Patent Grant
10240603
This disclosure relates to a compressor, such as, for example, a refrigerant compressor in a heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (“HVAC”) system. More specifically, methods, systems, and apparatuses are described that are directed to reducing/preventing sound radiated by the compressor and vibration transmitted to other parts of the HVAC system, such as, e.g., refrigerant lines.
A compressor, such as a refrigerant compressor in an HVAC system, typically radiates sound and transmits vibration during operation. Such sound and vibration can be radiated to the environment and/or transmitted to, e.g., a facility served by the HVAC system via discharge and/or suction lines, causing undesired sound.
Methods, systems, and apparatuses directed to isolating vibration of a compressor and reducing sound radiated by the compressor are disclosed.
Generally, the compressor may include a compression mechanism and an external shell. The compression mechanism may be enclosed in the external shell, which can help reduce sound radiated by the compression mechanism. In some embodiments, the compression mechanism may be separated from the external shell by one or more isolators. The isolator(s) can be relatively resilient to help reduce vibration transmitted from the compression mechanism to the external shell, reducing operational sound. The isolator(s) can also be rigid enough to help support a weight of the compression mechanism.
In some embodiments, the external shell may be configured to include a first compartment and a second compartment. The first and second compartments may be configured to enclose a low-pressure side or a high-pressure side of the compression mechanism. In some embodiments, the external shell may include a third compartment. The third compartment may enclose a first portion of the compression mechanism, where the first compartment may enclose a second portion of the compression mechanism, and the first portion and the second portion of the compressor may be oppositely located. A pressure in the first compartment and a pressure in the third compartment may be equalized, which may help reduce or eliminate a physical shift in position of the compression mechanism due to a pressure difference inside the external shell. In some embodiments, the pressure in the first compartment and the pressure in the third compartment can be balanced by a pressure balancing line, which may form a fluid communication between the first compartment and the third compartment.
In some embodiments, the low-pressure side may include a suction port of the compression mechanism, and the high-pressure side may include a discharge port of the compression mechanism.
In some embodiments, the external shell may include an outlet, and the outlet and the discharge port can form fluid communication with the first compartment. In some embodiments, the external shell may include an inlet, and the inlet and the suction port can form fluid communication with the second compartment.
In some embodiments, the discharge port can be equipped with a muffler. In some embodiments, the compressor can be a screw compressor, a scroll compressor, or other suitable compressors. In general, the compressor can be a suitable gas (e.g., refrigerant or air) compressor. In some embodiments, the embodiments disclosed herein may also work with a liquid pump.
In some embodiments, a method of reducing operational sound of a compressor may include: enclosing a compression mechanism of the compressor in a shell; partitioning the shell to include a first compartment and a second compartment; positioning a low-pressure side of the compression mechanism in the first compartment and a high-pressure side of the compression mechanism in the second compartment; and isolating the compression mechanism from the shell.
In some embodiments, the method may include partitioning the shell to include a third compartment, where a third portion of the compression mechanism may be positioned in the third compartment, and balancing a pressure in the first compartment and the third compartment when the compression mechanism is in operation.
In some embodiments, the method may include partitioning the shell to include a third compartment, wherein a third portion of the compression mechanism is positioned in the third compartment, and balancing a pressure in the first compartment and the second compartment when the compression mechanism is in operation.
Other features and aspects will become apparent by consideration of the following Detailed Description and accompanying drawings.
References are made to the accompanying drawings that form a part of this disclosure and which illustrate embodiments in which system and methods described in this specification can be practiced.
Like reference numbers represent like parts throughout.
Operational sound of a compressor, such as, for example, a compressor in an HVAC system can be undesirable. Reducing operational sound of the compressor may be desired when the compressor is used, for example, in a relatively quiet environment (e.g., a school, a hospital, etc.). Operational sound can be produced by, for example, operational vibration of a compression mechanism of the compressor.
This disclosure is directed to methods, systems, and apparatuses that can reduce/prevent operational vibration/sound of a compressor from being radiated/transmitted, thereby reducing operational sound of the compressor. In some embodiments, the compressor may include an external shell and one or more vibration isolators that separate a compression mechanism of the compressor from the external shell. The isolator can help isolate the vibration of the compression mechanism from the external shell so that the vibration of the compression mechanism can be prevented from being transmitted to the external shell and/or other components of the HVAC system, e.g., suction/discharge lines, etc. The external shell can help reduce sound radiated by the compression mechanism. In some embodiments, the isolators can be configured to 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. In some embodiments, the external shell may 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 a physical shift in position due to the pressure difference between the two ends of the compressor.
Embodiments, as disclosed herein, may generally work with an HVAC system, an air distribution system, a liquid distribution system, or other suitable systems.
References are made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustrating embodiments which may be practiced. It is to be understood that the terms used herein are for the purpose of describing the figures and embodiments and should not be regarded as limiting.
The compression mechanism 120 may typically include a first pressure side 120a, and a second pressure side 120b. In some embodiments, the first pressure side 120a may be a low-pressure side, such as a suction side of a compressor in an HVAC system, while the second pressure side 120b may be a high-pressure side, such as a discharge side of a compressor in an HVAC system. During operation, the compression mechanism 120 may produce vibration.
The compression mechanism 120 is separated from the external shell 110 by one or more isolators 130. The term “isolator” generally refers to a device, a structure, and/or a material that is configured to separate two components, (e.g., the external shell 110 and the compression mechanism 120), and can generally prevent/reduce vibration transmitted between the two components. In some embodiments, the isolators 130 can be configured to support a weight of the compression mechanism 120.
The isolator 130 can include a resilient member such as but not limited to, for example, a biasing member, which could be, but is not limited to, a metallic spring, a relatively soft material such as, for example, a rubber, a dynamically soft device, or other suitable materials and/or configurations. The isolator 130 can be relatively dynamically soft in relation to attached structures (e.g., the external shell 110). Generally, the isolators 130 may be configured to separate the compression mechanism 120 from the external shell 110 and can be relatively resilient, so that the vibration of the compression mechanism 120 transmitted to the external shell 110 can be reduced or prevented, resulting in reduced radiated sound levels. The isolators 130 can also be relatively rigid so that a weight of the compression mechanism 120 can be supported by the isolators 130 in some embodiments.
The compressor 100 also includes a seal 140 (e.g., a pressure seal, etc.) configured to partition the external shell 110. The seal 140, the external shell 110, and the compression mechanism 120 can help define a first compartment 141 and a second compartment 142 that are separated by the seal 140. The seal 140 is generally configured to prevent fluid communication between the first compartment 141 and the second compartment 142, e.g., when the compressor 100 is in operation. In the illustrated embodiment, the first compartment 141 is in fluid communication with the first pressure side 120a, and the second compartment 142 is in fluid communication with the second pressure side 120b of the compression mechanism 120. During the operation of the compressor 100, a pressure in the first compartment 141 may be different from a pressure in the second compartment 142. The seal 140 may be configured to withstand the pressure difference between the first compartment 141 and the second compartment 142 and generally provide a seal between the first compartment 141 and the second compartment 142, when for example the compressor is in operation. The separation and seal between the first compartment 141 and the second compartment 142 can allow, for example, an uncompressed fluid to be directed into one of the first or second compartments 141, 142, and the compressed fluid to be discharged from the other of the first or second compartments 141, 142, after being compressed by the compression mechanism 120.
In some embodiments, the seal 140 can be configured to be relatively resilient, so that the seal 140 can be configured to withstand the vibration of the compression mechanism 120 and maintain the seal between the first compartment 141 and the second compartment 142.
In some embodiments, the compressor 100 can include a pressure balancing mechanism, which can include a second seal 150 and a pressure-balancing line 151. The second seal 150, the external shell 110, and the compression mechanism 120 can define a third compartment 153.
The compression mechanism 120 has a first end 121 and a second end 122 in a longitudinal direction L1. As illustrated, the first end 121 of the compression mechanism 120 is contained in the third compartment 153; and the second end 122 of the compression mechanism 120 is contained in the second compartment 142. The pressure-balancing line 151 forms fluid communication between the second compartment 142 and the third compartment 153 to help balance pressure between the second compartment 142 and the third compartment 153. Equalizing the pressure in the second compartment 142 and the third compartment 153 can help prevent or at least reduce a physical shift in position of the compression mechanism 120 in the longitudinal direction L1 due to a pressure difference between the first end 121 and the second end 122.
In the illustrated embodiment of
In general, when a pressure on a first portion may be different from a pressure on a second portion of a compression mechanism in operation, the pressure difference can cause a physical shift in position of the compression mechanism in a particular direction. To help prevent such a physical shift in position, a third portion of the compression mechanism can be defined oppositely to the first portion relative to the particular direction. Balancing the pressure on the first portion and the pressure on the third portion can help reduce or eliminate the physical shift in position caused by the pressure difference between the first portion and the second portion.
It is to be appreciated that the compressor 100 in
Generally, a method of isolating vibration of a compressor may include: providing an external shell configured to generally enclose a compression mechanism; and isolating the compression mechanism from the external shell so that vibration of the compression mechanism can be prevented from being transmitted to the external shell, or the vibration transmitted can be reduced. As illustrated in
Referring to
The compression mechanism 220 is separated from the external shell 210 by one or more isolators 230 (e.g., shown as springs). The isolators 230 can also be configured to support a weight of the compression mechanism 220. Because the compression mechanism 220 and the external shell 210 do not contact directly, transmission of vibration from the compression mechanism 220 to the external shell 210 can be reduced or prevented. In some embodiments, the isolators 230 can be relatively resilient so as to reduce/prevent vibration transmission to the external shell 210 from the compression mechanism 220, and may also be relatively rigid to help support the weight of the compression mechanism 220. In some embodiments, when a plurality of isolators 230 is used, each of the isolators can be configured differently or about the same.
In some embodiments, the low-pressure side 220a can include a suction port 225. The high-pressure side 220b can include a discharge port 226. The high-pressure side 220b can also include a muffler 260, which can be positioned at a discharge end 222 of the compression mechanism 220 and enclosed by the external shell 210. One example of a muffler can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 8,016,071.
In some embodiments, a suction muffler (not shown) can be included at the suction port 225 to help reduce operational sound.
The external shell 210 may also include a third compartment 253 that is sealed by a second seal 250. In the illustrated embodiment of
In the screw compressor 200, the compression mechanism 220 may typically include one or more screws (not shown). The screws can extend between the suction port 225 and the discharge port 226 in the longitudinal direction L2. (Not shown in
In operation, a fluid (e.g., refrigerant, etc.) with a relatively low pressure can be directed into the first compartment 241 of the external shell 210 via the inlet 201. The fluid can enter the compression mechanism 220 from the suction port 225, which is in fluid communication with the first compartment 241, compress the fluid, and discharge the fluid with a relatively high pressure from the discharge port 226 that is in fluid communication with the second compartment 242. The muffler 260 positioned at a discharge end 222 of the compression mechanism 220 can help absorb a portion of the vibration (e.g., discharge fluid pulsations) from the compression mechanism 220, reducing vibration transmitted to the external shell 210. The fluid with the relatively high pressure can be directed out of the compressor 200 through the outlet 202.
In the illustrated embodiment of
It is noted that in the illustrated embodiment, the inlet 201 and/or the outlet 202 can be opened to a direction that is different from the suction port 225 and/or the discharge port 226 relative to the longitudinal direction L2, so that a fluid communication path between the inlet 201 and the suction port 225 or between the discharge port 226 and the outlet 202 may not be a straight path, which can help also reduce vibration transmission between the compression mechanism 222 and the external shell 210.
Referring to
In some embodiments, a second seal 350 helps define a third compartment 353 in the external shell 310. The third compartment 353 in some embodiments is positioned next to the second compartment 342 and is generally opposite of the first compartment 341 in the longitudinal direction L3. A pressure-balancing line 351 forms fluid communication between the first compartment 341 and the third compartment 353. In the embodiment as illustrated in
Referring to
Referring to
The motor 529 and the suction port 525 are enclosed inside a low side housing 530 that is positioned internally with respect to the external shell 510. The low side housing 530 defines a low side space 532 that is configured to receive an uncompressed fluid and has a relatively low pressure. The uncompressed fluid can enter the suction port 525 in the low side space 532.
The low side space 532 forms fluid communication with an inlet 501 through a suction screen 505. The suction screen 505 has an opening 505a that is internal to the low side housing 530. The low side housing 530 and the space 511 are separated by a seal 550.
The compression mechanism 520 is separated from the external shell 510 via a resilient member 570 (e.g., a spring, etc.). The resilient member 570 can be configured to help support a weight of the compression mechanism 520. One exemplary resilient member is illustrated in
In the illustrated embodiment of
It is noted that the oil pump 580 may not be required or present in some embodiments. For example, when the space 511 of the external shell 510 has a relatively high pressure as illustrated, the oil pump 580 may be not positioned inside the external shell 510. As shown in
In the orientation of
Referring to
A muffler 660 is configured to receive a compressed fluid. A discharge port 662 of the muffler 660 can form direct fluid communication with an outlet 602 of the screw compressor 600. That is, a compressed fluid can be directed from the discharge port 662 to the outlet 602 without making a turn. The compressed fluid can be discharged out of the screw compressor 600 from the outlet 602. The fluid communication between the muffler 660 and the outlet 602, which has a relatively high pressure in operation, is separated from a space 611 defined between the external shell 610 and the compression mechanism 620.
The space 611 forms fluid communication with an inlet 601 via a suction screen 605, which may be configured to receive an uncompressed fluid in operation. The suction screen 605 has an opening 605a that is positioned internally relative to the external shell 610. The space 611 has a relatively low pressure in operation and the external shell 610 can be configured to be relatively thin compared to an external shell that may be required to withstand a relatively high pressure (e.g., the external shell 510 in
The compression mechanism 720 includes one or more scrolls 722 that can be driven by a motor 723. The compression mechanism 720 can be separated from the external shell 710 by one or more isolators 730. In the scroll compressor 700, the isolators 730 can help support a weight of a compression mechanism 720. The isolators 730 can help reduce or prevent vibration of the compression mechanism 720 from being transmitted to the external shell 710 in operation.
A discharge cap 740 is positioned on a discharge side of the compression mechanism 720 and helps define a discharge plenum 741 that can receive a fluid compressed by the scroll 722 in operation. The discharge plenum 741 forms fluid communication with an outlet 702 of the scroll compressor 700 through a discharge line 742. Generally, in operation, the discharge plenum 741, the discharge line 742 and the outlet 702 may carry the compressed fluid with a relatively high pressure and do not typically have fluid communication with a space 743 that is between the discharge plenum 741 and the external shell 710. The space 743 can form fluid communication with an inlet 701 of the scroll compressor 700. In operation, the space 743 generally carries an uncompressed fluid with a relatively low pressure. In the embodiment of
It is to be noted that in some embodiments, the discharge line 742 may be configured to be relatively soft and relatively dynamic to help reduce/prevent vibration transmission via the discharge line 742 from the compression mechanism 720 to the external shell 710.
In the embodiment of
In some embodiments, the resilient member 800 can include one or more “Z” shaped pieces 800a. For example, one or more of the resilient member pieces 800a can have a first arm 810 and a second arm 820 connected by a stem 830. In some embodiments, the first arm 810 can be configured to be coupled to the compression mechanism (e.g., the compression mechanism 520 in
The resilient member 800 can be made of, for example, a sheet metal, plastic, composite material, or other suitable materials. In some embodiments, a plurality of similarly configured sheet metal pieces can be used (e.g., stacked, etc.) to form the resilient member 800.
It is to be appreciated that the external shell can include one or more sections. The section(s) that needs to bear a relatively low pressure (e.g., the section of the external shell 210 that encloses the space 241) can be, for example, made of a relatively thin material. The section(s) that needs to bear a relatively high pressure (e.g., the section of the external shell 210 that encloses the space 241) can be, for example, made of a relative thick material. The different sections can be, for example, joined by bolts.
It is to be appreciated that the embodiments as disclosed here can be used generally with a compressor, such as for example a refrigerant compressor, a liquid pump, or an air compressor.
It is to be appreciated that the features as described herein can be combined with other configurations that may help isolate and/or absorb vibration of the compression mechanism. The features described herein can also be optional. Some embodiments may include some of, but not all of the features as described herein.
Aspects
Any one of aspects 1 to 11 can be combined with any one of aspects 12 to 14.
Aspect 1. A compressor, comprising:
Aspect 2. The compressor of aspect 1, wherein the external shell is configured to include a first compartment and a second compartment, and the first compartment is in fluid communication with the first pressure side and the second compartment is in fluid communication with the second pressure side.
Aspect 3. The compressor of aspect 2, wherein the external shell includes a third compartment, the third compartment encloses a first portion of the compression mechanism, the second compartment encloses a second portion of the compression mechanism, the first portion and the second portion of the compressor are oppositely located, and a pressure in the first compartment and a pressure in the third compartment are balanced.
Aspect 4. The compressor of any one of aspects 1-3, wherein the first pressure side includes a suction port of the compression mechanism, and the second pressure side includes a discharge port of the compression mechanism.
Aspect 5. The compressor of aspect 4, wherein the external shell includes an outlet, and the outlet and the discharge port form fluid communication with the first compartment.
Aspect 6. The compressor of any one of aspects 4-5, wherein the external shell includes an inlet, and the inlet and the suction port form fluid communication with the second compartment.
Aspect 7. The compressor of any one of aspects 4-6, wherein the discharge port is equipped with a muffler.
Aspect 8. The compressor of any one of aspects 3-7, further including:
Aspect 9. The compressor of any one of aspects 1-8, wherein the compression mechanism is a screw-type compressor.
Aspect 10. The compressor of any one of aspects 1-9, wherein the compression mechanism is a scroll-type compressor.
Aspect 11. The compressor of any one of aspects 1-10, wherein a weight of the compression mechanism is supported by the isolator.
Aspect 12. A method of reducing operational sound of a compressor, comprising:
Aspect 13. The method of aspect 12, further comprising:
Aspect 14. The method of any one of aspects 12-13, further comprising:
The terminology used in this specification is intended to describe particular embodiments and is not intended to be limiting. The terms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural forms as well, unless clearly indicated otherwise. The terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, indicate the presence of the stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components.
With regard to the preceding description, it is to be understood that changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of the construction materials employed, and the shape, size, and arrangement of parts, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The word “embodiment,” as used within this specification may, but does not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment. This specification and the embodiments described are examples only. Other and further embodiments may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, with the true scope and spirit of the disclosure being indicated by the claims that follow.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3317121 | De Groat | May 1967 | A |
| 3445059 | Hannibal et al. | May 1969 | A |
| 3448918 | Cawley | Jun 1969 | A |
| 3462075 | Dirk et al. | Aug 1969 | A |
| 4174189 | Elson | Nov 1979 | A |
| 4487555 | Ohinata et al. | Dec 1984 | A |
| 4544334 | Ellis | Oct 1985 | A |
| 5183395 | Langouet | Feb 1993 | A |
| 5281115 | Timuska | Jan 1994 | A |
| 5354182 | Niemiec | Oct 1994 | A |
| 5980222 | Fry | Nov 1999 | A |
| 6050797 | Zhong | Apr 2000 | A |
| 6543741 | Li et al. | Apr 2003 | B1 |
| 6786707 | Kim | Sep 2004 | B2 |
| 6966761 | Roke et al. | Nov 2005 | B1 |
| 7592083 | Meltser et al. | Sep 2009 | B2 |
| 7762798 | Ogasawara et al. | Jul 2010 | B2 |
| 20020146332 | Sishtla | Oct 2002 | A1 |
| 20030021706 | Kim | Jan 2003 | A1 |
| 20040258551 | Yoshimura | Dec 2004 | A1 |
| 20060065478 | Rockwell | Mar 2006 | A1 |
| 20080008612 | Kim | Jan 2008 | A1 |
| 20100247366 | Kato | Sep 2010 | A1 |
| 20120034114 | Lee | Feb 2012 | A1 |
| 20120237381 | Murakami | Sep 2012 | A1 |
| 20130156614 | Bonifas | Jun 2013 | A1 |
| 20140271242 | Calhoun | Sep 2014 | A1 |
| 20160017885 | Al-Hasan | Jan 2016 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1400391 | Mar 2003 | CN |
| 101846075 | Sep 2010 | CN |
| 102678549 | Sep 2012 | CN |
| 204163991 | Feb 2015 | CN |
| 2500517 | Sep 2012 | EP |
| 2032004 | Apr 1980 | GB |
| 03096693 | Apr 1991 | JP |
| 2012141949 | Oct 2012 | WO |
| Entry |
|---|
| Extended European Search Report, dated Oct. 1, 2015; European Patent Application No. 15169040.1 (6 pages). |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20150337840 A1 | Nov 2015 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62001888 | May 2014 | US |
