Dual drive co-rotating spinning scroll compressor or expander

Abstract

A dual-drive co-rotating scroll device includes a housing; a first scroll rotatably mounted within the housing via a first cylindrical extension and a first plurality of bearings, and having a first axis of rotation; and a second scroll rotatably mounted within the housing via a second cylindrical extension and a second plurality of bearings, and having a second axis of rotation different than the first axis of rotation. At least one of the first cylindrical extension and the second cylindrical extension may comprise a plurality of permanent magnets and operate as a rotor of a first motor. An Oldham ring may be positioned between the first scroll and the second scroll and configured to maintain a relative angular position between the first scroll and the second scroll.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A scroll device comprising:
 a housing;   a first scroll rotatably mounted within the housing via a first cylindrical extension and a first plurality of bearings, the first scroll having a first axis of rotation;   a second scroll rotatably mounted within the housing via a second cylindrical extension and a second plurality of bearings, the second scroll having a second axis of rotation different than the first axis of rotation;   wherein at least one of the first cylindrical extension and the second cylindrical extension comprises a plurality of permanent magnets and operates as a rotor of a first motor; and   an Oldham ring positioned between the first scroll and the second scroll and configured to maintain a relative angular position between the first scroll and the second scroll.   
     
     
         2 . The scroll device of  claim 1 , wherein the first motor is operably connected to the first scroll and a second motor is operably connected to the second scroll. 
     
     
         3 . The scroll device of  claim 2 , further comprising a controller for controlling an operating speed of the first motor and of the second motor. 
     
     
         4 . The scroll device of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of bearings comprises a first bearing positioned proximate a first end of the first cylindrical extension and a second bearing positioned proximate an opposite end of the first cylindrical extension. 
     
     
         5 . The scroll device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a scroll housing, a scroll plate secured to the scroll housing, a motor housing secured to the scroll plate, and an endplate secured to the motor housing. 
     
     
         6 . The scroll device of  claim 5 , wherein the scroll housing comprises a first cylindrical portion and a second cylindrical portion, the first and second cylindrical portions having offset axes. 
     
     
         7 . The scroll device of  claim 5 , wherein the scroll plate comprising a working fluid inlet and the endplate comprises a working fluid outlet. 
     
     
         8 . The scroll device of  claim 1 , further comprising an oil sump for lubricating the Oldham ring. 
     
     
         9 . The scroll device of  claim 1 , wherein the Oldham ring comprises a metallic portion and a non-metallic portion. 
     
     
         10 . The scroll device of  claim 9 , wherein the non-metallic portion is replaceable. 
     
     
         11 . A co-rotating scroll device comprising:
 a housing;   a first scroll rotatably mounted within the housing and having a first axis of rotation;   a second scroll rotatably mounted within the housing and having a second axis of rotation offset from the first axis of rotation;   a motor; and   a drive shaft having a third axis of rotation equidistant from the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation, the drive shaft configured to transmit torque from the motor to each of the first scroll and the second scroll.   
     
     
         12 . The co-rotating scroll device of  claim 11 , wherein the drive shaft transmits torque to each of the first scroll and the second scroll via a plurality of gears. 
     
     
         13 . The co-rotating scroll device of  claim 11 , wherein the drive shaft transmits torque to each of the first scroll and the second scroll via a plurality of belts and pulleys. 
     
     
         14 . The co-rotating scroll device of  claim 11 , wherein when the motor operates at a first rotational speed, the first scroll and the second scroll are configured to rotate at a second rotational speed different than the first rotational speed. 
     
     
         15 . The co-rotating scroll device of  claim 11 , wherein the motor is liquid cooled. 
     
     
         16 . The co-rotating scroll device of  claim 11 , wherein the motor is connected to the drive shaft via a jaw coupling. 
     
     
         17 . A scroll turbopump comprising:
 a housing defining a working fluid inlet and a working fluid outlet;   a first scroll rotatably mounted within the housing;   a first scroll extension mounted to the first scroll and extending from the first scroll into the working fluid inlet;   an inducer shaft extending from the first scroll into the first scroll extension, the inducer shaft coaxial within the first scroll;   an inducer rotor mounted to the inducer shaft within the first scroll extension;   a second scroll rotatably mounted within the housing;   a second scroll extension mounted to the second scroll;   a set of first gears, each one of the set of first gears mounted to one of the first and second scroll extensions;   a set of second gears, each one of the set of second gears mounted to a drive shaft having an axis of rotation equidistant from an axis of rotation of the first scroll and the second scroll; and   a turbine operably connected to the drive shaft.   
     
     
         18 . The scroll turbopump of  claim 17 , wherein the turbine comprises turbine blades secured to the drive shaft. 
     
     
         19 . The scroll turbopump of  claim 17 , wherein when the drive shaft rotates at a first speed, the first scroll and second scroll rotate at a second speed different than the first speed. 
     
     
         20 . The scroll turbopump of  claim 17 , wherein the drive shaft is rotatably mounted within the housing by a plurality of bearings.