Trane International Inc.

American Standard Inc.

Rodney L Lakowske

Michael Gerard Benco

Scott Joseph Smerud

John Robert Sauls

Dennis Myron Beekman

Jerry Allen Rood

Jay H Johnson

Daniel R Crum

James C Tischer

Sean Andrews Smith

David H Eber

Arthur L Butterworth

William B Rockwood

Pavak Anilbhai Mehta

Garry E Andersen

John R Moilanen

Gordon Powell

Timothy G Garvin

Alan H V Eber

Pavak Mehta

Dennis M Beekman

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed to isolate operation vibration of a compressor to reduce operational sound. A compressor may include an external shell, and one or more isolators that separate a compression mechanism of a compressor from the external shell. The isolator can help isolate the vibration of the compression mechanism from the external shell. The isolator can also support a weight of the compression mechanism. The external shell can also include one or more internal seals. The internal seals can help separate a low-pressure side (e.g., a suction side) and a high-pressure side (e.g., a discharge side) of the compression mechanism. The compressor may also include a pressure balancing mechanism configured to help reduce a pressure difference between, for example, two ends of the compression mechanism, so as to reduce/eliminate the compression mechanism from physical shift in position due to the pressure difference.

Compressor having external shell with vibration isolation and pressure balance

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 refrigerant system includes a compressor with a discharge valve that temporarily restricts the compressor's outflow at startup so that the discharge pressure can quickly rise to force lubricant back to the compressor. The discharge valve also helps prevent an axial face of a rotor of a screw compressor from rubbing against a bearing housing axial face of the compressor's housing. When the system turns off under certain low ambient air temperature conditions, the valve closes to help prevent the system's evaporator from freezing up. The discharge valve includes a novel arrangement of a piston, a valve stem extending from the piston, and a valve plug pivotally attached to the valve stem. The pivotal connection ensures a positive seal between the valve plug and a valve seat. A somewhat restricted fluid passageway between the valve's discharge chamber and piston chamber helps prevent the valve from chattering as the valve opens.

Compressor discharge valve providing freeze and charge migration protection

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.

Scroll compressor with enhanced lubrication

The position of a slide valve in a screw compressor in a refrigeration system is controlled using a gaseous medium sourced from the higher pressure one of two or more sources of such fluid. Preferred sources are refrigerant gas in a closed compression pocket in the working chamber of the compressor and refrigerant gas in the discharge passage downstream of the compressor's discharge port. The multiple sources of such gas are connected to a solenoid valve which, when open, permits gas to act on the piston which controls the position of the slide valve. Due to a check valve arrangement, it is always the one of the sources of gas which is at higher pressure that acts on the slide valve actuating piston. The adverse affects of refrigerant gas out-gassing and gas bubble collapse associated with use of hydraulic fluid rather than a gaseous medium to modulate compressor capacity are avoided while advantageous use is made of compressor overcompression in the control of slide valve position.

Gas actuated slide valve in a screw compressor

An integral member is disposed internal of a refrigeration screw compressor which, upon compressor shutdown, shuts off the flow of oil injected into the compressor's working chamber as well as the oil directed to the compressor rotor bearings and which, at compressor startup, opens oil flow to those locations by the use of ambient internal compressor conditions that inherently exist at those respective times. The operation of the apparatus is therefore 'fail safe' and the need for external oil flow cutoff valving and the need to monitor and/or prove oil flow within the compressor is eliminated.

Screw compressor mechanical oil shutoff arrangement

A centrifugal fan includes a fan wheel having airfoil blades mounted for pivotal movement about their center of gravity. A yoke mechanism exterior of the fan wheel, when moved axially of the fan wheel drive shaft axis, causes actuator rods to move through the sidewall of the fan wheel. The axial movement of the actuator rods is translated first into rotary movement of a quill hub relative to the fan wheel and finally to radial movement of blade pivoting levers interior of the fan wheel. The movement of the blade pivoting levers causes the pitch of the individual fan blades to be changed in accordance with the degree of movement of the yoke mechanism. The yoke mechanism, actuator rods, quill hub and blade pivoting levers operate independently of the fan wheel so that blade pitch can be varied over an operating range irrespective of whether the fan wheel is stopped or is rotating. The yoke mechanism is moved and fan modulation is accomplished in response to the demand for conditioned air by the variable air volume system in which the fan is employed.

Growing community of inventors

La Crosse, WI, United States of America

Rodney L Lakowske