Pumps – Combined
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-11
2001-01-30
Walberg, Teresa (Department: 3742)
Pumps
Combined
C417S269000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179578
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a compressor. More specifically, the present invention pertains to oil separating structures for compressors that are used in vehicle air conditioners to separate atomized lubricant in refrigerant gas.
Refrigerant gas in a compressor is compressed and circulated between the compressor and an external circuit to carry heat. Some compressors include an oil separating structure for collecting atomized oil. The collected oil is used for lubricating parts of the compressor. FIGS.
5
(
a
) and
5
(
b
) show such an oil separating structure. The compressor of FIGS.
5
(
a
) and
5
(
b
) includes a housing
101
. The housing
101
accommodates a compressing mechanism (not shown). A discharge passage
102
is formed in the housing
101
to conduct refrigerant from the compressing mechanism to an external refrigerant circuit. A recess
103
is defined in the housing
101
and located in the discharge passage
102
. The recess
103
has a circular cross-section and extends in the axial direction of the compressor. A plug
104
includes a first flange
105
, second flange
106
and a cylinder
107
, which connects the flanges
105
,
106
. The plug
104
is inserted into the recess
103
from the left, as viewed in FIG.
5
(
a
). Specifically, the plug
104
is press fitted in the recess
103
such that the first flange
105
contacts a positioning step
103
b
defined on the inner wall
103
a
of the recess
103
.
An annular groove
103
c
is formed in the wall of the recess
103
at the open end. A snap ring
108
is engaged with the annular groove
103
c.
Specifically, the peripheral portion
108
a
of the snap ring
108
is fitted in the groove
103
c.
The cross section of the snap ring
108
is tapered such that its axial dimension decreases toward the periphery. The plug
104
is held between the snap ring
108
and the step
103
b.
The snap ring
108
prevents the plug
104
from disengaging from the recess
103
.
Dimensional errors may vary the distance d between the groove
103
c
and the step
103
b.
However, the plug
104
is still securely held between the snap ring
108
and the step
103
b,
since the radial penetration of the peripheral portion
108
a
in the groove
103
c
can vary. This permits variation in the axial location of the plug
104
. In FIG.
5
(
b
), a solid line shows the position of the snap ring
108
when the distance d is shorter than the axial dimension h of the plug
104
. A broken line shows the position of the snap ring
108
when the distance d is substantially the same as the axial dimension h of the plug
104
.
As shown in FIG.
5
(
a
), a separation chamber
109
is defined at the right side of the plug
104
by the first flange
105
. Also, the first and second flanges
105
,
106
define the ends of an annular chamber
110
. An outlet passage
111
is formed in the first flange
105
and the cylinder
107
to connect the separation chamber
109
with the annular chamber
110
. The separation chamber
109
is exposed to the discharge pressure of the compressor. The separation chamber
109
is connected to a low pressure zone by an oil return passage
112
formed in the housing
101
. The low pressure zone is an area where the pressure is lower than the discharge pressure.
Refrigerant gas is discharged to the external circuit from the compressor via the discharge passage
102
. Before being discharged, the gas flows along the inner wall
103
a
of the separation chamber
109
. Centrifugal force separates atomized lubricant from the gas. The gas is then discharged to the external circuit via the outlet passage
111
and the annular chamber
110
. Due to the pressure difference between the separation chamber
109
and the low pressure zone, the separated oil is returned to the low pressure zone via the return passage
112
. The oil is then supplied to parts in the compressor to lubricate and cool the parts.
However, due to machining errors, the distance d between the groove
103
c
and the step
103
b
can be far shorter than the axial dimension h of the plug
104
. In this case, the snap ring
108
cannot be fitted in the groove
103
c.
Further, if the distance d is greater than the axial dimension h, the plug
104
will not be firmly held between the snap ring
108
and the step
103
b.
In this case, the plug
104
can be rotated along with the flow of refrigerant gas in the separation chamber
109
, which causes the circumferential surfaces
105
a,
106
a
of the first and second flanges
105
,
106
to slide on the inner surface
103
a
of the recess
103
, which wears the plug
104
. Also, if loosely held, the plug
104
chatters in the recess
103
, which produces vibration and noise.
To solve this problem, the plug
104
is selected from plugs having different axial dimensions. When assembling the plug
104
in the chamber
103
, the distance d between the groove
103
c
and the step
103
b
is measured, and a plug
104
having a corresponding axial dimension is selected. In this manner, dimensional errors due to machining accuracy are accommodated by the snap ring
108
. Therefore, the assembly of the plug
104
into the recess
103
is complicated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide an oil separating structure for compressors that facilitates the installation of a plug in a recess.
To achieve the foregoing and other objectives and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, a compressor is provided. The compressor includes a housing, a compressing mechanism, a discharge passage and an oil separator. The compressing mechanism is housed by the housing, for compressing refrigerant gas. Lubricating oil is mixed in the gas. The discharge passage permits refrigerant to flow out of the compressor. The oil separator separates the lubricating oil from the gas. The separator includes a recess, a plug and a supply passage. The plug is securely press-fitted in the recess. The plug and the recess form a separation chamber located in the flow passage. The plug includes an outlet passage leading downstream from the separation chamber. The refrigerant gas enters the separation chamber, flows along the wall of the separation chamber and exits from the separation chamber, which separates the oil from the gas. The supply passage connects the separation chamber to the compressing mechanism to supply lubricant to the compressing mechanism.
Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3801227 (1974-04-01), Nakayama
patent: 4229145 (1980-10-01), Isizuka
patent: 5636974 (1997-06-01), Ikeda et al.
patent: 6010314 (2000-01-01), Kobayashi et al.
patent: 8-035485 (1996-02-01), None
patent: 10-281060 (1998-10-01), None
Hidaka Shigeyuki
Hirota Suguru
Kayukawa Hiroaki
Nakauchi Kenta
Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidishokki Seisakusho
Morgan & Finnegan L.L.P.
Robinson Daniel
Walberg Teresa
LandOfFree
Compressor with oil separating structure does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Compressor with oil separating structure, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Compressor with oil separating structure will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2436736