초록 ▼

A fluid machine according to the present invention has an expansion-and-compressor device selectively operating as an expansion device for collecting waste heat from an internal combustion engine and converting the collected heat energy into mechanical rotational force, and as a compressor device fo

A fluid machine according to the present invention has an expansion-and-compressor device selectively operating as an expansion device for collecting waste heat from an internal combustion engine and converting the collected heat energy into mechanical rotational force, and as a compressor device for compressing refrigerant for a refrigerating cycle for air conditioner. The fluid machine further comprises an electric rotating device selectively operating as an electric power generator and as an electric motor. A power transmission device is further provided between the expansion-and-compressor device and the electric rotating device for selectively transmitting the rotational force from the expansion-and-compressor device to the electric rotating device and vice versa. The power transmission device is composed of a planetary gear train so that it can change rotational speed to be transmitted to the expansion-and-compressor device or to the electric rotating device. Accordingly, the expansion-and-compressor device as well as the electric rotating device can be operated at their most efficient rotational speed.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A fluid machine comprising: a housing; an expansion-and-compression device having a function of a compressor device for compressing working fluid in a refrigeration cycle when the expansion-and-compression device is driven in a first rotational direction and having a function

What is claimed is: 1. A fluid machine comprising: a housing; an expansion-and-compression device having a function of a compressor device for compressing working fluid in a refrigeration cycle when the expansion-and-compression device is driven in a first rotational direction and having a function of an expansion device for collecting heat energy from working fluid in a heat collecting cycle and converting the collected heat energy into mechanical rotational energy, wherein the expansion-and-compression device is rotated in a second rotational direction, which is opposite to the first rotational direction, when operated as the expansion device; an electric rotating device having a function of an electric motor for outputting the mechanical rotational energy and having a function of an electric power generator for outputting the mechanical rotational energy; a power transmission means provided in a power transmitting path between the expansion-and-compression device and the electric rotating device for transmitting the mechanical rotational energy from the expansion-and-compression device to the electric rotating device with rotational speed being changed, wherein the expansion-and-compression device, the electric rotating device and the power transmission means are integrally housed in the housing, and the expansion-and-compression device is operatively connected with an outside driving source, so that the expansion-and-compression device is operated as the compressor device by a driving force of the outside driving source. 2. A fluid machine according to claim 1, wherein the expansion-and-compression device converts the heat energy from the working fluid into the mechanical rotational energy by expanding superheated steam of the working fluid so that the enthalpy of the working fluid will be decreased in an isentropic manner. 3. A fluid machine according to claim 1, wherein the power transmission means transmits the mechanical rotational energy from the expansion-and-compression device to the electric rotating device so that the rotational speed is increased. 4. A fluid machine according to claim 1, wherein the electric rotating device is operatively connected to the expansion-and-compression device for generating electric power when it is operated by the mechanical rotational energy from the expansion-and-compression device. 5. A fluid machine comprising: an expansion-and-compression device having a function of an expansion device for converting heat energy from working fluid into mechanical rotational energy by expanding superheated steam of the working fluid so that the enthalpy of the working fluid will be decreased in an isentropic manner and having a function of a compressor device for drawing the working fluid and compressing the same in a refrigeration cycle, wherein the direction of rotation of the expansion-and-compression device when the expansion-and-compression device acts as the expansion device is opposite to the direction of rotation of the expansion-and-compression device when the expansion-and-compression device acts as the compressor device; an electric rotating means having a function for generating electric power when the mechanical rotating energy is applied thereto and having a function for generating a rotational force when electric power is supplied thereto; and a power transmission means provided in a power transmitting path between the expansion-and-compression device and the electric rotating means. 6. A fluid machine according to claim 5, wherein the power transmission means transmits the mechanical rotational energy from the expansion-and-compression device to the electric rotating means so that the rotational speed is increased, when the expansion-and-compression device is operated as the expansion device. 7. A fluid machine according to claim 5, wherein the power transmission means transmits the rotational force from the electric rotating means to the expansion-and-compression device so that the rotational speed is decreased, when the expansion-and-compression device is operated as the compressor device. 8. A fluid machine according to claim 5, wherein the electric rotating means comprises a rotor which is rotated when electromagnetic force is applied thereto; and the transmission means is arranged within a space formed by the rotor. 9. A fluid machine according to claim 5, further comprising: an external power transmitting means for transmitting a rotational force from an external power source to the expansion-and-compression device. 10. A fluid machine according to claim 5, further comprising: a first housing for housing therein the expansion-and-compression device; and a second housing for housing therein the electric rotating means, wherein the first housing and the second housing are integrally connected to each other. 11. A fluid machine according to claim 10, wherein the working fluid flows through the inside of the second housing when the expansion-and-compression device converts the heat energy of the working fluid into the mechanical rotational energy. 12. A fluid machine according to claim 10, wherein the electric rotating means and power transmission means are housed in the second housing. 13. A fluid machine for a motor vehicle comprising: a housing; a pulley rotationally supported by the housing and operatively connected to an internal combustion engine for the motor vehicle; an electric rotating device housed in the housing and having a function for generating electric power when it is operated as an electric power generator and a function for generating a rotational force when it is operated as an electric motor; an expansion-and-compression device housed in the housing, wherein the expansion-and-compression device has a function of an expansion device for collecting waste heat from the internal combustion engine and generating a mechanical rotational force from the collected waste heat when it is operated as an expansion device and the expansion-and-compression device has a function of a compressor device for compressing a refrigerant a refrigeration cycle for the motor vehicle when it is operated as a compressor device; a power transmission device housed in the housing and operatively connected between the electric rotating device and the expansion-and-compression device, wherein the expansion-and-compression device is further operatively connected to the pulley through the power transmission device, so that the power transmission device transmits a rotational force of the pulley to the expansion-and-compression device when it is operated as the compressor device, the power transmission device transmits the mechanical rotational force from the expansion-and-compression device to the electric rotating device when the expansion-and-compression device is operated as the expansion device, and the power transmission device further transmits the rotational force generated at the electric rotating device to the expansion-and-compression device when electric rotating device is operated as the electric power generator. 14. A fluid machine according to claim 13, further comprising an electromagnetic clutch provided at the pulley for transmitting the rotational force from the engine to the expansion-and-compression device when the electromagnetic clutch is energized. 15. A fluid machine according to claim 13, wherein the power transmission device is composed of a planetary gear train. 16. A fluid machine according to claim 13, wherein the pulley, the power transmission device, electric rotating device and the expansion-and-compression device are coaxially arranged with each other. 17. A fluid machine according to claim 13, further comprising an intermediate wall provided within the housing for dividing a housing space defined by the housing into two spaces, wherein the expansion-and-compression device is disposed in one of the spaces and the electric rotating device and the power transmission device are disposed in the other of the spaces.