Trane International Inc.

Michael Gerard Benco

Scott Joseph Smerud

Jerry Allen Rood

Jay H Johnson

Keith Adam Novak

Derrick Lepak

John Robert Sauls

Joseph M Heger

Rodney L Lakowske

James Joseph Wiltzius

Sung Hwa Jeung

Daniel R Crum

Mark W Harrison

Dennis R Dorman

George C Hansen

Alan H V Eber

William E Lapp

David Janda

Kenneth Andrew Raymond

Wayne Gerard Gorski

Arther L Butterworth

Derrick J Lepak

A scroll compressor includes a first scroll member, a second scroll member, and an aerostatic thrust bearing. The aerostatic thrust bearing forms a layer of gas between the second scroll member and a fixed supporting member to support the second scroll member as the second scroll member rotates and/or orbits. Also disclosed is a method of supporting a rotating/orbiting scroll member in a scroll compressor. The method including supplying pressurized gas to an aerostatic thrust bearing such that a layer of gas is formed between the rotating/orbiting scroll member and a fixed supporting member.

Aerostatic thrust bearing and method of aerostatically supporting a thrust load in a scroll compressor

A crankshaft assembly for a scroll compressor is disclosed. The crankshaft assembly includes a crankpin having a plurality of apertures therethrough. A crankshaft body has an aperture therethrough. The aperture of the crankshaft and one of the plurality of apertures of the crankpin being aligned when in an assembled state such that in operation fluid flows between the aperture of the crankshaft body and the one of the plurality of apertures of the crankpin. The crankshaft body includes a second aperture aligned with a second of the plurality of apertures of the crankpin. The crankpin and the crankshaft body are separate members. A fastener extends through the second of the plurality of apertures of the crankpin and into the second aperture of the crankshaft body to secure the crankpin and the crankshaft body together in the assembled state.

Scroll compressor shaft

Aerostatic thrust bearing method and method of aerostatically supporting a thrust load in a scroll compressor

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

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

Embodiments of a thrust bearing that may be used with a crankshaft of a HVAC compressor, particularly a HVAC compressor with a vertical or near-vertical placed crankshaft (e.g. a scroll compressor) are provided. The thrust bearing may generally include a bearing header and an insert. The insert may include an insert surface, which is configured to interact with a shaft surface of the crankshaft. The insert surface of the insert may include surface features that may help create flow behavior of the lubricant by a relative motion between the shaft surface of the crankshaft and the insert surface of the insert. The flow behavior of the lubricant may help separate the insert surface of the insert and the shaft surface of the crankshaft by the lubricant in operation to form the bearing, such as a hydrodynamic bearing.

Thrust bearing for HVAC compressor

An assembly includes a composite metal-polymer bushing having an outer metal layer with an inner surface, metal particles sintered to the inner surface, a polymer material between the metal particles, a finished interior surface collectively defined by the polymer material and exposed portions of the metal particles, a plurality of interstices formed between the metal particles and the polymer material, and a plurality of ridges defined by the polymer material that protrude above the metal particles. The ridges occupy at least about 8% of the area of a cylindrical reference surface nominally coinciding with the finished interior surface. The assembly also includes a crankshaft having a journal at least partially received within the bushing and supported by the finished interior surface. The journal is polished to a surface finish of about 0.1 microns or less to reduce a wear rate of the bushing.

Composite metal-polymer bushing and crankshaft assembly

Lubrication of bearing surfaces in a scroll compressor is enhanced by a vent arrangement which makes use of increased centrifugal force, achieved by locating the outlet of the vent arrangement radially outside of the nominal circumference of the compressor's drive shaft, to both remove refrigerant gas from compressor locations where such gas can inhibit the flow and delivery of lubricant to such surfaces and to increase the lift of lubricant out of the compressor's lubricant sump. Oil retained in the upper surface of the compressor drive shaft is made immediately available for bearing lubrication upon compressor start-up to further enhance compressor lubrication.

Growing community of inventors

Onalaska, WI, United States of America

Michael Gerard Benco