Centrifugal blower with external overdrive

Abstract

A centrifugal gas compressor is disclosed that includes an external drive mechanism consisting of a plurality of pulleys arranged to provide an overdrive in rotational speed. The pulleys are connected with belts to provide a reliable, efficient, cost effective, and readily scalable means of power transmission between the associated motor and the compressor.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A centrifugal compressor system with an external rotational overdrive mechanism comprising: 
 (a) a scroll with an inlet to receive the gas to be compressed and an outlet to discharge the compressed gas;    (b) a diffuser plate secured to the rear of said scroll and enclosing said scroll to form a sealed chamber;    (c) a bearing case housing two or more bearings with seals and attached to said diffuser plate;    (d) a shaft that is supported by said bearings, passing through said bearing case, said diffuser plate and at least partway through said scroll;    (e) an impeller rotatably attached to said shaft and contained in the sealed chamber between said scroll and said diffuser plate;    (f) an input pulley rotatably attached to the opposite end of the said shaft from said impeller capable of rotating said shaft and impeller;    (g) a centrifugal compressor bracket with a plurality of holes as a means for locating said diffuser plate;    (h) an external overdrive system comprising: 
 an input overdrive pulley;  
 an output overdrive pulley rotationally coupled to said input overdrive pulley and rotatably supported on an overdrive shaft with one or more sealed bearings;  
 an overdrive pulley bracket with a plurality of holes as a means for locating said input and output overdrive pulleys a fixed distance from said input pulley such that said output overdrive pulley rotates in the same plane as said input pulley;  
   (i) an input belt attached to said output overdrive pulley and said input pulley capable of rotating said input pulley while said input overdrive pulley is rotated; and    (j) a drive belt attached to and capable of rotating said input overdrive pulley and means rotating said drive belt.    
     
     
         2 . The centrifugal compressor system of  claim 1  where the tension in either or both of said input and drive belts is maintained by movement of said external overdrive system relative to said input pulley;  
     
     
         3 . The centrifugal compressor system of  claim 1  with a rotatably mounted idler pulley engaging said input belt to maintain the desired level of tension in said input belt.  
     
     
         4 . The centrifugal compressor system of  claim 1  with a rotatably mounted idler pulley engaging said drive belt to maintain the desired level of tension in said drive belt.  
     
     
         5 . The centrifugal compressor system of  claim 1  wherein said drive belt is rotationally coupled to a drive pulley on an internal combustion engine for use as a supercharger.  
     
     
         6 . The centrifugal compressor system of  claim 1  wherein said drive belt is rotationally coupled to a drive pulley on an internal combustion engine or an electric motor for use as an industrial blower.  
     
     
         7 . The centrifugal compressor system of  claim 1  wherein said input belt, said input pulley and said output overdrive pulley are a multiple ribbed design.  
     
     
         8 . The centrifugal compressor system of  claim 1  wherein said drive belt, said drive pulley and said input overdrive pulley are a multiple ribbed design.  
     
     
         9 . The centrifugal compressor system of  claim 1  wherein said input belt, said input pulley and said output overdrive pulley are a cogged design.  
     
     
         10 . The centrifugal compressor system of  claim 1  wherein said drive belt, said drive pulley and said input overdrive pulley are a cogged design.