Compressor having capacity modulation system

• US 10,087,936 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2017
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Copeland Corporation LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Pax, Dennis D., Tummino, Stephen Barry, Brostrom, Troy R., Dahlinghaus, Anthony Joseph, Butler, Brian R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laurenzi, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): Delgado, Anthony Ayala
• Application Number:
  US15/646,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20170306960A1
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 18/0215 where only one member is moving
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 18/0261 Details of the ports, e.g. location, number, geometry
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2240/30 Casings or housings
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 23/008 Hermetic pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 27/005 Axial sealings for working fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 28/16 using lift valves
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 28/24 characterised by using valves controlling pressure or flow rate, e.g. discharge valves or unloading valvesF04C28/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 28/26 using bypass channels

Abstract

A compressor may include first and second scrolls, a seal assembly and a valve ring. The first scroll may include a first end plate having a discharge passage, a modulation port, and a biasing passage. The modulation port may be in communication with a first pocket formed between spiral wraps of the first and second scrolls. The biasing passage may be in communication with a second pocket formed between spiral wraps of the first and second scrolls. The modulation valve ring is axially displaceable relative to the seal assembly and the first scroll between first and second positions. The valve ring may abut an end plate of the first scroll and close the modulation port when in the first position. The valve ring may abut an axially-facing surface of the seal assembly and is spaced apart from the end plate to open the modulation port when in the second position.

Claims

1. A compressor comprising:

a shell assembly defining a suction-pressure region and a discharge-pressure region, the shell assembly including a partition separating the suction-pressure region from the discharge-pressure region;

a first scroll member disposed within the shell assembly and including a first end plate having a discharge passage, a modulation port, a biasing passage, and a first spiral wrap extending from the first end plate;

a second scroll member disposed within the shell assembly and including a second end plate having a second spiral wrap extending therefrom, the first and second spiral wraps meshingly engaged and forming a series of pockets during orbital displacement of the second scroll member relative to the first scroll member, the modulation port in communication with a first one of the pockets, the biasing passage in communication with a second one of the pockets;

a floating seal assembly engaged with the partition and the first scroll member and isolating the discharge-pressure region from the suction-pressure region; and

a modulation valve ring located axially between the floating seal assembly and the first end plate and being in sealing engagement with an outer radial surface of a hub extending from the first end plate and an outer radial surface of the floating seal assembly to define an axial biasing chamber in fluid communication with the biasing passage, the modulation valve ring being axially displaceable between first and second positions, the modulation valve ring abutting the first end plate and closing the modulation port when in the first position, the modulation valve ring abutting an axially-facing surface of the floating seal assembly and spaced apart from the first end plate to open the modulation port when in the second position,

wherein the modulation port is located at a first wrap angle from a suction seal-off location, and the biasing passage is located at a second wrap angle from the suction seal-off location, and wherein a ratio of the first angle to the second angle is between 0.65 and 0.75.

2. The compressor of claim 1, wherein the modulation valve ring urges the floating seal assembly axially against the partition when the modulation valve ring is in the second position.

3. The compressor of claim 2, further comprising a modulation lift ring located axially between the modulation valve ring and the first end plate and in sealing engagement with the modulation valve ring to define a modulation control chamber between the modulation valve ring and the modulation lift ring.

4. The compressor of claim 3, further comprising a modulation control valve assembly operable in first and second modes and in fluid communication with the modulation control chamber, the modulation control valve assembly controlling an operating pressure within the modulation control chamber, wherein the modulation control valve assembly provides a first pressure within the modulation control chamber when operated in the first mode to displace the modulation valve ring to the first position and operate the compressor in a full capacity mode, and wherein the modulation control valve assembly provides a second pressure within the modulation control chamber greater than the first pressure when operated in the second mode to displace the modulation valve ring to the second position and operate the compressor in a partial capacity mode.

5. The compressor of claim 4, wherein a radially extending passage is formed axially between the modulation valve ring and the first end plate when the modulation valve ring is in the second position, and wherein the radially extending passage is in communication with the modulation port.

6. The compressor of claim 5, wherein the radially extending passage extends between the modulation lift ring and the first end plate.

7. The compressor of claim 6, wherein the modulation lift ring includes a U-shaped seal engaging first and second annular walls of the modulation valve ring.

8. The compressor of claim 7, wherein the U-shaped seal is a unitary body formed from a polymeric material.

9. The compressor of claim 8, wherein the first end plate includes a plurality of axially extending bosses integrally formed with the first end plate and contacting the modulation lift ring to define the radially extending passage.

10. The compressor of claim 9, wherein the U-shaped seal includes a base portion and a pair of lips formed integrally with the base portion, the base portion extends perpendicular relative to a driveshaft rotational axis, one of the lips extends from a radially outer edge of the base portion, another of the lips extends from a radially inner edge of the base portion.

11. A compressor comprising:

a first scroll member including a first end plate having a discharge passage, a port, a biasing passage, and a first spiral wrap extending from the first end plate;

a second scroll member including a second end plate having a second spiral wrap extending therefrom, the first and second spiral wraps meshingly engaged and forming a series of pockets therebetween, the port in selective communication with one of the pockets, the biasing passage in communication with one of the pockets;

a seal assembly engaged with the first scroll member and a partition defining a discharge chamber of the compressor; and

a valve ring located axially between the seal assembly and the first end plate and cooperating with the seal assembly to define an axial biasing chamber in fluid communication with the biasing passage, the valve ring being movable between a first position in which the valve ring abuts the first end plate and closes the port and a second position in which the valve ring is spaced apart from the first end plate to open the port,

wherein the port is located at a first wrap angle from a suction seal-off location, and the biasing passage is located at a second wrap angle from the suction seal-off location, and wherein a ratio of the first angle to the second angle is between 0.65 and 0.75.

12. The compressor of claim 11, wherein the valve ring abuts an axially-facing surface of the seal assembly when in the second position.

13. The compressor of claim 12, wherein the valve ring urges the seal assembly axially against the partition when the valve ring is in the second position.

14. The compressor of claim 13, further comprising a lift ring located axially between the valve ring and the first end plate and in sealing engagement with the valve ring to define a control chamber between the valve ring and the lift ring.

15. The compressor of claim 14, further comprising a control valve assembly operable in first and second modes and in fluid communication with the control chamber, the control valve assembly controlling an operating pressure within the control chamber, wherein the control valve assembly provides a first pressure within the control chamber when operated in the first mode to displace the valve ring to the first position and operate the compressor in a full capacity mode, and wherein the control valve assembly provides a second pressure within the control chamber greater than the first pressure when operated in the second mode to displace the valve ring to the second position and operate the compressor in a partial capacity mode.

16. The compressor of claim 15, wherein a radially extending passage is formed axially between the valve ring and the first end plate when the valve ring is in the second position, and wherein the radially extending passage is in communication with the port.

17. The compressor of claim 16, wherein the radially extending passage extends between the lift ring and the first end plate.

18. The compressor of claim 17, wherein the lift ring includes a U-shaped seal engaging first and second annular walls of the valve ring, wherein the U-shaped seal is a unitary body formed from a polymeric material.

19. The compressor of claim 18, wherein the lift ring includes a base ring disposed axially between the U-shaped seal and the first end plate, the base ring includes a plurality of axially extending bosses contacting the first end plate.

20. The compressor of claim 19, wherein the U-shaped seal includes a base portion and a pair of lips formed integrally with the base portion, the base portion extends perpendicular relative to a driveshaft rotational axis, one of the lips extends from a radially outer edge of the base portion, another of the lips extends from a radially inner edge of the base portion.