Scroll compressor reverse phase and high discharge temperature protection
First Claim
1. A scroll compressor comprising:
- a shell through which a gas flows when said compressor is in operation, said shell defining a suction pressure portion and a discharge pressure portion;
a first scroll member disposed in said shell, said first scroll member having an involute wrap and defining a discharge aperture in flow communication with said discharge pressure portion of said shell;
a second scroll member disposed in said shell, said second scroll member having an involute wrap in interleaving engagement with the involute wrap of said first scroll member and cooperating therewith to define a plurality of compression pockets, one of said pockets being a discharge pocket which is in flow communication with said discharge aperture and out of which compressed gas flows when said compressor is in normal operation;
means for defining a passage internal of said shell between said suction pressure portion and said discharge pocket; and
means for permitting selective bi-directional gas flow between said discharge pocket and said suction pressure portion of said shell through said passage, said means for permitting selective bi-directional flow comprising a valve assembly, said valve assembly including a thermally responsive portion and a portion other than said thermally responsive portion, both said thermally responsive portion of said assembly and said portion of said valve assembly other than said thermally responsive portion defining at least one aperture, said assembly being operable to permit the flow of gas in a first direction and at a first rate when gas pressure in said discharge pocket is less than gas pressure in said suction pressure portion of said shell and in a direction opposite said first direction and at a second rate which is less than said first rate when discharge gas temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A low side scroll compressor is protected from both the potentially damaging effects of improper electrical hookup and the development of high discharge temperatures by apparatus disposed in a passage which communicates between the suction pressure portion and a discharge pressure portion of the compressor. The apparatus operates to permit gas flow from the suction to the discharge pressure portion of the compressor through a protective passage, such as when the compressor runs backwards due to miswiring, so as to avert damage to the scroll members. The apparatus permits the flow of gas from the discharge to the suction pressure portion of the compressor through the passage when the temperature of the discharge gas produced by the compressor exceeds a predetermined temperature indicative of an abnormal compressor operating condition. The resulting gas flow in the latter case causes the compressor motor to de-energize.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A scroll compressor comprising:
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a shell through which a gas flows when said compressor is in operation, said shell defining a suction pressure portion and a discharge pressure portion; a first scroll member disposed in said shell, said first scroll member having an involute wrap and defining a discharge aperture in flow communication with said discharge pressure portion of said shell; a second scroll member disposed in said shell, said second scroll member having an involute wrap in interleaving engagement with the involute wrap of said first scroll member and cooperating therewith to define a plurality of compression pockets, one of said pockets being a discharge pocket which is in flow communication with said discharge aperture and out of which compressed gas flows when said compressor is in normal operation; means for defining a passage internal of said shell between said suction pressure portion and said discharge pocket; and means for permitting selective bi-directional gas flow between said discharge pocket and said suction pressure portion of said shell through said passage, said means for permitting selective bi-directional flow comprising a valve assembly, said valve assembly including a thermally responsive portion and a portion other than said thermally responsive portion, both said thermally responsive portion of said assembly and said portion of said valve assembly other than said thermally responsive portion defining at least one aperture, said assembly being operable to permit the flow of gas in a first direction and at a first rate when gas pressure in said discharge pocket is less than gas pressure in said suction pressure portion of said shell and in a direction opposite said first direction and at a second rate which is less than said first rate when discharge gas temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A scroll compressor comprising:
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a shell through which gas flows when said compressor is in operation, said shell defining a suction pressure portion and a discharge pressure portion; a first scroll member fixedly mounted in said shell, said first scroll member having an involute wrap and defining a discharge aperture in flow communication with said discharge pressure portion of said shell; a second scroll member rotatably disposed in said shell for orbital motion with respect to said involute wrap of said fixed scroll member, said second scroll member having an involute wrap in interleaving engagement with the involute wrap of said first scroll member and cooperating therewith to define a plurality of compression pockets, one of said pockets being a discharge pocket which is in flow communication with said discharge aperture and out of which compressed gas flow when said compressor is in normal operation; means for defining a passage between said suction pressure portion of said shell and said discharge pocket; and a movable valve assembly disposed in said passage, said valve assembly having a thermally responsive portion which is itself movable within said valve assembly and a portion other than said thermally responsive portion, said thermally responsive portion of said valve assembly and said portion of said valve assembly other than said thermally responsive portion each defining at least one aperture and said valve assembly occluding said passage under the circumstance of normal compressor operating conditions, said valve assembly being positionable to (i) permit gas flow through said passage from said suction pressure portion of said shell to said discharge pocket at a first flow rate when gas pressure in said discharge pocket is less than gas pressure in said suction pressure portion of said shell and (ii) permit the flow of gas through said passage from said discharge pocket to said suction pressure portion of said shell at a lesser flow rate than said first flow rate when the temperature of discharge gas exceeds a predetermined temperature. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification