Electrically driven compressors and methods for circulating lubrication oil through the same

Abstract

An oil storage area ( ) is defined on the bottom of a motor chamber ( ) of a scroll compressor ( ). An oil transfer route ( ) is defined in the portion of a center housing ( ) that corresponds to the storage area ( ). Lubricating oil L is separated from the discharged, compressed refrigerant by an oil separator ( ) and the lubricating oil L is supplied to the backside of a movable scroll ( ) due to a pressure differential within the compress ( ). After lubricating a bearing ( ), the lubricating oil L is temporarily stored in the storage area ( ) and then is transferred due to a pressure differential to the suction-side of a compression mechanism ( ) via the oil transfer route ( ). The lubricating oil L is then transferred to the oil separator ( ) together with the compressed refrigerant that is discharged from a compression chamber ( ) of the compression mechanism ( ). Thus, the lubricating oil L contained in the discharged, compressed refrigerant can be effectively separated from the compressed refrigerant and circulated to and from the back side of the movable scroll ( ) in order to lubricate moving parts within the compressor ( ) using the pressure differentials within the compressor ( ).