Rotary expansible chamber devices – Working member has planetary or planetating movement – Helical working member – e.g. – scroll
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-31
2001-10-16
Denion, Thomas (Department: 3748)
Rotary expansible chamber devices
Working member has planetary or planetating movement
Helical working member, e.g., scroll
C418S055300, C418S055600
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302664
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates, in general, to scroll compressors which are used to compress a fluid, for example, a gas such as a refrigerant for cooling purposes or ambient air in order to furnish a compressed air supply.
More particularly, the present invention relates to an axial support to resist axial compression forces in such a rotary scroll compressor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
So-called “scroll” compressors have achieved wider application recently, particularly in the fields of refrigeration and air conditioning, due to a number of advantages which they possess over reciprocating type compressors. Among these advantages are; low operating sound levels; reduction in “wear parts” such as compression valves, pistons, piston rings and cylinders (resulting in reduced maintenance); and increased efficiency versus reciprocating compressor designs.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
While the number of wear parts in a scroll compressor may be reduced in comparison to a reciprocating type compressor, there are still a number of surfaces which move relative to one another and lubrication between these surfaces cannot be ignored One design for a refrigerant scroll compressor (e.g., a scroll compressor used in air conditioning, etc.) utilizes an oil sump located in the lowermost portion of the compressor housing and an oil pump which draws oil from the sump upward to lubricate the moving parts of the compressor. The oil used as a lubricant in such a design is relatively free to mix with the air which is being compressed. lubricating oil which becomes suspended in the refrigerant is, for the most part, separated therefrom by changing the direction of flow of the refrigerant and by impinging the refrigerant on surfaces located within the compressor. After it is separated, the oil is then drained back to the oil sump.
However, due to the gas having been relatively free to mix with the oil lubricant, the compressed gas exiting the scroll compressor may still have a relatively high degree of oil content. Such oil content may carry over to the compressed gas supply system and have deleterious effects such as reduced life of air driven mechanisms (e.g., air driven tools, brakes, etc.) which utilize the compressed gas supply as a power source.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention is the provision of a rotary scroll compressor which is “oiless” in the sense that the lubricant used to lubricate the various moving parts of the compressor is not intermingled with the gas being compressed. Thus, there is no contamination to the compressed gas due to the lubricant, and additional special provisions or designs need not be utilized for separating the lubricant from the compressed gas prior to using the compressed gas.
Another object of the present invention is the provision of a novel and inventive axial load resistant anti-rotation bearing device for a rotary scroll compressor which serves to resist axial forces exerted by the compressed gas within the compression apparatus without the need to employ back pressure to compensate for these axial forces tending to separate the stationary and orbiting scroll elements. The novel and inventive axial load resistant anti-rotation bearing device utilizes, most preferably, angular contact bearing assemblies to directly neutralize such axial forces.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of an axial load resistant anti-rotation bearing which is inexpensive to manufacture and reliable in operation.
In addition to the objects and advantages of the present invention described above, various other objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent to those persons skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing Figures and with the appended claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect, the intention generally features an axial force resistant anti-rotation bearing for a scroll compressor, the axial force resistant anti-rotation bearing being able to resist both radial and axial forces, the scroll compressor including a housing, a stationary scroll element mounted within the housing substantially stationary with respect to the housing and having a stationary spiral flange projecting therefrom, an orbiting scroll element disposed within the housing and having an orbiting spiral flange projecting therefrom, the stationary and orbiting spiral flanges being intermeshed and nested with one another to define a spiraling compression pocket therebetween, each of the stationary and orbiting scroll elements having a substantially central axis, and an orbital drive mechanism for driving the central axis of the orbiting scroll element in an orbit at a radius of orbit about the central axis of the stationary scroll element, the axial force resistant anti-rotation bearing including a first bearing element mounted substantially stationary with respect to the stationary scroll element, a second bearing element mounted on the orbiting scroll element and a crank member interconnecting the first and second bearing elements, the crank member including a first shaft portion being rotatably engaged with the first bearing element and the second shaft portion being rotatably engaged with the second bearing element, the first and second shaft portions of the crank members having a radial offset with respect to one another, at least one of the first bearing element and the second bearing element including a bearing surface which projects a substantially nonzero component in a direction of the central axes of the stationary and orbiting scroll elements.
In another aspect, the invention generally features an improvement in a rotary scroll compressor of the type described, the improvement including an axial force resistant anti-rotation bearing capable of resisting both radial and axial forces and including a first bearing element mounted on the compressor housing which is fixed with respect to the stationary scroll, a second bearing element mounted on the orbiting scroll element and a crank member interconnecting the first and second bearing elements, the crank member including a first shaft portion being rotatably engaged with the first bearing element and the second shaft portion being rotatably engaged with the second bearing element, the first and second shaft portions having a radial offset with respect to one another, at least one of the first and second bearing elements including a bearing surface which projects a substantially nonzero component in a direction of the central axes of the stationary and orbiting scroll elements.
In yet another aspect, the invention generally features a scroll compressor including an axial force resistant anti-rotation device, including a housing, a stationary scroll element mounted within the housing substantially stationary with respect to the housing, the stationary scroll element including a stationary spiral flange, an orbiting scroll element disposed within the housing, the orbiting scroll element including an orbiting spiral flange, the stationary and orbiting spiral flanges being intermeshed and nested with one another to define a spiraling compression pocket therebetween, each of the stationary and orbiting scroll elements having a substantially central axis, an orbital drive mechanism for driving the central axis of the orbiting scroll element in an orbit at a radius of orbit about the central axis of the stationary scroll element, the axial force resistant anti-rotation device for maintaining the orbiting scroll element substantially non-rotational with respect to the stationary scroll element during orbiting of the central axis of the orbiting scroll element about the central axis of the stationary scroll element, the axial force resistant anti-rotation device being able to resist both radial and axial forces and including a first bearing element mounted substantially stationary with respect to the stationary scroll element
Jones Charlie E.
Kazakis Michael V.
Denion Thomas
James Ray & Associates
Trieu Theresa
Westinghouse Air Brake Company
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