US 12,215,692 B1
Scavenge loss limiter for a rotary compressor
Taylor Stratman, Quincy, IL (US)
Assigned to Ingersoll-Rand Industrial U.S., Inc., Davidson, NC (US)
Filed by Ingersoll-Rand Industrial U.S., Inc., Davidson, NC (US)
Filed on Feb. 20, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/581,865.
Int. Cl. F04C 29/00 (2006.01); F04C 18/16 (2006.01); F04C 29/02 (2006.01)
CPC F04C 29/026 (2013.01) [F04C 18/165 (2013.01); F04C 29/0028 (2013.01); F04C 29/028 (2013.01); F04C 2210/1005 (2013.01); F04C 2210/14 (2013.01); F04C 2240/30 (2013.01); F04C 2240/50 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A rotary compressor comprising:
a housing having a first housing end, a second housing end, and a rotor cavity defined between the first housing end and the second housing end, the housing including a first interior wall proximate to the first housing end;
a first rotor housed within the rotor cavity and rotating about a first rotor axis extending from the first housing end to the second housing end, the first rotor having a plurality of male lobes;
a second rotor housed within the rotor cavity and rotating about a second rotor axis extending from the first housing end to the second housing end, the second rotor having a plurality of female lobes, the plurality of female lobes configured to intermesh with the plurality of male lobes to compress a working fluid; and
a scavenge loss limiter disposed within the first interior wall, the scavenge loss limiter comprising a scavenge passage and a scavenge orifice;
wherein, as the first rotor rotates, the first rotor intermittently covers and uncovers the scavenge orifice opening and closing the scavenge orifice, and wherein the scavenge loss limiter is configured to recirculate scavenge flow from an oil separator into the rotor cavity as the rotation of the first rotor intermittently uncovers the scavenge orifice.