Vane with offset walls and fluid passages used in a vane cell device

Abstract

A vane for a vane cell device comprising a stator and a rotor rotatably arranged in the stator with a plurality of guide grooves in each of which a vane can be movably mounted along a direction of movement. The vane has a high-pressure side, and a low-pressure side facing the high-pressure side, for fluid conveyed or flowing through a workspace of the vane cell device. The vane has a first side wall formed on the high-pressure side and a second side wall formed on the low-pressure side, wherein the first and second side wall are connected to each other by a plurality of ribs forming lateral limits of fluid channels. The first and second side wall are offset relative to each other so that the high-pressure side is only partially covered by the first side wall, and the low-pressure side is only partially covered by the second side wall.

Claims

1. A vane cell device including a stator and a rotor rotatably arranged in the stator with a plurality of guide grooves in each of which a vane can be movably mounted along a direction of movement, said vane including a first side wall having an outer surface and defining a high-pressure side of said vane, a second, opposing side wall having an outer surface and defining a low-pressure side of said vane; wherein the first and second side wall are connected to each other by a plurality of spaced ribs forming fluid channels through said vane between said spaced ribs, and wherein the first and second side wall are offset relative to each other in the direction of movement of the vane so that the high-pressure side of said spaced ribs is only partially covered by the first side wall, and the low-pressure side of said spaced ribs is only partially covered by the second side wall.

2. The vane cell device according to claim 1, wherein the spaced ribs on said high pressure side that are not covered by said first side wall terminate flush with the outer side of the first side wall, and the spaced ribs on said low pressure side that are not covered by said second side wall terminate flush with the outer side of the second side wall.

3. The vane cell device according to claim 1, wherein the vane has a first side wall formed on an inner end of the vane, and wherein the vane has a second side wall formed on an outer end of the vane.

4. The vane cell device according to claim 1, wherein the second side wall possesses a bulge on its outer end where during operation the bulge acts as an additional weight for the vane.

5. The vane cell device according to claim 4, wherein an additional weight, in particular consisting of metal or metal powder, is arranged in the bulge.

6. The vane cell device according to claim 1, wherein the vane is formed as a single part.

7. The vane cell device according to claim 1, wherein the vane has been formed in a plastic injection molding method.

8. The vane cell device according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the edges of the side walls and/or the ribs are rounded and/or beveled.

9. A vane cell device comprising a stator that forms a workspace with at least one inlet opening and at least one outlet opening for a fluid, and comprising a rotor that is rotatably arranged in the workspace of the stator, wherein the rotor has a plurality of guide grooves in each of which a vane is movably mounted along a direction of movement, wherein a plurality of fluid channels through said vane are formed in each case between the vanes and guide grooves through which fluid can flow between the workspace and the inner base of the respective guide groove, wherein each guide groove includes the vane including a first side wall having an outer surface and defining a high-pressure side of said vane, a second, opposing side wall having an outer surface and defining a low-pressure side of said vane; wherein the first and second side wall are connected to each other by a plurality of spaced ribs forming the fluid channels between said spaced ribs, and wherein the first and second side wall are offset relative to each other in the direction of movement of the vane so that the high-pressure side of said spaced ribs is only partially covered by the first side wall, and the low-pressure side of said spaced ribs is only partially covered by the second side wall.

10. The vane cell device according to claim 9, wherein said rotor and vanes are positioned in a vane cell pump or a vane cell motor.

11. A vane for use in a vane cell device that includes a stator and a rotor rotatably arranged in the stator, the rotor having a plurality of guide grooves, said vane comprising: a plurality of spaced ribs forming fluid channels between said spaced ribs, said spaced ribs having a high pressure side and a low pressure side said vane including a first side wall having an outer surface attached to a portion of said spaced ribs on their high pressure side and defining a high-pressure side of said vane, a second opposing side wall having an outer surface attached to a portion of said spaced ribs on their low pressure side and defining a low-pressure side of said vane; wherein the first and second side walls are offset relative to each other so that the high-pressure side of said spaced ribs is only partially covered by the first side wall, and the low-pressure side of said spaced ribs is only partially covered by the second side wall.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained below in greater detail with reference to figures. They show schematically:

(2) FIG. 1 A perspective view of a rotor of a vane cell device according to the invention,

(3) FIG. 2 A perspective view of a vane according to the invention, and

(4) FIG. 3 A sectional side view of the vane shown in FIG. 2 in the state inserted in the rotor shown in FIG. 1.

(5) FIG. 4 shows the rotor/stator of FIG. 1, with four of the vanes of FIG. 2 in the grooves, and showing a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet to the workspace.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) While this invention may be embodied in many different forms, there are described in detail herein a specific preferred embodiment of the invention. This description is an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiment illustrated.

(7) If not otherwise specified, the same reference numbers indicate the same objects in the figures. The rotor 10 shown in FIG. 1 of the vane cell device according to the invention such as a vane cell pump, or a vane cell motor, or a vane cell measuring device, possesses a circular cylindrical basic shape with a cylindrical outer surface 12 in the portrayed example. The rotor 10 is rotatably arranged in a stator (not shown) of the vane cell device by means of bearing pins 14 of which only one can be seen in FIG. 1. The stator delimits a workspace in which the rotor 10 is rotatably mounted by the bearing pins 14, wherein the rotor 10, in conjunction with the vanes, causes a separation of the low-pressure and high-pressure chamber.

(8) In the case of a vane cell pump, the rotor 10 is correspondingly driven rotatably in the workspace of the stator by a suitable rotary drive such as an electric drive so that fluid such as a liquid can be conveyed out of the inlet opening through the workspace toward the outlet opening. In the case of a vane cell motor, the rotary movement of the rotor 10 is caused by the fluid, such as a drive fluid, flowing through the workspace.

(9) The rotor 10 shown in FIG. 1 possesses four guide grooves 16 in the portrayed example. In the portrayed example, the guide grooves 16 are evenly distributed over the perimeter of the rotor 10. Of course, more or less than four guide grooves can also be provided. It is also possible for the guide grooves to not be distributed evenly over the perimeter of the rotor 10. Each of the guide grooves 16 has a radially inward groove base 18 and walls 20, 22.

(10) FIG. 2 shows an example of a vane 24 according to the invention of the vane cell device according to the invention. In the present case, four of the vanes 24 shown in FIG. 2 are inserted in the guide grooves 16 of the rotor 10 shown in FIG. 1. In the portrayed example, each of the vanes 24 forms a plurality of fluid channels 26 in a parallel arrangement and running in a radial direction in the state inserted in the rotor 10. The fluid channels 26 are laterally delimited on each side by ribs 28 that also run in a radial direction in the portrayed example in the state inserted in the rotor 10. In addition, the vane 24 has a first side wall 30 with an outer surface 32 that defines a high-pressure side of the vane 24 lying in a radial plane when the vane 24 is inserted in the rotor 10. In addition, the vane 24 has a second side wall 34 that diametrically opposes the first side wall 30, and its outer side 36 also defines a low-pressure side of the vane 24 lying in a radial plane when in the state inserted in the rotor 10. The first and second side walls 30, 34, and in particular their outer sides 32, 36 therefore run along parallel spaced planes.

(11) In FIG. 2, it can be seen that the first side wall 30 and the second side wall 34 are offset relative to each other in a radial direction, i.e., in the longitudinal direction of the fluid channels 26, so that only a section of the high-pressure side is covered by the first side wall 30, and only a section of the low-pressure side is covered by the second side wall 34. In particular, the area of the low-pressure side directly opposite the first side wall 30 is not covered by the second side wall 34. Correspondingly, the section of the high-pressure side directly opposite the second side wall 34 is not covered by the first side wall 30. It can also be seen in FIG. 2 that the ribs 28 in the section of the high-pressure side that is free of the first side wall terminate at the outer side flush with the outer side 34 of the first side wall 30. It can also be seen in FIG. 2 that each of the ribs 28 in the section of the low-pressure side that is free of the second side wall terminates at the outer side flush with the outer side of the second side wall 34. The first side wall 30 is formed on the radially inner end of the vane 24 when in the inserted state in the rotor 10. The second side wall 34 is correspondingly formed on the radially outer end of the vane 24.

(12) In the portrayed example, the vane 24 is designed as a single part from a plastic material. In particular, the vane 24 has been produced in a plastic injection molding method. Reference number 38 in FIG. 2 also indicates a bulge 38 in the second side wall 34 on its radially outer end. If necessary, an additional weight such as a metal bar or the like can be cast in this bulge 38.

(13) In FIG. 3, the vane 24 shown in FIG. 2 is depicted inserted in one of the guide grooves 16 of the shown section of the rotor 10 from FIG. 1. In the depicted example, the vane 24 is in a partially exited state from the guide groove 16 in a radial direction. A gap 40 is thereby formed between the radially inner end of the vane 24 and the base 18 of the guide groove 16. This gap 40 is filled with inflowing fluid when the vane 24 exits in order to prevent negative pressure. The fluid flows through the fluid channels 26 formed between the vane 24 and the walls 20, 22 of the guide groove 16 into the gap 40. When the vane 24 again moves radially inward, the fluid is displaced radially outward out of the gap 40, i.e., through the fluid channels 26.

(14) Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the fluid conveyed through the vane 24, or respectively flowing through the workspace, exerts pressure illustrated by the arrow 42 in FIGS. 3 and 4 on the high-pressure side of the vane 24. This pressure 42 causes the vane 24 to be pressed against the walls 20, 22 of the guide groove 16 corresponding to the bracing forces illustrated by the arrows 44, 46 in FIGS. 3 and 4. It can be clearly seen from the illustration in FIG. 3 that the first side wall 30 and the second side wall 34 of the vane 24 according to the invention are located where the bracing forces 44, 46 act, and where on the other hand a seal of the high-pressure side is required against the low-pressure side. It can also be seen that the first and second side wall 30, 34 of the vane 24 only alternately constrict the fluid channels 26 so that the cross-section of the fluid channels 26 can be advantageously increased. Finally, it can be seen that the edges of the first and second side walls 30, 34 are rounded and beveled in order to allow a nearly unrestricted flow of the fluid out of and into the gap 40.

(15) FIG. 4 shows the stator 50 along with the rotor 10, shown in FIG. 1, with four of the vanes 24 shown in FIG. 2, inserted into grooves 16. The vane cell device comprises a fixed stator 50 that delimits a workspace 52. Further, at least one inlet opening 54 for the fluid flowing into the workspace 52, and at least one outlet opening 56 for the fluid flowing out of the workspace 52 is shown.

(16) The fluid conveyed through the vane 24 exerts pressure illustrated by the arrow 42 on the vane 24. Thus, the high-pressure side of the vane 24 is defined. This pressure 42 causes the vane 24 to be pressed against the walls 20, 22 of the guide groove 16 corresponding to the bracing forces illustrated by the arrows 44, 46. The side opposite the high-pressure side, i.e. the side the bracing force indicated by arrow 44 is directed at, is the low-pressure side. The first side wall 30 and the second side wall 34 of the vane 24 according to the invention are located where the bracing forces 44, 46 act, and where on the other hand a seal of the high-pressure side is required against the low-pressure side. It can also be seen that the first and second side wall 30, 34 of the vane 24 only alternately constrict the fluid channels 26 so that the cross-section of the fluid channels 26 can be advantageously increased. The fluid channels 26 are formed as openings extending through the vanes 24 so that the fluid flows from one side of the vane 24 to the other side. The vanes 24 move into and out of the guide grooves 16 through rotation of the rotor 10 inside the stator 50 as is indicated by arrows 58.

(17) This completes the description of the preferred and alternate embodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiment described herein which equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the claims attached hereto.