Scroll Compressor With Oil Management System

• US 20180335036A1
• Filed: 07/27/2018
• Published: 11/22/2018
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 10,605,243 B2
• Time in Patent Office: 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 is provided and may include a shell, a main bearing housing disposed within the shell, a driveshaft, a non-orbiting scroll member, and an orbiting scroll member. The driveshaft may be supported by the main bearing housing. The non-orbiting scroll member may be coupled to the main bearing housing and may include a first lubricant supply path in fluid communication with a lubricant source. The orbiting scroll member may be rotatably coupled to the driveshaft and may be meshingly engaged with the non-orbiting scroll member. The orbiting scroll member may include a recess 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 having a first surface defining a first lubricant recess; and

an orbiting scroll member rotatably coupled to said driveshaft and meshingly engaged with said non-orbiting scroll member, said orbiting scroll member including a second lubricant recess and movable between a first position in which said second lubricant recess is in fluid communication with said first lubricant recess and a second position in which said second lubricant recess is fluidly isolated from said first lubricant recess.

2. The compressor of claim 1, wherein said second lubricant 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, further comprising a lubricant supply path fluidly coupling said second lubricant recess to a lubricant source.

5. The compressor of claim 4, wherein said lubricant supply path is formed in said orbiting scroll member.

6. The compressor of claim 4, wherein said lubricant supply path is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said driveshaft.

7. The compressor of claim 1, wherein said second lubricant recess is operable to fluidly communicate with at least one compression pocket formed between said non-orbiting scroll member and said orbiting scroll member.

8. The compressor of claim 1, wherein said second lubricant recess is operable to fluidly communicate with a low-pressure zone compression pocket formed between said non-orbiting scroll member and said orbiting scroll member.

9. The compressor of claim 8, wherein said second lubricant recess is in fluid communication with said first lubricant recess and said low-pressure zone compression pocket when said orbiting scroll is in said first position.

10. The compressor of claim 9, wherein a pressure differential between said second lubricant recess and said low-pressure zone compression pocket causes lubricant in said second lubricant recess to enter said low-pressure zone compression pocket.

11. The compressor of claim 1, wherein said first surface of said non-orbiting scroll member includes a channel operable to selectively place said second lubricant recess in fluid communication with compression pockets formed between said non-orbiting scroll member and said orbiting scroll member.

12. The compressor of claim 11, wherein said channel includes an arcuate shape.

13. The compressor of claim 11, wherein a first end of said channel is adjacent to said first lubricant recess and a second end of said channel is adjacent to an outer end of a wrap of said non-orbiting scroll.

14. The compressor of claim 13, wherein said second lubricant recess is operable to fluidly communicate with said first end of said channel, and wherein said second end of said channel is operable to fluidly communicate with a low-pressure zone compression pocket.

15. The compressor of claim 14, wherein a pressure differential between said second end of said channel and said low-pressure zone compression pocket causes lubricant in said second end to enter said low-pressure zone compression pocket.

16. The compressor of claim 15, wherein said channel includes an arcuate shape.

17. 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 having a first surface defining a first lubricant recess; and

an orbiting scroll member rotatably coupled to said driveshaft and meshingly engaged with said non-orbiting scroll member to form compression pockets, said orbiting scroll member including a second lubricant recess and movable between a first position in which said second lubricant recess is in fluid communication with said first lubricant recess and one of said compression pockets, and a second position in which said second lubricant recess is fluidly isolated from said first lubricant recess.

18. The compressor of claim 17, wherein said one of said compression pockets is in a low-pressure zone.

19. The compressor of claim 17, further comprising a lubricant supply path fluidly coupling said second lubricant recess to a lubricant source.

20. The compressor of claim 19, wherein said lubricant supply path is formed in said orbiting scroll member.