has edges as shown in 47.5 and
47'.5 which correspond to angles 42.5 and 42'.5 of vane 15.
The invention contemplates the provision of tools
having branches or sectors of different configurations for
different phases of machining; rought machining, normal
machining and, if needed, finishing machining, more fully
described hereinafter.
Also in accordance with the invention, there is
provided a law of movement in relation to the number of branches
or sectors of the vane tool and in relation to the number of
the channels to be machined so that the same branch or sector
successively machines all the different channels to be made.
This is the case, for example, when the vane tool has five
branches and the disc to be machined has four channels. In
,
other words, a five branch tool can cut one, two, three, four
or any number of channels in the disc member, depending on
the ratio of rotation of the tool to the rotation of the disc
member. It is, however, advantageous with a five branch
tool to cut four channels since each branch of the tool will
then cut each channel. Such an operation avoids the reposi-
tioning of the tool to cut each channel as each edge of each
branch of the tool is different and designed to give the full
contour of the profile of the vane of the vane wheel which later
28 will be in sliding cooperation with the ribs and bottom of
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B
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the channel in the stator.
Also in accordance with the invention, means are
provided for angular displacement of the vane tool about its
own axis of rotation after a cut so that one branch of the
vane tool plays the role o~ another branch. Alternatively,
or in addition, the disc member may be angularly displaced
about its axis of rotation.
Figure 11 shows a disc or stator 48 with channels
obtained with a vane tool as shown On Figure 10 in accordance
with the invention. The stator 48 has channels 49, one
extremity of which emerges into a central opening 50 and the
other extremity ends at the periphery 51. Lines 52 and 53
represent the intersections of the side walls of the channels
with the frontal face 54 of the stator.
In accordance with the invention means are
provided for machining channels or grooves in a part for
a rotary fluid machine whose cross sections are such that
conventional machining with a tool having a shape corres-
ponding to the shape of the channels would cause, during the
axial feed, an excessive removal of material which would
finally not permit the desired profile for the groove or
the channel to be obtained. This is the case when the
bottoms of the channels are wider than the distance between
their sides at the tops. A rotary fluid machine which has
a stator with channels satisfying this condition has a dis-
charge flow whlch is particularly high.
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~Q965~i
Such a stator is shown in ~igure 12. The channel
55 connecting the central orifice 56 with the periphery 57 is
limited, in addition to the bottom 58, by two lateral walls.
If,for example, for the portion 59 of the lateral wall 50
close to the periphery 57, a tool as schematized in 61 with
its operative edge 62 was machining the portion 59 close to the
bottom 58, it would remove, at the beginning of the cutting,
an excessive portion of the material not allowing at the end
to keep the material which forms the front side 63 of the channel
55-
To machine such a disc, the invention provides fora way which departs from the size of the actual vane 71 (Figure
13) of a vane wheel 110 (Figure 18) designed to cooperate
'r ~
with the channels 55. The vane 71 has a frontal side 72, fit
to cooperate with the bottomi58, wider than the sections which
are closer to the root of the vane. The section closest to
~-- the body of the vane wheel is shown at 73. The lateral sides
74 and 75 of the vane 71 are here in the shape of a truncated
cone, the axis of the trunc of the cone being mean line 76
of the vane. In this event, in accordance with the invention,
there is provided a vane tool having simulated vanes of reduced
size, which are less divergent than the vane 71, and the sides
7Z and 78 of which are on the trunc of the cone of the axis 76,
with smaller apex angle of thé cone. The reduction of the
divergence is chosen such that the simulated vane 79 corresponds
in scale to the vane of a vane wheel of a rotary
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B
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fluid ~achine in which the channels of ~he stator can be obtained
by machinlng, as here above expla'ined. Starting with this reduced,
size van~, a tool is designed with branches or sectors as defined !
above with reference to Figures 9 and 10.
Referring now ~ore particularly to Figures 14-17,
there is illustrated a method of ~anufac~ure according to the
invention utilizing a tool 101 of the invention-constructed as ',
described above. Thus, the branches 102 correspond to the
aforesaid reduced-size simulated vane 79 ~d ~e ra~al edges 103 and
104 are only slightly divergent, i.e. depart slightly from
parallelism. By a longitudin21 displacement of the saddle 34 in
the direction shown by the arrow f, (Figure 14), the vane tool 101
cuts in the disc 20 spiral-like grooves whose cross sections are
conjugated with those of branches 102. The direction of rotation i
of the vane tool 101 about its axis 99 is shown by the arrow fl.
Figure 15 corresponds to the second phase of machining
according to the method of the invention. It is distinct from the¦
first phase, simply, by the introduction into the transmission,
interposed between the spindle 32 of the machine tool rotating
around the axis 33 and the axis 42 of the toolholder 38 on which
is mounted the vane tool 101, of a progressive var-ation which
additionally advances the v2ne tool 101 in rotation in relation
i~to the disc 20 in the direction shown by the dotted arrow f2.
During this second phase, tne side walls 105 of the groove, which
have been cut during the first phase by the edges 104, upstream
- 17 -
.
of the edges 103 if the reference is the rotation of the tool lGl,
2 are no longer cut.
! On the other hand, the edges 103, do~mstream, are in
4 ,. operation due to the advancement in rotation introduced. In this !
5 ! way, the cross sections of the grooves become bigger than the
6 1 cross sections of the individual bra~ches 102 of the tool At the~
i!
7 ,, end of the second phase, a channel or groove is limited, by the
8 l lateral wall 105 and by the lateral wall 106; the latter being
g at a greater distance from the wall 105 than the distance between
the edges 103 and 104 of the tool 101
" - ;
ll . During the third phase of machining according to the
12 method of the inven~ion, depicted in Figure 16, the transmissio~
13 between the axis 33 and the axis 42 is progressively modified,
14 but in the opposite direction to the modification introduced in
the second phase~ i e. a delay in rotation is imposed as schema-
16 '' tized by the dotted arrow f3.
17 li In this third phase~ the edges 104 become operative,
18 , while the edges 103 are inoperative The lateral walls 106 are
I
19 1l no longer machined, but the latPral walls 105 are cut by the
20 1l edges 104 till the wall 107 is obtained The resulting cross
21 ~! section of the channel is thus still bigger than that obtained
22 ll in the second phase
23 ,l In the final phase of machining according to the
24 ', method of the invention, depicted in Figure 17, the transmission
25 li between the axis 33 and the axis 42 is brought back to its ini tial
26 l, position It is, then, possible to remove the tool from the
27 channels by a transla~ion of the saddle 34 as sho~m by the
28 l' arrow f'
29 ' The advances and delays in rotation of the second and
third phases of machining corresponds to the passage from the
B 1~-
~imulated vane 79 on Figure 15 to the real vane 71.
A disc with spiral-like grooves obtained in this
way can then cooperate with a vane wheel whose vanes are
the size and shape of vanes 71. Such a vane wheel 110 is shown
in Figure 18.
It will be understood that the axial feed as
well as retardation or acceleration of the tool in relation to
the rotation of the disc member can be done manually by the
operator or automatically by suitable mechanical, hydraulic or
electric means, not shown and not deemed to be a part of the
invention.
Figure 19 shows schematically an adaptor according
to the invention which, in combination with an ordinary lathe,
enables a disc to be machined with spiral-like passages in the
several phases as described above.
To this end, the frame 201 of a conventional lathe
is traversed by a tubular spindle shaft 203, put into rotation
and held in the bearings 204 and ~05. Inside the tubular shaft
203 is mounted a stationary shaft 202. Shaft 202 can be adjusted
angularly about its longitudinal axis 206 by a lever 207 which
can be located in several predetermined positions by an elastic
pin 208 cooperating with the corresponding housings 209 fixed
to the frontal face 210 of the frame. A plate 212 is fixed
to the head 211 of the annular shaft 203. The said plate
212 has fi~edly mounted to its external frontal surface 213
26 and a shaft 214 about which gear 215 is mounted for rotation.
-- 19 --
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Gear 215 in turn engages with gear 216 secured to the
extremity of the shaft 202. A conical gear 217 is also
mounted for rotation about shaft 214 and engages a conical
gear 218 secured to shaft 219 which is mounted for rota-
tion in a bearing 20 situated at the extremity of the
support 221 fixed to the plate 212. On the other extremity
222 of the shaft 219 of the gear 218 is mounted a vane tool
223 with its branches; which may be, for example, identical
to the tool shown in either Figure 10 or Figure 22. The
vane tool cuts a disc 224 to make a stator with channels.
The disc 224 is mour.ted on a support 225, the latter being
mounted on the saddle 226 of the lathe. The axial feed
of the saddle 226 is controlled by the hand-wheel 227.
The saddle 226 is carried by the carriage 228 mounted
- 20 -
~Q~
~ slidingly on the bench 229 of the lathe. The cro~s 4eed i5
2 controlled by the hand-wheel 230.
3 l~ Once the first phase of machining is over, which
4 I~corresponds to the median position of the handle 207, the SecGn~
5 liphase is obtained by an angular displacement in a predetermined
6 ,Idirection o the stationary shaft 202 by the action on -the handle ¦
7 207. To free the handle 207, the elastic pin 208 is removed.
8 Il~Then, after the second phase, the third phase is carried on by
g lla rotation of the handle 207 in the opposite direction. The f
10 fourth phase, the removal of the vane tool 223, is obtained by
11 bringing the handle to its central position. The disc 224, the
.. . .
12 ;machining of which is finished, is then carried away by the
i !
1~ ' action on the hand-wheel 230.
14 While using such adapter mechanism, the disc 224 is
stationary except -for preliminary adjustments and axial feed.
. . ,
16 The law of m~ve~ent is transmitted by the adapter mechanism , -
.; ,
17 Idirectly to the vane tool with its branches.
18 ~ Figure 20 shows a section of a vane of the vane wheel
i!
19 for a rotary fluid machine, the section made through planes
, transverse to the mean plane which are asymmetrical instead of
21 1I being symmetrical, in relation to the said mean plane, as was the
22 '~case in the structures previously described.
, i
23 'l, Such a cross section 231 comprises, on the upstream sidej
24 ¦1 a portion 232 with a rela~ivPly small radius of curvature and, cn ¦
, the downstream side, a portion 233 with a larger radius of 1,
26 !, curvature. The mean plane 236, parallel to the do~mstream f2ce 237
27 '' and to the upstream face 238 of the vane, is not perpendicular
28 j to either the external surface 239 of the channel or to the
2~ ' internal face 241 of the channel.
I A rotary fluid machine with vane wheels, the vanes of
B 21 -
1 which have a contour as just defined'in reference to FigurP 20, ~,
- ~ takes advantage of the oil wedge and of the suction effPct
3 caused by the circulation of a vane in a spiral-like channel
;~ 4 1 of the stator, It is beneficial for the operation of tne ~¦
5 j machine. f
6 j The branches of a vane tool ~or the machining of
7 l~ the channels with which will cooperate such vanes, are defined
8 1', in the same manner as explained above.
g , Thus, as shown in Figure 21, the front por,ion of the
10 ; branches or sectors of the tool is defined by the front sid-e 111
.. - . !
11 of'a vane, The latter is a portion of a spherical surface limited
12 ' by two arcs 112 and 113 centered on the mean line 114 of the vane
13 ' and also by rectilinear sides 115 and 116, A first branch of
14 the tool comprises an edge 115.1 corresponding to the straight
line which joins- the extremities 112.1 and 113.1 of the arcs 112
16 ' and 113. Another branch of the tool comprises an edge 115.2
17 , which connects points 112.2 and 113.2. A third branch corresponds
18 ,, to the straight line 115.3 which connects points 112.3 and 113.3.
19 ' A fourth edge corresponds to the straight line 115.4 joining the
20 ¦¦ points 112.4 and 113.4. A fifth edge corresponds to the straight
21 !¦ line 115.5 joining the points 115.5 and 113.5.
22 ,' A vane tool 301 is shown on a smaller scale in Figure 22.
23 il It comprises five branches or sectors 302.1-302.5. The edges
24 11 of each of the branches are represented by dark lines. On the
5 ili branch 302.1 the lateral edges 316.1, 317.1 and the front edge
26 jl 318.1 are connected together between the back face 319, lateral
27 ,~ faces 320 and 321 and front face 322 of the branch. On the
28 l'branch 302.3, for example, the lateral edges 316.3 and 3i7.3
29 !~ and also the front edge 318.3 are located at the center of
the thickness of the branch.
65~5
1 ~ It will be understood that~the manufac~uring prscess,
, the machining device and the vane tool's of the invention, a~ s
3 described above, apply also to the machining of spiral-like
4 ' passages in a body of revolu~ion as a cylinder, a cone or a
5 portion of a sphere.
Thus, there is shown in Figures 23 and 24, a cylindrical
7 blank 321 having its front faces 322 and 323 held between lathe- ¦
8 , centers 324 and 324' and is therefore, put into rotation. The
9 machining is done by the branch or sector 325 of th~ vane tool
:: ,
10 326 mounted for rotation around the axis 327. The arrow f
11 schematizes the direction of the feed during the machining. The
12 law of movement between the rotation of cylindrical blank 321
13 around the axis 324-324' and the rotation of vane tool 326 around ,
14 the axis 327 corresponds to the predetermineZ relative movement ,,
- 15 between the cylinder 321 with grooves and the vanes or the
16 ; cooperating walls engaging the grooves in a rotary fluid machine. j -
17 , Figure 24 shows the grooves 328 obtained by machining blank 321
18 with tool 326.
19 , The dotted lines 329 and 330 on Figure 23 show
schematically the additional machining obtained by an advancement i t
21 ,, or retardation in rotation imposed on the tool 326. This is to ¦ i
22 !; obtain channels the walls of which diverge frc.m their external
23 sides resultirtgin a rotary luid machine with high discharge
24 ',, flow, as previously described.
25 " ~he invention also provides for the manufacturing of
26 i, centrifugal and centripetal impellers. Figure 25 shows such an
27 ', impeller being manufactured according to the i~vention. To that
28 ~ end, the impeller is mounted for rotation about the axis 333
29 between lathe-centers, schematized at 331 and 332. The vane
tool is mounted for rotation about the axis 334 perpendicular
~Q~65~S
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wski-8
~ 6~
to th axis 333. The vane tool co~prises branches or sectors
2 ~ 335. The work feed is schematized by ~he arrow . The ~rrGw 1
3 j, schematizes the adjustment o the tool before the machining
4 ll The dotted lines 336 and 337 on Figure 25 represent
I schematically the positions of the lateral edges of the ~ranch
6 or sector 335 of the tool during the second and third phases of
7 ,, the mzcnining according to the method of the invention in a case
8 , when channels with divergent sides are to be obtained. The -
g channels 338 which are thus obtained are lim~ by the walls 339, ,
shown in Figure 26.
11 ' The invention also provides for the manufacture of
12 vane wheels for circulating in spiral-like chann~s or grooves of
13 a rotary fluid machine. The vane wheels are manufactured from
14 circular blanks by utilizing as a tool a disc derived from the
disc of a rotary fluid machine having channels or grooves formed
16 i therein with which the vane wheel to be manufactured is to
; 17 ' cooperate when in use. To this end, to obtain, for example,
18 j, vane wheels fit to cooperate with a disc having spiral-like
19 ll channels such as shown in Figure 12, the departing point is the
20 li said disc. Thus, referring particularly to Figure 27, a disc
21 ¦I tool 341 is first machined, having the general shape of a disc
22 I with ribs 342.1 to 342.5 regularly distributed angularly around
23 1 the axis 43. The said disc 341 is made of tool material.
24 ~i typical rib 342 has a general shape similar to that of a rib
25 j bordering the channels 55 of the actual disc shown in Figure 12.
26 ¦I However, only the portion 344 of the rib is conser~ed. This
27 I portion corresponds, when viewed by an observer situated in tne
28 l' direction of the axis of rotation of the said disc at infinity,
29 to the visible portion which is shown on Figure 12 with hori~ontal~
,
hatching. The rib 342 of the disc tool 341 is therefore limited
- 24 -
~ by the surface 355 which corr~sponds ~o the said portion The
2 surface 355 is prolonged by a curved surface 356 ~hose generating
3 , lines are parallel to the axis 343.
4 jl ~he internal surface of the rib 342 comprises a port~on
5 11i 357 which corresponds to the visible portion 60 of the rib of
6 ' the stator shown in Figure 12. Starting from the line 358, which
7 , is the extremity of the visible portion, the internal surface
8 1i of the rib 342 is a curved surface 359. The directrix of the
9 curved surface 359 is the intersection 63 of the invisible
10 i portion 59 of the stator with the bottom 58 of the channel 55
11 in Figure 12. The directrix of the curved surface 356 is formed
12 ;by the intersection 64 of the external plane of the rib of the
13 . stator with the bottom 55 in Figure 12. A rib tool 342 is thus
14 ~ defined.. The different rib tools 342.1, 342.2, etc. to 342.5 of
the disc tool 341 have edges defined in the same manner ab
16 explained above so as to define the edges of the branches of a
17 1 tool with branches.
18 In the same manner, the bottom 361 of the disc tool 341
19 1, has cutting edges, some of them being shown by 362. These edges
20 ¦' cut the front sides of the vanes in the circular blank mounted on ¦
21 I the toolholder of the lathe, the spindle of which carries the
22 , disc 341. The ribs 342 cut the lateral sides of the vanes.
23 ~1 In a similar manner, vanes or similar members can be
24 ! obtained for rotary fluid machines in which the channels are
25 ,I formed in a tool material on a cylindrical body, a conical body
26 ¦~ or an hour-glass body. The same also applies to the formation of j
27 ~ the vanes of centri~ugal impellers. In all these cases, a tool
28 ,I having a similar body with ribs is utilized.
29 I, The invention also provides for a disc wi~h spiral-like
30 ~! grooves similar to the one shown on Figure 12 made in a material
- 25 ~
'~
~wski-8
1 hard enough to permit it to machine a vane tool with branches ~r
2 sectors which could then be utilized, in turn, for machining a
3 disc so as to form spiral-like channels, as explained above
4 Thus, the invention in its broader aspects is no,
limited to the specific embodiments herein shown and described,
6 but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the
7 .~ accompanying claims, without departing from the principles of the
8 invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.
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