Scroll Technologies

Bristol Compressors, Inc.

Danfoss Scroll Technologies, LLC

American Standard Inc.

Alliance Compressors Inc.

Other

York International Corporation

Joe T Hill

John Robert Williams

Zili Sun

Carlos Armando Zamudio

Thomas R Barito

Jason J Hugenroth

James William Bush

Greg Hahn

Gene Michael Fields

Michael R Young

Joseph Frank Loprete

David Turner Monk

Tracy Lanier Milliff

Philip C Wagner

Gregory William Hahn

Robert E Utter

Robert Bruce Peters

Gene M Fields

John Willard Tolbert, Jr

Larry G Pippin

Tapesh P Patel

Charles A Singletary

Terry Lynn Lyons

Behzad Parastar

Harshal Upadhye

Daniel R Crum

Peter A Kotlarek

Todd W Dewar

Edward A Tomayko

Ole Holst Christensen

John Kenneth Wollitz

George W Brandt

John M Hunnicutt

Phillip C Wagner

S Boyd Wall

Thomas R Barlto

William Bush

Jacob Munich

Gregory V Hahn

Ole Horst Christensen

At least one bypass opening is formed in a base of a scroll member, and communicates with at least one compression chamber. The bypass opening communicates with a passage leading to a suction pressure chamber within a compressor shell. A valve includes an element electrically powered to move between a first position at which it blocks flow of refrigerant from the bypass port to the passage leading to the suction pressure chamber, and a second position at which it allows flow of refrigerant between the bypass port and the passage leading to the suction pressure chamber. A portion of the valve, which is electrically powered, is mounted outside of the compressor shell.

Scroll compressor capacity modulation with solenoid mounted outside a compressor shell

A sealed compressor has an outer housing and a separator plate received within the outer housing. The separator plate defines a suction chamber and a discharge pressure chamber within the outer housing. A locating plate is positioned within the suction pressure chamber. The locating plate has a plurality of positioning locations for receiving separate compressor housings. The separator plate has a plurality of positioning openings for receiving the separate compressors. A plurality of compressors are each received within their own housing, and include compressor pump units. The plurality of compressors extend between the openings in the locating plate and through the openings in the separator plate. The separate compressors deliver compressed refrigerant into the discharge pressure chamber.

Sealed compressor with multiple compressor unit

A valve for selectively allowing the return of oil from a discharge plenum to a suction plenum includes a passage which is selectively opened or blocked by a valve spool. The valve spool sees a pressure from a discharge pressure location upstream of a discharge check valve on one face, and a discharge pressure from a discharge plenum on an opposed face. While the compressor is running, the two pressures should be relatively equal. The face which sees the pressure from the chamber upstream of the check valve is larger than the face which sees the pressure from the discharge plenum. Thus, when the compressor is running, the valve spool is biased to a first position at which it allows oil return from the discharge plenum to the suction plenum. However, upon shutdown of the compressor, the pressure in the chamber upstream of the discharge valve drops. The valve spool will be driven to a second position at which it blocks communication for oil return.

Oil return valve for a scroll compressor

A scroll compressor comprises a first scroll member having a generally spiral wrap and a second scroll member having a generally spiral wrap. The generally spiral wraps interfit to define compression chambers. A pair of ports leads from the compression chambers. A pair of valves selectively blocks flow of refrigerant from the ports leaving the compression chambers. The valves selectively control the flow such that flow may pass from neither of the two ports, from both of the two ports, or from only one of the two ports to provide three levels of capacity control.

Scroll compressor with three-step capacity control

A scroll compressor includes a compressor shell having first and second scroll members. The scroll members each have a base and a generally spiral wrap extending from its base. The generally spiral wraps of the first and second scroll members interfit to define compression chambers. A shaft causes the second scroll member to orbit relative to the first scroll member. At least one bypass port is formed in a base of one scroll member, and communicates with at least one of the compression chambers. The bypass port communicates with a passage leading to a suction pressure chamber within the compressor shell. A solenoid valve is movable between a reduced capacity position and a full capacity position, and selectively supplies a pressurized fluid to a fluid valve associated with the bypass port, such that movement of the solenoid can control whether the bypass port is open or closed.

Scroll compressor capacity modulation with hybrid solenoid and fluid control

A sealed compressor includes a housing for receiving a compressor pump unit and an electric motor. The electric motor drives a driveshaft. The driveshaft extends to drive an element within the compressor pump unit to compress a fluid. The motor includes a rotor spaced from a portion of the housing by a gap. The driveshaft drives a counterweight, which has a radially outermost portion extending radially outwardly beyond a radially innermost portion of the stator. The radially outermost portion of the counterweight has an angled face to drive fluid into the gap.

Scroll compressor counterweight with cooling flow directing surface

Several transmission embodiments selectively communicate rotary drive to an orbiting scroll to achieve capacity modulation. In these embodiments, when the motor is driven in a first direction, the orbiting scroll is driven at a rate which is equal to the motor speed. However, if the motor is driven in a reverse direction, the orbit rate of the orbiting scroll is reduced. The transmission ensures that the orbiting scroll member itself is driven in the proper forward direction regardless of whether the motor is being driven in forward or reverse.

Scroll compressor with motor control for capacity modulation

A compressor diagnostic system incorporates a control which receives a plurality of data streams about various operational features of the compressor. As an example, both temperature and pressure of the suction and discharge refrigerant are taken and sent to the control. Moreover, information with regard to the power being supplied to the motor is taken and stored. All of this information is utilized at a control which compares the information to expected values and determines a fault based upon the evaluation. Moreover, in another feature of this invention, much of this data is stored, and maintained at the compressor. In the event of a compressor failure, this stored information will provide a maintenance worker with a good indication of why the compressor failed.

Compressor diagnostic and recording system

Low voltage electrical power is supplied to a diagnostic control device in a sealed compressor. Electrical power is tapped from a high voltage power line and transformed to low voltage power that in turn operates the diagnostic control device. The diagnostic control device and the electric voltage transforming system are housed within the sealed compressor shell, thus eliminating the need for additional openings in the compressor shell. Other low voltage devices can be powered in this way.

Compressor utilizing low volt power tapped from high volt power

A stabilizing structure for a throw adjusting eccentric cam in a two-stage reciprocating compressor is provided. The compressor includes a block that has at least one cylinder with an associated compression chamber and piston, a crankshaft that includes an eccentric crankpin, and a reversible motor for rotating the crankshaft in a forward and a reverse direction. An eccentric, two position cam is rotatably mounted over the crankpin. The cam rotates to and operates at a first position relative to said crankpin when the motor is running in the forward direction and rotates to and operates at a second position relative to said crankpin when the motor is running in the reverse direction. The combined eccentricities of the crankpin and the cam cause the piston to have a first stroke when the motor operates in the forward direction and a second stroke when the motor operates in the reverse direction. There is also provided a control for selectively operating the motor either in the forward direction or in the reverse direction.

Adjustable crankpin throw structure having improved throw stabilization means

A number of improvements increase the flow of lubricant within a scroll compressor. A centrifugal oil separator is mounted on the discharge port to remove oil from the refrigerant. The oil is returned through a leak path such that the oil can easily return back to a suction pressure chamber. The leak path is preferably upstream of a check valve. Thus, at shutdown, the leak path will not allow upstream components to also equalize in pressure with the suction pressure chamber of the compressor. Further, a number of embodiments include ways of resisting flow of refrigerant through the leak path, while still allowing oil flow. A number of valve elements are described which perform this function. Alternatively, labyrinth flow paths, or positioning of the return paths such that it will be closed when the compressor is shut down are disclosed.

Scroll compressor with improved oil flow

A two stage reciprocating compressor and associated HVAC systems and methods are disclosed. The reciprocating compressor includes a crankshaft having an eccentric crankpin, a reversible motor for rotating the crankshaft in a forward and a reverse direction, and an eccentric, two position cam rotatably mounted over the crankpin. The crankshaft and cam combine to cause the piston to have a first stroke when the motor operates in the forward direction and a second stroke when the motor operates in the reverse direction. The cam and crankpin also include stabilization means to restrict the relative rotation of the cam about the crankpin. A lubrication system is provided to lubricate the engaging surfaces of the crankshaft and cam and between the cam and the bearing surface of the connecting rod. There is also provided a control for selectively operating the motor either in the forward direction at a first power load or in the reverse direction at a reduced second power load. A protector for the motor is also provided. In addition, the application of the reciprocating compressor to both air conditioning and heat pump systems is disclosed.

Two stage reciprocating compressors and associated HVAC systems and methods

Growing community of inventors

Bristol, VA, United States of America

Joe T Hill