Advanced scroll compressor, vacuum pump, and expander

Abstract

Modifications of a scroll compressor provide a bellows suitable for liquid cooling and a plunger actuated seal for the scroll tips of various equipment. A bellows spans the fixed and the orbiting scrolls and hermetically seals the scroll device. Using two bellows, the present invention allows for liquid cooling of a compressor with an inlet and an outlet to exhaust heated coolant to a heat exchanger. Then the scrolls have a spiral upon a plate that ends in a tip. A seal upon the tip that abuts the fixed scroll upon a biased plunger modifies existing scroll designs to maintain the seal in contact with the fixed scroll. The modifications also provide an improved coating that seals the fixed and orbiting scrolls to each other without the use of epoxy, disassembly, and cleaning.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a sectional view through both scrolls of a scroll compressor using the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view through a scroll compressor on a plane through the axis of rotation of the scrolls;

FIG. 3 describes a sectional view through a scroll compressor having liquid cooling;

FIG. 4 describes a planar view of the cooling plate and its connection to the bellows of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a sectional view through the bellows and fittings for liquid cooling of a scroll compressor of the present invention; and,

FIG. 6 shows a sectional view through one tip of a scroll having an improved seal of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device for altering the pressure within a container having a fixed scroll enmeshed with an orbiting scroll, said orbiting scroll driven by an eccentric shaft, said eccentric shaft driven by a motor, a coolant, and a case containing said fixed scroll and said orbiting scroll further comprising: a bellows having a hollow cylindrical shape and two opposing open ends, a flange upon each of said ends, and a sealing ring upon each of said flanges opposite said respective ends;each of said flanges attaches to said orbiting scroll and said fixed scroll respectively; and,each of said sealing rings seals each of said flanges to said orbiting scroll and said fixed scroll respectively;whereby said bellows endures the oscillations of said orbiting plate with a minimum of leakage from said orbiting scroll and said fixed scroll.

2. The pressure altering device of claim 1 further comprising: said bellows having an inclination proportional to the eccentricity of said eccentric shaft.

3. The pressure altering device of claim 1 further comprising: said flanges having an annular shape with an inner diameter similar to the inner diameter of said bellows and an outer diameter exceeding the outer diameter of said bellows.

4. The pressure altering device of claim 3 wherein said flanges are attached to said fixed scroll and said orbiting scroll respectively by one of bolting, welding, or brazing.

5. The pressure altering device of claim 1 wherein said sealing rings are one of metal, elastomer, rubber, or polymer.

6. A device for altering the pressure within a container having a fixed scroll enmeshed with an orbiting scroll, said orbiting scroll driven by an eccentric shaft, said eccentric shaft driven by a motor, a coolant, and a case containing said fixed scroll and said orbiting scroll further comprising: a fixed cooling plate attaching behind said fixed scroll and having a central hole and a partially annular groove, said groove forming a passage between said fixed cooling pate and said fixed scroll, said groove having at least one aperture separated by a wall for transmitting coolant into, through, and out of said passage;a first end plate perpendicular to said fixed scroll and coplanar with said fixed scroll, having two adjacent apertures with one bolt between said apertures, said apertures in communication with said inlet and said outlet;an orbiting cooling plate attaching behind said orbiting scroll and having a central hole and a partially annular groove, said groove forming a passage between said orbiting cooling pate and said orbiting scroll, said groove having at least one apertures separated by a wall for transmitting coolant into, through, and out of, said passage;a second end plate perpendicular to said orbiting cooling plate and to said first end plate, having two adjacent apertures with two bolts between said apertures, said apertures in communication with said inlet and said outlet;a first bellows connecting the left apertures of said first end plate and said second end plate having sealing rings at both ends of said first bellows; and,a second bellows connecting the right apertures of said first end plate and said second end plate having sealing rings at both ends of said second bellows;whereby coolant enters said inlet into said fixed cooling plate and said first bellows into said inlet of said orbiting cooling plate, travels through said passages in said fixed cooling plate and said orbiting cooling plate, returns through said outlet of said orbiting cooling plate into said second bellows and said outlet of said fixed cooling plate for exchange of heat outside said device.

7. The pressure altering device of claim 6 further comprising: said groove extending from one aperture partially around said fixed cooling plate and terminating at another aperture, and having said wall span across the width of said groove;whereby coolant attains a one way flow through said passage.

8. The pressure altering device of claim 6 further comprising: said first bellows and said second bellows each having a hollow cylindrical shape and two opposing open ends, a flange upon each of said ends, and a sealing ring upon each of said flanges opposite said respective ends;each of said flanges attaching to said first end plate and said second end plate respectively; andeach of said sealing rings sealing each of said flanges to said first end plate and said second end plate respectively;whereby said first bellows and said second bellows endures the oscillations of said orbiting scroll within a minimum of leakage from said orbiting scroll and said fixed scroll.

9. The pressure altering device of claim 6 further comprising: said flanges having an annular shape with an inner diameter similar to the inner diameter of said bellows and an outer diameter similar to the outer diameter of said bellows.

10. The pressure altering device of claim 9 wherein said flanges are attached to said first end plate and said second end plate respectively by one of bolting, welding, or brazing.

11. A device for altering the pressure within a container having a fixed scroll enmeshed with an orbiting scroll, said orbiting scroll driven by an eccentric shaft, said eccentric shaft driven by the shaft of a motor, coolant, and a case containing said fixed scroll and said orbiting scroll, said fixed scroll and said orbiting scroll having a tip and a groove upon the length of said fixed scroll and said orbiting scroll, wherein the improvement comprises: said groove having a plurality of holes in a pattern along said groove;each of said holes having a spring at the bottom of said hole, a plunger biased ahead of said spring towards said tip, and a seal upon said plunger.

12. The pressure altering device of claim 11 further comprising: said seal having a circumferential groove and a sealing ring within said groove therein sealing said hole.

13. A method of preparing a device to alter the pressure within a container having a fixed scroll enmeshed with an orbiting scroll, said orbiting scroll driven by an eccentric shaft, said eccentric shaft driven by the shaft of a motor, and a case containing said fixed scroll and said orbiting scroll, said fixed scroll and said orbiting scroll having a tip and a groove upon the length of said fixed scroll and said orbiting scroll and said method disassembling said device, wherein the improvement comprises: 1) applying a mold release to said tips of said fixed scroll and said orbiting scroll;2) reassembling said scrolls into said device;3) injecting epoxy into said scrolls;4) operating said device to eject excess epoxy; and,5) using said device normally;whereby said mold release occupies any gaps between one scroll and the other scroll.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said mold release is one of lubricating fluid, elastomers, gels, greases, low hardness polymers, and pliable sealants.