Patent Application
20250230814
The subject disclosure relates to the field of scroll compressors, and more particularly, to a connector assembly for scroll compressors, which facilitates the connection of pipes/conduits to one or more ports of the scroll compressor.
Described herein is a connector assembly for a scroll compressor. The assembly comprises an adaptor having a first end configured to be attached to an outer surface of the scroll compressor at one or more ports of the scroll compressor such that a longitudinally extending bore-hole of the adaptor remains in line and fluidically connected to the corresponding port, and a first tube extending coaxially through the bore-hole of the adaptor via a second end of the adaptor such that a first end of the first tube extends at least partially within an inner chamber of the scroll compressor via the corresponding port and a second end of the first tube extends at least partially outside of the second end of the adaptor, wherein a connecting end of a conduit to be fluidically connected to the corresponding port is configured to be coaxially connected to the second end of the first tube and further secured to the first tube and the adaptor using a fastener.
In one or more embodiments, the one or more ports comprise a suction port, wherein the conduit is associated with and fluidically connected to a service valve.
In one or more embodiments, the one or more ports comprise a vapor injection port, wherein the conduit is associated with and fluidically connected to an economizer.
In one or more embodiments, the conduit is assembled to the adaptor using a flare nut.
In one or more embodiments, the adaptor comprises a housing that is rotationally symmetric about a longitudinal axis of the adaptor and having the bore-hole extending along the longitudinal axis between the first end and the second end of the housing.
In one or more embodiments, the fastener is a flare nut that is rotatably configured around the connecting end of the conduit.
In one or more embodiments, the second end of the adaptor comprises an external thread and the flare nut comprises an internal thread adapted to rotatably engage and be fastened to the external threads of the adaptor to secure the conduit to the first tube and the adaptor.
In one or more embodiments, the conduit is fluidically connected and secured to the corresponding port using the flare nut such that the flare nut and/or the second end of the adaptor encloses a connection point between the conduit and the first tube.
In one or more embodiments, the connector assembly comprises a second tube of a first predefined length coaxially disposed within the first end of the first tube, wherein the second tube is configured to be expanded within the first tube and correspondingly keep the first tube in contact with a rim of the corresponding port to create a leak-proof connection between the rim and the first tube.
In one or more embodiments, the second tube is made of a metal.
In one or more embodiments, the connector assembly comprises a third tube of a second predefined length coaxially disposed in a gap between an outer surface of the second end of the first tube and the second end of the adaptor, and the connected conduit to create a leak-proof connection between the first tube, the adaptor, and the conduit.
In one or more embodiments, the third tube extends at least partially within the bore-hole of the adaptor and the connected conduit.
In one or more embodiments, the third tube is made of copper, wherein the third tube is brazed to the conduit, the first tube, and the adaptor.
In one or more embodiments, the connecting end of the conduit is coaxially connected to the second end of the first tube, such that the second end of the first tube extends at least partially within the conduit.
In one or more embodiments, the adaptor is made of stainless steel.
In one or more embodiments, the first end of the adaptor is welded to the outer surface of the scroll compressor at the one or more ports of the scroll compressor.
In one or more embodiments, the first end of the adaptor comprises a raised portion that is configured to be welded to the outer surface of the scroll compressor at the one or more ports of the scroll compressor.
The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, features, and techniques of the subject disclosure will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the subject disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the subject disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the subject disclosure.
In the drawings, similar components and/or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label with a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label.
The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the subject disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the subject disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the subject disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
Various terms are used herein. To the extent a term used in a claim is not defined below, it should be given the broadest definition persons in the pertinent art have given that term as reflected in printed publications and issued patents at the time of filing.
In the specification, reference may be made to the spatial relationships between various components and to the spatial orientation of various aspects of components as the devices are depicted in the attached drawings. However, as will be recognized by those skilled in the art after a complete reading of the subject disclosure, the components of the subject disclosure. Described herein may be positioned in any desired orientation. Thus, the use of terms such as “above,” “below,” “upper,” “lower,” “first”, “second” or other like terms to describe a spatial relationship between various components or to describe the spatial orientation of aspects of such components should be understood to describe a relative relationship between the components or a spatial orientation of aspects of such components, respectively, described herein may be oriented in any desired direction.
Various ports of the scroll compressor, including the suction port, discharge port, and vapor injection port, traditionally utilize a flanged connection to connect to the refrigerant circuit piping. However, the traditional flanged connection presents several challenges that may compromise the overall reliability and durability of the compressor assembly.
One significant issue arises from the weakness observed in the brazing joint between the compressor tube (extending out of the ports) and the flange connecting tube when subjected to shock and vibration during transport applications. This weakness may lead to failure and, consequently, reduced system performance and reliability. Additionally, achieving the required assembly control to meet design tolerances becomes a challenging task.
Moreover, the alignment of the two connection joints plays an important role in determining the assembly stress. Misalignment while assembling may result in higher assembly stress, further exacerbating the vulnerability of the brazing joint and increasing the risk of failure. The use of flange connections introduces this additional challenge in the form of difficulty in mating the flange connectors, which may lead to additional stress on the assembly, contributing to an increased risk of connection joint failure and piping.
There is therefore a need for a solution to effectively address the challenges associated with scroll compressors, by providing a simple and improved connector assembly for the scroll compressors, which facilitates connection of pipes or conduits to one or more ports of the scroll compressor.
Referring to
In one or more embodiments, referring to
Further, in one or more embodiments, referring to
As illustrated, the compressor 100 can include a separate connector assembly 200 for each of the suction port 102-1, and the vapor injection port 102-2, however, the detailed construction of the connector assembly 200 has been collectively explained herein for the port(s) 102 of the compressor 100 for the sake of brevity.
Referring back to
The assembly 200 can further include a first tube 206 extending coaxially through the bore-hole 204 of the adaptor 202 via the second end 202-2 of the adaptor 202 such that the first end 206-1 of the first tube 206 extends at least partially within an inner chamber of the compressor 100 via the corresponding port 102 and a second end 206-2 of the first tube extends at least partially outside of the second end 202-2 of the adaptor 202.
In one or more embodiments, as illustrated in
Referring back to
In one or more embodiments, the first end 202-1 of the adaptor 202 can include a raised portion 202-3 that can be configured to be welded to the outer surface 104 of the compressor 100 at the one or more ports 102 of the compressor 100. Further, the second end 202-2 of the adaptor 202 can include an external thread 202-4 that facilitates securing the conduit 302, 402 to the second end 202-2 of the adaptor 202 via the flare nut 208. In one or more embodiments, the adaptor 202 and the raised portion 202-3 can be made of stainless steel but is not limited to the like.
In one or more embodiments, the flare nut 208 can be rotatably configured around the connecting end of the conduit 302, 402. Further, the flare nut 208 can include an internal thread complementary to the external thread 202-4 of the adaptor 202, such that the internal thread of the flare nut 208 can rotatably engage and fasten to the external thread 202-4 of the adaptor 202, thereby securing the conduit 302, 402 to the first tube 206 and the adaptor 202. Accordingly, as illustrated in
In one or more embodiments, the assembly 200 can include a third tube 212 of a second predefined length and radius extending at least partially within the bore-hole 204 of the adaptor 202 as well as the connected conduit 302, 402 such that the third tube 212 remains disposed in a gap between an outer surface of the second end 206-2 of the first tube 206 and the second end 202-2, and the connected conduit 302, 402, where a Teflon seal/O-ring seal can be used to provide leak tight sealing between the conduit 302, 402 and the adaptor 202. Further, in one or more embodiments, the third tube 212 can be made of copper, but is not limited to the like, where the disposed third tube 212 can be brazed with the first tube 206, and the adaptor 202 to create a secured, reliable, and leak-proof connection between the conduit 302, 402, the assembly 200, and the compressor 100.
The connection joint between the conduit and the first tube is brazed and further enclosed by the adaptor, there may be no stress at the connection point. As a result, the connection joint becomes strong and capable of effectively withstanding shock and vibration during movement or operation of the compressor and associated components, thereby preventing failure and consequently improving the performance and reliability. In addition, the round or rotationally symmetric design of the rotablock adaptor allows the connector assembly to be easily aligned and secured to the conduit in any orientation. This may help reduce the stress on the connection joint as well as the assembly and conduits, thereby strengthening the connection joint and reducing the risk of connection joint failure during assembly and during the movement or operation of the compressor and associated components.
Thus, the subject disclosure overcomes the challenges associated with scroll compressors and existing flag-type connection designs, by providing a simple and improved connector assembly for the scroll compressors, which facilitates in establishment of a strong, reliable, and leak-proof connection between the conduits and various ports of the scroll compressor.
While the subject disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the subject disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Modifications may be made to adopt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the subject disclosure without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the subject disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the subject disclosure includes all embodiments falling within the scope of the subject disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
In interpreting the specification, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Where the specification claims refer to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C . . . and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.
This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/621,712, filed on Jan. 17, 2024, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63621712 | Jan 2024 | US |
