The present invention relates to a scroll-type fluid machine.
A scroll-type fluid machine as set forth in PTL 1 has achieved improved seal performance of a dust seal by doubling a terminal end of the dust seal and fitting the doubled terminal end in a dust seal groove.
PTL 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-307770
The scroll-type fluid machine is provided with an annular face seal (dust seal) between a fixed scroll and a revolving scroll in order to prevent a problem that dust invades a compression chamber or expansion chamber from outside, causing wear of a sealing material and components in the machine.
In the scroll-type fluid machine of PTL 1, a face seal has its terminal end doubled and fitted in a dust seal groove such that the face seal is improved in the seal performance at the end thereof without reducing the productivity of the machine. This structure is not equipped with a measure against the external dust reaching the face seal, leading to a problem of the dust invading from the outside through a seal surface and a problem of wear of the face seal itself caused by the dust.
In view of the above, the present invention has an object to provide a scroll-type fluid machine that prevents the wear of the parts of the fluid machine and improves the reliability thereof by reducing the amount of dust that reaches the face seal.
According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object, a scroll-type fluid machine includes: a revolving scroll which includes an end plate and a lap part disposed at the end plate, and makes a revolving motion; a fixed scroll which includes an end plate, a lap part disposed at the end plate and forming a compression chamber between itself and the lap part of the revolving scroll, and a flange opposed to the end plate of the revolving scroll; and a face seal disposed between the flange of the fixed scroll and the end plate of the revolving scroll and sealing a clearance between the fixed scroll and the revolving scroll, and has a configuration wherein a shield part is provided on the end plate of the revolving scroll or the end plate of the fixed scroll for preventing dust from reaching the face seal from outside in a radial direction.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a scroll-type fluid machine includes: a revolving scroll which includes an end plate and a lap part disposed at the end plate, and makes a revolving motion; a fixed scroll which includes an end plate, a lap part disposed at the end plate and forming a compression chamber between itself and the lap part of the revolving scroll, and a flange opposed to the end plate of the revolving scroll; and a face seal disposed between the flange of the fixed scroll and the end plate of the revolving scroll and sealing a clearance between the fixed scroll and the revolving scroll, and has a configuration wherein a cooling air passage for distribution of cooling air is formed on the opposite side of the end plate of the revolving scroll from that formed with the lap part, and the shield part is provided on the surface of the flange of the fixed scroll with the face seal at place radially outward from the face seal or at place laterally of the flange, and the shield part protrude in a direction away from the surface of the flange.
The present invention can provide the scroll-type fluid machine that prevents the wear of the parts of the fluid machine and improves the reliability thereof by reducing the amount of dust that reaches the face seal.
A scroll-type fluid machine according to an embodiment of the present invention is described as below with reference to a scroll-type air compressor as an example thereof and the accompanying drawings. Throughout the figures illustrating the examples hereof, equal or similar reference numerals are principally assigned to equal or similar components, which are explained only once in most cases to avoid repetitions.
A reference numeral 1 denotes a casing constituting an outer shell of the scroll-type compressor. The fixed scroll 2 generally includes: an end plate 2a which is disposed at an opening side of the casing 1 and substantially formed in a disk-like shape; a scroll-shaped lap part 2b axially upstanding from the end plate 2a; a flange 2c formed around the end plate 3a and opposed to the casing 1; a flange fastener 2d fastened to the casing 1; and a plurality of cooling fins 2e projected from a back side of the end plate 2a. A tip seal groove 2f extending in a winding direction is formed at a distal end of the lap part 2b. A tip seal 3 as a seal member in sliding contact with an end plate 4a of a revolving scroll 4 is disposed in the tip seal groove 2f.
The revolving scroll 4 generally includes: an end plate 4a which is pivotally mounted in the casing 1 and substantially formed in a disk-like shape; a scroll-shaped lap part 4b axially upstanding from the end plate 4a; a plurality of cooling fins 4c projected from a back side of the end plate 4a; and a back plate 4d fixedly located at a distal side of the cooling fin 4c. Formed at a distal end of the lap part 4b is a tip seal groove 4e extending in the winding direction. A tip seal 5 as a seal member in sliding contact with the end plate 2a of the fixed scroll is disposed in the tip seal groove 4e.
A driving shaft 6 is supported by a load side bearing 7 and a anti-load side bearing 8 in a manner to be rotatable relative to the casing 1 and includes an eccentric part 6a supported by a slewing bearing 9 in a manner to be rotatable relative to the back plate 4d. The driving shaft 6 is provided with a pulley 10 at an end thereof. The pulley 10 is connected to an output side of an electric motor (not shown) as a drive source by means of a belt (not shown), for example. It is noted here that a method of connecting the drive source such as the electric motor with the driving shaft 6 by means of a coupling or a method of integrally forming the drive source with the driving shaft of the fluid machine is also available.
A self-rotation preventing mechanism 11 is disposed between the back plate 4d and the casing 1 and includes, for example, a crankshaft and a bearing.
The revolving scroll 4 makes a revolving motion as driven by the driving shaft 6 and the self-rotation preventing mechanism 11 so as to compress a plurality of compression chambers 12 toward the center thereof, the compression chambers defined by the lap part 4a and the lap part 2a between the revolving scroll and the fixed scroll 2. Thus, the outside air is sucked into the compression chambers 12 from an inlet port 2g disposed on the outer side from the lap part 2a on the fixed scroll 2 and through an inlet filter 13. The air under pressure is discharged from an outlet port 2h disposed at the center of the fixed scroll 2.
A face seal groove 2i is annularly formed on an inside diameter side of the flange 2c of the fixed scroll 2 in opposed relation with the end plate 4a of the revolving scroll 4. An annular face seal 14 is disposed in the face seal groove 2i. The face seal 14 is held in sliding contact with the end plate 4a of the revolving scroll 4 by means of, for example, a tubular back-up tube 15. The inside the face seal 14 defines a space communicating the inlet port 2g and the compression chambers 12. Namely, the inside of the face seal 14 is at a negative pressure relative to the outside during the operation of the compressor. By virtue of the above-described pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the face seal, the face seal 14 is adapted to prevent the external dust reaching the face seal 14 from invading the inside thereof and further invading the compression chambers 12.
A shield part 16 is formed on the flange 2c of the fixed scroll 2 at place radially outward of the face seal 14. A distal end of the shield part does not axially protrude beyond a proximal end of the cooling fins 4c of the revolving scroll 4.
A cooling fan 17 is mounted to an end of the driving shaft and generates cooling air 18 by making a rotation motion jointly with the driving shaft. The cooling air 18 flows along a duct 19 to be distributed to the inside of the casing 1, the cooling fins 2e of the fixed scroll 2 and the cooling fins 4c of the revolving scroll 4 for cooling the casing 1, the fixed scroll 2, the revolving scroll 4 and the like which are warmed by the heat of compression.
The inhibition of the dust invasion into the compression chambers 12 by the shield part 16 of the example is described by way of comparison with a conventional structure shown in
According to the example, on the other hand, the shield part 16 is provided at place radially outward of the face seal 14. The example is adapted to prevent the dust contained in the outside air from reaching the face seal 14 and further invading the compression chambers 12. Accordingly, the wear of the tip seals 3, 5, the end plates 2a, 4a and the face seal 14 of the above-described conventional scroll-type fluid machine is prevented. Further, the example does not interfere with the flow of the cooling air 18 into the cooling fins 4c because the distal end of the shield part 16 does not protrude beyond the proximal end of the cooling fins 4c of the revolving scroll 4.
According to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-307770 (PTL 1), the face seal has its terminal end doubled and fitted in the dust seal groove such that the face seal is improved in the seal performance at the end thereof. However, this structure is not equipped with the measure against the external dust reaching the face seal. The problem about the external dust invading through the seal surface or the problem about the wear of the face seal itself caused by the dust has not been solved. There could be a way to prevent the invasion of the dust into the compression chambers by enhancing the seal performance of the face seal by changing the configuration of the face seal and the configuration of the back-up tube for pressing the face seal. However, these parts heretofore have such simple configurations that it is not easy to change these configurations. These parts have a problem with productivity.
According to the example as described above, the amount of dust reaching the face seal 14 is reduced by providing the shield part 16 while the compressor can be enhanced in reliability without degrading the productivity.
Example 2 of the present invention is described with reference to
As just described, this example can achieve not only the effects set forth in Example 1 but also an increased productivity by reducing the area provided with the shield part 16.
Example 3 of the present invention is described with reference to
As just described, this example can enhance the effects set forth in Example 1.
Example 4 of the present invention is described with reference to
On the other hand, the shield part blocks the flow of the cooling air 18 into the cooling fins 4c. Therefore, the example is suited to an application that does not require a large amount of cooling air 18 for cooling the revolving scroll 4. For example, the example is adapted to use for low pressure compression, vacuum pump or the like.
As just described, this example can enhance the effects set forth in Example 1.
Example 5 of the present invention is described with reference to
As just described, this example can enhance the effects set forth in Example 1.
Example 6 of the present invention is described with reference to
As just described, this example can enhance the effects set forth in Example 1.
Example 7 of the present invention is described with reference to
As just described, this example not only achieves the effects set forth in Example 1 but also achieves noise reduction and improved maintainability.
Example 8 of the present invention is described with reference to
As just described, this example not only achieves the effects set forth in Example 1 but also achieves improved assemblability and productivity by configuring the shield part 16 to be removably assembled.
Example 9 of the present invention is described with reference to
As just described, this example can achieve not only the effects set forth in Example 1 but also further reduction of the amount of dust reaching the face seal 14. It is noted that the shield part 16 may be disposed at the casing 1 as illustrated by a modification of
The foregoing examples have configurations where the cooling fan 17 is mounted to the compressor and generates the cooling air 18 as rotating in conjunction with the rotation of the driving shaft 6. However, the cooling fan may be driven independently from the driving shaft 6. Alternatively, the cooling fan may also be provided externally of the compressor. Further, the shield part 16 may have a net-like structure such as to allow the cooling air 18 alone to pass therethrough while inhibiting the passage of the dust. What is more, the features of the individual examples may be implemented in combination.
While the foregoing examples have been described by way of example of the scroll-type air compressor as the fluid machine, the present invention is not limited to this and is applicable to other scroll-type fluid machines such as vacuum pumps and expanders.
Each of the examples that have been described herein is merely illustrative of an example of carrying out the present invention and the technical scope thereof is not limited by these examples. That is, the present invention can be carried out in various modes without departing from the technical idea or essential features thereof.
1 . . . casing
2 . . . fixed scroll
2
a . . . end plate of fixed scroll
2
b . . . lap part of fixed scroll
2
c . . . flange
2
d . . . flange fastener
2
e . . . cooling fins of fixed scroll
2
f . . . tip seal groove of fixed scroll
2
g . . . inlet port
2
h . . . outlet port
2
i . . . face seal groove
3 . . . tip seal
4 . . . revolving scroll
4
a . . . end plate of revolving scroll
4
b . . . lap part of revolving scroll
4
c . . . cooling fins of revolving scroll
4
d . . . back plate
4
e . . . tip seal groove of revolving scroll
5 . . . tip seal
6 . . . driving shaft
6
a . . . eccentric part
7 . . . load side bearing
8 . . . anti-load side bearing
9 . . . slewing bearing
10 . . . pulley
11 . . . self-rotation preventing mechanism
12 . . . compression chamber
13 . . . inlet filter
14 . . . face seal
15 . . . back-up tube
16 . . . shield part
16
a . . . bent portion
16
b . . . dust capturing portion
16
c . . . inclined portion
17 . . . cooling fan
18 . . . cooling air
19 . . . duct
20 . . . threaded fastener
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/JP2016/070182 | 7/7/2016 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2018/008132 | 1/11/2018 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
20020102174 | Suefuji et al. | Aug 2002 | A1 |
20050232799 | Sato | Oct 2005 | A1 |
20070224072 | Ishikawa et al. | Sep 2007 | A1 |
20110300012 | Fujioka et al. | Dec 2011 | A1 |
20120189480 | Yamazaki | Jul 2012 | A1 |
20120315174 | Iwano et al. | Dec 2012 | A1 |
20140119970 | Kobayashi | May 2014 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
102817843 | Dec 2012 | CN |
204553219 | Aug 2015 | CN |
103994069 | Apr 2016 | CN |
1 837 525 | Sep 2007 | EP |
11-82330 | Mar 1999 | JP |
2000-291572 | Oct 2000 | JP |
2000-337275 | Dec 2000 | JP |
2002-81388 | Mar 2002 | JP |
2002-213376 | Jul 2002 | JP |
2005-307770 | Nov 2005 | JP |
2012-255409 | Dec 2012 | JP |
Entry |
---|
International Search Report (PCT/ISA/210) issued in PCT Application No. PCT/JP2016/070182 dated Oct. 4, 2016 with English translation (five (5) pages). |
Japanese-language Written Opinion (PCT/ISA/237) issued in PCT Application No. PCT/JP2016/070182 dated Oct. 4, 2016 (seven (7) pages). |
Japanese-language Office Action issued in counterpart Japanese Application No. 2018-525899 dated Dec. 3, 2019 with English translation (eight (8) pages). |
Extended European Search Report issued in European Application No. 16908176.7 dated Jan. 21, 2020 (seven (7) pages). |
Chinese-language Office Action issued in counterpart Chinese Application No. 201680086988.5 dated Jun. 4, 2019 with English translation (13 pages). |
English translation of document B2 (JP 2000-337275 A previously filed on Dec. 27, 2018) (18 pages). |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20200309125 A1 | Oct 2020 | US |