Isolation device and fluid connection

Details Isolation device and fluid connection Isolation device and fluid connection

1999-09-10

2001-10-09

Luu, Teri Pham (Department: 3627)

Pipe joints or couplings

With casing, lining or protector

Insulated

C285S048000, C285S050000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06299214

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Rigid connections between structural members in a mechanical system can be a path of vibrational propagation between members. One arrangement in which this can occur is in a refrigeration system chiller where a compressor is mounted on a heat exchanger through a rigid connection that serves as a fluid path between the members.
Screw compressors, especially high, speed geared compressors, generate high levels of structure borne energy in a frequency range where components of the systems in which they are typically applied are very responsive. This often leads to unacceptably high radiated sound levels from both the compressor and the rigidly attached system components. The problem is particularly acute with compressors designed to be directly mounted on a heat exchanger shell such that the compressor is fully supported by a flange extending directly from the shell. This is because this joint tends to transmit energy very efficiently from the compressor to the heat exchanger shell. Reducing this transmission by conventional means such as elastomeric or helical springs is very difficult due to the conflicting requirements placed on the joint. Specifically, the joint must hermetically contain the refrigerant, withstand the operating pressure in the system, and be structurally robust, especially if the joint represents the sole support for the compressor. Additionally, space requirements are often very restrictive since minimizing package size is critical.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is essentially a stand alone insertion installed between two flanges and providing a fluid path. A flexible metal tube acts as a spring to isolate vibration while defining a portion of the fluid path thereby fully containing the refrigerant. Hence, the present invention can be incorporated without requiring any major design changes. A piece of elastomer such as rubber or neoprene is located radially outward of the metal tube and between a pair of metal loading plates. The two plates are used to hold together the flanges of the members being coupled while the elastomer is compressed due to its supporting the weight of one of the members, the compressor.
It is an object of this invention to reduce heat exchanger vibration due to compressor excitation in a refrigeration or air conditioning system.
It is another object of this invention to reduce structure borne sound resulting from compressor operation
It is an additional object of this invention to reduce overall sound radiation from a chiller.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an axially compact vibration isolator. These objects, and others as will become apparent hereinafter, are accomplished by the present invention.
Basically, an annular isolator is provided having a metal tube or conduit which acts as a spring while defining a flow path and a resilient member located between two loading plates which supports the weight of one of the members being coupled and the metal tube or conduit acts as a spring as to transmitting vibration.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2126706 (1938-08-01), Schmidt
patent: 3566510 (1971-03-01), Wendt
patent: 101531 (1937-07-01), None
patent: 2087023 (1982-05-01), None

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