Fluid heating devices

Details Fluid heating devices Fluid heating devices

2001-07-13

2003-05-06

Nguyen, Ninh (Department: 3745)

Rotary kinetic fluid motors or pumps

Method of operation

C415S055100

Reexamination Certificate

active

06558112

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to fluid heating devices for heating a fluid, such as for example regenerative pumps that can be utilized to circulate and heat a coolant in a vehicle air conditioning/heating system.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 3,720,372 discloses a known fluid heating device that includes a throttle valve disposed downstream of a pump. The fluid pressurized by the pump is introduced to the throttle valve and the throttle valve brakes the fluid in order to heat the fluid. As shown in
FIG. 7
, the pump
110
of U.S. Pat. No. 3,720,372 has a suction port
113
, a discharge port
114
, a housing
111
, a rotor (impeller)
120
, blades (radially extending walls)
121
and channels (grooves)
123
. The rotor
120
rotates together with blades
121
within the housing
111
. The blades
121
and the channels
123
extend radially from the rotational center or axis
122
of the rotor
120
. The housing
111
includes a dividing wall
115
that separates the suction port
113
from the discharge port
114
. As shown in
FIG. 8
, surface
126
of each channel
123
has a curved or semi-circular shape. The outer circumference end
126
a
and the inner circumference end
126
b
of the channel surface
126
have equal heights H from the base of the channel
123
. Further, the outer circumferential end
126
a
of the channel
123
forms a wall portion
124
that shields the channel
123
. When the rotor
120
rotates, the fluid drawn from the suction port
113
is pressurized and released from the discharge port
114
. The throttle valve (not shown) is disposed downstream of the discharge port
114
and the throttle valve brakes the flow of fluid. By throttling or braking the fluid, the internal energy of the fluid is converted to heat and the fluid temperature increases.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide improved fluid heating devices. For example, fluid heating devices of the present teachings may heat the fluid more efficiently than the known fluid heating device. In one embodiment, the fluid heating device may include an improved rotor for pressurizing the fluid. The rotor may include a rotor body, blades and channels. The rotor body may be rotatably supported within a rotor housing. The blades are provided on the circumferential surface of the rotor body. The blade of the rotating rotor pressurizes a fluid drawn into the rotor housing. The pressurized fluid may then be throttled or braked in order to generate heat that will increase the fluid temperature. The channels may be provided on the circumferential surface of the rotor body such that one channel is formed or defined between each two adjacent blades. The height of at least one channel at the inner circumferential end is preferably greater than the height of the channel at the outer circumferential end, which has the effect of increasing the fluid temperature more efficiently.
Other objects, features and advantage of the present invention will be readily understood after reading the following detailed description together with the accompanying drawings and the claims.


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