Title of Invention

MODULAR VOLUMETRIC COMPRESSOR.

Abstract A volumetric compressor (1) of the type comprising a pair of rotors (2) cooperating with each other and housed inside a compressor body (3), in which it is possible to identify a first flange (4), arranged on the suction side of the compressor body (3), and a second flange (5), arranged on the delivery side of the compressor body (3), suited to couplingly house a suction head (6,7) and a delivery head (8,9) of the volumetric compressor (1), wherein the suction head (6,7) is provided with a first counterflange (10,11), suited to be connected to the first flange (4), and comprises a coupling element (12) for connection to a suction pipe, or a coupling element (13) for connection to a suction pipe in combination with a motor unit (14), and the delivery head (8, 9) is provided with a second counterflange (15,16), suited to be connected to the second flange (5), and comprises a coupling element (17) for connection to a delivery pipe, or a coupling element (18) for connection to a delivery pipe in combination with an oil separator (19).
Full Text WO 2005/085642 PCT/EP2003/050936
MODULAR VOLUMETRIC COMPRESSOR.
The present invention concerns a volumetric compressor, particularly suited to
be used in air conditioning and/or refrigeration systems.
It is known that in air conditioning and/or refrigeration systems volumetric
compressors are used, which are suitable for circulating a carrier fluid inside a
closed circuit for air conditioning in closed spaces or for the refrigeration of
cold rooms and similar structures.
Though in their different specific applications, the volumetric compressors
manufactured according to the prior art are all constituted by a casing in which
it is possible to identify a carrier fluid suction chamber, provided with a suction
valve and a carrier fluid delivery chamber, provided with a delivery valve, with
a pair of screw rotors included between them.
For the different applications mentioned above, different types of volumetric
compressors are available on the market; in particular, when they are used for
the construction of air conditioning systems, they are provided, inside the
casing, with a semi-hermetic motor unit for the operation of the rotors and With
a lubricating oil separator positioned before the delivery valve.
Volumetric compressors, indeed, are equipped with a hydraulic circuit for the
lubrication of the rotors that is suited to improve their efficiency; the lubricating
oil is mixed with the carrier fluid inside the compressor and consequently it
must be separated from the latter before being conveyed to the air conditioning
circuit.
For the refrigeration systems, on the other hand, volumetric compressors,
similar to those described above, are generally used, that is, compressors
comprising a casing inside which there is a semi-hermetic motor unit including
a suction chamber provided with a suction valve and a delivery chamber
provided with a delivery valve, with a pair of screw rotors included between
them, in which, however, there is no lubricating oil separator.
In the refrigeration systems, indeed, two or more compressors arranged in
parallel are often used, and a single lubricating oil separator is used for all the
compressors making up the system.
A further possible configuration of the volumetric compressor, used for
example for particularly aggressive fluids like ammonia, differs from those
previously described owing to the fact that it is not provided with a motor unit
inside the compressor casing.

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In this case the compressor, called "open type" compressor, is equipped with
drive and coupling means for connection to an external motor unit for the
operation of the rotors.
The known volumetric compressors mentioned above, however, have some
drawbacks that have been recognised as such.
The main drawback is represented by the fact that in order to me(c)t the
customer's different needs, according to the combinations described above,
the manufacturer must produce different compressors.
Another drawback, connected to the previous one, is represented by the fact
that, to obtain the constructional differences necessary to implement all the
combinations mentioned and, therefore, to design and manufacture the
different types of compressors, too many persons and means are required.
A further drawback is represented by the fact that if the customer needs a
compressor with a configuration different from the one installed, he should
obviously replace it with a new one capable of satisfying the new requirements
of the system.
A situation of this kind occurs, for example, if the customer needs to pass from
an external motor unit to a semi-hermetic motor unit associated with the
suction head of the compressor.
The present invention aims to eliminate all the drawbacks listed above.
It is a first aim of the invention to carry out a volumetric compressor that makes
it possible to reduce the number of components required to obtain all the types
of compressor described by unifying their common parts.
It is another aim of the invention to carry out a volumetric compressor whose
construction technique can be simplified compared to the prior art, with
consequent reduction in design and construction costs.
It is a further aim of the invention to carry out a volumetric compressor that
may be modified during manufacture with no need to replace it if its
configuration must be changed.
The aims described above have been achieved through the implementation of
a volumetric compressor that, according to the main claim, comprises a pair of
rotors cooperating with each other and housed inside a compressor body in
which it is possible to identify a first flange, positioned on the suction side of
said compressor body, and a second flange, positioned on the delivery Side of
said compressor body, said first flange being suited to be coupled with a

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suction head and said second flange being suited to be coupled with a delivery head of said volumetric compressor, and is characterized in that said suction head is provided with a first counterflange suited to be connected to said first flange and comprises a coupling element for connection to a suction pipe, or a coupling element for connection to a suction pipe in combination with a motor unit, and in that said delivery head is provided with a second counterflange suited to be connected to said second flange and comprises a coupling element for connection to a delivery pipe, or a coupling element for connection to a delivery pipe in combination with an oil separator. Advantageously, the possibility to connect the same compressor body to two different types of suction head on the suction side and to two different types of delivery head on the delivery side makes it possible to achieve all the compressor configurations required by the market, using five different components, instead of making four separate compressors. Still advantageously, the possibility to removably connect the suction and delivery heads to the compressor body, through a connection with flange and counterflange, allows the configuration of the compressor to be modified even after its first installation.
The aims and advantages mentioned above will be highlighted in greater detail in the description of a favourite application of the invention, given as an example without limitation with reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein:
- Figure 1 is an exploded view of all the components of the volumetric
compressor of the invention;
- Figures from 2 to 5 show different executive embodiments of the
compressor of the invention, that can be obtained using the components
shown in Figure 1.
As can be observed in Figure 1, the volumetric compressor of the invention, indicated as a whole by 1, comprises a pair of rotors 2 cooperating with each other and housed inside a compressor body 3 in which it is possible to identify a first flange 4 arranged on the suction side of said compressor body 3 and a second flange 5 arranged on the delivery side of said compressor body 3, said first flange 4 being suited to be coupled with a suction head 6, 7 and Said second flange 5 being suited to be coupled with a delivery head 8, 9 of Said volumetric compressor 1. According to the invention, the suction head 6, 7 is provided with a first

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counterflange 10,11 suited to be connected to said first flange 4 and includes
a coupling element 12 for connection to a suction pipe, or a coupling element
13 for connection to a suction pipe in combination with a motor unit 14, and
said delivery head 8, 9 is provided with a second counterflange 15, 16 suited
to be connected to said second flange 5 and includes a coupling element 17
for connection to a delivery pipe, or a coupling element 18 for connection to a
delivery pipe in combination with an oil separator 19.
Figures from 2 to 5 show the different configurations 50, 60, 70, 80 of the
compressor 1 of the invention, that can be achieved by connecting to the
compressor body 3 the different suction heads 8, 9 and delivery heads 10,11
shown in Figure 1, by fastening each flange 4, 5 of the compressor body 3 to
the counterflange 10, 11, 15, 16 of the suction head 6, 7 or of the delivery
head 8,9.
In particular, Figure 2 shows the configuration 50 that involves the installation,
on the suction side of the compressor body 3, of a head 7 comprising a
coupling element 13 for connection to a suction pipe in combination with a
motor unit 14, preferably but not necessarily semi-hermetic, while on the
delivery side of the compressor body 3 there is a head 8 comprising a coupling
element 18 for connection to a delivery pipe in combination with an oil
separator 19.
This type of configuration is the most widespread in air conditioning systems
that must be equipped with a compressor 50 with' compact dimensions that
integrates all the elements necessary for the operation of the circuit which
generally requires one compressor only.
As to the semi-hermetic motor unit 14 that operates the rotors 2 housed inside
the compressor body 3, this is generally constituted by an electric motor cooled
by the carrier fluid itself.
For the refrigeration of cold rooms and similar structures, in order to achieve
the performance required by the system it is often necessary to use a certain
number of compressors 80 arranged in series.
In this case, each volumetric compressor 80 is equipped with an independent,
semi-hermetic motor unit 14, while the filtration of the carrier fluid takes place
in a common external oil separator that serves all the compressors making up
the system, towards which all the delivery pipes of each compressor converge.
Thus, for this type of system, volumetric compressors 80 of the type shown in

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Figure 5 are used, in which the suction head 7, connected to the compressor
body 3 on the suction side, comprises the coupling element 13 in combination
with the motor unit 14, while the delivery head 9 connected to the compressor
body 3 on the delivery side comprises only the delivery valve conveying the
carrier fluid to the external oil separator.
Figure 4 shows a further configuration 70 of the volumetric compressor 1 Of the
invention, in which the suction head 8, connected to the compressor body 3 on
the suction side, comprises only the coupling element 12 for connection to a
suction pipe, while the delivery head 8 connected to the compressor body 3 on
the delivery side comprises the coupling element 18 for connection to a
delivery pipe in combination with the oil separator 19.
The last configuration 60 of the compressor 1 of the invention, that can be
obtained with the components 6, 9 represented in Figure 1, is that shown in
Figure 3, in which the suction head 6 connected to the compressor body 3 on
the suction side comprises only the coupling element 12 for connection to a
carrier fluid suction pipe, while the delivery head 9, connected to the
compressor body 3 on the delivery side, comprises only the coupling element
17 for connection to a carrier fluid delivery pipe.
The suction head 6 is equipped with drive means 20 suited to be set in motion
by the motor unit of the system and to transmit motion to the rotors 2 housed
inside the compressor body 3.
This type of compressor 60 is particularly suited to be installed in systems that
use particularly aggressive carrier fluids, for example ammonia, which may
damage the motor unit in case of contact with the latter.
As to the compressor body 3, this may be sized according to the power
required and to the type of carrier fluid used in the circuit, though maintaining a
first flange 4, arranged on the suction side, and a second flange 5, arranged
on the delivery side, suited to house corresponding counterfianges 10,11,15,
16 for the connection of the suction heads 6, 7 and the delivery heads 8, 9
shown in Figure 1.
The sizing of the compressor body 3 is generally achieved by varying the
longitudinal development of the rotors 2 housed inside it and consequently the
longitudinal development of the compressor body itself.
Thus, it is obvious that, by combining compressor bodies of different sizes with
the suction heads 6, 7 and the delivery heads 8, 9 shown in Figure 1, it is

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possible to obtain multiple configurations of the compressor, reducing the
number of components to be manufactured and kept in stock, with no need to
have a specific compressor for each application, as was the case in the prior
art described above.
The possibility to have a volumetric compressor 1, 50, 60, 70, 80 in which it is
substantially possible to identify three interchangeable functional units, that is,
a compressor body 3, a suction head 6, 7 and a delivery head 8, 9, makes the
compressor 1, 50, 60, 70, 80 of the invention modular and, therefore, easy to
be adapted to the different needs of the user, simply by assembling the
components in different ways.
As to the coupling element 12, 13 for connection to a suction pipe for the
carrier fluid at low pressure and the coupling element 17,18 for connection to
a delivery pipe for the carrier fluid at high pressure, they may be constituted,
according to the customer's needs, by a suction and/or delivery valve or,
alternatively, by a suction and/or delivery coupling.
As to the connection of the suction heads 6, 7 and delivery heads 8, 9 to the
compressor body 3, it takes place through a coupling between flange 4,5 and
counterflange 10, 11,15, 16 that is made integral through suitable fastening
means 21 of the known type, for example screws.
According to the above, it can be understood that the volumetric compressor of
the invention achieves all the aims set.
In particular, it is achieved the aim to carry out a volumetric compressor in
which, owing to its modular nature, the number of components necessary to
obtain the different configurations required by the users is reduced.
It is also achieved the aim to carry out a volumetric compressor whose
construction technique can be simplified compared to the prior art, thus
obtaining a reduction in design and construction costs.
Finally, it is also achieved the aim to carry out a volumetric compressor whose
configuration may be modified even after its first installation to meet, for
example, new needs of the system, or to be reinstalled in a new system.
Upon implementation, modifications and changes that are neither described
nor represented may be made to the volumetric compressor object Of the
invention.
The embodiments described and any other that have not been mentioned are
to be considered protected by the present patent, provided that they fall within

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the scope of the claims expressed below.


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CLAIMS
1) Method of manufacturing and assembling, In Function of the desired
configuratfons, a volumetric compressor (1; 50; 60; 70; 80) of the type
comprising a pair of rotors (2) cooperating with each other and housed inside a
compressor body (3).
said compressor body having a first flange (4) arrangec on the suction side of said compressor body (3) and a second flange (5) ananged on the delivery side of said compressor body (3), said first flange (4) being suited to be coupled with a suction head (9, 7) and said second fla ige (5) being suited to be coupleb with a delivery head (8, 9) of said volunetric compressor (1), characterized by comprising the following operations:
- manufacturing a first suction head (6) comprising a coupling element (12) to
a suction pipe, and
- manufacturing a second suction head (7) comprising a coupling element
(13) for connection to a suction pipe in combination with a motor unit (14),
- each of said first and second suction heads (6,7) being provided with a
first) counterflange (10, 11), suited to be connectod with said first flange
(4) of said compressor body (3);
- manufacturing a first delivery head (8) comprising a coupling element (17)
to a delivery pipe, and
- manufacturing a second delivery head (9) comprising a coupling element
(18) for- connection to a delivery pipe in combinatioi with an oil separator
(19),
- each of said first and second delivery heads (8,9) being provided with a
second counterflange (15,16) suited to be connected with said second
flange (5) of said compressor body (3);
- couplinp said first flange (4) of said compressor body (3) with said
counterflange (10,11) of any of these first or second suction heads (6,7)}
- coupling said second flange (5) of said compressor body (3) with said
countefflange (15, 16) of any of these first or sacond delivery heads
(8, 9).
2) Volumetric compressor (60) according to tho method of claim 1),
characterized In that said first suction head (6) comprises a coupling element
(12) for connection to a suction pipe, and said second delivery head (9)
comprises la coupling element (17) for connection to a delivery pipe.
Received at the EPO on Oct 03.200512:34:31. Page 6 of 8
AMENDED SHEET


9
3) Volumetric compressor (70) according to the method of claim 1),
characterised in that said first suction head (6) comprises a coupling element
(12) for connection to a suction pipe, and said first delivery head (8) comprises
a coupling! element (18) for connection to a delivery pipe in combination with
an oil separator (19).
4) Volumetric compressor (80) according to the method of claim 1),
characterized In that said second suction head (7) comprises a coupling
element (1!3) for connection to a suction pipe in combination with a motor unit
(14). and Said second delivery head (9) comprises a coupling element (17) for
connection to a delivery pipe.
5) Volumetric compressor (50) according to the method of claim 1).
characterized in that said second suction head (7) comprises a coupling
element (1(3) for connection to a suction pipe in combination with a motor unit
(14), and said first delivery head (8) comprises a coupling element (19) for
connection to a delivery pipe in combination with an oil separator (19).
6) Volumetric compressor (1; 50; 60; 70; 80) according to the method of
claim 1), characterized in that said coupling element 12, 13) for connection
to a suctloh pipe is constituted by a suction valve.
7) Volumetric compressor (1; 50; 60; 70; 80) according to the method of
claim 1), characterized in that said coupling element 12.13) for connection
to a suction pipe is constituted by a suction coupling.
8) Volumetric compressor (1; ยง0; 60; 70; 80) according to the method of
claim 1), Characterized in that said coupling element .17, 18) for connection
to a delivery pipe is constituted by a delivery valve.
9) Volumetric compressor (1; 50; 60; 70; 80) according to the method of
claim 1), Characterized In that said coupling element 17, 18) for connection
to a delivery pipe is constituted by a delivery coupling.
10)j Volumetric compressor (1; 50; 80) according to the method! of claim 1), characterized in that said motor unit (14) in of the semi-hermetic type. j
11)JVolumetric compressor (1; 50; 60; 70; 80) according to the method of daim 1 j, characterized in that it comprises fastening means (21) suited to permanently connect said first and second flange (4,5) o said first and second counterflange (10,11,15,16), respectively.
12) Volumetric compressor (1; 50; 60; 70; 80) according to claim 11),
Received at the EPO on Oct 03,200512:34:31. Page 7 of 8
AMENDED SHEET

03/10 05 LUN 12:30 FAX 0444320180 ST. BONINI ITALY
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characterized in that said fastening means (21) are constituted by screws.
13) jVolumetric compressor (1; 50; 60) accord ng to the method of claim 1), characterized in that said motor unit (14) is constituted by an electric motor.
Received at the EPO on Oct 03,200512:34:31. Page 8 of 8
AMENDED SHEET

Documents:

02299-kolnp-2006-abstract.pdf

02299-kolnp-2006-assignment.pdf

02299-kolnp-2006-claims.pdf

02299-kolnp-2006-correspondence others.pdf

02299-kolnp-2006-correspondence-1.1.pdf

02299-kolnp-2006-description(complete).pdf

02299-kolnp-2006-drawings.pdf

02299-kolnp-2006-form-1.pdf

02299-kolnp-2006-form-3-1.1.pdf

02299-kolnp-2006-form-3.pdf

02299-kolnp-2006-form-5.pdf

02299-kolnp-2006-gpa.pdf

02299-kolnp-2006-international publication.pdf

02299-kolnp-2006-international search authority report.pdf

02299-kolnp-2006-others.pdf

02299-kolnp-2006-priority document.pdf

2299-KOLNP-2006-ABSTRACT.pdf

2299-KOLNP-2006-AMENDED CLAIMS.pdf

2299-KOLNP-2006-AMENDED PAGES OF SPECIFICATION.pdf

2299-KOLNP-2006-CANCELLED PAGES.pdf

2299-KOLNP-2006-CORRESPONDENCE 1.1.pdf

2299-kolnp-2006-correspondence-1.2.pdf

2299-KOLNP-2006-DRAWINGS.pdf

2299-KOLNP-2006-FORM 1.pdf

2299-KOLNP-2006-FORM 13.pdf

2299-KOLNP-2006-FORM 2.pdf

2299-kolnp-2006-form 27.pdf

2299-KOLNP-2006-FORM 3.pdf

2299-KOLNP-2006-OTHERS.pdf

2299-KOLNP-2006-PETITION UNDER RULE 137.pdf

2299-KOLNP-2006-REPLY TO EXAMINATION REPORT.pdf

abstract-02299-kolnp-2006.jpg


Patent Number 242493
Indian Patent Application Number 2299/KOLNP/2006
PG Journal Number 36/2010
Publication Date 03-Sep-2010
Grant Date 30-Aug-2010
Date of Filing 11-Aug-2006
Name of Patentee REFCOMP SPA
Applicant Address VIA E. FERMI, 6, I-36045 LONIGO (VICENZA)
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 CANDIO GIANNI VIA SCARANTO, 6, I-36045 LONIGO (VICENZA)
2 TONIN ANDREA VIA G. GARIBALDI, 23, I-36070 BROGLIANO (VICENZA)
3 FACCIO ENRICO VIA QUARI DESTRA, 55, I-37044 COLOGNA VENETA (VERONA)
PCT International Classification Number F04C2/08; F04C23/00;
PCT International Application Number PCT/EP2005/050936
PCT International Filing date 2005-03-03
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 VI2004A00035 2004-03-04 Italy