Trane International Inc.

American Standard Inc.

Jerry Allen Rood

Scott Joseph Smerud

Michael Gerard Benco

Peter A Kotlarek

Keith Adam Novak

Daniel R Crum

John Robert Sauls

Joseph M Heger

Derrick Lepak

Bill P Simmons

Rodney L Lakowske

Arlo F Teegarden

Eric Steven Mlsna

Scott Michael Branch

Alberto Scala

Timothy Sean Hagen

Brennon J Swaney

Wayne Gerard Gorski

A screw compressor includes a compressor housing defining a working chamber, the housing including a plurality of bores; a first rotor having helical threads, the first rotor being housed in a first of the plurality of bores; a second rotor having helical threads intermeshing with the helical threads of the first rotor, the second rotor being housed in a second of the plurality of bores; an inlet port that receives a fluid to be compressed; an outlet port that receives a compressed fluid; and an intermediate discharge port disposed between the compression chamber and the outlet port, the intermediate discharge port including a sealing member and a biasing mechanism, fluid flow being prevented between the compression chamber and the intermediate discharge port when in a flow-blocked state, and fluid flow being enabled from the compression chamber through the intermediate discharge port when in a flow-permitted state.

Intermediate discharge port for a compressor

A scroll compressor lubrication system and a scroll compressor are disclosed. The scroll compressor includes a capacity modulator, a lubricant opening, and a gas diverting passage. The capacity modulator is in fluid communication with compression pockets for selectively unloading gas from the pockets. The lubricant opening is in fluid communication with at least one bearing portion of the scroll compressor. Lubricant from the at least one bearing portion in the scroll compressor flows through the lubricant opening. The gas diverting passage includes an inlet and an outlet. The inlet of the gas diverting passage is in fluid communication with the capacity modulator, and the gas diverting passage extends below the lubricant opening such that gas from the outlet of the gas diverting passage can flow through a travel path of the lubricant that flows through the lubricant opening and entrains at least part of the lubricant to at least one bearing portion for lubrication.

Scroll compressor with partial load capacity

A scroll compressor orbiting scroll bearing lubrication system includes a scroll compressor crankshaft having a lubricating fluid gallery extending therethrough between a first stage orbiting scroll and a second stage orbiting scroll. The first stage employs an orbiting scroll radial bearing and an orbiting scroll hydrodynamic thrust bearing, while the second stage employs an orbiting scroll radial bearing and an orbiting scroll hydrostatic thrust bearing. Lubricating fluid is supplied to the second stage orbiting scroll radial bearing via the lubricating fluid gallery.

Double-ended scroll compressor lubrication of one orbiting scroll bearing via crankshaft oil gallery from another orbiting scroll bearing

A scroll compressor includes one or more stage of compression disposed within a compressor housing. One or more of the stages includes a stationary scroll member including a base and a generally spiral wrap extending from the base of the stationary scroll member. One or more of the stages further includes an orbiting, scroll member including a substantially circular base and a substantially spiral wrap extending from the base of the orbiting scroll member. A coupling is disposed between the first scroll member base and the second scroll member base and in surrounding relationship to the first and second scroll member spiral wraps. At least one stabilizing pad is disposed between the first scroll member base and the second scroll member base and in axial thrust force relationship with the coupling to at least partially prevent tipping of the second scroll member.

Structure for stabilizing an orbiting scroll in a scroll compressor

An oil lubrication system for a multi-stage compressor separates oil from a refrigerant at an intermediate pressure following the first stage of compression and then routes the separated oil at the intermediate pressure to the compressor suction cavity bearings at the intermediate pressure, thus avoiding further compression of oil in subsequent stages of compression. The efficiency of the multi-stage compressor can be increased by not raising the pressure of the oil through the subsequent stages of compression.

Intermediate oil separator for improved performance in a scroll compressor

An Oldham coupling structure for a scroll compressor decreases Oldham coupling pressure loading without increasing compressor diameter or significantly increasing orbiting scroll or Oldham coupling inertia. The Oldham coupling key height and area are increased by recessing the key face into the ring portion of the Oldham coupling, increasing the key height and adding pads to the involute side of the orbiting scroll base plate to extend the key slot, potentially resulting in reduced compressor diameter and/or reduced orbiting scroll and Oldham coupling inertia.

Oldham coupling with enhanced key surface in a scroll compressor

A compressor crankshaft assembly includes a crankshaft and an eccentric drive pin extending from one end of the crankshaft. The shape of the drive pin viewed into the exposed end of the drive pin is defined by the intersection of a first cylinder that is coaxial with the axis of a substantially cylindrical orbital bearing journaled and installed to receive the eccentric drive pin and a second cylinder that is coaxial with the axis of a substantially cylindrical main bearing journaled and installed to rotatably receive the crankshaft, such that the area defined by the intersecting portion is less than the area defined by either cylinder.

Orbiting crankshaft drive pin and associated drive pin sleeve geometry

A scroll compressor includes an orbiting scroll member disposed within a compressor housing. The orbiting scroll member has a substantially circular baseplate and a generally spiral wrap extending from its base. A first seal is disposed proximal to the outer periphery of the orbiting scroll baseplate to provide an external seal between the baseplate and the housing. A second seal is disposed radially inward from the first seal to provide an internal seal between the baseplate and the housing. A space between the internal seal and the external seal defines a balance piston chamber. The balance piston chamber is pressurized via a high or intermediate pressure oil source to reduce thrust loading on the baseplate caused by an axial pressure differential across the baseplate.

Scroll compressor with pressurized oil balance piston

The flow, use, interaction and separation of lubricant and gas flowing through the suction pressure portion of a low-side refrigeration scroll compressor is managed by the use of a drive motor mounting sleeve and a multi-ported frame. The mounting sleeve and frame provide for the direction of oil to surfaces within the low side of the compressor shell which require lubrication as well as the conduct of suction gas to the scroll compression mechanism in a manner which cools the compressor drive motor yet which maintains the respective flows of oil and suction gas sufficiently separate to ensure that excessive amounts of oil are not conducted out of the compressor in the gas which is compressed thereby. Lubrication is enhanced by the use of a vent passage which opens into a relatively lower pressure region within the suction pressure portion of the compressor shell. The vent induces lift and assists in the delivery of oil, upward and through a gallery in the compressor's drive shaft, to the various surfaces in the upper portion of the compressor which require lubrication.

Gas flow and lubrication of a scroll compressor

The flow, use, interaction and separation of lubricant and gas flowing through the suction pressure portion of a low-side refrigeration scroll compressor is managed by the use of a drive motor mounting sleeve (46) and a multi-ported frame (40). The mounting sleeve and frame provide for the direction of oil to surfaces within the low side of the compressor shell which require lubrication as well as the conduct of suction gas to the scroll compression mechanism in a manner which cools the compressor drive motor yet which maintains the respective flows of oil and suction gas sufficiently separate to ensure that excessive amounts of oil are not conducted out of the compressor in the gas which is compressed thereby. Lubrication is enhanced by the use of a vent passage (68) which opens into a relatively lower pressure region within the suction pressure portion of the compressor shell. The vent induces lift and assists in the delivery of oil, upward and through a gallery in the compressor's drive shaft, to the various surfaces in the upper portion of the compressor which require lubrication.

Scroll compressor having a frame and open sleeve for controlling gas and

Protective apparatus in a scroll compressor, in the form of a valve assembly, is operative to prevent compressor damage from reverse direction rotation of the scroll compression mechanism or the development of abnormally high discharge gas temperatures. The valve assembly is disposed in a passage communicating between the suction and discharge pressure portions of the compressor shell and houses a discharge temperature sensor immediately adjacent the location from which discharge gas issues from the compression mechanism. The location of the sensor and its exposure to discharge gas permits the timely sensing of abnormally high discharge temperatures and the shutdown of the compressor upon their occurrence. The valve assembly includes a vent valve which lifts, upon the reverse direction orbital motion of the orbiting scroll member and creation of a pressure less than suction pressure in the discharge pressure portion of the compressor, so as to provide an internal flow path and volume within the compressor against which the compression mechanism can pump where it would otherwise be damaged in pumping against a closed volume.

Reverse phase and high discharge temperature protection in a scroll

A low side scroll compressor is protected from both the potentially damaging effects of improper electrical hookup and the development of high discharge temperatures by apparatus disposed in a passage which communicates between the suction pressure portion and a discharge pressure portion of the compressor. The apparatus operates to permit gas flow from the suction to the discharge pressure portion of the compressor through a protective passage, such as when the compressor runs backwards due to miswiring, so as to avert damage to the scroll members. The apparatus permits the flow of gas from the discharge to the suction pressure portion of the compressor through the passage when the temperature of the discharge gas produced by the compressor exceeds a predetermined temperature indicative of an abnormal compressor operating condition. The resulting gas flow in the latter case causes the compressor motor to de-energize.

Scroll compressor reverse phase and high discharge temperature protection

A thrust bearing for use between two parallel plates in relative orbital motion. The bearing includes a plurality of rollers disposed between the plates. Each roller comprises two opposing cones joined at their base with one cone in rolling line contact with one plate and the other cone in rolling line contact with the other plate. As one plate orbits relative to the other, each rolling line contact sweeps a circular area on its respective plate.

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Onalaska, WI, United States of America

Jerry Allen Rood