Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6464480
-
Patent Number
6,464,480
-
Date Filed
Friday, March 16, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, October 15, 200221 years ago
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Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Tyler; Cheryl J.
- Sayoc; Emmanuel
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 418 556
- 418 554
- 418 94
- 417 4105
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International Classifications
-
Abstract
An oil spout is drilled in the crankcase of a scroll compressor between the outer seal and the coupling. The oil spout intersects the oil return chamber to redirect a portion of the oil exiting the oil return passage to the lower surface of the orbiting scroll between the outer seal and the coupling. It is preferred that the oil spout be substantially perpendicular to and smaller in diameter than the oil return passage. The oil spout provides a continual flow of additional lubrication to the outer seal and the coupling, preventing excessive wear of the outer seal and improving overall seal reliability.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to an oil spout which provides lubrication to the outer seal and coupling of a scroll compressor.
Scroll compressors are utilized in many refrigerant compression applications. In a typical scroll compressor, a pump unit is incorporated within a hermetically sealed housing. A refrigerant is introduced into the housing in a suction chamber through a suction tube. Typically, an electric motor drives a shaft which powers the pump unit. This refrigerant passes over the electric motor, cooling the motor.
The refrigerant then passes into a pump unit and is compressed. The compressor pump unit comprises a pair of scroll members. A scroll compressor includes two opposed scroll members each having a base and a generally spiral wrap extending from the base. One of the two scroll members is driven to orbit relative to the other. The wraps interfit, and as the wraps orbit, compression chambers defined between the wraps are reduced in volume. The refrigerant is then passed to a discharge chamber.
One problem presented by scroll compressors is that the compressed refrigerant can strive the two scroll members away from each other. Thus, a compressed refrigerant is tapped to a “back pressure” chamber behind one of the two scroll members. An inner and an outer seal defines the “back pressure” chamber on the rear face of the scroll member. Further, an Oldham coupling is to be positioned outwardly of the seals, and includes moving members which can strain the orbiting scroll member to orbit rather than rotate.
During operation, lubrication is wiped off of the seal/scroll interface, resulting in excessive wear on the outer seal. Additionally, galling occurs on the coupling. Prior scroll compressors have not provided direct lubrication to the outer seal and coupling.
Hence, there is a need in the art for an oil spout which provides lubrication to the outer seal and coupling of a scroll compressor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an oil spout which provides lubrication to the outer seal and coupling of a scroll compressor
An oil spout is drilled in the crankcase of a scroll compressor between the outer seal and the coupling to provide lubrication. The oil spout redirects a portion of the oil exiting an oil return passage to the lower surface of the orbiting scroll between the outer seal and the coupling.
In the preferred embodiment, the oil spout is substantially perpendicular to the oil return passage. Additionally, in the preferred embodiment, the oil spout is smaller in diameter than the oil return passage.
The oil spout provides a continual flow of lubrication to the outer seal and the coupling, preventing excessive wear of the outer seal and improving overall seal reliability. Additionally, galling of the coupling is minimalized.
Accordingly, the present invention provides an oil spout which provides lubrication to the outer seal and coupling of a scroll compressor.
These and other features of the present invention will be best understood from the following specification and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The various features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the currently preferred embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows:
FIG. 1
illustrates a cross sectional view of a prior art scroll compressor.
FIG. 2
illustrates a cross sectional view of a scroll compressor utilizing the oil spout of the present invention.
FIG. 3
illustrates an enlarged portion of FIG.
2
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A known scroll compressor
10
is illustrated in FIG.
1
. The scroll compressor
10
incorporates an orbiting scroll
12
and a non-orbiting or fixed scroll
14
. A motor
16
includes stator windings
18
driving a shaft
20
through a motor rotor
22
. The shaft
20
and the motor
16
are positioned above an oil sump
24
. A suction tube
26
enters a compressor housing
28
and supplies refrigerant into a space
30
which communicates with the scroll compressor chambers
31
. As shown, a crankcase
32
supports the orbiting scroll
12
. The crankcase
32
includes an outer groove
50
and an inner groove
54
. The outer groove
50
contains an outer seal
44
and the inner groove
54
contains an inner seal
52
. A coupling
46
is utilized to prevent rotation of the orbiting scroll
12
and cause orbital motion. There is a problem in supplying sufficient lubrication to the seals and coupling. A lubricant passage
100
extends through the shaft
20
FIGS. 2 and 3
illustrate a scroll compressor
10
utilizing the oil spout
34
of the present invention. The scroll compressor
10
further includes an oil return chamber
36
which is defined between the crankcase
32
and the orbiting scroll
12
. An oil return passage
38
extends radially outwardly from the oil return chamber
36
through the crankcase
32
to allow oil to return to the sump
24
.
The oil spout
34
is drilled in the crankcase
32
substantially between the outer seal
44
and the coupling
46
. The oil spout
34
intersects the oil return chamber
36
to redirect a portion of the oil flowing through the oil return passage
38
to the lower surface
48
of the orbiting scroll
12
. The oil spout
34
is positioned so that the oil flowing through the oil spout
34
substantially splashes the outer seal
44
and the coupling
46
.
During operation, oil travels through passage
100
and the shaft
20
from the oil sump
24
and enters into the oil return chamber
36
. Oil then flows into the oil return passage
38
. The oil that exits the oil return passage
38
drips down an oil drain tube
56
and flows into a space
40
downwardly into the oil sump
24
. The oil spout
34
redirects a portion of the oil that enters the oil return passage
38
to supply lubrication between the outer seal
44
and the coupling
46
.
In the preferred embodiment, the oil drain tube
56
further includes a restriction
58
. The restriction
58
partially blocks the oil drain tube
56
to redirect a portion of the oil to the outer seal
44
and coupling
46
. In one embodiment, the restriction
58
is a plug. In another embodiment, the scroll compressor
10
does not include the oil drain tube
56
. The restriction
58
is positioned within the oil return passage
38
and oil which exits the oil returns passage
38
flows into the oil sump
24
.
In the preferred embodiment, the oil return passage
38
is substantially parallel to the lower surface
48
of the orbiting scroll
12
, and the oil spout
34
is substantially perpendicular to the oil return passage
38
. However, the oil return passage
38
can be at any angle relative to the lower surface
48
of the orbiting scroll
12
, resulting in the oil spout
34
being angled or slanted from the oil return passage
38
.
It is also preferred that the oil spout
34
be substantially smaller in diameter than the oil return passage
38
. This allows an amount of oil to pass through the oil spout
34
which is less than the amount of oil which passes through the oil return passage
38
. However, it is to be understood that the oil spout
34
can be of any diameter.
During operation of the scroll compressor
10
, excessive wear occurs on the outer seal
44
. Additionally, galling occurs on the coupling
46
. Any existing lubrication is wiped off during operation due to the orbital motion of the scroll compressor
10
. By providing additional lubrication through the oil spout
34
between the outer seal
44
and the coupling
46
, wear is prevented.
The oil spout
34
provides a continual flow of additional lubrication to the outer seal
44
and the coupling
46
of the scroll compressor
10
by diverting oil from the oil return passage
38
through the oil spout
34
. The oil spout
34
provides an alternative path for the oil which exits through the oil return passage
38
, providing lubrication to the seal
44
and the coupling
46
.
There are several advantages to utilizing an oil spout
34
. One main advantage is that by providing continual lubrication, wearing of the outer seal
44
can be minimized, improving overall seal
44
reliability and the overall reliability of the scroll compressor
10
.
The foregoing description is only exemplary of the principles of the invention. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The preferred embodiments of this invention have been disclosed, however, so that one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specially described. For that reason the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.
Claims
- 1. A scroll compressor comprising:a first scroll member including a base and a generally spiral wrap extending from said base; a second scroll member including a base and a generally spiral wrap extending from said base, said generally spiral wrap of said first and second scroll members interfitting to define compression chambers; a crankcase to support said second scroll member including an oil spout, an oil return passage, a groove containing a seal, and a coupling radially outwardly of said seal, said oil return passave is formed as a bore within said crank case, and said oil spout extends from said oil return passape in a direction toward said second scroll member to supply lubricant between said seal and said coupling; and an oil supply system including said oil return passage which communicates with a sump, said oil spout communicating with said oil return passage to supply lubricant between said seal and said coupling.
- 2. The scroll compressor as recited in claim 1 wherein said oil spout is substantially perpendicular to said oil return passage.
- 3. The scroll compressor as recited in claim 1 wherein said oil spout is smaller in diameter than said oil return passage.
- 4. The scroll compressor as recited in claim 1 wherein said oil spout extends from said oil return passage to said base of said second scroll member.
- 5. The scroll compressor as recited in claim 1 wherein said oil spout provides a continual flow of lubrication between said seal and said coupling.
- 6. The scroll compressor as recited in claim 1 wherein an amount of lubrication supplied between said seal and said coupling is substantially less than an amount of lubrication exiting said oil return passage.
- 7. The scroll compressor as recited in claim 1 wherein said oil return passage further includes a restriction to partially block flow of said lubricant through said oil return passage and to redirect a portion of said lubricant to said oil spout.
- 8. The scroll compressor as recited in claim 7 wherein said restriction is a plug.
- 9. The scroll compressor as recited in claim 1 wherein said oil return passage is an oil drain tube.
- 10. A scroll compressor comprising:a first scroll member including a base and a generally spiral wrap extending from said base; a second scroll member including a base and a generally spiral wrap extending from said base, said generally spiral wrap of said first and second scroll members interfitting to define compression chambers; a crankcase to support said second scroll member including an oil spout, a groove containing a seal, and a coupling radially outwardly extending of said seal, said oil return passage is formed as a bore within said crank case, and said oil spout extends from said oil return passage in a direction toward said second scroll member; a shaft for driving said second scroll member to orbit relative to said first scroll member; an electric motor having a rotor for driving said shaft and a stator powering said rotor; and an oil supply system including said oil spout and an oil return passage which communicates with a sump, said oil spout communicating with said oil return passage to supply lubricant between said seal and said coupling.
- 11. The compressor as recited in claim 10 wherein said oil spout is substantially perpendicular to said oil return passage.
- 12. The compressor as recited in claim 10 wherein said oil spout is smaller in diameter than said oil return passage.
- 13. The compressor as recited in claim 10 wherein said oil spout extends from said oil return chamber to said base of said second scroll member.
- 14. The scroll compressor as recited in claim 10 wherein said oil spout provides a continual flow of lubrication between said seal and said coupling.
- 15. The scroll compressor as recited in claim 10 wherein amount of lubrication supplied between said seal and said coupling is substantially less than an amount of lubrication exiting said oil return passage.
- 16. The scroll compressor as recited in claim 10 wherein said oil return passage further includes a restriction to partially block flow of said lubricant through said oil return passage and to redirect a portion of said lubricant to said oil spout.
- 17. The scroll compressor as rccitcd in claim 16 wherein said restriction is a plug.
- 18. The scroll compressor as recited in claim 10 wherein said oil return passage is an oil drain tube.
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