The present disclosure relates to compressors.
This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Scroll compressors include a variety of valve assemblies to control compressor discharge conditions. The valve assemblies may include numerous parts resulting in a complex assembly process. Additionally, some compressors may include multiple valve assemblies, further complicating assembly.
A compressor may include a first scroll member, a second scroll member, a hub member and a valve member. The first scroll member may include a first end plate having a first spiral wrap extending therefrom. The first end plate may include a first annular wall surrounding a first region located radially within the first annular wall and a second region located radially within the first region and defining a recess. The first end plate may further define a discharge port and a first bypass port extending through the recess. The second scroll member may be supported relative to the first scroll member and may include a second end plate having a second spiral wrap extending therefrom and meshingly engaged with the first spiral wrap to form a suction pocket, intermediate pockets, and a discharge pocket. The discharge port may be in communication with the discharge pocket and the first bypass port may be in communication with the one of the intermediate pockets. The hub member may be secured to the first end plate and may overlie an end surface defined by the second region. The hub member may include a second annular wall defining a discharge passage in communication with the discharge port. The valve member may be located between the first end surface and the hub member and may be displaceable between a closed position where the valve member prevents communication between the first bypass port and a discharge passage and an open position where the first bypass port is in communication with the discharge passage.
The valve member may include an annular body defining an outer diameter greater than an inner diameter defined by the second annular wall and the second annular wall may form a valve stop for the valve member. The annular body may define an aperture aligned with the discharge port and may provide communication between the discharge port and the discharge passage when the valve member is in the open and closed positions.
The compressor may further include a valve retainer fixed to an end of the hub member opposite the second annular wall. The hub member may define a stepped region between the valve retainer and the second annular wall and the valve member may be axially retained between the valve retainer and the stepped region. The valve retainer may include an annular body defining an inner circumference having a diameter less than the outer diameter of the valve member.
The compressor may further include a biasing member axially retained within the hub member and biasing the valve member to the closed position. The compressor may further include a discharge valve fixed to the hub member within the discharge passage and displaceable between an open position allowing flow from the discharge port through the discharge passage and a closed position preventing flow from the discharge passage to the discharge port. A protrusion may extend axially outward from the first end surface of the recess and the bypass port may extend through the protrusion. The valve retainer may be located radially outward from the protrusion and may have a thickness less than the axial extent of the protrusion. The valve retainer may be located axially between the end surface and an end of the protrusion.
The first end plate may include a stepped region defining a sidewall radially between the first and second regions. The sidewall may include a threading engaged with a threading on an outer circumference of the hub member. The hub member may include a tool engagement region formed in an inner circumference of the second annular wall adapted to be rotationally driven by a tool to provide the threaded engagement.
In another arrangement, the hub member may include a flange extending radially outward from the second annular wall and overlying the first region. The hub member may be fixed to the first scroll member by a fastener extending through the flange and into the first end plate. The compressor may further include a seal assembly engaged with the first and second annular walls to define a biasing chamber. The first region may include a biasing passage extending therethrough and in communication with one of the intermediate pockets.
A compressor hub assembly may include a hub member, a valve retainer and a valve member. The hub member may include first and second portions. The first portion may define an annular hub wall for a compressor and may have a first inner diameter. The second portion may have a second inner diameter greater than the first inner diameter and may define a stepped region between the first and second portions. The valve retainer may be fixed to the hub member at an end of the second portion opposite the stepped region and may define a third inner diameter. The valve member may be located between the valve retainer in the stepped region and may have an outer diameter less than the second inner diameter and greater than the first and third inner diameters.
An outer diameter of the first portion of the hub member may be less than an outer diameter of the second portion defining an outer stepped region between the first and second portions. The compressor hub assembly may further include a discharge valve fixed to the hub member within the annular wall. The second portion of the hub member may include a threading on an inner circumference thereof. The first portion may include a tool engagement region in an inner circumference of the annular hub wall adapted to be rotationally driven by a tool. In another arrangement, the hub member may include a flange extending radially outward from the annular hub wall and including an aperture adapted to receive a fastener to fix the hub assembly to a scroll member.
A method according to the present disclosure may include providing a valve member within a hub member. The hub member may include a first portion and a second portion. The first portion may define an annular hub wall for a compressor and may have a first inner diameter. The second portion may have a second inner diameter greater than the first inner diameter. The first and second portions may define a stepped region therebetween with the valve member being located within the second portion. The method may further include securing a valve retainer to an end of the second portion of the hub member to retain the valve member between the stepped region and the valve retainer. The method may further include coupling the hub member to a scroll member within an outer annular wall of the scroll member after the securing.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.
The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features. The present teachings are suitable for incorporation in many different types of scroll and rotary compressors, including hermetic machines, open drive machines and non-hermetic machines. For exemplary purposes, a compressor 10 is shown as a hermetic scroll refrigerant-compressor of the low-side type, i.e., where the motor and compressor are cooled by suction gas in the hermetic shell, as illustrated in the vertical section shown in
Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.
When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.
With reference to
Housing 12 may house motor assembly 18, bearing housing assembly 20, and compression mechanism 22. Housing 12 may include a longitudinally extending shell 30 having a suction gas inlet 32, an end cap 34 having a discharge gas outlet 36, a transversely extending partition 37, and a base 38. End cap 34 may be fixed to an upper end of shell 30. Base 38 may be fixed to a lower end of shell 30. End cap 34 and partition 37 may generally define a discharge chamber 42. Partition 37 may include an aperture 39 providing communication between compression mechanism 22 and discharge chamber 42. Discharge chamber 42 may generally form a discharge muffler for compressor 10. Refrigerant discharge fitting 14 may be attached to housing 12 at discharge gas outlet 36 in end cap 34. Suction gas inlet fitting 16 may be attached to shell 30 at suction gas inlet 32. While illustrated as including a discharge chamber 42, it is understood that the present disclosure is not limited to compressors having discharge chambers and applies equally to direct discharge configurations.
Motor assembly 18 may generally include a motor stator 44, a rotor 46, and a drive shaft 48. Windings 50 may pass through stator 44. Motor stator 44 may be press fit into shell 30. Drive shaft 48 may be rotatably driven by rotor 46 and supported by the bearing housing assembly 20. Drive shaft 48 may include an eccentric crank pin 52 having a flat thereon for driving engagement with compression mechanism 22. Rotor 46 may be press fit on drive shaft 48. Bearing housing assembly 20 may include a main bearing housing 54 and a lower bearing housing 56 fixed within shell 30. Main bearing housing 54 may include an annular flat thrust bearing surface 58 that supports compression mechanism 22 thereon.
Compression mechanism 22 may be driven by motor assembly 18 and may generally include an orbiting scroll 60 and a non-orbiting scroll assembly 62. Orbiting scroll 60 may include an end plate 64 having a spiral vane or wrap 66 on the upper surface thereof and an annular flat thrust surface 68 on the lower surface. Thrust surface 68 may interface with an annular flat thrust bearing surface 58 on main bearing housing 54. A cylindrical hub 70 may project downwardly from thrust surface 68 and may have a drive bushing 72 rotatively disposed therein. Drive bushing 72 may include an inner bore in which crank pin 52 is drivingly disposed. Crank pin 52 may drivingly engage a flat surface in a portion of the inner bore of drive bushing 72 to provide a radially compliant driving arrangement.
As seen in
Spiral wrap 80 may form a meshing engagement with wrap 66 of orbiting scroll 60, thereby creating a series of pockets. The pockets created by spiral wraps 66, 80 may change throughout a compression cycle of compression mechanism 22 and may include a suction pocket, intermediate pockets and a discharge pocket.
Primary discharge port 88 may be in communication with the discharge pocket, the first and second bypass porting 90, 92 may be in communication with intermediate pockets or the discharge pocket, and biasing passage 94 may also be in communication with an intermediate pocket. The biasing passage 94 may be located radially outward relative to the first and second bypass porting 90, 92. Non-orbiting scroll member 74 may be rotationally fixed relative to main bearing housing 54 by retaining assembly 24 for limited axial displacement based on pressurized gas from biasing passage 94. Retaining assembly 24 may generally include a fastener 98 and a bushing 100 extending through non-orbiting scroll member 74. Fastener 98 may be fixed to main bearing housing 54.
Referring to
The stepped region may be formed by an end of second portion 108 having a greater inner diameter than first portion 106. An outer stepped region may additionally be formed by second portion 108 having a greater outer diameter than first portion 106. An end of hub member 76 may include a tool engagement region defining slots 120, 122 extending radially outwardly from an inner circumference for engagement with a driver (not shown) during assembly of compressor 10. First portion 106 of hub member 76 may form a second annular wall 124 that is located radially inward relative to first annular wall 82. First and second annular walls 82, 124 and end plate 78 may cooperate to form an annular recess 126 for axial biasing of non-orbiting scroll assembly 62.
Seal assembly 26 may be disposed within annular recess 126 and may be sealingly engaged with first and second annular walls 82, 124 and partition 37 to form an annular chamber 128 that is in communication with biasing passage 94 and that is isolated from suction and discharge pressure regions of compressor 10.
Hub member 76 and valve assembly 28 may form a hub assembly. Valve assembly 28 may be located within hub member 76 and may include a retainer 130, a valve member 132, and a biasing member 134. More specifically, valve assembly 28 may be located within discharge passage 104 defined by hub member 76. Retainer 130 may be fixed to an end of second portion 108 of hub member 76 and valve member 132 may be located and axially retained between valve stop 114 and retainer 130. Retainer 130 may have an axial thickness that is less than the height of protrusions 91, 93 and may be located radially outward therefrom. Valve member 132 may be displaceable between open and closed positions and may be initially biased into a closed position by biasing member 134. Biasing member 134 may take a variety of forms including, but not limited to, helical, crescent washer or wave washer type springs.
Valve member 132 may include an annular body 136 that defines an aperture 138. Annular body 136 may be radially aligned with first and second bypass porting 90, 92 and aperture 138 may be radially aligned with primary discharge port 88. When in the closed position, valve member 132 may sealingly engage protrusions 91, 93 to seal bypass porting 90, 92 from communication with discharge passage 104 of hub member 76. In an alternate arrangement shown in
Primary discharge port 88 may be in communication with aperture 39 in partition 37 through aperture 138 in valve member 132 when valve member 132 is in the closed position. When in the open position, valve member 132 may be axially offset from end plate 78 and may abut valve stop 114 to provide communication between bypass porting 90, 92 and discharge passage 104 of hub member 76. Primary discharge port 88 may be in communication with aperture 39 in partition 37 when valve member 132 is in the open position. Therefore, primary discharge port 88 and bypass porting 90, 92 may each act as discharge ports when the valve member is in the open position.
An alternate hub assembly including a hub member 276 and valve assembly 228 is shown in
During assembly of the arrangement shown in
Another hub assembly including a hub member 376 and a valve assembly 328 is shown in
During assembly of the arrangement shown in
An additional alternate hub assembly including a hub member 576 and a valve assembly 528 is shown in
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/307,135, filed on Feb. 23, 2010. The entire disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61307135 | Feb 2010 | US |