Scroll compressor with oil management system

• US 10,036,388 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2014
• Issued: 07/31/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Copeland Corporation LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Akei, Masao, Doepker, Roy J., Zhou, Guangyong, Sun, Qingfeng, Shu, Hongfei
• Primary Examiner(s): Laurenzi, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARRIS, WESLEY G
• Application Number:
  US14/413,204
• Publication Number:
  US 20150139844A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,495 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 18/0207 both members having co-operating elements in spiral form
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 18/0215 where only one member is moving
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 18/0253 Details concerning the base
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 18/0292 Ports or channels located in the wrap
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2240/806 Pipes for fluids; Fittings therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 23/008 Hermetic pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 27/009 Shaft sealings specially adapted for pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 29/023 Lubricant distribution through a hollow driving shaft F04C29/025 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 29/028 Means for improving or restricting lubricant flow

Abstract

A compressor (10) is provided and may include a shell (12), a main bearing housing (18) disposed within the shell (12), a driveshaft (16), a non-orbiting scroll member (24), and an orbiting scroll member (22). The driveshaft (16) may be supported by the main bearing housing (18). The non-orbiting scroll member (24) may be coupled to the main bearing housing (18) and may include a first lubricant supply path in fluid communication with a lubricant source. The orbiting scroll member (22) may be rotatably coupled to the driveshaft (16) and may be meshingly engaged with the non-orbiting scroll member (24). The orbiting scroll member (22) may include a recess (96) that is moved between a first position in fluid communication with the first lubricant supply path and a second position fluidly isolated from the first lubricant supply path.

Claims

1. A compressor comprising:

a shell;

a main bearing housing disposed within said shell;

a driveshaft supported by said main bearing housing;

a non-orbiting scroll member coupled to said main bearing housing and including a first lubricant supply path, said first lubricant supply path in fluid communication with a lubricant source; and

an orbiting scroll member rotatably coupled to said driveshaft and meshingly engaged with said non-orbiting scroll member, said orbiting scroll member having a recess formed therein that is moved between a first position in fluid communication with said first lubricant supply path and a second position fluidly isolated from said first lubricant supply path.

2. The compressor of claim 1, wherein said recess is moved between said first position and said second position based on a relative position of said orbiting scroll member and said non-orbiting scroll member.

3. The compressor of claim 2, wherein said relative position of said orbiting scroll member and said non-orbiting scroll member is based on rotation of said driveshaft.

4. The compressor of claim 1, wherein said lubricant source is a lubricant supply region disposed adjacent to said driveshaft, and wherein said compressor includes a second lubricant supply path disposed within said main bearing housing, said second lubricant supply path in fluid communication with said first lubricant supply path and said lubricant supply region.

5. The compressor of claim 4, wherein said second lubricant supply path includes a first branch extending substantially parallel to a rotational axis of said driveshaft and a second branch extending substantially perpendicular to said first branch and having a first end disposed in a sidewall of said main bearing housing.

6. The compressor of claim 5, wherein said first end of said second branch is sealingly engaged with an inner surface of said shell.

7. The compressor of claim 1, wherein said first lubricant supply path includes:

a first branch extending from a first surface of said non-orbiting scroll to a second surface of said non-orbiting scroll; and

a second branch in fluid communication with said first branch, said second branch extending from said first surface of said non-orbiting scroll to said second surface of said non-orbiting scroll.

8. The compressor of claim 7, further comprising a first lubricant supply tube disposed within said shell, said first lubricant supply tube in fluid communication with said first branch and said second branch.

9. The compressor of claim 1, wherein said first lubricant supply path includes:

a first branch extending from a first surface of said non-orbiting scroll, said first branch extending substantially parallel to a rotational axis of said driveshaft,

a second branch extending from said first surface of said non-orbiting scroll, said second branch extending substantially parallel to said first branch, and

a third branch having a first end disposed in a sidewall of said non-orbiting scroll member.

10. The compressor of claim 9, wherein said first end of said third branch is sealingly engaged with an inner surface of said shell.

11. The compressor of claim 1, wherein said orbiting and non-orbiting scroll members define a plurality of compression pockets, and wherein said recess is operable to fluidly communicate with at least one of said compression pockets.