Compressor pulse width modulation
First Claim
1. A scroll-type machine comprising:
- a first scroll member having a first end plate and a first spiral wrap extending therefrom;
a second scroll member having a second end plate and a second spiral wrap extending therefrom, said first and second scroll members being positioned with said first and second spiral wraps interleaved with each other;
a drive member for causing said scroll members to orbit relative to one another whereby said spiral wraps will create pockets of progressively changing volume between a suction pressure zone and a discharge pressure zone;
said first and second scroll members being movable between a first relationship in which sealing surfaces of said first and second scroll members are in sealing relationship to close off said pockets and a second relationship wherein at least one of said sealing surfaces of said first and second scroll members are spaced apart to define a leakage path between said pockets; and
a fluid operated piston secured to said first scroll, said piston being actuatable to apply a force to said first scroll to move said first scroll between said first relationship where said scroll machine operates at substantially full capacity and said second relationship in which said scroll machine operates at substantially zero capacity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A scroll compressor includes a capacity modulation system. The capacity modulation system has a piston that is connected to the non-orbiting scroll that disengages the non-orbiting scroll from the orbiting scroll when a pressure chamber is placed in communication with the suction chamber of the compressor. The non-orbiting scroll member moves into engagement with the orbiting scroll when the chamber is placed in communication with the discharge chamber. The engagement between the two scrolls is broken when the pressure chamber is placed in communication with fluid from the suction chamber. A solenoid valve controls the communication between the pressure chamber and the suction chamber. By operating the valve in a pulsed width modulated mode, the capacity of the compressor can be infinitely varied between zero and one hundred percent.
228 Citations
48 Claims
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1. A scroll-type machine comprising:
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a first scroll member having a first end plate and a first spiral wrap extending therefrom;
a second scroll member having a second end plate and a second spiral wrap extending therefrom, said first and second scroll members being positioned with said first and second spiral wraps interleaved with each other;
a drive member for causing said scroll members to orbit relative to one another whereby said spiral wraps will create pockets of progressively changing volume between a suction pressure zone and a discharge pressure zone;
said first and second scroll members being movable between a first relationship in which sealing surfaces of said first and second scroll members are in sealing relationship to close off said pockets and a second relationship wherein at least one of said sealing surfaces of said first and second scroll members are spaced apart to define a leakage path between said pockets; and
a fluid operated piston secured to said first scroll, said piston being actuatable to apply a force to said first scroll to move said first scroll between said first relationship where said scroll machine operates at substantially full capacity and said second relationship in which said scroll machine operates at substantially zero capacity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A scroll-type machine comprising:
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a first scroll member having a first end plate and a first spiral wrap extending therefrom;
a second scroll member having a second end plate and a second spiral wrap extending therefrom, said first and second scroll members being positioned with said first and second spiral wraps interleaved with each other;
a drive member for causing said scroll members to orbit relative to one another whereby said spiral wraps will create pockets of progressively changing volume between a suction pressure zone and a discharge pressure zone;
said first and second scroll members being movable between a first relationship in which sealing surfaces of said first and second scroll members are in sealing relationship to close off said pockets and a second relationship wherein at least one of said sealing surfaces of said first and second scroll members are spaced apart to define a leakage path between said pockets;
a fluid operated piston secured to said first scroll and slidingly received within a bore defined by said shell, said piston being actuatable to apply a force to said first scroll to move said first scroll between said first relationship where said scroll machine operates at substantially full capacity and said second relationship in which said scroll machine operates at substantially zero capacity; and
a radially compliant sealing system disposed between said piston and said bore defined by said shell. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A scroll-type machine comprising:
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a first scroll member having a first end plate and a first spiral wrap extending from said first end plate;
a second scroll member having a second end plate and a second spiral wrap extending from said second end plate, said first and second scroll members being positioned with said first and second spiral wraps interleaved with each other;
a drive member for causing said scroll members to orbit relative to one another whereby said spiral wraps will create pockets of progressively changing volume between a suction pressure zone and a discharge pressure zone;
a mechanism for moving said first and second scroll members between a first relationship where sealing surfaces of said first and second scroll members are in sealing relationship to close off said pockets and a second relationship where at least one of said sealing surfaces of said first and second scroll members are spaced apart to define a leak path between said pockets; and
a fluid injection system associated with one of said scroll members for injecting a fluid into at least one of said pockets. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A scroll-type machine comprising:
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a first scroll member having a first end plate and a first spiral wrap extending from said first end plate;
a second scroll member having a second end plate and a second spiral wrap extending from said second end plate, said first and second scroll members being positioned with said first and second spiral wraps interleaved with each other;
a drive member for causing said scroll members to orbit relative to one another whereby said spiral wraps will create pockets of progressively changing volume between a suction pressure zone and a discharge pressure zone; and
a vapor injection system associated with one of said scroll members for injecting a vapor into at least one of said pockets, said vapor injection system including a valve for controlling said vapor being injected into said at least one of said pockets. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48)
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Specification