Patent ID: 6146118
Filing Date: 2000-11-14
Classification: F01C,F04C

Abstract:
A scroll compressor comprising:a fixed scroll member having a substantially planar surface and an involute wrap element projecting from its said substantially planar surface;an orbiting scroll member having a substantially planar surface and an involute wrap element projecting from its said substantially planar surface, said fixed and orbiting scroll members mutually engaged with said involute wrap element of said fixed scroll member projecting towards said substantially planar surface of said orbiting scroll member and said involute wrap element of said orbiting scroll member 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 refrigerant between said involute wrap elements;a shaft having an axis of rotation substantially normal to said substantially planar surfaces, said shaft drivingly coupled to said orbiting scroll member, whereby relative motion between said fixed and orbiting scroll members is induced by the rotation of said shaft; andan Oldham coupling having a ring portion disposed in a first plane located between and substantially parallel with said substantially planar surfaces, said Oldham coupling provided with a first pair of elements extending axially from a first side its of said ring portion and a second pair of elements extending axially from a second side of its said ring portion;said fixed scroll member provided with a first pair of elongate recesses, said recesses of said first pair of recesses offset and parallel, and extending in a first direction, said first pair of Oldham coupling elements slidably disposed in said first pair of elongate recesses;said orbiting scroll member provided with a second pair of elongate recesses, said recesses of said second pair of recesses offset and parallel, and extending in a second direction, said second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction, said first and second directions substantially perpendicular to said axis of rotation, said second pair of Oldham coupling elements slidably disposed in said second pair of elongate recesses, whereby relative rotation of said fixed and orbiting scroll members is prevented; andwherein said Oldham coupling is nonsymmetrical about any line in said first plane.