초록 ▼

Disclosed is a centrifugal turbine gas blower with foil bearings for use with a fast axial flow laser. The blower utilizes variable components in order to operate at different speeds for multiple applications. In addition, a bypass load has been incorporated to avoid a surge condition. The blower ut

Disclosed is a centrifugal turbine gas blower with foil bearings for use with a fast axial flow laser. The blower utilizes variable components in order to operate at different speeds for multiple applications. In addition, a bypass load has been incorporated to avoid a surge condition. The blower utilizes foil bearings that are self-lubricating in order to achieve improved efficiency and maximized speeds during operation. The bearings are designed with a bump layer that provides damping for pre-load. Additionally, the backplate of the thrust assembly contains holes in order to reduce the thrust load and to balance the force on the impeller.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A centrifugal turbine blower for use in high-powered laser applications, said blower comprising: an induction motor; a gas mixing unit configured to receive a plurality of gases; and a control module for operating said gas mixing unit; wherein said gas mixing unit combines sa

What is claimed is: 1. A centrifugal turbine blower for use in high-powered laser applications, said blower comprising: an induction motor; a gas mixing unit configured to receive a plurality of gases; and a control module for operating said gas mixing unit; wherein said gas mixing unit combines said plurality of gases that are delivered at a specific flow rate to a laser; and wherein said induction motor has a common housing comprising variable rotor, shroud and compressor sizes. 2. The blower of claim 1, further comprising: a foil radial bearing; and a foil thrust bearing; wherein the bearings are of the non-contact, self lubricating type. 3. The blower of claim 2, wherein said foil radial bearing contains bump foil. 4. A centrifugal turbine blower for use in high-powered laser applications, said blower comprising: an induction motor; a foil radial bearing; a foil thrust bearing; a bypass load; a gas mixing unit configured to receive a plurality of gases; a microprocessor control module; and an impeller having a backplate with holes; wherein said motor has a common housing comprising of variable rotor, shroud and compressor sizes; wherein said gas mixing unit is configured to blend said plurality of gases into a predetermined mixture delivered at a specific flow rate to a laser; wherein said microprocessor control module operates said gas mixing unit; and wherein said bypass load allows for peak efficiency of the device while avoiding surge conditions. 5. The blower of claim 4, wherein said bearings are of the non-contact, self lubricating type. 6. The blower of claim 4, wherein said foil radial bearing contains bump foil. 7. The blower of claim 4, wherein said plurality of gases is a gas selected from the group consisting of Helium, Nitrogen and Carbon-dioxide. 8. A centrifugal turbine blower for use in high-powered laser applications, said blower comprising: an induction motor; a gas mixing unit configured to receive a predetermined mixture of Helium, Nitrogen and Carbon-dioxide gases from a plurality of bottled gas sources; and a microprocessor control module, wherein said microprocessor control module operates said gas mixing unit; wherein said gas mixing unit is configured to receive said predetermined mixture of Helium, Nitrogen and Carbon-dioxide gases, and wherein said predetermined mixture is delivered at a specific flow rate to a laser; and wherein said induction motor has a common housing comprising variable rotor, shroud and compressor sizes. 9. The blower of claim 8, further comprising a foil radial bearing of the non-contact, self-lubricating type. 10. The blower of claim 9, further comprising a foil thrust bearing of the non-contact self-lubricating type. 11. The blower of claim 10, wherein said foil radial bearing contains bump foil.