Compressor

• US 6,960,070 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2003
• Issued: 11/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bitzer Kuhlmaschinenbau GmbH (Bitzer Se)
• Original Assignee: Bitzer Kuhlmaschinenbau GmbH (Bitzer Se)
• Inventors: Scharer, Christian, Balz, Gernot, Kammhoff, Karl-Friedrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Trieu, Theresa
• Application Number:
  US10/682,304
• Publication Number:
  US 20040126261A1
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 418/55.1, 418/55.6, 418/94, 418/270, 418/DIG.1, 417/366, 417/368, 417/410.5, 184/6.18
• US Class Current: 418/55.6
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 18/0215 where only one member is moving
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 23/008 Hermetic pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 29/025 using a lubricant pump
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 29/126 of the non-return type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 418/01 Non-working fluid separation

Abstract

In order to improve a compressor for refrigerant, comprising an outer housing, a scroll compressor arranged in the outer housing and having a first compressor member arranged stationarily in the outer housing and a second compressor member which is movable relative to the first compressor member, the compressor members each having a base and first and second scroll ribs, respectively, which rise above the respective base and engage in one another such that the second compressor member is movable relative to the first compressor member on an orbital path about a central axis for the purpose of compressing the refrigerant, a drive unit for the second compressor member having an eccentric drive, a drive shaft, a drive motor arranged in a motor housing and having drawn-in refrigerant flowing around it as well as a bearing unit for the drive shaft which comprises a first bearing member connected to the outer housing, in such a manner that the refrigerant drawn in by the scroll compressor is free from lubricating oil to as great an extent as possible it is suggested that the refrigerant flow through an oil separator, which is arranged in the outer housing between this and the drive unit, after flowing around the drive motor and prior to entering the scroll compressor.

Claims

1. Compressor for refrigerant, comprising:

an outer housing,

a scroll compressor arranged in the outer housing and having a first compressor member arranged stationarily in the outer housing and a second compressor member movable relative to the first compressor member, said compressor members each having a base and first and second scroll ribs, respectively, rising above the respective base, said ribs engaging in one another such that the second compressor member is movable relative to the first compressor member on an orbital path about a central axis for the purpose of compressing the refrigerant,

a drive unit for the second compressor member with an eccentric drive,

a drive shaft,

a drive motor arranged in a motor housing and having drawn-in refrigerant flowing through said drive motor, the refrigerant after flowing through said drive motor exiting from said motor housing, through an exit opening of said motor housing facing said outer housing and defining a space between said outer housing and said motor housing, into a section of said space and flowing through an oil separator prior to entering the scroll compressor,

said oil separator being arranged inside the outer housing in said space between the outer housing and said motor housing, said refrigerant when entering said oil separator experiencing a deflection in an azimuthal direction in relation to the central axis caused by a deflection unit having at least one deflection surface arranged opposite the exit opening in said space and said refrigerant being guided in said azimuthal direction by an inner wall face of said outer housing and an outer wall face of said motor housing in order to deposit oil thereon.

2. Compressor as defined in claim 1, wherein the oil separator is arranged in said space between the outer housing and the drive unit in a direction transverse to the central axis.

3. Compressor as defined in claim 2, wherein the space surrounds the drive unit.

4. Compressor as defined in claim 2, wherein oil separated by the oil separator moves in the direction of an oil sump and refrigerant flows in the direction of an intake chamber of the scroll compressor.

5. Compressor as defined in claim 2, wherein refrigerant enters the space after cooling the drive motor.

6. Compressor as defined in claim 1, wherein the space between the outer housing and the drive unit extends essentially over an entire extension of the drive unit in a direction parallel to the central axis.

7. Compressor as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a bearing unit for the drive shaft, said bearing unit comprising a first bearing member connected to the outer housing,

wherein the oil separator is arranged at least in sections on an outer side of the first bearing member,

wherein the oil separator is arranged at least in sections on an outer side of the first bearing member.

8. Compressor as defined in claim 7, wherein the oil separator is arranged so as to surround the first bearing member at least in sections.

9. Compressor as defined in claim 1, wherein the oil separator is arranged at least in sections on an outer side of the motor housing.

10. Compressor as defined in claim 9, wherein the oil separator is arranged so as to surround the motor housing at least in sections.

11. Compressor as defined in claim 1, wherein the oil separator uses part of the space located between the outer housing and the drive unit.

12. Compressor as defined in claim 11, wherein the space between the outer housing and the drive unit used by the oil separator is an annular space.

13. Compressor as defined in claim 1, wherein the refrigerant flows in the oil separator along the inner wall surface of the outer housing.

14. Compressor as defined in claim 1, wherein oil settling in the oil separator flows into an oil sump on a path extending outside the motor housing.

15. Compressor as defined in claim 14, further comprising:

a bearing unit for the drive shaft, said bearing unit comprising a first bearing member connected to the outer housing,

wherein the oil sump is arranged in the outer housing on a side of the drive motor located opposite the first bearing member.

16. Compressor as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a bearing unit for the drive shaft, said bearing unit comprising a first bearing member connected to the outer housing,

wherein the refrigerant flows around an outer side of the first bearing member on its way from the oil separator to an intake chamber of the scroll compressor.

17. Compressor as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a bearing unit for the drive shaft, said bearing unit comprising a first bearing member connected to the outer housing,

wherein the oil separator is located on a side of supporting arms facing an oil sump, said supporting arms connecting the first bearing member to the outer housing.

18. Compressor as defined in claim 17, wherein the refrigerant passes between the supporting arms in the direction of an intake chamber of the scroll compressor after flowing through the oil separator.

19. Compressor as defined in claim 1, wherein the refrigerant flows directly into the motor housing when entering the compressor and enters the oil separator after flowing through the motor housing.

20. Compressor as defined in claim 1, wherein the refrigerant entering the motor housing experiences a deflection in at least one azimuthal direction.

21. Compressor as defined in claim 1, wherein the refrigerant enters the motor housing at the level of a first winding head when seen in the direction of the central axis.

22. Compressor as defined in claim 1, wherein the refrigerant, when seen in the direction of the central axis, flows through the drive motor from the first winding head in the direction of a second winding head.

23. Compressor as defined in claim 26, wherein the refrigerant exits from the motor housing at the level of the second winding head.

24. Compressor as defined in claim 1, wherein oil separating in the motor housing exits from the motor housing through oil discharge openings in a base of the motor housing in order to reach an oil sump.

25. Compressor as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a bearing unit for the drive shaft, said bearing unit comprising a first bearing member connected to the outer housing,

wherein the first bearing member has an oil guide for oil used for the lubrication of the eccentric drive.

26. Compressor as defined in claim 25, wherein the oil guide means opens into an interior space of the motor housing.

27. Compressor as defined in claim 26, wherein considerable portions of the oil are conveyed to the oil separator by the refrigerant flowing through the interior space of the motor housing.

28. Compressor as defined in claim 25, wherein the oil guide opens into the space.

29. Compressor as defined in claim 1, wherein the drive shaft has a bore for lubricating oil.

30. Compressor as defined in claim 29, further comprising:

a bearing unit for the drive shaft, said bearing unit comprising a first bearing member connected to the outer housing,

wherein a lubrication of a rotary bearing for the drive shaft in the first bearing member is brought about via the bore for lubricating oil.

31. Compressor as defined in claim 29, wherein a lubrication of the eccentric drive is brought about via the bore for lubricating oil.

32. Compressor for refrigerant, comprising:

an outer housing,

a scroll compressor arranged in the outer housing and having a first compressor member arranged stationarily in the outer housing and a second compressor member movable relative to the first compressor member, said compressor members each having a base and first and second scroll ribs, respectively, rising above the respective base, said ribs engaging in one another such that the second compressor member is movable relative to the first compressor member on an orbital path about a central axis for the purpose of compressing the refrigerant,

a drive unit for the second compressor member with an eccentric drive,

a drive shaft,

a drive motor arranged in a motor housing,

a flow path for drawn-in refrigerant, said flow path guiding said drawn-in refrigerant into said motor housing, around said drive motor, and from said motor housing into a space between said motor housing and said outer housing prior to said refrigerant entering said scroll compressor,

an oil separator arranged in said space between the outer housing and said motor housing in said flow path prior to the scroll compressor,

wherein the refrigerant experiences a deflection in opposite azimuthal directions in relation to the central axis when entering the oil separator.

33. Compressor for refrigerant, comprising:

an outer housing,

a scroll compressor arranged in the outer housing and having a first compressor member arranged stationarily in the outer housing and a second compressor member movable relative to the first compressor member, said compressor members each having a base and first and second scroll ribs, respectively, rising above the respective base, said ribs engaging in one another such that the second compressor member is movable relative to the first compressor member on an orbital path about a central axis for the purpose of compressing the refrigerant,

a drive unit for the second compressor member with an eccentric drive,

a drive shaft,

a drive motor arranged in a motor housing,

a flow path for drawn-in refrigerant, said flow path guiding said drawn-in refrigerant into said motor housing, around said drive motor, and from said motor housing into a space between said motor housing and said outer housing prior to said refrigerant entering said scroll compressor,

an oil separator arranged in said space between the outer housing and said motor housing in said flow path prior to the scroll compressor,

wherein the refrigerant entering the motor housing experiences a deflection in opposite azimuthal directions.

34. Compressor as defined in claim 33, wherein the refrigerant experiences a deflection in an azimuthal direction in relation to the central axis when entering the oil separator.

35. Compressor as defined in claim 33, wherein the refrigerant is guided in the oil separator essentially on an azimuthal path around the central axis.