Rotary expansible chamber devices – Working member has planetary or planetating movement – Helical working member – e.g. – scroll
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-01
2001-09-04
Denion, Thomas (Department: 3748)
Rotary expansible chamber devices
Working member has planetary or planetating movement
Helical working member, e.g., scroll
C418S055600
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283737
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 anti-rotation device for such an oiless 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); increased efficiency versus reciprocating compressor designs; and cooler operating temperatures.
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 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 anti-rotation device for such an oiless rotary scroll compressor which serves to positively maintain the orbiting scroll element in a non-rotational aspect with respect to the stationary scroll element while, at the same time, permitting the orbiting scroll element to execute an orbit about the stationary scroll element, whereby the compression effect of a scroll compressor is achieved.
Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of such an anti-rotation device for an oiless rotary scroll compressor which allows for a smooth and precise non-rotational orbit of the orbiting scroll element about the stationary scroll element.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of such an anti-rotation device for an oiless rotary scroll compressor Which is easy to lubricate and maintain.
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 invention generally features an anti-rotation device for a scroll compressor, the scroll compressor 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, and an orbital drive mechanism for driving the central axis of the orbiting scroll element in an orbit at a radius or orbit about the central axis of the stationary scroll element, the anti-rotation device including at least one anti-rotation bearing assembly for maintaining the orbiting scroll element substantially non-rotational with respect to the stationary scroll element during the orbit of the orbiting scroll element about the stationary scroll element, the at least one anti-rotation bearing assembly 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 an offset crank member, the offset crank member including a first shaft portion rotatably engaging the first bearing element mounted substantially stationary with respect to the stationary scroll and a second shaft portion rotatably engaging the second bearing element mounted on the orbiting scroll element, the first and second shaft portions of the offset crank member being separated from one another by a radially offset distance.
In another aspect the invention generally features an improvement in a scroll compressor of the type described, the improvement including an improved anti-rotation device 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 an offset crank member, the offset crank member including a first shaft portion rotatably engaging the first bearing element mounted substantially stationary with respect to the stationary scroll and a second shaft portion rotatably engaging the second bearing element mounted on the orbiting scroll element, the first and second shaft portions of the offset crank member being separated from one another by a radially offset distance.
In yet another aspect, the invention generally features a scroll compressor including an anti-rotation device, the scroll compressor 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 and an 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 anti-rotation device including at least one anti-rotation bearing assembly for interconnecting the orbiting scroll element to and positioning the orbiting scroll element with respect to the stationary scroll element, the at least one anti-rotation bearing assembly including a first bearing element mounted substantially sta
Jones Charlie E.
Kazakis Michael V.
Denion Thomas
James Ray & Associates
Trieu Theresa
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
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