Patent ID: 6139295
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: F01C,F04C

Abstract:
A scroll compressor having a suction chamber into which fluid is received substantially at suction pressure and a discharge chamber from which the fluid is discharged substantially at discharge pressure, comprising:a fixed scroll member having a fixed involute wrap element projecting from a substantially planar surface thereof;an orbiting scroll member having an orbiting involute wrap element projecting from a substantially planar surface thereof, said fixed and orbiting scroll members mutually engaged with said fixed involute wrap element projecting towards said substantially planar surface of said orbiting scroll member, and said orbiting involute wrap element projecting towards said substantially planar surface of said fixed scroll member, said substantially planar surfaces positioned substantially parallel with one another, whereby relative orbiting of said scroll members compresses the fluid between said involute wrap elements, said engaged scroll members in fluid communication with said suction and discharge chambers;an intermediate pressure chamber defined in part by one of said fixed and orbiting scroll members, said intermediate pressure chamber in fluid communication with a source of pressure intermediate suction and discharge pressures, whereby said fixed and orbiting scroll members are at least partially urged into axial sealing engagement by forces induced by fluid pressure in said intermediate pressure chamber;an oil reservoir;an electric motor;a shaft operably coupling said motor and said orbiting scroll member, said shaft provided with a longitudinal passageway extending longitudinally therethrough, said longitudinal passageway in fluid communication with said oil reservoir, said longitudinal passageway provided with oil from said oil reservoir, said shaft having a first passage in fluid communication with said longitudinal passageway, said first passage extending substantially laterally outward from said longitudinal passageway to a radially outer surface of said shaft;a roller disposed about said shaft radially outer surface, said orbiting scroll member linked to said shaft through said roller, said roller provided with inner and outer circumferential surfaces and a second passage extending therebetween, said first and second passages in fluid communication, whereby oil from said oil reservoir is provided to said roller outer circumferential surface through said longitudinal passageway and said first and second passages; anda bearing disposed between said roller outer circumferential surface and said orbiting scroll member, an oil receiving space provided adjacent said bearing, said oil receiving space defined in part by a surface provided on said orbiting scroll member which is opposite its said substantially planar surface, an axially facing surface of said roller, and an end surface of said shaft, oil provided from said second passage to said oil receiving space through said bearing;wherein a third passage extends between said oil receiving space and an intermediate pressure space between said fixed and orbiting involute wrap elements, oil is provided to said intermediate pressure space from said oil receiving space through said third passage, and said intermediate pressure chamber and said oil receiving space are substantially out of fluid communication.