Scroll compressor with variable volume ratio port in orbiting scroll

• US 9,435,340 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2013
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Copeland Corporation LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Doepker, Roy J., Perevozchikov, Michael M., Stover, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bogue, Jesse
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wan, Deming
• Application Number:
  US14/073,293
• Publication Number:
  US 20140154124A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 418 551- 556
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 18/0207 both members having co-operating elements in spiral form
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 18/0215 where only one member is moving
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 18/0261 Details of the ports, e.g. location, number, geometry
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2240/30 Casings or housings
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2240/60 Shafts
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 28/16 using lift valves
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 29/005 Means for transmitting movement from the prime mover to driven parts of the pump, e.g. clutches, couplings, transmissions
• 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 first scroll member, a second scroll member and a drive shaft. The first scroll member may include a first end plate defining a first discharge port and a first spiral wrap extending from the first end plate. The second scroll member may include a second end plate defining a first variable volume ratio port and a second spiral wrap extending from the second end plate and meshingly engaged with the first spiral wrap and forming compression pockets. The variable volume ratio port may be located radially outward relative to the first discharge port and in communication with a first compression pocket. The drive shaft may be engaged with the second scroll member and driving orbital displacement of the second scroll member relative to the first scroll member.

Claims

1. A compressor comprising:

a first scroll member including a first end plate defining a first discharge port and a first spiral wrap extending from said first end plate;

a second scroll member including a second end plate defining a first variable volume ratio port and a second spiral wrap extending from said second end plate and meshingly engaged with said first spiral wrap and forming compression pockets, said first variable volume ratio port located radially outward relative to said first discharge port and in communication with a first compression pocket, said second end plate defining a second discharge port in selective communication with said first variable volume ratio port, said first and second spiral wraps defining a central discharge pocket in communication with said first and second discharge ports;

a drive shaft engaged with said second scroll member and driving orbital displacement of said second scroll member relative to said first scroll member; and

a first variable volume ratio valve displaceable between a closed position and an open position, said first variable volume ratio valve isolating said first variable volume ratio port from said discharge pocket when in the closed position and providing communication between said first compression pocket and said discharge pocket via said first variable volume ratio port when in the open position.

2. The compressor of claim 1, wherein said second discharge port and said first variable volume ratio port define a flow path from said first compression pocket to said first discharge port when said first variable volume ratio valve is in the open position.

3. The compressor of claim 1, wherein said second scroll member includes a drive hub extending from said second end plate and engaged with said drive shaft and said first variable volume ratio valve is located within said drive hub axially between said drive shaft and said second end plate.

4. The compressor of claim 3, further comprising a valve housing located within said drive hub axially between said first variable volume ratio valve and said drive shaft.

5. The compressor of claim 4, further comprising a drive bearing surrounding an outer circumference of said drive shaft and located within an annular wall defined by said valve housing.

6. The compressor of claim 4, further comprising a drive bearing surrounding an outer circumference of said drive shaft and located at an axial end of said valve housing opposite said second end plate.

7. The compressor of claim 4, wherein said valve housing defines a drive bearing surrounding an outer circumference of said drive shaft.

8. The compressor of claim 7, wherein said drive bearing includes an anti-wear coating.

9. The compressor of claim 1, wherein said first variable volume ratio valve defines an annular body including a central aperture surrounding said second discharge port.

10. The compressor of claim 1, wherein said second scroll member includes first and second members coupled to one another with said first variable volume ratio valve located axially between the first and second members, said first member defining a first portion of said second end plate and said second spiral wrap and said second member defining a second portion of said second end plate and a drive hub extending from said second portion and engaged with said drive shaft.

11. The compressor of claim 10, wherein said first member defines said second discharge port and said variable volume ratio port and a flow path is defined between said first and second members from said first variable volume ratio port to said second discharge port when said first variable volume ratio valve is in the open position.

12. The compressor of claim 1, further comprising a a second variable volume ratio valve, said first and second variable volume ratio valves being displaceable between open and closed positions independent from one another, said second variable volume ratio valve selectively opening a second variable volume ratio port defined in said second end plate.

13. The compressor of claim 1, further comprising a bearing housing rotatably supporting said drive shaft.

14. A compressor comprising:

a first scroll member including a first end plate defining a first discharge port and a first spiral wrap extending from said first end plate;

a second scroll member including a second end plate defining a variable volume ratio port, a drive hub extending from said second end plate and a second spiral wrap extending from said second end plate opposite said drive hub and meshingly engaged with said first spiral wrap and forming compression pockets and a discharge pocket, said variable volume ratio port located radially outward relative to said first discharge port and in communication with a first compression pocket;

a variable volume ratio valve located within said drive hub and displaceable between a closed position and an open position, said variable volume ratio valve isolating said variable volume ratio port from said discharge pocket when in the closed position and providing communication between said first compression pocket and said discharge pocket via said variable volume ratio port when in the open position; and

a drive shaft extending into said drive hub of said second scroll member and driving orbital displacement of said second scroll member relative to said first scroll member.

15. The compressor of claim 14, wherein said second end plate defines a second discharge port extending into said drive hub and a flow path is defined from said variable volume ratio port to said second discharge port through said drive hub when said variable volume ratio valve is in the open position.

16. The compressor of claim 14, further comprising a monolithic valve housing located within said drive hub axially between said variable volume ratio valve and said drive shaft, said monolithic valve housing defining a drive bearing having an anti-wear coating.

17. The compressor of claim 14, further comprising a bearing housing rotatably supporting said drive shaft.

18. A compressor comprising:

a first scroll member including a first end plate defining a first discharge port and a first spiral wrap extending from said first end plate;

a second scroll member including first and second members coupled to one another and forming a second end plate defining a variable volume ratio port and a second spiral wrap extending from said second end plate and meshingly engaged with said first spiral wrap and forming compression pockets and a discharge pocket, said first member defining a first portion of said second end plate and said second spiral wrap and said second member defining a second portion of said second end plate and having a drive hub extending therefrom, said variable volume ratio port extending through said first member, located radially outward relative to said first discharge port and in communication with a first compression pocket;

a variable volume ratio valve located axially between said first and second members and displaceable between a closed position and an open position, said variable volume ratio valve isolating said variable volume ratio port from said discharge pocket when in the closed position and providing communication between said first compression pocket and said discharge pocket via said variable volume ratio port when in the open position; and

a drive shaft extending into said drive hub of said second scroll member and driving orbital displacement of said second scroll member relative to said first scroll member.

19. The compressor of claim 18, wherein said first member defines a second discharge port and said discharge pocket is in communication with said first and second discharge ports, said first and second members defining a flow path from said variable volume ratio port to said second discharge port when said variable volume ratio valve is in the open position.

20. The compressor of claim 18, further comprising a monolithic valve housing located within said drive hub axially between said variable volume ratio valve and said drive shaft, said monolithic valve housing defining a drive bearing having an anti-wear coating.

21. The compressor of claim 18, further comprising a bearing housing rotatably supporting said drive shaft.