Rotary expansible chamber devices – Working member has planetary or planetating movement – Helical working member – e.g. – scroll
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-01
2001-10-30
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
06309196
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 a lubrication mechanism for providing for periodic lubrication of an anti-rotation device of such a 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 lubrication mechanism for an anti-rotation device provided in such an oiless rotary scroll compressor. The anti-rotation device includes two rotational bearing components, a first of which is mounted in the bearing cap of the scroll compressor and a second of which is mounted in the orbiting scroll element of the scroll compressor. The novel and inventive lubrication apparatus permits both of the first and second rotational bearing components to be periodically lubricated from a single vantage point located on the exterior of the scroll compressor bearing cap.
Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a rotary scroll compressor which includes an anti-rotation device that can be easily lubricated without any intermingling of the gas being compressed (e.g., air or a refrigerant) with the lubricant, therefore substantially reducing any contamination of the compressed gas with the lubricant.
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 a lubrication apparatus for lubricating an anti-rotation device of an oiless rotary scroll compressor. The scroll compressor includes a stationary scroll element and an orbiting scroll element which is driven in an orbit about the stationary scroll element by an orbital drive mechanism. The anti-rotation device includes an anti-rotation bearing having the first rotational bearing component mounted stationary with respect to the interior housing of the scroll compressor bearing cap and a second rotational bearing component installed within a second anti-rotation assembly which is mounted on the orbiting scroll element. The lubrication apparatus includes a lubrication port disposed on an exterior surface of the scroll compressor bearing cap and a lubrication channel which extends from the lubrication port to the anti-rotation assembly mounted within the interior of the scroll compressor bearing cap. Preferably, the first anti-rotation assembly includes the first rotational bearing component and a second rotational bearing component interconnected by an offset crank member, and the lubrication channel extends through the first rotational bearing component and a channel provided in the offset crank member to thereby reach the second rotational bearing component. From this point, the lubrication channel opens into the second anti-rotational bearing mounted to the orbiting scroll. Even more preferably, a plurality of anti-rotation assemblies are provided at equal angular spacing.
In another aspect, the invention generally features an improvement in a scroll compressor of the type described, the improvement including an improved lubrication apparatus which includes a lubrication port disposed on an exterior surface of the housing of the scroll compressor and a lubrication channel extending from the lubrication port to the anti-rotation bearing disposed within the housing.
In yet another aspect, the invention generally features a scroll compressor having an anti-rotation device and an improved lubrication apparatus for the 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 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 and the lubrication apparatus which includes a lubrication port disposed on an exterior surface of the bearing cap and a lubrication channel extending from the lubrication port disposed on the exterior surface of the bearing cap to the anti-rotation assembly disposed within the housing.
The present invention will now be described by way of a particularly preferred embodiment, reference being made to the various Figures of the accompanying drawings, wherein:
REFERENCES:
patent: 61-040479-A1 (1986-02-01), None
patent: 62-174587-A1 (1987-07-01), None
patent: 01-244186-A1 (1989-09-01), None
patent: 01-290983-A1 (1989-11-01), None
patent: 02-176181-a1 (1990-07-01), None
patent: 03-246391-A1 (1991-11-01), None
patent: 04-022783-A1 (1992-01-01), Non
Jones Charlie E.
Kazakis Michael V.
Denion Thomas
James Ray & Associates
Trieu Theresa
Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
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