Rotary compressor having a roller mounted eccentrically in a cylindrical chamber of a rotatable cylinder

• US 5,733,112 A
• Filed: 04/22/1996
• Issued: 03/31/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kang, Heui-Jong
• Primary Examiner(s): FREAY, CHARLES GRANT
• Application Number:
  US08/635,469
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 418/164, 418/172, 418/174, 418/177
• US Class Current: 418/174
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 18/3564 the surfaces of the inner and outer member, forming the working space, being surfaces of revolution

Abstract

A rotary compressor has a motor-driven rotary body forming a cylindrical chamber in which a roller is rotatable about an axis eccentrically related to the axis of the chamber. The roller is of less diameter than the chamber so that the roller and chamber walls form a space. Vanes are slidably mounted in the body and are spring biased radially against the roller to divide the space into pockets. The volume of each pocket expands and contracts as the body is rotated. A gas inlet and a gas outlet are disposed at an axial end of the chamber. Each pocket communicates with the inlet to draw-in gas during the volume expansion. The drawn-in gas is pressurized during an initial phase of the volume contraction and then discharged through the gas outlet during a subsequent phase of the volume contraction.

Claims

1. A rotary compressor, comprising:

a rotary body having a cylindrical surface and axially spaced ends forming a cylindrical chamber, said body being rotatable about a stationary first axis coinciding with a longitudinal axis of said chamber;

a cylindrical roller mounted in said chamber and rotatable about a stationary second axis arranged parallel and eccentrically relative to said first axis, an outer diameter of said roller being smaller than a diameter of said surface so that a space is formed between said roller and said surface;

a stationary gas discharge outlet disposed adjacent one of said axially spaced ends;

a stationary gas inlet opening disposed adjacent one of said axially spaced ends;

at least one vane mounted in said body for radial movement toward and away from said roller and being yieldably biased against said roller, said vane cooperating with said surface and said roller to form in said space a pocket whose volume alternately expands and contracts during rotation of said body, said pocket communicating with said gas inlet opening during said volume expansion to draw-in gas for pressurization during an initial phase of said volume contraction, and communicating with said gas discharge opening during a subsequent phase of said volume contraction to discharge the pressurized gas; and

drive means for rotating said body about said first axis for bringing said pocket successively into communication with said gas inlet opening and said gas discharge opening;

wherein said gas discharge opening is positioned radially outside of said surface as said chamber is viewed in a direction parallel to said axes, said body including a gas discharge hole arranged adjacent respective ones of said vanes for communicating said pocket with said gas outlet opening.

2. The rotary compressor according to claim 1, wherein said gas discharge hole is formed in said surface.

3. The rotary compressor according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said gas inlet opening is arranged radially inside of said surface as said chamber is viewed in a direction parallel to said axes.

4. The rotary compressor according to claim 3, wherein each of said gas discharge and inlet openings has an arc-shape.

5. The rotary compressor according to claim 4, wherein the arc-shape of said gas discharge opening is coaxial with said first axis, and the arc-shape of said gas inlet opening is coaxial with said second axis.

6. The rotary compressor according to claim 1, wherein said gas discharge opening and gas inlet opening are disposed adjacent the same one of said axially spaced ends.

7. The rotary compressor according to claim 1, wherein one of said axially spaced ends comprises a plate, said gas inlet and discharge openings being formed in said plate, a shaft fixed to said plate and extending into said chamber, said roller being rotatably mounted on said shaft.

8. The rotary compressor according to claim 1, wherein said at least one vane comprises a plurality of vanes spaced circumferentially apart.

9. The rotary compressor according to claim 1, wherein said roller continually contacts said surface.

10. The rotary compressor according to claim 1, wherein there are two said vanes oriented diametrically opposite one another, and further comprising a C-shaped snap ring having first and second ends connected to respective vanes for biasing the vanes radially inwardly.

11. A rotary compressor, comprising:

a rotary body having a cylindrical surface and axially spaced ends forming a cylindrical chamber, said body being rotatable about a stationary first axis coinciding with a longitudinal axis of said chamber;

a cylindrical roller mounted in said chamber and rotatable about a stationary second axis arranged parallel and eccentrically relative to said first axis, an outer diameter of said roller being smaller than a diameter of said surface so that a space is formed between said roller and said surface;

a stationary gas discharge outlet disposed adjacent one of said axially spaced ends;

a stationary gas inlet opening disposed adjacent one of said axially spaced ends;

at least one vane mounted in said body for radial movement toward and away from said roller and being yieldably biased against said roller, said vane cooperating with said surface and said roller to form in said space a pocket whose volume alternately expands and contracts during rotation of said body, said pocket communicating with said gas inlet opening during said volume expansion to draw-in gas for pressurization during an initial phase of said volume contraction, and communicating with said gas discharge opening during a subsequent phase of said volume contraction to discharge the pressurized gas; and

drive means for rotating said body about said first axis for bringing said pocket successively into communication with said gas inlet opening and said gas discharge opening;

wherein each of said gas discharge and inlet openings has an arc-shape, the arc-shape of said gas discharge opening being coaxial with said first axis, and the arc-shape of said gas inlet opening being coaxial with said second axis.

12. A rotary compressor, comprising:

a rotary body having a cylindrical surface and axially spaced ends forming a cylindrical chamber, said body being rotatable about a stationary first axis coinciding with a longitudinal axis of said chamber;

a cylindrical roller mounted in said chamber and rotatable about a stationary second axis arranged parallel and eccentrically relative to said first axis, an outer diameter of said roller being smaller than a diameter of said surface so that a space is formed between said roller and said surface;

a stationary gas discharge outlet disposed adjacent one of said axially spaced ends;

a stationary gas inlet opening disposed adjacent one of said axially spaced ends;

two vanes mounted in said body in diametrically opposed relationship for radial movement toward and away from said roller and being yieldably biased against said roller, said vanes cooperating with said surface and said roller to form in said space a pocket whose volume alternately expands and contracts during rotation of said body, said pocket communicating with said gas inlet opening during said volume expansion to draw-in gas for pressurization during an initial phase of said volume contraction, and communicating with said gas discharge opening during a subsequent phase of said volume contraction to discharge the pressurized gas;

drive means for rotating said body about said first axis for bringing said pocket successively into communication with said gas inlet opening and said gas discharge opening; and

a C-shaped snap ring having first and second ends connected to respective vanes for biasing the vanes radially inwardly.