Compressor having capacity modulation assembly

• US 9,303,642 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2013
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Copeland Corporation LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Doepker, Roy J., Akei, Masao
• Primary Examiner(s): Trieu, Theresa
• Application Number:
  US14/081,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20140072466A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 418 551- 556, 418/57, 418/104, 418/180, 418/270, 417/229, 417/307, 417/308, 417/310, 417/440
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F01C 1/0215 where only one member is moving
• CPC Class Codes: F01C 1/0253 Details concerning the base
• CPC Class Codes: F01C 2021/1643 by using valves regulating pressure and flow rate, e.g. discharge valves
• CPC Class Codes: F01C 2021/165 using a by-pass channel
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 18/0215 where only one member is moving
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 18/0253 Details concerning the base
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 18/0261 Details of the ports, e.g. location, number, geometry
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/58 Valve parameters
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 23/008 Hermetic pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 27/005 Axial sealings for working fluid
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 28/18 characterised by varying the volume of the working chamber by changing the positions of inlet or outlet openings F04C28/10
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 28/265 being obtained by displacing a lateral sealing face
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 29/0021 Systems for the equilibration of forces acting on the pump interstice adjustment other than by fluid pressure F01C21/102
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 29/12 Arrangements for admission or discharge of the working fluid, e.g. constructional features of the inlet or outlet

Abstract

A compressor may include a shell, first and second scrolls, a seal assembly, a modulation control chamber, and a modulation control valve. The first scroll may include a first end plate having a biasing passage extending therethrough. The seal assembly may isolate a discharge pressure region from a suction pressure region. The seal assembly and the first scroll may define an axial biasing chamber therebetween that communicates with the axial biasing chamber and a first pocket between the first and second scrolls. The modulation control chamber may be fluidly coupled with the biasing chamber by a first passage. The modulation control valve may be fluidly coupled with the modulation control chamber by a second passage and movable between a first position allowing communication between the second passage and the suction pressure region and a second position restricting communication between the second passage and the suction pressure region.

Claims

1. A compressor comprising:

a shell assembly defining a suction pressure region and a discharge pressure region;

a first scroll member disposed within said shell assembly and including a first end plate having a discharge passage, a first spiral wrap extending from said first end plate and a biasing passage extending through said first end plate;

a second scroll member disposed within said shell assembly and including a second end plate having a second spiral wrap extending therefrom, said first and second spiral wraps meshingly engaged with each other and forming a series of pockets therebetween;

a seal assembly engaging said first scroll member and isolating said discharge pressure region from said suction pressure region, said seal assembly and said first scroll member defining an axial biasing chamber therebetween, said biasing passage being in communication with a first of said pockets and said axial biasing chamber;

a modulation control chamber fluidly coupled with said axial biasing chamber by a first passage; and

a modulation control valve fluidly coupled with said modulation control chamber by a second passage and movable between a first position allowing communication between said second passage and said suction pressure region and a second position restricting communication between said second passage and said suction pressure region.

2. The compressor of claim 1, wherein said seal assembly engages an annular hub of said first scroll member and said modulation chamber is an annular chamber extending around said hub.

3. The compressor of claim 1, wherein said biasing passage communicates intermediate pressure fluid from said first of said pockets to said axial biasing chamber, said intermediate pressure fluid is at a pressure between a pressure of said suction pressure region and a pressure of said discharge pressure region.

4. The compressor of claim 1, further comprising a modulation valve ring located axially between said seal assembly and said first end plate and engaging an outer radial surface of an annular hub extending from said first end plate, said modulation valve ring partially defining said axial biasing chamber and said modulation control chamber.

5. The compressor of claim 4, wherein said seal assembly is disposed radially between said modulation valve ring and an annular hub of said first scroll member.

6. The compressor of claim 4, further comprising a modulation lift ring cooperating with said modulation valve ring to define said modulation control chamber therebetween, wherein said modulation valve ring extends axially beyond and radially inward relative to said modulation lift ring and said modulation lift ring defines an axial stop for said modulation valve ring.

7. The compressor of claim 6, wherein said modulation lift ring is disposed axially between said first end plate and said modulation valve ring.

8. The compressor of claim 1, wherein said first passage defines a greater flow restriction than said second passage.

9. A compressor comprising:

a shell assembly defining a suction pressure region and a discharge pressure region;

a first scroll member disposed within said shell assembly and including a first end plate having a discharge passage, a first spiral wrap extending from said first end plate and a biasing passage extending through said first end plate;

a second scroll member disposed within said shell assembly and including a second end plate having a second spiral wrap extending therefrom, said first and second spiral wraps meshingly engaged with each other and forming a series of pockets therebetween;

a seal assembly engaging said first scroll member and isolating said discharge pressure region from said suction pressure region, said seal assembly and said first scroll member defining an axial biasing chamber therebetween, said biasing passage being in communication with a first of said pockets and said axial biasing chamber;

a modulation control chamber fluidly coupled with said axial biasing chamber; and

a modulation control valve fluidly coupled with said modulation control chamber and movable between a first position allowing communication fluid to flow from said axial biasing chamber and into said suction pressure region via said modulation control chamber and a second position restricting communication between said axial biasing chamber and said suction pressure region.

10. The compressor of claim 9, wherein said modulation control chamber is fluidly coupled with said axial biasing chamber by a first passage, and said modulation control valve is fluidly coupled with said modulation control chamber by a second passage.

11. The compressor of claim 10, wherein said first passage defines a greater flow restriction than said second passage.

12. The compressor of claim 9, wherein said modulation control valve is disposed along a first passage extending between said axial biasing chamber and said modulation control chamber.

13. The compressor of claim 12, wherein said modulation control valve is in communication with said suction pressure region by a second passage.

14. The compressor of claim 13, wherein said second passage defines a greater flow restriction than said first passage.

15. The compressor of claim 9, wherein said seal assembly engages an annular hub of said first scroll member and said modulation chamber is an annular chamber extending around said hub.

16. The compressor of claim 9, wherein said biasing passage communicates intermediate pressure fluid from said first of said pockets to said axial biasing chamber, said intermediate pressure fluid is at a pressure between a pressure of said suction pressure region and a pressure of said discharge pressure region.

17. The compressor of claim 9, further comprising a modulation valve ring located axially between said seal assembly and said first end plate and engaging an outer radial surface of an annular hub extending from said first end plate, said modulation valve ring partially defining said axial biasing chamber and said modulation control chamber.

18. The compressor of claim 17, further comprising a modulation lift ring cooperating with said modulation valve ring to define said modulation control chamber therebetween, wherein said modulation valve ring extends axially beyond and radially inward relative to said modulation lift ring and said modulation lift ring defines an axial stop for said modulation valve ring.

19. The compressor of claim 18, wherein said modulation lift ring is disposed axially between said first end plate and said modulation valve ring.

20. The compressor of claim 19, wherein said seal assembly is disposed radially between said modulation valve ring and an annular hub of said first scroll member.