Patent Application
20060198749
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an orbiting vane compressor, and, more particularly, to a capacity-changing unit of an orbiting vane compressor that is capable of performing normal operation and no-load operation in inner and outer compression chambers through simple manipulation of a rotary valve plate, thereby easily changing the capacity of the compressor according to operation modes.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, an orbiting vane compressor is constructed to compress refrigerant gas introduced into a cylinder through an orbiting movement of an orbiting vane in the cylinder having an inlet port. Various types of orbiting vane compressors, which are classified based on their shapes, have been proposed.
The drive unit D comprises: a stator 2 fixedly disposed in the shell 1; and a rotor 3 disposed in the stator 2 for rotating the crankshaft 6, which vertically extends through the rotor 3, when electric current is supplied to the rotor 3.
The compression unit P comprises an orbiting vane 4 for performing an orbiting movement in a cylinder 5 by the eccentric part 6a of the crankshaft 6. As the orbiting vane 4 performs the orbiting movement in the cylinder 5, refrigerant gas introduced into the cylinder 5 through an inlet port 51 is compressed. The cylinder 5 has an inner ring 52. Between the inner ring 52 and the inner wall of the cylinder 5 is defined an annular operation space 53. A wrap 40 of the orbiting vane 4 performs an orbiting movement in the operation space 53. As a result, compression chambers are formed at the inside and the outside of the wrap 40, respectively.
At the upper and lower parts of the compression unit P are disposed a main frame 7 and a subsidiary frame 7a, which support opposite ends of the crankshaft 6. The subsidiary frame 7a has a discharge chamber 8a, which is formed by a muffler 8. The discharge chamber 8a is connected to a pipe-shaped discharge channel 9, which extends vertically through the compression unit P and the main frame 7, such that the compressed refrigerant gas is discharged into the shell 1 through the discharge channel 9.
Unexplained reference numeral 11 indicates an inlet tube, 12 an outlet tube, and 10a an Oldham's ring for preventing rotation of the wrap 40 of the orbiting vane 4.
When electric current is supplied to the drive unit D, the rotor 3 of the drive unit D is rotated, and therefore, the crankshaft 6, which vertically extends through the rotor 3, is also rotated. As the crankshaft 6 is rotated, the orbiting vane 4 attached to the eccentric part 6a of the crankshaft 6 performs an orbiting movement.
As a result, the wrap 40 of the orbiting vane 4 performs an orbiting movement in the operation space 53 of the cylinder 5 to compress refrigerant gas introduced into the cylinder 5 through the inlet port 51 in the compression chambers formed at the inside and the outside of the wrap 40, respectively. The compressed refrigerant gas is discharged into the discharge chamber 8a through inner and outer outlet ports (not shown) formed at the cylinder 5 and the subsidiary frame 7a. The discharged high-pressure refrigerant gas is guided into the shell 1 through the discharge channel 9. Finally, the compressed refrigerant gas is discharged out of the shell 1 through the outlet tube 12.
As shown in
At the initial orbiting position of the wrap 40 of the orbiting vane 4 of the compression unit P (i.e., the 0-degree orbiting position), refrigerant gas is introduced into an inner suction chamber A1, which is disposed at the inside of the wrap 40, through the inlet port 51, and compression is performed in an outer compression chamber B2, which is disposed at the outside of the wrap 40, while the outer compression chamber B2 does not communicate with the inlet port 51 and an outer outlet port 53b. Refrigerant gas is compressed in an inner compression chamber A2, and at the same time, the compressed refrigerant gas is discharged out of the inner compression chamber A2.
At the 90-degree orbiting position of the wrap 40 of the orbiting vane 4 of the compression unit P, the compression is still performed in the outer compression chamber B2, and almost all the compressed refrigerant gas is discharged out of the inner compression chamber A2 through an inner outlet port 53a. At this stage, an outer suction chamber B1 appears so that refrigerant gas is introduced into the outer suction chamber B1 through the inlet port 51.
At the 180-degree orbiting position of the wrap 40 of the orbiting vane 4 of the compression unit P, the inner suction chamber A1 disappears. Specifically, the inner suction chamber A1 is changed into the inner compression chamber A2, and therefore, compression is performed in the inner compression chamber A2. At this stage, the outer compression chamber B2 communicates with the outer outlet port 53b. Consequently, the compressed refrigerant gas is discharged out of the outer compression chamber B2 through the outer outlet port 53b.
At the 270-degree orbiting position of the wrap 40 of the orbiting vane 4 of the compression unit P, almost all the compressed refrigerant gas is discharged out of the outer compression chamber B2 through the outer outlet port 53b, and the compression is still performed in the inner compression chamber A2. Also, compression is newly performed in the outer suction chamber B1. When the orbiting vane 4 of the compression unit P further performs the orbiting movement by 90 degrees, the outer suction chamber B1 disappears. Specifically, the outer suction chamber B1 is changed into the outer compression chamber B2, and therefore, the compression is continuously performed in the outer compression chamber B2. As a result, the wrap 40 of the orbiting vane 4 of the compression unit P is returned to the position where the orbiting movement of the orbiting vane 4 is initiated. In this way, a 360-degree-per-cycle orbiting movement of the wrap 40 of the orbiting vane 4 of the compression unit P is accomplished. The orbiting movement of the wrap 40 of the orbiting vane 4 of the compression unit P is performed in a continuous fashion.
Unexplained reference numeral 55 indicates a slider for maintaining the seal between the high-pressure and low-pressure parts.
As shown in
The wrap 40 is configured such that the length of the wrap 40 is less than that of the operation space 53. The wrap 40 is disposed in the operation space 53 such that a suction channel is formed between the end of the wrap 40 at the inlet port side and the operation space 53. Sealing is maintained between the inner and outer compression chambers by the slider 55 at the end of the wrap 40 at the outlet port side.
The outlet port side operation space 53 has a linear part 59 although the other part of the operation space 53 is approximately formed in the shape of a ring. Consequently, the slider 55 is disposed in the linear part 59 of the operation space 53 such that the slide 55 can be linearly reciprocated. The slider 55 is brought into tight contact with the outlet port side end of the wrap 40 by the discharge pressure of the compressed refrigerant gas, which is discharged through a gas discharge hole 57 of the operation space 53, whereby sealing is maintained between the high-pressure and the low-pressure parts.
Meanwhile, an energy-saving operation of a refrigerating apparatus or an air conditioning apparatus, such as a refrigerator or an air conditioner, is generally performed as follows. When the temperature in the refrigerator or the temperature in a room where the air conditioner is installed reaches a predetermined temperature, the operation of the compressor of the refrigerator or the air conditioner is stopped. When the temperature in the refrigerator or the temperature in the room exceeds the predetermined temperature, on the other hand, the operation of the compressor of the refrigerator or the air conditioner is initiated. In this way, the operation of the compressor is repetitively turned on and off. Generally, power consumption when the operation of the compressor is initiated is greater than power consumption when the compressor is normally operated. Furthermore, interference between the compressed gas in the compressor and the parts of the compressor is caused due to abrupt interruption of the compressor and initiation of the compressor, and therefore, the parts of the compressor are prematurely worn, which reduces the service life of the compressor.
For this reason, it is required to change the capacity of the compressor without the repetitive on/off operation of the compressor as described above. An inverter system may be used to change the capacity of the compressor. In the inverter system, the number of rotations of the motor is controlled to change the capacity of the compressor. However, the inverter system has problems in that expensive electric circuit control devices and relevant parts are needed. Consequently, the manufacturing costs of the compressor are increased, and therefore, the competitiveness of the product is decreased.
Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a capacity-changing unit of an orbiting vane compressor having inner and outer compression chambers formed at the inside and the outside of an orbiting vane as the orbiting vane performs an orbiting movement in a cylinder that is capable of performing normal operation and no-load operation in the inner and outer compression chambers through simple manipulation of a rotary valve plate, thereby easily changing the capacity of the compressor according to operation modes.
In accordance with the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a capacity-changing unit of an orbiting vane compressor, comprising: a cylinder having a refrigerant gas inlet port and a refrigerant gas outlet port; a wrap of an orbiting vane for performing an orbiting movement in an operation space defined in the cylinder to compress refrigerant gas introduced into the cylinder; a subsidiary frame for supporting one end of the cylinder; and a rotary valve plate disposed between the cylinder and the subsidiary frame for opening or closing a communication channel connected between a cylinder suction hole, which communicates with the inlet port of the cylinder, and the outlet port.
Preferably, the operation space in the cylinder is formed in the shape of a ring having opposite ends separated from each other, the operation space having a linear part formed at one end of the operation space in the tangential direction, and the wrap is configured such that the length of the wrap is less than that of the operation space, the wrap being disposed in the operation space such that an opening is formed between one end of the wrap and the operation space.
Preferably, the operation space of the cylinder is divided into inner and outer compression chambers by the wrap, and the outlet port comprises a pair of inner and outer outlet ports, which communicate with the inner and outer compression chambers, respectively.
Preferably, the capacity-changing unit further comprises: sealing means brought into contact with one end of the wrap, wherein the sealing means is a linear slider for performing a linear reciprocating movement in the linear part of the operation space having linear sliding contact surfaces, the linear slider having one side brought into contact with the end of the wrap of the orbiting vane.
Preferably, the capacity-changing unit further comprises: pressurizing means formed at a cylinder adjacent to the other side of the linear slider for applying pressure to the linear slider such that the linear slider is brought into tight contact with the end of the wrap.
Preferably, the pressurizing means is a gas discharge hole formed in the operation space adjacent to the other side of the linear slider for allowing gas to be discharged therethrough such that pressure created from the discharged gas is applied to the linear slider.
Preferably, the rotary valve plate has a discharge pressure communication hole, which communicates with the gas discharge hole and a gas suction hole of the subsidiary frame.
Preferably, the cylinder is provided at one surface thereof with a valve operation groove, the valve operation groove including the cylinder suction hole and the inner and outer outlet ports of the cylinder.
Preferably, the valve operation groove is formed in the shape of a ring, and the valve operation groove is provided at a predetermined position of the outer circumferential part thereof with a connection part operation groove, the connection part operation groove communicating with the valve operation groove.
Preferably, the valve operation groove is formed in the shape of a sector, and the valve operation groove is provided at a predetermined position of the outer circumferential part thereof with a connection part operation groove, the connection part operation groove communicating with the valve operation groove.
Preferably, the rotary valve plate is formed in the same shape as the valve operation groove, the rotary valve plate has a communication channel for allowing communication between a communication inlet port, which corresponds to the cylinder suction hole, and inner and outer communication outlet ports, which correspond to the inner and outer outlet ports of the cylinder, respectively, and the rotary valve plate is provided at the rear of the communication channel with inner and outer valve outlet ports, which correspond to the inner and outer outlet ports of the cylinder, respectively, the inner and outer valve outlet ports not communicating with the communication channel.
Preferably, the subsidiary frame has inner and outer outlet ports, which communicate with the inner and outer valve outlet ports, respectively.
Preferably, the rotary valve plate is provided at a predetermined position of the outer circumferential part thereof with an actuator connection part, which extends a predetermined length outward such that the actuator connection part is formed in the shape of a lever, and the actuator connection part is rotatably disposed in the connection part operation groove.
Preferably, the actuator connection part is operated by an actuator, and the actuator is a solenoid.
Preferably, the rotary valve plate is provided at one side of the communication inlet port thereof with a suction pressure communication groove, which communicates with the rear surface side of the slider when the no-load operation of the compressor is performed.
The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
At the lower surface of a cylinder 5 is formed a valve operation groove 110 (the valve operation groove 110 is formed at the upper surface of the cylinder 5 in the drawing). The valve operation groove 110 includes a cylinder suction hole 111, which communicates with a side inlet port 51 of the cylinder 5, and inner and outer outlet ports 53a and 53b, which communicate with inner and outer compression chambers in the cylinder 5. On the valve operation groove 110 is rotatably located a rotary valve plate 120, which is formed in the same shape as the valve operation groove 110.
Referring to
A solenoid, which performs a linear reciprocating movement when the solenoid is supplied with electric current, is used as an actuator (not shown). However, any kind of actuator may be used without limits as far as the actuator enables the rotary valve plate 120 to be rotated in alternating directions in the valve operation groove 110 through the actuator connection part 125.
At the subsidiary frame 7a and the cylinder 5 are formed a gas suction hole 7d and a gas discharge hole 57, respectively, such that the pressure of the compressed refrigerant gas discharged through inner and outer outlet ports 7b and 7c formed at the inside and the outside of the subsidiary frame 7a can be applied to the inside of the operation space 53, which forms a back pressure chamber between the closing part 58 of the cylinder 5 and the slider 55, when the compressor is normally operated. In order to prevent the gas suction hole 7d and the gas discharge hole 57 from not communicating with each other by the rotary valve plate 120, a discharge pressure communication hole 126 is also formed at the rotary valve plate 120, which communicates with the gas suction hole 7d and the gas discharge hole 57 when the compressor is normally operated.
At the communication inlet port 121 of the rotary valve plate 120 is formed a linear suction pressure communication groove 127, which is connected to the rear surface side of the slider 55, as shown in
The rotary valve plate 120 may take various forms. For example, the rotary valve plate 120 may be formed in the shape of a ring 120a, which corresponds to the valve operation groove 110. Alternatively, the rotary valve plate 120 may be formed in the shape of a sector 120b, which will be described below in derail, as shown in
Unexplained reference numerals 128 and 129 indicate fixing parts, through which the rotary valve plate 120 is fixed to the cylinder 5 and the subsidiary frame 7a by means of bolts. Preferably, the fixing parts 128 and 129 are formed in the shape of an elongated hole or groove, by virtue of which the rotary valve plate 120 can be rotated without interference.
When the normal operation of the capacity-changing unit of the orbiting vane compressor is performed as shown in
Consequently, the refrigerant gas introduced into the cylinder through the side inlet port 51 of the cylinder 5 is compressed in the cylinder 5, and is then discharged out of the cylinder 5 through the inner and outer outlet parts 53a and 53b of the cylinder 5, the inner and outer valve outlet ports 123 and 123a of the rotary valve plate 120, and the inner and outer outlet ports 7b and 7c of the subsidiary frame 7a. In this way, compression is performed in the cylinder 5.
At this time, the discharge pressure communication hole 126 of the rotary valve plate 120 communicates with the gas suction hole 7d of the subsidiary frame 7a and the gas discharge hole 57 of the cylinder 5. Consequently, some of the compressed refrigerant gas discharged into the discharge chamber through the inner and outer outlet ports 7b and 7c of the subsidiary frame 7a is discharged into the operation space 53, which forms the back pressure chamber, through the gas suction hole 7d of the subsidiary frame 7a, the discharge pressure communication hole 126 of the rotary valve plate 120, and the gas discharge hole 57 of the cylinder 5, as shown in
Unexplained reference numeral 130 indicates an actuator connected to the actuator connection part 125 of the rotary valve plate 120 for rotating the rotary valve plate 120 in alternating directions.
When the no-load operation of the capacity-changing unit of the orbiting vane compressor is performed as shown in
Consequently, the refrigerant gas introduced into the cylinder through the side inlet port 51 of the cylinder 5 is introduced into the communication inlet port 121 of the rotary valve plate 120 through the cylinder suction hole 111, is guided along the communication channel 124, and is then introduced into the cylinder 5 through the inner and outer valve outlet ports 123 and 123a of the rotary valve plate 120 and the inner and outer outlet parts 53a and 53b of the cylinder 5. In this way, the no-load operation is performed.
At this time, the end of the suction pressure communication groove 127 of the rotary valve plate 120 is placed at the rear surface of the slider 55. Consequently, the pressure of the refrigerant gas introduced through the side inlet port 51 of the cylinder 5 and the cylinder suction hole 111 is applied to the rear surface of the slider 55 through the suction pressure communication groove 127. At the same time, the slider 55 is brought into tight contact with the end of the linear part 59 of the operation space 53, as shown in
As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides a capacity-changing unit of an orbiting vane compressor having inner and outer compression chambers formed at the inside and the outside of an orbiting vane as the orbiting vane performs an orbiting movement in a cylinder that is capable of performing normal operation and no-load operation in the inner and outer compression chambers through simple manipulation of a rotary valve plate, thereby easily changing the capacity of the compressor according to operation modes. Consequently, the present invention has the effect of accomplishing economical efficiency of the orbiting vane compressor, reducing power consumption and preventing reduction in service life of the parts of the orbiting vane compressor due to repetitive on/off operation of the orbiting vane compressor, and therefore, improving the performance and reliability of the orbiting vane compressor.
Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2005-0018278 | Mar 2005 | KR | national |
