Scroll compressor with improved tip seal

• US 6,074,185 A
• Filed: 11/27/1998
• Issued: 06/13/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Protos, Paul Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Denion, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRIEU, THERESA
• Application Number:
  US09/200,565
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 418/55.4, 418/55.2, 418/142
• US Class Current: 418/55.4
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 18/0284 Details of the wrap tips
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 27/005 Axial sealings for working fluid

Abstract

A scroll wall tip seal of novel shape allows the scroll wall to be machined with a single, larger concave transition corner radius, where the flank of the scroll wall blends into the scroll base plate. The tip seal covers the entire surface area of the terminal edge of the scroll wall, and has convex radiused sides that match the single radius of the scroll wall'"'"'s concave transition corner. This allows the scroll wall to be machined with a single tool, all the way round, in a single pass.

Claims

1. A scroll and tip seal comprising in combination;

a scroll base plate having a flat sealing surface and a scroll wall extending perpendicularly upwardly therefrom to a terminal edge, with a concave corner transition between said scroll wall and flat sealing surface having a single radius substantially all the way around, and,

a tip seal joined to the terminal edge of said scroll wall and covering substantially the entire width thereof, said tip seal having convex sides that comprise a convex radius substantially equal to the single radius of said scroll concave corner transition,

whereby, when said scroll and tip seal are interengaged with an opposed scroll and tip seal of the same size and shape, the two seals engage the flat sealing surfaces of the opposed scroll with the convex radiused sides of the tip seals facing the concave corner transitions of the opposed scroll, thereby avoiding contact and interference.

2. A scroll and tip seal comprising in combination;

a scroll base plate having a flat sealing surface and a scroll wall extending perpendicularly upwardly therefrom to a terminal edge having a seal base mounting groove, with a concave corner transition between said scroll wall and flat sealing surface having a single radius substantially all the way around, and,

a tip seal having a base inserted into said mounting groove and an upper portion covering substantially the entire width of said scroll wall terminal edge, said tip seal upper portion comprising convex sides having a radius substantially equal to the single radius of said scroll concave corner transition,

whereby, when said scroll and tip seal are interengaged with an opposed scroll and tip seal of the same size and shape, the two seals engage the flat sealing surfaces of the opposed scroll with the convex radiused sides of the tip seals facing the concave corner transitions of the opposed scroll, thereby avoiding contact and interference.

3. A scroll and tip seal comprising in combination;

a scroll base plate having a flat sealing surface and a scroll wall extending perpendicularly upwardly therefrom to a terminal edge having a seal base mounting groove cut into said edge so as to leave a constant width border of residual terminal edge surface, with a concave corner transition between said scroll wall and flat sealing surface having a single radius substantially all the way around, and,

a tip seal having a base inserted into said mounting groove and an upper portion covering substantially the entire width and length of said scroll wall terminal edge, said tip seal upper portion comprising convex sides having a radius substantially equal to the single radius of said scroll concave corner transition,

whereby, when said scroll and tip seal are interengaged with an opposed scroll and tip seal of the same size and shape, the two seals engage the flat sealing surfaces of the opposed scroll with the convex radiused sides of the tip seals facing the concave corner transitions of the opposed scroll, thereby avoiding contact and interference.