Patent ID: 6042344
Filing Date: 2000-03-28
Classification: F04C

Abstract:
A method of operating a scroll compressor comprising the steps of:(1) providing a scroll compressor including an orbiting scroll and a second scroll, both said orbiting and second scrolls having spiral wraps which interfit to define compression pockets, a suction line for supplying a refrigerant to be compressed to said scroll compressor, a motor for driving said orbiting scroll relative to said second scroll, and an electrically controlled unloader valve to communicate said suction line to a point in a refrigerant cycle at which said refrigerant is at a higher pressure than said suction line a second line communicating with a compression pocket at said point in a refrigerant cycle, and said unloader valve selectively communicating said suction line to said second line, said unloader valve being selectively operated during operation of said compressor to unload said compressor during normal operation of said motor;(2) running said scroll compressor by driving said motor;(3) determining that said motor will be stopped; and(4) opening said unloader valve once the determination of step (3) has been made, at least a few seconds before shutdown of said motor, and then shutting down said motor.