Cooling apparatus powered by a ratioed gear drive assembly

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling apparatus comprising a refrigeration or air-conditioning apparatus. In particular the present invention relates to refrigeration or air-conditioning apparatus utilizing a mini-centrifugal compressor with rotational power provided by a ratioed gear drive assembly coupled to an internal combustion engine.

1 . A refrigeration or air-conditioning apparatus comprising a compressor driven by a ratioed gear drive assembly coupled to an internal combustion engine.  
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said apparatus being a mobile refrigeration or mobile air-conditioning apparatus.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said apparatus being a stationary refrigeration or stationary air-conditioning apparatus.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the compressor is a centrifugal compressor.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the compressor is a mini-centrifugal compressor.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the compressor is a multistage mini-centrifugal compressor.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the compressor is a 2-stage mini-centrifugal compressor.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a ratioed belt drive to connect the ratioed gear drive assembly to the internal combustion engine.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the ratioed gear drive assembly turns a gear assembly rotating shaft external to said compressor, said gear assembly rotating shaft being coupled to a compressor rotating shaft by a coupling device.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said coupling device is a rotary magnetic coupling device.  
   
   
       11 . A method for controlling compressor surge within refrigeration or air-conditioning apparatus including a compressor driven by a ratioed gear drive assembly coupled to an internal combustion engine, said method comprising maintaining minimum flow of a refrigerant through the compressor by controlling recycle of the refrigerant from the discharge to the suction of the compressor.  
   
   
       12 . A method for providing power to a compressor within a refrigeration or air-conditioning apparatus, said method comprising coupling the compressor to a ratioed gear drive assembly driven by an internal combustion engine to power the compressor.  
   
   
       13 . A method for controlling impeller speed in a compressor within a refrigeration or air-conditioning apparatus, wherein the compressor is driven by a ratioed gear drive assembly coupled to an internal combustion engine, said method comprising varying the engine idle speed during apparatus operation.  
   
   
       14 . A method for controlling cooling capacity for a refrigeration or air-conditioning apparatus, wherein said apparatus includes a compressor powered by a ratioed gear drive assembly coupled to an internal combustion engine, said method comprising varying the engine idle speed during apparatus operation.  
   
   
       15 . A method for controlling impeller speed in a compressor within a refrigeration or air-conditioning apparatus, wherein the compressor is powered by a ratioed gear drive assembly coupled to an internal combustion engine, said method comprising providing a ratioed gear drive comprising multiple gear sets and at least one clutch.  
   
   
       16 . A method for controlling cooling capacity for a refrigeration or air-conditioning apparatus including a compressor powered by a ratioed gear drive assembly coupled to an internal combustion engine, said method comprising providing a ratioed gear drive assembly comprising multiple gear sets and at least one clutch.  
   
   
       17 . A method for controlling impeller speed in a compressor within a refrigeration or air-conditioning apparatus, wherein the compressor is powered by a ratioed gear drive assembly coupled to an internal combustion engine, said method comprising coupling the compressor to the ratioed gear drive assembly via a magnetic adjustable speed drive.  
   
   
       18 . A method for controlling cooling capacity for a refrigeration or air-conditioning apparatus, wherein said apparatus includes a compressor, and wherein the compressor is powered by a ratioed gear drive assembly coupled to an internal combustion engine, said method comprising coupling the compressor to the ratioed gear drive assembly via a magnetic adjustable speed drive.  
   
   
       19 . The method of any of claims  11 - 18 , wherein the compressor is a mini-centrifugal compressor.  
   
   
       20 . A process for producing cooling comprising compressing a refrigerant in a mini-centrifugal compressor powered by a ratioed gear drive assembly coupled to an internal combustion engine; condensing said refrigerant; and thereafter evaporating said refrigerant in the vicinity of a body to be cooled.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising at least one single slab/single pass heat exchanger as evaporator, condenser or both.  
   
   
       22 . The process of  claim 20 , wherein said body to be cooled is an automobile passenger compartment or stationary structure.  
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the compressor is coupled to the ratioed gear drive assembly by an adjustable speed mechanical drive system.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 23  wherein the adjustable speed mechanical drive system is selected from the group consisting of traction drives, belt and chain drives, gear drives or differentials, hydraulic drives, eddy current drives and magnetic coupling.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 24  wherein the adjustable speed mechanic drive system is a magnetic adjustable speed drive.  
   
   
       26 . A method for controlling impeller speed in a compressor within a refrigeration or air-conditioning apparatus, wherein the compressor is powered by a ratioed gear drive assembly coupled to an internal combustion engine, said method comprising coupling the compressor to the ratioed gear drive assembly via an adjustable speed mechanical drive.  
   
   
       27 . A method for controlling cooling capacity for a refrigeration or air-conditioning apparatus, wherein said apparatus includes a compressor, and wherein the compressor is powered by a ratioed gear drive assembly coupled to an internal combustion engine, said method comprising coupling the compressor to the ratioed gear drive assembly via an adjustable speed mechanical drive.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26  or  27 , wherein the adjustable speed mechanical drive system is selected from the group consisting of traction drives, belt and chain drives, gear drives or differentials, hydraulic drives, eddy current drives and magnetic coupling.