Housing for air machine having drain holes

Abstract

A housing for use in an air machine includes a housing body for housing at least one rotor. The housing body has at least one conduit for connection to a connecting conduit. The conduit has a drain hole adjacent an end of the conduit. The drain hole is formed at an angle relative to a plane made perpendicular to a center axis of said conduit. An air machine, an air machine assembly and a method are also disclosed.

1 . A housing for use in an air machine comprising:
 a housing body for housing at least one rotor, said housing body having at least one body conduit for connection to a connecting conduit, said body conduit having a drain hole adjacent an end of the body conduit, said drain hole being formed at an angle relative to a plane made perpendicular to a center axis of said body conduit.   
     
     
         2 . The housing as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said housing body is for housing a compressor rotor, and a ratio of a radius of said body conduit at an outer end of said body conduit to a diameter of at least a portion of said drain hole is between 28 and 31.5. 
     
     
         3 . The housing as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said angle is in a range of 18 to 22°. 
     
     
         4 . The housing as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein said drain hole is formed at an outer lip, said outer lip having a chamfer portion, and being the point where said radius is measured. 
     
     
         5 . The housing as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein said drain hole includes a countersunk outer portion which extends partially into said chamfer portion, and partially into a flat portion at the outer end of said lip, said countersunk portion being of a larger diameter than said at least a portion of said drain hole. 
     
     
         6 . The housing as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein a ratio of a diameter of said at least one portion of said drain hole to a diameter of said countersunk portion is between 0.5 and 1.2, and said at least one portion of said drain hole extending to an outer position on said outer lip, to provide the outlet for the drain hole. 
     
     
         7 . The housing as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said body is for housing at least one turbine rotor. 
     
     
         8 . The housing as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said angle is in a range of 43 to 47°. 
     
     
         9 . The housing as set forth in  claim 8 , previous wherein a ratio of a radius of the body conduit at the location of said drain hole to a largest diameter portion of said drain hole is between 19.5 and 33.5. 
     
     
         10 . The housing as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein there is a smaller diameter portion of said drain hole, said smaller diameter portion extending to the outer surface, and providing the ultimate drain, and a ratio of said largest diameter portion to said smaller diameter portion is between 0.9 and 1.7. 
     
     
         11 . The housing as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein said turbine housing also has a second conduit, said second conduit being provided with a second drain hole. 
     
     
         12 . The housing as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said second housing drain hole being formed in an outer end of said second conduit, and said second drain hole extending along a generally parallel direction relative to a central axis of said second conduit. 
     
     
         13 . The housing as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein a ratio of a radius in a portion of said second conduit receiving said second drain hole to a diameter of said second drain hole being between 25 and 29. 
     
     
         14 . An air machine comprising:
 a compressor rotor, and a pair of turbine rotors, said turbine rotors driving said compressor rotor;   a compressor housing, housing at least said compressor rotor;   a turbine housing, housing said at least two turbine rotors;   drain holes formed in both of said turbine housing and said compressor housing; and   said drain holes being formed in a conduit in each of said turbine housing and said compressor housing, with said conduits each being connected to a connecting conduit, and said drain holes being formed at an angle relative to a plane made perpendicular to a central axis of each said conduit.   
     
     
         15 . The air machine as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein in said compressor housing, a ratio of a radius of said body conduit to a diameter of at least a portion of said drain hole is between 28 and 31.5. 
     
     
         16 . The air machine as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein said angle for said compressor housing is in a range of 18 to 22°. 
     
     
         17 . The air machine as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein said drain hole in said compressor housing is formed at an outer lip, said outer lip having a chamfer portion, and thus being enlarged relative to said radius. 
     
     
         18 . The air machine as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein said drain hole in said compressor housing includes a countersunk outer portion which extends partially into said chamfer portion, and partially into a flat portion at the outer end of said lip, said countersunk portion being of a larger diameter than said at least a portion of said drain hole. 
     
     
         19 . The air machine as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein in said turbine housing, said angle is in a range of 43 to 47°. 
     
     
         20 . The air machine as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein a ratio of a radius of the body conduit at the location of said drain hole in said turbine housing to a largest diameter portion of said drain hole is between 0.9 and 1.7. 
     
     
         21 . The air machine as set forth in  claim 19 , wherein said turbine housing also has a second conduit, said second conduit being provided with a second drain hole. 
     
     
         22 . The air machine as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein said second drain hole being formed in an outer end of said second conduit, and said second drain hole extending along a generally parallel direction relative to a central axis of said second conduit. 
     
     
         23 . An air machine assembly comprising:
 a first air machine mounted in a first orientation, a second air machine mounted in a second orientation, said first and second air machines having a compressor rotor, and a pair of turbine rotors, said turbine rotors driving said compressor rotor, a compressor housing, housing at least said compressor rotor, a turbine housing, housing said pair of turbine rotors, drain holes formed in both of said turbine housing and said compressor housing; and   said drain holes being formed in a conduit in each of said turbine housing and said compressor housing, with said conduits each being connected to a connecting conduit, and said drain holes being formed at an angle relative to a plane made perpendicular to each said conduit.   
     
     
         24 . The air machine assembly as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein said drain hole associated with said turbine housing in one of said first and second air machines is positioned at a vertically upper location, and said drain hole in said turbine housing associated with the other of said first and second air machines is positioned at a vertically lower location, and said drain hole in the compressor housing of said one of said first of said air machines is at a vertically lower location, and said drain hole associated with said compressor housing of the other of said first and second air machines positioned at a vertically upper location. 
     
     
         25 . A method of replacing a housing in an air machine assembly comprising the steps of:
 a) inserting at least one of a compressor and turbine housing to surround a rotor in an air machine assembly; and   b) attaching a conduit in said at least one of said compressor and turbine housing to a fluid connection, said conduit being formed with said drain holes in a conduit in said at least one of a compressor and turbine housing, and said drain holes being formed at an angle relative to a plane made perpendicular to a central axis of said conduit.