Tecumseh Products Company

Hubert Richardson, Jr

George W Gatecliff

Thomas R Barito

William C Johnson

Nelik I Dreiman

Todd W Herrick

Phillip A Tomell

Michael J Maertens

A scroll compressor includes a scroll set in which fluids at various operating pressures impart a plurality of forces on the scroll set orbiting and fixed scroll members. An axial biasing force is applied against the orbiting scroll member urging same toward the fixed scroll member. Fluid at discharge pressure exerts an axial force at a first area of the back surface of the orbiting scroll member which urges the orbiting scroll member toward the fixed scroll member to maintain axial compliance therebetween and to prevent leakage of compressed refrigerant fluid during compressor operation. An axial anti-biasing force is applied between the orbiting and fixed scroll members to urge them apart. An annular chamber provided between the end plates of the orbiting and fixed scroll members forms a cavity that is in communication with fluid contained in pockets of compression in the scroll set. The fluid in the pockets of compression is at a pressure intermediate discharge and suction pressures. A passage provided in the scroll set communicates the intermediate pressure fluid from the pockets of compression to the intermediate pressure cavity. The intermediate pressure fluid acts upon the opposing face surfaces of the orbiting and fixed scroll members urging them apart. In this manner, an unbiasing force is exerted between the scroll members to offset excessive axial biasing forces which may act upon the orbiting scroll member, thereby preventing excessive wear and power consumption and providing enhanced operating efficiency. The intermediate force effectively acts as a cushion to lessen the biasing force at the higher end of the operating range.

Fabrication method for semiconductor substrate

A scroll compressor including a flywheel attached to the rotor of the motor. The flywheel prevents reverse rotation of the orbiting scroll during current interruption or normal compressor shutdown. Additionally, the flywheel prevents destruction of the oil in oil sump around the lubrication oil pick up.

Scroll compressor with flywheel

A compressor is provided with a check valve which is disposed in a suction chamber adjacent a suction port opening. The check valve provides fast response and enhanced operating characteristics for preventing reverse refrigerant flow and reverse scroll operation during compressor shutdown. During normal compressor operation the check valve is open to allow communication of refrigerant into the suction chamber where the refrigerant is acted upon by the scroll mechanism and discharged through a discharge port. A positive pressure differential exists between the discharge port and the suction port which unimpeded causes reverse scroll operation upon compressor shutdown. The positive pressure condition in the suction chamber forces the check valve to pivot to a closed position whereby it covers and substantially seals the suction port. By preventing reverse refrigerant flow through the suction port the check valve effectively eliminates the pressure differential and thereby prevents reverse scroll operation.

Scroll compressor having a suction check valve

A process of casting a scroll member for a scroll compressor including forming the scroll wrap member portions of equal height. Unequal cooling of the scroll wrap when formed causes the hardness of the wrap to vary from radially outside to radially inside. The radially outside portions of the scroll wrap are formed harder therefore reducing wear-out of the scroll member while the radially inside portions are formed softer, thereby permitting quicker run-in of the scroll set during initial startup of the scroll compressor.

Variable scroll tip hardness

An orbiting rotary-type compressor including an orbiting cylindrical piston member, sealing members, cylinder housing, Oldham ring assembly and motor for permitting orbital movement. Sealing is achieved by a sliding vane moving through the orbiting piston. An axial compliance and a radial compliance mechanism promotes proper sealing.

Orbiting rotary compressor having axial and radial compliance

A hermetic scroll-type compressor is disclosed including a housing, fixed and orbiting scroll members, a frame member having a thrust surface adjacent the orbiting scroll member back surface, and a crankshaft coupled to the orbiting scroll member. A non-sealing stabilizer ring device is disposed between the frame member and the orbiting scroll member to eliminate the small perturbation wobble remaining after the orbiting scroll member reacts with the oil pool thereby reducing scroll wear-in time. A stabilizer ring is mechanically or positively spring loaded by a wave spring washer to axially force the orbiting scroll member toward the fixed scroll.

Scroll compressor stabilizer ring

A hermetic scroll-type compressor including a housing at discharge pressure, fixed and orbiting scroll members, a frame member having a thrust surface adjacent the orbiting scroll member back surface, and a crankshaft coupled to the orbiting scroll member. A back surface of the orbiting scroll member is exposed to discharge pressure to cause the orbiting scroll member to axially comply with the fixed scroll member. An internal pressure relief valve is connected within the housing to the suction space between the scrolls to compensate for moments of high discharge pressure and relieve orbiting scroll member over loading on the fixed scroll member.

Scroll compressor unloader valve

A hermetic scroll-type compressor including a housing, fixed and orbiting scroll members, a frame member having a thrust surface adjacent the orbiting scroll member back surface, and a crankshaft coupled to the orbiting scroll member. A seal between the thrust surface and the back surface of the orbiting scroll member seals between a radially inner portion of the back surface exposed to discharge pressure and a radially outer portion exposed to suction pressure. The frame member defines an annular oil chamber having a side surface and a bottom surface above which the radially outer portion of the back surface orbits in spaced relationship. The oil chamber contains a sufficient depth of oil to extend the oil level above an upper peripheral edge of the orbiting scroll member, whereby oil from the oil chamber is sucked between the intermeshed scroll members. Radial compliance of the orbiting scroll meters the oil flow between the scroll members.

Scroll compressor lubrication control

An orbiting rotary-type compressor including an orbiting cylindrical piston member, sealing members, cylinder housing, Oldham ring assembly and motor for permitting orbital movement. Sealing is achieved sliding vanes within slots in the cylinder housing which are sealingly biased toward orbiting piston member by means of springs. An axial compliance and a radial compliance mechanism promotes proper sealing.

Orbiting rotary compressor with orbiting piston axial and radial

An adjustable eccentric mechanism for an orbiting rotary compressor comprising an eccentric, disposed within an orbiting roller, pivotally engaging a crankshaft and locking means for locking the eccentric to the crankshaft in a manner permitting adjustment of the eccentricity of the roller. A method of setting the eccentricity of an orbiting roller by swinging the roller around within the cylinder chamber into contact or a specified clearance with the sidewall, then locking the roller eccentric into place.

Orbiting rotary compressor with adjustable eccentric

The present invention is a compressor using an Oldham-type assembly functioning as a piston to provide a compressing pump. An orbiting plate is eccentrically mounted on the crankshaft, and a compressing pump body is fixed within the interior of the housing. An Oldham piston is disposed within the compressing pump and has tabs which engage slots on the orbiting plate. The side walls of the pump body prevent movement of the Oldham piston in a first direction so that the orbiting of the plate causes the piston to reciprocate in a second, orthogonal direction. Suction valves on the piston control entry of refrigerant into the compressing pump, and discharging valves control refrigerant discharge.

Oldham compressor

A hermetic scroll-type compressor including a housing, fixed and orbiting scroll members, a frame member having a thrust surface adjacent the orbiting scroll member back surface, and a crankshaft coupled to the orbiting scroll member. A seal between the thrust surface and the back surface of the orbiting scroll member seals between a radially inner portion of the back surface exposed to discharge pressure and a radially outer portion exposed to suction pressure. The frame member defines an annular oil chamber having a side surface and a bottom surface above which the radially outer portion of the back surface orbits in spaced relationship. The oil chamber contains a sufficient depth of oil between the bottom surface and the back surface, whereby the oil exerts a reaction force on the back surface in response to rotating inclined wobbling motion of the orbiting scroll member.

Scroll compressor including compliance mechanism for the orbiting scroll

An orbiting scroll member of a hermetic scroll-type compressor, including a scroll plate, a drive plate, and connecting pins coupling the two plates together in a manner permitting axial separation therebetween. A seal is unattachedly retained intermediate the scroll plate and the drive plate by a groove formed in the scroll plate. The seal extends out of the groove toward the drive plate to slidingly seal thereagainst. The seal defines fixed radially inner and outer portions of the scroll plate that are exposed to oil at discharge pressure and refrigerant at suction pressure, thereby imparting an axial compliance force. In one embodiment, the orbiting scroll plate is permitted to move transversely relative to the drive plate, by virtue of loose-fitting connecting pins, thereby facilitating radial compliance.

Orbiting scroll member assembly

A swing-link radial compliance mechanism for scroll compressors which minimizes the damage and wear caused by chattering vibrations. The eccentric crankpin has a planar surface and a wedge is disposed in the bore of the roller, between the planar surface of the crankpin and the arc surface of the roller. The wedge has a flat surface for transferring chattering vibrations focused on an axial line of force to the planar surface of the crankpin. Also, an arcuate surface of the wedge engages the arc surface of the roller and allows for rocking movement of the wedge.

Scroll compressor including drive pin and roller assembly having sliding

A floating scroll assembly of a hermetic scroll-type compressor including, a fixed scroll frame, a fixed scroll plate, connecting pins coupling the plate and frame together in a manner permitting axial separation, an orbiting scroll plate, a drive plate, connecting pins coupling the orbiting plate and drive plate together in a manner permitting axial separation, and seals unattachedly retained intermediate the scroll frame and fixed scroll plate and intermediate the drive plate and orbiting scroll plate by grooves in the scroll plates. The fixed and orbiting scroll assemblies are forced axially toward one another by exposure of their back surfaces to a combination of refrigerant at suction pressure and refrigerant and oil at discharge pressure. The seals extend out of the grooves to slidingly seal upon compressor operation. Regions on the scroll plates exposed to discharge pressure are substantially the same size.

Growing community of inventors

Brooklyn, MI, United States of America

Hubert Richardson, Jr