Patent ID: 6672101
Filing Date: 2004-01-06
Classification: F04C

Abstract:
An electrically driven compressor comprising:a compression mechanism arranged and constructed to draw in a refrigerant, compress and highly pressurize the refrigerant, and then discharge the pressurized refrigerant, the compression mechanism comprising a drive shaft, wherein a refrigerant flow channel is defined between a suction side of the compression mechanism and a discharge side of the compression mechanism, an electric motor rotatably driving the drive shaft, a bearing rotatably supporting the drive shaft, a motor housing defining a substantially sealed motor chamber, wherein the electric motor is disposed within the motor chamber, a communication path linking the refrigerant flow channel to the motor chamber, a lubricating oil supply route defined between a discharge-side region of the refrigerant flow channel and an area proximal to the bearing, the lubricating oil supply route being arranged and constructed so that a difference between the pressure at the discharge-side region of the refrigerant flow channel and the pressure at the area proximal to the bearing urges lubricating oil towards the bearing via the lubricating oil supply route, an oil storage area defined proximal to the bearing and communicating with the lubricating oil transfer route, the oil storage area being arranged and constructed to store lubricating oil that has lubricated the bearing, and a lubricating oil transfer route defined between the oil storage area and a suction-side region of the refrigerant flow channel, the lubricating oil transfer route being arranged and constructed so that a difference between the pressure at the oil storage area and the pressure at the suction-side region of the refrigerant flow channel urges lubricating oil from the oil storage area toward the suction-side region of the refrigerant flow channel.