Patent ID: 6095778
Filing Date: 2000-08-01
Classification: F01C

Abstract:
A scroll compressor comprising:a housing having a radial face;a stationary scroll member located within the housing, the stationary scroll member including an end plate with a facing contact surface and a stationary involute wrap having an involute contacting sealing surface;an orbiting scroll member located within the housing, the orbiting scroll member including an end plate with a facing contacting surface, an orbiting involute wrap having an involute sealing surface, and a end plate surface approximately parallel to the radial face of the housing;means for driving the orbiting scroll member; anda thrust bearing/coupling component having (i) three sets of cooperating locating indentations and three spheres, wherein each of the three sets of cooperating locating indentations includes a first locating indentation formed in the end plate surface of the orbiting scroll member and a second locating indentation formed in the radial face of the housing and aligned with the first indentation, wherein a sphere is provided between the first and second locating indentations, wherein the locating indentations and spheres are sized to permit a sphere to travel a distance equal to one-half of an orbit radius of the orbiting scroll member in all directions from a central position, and (ii) a plurality of cooperating clearance indentations provided in the end plate surface and the radial face and a sphere between each of the clearance indentations, wherein the clearance indentations and the spheres are sized to permit a sphere to travel a distance greater than one-half of the orbit radius in all directions from a central position.