Integrated screw compressor motor

Abstract

A screw compressor is provided and includes a housing (11), helical screws (21, 24) disposed within the housing (11) for rotation about respective rotational axes (RA1, RA2) in a mutually engaged relationship, at least one stator (30, 40) disposed within the housing (11) about a corresponding one of the helical screws (21, 24) and a conductive element (50, 60). The conductive element (50, 60) is wound about the at least one stator (30, 40) such that current applied to the conductive element (50, 60) generates a flux field by which the corresponding one of the helical screws (21, 24) is driven to rotate about the corresponding rotational axis (RA1, RA2).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A screw compressor, comprising:
 a housing;   helical screws disposed within the housing for rotation about respective rotational axes in a mutually engaged relationship;   at least one stator disposed within the housing about a corresponding one of the helical screws; and   a conductive element wound about the at least one stator such that current applied to the conductive element generates a flux field by which the corresponding one of the helical screws is driven to rotate about the corresponding rotational axis.   
     
     
         2 . The screw compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein the helical screws and the at least one stator are laminated. 
     
     
         3 . The screw compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein the helical screws respectively comprise a male helical screw and a female helical screw, wherein:
 the male helical screw comprises a first hub and multiple protrusions extending outwardly from the first hub in a helical formation along a length of the first hub,   the female helical screw comprises a second hub and multiple recess-defining protrusions extending outwardly from the second hub in a helical formation along a length of the second hub, and   the at least one stator comprises helical teeth about which the conductive element is wound.   
     
     
         4 . The screw compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein the conductive element extends about a partial arc-length of a circumference of the corresponding one of the helical screws. 
     
     
         5 . The screw compressor according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 rotor shafts about which the helical screws are rotatable; and   bearings coupled to the housing to rotatably support the rotor shafts.   
     
     
         6 . The screw compressor according to  claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to control rotations of the helical screws such that the helical screws remain separated during rotations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . A screw compressor, comprising:
 a housing;   first and second helical screws disposed within the housing for rotation about first and second rotational axes, respectively, in a mutually engaged relationship;   first and second stators disposed within the housing about the first and second helical screws, respectively; and   first and second conductive elements wound about the first and second stators, respectively, such that current applied to the first and second conductive elements generates flux fields by which the first and second helical screws are driven to rotate about the first and second rotational axes, respectively.   
     
     
         8 . The screw compressor according to  claim 7 , wherein the first and second helical screws and the first and second stators are laminated. 
     
     
         9 . The screw compressor according to  claim 7 , wherein the first and second helical screws respectively comprise a male helical screw and one or more female helical screw, wherein:
 the male helical screw comprises a first hub and multiple protrusions extending outwardly from the first hub in a helical formation along a length of the first hub, and   each of the one or more female helical screws comprises a second hub and multiple recess-defining protrusions extending outwardly from the second hub in a helical formation along a length of the second hub.   
     
     
         10 . The screw compressor according to  claim 7 , wherein the first and second stators comprise helical teeth about which the first and second conductive elements are wound. 
     
     
         11 . The screw compressor according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 the first conductive element extends about a partial arc-length of a circumference of the first helical screw, and   the second conductive element extends about a partial arc-length of a circumference of the second helical screw.   
     
     
         12 . The screw compressor according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a first rotor shaft about which the first helical screw is rotatable;   first bearings coupled to the housing to rotatably support the first rotor shaft;   a second rotor shaft about which the second helical screw is rotatable; and   second bearings coupled to the housing to rotatably support the second rotor shaft.   
     
     
         13 . The screw compressor according to  claim 7 , further comprising a controller configured to control rotations of the first and second helical screws such that the first and second helical screws remain separated during rotations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . A fluid system, comprising:
 an inlet;   an outlet; and   a screw compressor fluidly interposed between the inlet and the outlet and comprising:   a housing which is receptive of fluid from the inlet and which is configured to direct the fluid into the outlet;   first and second helical screws disposed within the housing for rotation about first and second rotational axes, respectively, in a mutually engaged relationship to compress the fluid received from the inlet and directed into the outlet;   first and second stators disposed within the housing about the first and second helical screws, respectively; and   first and second conductive elements wound about the first and second stators, respectively, such that current applied to the first and second conductive elements generates flux fields by which the first and second helical screws are driven to rotate about the first and second rotational axes, respectively.   
     
     
         15 . The fluid system according to  claim 14 , wherein the first and second helical screws and the first and second stators are laminated. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid system according to  claim 14 , wherein the first and second helical screws respectively comprise a male helical screw and one or more female helical screws, wherein:
 the male helical screw comprises a first hub and multiple protrusions extending outwardly from the first hub in a helical formation along a length of the first hub, and   each of the one or more female helical screws comprises a second hub and multiple recess-defining protrusions extending outwardly from the second hub in a helical formation along a length of the second hub.   
     
     
         17 . The fluid system according to  claim 14 , wherein the first and second stators comprise helical teeth about which the first and second conductive elements are wound. 
     
     
         18 . The fluid system according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 the first conductive element extends about a partial arc-length of a circumference of the first helical screw, and   the second conductive element extends about a partial arc-length of a circumference of the second helical screw.   
     
     
         19 . The fluid system according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a first rotor shaft about which the first helical screw is rotatable;   first bearings coupled to the housing to rotatably support the first rotor shaft;   a second rotor shaft about which the second helical screw is rotatable; and   second bearings coupled to the housing to rotatably support the second rotor shaft   
     
     
         20 . The fluid system according to  claim 14 , further comprising a controller configured to control rotations of the first and second helical screws such that the first and second helical screws remain separated during rotations thereof.