Entrapped separator plate for scroll compressor

Details Entrapped separator plate for scroll compressor Entrapped separator plate for scroll compressor

1999-06-02

2001-03-20

Vrablik, John J. (Department: 3748)

Rotary expansible chamber devices

Working member has planetary or planetating movement

Helical working member, e.g., scroll

C418S055400, C418S149000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06203298

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a unique scroll compressor housing assembly wherein the separator plate is captured between an upper end cap and the cylindrical shell.
Compressors for refrigerant compression applications are typically formed with a sealed housing. Usually, the housing encloses a motor and compressor pump unit. The motor is received in a chamber maintained at a low or suction pressure. The housing are formed of a cylindrical center shell and pad caps welded to each end of the shell. Refrigerant to be compressed enters the housing chamber and cools the motor. The refigerant them enters the compressor pump unit and is compressed, and then delivered to a discharge port. From the discharge port, the gas travels into an outlet plenum then to an outlet tube extending through the housing. A separator plate has typically been inserted into the housing above the pump unit to define a separation line between the discharge pressure plenum and the suction pressure chamber.
One type of sealed compressor is a scroll compressor. In a scroll compressor, the compressor pump unit is formed of two scroll members. Each of the scroll members has a base plate with a generally spiral wrap extending from the base plate. One of the two scroll members is driven to orbit relative to the other. The non-orbiting scroll member is typically mounted beneath the separator plate.
In the prior art, scroll compressors are generally provided with a separator plate that is separate from the pump unit. In other types of compressors, the separator plate may be more easily incorporated into the compressor pump unit. However, the non-orbiting scroll is a relatively complex part, and typically a separator plate is utilized. Historically, the separator plate has been welded to the end cap, the center shell, or both.
Typically, the separator plate has been welded to the end cap as a pre-assembly. With this construction, the separator plate carries the discharge port tube. By welding the separator plate, and hence the discharge port tube, to the upper end cap, the location of the tube is difficult to control, and is essentially non-adjustable at final assembly.
Further, weld splatter can get inside top end cap and over the separator plate. If this weld splatter extends into the compressor pump unit, undesirable noise and even failure can occur.
The lack of control over the positioning of the discharge port tube can result in high side loads between various components. This can contribute to misalignment of the scroll members and difficulty in starting the compressor.
The end cap and separator plate pre-assembly is typically pushed over a thin section of the center shell and is subsequently welded. The welding can cause “burn through” of the thin section of the shell and additional weld splatter problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a disclosed embodiment of this invention, a separator plate is initially associated with the center shell. There is preferably a clearance between the outer periphery of the separator plate and the inner periphery of the end cap. In one embodiment, the separator plate is initially attached to the center shell, and the end cap is then placed over the center shell and welded to the center shell.
In one embodiment, a gasket is placed between the separator plate and the center shell. The separator plate can also be formed with a stepped lip for better positioning.
In another embodiment, a ledge on the end cap captures an upper surface of the separator plate when the end cap is welded to the center shell. In another embodiment, a seal pocket is formed in the upper surface of the separator plate, and a seal material is placed in the pocket.
Generally, the end cap abuts an upper surface of the separator plate. The separator plate is free to move relative to the end cap to compress the seal material.
The high pressure above the separator plate creates a force pressing downwardly on the separator plate to ensure a good seal at the interface between the separator plate and an upper end of the center shell. Thus, leakage is unlikely to occur even though the separator plate is not welded to the center shell or the end cap, as in the prior art.
The present invention also allows adjustment of the separator plate, and thus the location of the discharge port tube, to ensure ease of positioning of the several components at assembly.
These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specifications and drawings, the following of which is a brief description.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5427511 (1995-06-01), Caillat et al.
patent: 61-40473 (1986-02-01), None
patent: 63-268995 (1988-11-01), None
patent: 5-157061 (1993-06-01), None
patent: 6-93982 (1994-04-01), None

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