Turbomachine for compressing a fluid

Abstract

A turbomachine for use as a compressor has a tubular housing centered on an axis, a rotor at least generally centered on the axis in the housing, and bearings supporting the rotor in the housing for rotation about the axis. The rotor is formed by a small-diameter shaft extending along and centered on the axis, formed with at least one mounting collar, and carried by the bearings, and by a plurality of annular disks fitted axially together and formed with radially outwardly extending vanes. At least one of the disks is fitted with and secured to the mounting collar.

We claim: 
     
         1 . In a turbomachine for use as a compressor and having:
 a tubular housing centered on an axis;   a rotor at least generally centered on the axis in the housing; and   bearings supporting the rotor in the housing for rotation about the axis,   
       the improvement wherein the rotor is formed by:
 a small-diameter shaft extending along and centered on to the axis, formed with at least one mounting collar, and carried by the bearings; and 
 a plurality of annular disks fitted axially together and formed with radially outwardly extending vanes, one of the disks being fitted with and secured to the mounting collar. 
 
     
     
         2 . The turbomachine defined in  claim 1 , wherein the shaft is formed with two of the collars offset axially from each other and each fitted with a respective one of the disks. 
     
     
         3 . The turbomachine defined in  claim 2 , wherein the disks between the disks fitted to the collars are out of engagement with the shaft. 
     
     
         4 . The turbomachine defined in  claim 2 , wherein the collars are axially between the bearings. 
     
     
         5 . The turbomachine defined in  claim 4 , wherein the bearings include two magnetic axial-thrust bearings and two magnetic radial-thrust bearings. 
     
     
         6 . The turbomachine defined in  claim 1 , the vanes are constructed to advance a fluid axially through the housing on rotation of the rotor. 
     
     
         7 . The turbomachine defined in  claim 1 , wherein the disks have end flanges forming axially and radially directed annular surfaces that fit complementarily together between adjacent disks. 
     
     
         8 . The turbomachine defined in  claim 1 , wherein the disks have between the respective vanes outer surfaces centered on the axis and of different diameters from disk to disk. 
     
     
         9 . The turbomachine defined in  claim 8 , wherein the outer surfaces are flush with one another and form a frustocone centered on the axis. 
     
     
         10 . The turbomachine defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the bearings is a magnetic bearing. 
     
     
         11 . The turbomachine defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the bearings is a hydrodynamic bearing. 
     
     
         12 . The turbomachine defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the bearings is a roller bearing.