Patent Application
20230113193
The invention relates to a compressor module having a compressor housing which has a high-pressure chamber and an outlet for a compressed refrigerant and a separation apparatus which is received therein for separating a lubricant which is mixed with the refrigerant. Furthermore, the invention relates to an electric or electric-motor-driven refrigerant compressor having such a compressor module.
An air-conditioning system of a motor vehicle, by means of which system a vehicle interior can be cooled in the manner of a compression refrigerating machine, has a circuit with a refrigerant, for example, R-134a (1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane) or R-774 (CO2), which is guided therein. During operation, the refrigerant is compressed by means of a (refrigerant) condenser or compressor which leads to a pressure and temperature increase of the refrigerant. In particular, the refrigerant compressor is in this instance operated by an electric motor. In the refrigerant compressor and in the (compressor) housing thereof, in the flow direction of the refrigerant a compressor portion and a high-pressure chamber (compression chamber) and a separation apparatus are arranged one behind the other. The compressor portion, which serves to convey the refrigerant from a low-pressure inlet to a high-pressure outlet, is, for example, in the form of a scroll compressor.
During operation of the refrigerant compressor, a lubricant which is introduced therein, in particular oil, is mixed with the gaseous refrigerant. Using the separation apparatus, the lubricant is separated from the refrigerant in the manner of a centrifugal force separator (cyclone separator). To this end, the separation apparatus has an in particular hollow-cylindrical separation chamber (separation portion), in which a separator (separation portion) is received. The admixture (fluid) of lubricant and refrigerant which flows into the separation chamber through an inlet opening of the separation apparatus flows around the separator in a helical manner (cyclone-like manner). In this instance, centrifugal forces act on the admixture of refrigerant and lubricant as a separation mechanism.
International patent disclosure WO 2020/03993 A1 discloses a compressor module which has a pot-like compressor housing having an outlet for a compressed refrigerant and having a separation apparatus which is introduced into a high-pressure chamber of the compressor housing for separating a lubricant which is mixed with the refrigerant. The separation apparatus has a hollow-cylindrical chamber wall which forms a separation chamber which is connected in technical flow terms to the outlet and a separator which is received in the receiving chamber with an annular space being formed.
For torsion-resistant retention, the separator has a radially outwardly protruding retention contour which is received in a corresponding seat of the outlet. In addition, the separator rests with a press-fit being formed in the receiving chamber and consequently in the compressor housing in a non-positive-locking or frictionally engaging manner. It has been found that these measures are not adequate or are not suitable for securing the intended position of the separation apparatus in the compressor housing during compressor operation. The reason for this is that the interference-fit during the compressor operation may, for example, become disengaged as a result of temperature. This can lead to undesirable generation of noise (airborne sound or structure-borne sound) as a result of vibrations and/or impairment of the separation function of the separation apparatus of the compressor module.
An object of the invention is therefore to provide a particularly suitable compressor module in which a torsion and/or an axial displacement of the separation apparatus in the compressor housing is reliably prevented. Furthermore, an electric-motor-driven refrigerant compressor having such a compressor module is intended to be set out.
With regard to the compressor module, the object is achieved according to the invention with the features of the independent compressor module claim and with regard to the electric-motor-driven refrigerant compressor with the features of the independent compressor claim. The dependent claims relate to advantageous embodiments and developments. In this instance, the statements relating to the compressor module also apply accordingly to the refrigerant compressor and vice versa.
The compressor module has a compressor housing having a high-pressure chamber and having an outlet for a compressed refrigerant and a separation apparatus which is received in the compressor housing for separating a lubricant which is mixed with the refrigerant. The outlet is advantageously in the form of a bore or in the manner of a nozzle, that is to say, an outlet nozzle. The separation apparatus has a hollow-cylindrical separation portion and a funnel-like (conical) outlet portion which protrudes therein with an annular space being formed for the refrigerant.
The separation apparatus rests with a portion end of the separation portion in a receiving member, which is connected to a lubricant reservoir, of the compressor housing. With the outlet portion, the separation apparatus rests in the outlet of the compressor housing. In this instance, the separation apparatus is retained in a positive locking manner in the compressor housing, advantageously exclusively, preferably so as to prevent torsion and/or an axial displacement.
The term “positive-locking” or a “positive-locking connection” between at least two members which are connected to each other is in this instance and below in particular intended to be understood to mean that the cohesion of the members which are connected to each other is carried out at least in one direction by a direct mutual engagement of contours of the members themselves or by means of indirect mutual engagement by means of an additional connection portion. The “blocking” of a mutual movement in this direction is thus carried out as a result of the shape. A positive locking connection is also known as a form-locking connection. A form-locking connection is one that connects two elements together due to the shape of the elements themselves, as opposed to a force-locking connection, which locks the elements together by force external to the elements (e.g. ball and socket).
The separation apparatus preferably contains plastics material. Advantageously, the separation apparatus is in one piece (integral). The funnel-like outlet portion extends with a transition region being formed into the hollow-cylindrical separation portion so that the annular space is formed at that location between the inner wall of the hollow-cylindrical separation portion and the outer wall of the wall portion, which protrudes therein, of the outlet portion. Therein opens an inlet opening which is provided in the outer wall of the separation portion and via which the fluid which contains the refrigerant and lubricant (refrigerant/oil admixture) and which flows into the high-pressure chamber of the compressor module reaches the annular space of the separation apparatus and the lubricant (oil) is separated from the refrigerant therein.
In an advantageous embodiment, the separation apparatus has a number of positive-locking elements which engage in corresponding positive-locking contours of the compressor housing. The term “number of positive-locking elements” is also intended to be understood to be only a (single) positive-locking element which engages in a corresponding positive-locking contour. In other words, the separation apparatus has at least one positive-locking element and the compressor housing has at least one (corresponding) positive-locking contour.
The compressor housing has a housing base and a housing wall. The outlet is introduced into the housing wall, for example, as or in the manner of a bore and/or an outlet nozzle. The outlet which is advantageously in the form of an outlet nozzle advantageously opens in the high-pressure chamber. This chamber is advantageously surrounded by an annular wall, which extends from the housing base in an axial direction of the compressor module and against which a fixed compressor portion, in particular a fixed scroll with the base plate thereof abuts in a sealing manner. The high-pressure chamber is consequently formed in the space delimited by the annular wall and the housing base and the fixed compressor portion.
The preferably at least or exclusively two positive-locking elements are advantageously arranged along the circumference of the outlet portion of the separation apparatus with spacing from each other. In this instance, the positive-locking elements are advantageously positioned in an angular manner symmetrically, in particular at an angle of 90° or preferably 180° relative to each other.
Advantageously, the or each positive-locking element—with respect to the center axis of the separation apparatus—is radially deployed, that is to say, protrudes over the circumference of the outlet and/or the separation portion. In this instance, the respective positive-locking element is radially deployed in order, when the separation apparatus is inserted into the compressor housing, to engage at the position of the housing-side positive-locking contour therein in the manner of a snap-fitting connection. The snap-fitting connection may be configured to be non-releasable or also releasable, for which purpose the positive-locking elements are constructed accordingly. In a particularly advantageous manner, the respective positive-locking contour forms for the positive-locking element a tangential stop as a torsion prevention member of the separation apparatus in the compressor housing and/or an axial stop for securing the separation apparatus against axial displacement in the compressor housing.
In an advantageous embodiment, one of the positive-locking contours is in the form of a radial groove. Advantageously, an additional one of the positive-locking contours is in the form of an axial groove. In a particularly advantageous manner, at least one of the positive-locking contours is in the form of a tangential stop for the corresponding positive-locking element and consequently of a torsion prevention member of the separation apparatus in the compressor housing.
Additionally or alternatively, the receiving member, which is connected to the lubricant reservoir, of the compressor housing acts as an axial stop for the separation apparatus. To this end, the receiving member is advantageously constructed as or in the manner of a stepped bore so as to form a preferably annular abutment step on/against which the separation apparatus is supported at the free end with the separation portion thereof or is in abutment.
In an advantageous embodiment, radial support webs are formed on the outlet portion of the separation apparatus at the outer side and—with respect to the center axis of the separation apparatus. These webs serve to prevent tilting of the separation apparatus in the compressor housing and in this instance in particular in the region of the outlet or outlet nozzle. Advantageously, the radial support webs are in alignment with the outer circumference of the (hollow) cylindrical separation portion of the separation apparatus. In other words, the outer diameter of the (cylindrical) separation portion and that of the (funnel-like) outlet portion are identical in the region of the radial support webs.
Advantageously, the or each positive-locking element is arranged along one of the radial support webs and/or is formed therefrom. In other words, the radial support webs along which one of the positive-locking elements is arranged, with respect to the center axis of the separation apparatus, are axially shortened so as to form a web-free axial portion in which the respective positive-locking element is arranged. This element thus performs a dual function, that is to say, that of a snap-fitting element for the positive-locking connection and a support function against tilting of the separation apparatus in the compressor housing.
In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the respective positive-locking element is formed at the transition of the funnel-like outlet portion in the (hollow) cylindrical outlet portion with a fixed end being formed. In this instance, the positive-locking element extends from the fixed end thereof along the conically expanding funnel-like outlet portion in the direction of the outlet-side end portion thereof, at least partially without abutment. In other words, the loose end of the positive-locking element extends with spacing or with a gap being formed along the funnel-like or conical outlet portion of the separation apparatus.
According to an advantageous embodiment, in the high-pressure chamber, preferably in a housing or wall region of the compressor housing adjacent to the outlet, a housing wall which extends axially with respect to the center axis of the separation apparatus is provided. This wall is advantageously constructed in the manner of a half-shell which engages partially around the outlet portion of the separation apparatus, that is to say, over a portion of the circumference thereof. In this housing wall, the respective positive-locking contour is advantageously introduced as a radial or axial groove. These grooves extend radially or axially in the housing wall and open in the high-pressure chamber and are therefore open relative thereto. The radial groove acting as a positive-locking contour advantageously forms both the tangential stop and an axial stop for the positive-locking element and via this for the separation apparatus in the compressor housing. The axial groove acting as a positive-locking contour advantageously also forms such a tangential stop or is in the form of such a stop.
In an advantageous development, an electrical (electric-motor-driven) refrigerant compressor for compressing a refrigerant, in particular of a motor vehicle, has such a compressor module. In addition, the electric-motor-driven refrigerant compressor has a motor module having the electric motor. In this instance, a compressor portion, which is advantageously in the form of a scroll compressor which operates in the manner of a positive-displacement pump, is supported in the compressor housing, wherein a movable scroll portion (movable scroll) is driven in an orbiting manner with respect to a fixed scroll portion (fixed scroll), in particular by means of an electric motor, and in this instance the refrigerant is compressed.
The scrolls are in the form of a helical pair or scroll pair which are fitted one inside the other, wherein one of the helixes is fixed with respect to the compressor housing and engages at least partially in a second helix which is driven in an orbiting manner by means of an electric motor. An orbiting movement is in this instance intended in particular to be understood to be an eccentric circular movement path in which the movable scroll itself does not rotate about its own axis. There are thereby formed with each orbiting movement between the helixes two or more substantially sickle-like refrigerant chambers whose volumes decrease (are compressed) during the movement. The compressed refrigerant is discharged into the high-pressure chamber via an outlet in the fixed scroll portion.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a compressor module and an electric-motor-driven refrigerant compressor, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Components and variables which correspond to each other are given the same reference numerals in all the figures.
Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to
The compressor module 10 has a substantially pot-like compressor housing 12 having a housing base 14 and having a housing wall 16. In the compressor housing 12, a compressor portion 18 which is in the form of a scroll compressor here and which is drivingly connected to the electric motor 5 of the motor module 4 is supported. The compressor portion 18 has a first, compressor portion element (a fixed scroll) 20 which is fixed with respect to the compressor housing 12 and a second movable compressor portion element (a movable scroll) 22 which engages therein.
Within the compressor 2, there is provided a lubricant S which serves to lubricate the compressor portion 18 and which performs a sealing function so that between the compressor portion elements (scrolls) 20 and 22 leaks are prevented. As a result of operation, a refrigerant K which is compressed by means of the compressor portion 18 and the lubricant S are mixed in this case. The refrigerant K flows at the low-pressure side of the compressor portion 18 through a compressor portion inlet 24 into a compressor portion chamber 26. At that location, the admixture or fluid F containing the refrigerant K and lubricant S is condensed (compressed), wherein the compressor portion 18 acts in the manner of a positive-displacement pump. Subsequently, the admixture F flows out of the compressor portion 18 through a high-pressure-side compressor portion outlet 28 into a high-pressure chamber 30 of the compressor housing 12.
The radial direction with respect to the compressor housing 12 and the axial direction perpendicularly to the housing base 14 in the direction of the compressor portion 18 are designated R or A in the adjacent directional diagram.
A separation apparatus 32 which is illustrated in
The separation apparatus 32 has a hollow-cylindrical separation portion 32a and a funnel-like outlet portion 32b, which protrudes therein with an annular space 38 being formed, for the refrigerant K. The separation apparatus 32 rests with a separation portion end 40 of the separation portion 32a in a (housing-side) receiving member 42 of the compressor housing 12 which is connected to the lubricant reservoir 34. With an outlet-side portion end 41 of the outlet portion 32b, the separation apparatus rests in the outlet (outlet nozzle, outlet bore) 36 of the compressor housing 12 (
As can be seen comparatively clearly in
The fluid F which flows via an inlet opening 44 into the separation apparatus 32 flows around helically (in the manner of a cyclone) the wall portion 32d of the separation apparatus 32 in the direction of the lubricant reservoir 34, wherein the centrifugal force acting on the refrigerant K which is contained in the fluid F and the lubricant S which is contained in the fluid F acts as a separation mechanism. Subsequently, the refrigerant K which has been separated from the lubricant S flows away through the outlet portion 32b and via the outlet 36 into the refrigerant circuit. The separated lubricant S is returned in a manner not illustrated in greater detail to the fixed scroll 20 and to bearings (roller or ball bearings) 45 of the electric motor 5 in order to lubricate and/or cool them.
According to
As can further be seen comparatively clearly in
According to
As can also be seen in
The respective positive-locking element 54 is arranged along one of the radial support webs 58. In this instance, those radial support webs 58, along which the respective positive-locking element 54 is arranged, are axially shortened with respect to the center axis M of the separation apparatus 32 so as to form a web-free axial portion along which the respective positive-locking element 54 extends axially (in an axial direction A′). The respective positive-locking element 54 is formed in the transition portion 32c in which the funnel-like outlet portion 32b merges into the (hollow) cylindrical separation portion with a fixed end 60 being formed. In this instance, the positive-locking element 54 extends from the fixed end 60 thereof at the transition portion 32c along the conically expanding outlet portion 32b in the direction of the outlet-side portion end 41 thereof without any abutment. In other words, the loose end of the positive-locking element 54 extends with the hook end 56 which is in the form of a locking or snap-fitting hook with spacing or with a gap being formed along the funnel-like or conical outlet portion 32b of the separation apparatus 32.
The positive-locking elements 54 engage in corresponding positive-locking contours 62, 64 of the compressor housing 12. The positive-locking contour 62 is in the form of a radial groove. This groove extends in the housing wall 52 radially, that is to say, with respect to the center axis M of the separation apparatus 32 in a radial direction R′, and opens into the high-pressure chamber 30, that is to say, is open relative thereto. The positive-locking contour 64 is in the form of an axial groove. This groove extends axially in the housing wall 52, that is to say, with respect to the center axis M of the separation apparatus 32 in an axial direction A′ and opens in the high-pressure chamber 30, that is to say, is open relative thereto.
In the embodiment, both positive-locking contours 62, 64 are in the form of a tangential stop for the corresponding positive-locking element 54. In addition, in the embodiment, the receiving member 42, which is connected to the lubricant reservoir 34, of the compressor housing 12 acts as a tangential stop for the separation apparatus 32. To this end, the receiving member 42 is configured in the manner of a stepped bore with an annular abutment step 66 on which the separation apparatus 32 is supported with the separation-side portion end 41 thereof being formed.
When the separation apparatus 32 is inserted via the outlet 36 into the compressor housing 12, the positive-locking elements 54 engage with the hook ends 56 thereof in the housing-side positive-locking contours 62, 64 in the manner of a snap-fitting connection. In this instance, the positive-locking contours 62, 64 and where applicable the abutment step 66 form the tangential stop as a torsion prevention member of the separation apparatus 32 and the axial stop for securing the separation apparatus 32 against axial displacement in the compressor housing 12. By means of the snap-fitting connection between the separation-side positive-locking elements 54 and the corresponding housing-side positive-locking contours 62, 64, the separation apparatus 32 is retained in the compressor housing 12 in a positive-locking manner and in this instance secured against torsion and axial displacement. An additional non-positive-locking or frictionally engaging connection is not required and preferably also not provided.
The claimed invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Instead, other variants of the invention can also be derived therefrom by the person skilled in the art in the context of the disclosed claims, without departing from the subject-matter of the claimed invention. In particular, all the individual features which have been described in connection with the various embodiments in the context of the disclosed claims can also be combined in other manners without departing from the subject-matter of the claimed invention.
The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention.
A Axial direction (compressor)
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2020 207 510.7 | Jun 2020 | DE | national |
This application is a continuation, under 35 U.S.C. § 120, of copending International Patent Application PCT/EP2021/065911, filed Jun. 14, 2021, which designated the United States; this application also claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of German Patent Application DE 10 2020 207 510.7, filed Jun. 17, 2020; the prior applications are herewith incorporated by reference in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/EP2021/065911 | Jun 2021 | US |
| Child | 18080894 | US |
