The present invention relates to a scroll compressor, and in particular to a scroll refrigeration compressor.
As known, a scroll compressor comprises:
In order to reduce the compressor vibrations generated by the reciprocating translation movement of the Oldham coupling along the first displacement direction and by the orbital movement of the orbiting scroll member, the scroll compressor further comprises a rotating counterweight attached to the drive shaft.
However, the unbalance induced by the reciprocating translation movement of the Oldham coupling and by the orbital movement of the orbiting scroll member cannot be perfectly compensated thanks to a rotating counterweight, which leads to a residual unbalance, and thus to residual compressor vibrations. Such residual compressor vibrations may cause a damage of some parts of the scroll compressor, and may detract the efficiency of the scroll compressor.
Further the efficiency of the scroll compressor may also be detracted due to the high mass of the counterweight needed to balance the compressor.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved scroll compressor which can overcome the drawbacks encountered in conventional scroll compressors.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a scroll compressor which is reliable and which can be easily balanced.
According to the invention such a scroll compressor comprises:
wherein the first and second orbiting scroll members are configured to operate in phase opposition, that is to orbit in phase opposition.
Due to the operation in phase opposition of the first and second orbiting scroll members, the inertia force induced by the orbiting movement of the first orbiting scroll member is at least partially compensated by the inertia force induced by the orbiting movement of the second orbiting scroll member.
Therefore, the mass of the counterweight needed to balance the compressor can be reduced, which leads on the one hand to a reduction of the mass of the compressor and thus to an improvement of the compressor efficiency, and on the other hand to a simplification of the assembly of the latter.
Further, such a partial compensation of the inertia force induced by the orbiting movement of the first orbiting scroll member by the inertia force induced by the orbiting movement of the second orbiting scroll member allows to ease the balancing of the compressor.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the scroll compressor further comprises:
wherein the first and second displacement directions of the first and second Oldham couplings are substantially parallel with respect to each other.
Due to the parallel movements of the first and second Oldham couplings, the unbalance induced by the reciprocating movement of the first Oldham coupling is at least partially compensated by the unbalance induced by the reciprocating movement of the second Oldham coupling, which allows to ease the balancing of the compressor and thus to greatly reduce the compressor vibrations.
Such a limitation of the compressor vibrations leads to an improvement of the compressor reliability and efficiency.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the first and second Oldham couplings are configured such that, in operation, they undergo reciprocating (or alternate) translation movements respectively along the first and second displacement directions.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the orbital diameter of the first orbiting scroll member is substantially equal to the orbital diameter of the second orbiting scroll member.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the orbital centers of the first and second orbiting scroll members are offset from each other by a predetermined distance substantially equal to the orbital diameters of the first and second orbiting scroll members.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the scroll compressor further comprises a drive shaft adapted for driving the first and second orbiting scroll members in orbital movements, the drive shaft having a rotation axis. In other words, the drive shaft is capable of being driven in rotation about the rotation axis. For example, the scroll compressor further comprises a motor for driving in rotation the drive shaft about the rotation axis.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the orbital centers of the first and second orbiting scroll members are equally distant from the rotation axis of the drive shaft.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the first and second Oldham couplings are configured such that, in operation, the centers of gravity of the first and second Oldham couplings are constantly symmetrically located with respect to the rotation axis of the drive shaft. As a result of this configuration of the first and second Oldham couplings, the inertia forces (and thus the unbalances) induced respectively by the reciprocating translation movements of the first and second Oldham couplings cancel each other. Consequently, said configuration of the first and second Oldham couplings avoids the use of a rotating counterweight for balancing the reciprocating translation movements of the first and second Oldham couplings, which allows to further ease the compressor balancing and the compressor assembly, and also to reduce the mass of the compressor. Moreover, such a cancellation of the unbalances induced by the reciprocating translation movements of the first and second Oldham couplings greatly limits the compressor vibrations.
Further, the first and second Oldham couplings are configured such that the middle-stroke positions of the centers of gravity of the first and second Oldham couplings are substantially equally distant from the rotation axis of the drive shaft.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the first and second displacement directions are substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis of the drive shaft.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the stroke length of the first Oldham coupling along the first displacement direction is substantially equal to the stroke length of the second Oldham coupling along the second displacement direction.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the first and second Oldham couplings respectively include first and second annular bodies that are substantially parallel to each other.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the first Oldham coupling includes:
According to an embodiment of the invention, the first annular body is disposed around the first fixed spiral wrap and the first orbiting spiral wrap.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the first engaging projections of the first Oldham coupling extend substantially perpendicularly from the first side of the first annular body and the second engaging projections of the first Oldham coupling extend substantially perpendicularly from the second side of the first annular body.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the first pair of first engaging projections may be provided on the first fixed scroll member, and the first pair of first guiding grooves may be provided on the first side of the first annular body.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the second pair of second engaging projections may be provided on the first orbiting scroll member, and the second pair of second guiding grooves may be provided on the second side of the first annular body.
Thus, for example, the first annular body may comprise the first pair of guiding grooves on its first side and the second pair of second guiding grooves on its second side. The first annular body may also comprise a pair of engaging projections on one of its first and second sides and a pair of guiding grooves on its other side.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the second Oldham coupling includes:
According to an embodiment of the invention, the second annular body is disposed around the second fixed spiral wrap and the second orbiting spiral wrap.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the first engaging projections of the second Oldham coupling extend substantially perpendicularly from the first side of the second annular body and the second engaging projections of the second Oldham coupling extend substantially perpendicularly from the second side of the second annular body.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the first pair of first engaging projections may be provided on the second fixed scroll member, and the first pair of first guiding grooves may be provided on the first side of the second annular body.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the second pair of second engaging projections may be provided on the second orbiting scroll member, and the second pair of second guiding grooves may be provided on the second side of the second annular body.
Thus, for example, the second annular body may comprise the first pair of guiding grooves on its first side and the second pair of second guiding grooves on its second side. The second annular body may also comprise a pair of engaging projections on one of its first and second sides and a pair of guiding grooves on its other side.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the first orbiting spiral wrap projects in a first projection direction, and the second orbiting spiral wrap projects in a second projection direction opposite to the first projection direction.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the first orbiting end plate includes a first face on which is provided the first orbiting spiral wrap, and a second face opposite to the first face of the first orbiting end plate, and the second orbiting end plate includes a first face on which is provided the second orbiting spiral wrap, and a second face opposite to the first face of the second orbiting end plate, the second faces of the first and second orbiting end plates facing each other.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the first fixed end plate is supported by the second fixed end plate
According to an embodiment of the invention, the second face of the first orbiting end plate is in slidable contact with the second face of the second orbiting end plate.
The present invention also relates to a method of operating a scroll compressor, comprising the steps of:
According to an embodiment of the invention, the providing step further comprises providing the scroll compressor with:
wherein the first and second displacement directions of the first and second Oldham couplings are substantially parallel with respect to each other.
These and other advantages will become apparent upon reading the following description in view of the drawing attached hereto representing, as non-limiting example, one embodiment of a scroll compressor according to the invention.
The following detailed description of one embodiment of the invention is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment disclosed.
a, 4b, 4c and 4d are schematic views of the two orbiting scroll members of
a, 5b and 5c are schematic views of the two Oldham couplings of
The scroll refrigeration compressor 1 shown in
The scroll compression unit 3 includes first and second fixed scroll members 4, 5 delimiting an inner volume 6. In particular the first and second fixed scroll members 4, 5 are fixed in relation to the closed housing 2. The first fixed scroll member 4 may for example be secured to the second fixed scroll member 5. The scroll compression unit 3 further includes first and second orbiting scroll members 7, 8 disposed in the inner volume 6.
The first fixed scroll member 4 includes an end plate 9 and a spiral wrap 11 projecting from the end plate 9 towards the first orbiting scroll member 7, and the first orbiting scroll member 7 has an end plate 12 and a spiral wrap 13 projecting from the end plate 12 towards the first fixed scroll member 4. The spiral wrap 13 of the first orbiting scroll member 7 meshes with the spiral wrap 11 of the first fixed scroll member 4 to form a plurality of compression chambers 14 between them. The compression chambers 14 have a variable volume which decreases from the outside towards the inside, when the first orbiting scroll member 7 is driven to orbit relative to the first fixed scroll member 4.
The second fixed scroll member 5 includes an end plate 15 and a spiral wrap 16 projecting from the end plate 15 towards the second orbiting scroll member 8, and the second orbiting scroll member 8 has an end plate 17 and a spiral wrap 18 projecting from the end plate 17 towards the second fixed scroll member 8. The spiral wrap 18 of the second orbiting scroll member 8 meshes with the spiral wrap 16 of the second fixed scroll member 5 to form a plurality of compression chambers 19 between them. The compression chambers 19 have a variable volume which decreases from the outside towards the inside, when the second orbiting scroll member 8 is driven to orbit relative to the second fixed scroll member 5.
The end plate 12 of the first orbiting scroll member 7 includes a first face 12a on which is provided the spiral wrap 13, and a second face 12b opposite to the first face 12a, and the end plate 17 of the second orbiting scroll member 8 includes a first face 17a on which is provided the spiral wrap 18, and a second face 17b opposite to the first face 17a. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the second faces 12a, 17a of the first and second end plates 12, 17 face each other. Therefore the spiral wraps 13, 18 project in opposite projection directions.
In particular the second face 12b of the end plate 12 of the first orbiting scroll member 7 is in slidable contact with the second face 17b of the end plate 17 of the second orbiting scroll member 8.
Furthermore the scroll refrigeration compressor 1 comprises a drive shaft 21 adapted for driving the first and second orbiting scroll members 7, 8 in orbital movements, and an electric motor for driving the drive shaft 21 in rotation about a rotation axis A. The drive shaft 21 comprises a first eccentric pin 23 which is off-centered from the center of the drive shaft 21, and which is inserted in a connecting sleeve 24 of the first orbiting scroll member 7. The drive shaft 21 also comprises a second eccentric pin 25 which is off-centered from the center of the drive shaft 21, and which is inserted in a connecting sleeve 26 of the second orbiting scroll member 8.
a to 4d represent particularly the displacements of the centers of gravity G1, G2 of the first and second orbiting scroll members 7, 8 during operation of the scroll refrigeration compressor 1. As shown in
The scroll refrigeration compressor 1 also comprises a first Oldham coupling 27 which is slidably mounted with respect to the first fixed scroll member 4 along a first displacement direction D1, and a second Oldham coupling 28 which is slidably mounted with respect to the second fixed scroll member 5 along a second displacement direction D2 which is parallel to the first displacement direction D1. The first and second displacement directions D1, D2 are substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis A of the drive shaft 21. The first and second Oldham couplings 27, 28 are configured to prevent rotation of the first and second orbiting scroll members 7, 8 with respect to the first and second fixed scroll member 4, 5. Each of the first and second Oldham couplings 27, 28 undergoes a reciprocating translation motion respectively along the first and second displacement directions D1, D2.
The first Oldham coupling 27 includes an annular body 29 disposed between the end plates 9, 12 of the first fixed and orbiting scroll members 4, 7, and around the spiral wraps 11, 13. The first Oldham coupling 27 further includes a pair of first engaging projections 31 provided on a first side of the annular body 29, and a pair of second engaging projections 32 provided on a second side of the annular body 29. The first engaging projections 31 of the first Oldham coupling 27 are slidably engaged in a pair of first guiding grooves (not shown in the figures) provided on the end plate 9 of the first fixed scroll member 4, said first guiding grooves being offset and extending parallel to the first displacement direction D1. The second engaging projections 32 of the first Oldham coupling 27 are slidably engaged in a pair of second guiding grooves 34 provided on the end plate 12 of the first orbiting scroll member 7, the second guiding grooves 34 being offset and extending perpendicularly to the first displacement direction D1.
According to the embodiment of the invention shown in the figures, the first and second engaging projections 31, 32 extend respectively perpendicularly from the first and second sides of the annular body 29.
The second Oldham coupling 28 includes an annular body 35 disposed between the end plates 15, 17 of the second fixed and orbiting scroll members 5, 8. The annular body 35 of the second Oldham coupling 28 extends substantially parallel to the annular body 29 of the first Oldham coupling 27.
The second Oldham coupling 28 further includes a pair of first engaging projections 36 provided on a first side of the annular body 35, and a pair of second engaging projections 37 provided on a second side of the annular body 35. The first engaging projections 36 of the second Oldham coupling 28 are slidably engaged in a pair of first guiding grooves (not shown in the figures) provided on the second fixed scroll member, said first guiding grooves being offset and extending parallel to the second displacement direction D2. The second engaging projections 37 of the second Oldham coupling 28 are slidably engaged in a pair of second guiding grooves 39 provided on the end plate 17 of the second orbiting scroll member 8, the second guiding grooves 39 being offset and extending perpendicularly to the second displacement direction D2. According to the embodiment of the invention shown in the figures, the first and second engaging projections 36, 37 extend respectively perpendicularly from the first and second sides of the annular body 35.
As shown in
The scroll refrigeration compressor 1 also includes a refrigerant suction inlet (not shown in the figures) communicating with the inner chamber 6 to achieve the supply of refrigerant to the scroll compression unit 3, and a discharge outlet (not shown in the figures) for discharging the compressed refrigerant outside the scroll refrigeration compressor 1.
Of course, the invention is not restricted to the embodiment described above by way of non-limiting example, but on the contrary it encompasses all embodiments thereof.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
12/62568 | Dec 2012 | FR | national |