Diffuser vane for a compressor device and diffuser assembly comprised thereof

Abstract

Embodiments of a diffuser vane comprise a vane body with a leading edge and a trialing edge that can rotate about the leading edge to improve performance of a compressor device. This configuration maintains the position of the leading edge on the diffuser vane relative to the orientation of the working fluid. In one embodiment, the diffuser vane incorporates a support element that couples with the vane body. The support element counteracts stimulating frequencies to reduce vibration of the vane body. The diffuser vane can also comprise an armature, which couples with a force coupler to facilitate rotation of the trailing edge when in position in a compressor device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A diffuser vane for use in a diffuser assembly downstream of an impeller in a compressor device, comprising:
 a vane body having a top, a bottom, a leading edge and a trailing edge, the leading edge having a rotation axis;   a support element coupled to the bottom of the vane body proximate the leading edge, the support element forming a boss with a peripheral edge disposed on either side of the vane body; and   an armature coupled to the support element, the armature having a cylindrical body terminating in a shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The diffuser vane of  claim 1 , wherein the boss has a stepped profile with an upper boss portion and a lower boss portion that couple, respectively, to the vane body and the cylindrical body, and wherein the upper boss portion is narrower than the lower boss portion. 
     
     
         3 . The diffuser vane of  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral edge of the boss is spaced apart from a camber line of the vane body by equal amounts. 
     
     
         4 . The diffuser vane of  claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical body has an axis aligned with the rotation axis. 
     
     
         5 . The diffuser vane of  claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical body comprises a round disc with a disc surface on which the boss is disposed 
     
     
         6 . The diffuser vane of  claim 1 , wherein the vane body comprises an airfoil. 
     
     
         7 . The diffuser vane of  claim 6 , wherein the rotation axis is coaxial with a center axis of a tip at the leading edge of the airfoil. 
     
     
         8 . The diffuser vane of  claim 1 , wherein the boss has a proximal end near the leading edge and a distal end that is remote from the cylindrical body. 
     
     
         9 . The diffuser vane of  claim 8 , wherein the distal end is spaced apart from the proximal end a distance that is 35% or less of a chord length for the vane body that measures the straightline distance from the leading edge to the trailing edge. 
     
     
         10 . The diffuser vane of  claim 1 , wherein the vane body has a recess in the bottom to receive the boss. 
     
     
         11 . A diffuser assembly for use downstream of an impeller in a compressor device, comprising:
 a inlet cover having a bore;   a diffuser vane disposed in the bore, the diffuser vane comprising a vane body having a leading edge and a trailing edge and an armature coupled to the vane body, the armature extending through the inlet cover; and   a force coupler coupled to the armature,   wherein the diffuser vane secures to the armature to permit rotation of the trailing edge about the leading edge between a first position and a second position that is angularly offset from the first position.   
     
     
         12 . The diffuser assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising an annular ring member disposed on a recessed front face of the inlet cover, wherein the force coupler couples to the annular ring member, and where the vane body moves between the first position and the second position in response to rotation of the annular ring member. 
     
     
         13 . The diffuser assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the bore comprises a through bore and a counter bore that is larger than the through bore, wherein the counter bore forms a surface that mates with a round disc of the armature. 
     
     
         14 . The diffuser assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the diffuser vane comprises a support element that couples with the vane body, and wherein the support element forms a boss disposed on the armature with a peripheral edge disposed on either side of the vane body. 
     
     
         15 . The diffuser assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the boss is wider than the vane body. 
     
     
         16 . A compressor, comprising:
 an impeller;   a inlet cover disposed circumferentially about the impeller, the inlet cover comprising a bore extending from a diffuser cavity through the inlet cover;   a diffuser vane disposed in the diffuser cavity downstream of the impeller, the diffuser vane comprising a vane body having a leading edge and a trailing edge, a support element disposed on the vane body, and a cylindrical body coupled to support element, the cylindrical body having an axis that aligns with a rotation axis proximate the trailing edge and about which the trailing edge rotates between a first position and a second position that is angularly offset from the first position.   
     
     
         17 . The compressor of  claim 16 , wherein the support element comprises a boss that has a proximal end near the leading edge and a distal end that is remote from the cylindrical body. 
     
     
         18 . The compressor of  claim 17 , wherein the distal end is spaced apart form the proximal end a distance that is 35% or less of a chord length for the vane body that is measured from the leading edge to the trailing edge. 
     
     
         19 . The compressor vane of  claim 16 , wherein the cylindrical body comprises a round disc with a disc surface that mates with a surface of a counter bore axially aligned with the bore on the inlet cover. 
     
     
         20 . The compressor vane of  claim 16 , further comprising a volute that forms a portion of the diffuser cavity.