Scroll Technologies

Robert Carl Witham

Gregory William Hahn

Thomas R Barito

Zili Sun

Jason J Hugenroth

Gene Michael Fields

Todd W Dewar

Sudarshan K Narasipura

Brad Allen Meeks

Marvin Wayne Burchfield

Scroll compressors include a tap for communicating a compressed refrigerant to a back pressure chamber to resist a separating force. A restriction is placed within this tap to slow build-up of the back pressure chamber at start-up. Further, the restriction smoothes out any fluctuations in the back pressure force as the pressure in the compression chamber from which the refrigerant is tapped may fluctuate.

Scroll compressor with flow restriction and back pressure chamber tap

A check valve retainer for a scroll compressor includes a retaining lip that fits into a recess formed in a scroll. The retaining lip may be manufactured as an integral part of the check valve retainer for press fitting or may be formed by an expansion fit locking member having a protrusion that forces a portion of check valve retainer wall into the recess. The retaining lip ensures that the check valve retainer stays attached to the scroll without risking scroll deformation.

Check valve retainer for a scroll compressor

The present invention is for the retention of a heat shield for a scroll compressor. In one embodiment, the heat shield is deformed into a position such that it rests in a groove located in the non-orbiting scroll. In another embodiment the housing end cap deforms the heat shield. The deformed position of the heat shield prevents flexing and vibrating found in heat shields of prior art. In addition the heat shield must have holes in it to allow for the discharge valve to pass through. The present invention is to put slots in the heat shield, thus preventing the need for exact alignment of the heat shield in position.

Press-on insulator dish

A scroll compressor is provided with a motor protector mounted at a location remote from the motor. The motor protector is of the sort which operates to stop operation of the motor both when the temperatures in the scroll compressor increases, and when the electrical characteristics of the power supplied to the motor depart from those from which are expected. Preferably, the motor protector is mounted in the non-orbiting scroll. Further, the invention includes means to increase the sensitivity of this motor protector to conditions indicative of an outdoor fan failure. In several embodiments, these means include a valve which opens to communicate hot discharge pressure refrigerant over the valve. In one other embodiment, this means is a heat sink operable to take heat away from the motor protector. In this last embodiment, when the volume flow of refrigerant decreases, the amount of heat taken away also decreases.

Scroll compressor with motor protector in non-orbiting scroll and flow enhancement

A scroll compressor is provided with a motor protector for stopping operation of its motor should conditions be indicative of a problem. The motor protector is sensitive to elevated temperature, and stops operation of the motor should a sensed temperature exceed a predetermined maximum. The motor protector is positioned in a chamber in a rear face of a base of the non-orbiting scroll. A port extends through the base of the non-orbiting scroll to connect a motor protector chamber to a suction chamber. Electric wires connect the motor protector to the motor and extend through this same port. In some embodiments, a pressure relief valve also communicates with the motor protector chamber. In one embodiment the motor protector chamber is enclosed by a cap and the pressure relief valve is mounted in that cap. In another embodiment the pressure relief valve extends through a wall of the non-orbiting scroll. In other embodiments, a pair of mating plugs connect the protector to the motor.

Motor protector in pocket on non-orbiting scroll and routing of wires thereto

An improved heat shield for a scroll compressor is provided with a non-cylindrical end portion caught between the end cap and the non-orbiting scroll. In several embodiments, the portion provides a seal between the discharge chamber and a suction chamber. In one embodiment the portion of the heat shield is serpentine. In another embodiment the portion of the heat shield is generally u-shaped. In further embodiments the portion includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced clips. Several other embodiments are also disclosed.

Heat shield with seal between end cap and non-orbiting scroll

A scroll compressor includes an oil supply cross-hole extending radially outwardly to the outer peripheral surface of the base of the orbiting scroll. The cross-hole supplies lubricant against the crankcase towers such that lubricant is supplied to both the Oldham coupling and the seals for the back pressure chamber. The cross-hole is preferably positioned to be between 80&deg; and 90&deg; downstream from the beginning of the orbiting scroll wrap. In this position, adequate oil will be supplied to lubricate the Oldham coupling and the seal, while at the same time, it is unlikely that an undue amount of lubricant will be allowed into the scroll compressor chambers.

Growing community of inventors

Arkadelphia, AR, United States of America

Robert Carl Witham