TWIN ROTOR DEVICES WITH INTERNAL CLEARANCES REDUCED BY A COATING AFTER ASSEMBLY, A COATING SYSTEM, AND METHODS

Abstract

A method of treating, tuning, assembling, and/or overhauling a twin rotor device includes applying a coating material on an internal set of working surfaces of the twin rotor device when at least partially assembled. The coating may be factory or field applied to a new or used twin rotor device. The working surfaces may be uncoated or previously coated and may be built-up as the coating material forms a coating on at least some of the working surfaces. Manufacturing variations of a pair of rotors and a housing may be compensated by the coating. One or more performance characteristics of the twin rotor device may be improved by the coating, and variation between a series of twin rotor device may be reduced or substantially eliminated. The coating may reduce internal leakage and increase volumetric efficiency of the twin rotor device. The twin rotor device may be a supercharger 200, a screw compressor 1200, or other twin rotor device.

Claims

1. A twin rotor device comprising: a pair of rotors with a set of surfaces having rotor component tolerances; a housing with a set of surfaces having housing component tolerances; a set of initial clearances defined among the sets of surfaces as the pair of rotors rotate through a cycle of the twin rotor device; a coating on at least some of the surfaces of the sets of surfaces, the coating forming working surfaces within the twin rotor device; a set of finished clearances defined among the working surfaces as the pair of rotors rotate through the cycle of the twin rotor device; and a set of clearance magnitudes of the set of finished clearances, the set of clearance magnitudes established independently of the rotor component tolerances and the housing component tolerances.

2. The twin rotor device of claim 1, wherein the coating is applied on the at least some of the surfaces of the sets of surfaces after the pair of rotors and the housing are assembled together.

3. The twin rotor device of claim 1, further comprising: a material condition of the pair of rotors between a maximum material condition and a minimum material condition defined by the rotor component tolerances; a material condition of the housing between a maximum material condition and a minimum material condition defined by the housing component tolerances; and an internal leakage rate that is independent of the material conditions.

4. The twin rotor device of claim 1, further comprising: a material condition of the pair of rotors between a maximum material condition and a minimum material condition defined by the rotor component tolerances; a material condition of the housing between a maximum material condition and a minimum material condition defined by the housing component tolerances; and a volumetric efficiency that is independent of the material conditions.

5. The twin rotor device of claim 1, wherein the twin rotor device is a Roots-type device.

6. The twin rotor device of claim 1, wherein the twin rotor device is a screw-type device.

7. A method of assembling a twin rotor device, the method comprising: providing the twin rotor device, the twin rotor device including a pair of rotors and a housing with an air inlet port and a compressed air outlet port, the rotors and the housing defining a set of working surfaces adapted to interface with each other; assembling the pair of rotors and the housing to each other; and applying a coating material to the set of working surfaces after the assembling of the pair of rotors and the housing and thereby building-up the set of working surfaces.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: tuning the twin rotor device by discontinuing the applying of the coating material when a predetermined value of a parameter of the twin rotor device is achieved.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the parameter includes a rotational speed of at least one of the pair of rotors, a torque applied on at least one of the pair of rotors, a pressure differential value across the first port and the second port of the housing, and/or a net internal leakage of the twin rotor device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein manufacturing variations of the pair of rotors and the housing are compensated by the applying of the coating material thereby substantially removing influence of the manufacturing variations on a performance characteristic of the twin rotor device.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the twin rotor device is a Roots-type device.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the twin rotor device is a screw-type device.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising: providing a first coating material dispenser-collector and a second coating material dispenser-collector, each of the first and second coating material dispenser-collectors being configured to selectively dispense and collect a coating material; and fluidly connecting the first coating material dispenser-collector to cover the the air inlet port of the housing and connecting the second coating material dispenser-collector to cover the compressed air outlet port of the housing.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of applying a coating material includes entraining the coating material in a carrier fluid with one of the first and second coating material dispenser-collectors by inducing the coating material to flow from either the air inlet port toward the compressed air outlet port of the housing or from the compressed air outlet port to the air inlet port of the housing, and thereby depositing at least some of the coating material as a coating on at least some of the working surfaces.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: collecting undeposited coating material with the other of the first and second material dispenser-collectors.

16. The method of claim 7, further comprising: electrically grounding one or both of the housing and the pair of rotors; inducing an electrostatic coating material to flow from either the air inlet port toward the compressed air outlet port of the housing or from the compressed air outlet port to the air inlet port of the housing, and thereby depositing at least some of the electrostatic coating material as a coating on at least some of the working surfaces.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional elevation view, including schematic elements, of a Roots-type device and post-assembly coating system according to the principles of the present disclosure, a first portion of the cross-section passes through a center-line of a rotor of the Roots-type device and a second portion of the cross-section passes through a center of an outlet flow handling assembly of the post-assembly coating system;

[0021] FIG. 2 is the cross-sectional elevation view of FIG. 1, but with additional schematic elements and with a portion of a housing of a shaft drive of the Roots-type device and a portion of the shaft drive of the Roots-type device removed thereby allowing direct electrical and/or mechanical connection to a shaft of the rotor, according to the principles of the present disclosure;

[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the Roots-type device of FIG. 1;

[0023] FIG. 4 is the perspective view of FIG. 3, but partially exploded;

[0024] FIG. 5 is another perspective view of the Roots-type device of FIG. 1;

[0025] FIG. 6 is the perspective view of FIG. 5, but exploded;

[0026] FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating performance characteristics of a Roots-type device and improvements in the performance characteristics that may result upon applying a coating to internal features of the Roots-type device according to the principles of the present disclosure;

[0027] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a screw compressor finished with a post-assembly coating system, similar to the post-assembly coating system of FIG. 1, according to the principles of the present disclosure;

[0028] FIG. 9 is the perspective view of FIG. 8, but with a cut-away taken through center-lines of rotors of the screw compressor;

[0029] FIG. 10 is another perspective view of the screw compressor of FIG. 8;

[0030] FIG. 11 is the perspective view of FIG. 10, but with a first cut-away taken through an exhaust port of the screw compressor and a second cut-away taken through a rotor and a housing of the screw compressor; and

[0031] FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the screw compressor of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] Reference will now be made in detail to example embodiments of the present disclosure. The accompanying drawings illustrate examples of the present disclosure. When possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.

[0033] According to the principles of the present disclosure, clearances may be reduced and thereby internal leakage may be reduced within a twin rotor device (e.g., a Roots-type supercharger, a screw compressor, etc.) by applying a coating to internal surfaces of the twin rotor device after rotors and a housing assembly of the twin rotor device have been assembled together. In certain embodiments, the coating or coatings may be applied at a factory and be part of a finishing process of the twin rotor device. In certain embodiments, the twin rotor device may be refurbished by applying the coatings to a twin rotor device that has already been in service. Such refurbishment may refurbish the coatings of the internal surfaces. In other embodiments, such refurbishment may apply a coating to some or all of the internal surfaces for the first time. Such refurbishment may be combined with other new or refurbished parts (e.g., new seals, new bearings, etc.). Such refurbishment may be done in a factory setting or in a field setting.

[0034] Turning now to FIGS. 1-6, a Roots-type supercharger is illustrated according to the principles of the present disclosure. In other embodiments, a Roots-type expander may be subject to the same or similar treatment and/or finishing techniques described herein. As illustrated at FIGS. 1-6, a Roots-type supercharger 200 includes an inlet 202 and an outlet 204. In operation on an internal combustion engine, air is drawn through the inlet 202 and pumped from the inlet 202 to the outlet 204. As a displacement of the supercharger 200 may exceed a displacement of the internal combustion engine, a pressure at the outlet 204 may be greater than a pressure at the inlet 202. The supercharger 200 thereby compresses air or an air-fuel mixture that it delivers to the internal combustion engine. An amount of compression of the air may be referred to as a pressure ratio. In graphs illustrated at FIG. 7, certain tests were conducted at a pressure ratio of 1.4:1.

[0035] The supercharger 200 further includes a set of rotors 220. The set of rotors 220 includes a first rotor 220A and a second rotor 220B. As illustrated at FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, a drive shaft 294 may coaxially align with a rotor shaft 280 of the rotor 220A. The rotor 220B may be powered by a gear set 286. The rotors 220A, 220B include a plurality of lobes 230 and valleys 232. Each of the lobes 230 further includes a tip 228. As illustrated, the lobes 230 and the valleys 232 extend along a helical path. In other embodiments, the lobes 230 and the valleys 232 may be straight. As depicted, the lobes 230 and the valleys 232 define a screw surface 226. The lobes 230 and the valleys 232 of the rotors 220A, 220B substantially extend between a first end 222 and a second end 224 (see FIGS. 4 and 6).

[0036] The supercharger 200 further includes a housing assembly 210. As depicted, the housing assembly 210 includes a main housing 210a, an end cap portion 210b, and an input power portion 210c. The housing assembly 210 defines the inlet 202 and the outlet 204. The housing assembly 210 includes an input end 212 and an output end 214 (see FIG. 1). As depicted, the input end 212 and the output end 214 are substantially perpendicular to each other. In other embodiments, the input end 212 and the output end 214 may be substantially parallel to each other. In still other embodiments, the input end 212 and the output end 214 may be arranged at an angle with respect to each other. As depicted, the housing assembly 210 further includes a drive end 216. As depicted, the rotor shafts 280 generally longitudinally extend between the input end 212 and the drive end 216 of the housing assembly 210.

[0037] The housing assembly 210 includes a set of sealing surfaces 218. In the depicted embodiment, the main housing 210a of the housing assembly 210 defines sealing surfaces 218a, 218b of the sealing surfaces 218 that seal with the tips 228 of the rotors 220A, 220B when they are adjacent to each other (see FIGS. 3 and 4). By sealing with each other, as used herein, it is understood that running clearances may exist between the sealing surfaces 218a, 218b and the tips 228, and that leakage may occur between the sealing surfaces 218a, 218b and the tips 228. As depicted, the tips 228 of the rotor 220A seal with the circular sealing surface 218a, and the tips 228 of the rotor 220B sealed with the circular sealing surface 218b. The circular sealing surfaces 218a and 218b may to intersect each other at a pair of cusps.

[0038] As depicted, the ends 222 of the lobes 230 of the rotors 220A, 220B may seal against a planar sealing surface 218d of the sealing surfaces 218 (see FIGS. 4 and 6). Likewise, the ends 224 of the lobes 230 may seal against a planar sealing surface 218c of the sealing surfaces 218 (see FIGS. 1 and 6). By sealing with each other, as used herein, it is understood that running clearances may exist between the sealing surfaces 218c, 218d and the ends 224, 222, respectively, and that leakage may occur between the sealing surfaces 218c, 218d and the ends 224, 222.

[0039] Turning now to FIGS. 8-12, a screw compressor is illustrated according to the principles of the present disclosure. In other embodiments, a screw expander may be subject to the same or similar treatment and/or finishing techniques described herein. As illustrated at FIGS. 8-12, a screw compressor 1200 includes an inlet 1202 and an outlet 1204. In operation on an internal combustion engine, air is drawn through the inlet 1202 and pumped from the inlet 1202 to the outlet 1204. As a displacement of the screw compressor 1200 may exceed a displacement of the internal combustion engine and/or as compression may be imposed on a working fluid within the screw compressor 1200, a pressure at the outlet 1204 may be greater than a pressure at the inlet 1202. The screw compressor 1200 may thereby compress air or an air-fuel mixture that it delivers to the internal combustion engine. As mentioned above, an amount of compression of the air may be referred to as a pressure ratio.

[0040] The screw compressor 1200 further includes a set of rotors 1220. The set of rotors 1220 includes a first rotor 1220A and a second rotor 1220B. In the depicted embodiment, the first rotor 1220A is a male rotor, and the second rotor 1220B is a female rotor. As illustrated at FIG. 9, a drive shaft may coaxially align with a rotor shaft of the rotor 1220A. The rotor 1220B may be powered by a gear set or directly by the rotor 1220A. The rotors 1220A, 1220B include a plurality of lobes 1230 and valleys 1232. Each of the lobes 1230 further includes a tip 1228 (see FIG. 12). As illustrated, the lobes 1230 and the valleys 1232 extend along a helical path. As depicted, the lobes 1230 and the valleys 1232 define a screw surface 1226. The lobes 1230 and the valleys 1232 of the rotors 1220A, 1220B substantially extend between a first end 1222 and a second end 1224 (see FIGS. 11 and 12).

[0041] The screw compressor 1200 further includes a housing assembly 1210. As depicted, the housing assembly 1210 includes a main housing 1210a, a first end cap portion 1210b, and a second end cap portion 1210c. The housing assembly 1210 defines the inlet 1202 and the outlet 1204. The housing assembly 1210 includes an input end 1212 and an output end 1214 (see FIGS. 8 and 10). As depicted, the input end 1212 and the output end 1214 are substantially parallel to each other. In other embodiments, the input end 1212 and the output end 1214 may be substantially perpendicular to each other. In still other embodiments, the input end 1212 and the output end 1214 may be arranged at an angle with respect to each other. As depicted, the housing assembly 1210 further includes a drive end 1216 (see FIG. 8). As depicted, the rotor shafts generally longitudinally extend parallel to the input end 1212 and the output end 1214 and exit perpendicular to the drive end 1216 of the housing assembly 1210.

[0042] The housing assembly 1210 includes a set of sealing surfaces 1218 (see FIG. 11). In the depicted embodiment, the main housing 1210a of the housing assembly 1210 defines sealing surfaces 1218a, 1218b of the sealing surfaces 1218 that seal with the tips 1228 of the rotors 1220A, 1220B when they are adjacent to each other. By sealing with each other, as used herein, it is understood that running clearances may exist between the sealing surfaces 1218a, 1218b and the tips 1228, and that leakage may occur between the sealing surfaces 1218a, 1218b and the tips 1228. As depicted, the tips 1228 of the rotor 1220A seal with the circular sealing surface 1218a, and the tips 1228 of the rotor 1220B sealed with the circular sealing surface 1218b. The circular sealing surfaces 1218a and 1218b may intersect each other at a pair of cusps.

[0043] As depicted, the ends 1222 of the lobes 1230 of the rotors 1220A, 1220B may seal against a planar sealing surface 1218d of the sealing surfaces 1218 (see FIG. 11). Likewise, the ends 1224 of the lobes 1230 may seal against a planar sealing surface 1218c of the sealing surfaces 1218 (see FIG. 9). By sealing with each other, as used herein, it is understood that running clearances may exist between the sealing surfaces 1218c, 1218d and the ends 1224, 1222, respectively, and that leakage may occur between the sealing surfaces 1218c, 1218d and the ends 1224, 1222.

[0044] As illustrated at FIGS. 4, 6, 9, 11, and 12, the lobes 230, 1230 and the valleys 232, 1232 of the rotors 220A, 220B, 1220A, 1220B intermesh with and seal with each other, respectively. By sealing with each other, as used herein, it is understood that running clearances may exist between the lobes 230, 1230, including the tips 228, 1228 and the valleys 232, 1232 of the opposite rotor 220B, 220A, 1220A, 1220B, and that leakage may occur between the lobes 230, 1230, including the tips 228, 1228 and the corresponding valleys 232, 1232. As the rotors 220A, 220B, 1220A, 1220B rotate, the screw surfaces 226, 1226 and the tips 228, 1228 move in and out of intermeshing with the screw surfaces 226, 1226, and the tips 228, 1228 of the opposing rotor 220B, 220A, 1220A, 1220B and the tips 228, 1228 transition to sealing with the corresponding circular sealing surfaces 218a, 218b, 1218a, 1218b.

[0045] As depicted, an inlet volume 240 is defined by the circular sealing surface 218a, 218b, 1218a, 1218b, the planar sealing surface 218c, 1218c, and the screw surfaces 226, 1226, respectively. As defined herein, the inlet volume 240 is open to the inlet 202, 1202. Upon the rotors 220A, 220B, 1220A, 1220B rotating, portions of air within the supercharger 200 or the screw compressor 1200 become closed off from the inlet 202, 1202 and thereby are transferred from the inlet volume 240 to a transfer volume 242. The transfer volume 242 is closed off from both the inlet 202, 1202 and the outlet 204, 1204. As the rotors 220A, 220B, 1220A, 1220B further rotate, portions of air within the supercharger 200 or the screw compressor 1200 that were part of the transfer volume 242 are open to the outlet 204, 1204 and thereby become part of an outlet volume 244. In this way, air is moved through the supercharger 200 or the screw compressor 1200 by transferring through the inlet 202, 1202 and becoming part of the inlet volume 240, passing from the inlet volume 240 to the transfer volume 242, and further passing from the transfer volume 242 to the outlet volume 244. As the pressure at the outlet 204, 1204 is typically higher than the pressure at the inlet 202, 1202, air (or other gas) within the outlet volume 244 is urged to leak to the transfer volume 242, and air within the transfer volume 242 may be urged to leak to the inlet volume 240.

[0046] According to the principles of the present disclosure, clearances between the tips 228, 1228 of the rotor 220A, 1220A and the circular sealing surface 218a, 1218a, clearances between the tips 228, 1228 of the rotor 220B, 1220B and the circular sealing surface 218b, 1218b, clearances between the end 222, 1222 of the lobes 230, 1230 and the planar sealing surface 218d, 1218d, clearances between the end 224, 1224 of the lobes 230, 1230 and the planar sealing surface 218c, 1218c, and clearances between the intermeshing lobes 230 1230 and valleys 232, 1232 of the rotors 220A, 220B, 1220A, 1220B are reduced and thereby leakage within the supercharger 200 and/or the screw compressor 1200 is reduced.

[0047] In the embodiment depicted at FIG. 1, an application assembly 100 is formed by assembling the supercharger 200 to application hardware 300. The application hardware 300 may include a holding fixture 400 to which the supercharger 200 may be mounted. As depicted, the holding fixture 400 is holding the supercharger 200 with the axes of the rotors 220A, 220B extending in a horizontal plane. In other embodiments, the holding fixture 400 may hold the supercharger 200 such that the axes of the rotors 220A, 220B extend horizontally but a plane that includes both of the axes extends vertically. In still other embodiments, the holding fixture 400 may hold the supercharger 200 such that the axes of the rotors 220A, 220B are each aligned vertically. In yet other embodiments, the holding fixture 400 may hold the supercharger 200 in other orientations. As depicted, a mounting plate 450 may be included between the holding fixture 400 and the housing assembly 210 of the supercharger 200. As depicted, the holding fixture includes a passage 402, and the mounting plate 450 includes a passage 452 that substantially aligns with the outlet 204 of the supercharger 200. In other embodiments, the holding fixture 400 may be arranged such that the passage 402 and/or the passage 252 align with the inlet 202. As depicted, the holding fixture 400 further holds outlet side hardware 500 of the application hardware 300. In other embodiments, the outlet side hardware 500 may mount directly to the outlet 204 of the supercharger 200.

[0048] In the embodiment depicted at FIG. 2, an application assembly 100 is formed by assembling certain parts of the supercharger 200 to the application hardware 300. In the depicted embodiments, the application assembly 100 is similar to the application assembly 100, except the input power portion 210c of the housing assembly 210, the drive shaft 294, a drive pulley 292, and other parts of a drive assembly 290 are removed to provide access to the rotor shafts 280. In particular, by removing the portion 210c of the housing assembly 210, a first end 282 of each of the rotor shafts 280 is exposed. In other embodiments, provisions may be made to expose a second end 284 of each of the rotor shafts 280. Removing the portion 210c of the housing assembly 210 may also expose the gear set 286 and interfere with a lubrication system that otherwise lubricates the gear set 286. However, a temporary lubrication system 800 with a lubrication nozzle 802 may be directed at the gear set 286 to provide lubrication.

[0049] An application assembly, similar to the application assemblies 100, 100, may be formed by assembling the screw compressor 1200 to application hardware similar to or the same as the application hardware 300. Furthermore, an application assembly, similar to the application assemblies 100, 100, may be formed by assembling a twin rotor device to application hardware similar to or the same as the application hardware 300.

[0050] The outlet side hardware 500 may include a coating material collector 520; a flow device 530; a heat exchanger 540; a contoured flow passage 550; and/or flow control, instrument, and/or material injection/recovery equipment 560.

[0051] As schematically depicted, the equipment 560 is arranged in a housing with a first port 562 and a second port 564. The contoured flow passage 550 includes a first port 552 and a second port 554. A passage 556 connects the first port 552 to the second port 554. As depicted, the first port 552 is mounted to the passage 402 of the holding fixture 400. In other embodiments, the contoured flow passage 550 may connect directly to the outlet 204, 1204 of the supercharger 200, the screw compressor 1200, or other twin rotor device. The second port 554 of the contoured flow passage 550 may be fluidly connected to the first port 562 of the housing of the equipment 560.

[0052] The application hardware 300 may further include inlet side hardware 600. As depicted, the inlet side hardware 600 may mount directly to the inlet 202, 1202 of the supercharger 200, the screw compressor 1200, or other twin rotor device. In other embodiments, the holding fixture 400 holds the inlet side hardware 600 of the application hardware 300. The inlet side hardware 600 may include a material dispenser 610; a flow device 630; a heat exchanger 640; a contoured flow passage 650; and/or flow control, instrument, and/or material injection/recovery equipment 660.

[0053] As schematically depicted, the equipment 660 is arranged in a housing with a first port 662 and a second port 664. The contoured flow passage 650 includes a first port 652 and a second port 654. A passage 656 connects the first port 652 to the second port 654. As depicted, the first port 652 is mounted directly to the inlet 202, 1202 of the supercharger 200, the screw compressor 1200, or other twin rotor device. In other embodiments, the contoured flow passage 650 may connect to the passage 402 of the holding fixture 400. The second port 654 of the contoured flow passage 650 may be fluidly connected to the first port 662 of the housing of the equipment 660.

[0054] In alternative embodiments, a material dispenser 510 may be included with the outlet side hardware 500, and/or a material collector 620 may be included with the inlet side hardware 600 (see FIG. 2).

[0055] In certain embodiments, a coating material 102 is entrained by a carrier material 104 (e.g., air, nitrogen, argon, etc.) by the material dispenser 510 or the material dispenser 610 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). If the coating material 102 is supplied by the material dispenser 510, the supercharger 200, the screw compressor 1200, or other twin rotor device is run in reverse and thereby the coating material 102, entrained in the carrier material 104, is moved first into the outlet 204, 1204 of the supercharger 200, the screw compressor 1200, or other twin rotor device and backward through the supercharger 200, the screw compressor 1200, or other twin rotor device toward the inlet 202, 1202. If the coating material 102 is supplied by the material dispenser 610, the supercharger 200, the screw compressor 1200, or other twin rotor device is run in a normal direction and thereby the coating material 102, entrained in the carrier material 104, is moved first into the inlet 202, 1202 of the supercharger 200, the screw compressor 1200, or other twin rotor device and forward through the supercharger 200, the screw compressor 1200, or other twin rotor device toward the outlet 204, 1204.

[0056] In certain backward running embodiments, excess coating material of the coating material 102 that passes through the supercharger 200, the screw compressor 1200, or other twin rotor device without adhering may be collected by the material collector 620 within the housing of the inlet side hardware 600. Likewise, in certain forward running embodiments, excess coating material of the coating material 102 that passes through the supercharger 200, the screw compressor 1200, or other twin rotor device without adhering may be collected by the material collector 520 within the housing of the outlet side hardware 500.

[0057] In certain embodiments, recirculation plumbing 310 is connected between the second port 664 of the housing of the equipment 660 and the second port 564 of the housing of the equipment 560. In particular, a first port 312 of the recirculation plumbing 310 may be connected to the second port 664 of the housing of the equipment 660, and a second port 314 of the recirculation plumbing 310 may be connected to the second port 564 of the housing of the equipment 560. In certain embodiments, the carrier material 104 is recirculated. In certain embodiments, the carrier material 104 along with unused coating material of the coating material 102 may be recirculated. In still other embodiments, the recirculation plumbing 310 is not used, and instead fresh coating material 102 and/or fresh carrier material 104 is used.

[0058] As the coating material 102 passes through the supercharger 200, the screw compressor 1200, or other twin rotor device, a portion of the coating material 102 will adhere to the sealing surfaces 218, 1218 of the housing assembly 210, 1210 and the ends 222, 224, 1222, 1224, screw surfaces 226, 1226, and tips 228, 1228 of the rotors 220A, 220B, 1220A, 1220B. The clearances between these surfaces 218, 222, 224, 226, 228, 1218, 1222, 1224, 1226, 1228 may create leakage between the adjoining surfaces 218, 222, 224, 226, 228, 1218, 1222, 1224, 1226, 1228. Such leakages will encourage the coating material 102 and/or the carrier material 104 to pass through the clearances and deposit the coating material 102 on the surfaces 218, 222, 224, 226, 228, 1218, 1222, 1224, 1226, 1228. As the coating material 102 collects on the surfaces 218, 222, 224, 226, 228, 1218, 1222, 1224, 1226, 1228, a coating 206, 1206 is formed on the surfaces 218, 222, 224, 226, 228, 1218, 1222, 1224, 1226, 1228. As will be described hereinafter, the coating 206, 1206 may cure into a solidified coating surface 206, 1206. The coating 206, 1206 may form a permanent or a semi-permanent coating on the surfaces 218, 222, 224, 226, 228, 1218, 1222, 1224, 1226, 1228.

[0059] In certain embodiments, the coating 206, 1206 is cured while the rotors 220A, 220B, 1220A, 1220B are spinning. In certain embodiments, the coating 206, 1206 may further wear-in and thereby further finish itself over a wear-in period. In certain embodiments, the coating material 102 and/or the carrier material 104 may be run through the supercharger 200, the screw compressor 1200, or other twin rotor device in a first direction from the inlet 202, 1202 to the outlet 204, 1204 and additional material may be applied by running the supercharger 200, the screw compressor 1200, or other twin rotor device in reverse with the coating material 102 and/or the carrier material 104 generally passing from the outlet 204, 1204 to the inlet 202, 1202. In certain embodiments, the coating material 102 may be first applied by running the supercharger 200, the screw compressor 1200, or other twin rotor device in the reverse direction.

[0060] Turning again to FIGS. 1 and 2, a control system 900 may be used in applying the coating material 102, emitting the carrier material 104, and/or curing the coating material 102 into the coating 206, 1206. As depicted at FIGS. 1 and 2, the control system 900 may include and/or interface with one or more flow monitors 910 (i.e., flow sensors), pressure monitors 920 (i.e., pressure sensors), temperature monitors 930 (i.e., temperature sensors), state sensors 940, tachometers 950, rotary inputs 960 (e.g., motors, speed controllers, torque controllers, etc.), electrostatic generators 700, etc. As mentioned above, the supercharger 200, the screw compressor 1200, or other twin rotor device may be run in the forward direction or in the reverse direction. The various components of the control system 900 and equipment 560, 660 may be arranged to match the direction chosen to run the supercharger 200, the screw compressor 1200, or other twin rotor device when applying the coating material 102. The supercharger 200, the screw compressor 1200, or other twin rotor device may also be run in both the forward and the reverse rotational directions when applying the coating material 102 to form the coating 206, 1206.

[0061] As depicted, various sensors and application hardware are schematically illustrated in the outlet equipment group 560 and the inlet equipment group 660. In certain embodiments, the various sensors and application equipment may only be located in the outlet equipment group 560 or the inlet equipment group 660. Certain equipment and/or certain sensors may be located in both the outlet equipment group 560 and the inlet equipment group 660. In particular, the flow monitor 910 may include an outlet flow monitor 910o and an inlet flow monitor 910i. Likewise, the pressure monitor 920 may include an outlet pressure monitor 920o and an inlet pressure monitor 920i. The pressure monitors 920o, 920i may be used to measure a differential pressure across the outlet 204, 1204 and the inlet 202, 1202 of the supercharger 200, the screw compressor 1200, or other twin rotor device. The temperature monitor 930 may include an outlet temperature monitor 930o and an inlet temperature monitor 930i. The state sensor 940 may include an outlet state sensor 940o and an inlet state sensor 940i. The state sensors 940, 940o, 940i may be used to measure an amount of the coating material 102 and/or the carrier material 104 and a percentage (e.g., by weight) of the coating material 102 and/or the carrier material 104 that are in solid, liquid, and/or gaseous form.

[0062] The control system 900 may send commands to the flow device 530 and/or the flow device 630 and thereby generate differential pressure across the inlet 202, 1202 and the outlet 204, 1204 of the supercharger 200, the screw compressor 1200, or other twin rotor device. The control system may further initiate coating material 102 and/or carrier material 104 being dispensed from the material dispenser 510 and/or the material dispenser 610.

[0063] By monitoring a rotational speed of the rotors 220A, 220B, 1220A, 1220B with the tachometer 950, the development of the coating 206, 1206 may be estimated. In particular, as the coating material 102 is converted into the coating 206, 1206, the various clearances within the supercharger 200, the screw compressor 1200, or other twin rotor device may be reduced and the leakage across the clearances may be reduced. Under a given differential pressure generated by the flow device 530 and/or the flow device 630, the speed of the rotors 220A, 220B, 1220A, 1220B may increase with decreasing internal clearances. By monitoring the increase in the rotor speed, the condition of the coating 206, 1206 may be estimated. Upon a certain condition of the coating material 206, 1206 being reached, the injection of the coating material 102 and/or the carrier material 104 may be suspended. As mentioned above, the supercharger 200, the screw compressor 1200, or other twin rotor device may continue to run after the suspension of the coating material 102 and/or the carrier material 104. In particular, the coating 206, 1206 may be allowed to cure while the supercharger 200, the screw compressor 1200, or other twin rotor device is running (i.e., the rotors 220A, 220B, 1220A, 1220B are spinning).

[0064] In certain embodiments, the rotary input 960 may be connected to the rotors 220A, 1220A and/or 220B, 1220B directly or indirectly. As illustrated at FIG. 1, the rotary input 960 is connected to the drive pulley 292 by a drive belt 962. The rotary input 960, under the control of the control system 900, may apply a resisting torque that slows down (i.e., retards) the rotation of the rotors 220A, 220B, 1220A, 1220B. The torque supplied by the rotary input 960 may vary as the coating material 102 is applied to form the coating 206, 1206. The rotary input 960 may be set to maintain a given speed of the rotors 220A, 220B, 1220A, 1220B while allowing the drag torque (i.e., the resisting torque) to vary. In general, the drag torque will be increased as the coating 206, 1206 is formed and the differential pressure across the inlet 202, 1202 and the outlet 204, 1204 is maintained. Feedback from the rotary input 960 may thereby be used to indicate when the coating 206, 1206 has reached various states including a state where emission of the coating material 102 is suspended.

[0065] In certain embodiments, the rotary input 960 may drive the supercharger 200, the screw compressor 1200, or other twin rotor device and induce flow through the supercharger 200, the screw compressor 1200, or other twin rotor device and create a pressure differential across the supercharger 200, the screw compressor 1200, or other twin rotor device (i.e., across the inlet 202, 1202 and the outlet 204, 1204). The flow created by the rotary input 960 when driving the supercharger 200, the screw compressor 1200, or other twin rotor device may entrain the coating material 102 and/or the carrier material 104 and thereby form the coating 206, 1206. The coating 206 may reduce internal clearances and thereby result in an increase in the pressure differential across the supercharger 200, the screw compressor 1200, or other twin rotor device. By monitoring the pressure differential across the supercharger 200, the screw compressor 1200, or other twin rotor device, the state of the coating 206, 1206 may be estimated. When a state of the coating 206, 1206 reaches a predetermined level, further application of the coating material 102 and/or the carrier material 104 may be suspended.

[0066] In addition to the aforementioned parameters of rotor rotational speed, rotor retarding torque, and pressure differential being used as feedback to monitor the state of the coating 206, 1206, leakage across the supercharger 200, the screw compressor 1200, or other twin rotor device may also be measured and/or estimated. The leakage may likewise be used to suspend further application of the coating material 102 and/or the carrier material 104 when a state of the coating 206, 1206 reaches a predetermined level.

[0067] As the coating material 102 and/or the carrier material 104 flow through the supercharger 200, the screw compressor 1200, or other twin rotor device, the coating material 102 and/or the carrier material 104 will generally follow a path of least resistance. The coating material 102 and/or the carrier material 104 will therefore seek out larger clearances between the surfaces 218, 222, 224, 226, 228, 1218, 1222, 1224, 1226, 1228 and pass through and fill the larger clearances first. In certain embodiments, as the coating material 102 and/or the carrier material 104 flow through the clearances, thermodynamic properties of the coating material 102 and/or the carrier material 104 may change and thereby assist in depositing the coating material 102 as the coating 206, 1206. In certain embodiments, leakage across the clearances produces heat from work being provided by the air, the coating material 102, and/or the carrier material 104 flowing across a pressure drop. The heat from the leakage may be used to assist in depositing the coating material 102 as the coating 206, 1206.

[0068] The supercharger 200, the screw compressor 1200, or other twin rotor device may be run without the coating material 102 and/or without the carrier material 104 for a given period to heat the supercharger 200, the screw compressor 1200, or other twin rotor device. Upon a desired temperature profile of the supercharger 200, the screw compressor 1200, or other twin rotor device being reached, the coating material 102 and/or the carrier material 104 may be applied.

[0069] As mentioned above, the coating material 102 may include powder coating components or other components that may be activated or otherwise affected by application of electricity (e.g., electric charge). As illustrated at FIG. 2, the electrostatic generator 700 is connected to one or both of the rotor shafts 280 by a conductive lead 702 (e.g., a brush). A conductive lead may also be connected to one or more parts of the housing assembly 210. The rotor shaft 280 and the rotors 220A, 220B, 1220A, 1220B may be made of a conductive material and thereby charge the surfaces 218, 220, 224, 226, 228, 1218, 1222, 1224, 1226, 1228 with electricity (e.g., static electricity). Such static electricity may draw the coating material 102 to the surfaces 218, 222, 224, 226, 228, 1218, 1222, 1224, 1226, 1228 and thereby assist in converting the coating material 102 to the coating 206, 1206. In certain embodiments, the coating material 102 and/or the carrier material 104 may be electrically charged.

[0070] The carrier material 104 may include a low flash point solvent. The coating material 102 may be carried by the carrier material 104, and the carrier material 104 may evaporate prior to the coating material 102 reaching the surfaces 218, 222, 224, 226, 228, 1218, 1222, 1224, 1226, 1228. The coating material 102 may thereby be applied to the surfaces 218, 222, 224, 226, 228, 1218, 1222, 1224, 1226, 1228 dry.

[0071] Turning now to FIG. 7, a graph 1000 showing experimental results of applying a particular coating material 102 to a particular supercharger 200 is illustrated. In particular, the graph 1000 illustrates a relationship between a baseline performance 1030 of the supercharger 200 and an enhanced performance achieved with the coating material 102 freshly applied as the coating 206, as illustrated at curve 1040. A curve 1050 illustrates a performance of the coating 206 after the coating 206 has worn-in. The graph 1000 plots the rotational speed of the rotors 220A, 220B along an X-axis 1020 and plots a volumetric efficiency 1010 of the supercharger 200 along a Y-axis 1010. As can be seen, initial application of the coating material 102 increased the volumetric efficiency of the supercharger 200 between the speeds of 4,000 and 8,000 revolutions per minute. The experimental coating 206 was applied via a spray-on dry graphite material 102. The experiment illustrates that the coating 206 of the coating material 102 was effective in increasing the volumetric efficiency of the supercharger 200.

[0072] In various embodiments, twin rotor devices with coatings such as the coatings 206, 1206, described above, may be used to pump compressible and/or non-compressible fluids. In various embodiments, twin rotor devices with coatings such as the coatings 206, 1206, described above, may be used to extract shaft power from compressible and/or non-compressible fluids.

[0073] From the forgoing detailed description, it will be evident that modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.