Oil supply structure for slider of orbiting vane compressor

Disclosed herein is an oil supply structure for a slider of an orbiting vane compressor capable of providing effective lubrication to reciprocating surfaces of the slider reciprocating in an annular space of a compressor cylinder. The oil supply structure comprises an oil supply slot formed at an upper surface of an inner ring provided in the cylinder to supply oil to outer surfaces of the slider, and oil grooves formed at the outer surfaces of the slider to guide the oil, supplied through the oil supply slot, along the outer surfaces of the slider. The oil supply structure achieves effective lubrication of the reciprocating surfaces of the slider to thereby reduce friction between the slider and the cylinder, resulting in improved compressor performance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to orbiting vane compressors, and more particularly, to an oil supply structure for a slider of an orbiting vane compressor that is capable of providing effective lubrication to reciprocating surfaces of the slider reciprocating in an annular space of a compressor cylinder.

2. Description of the Related Art

FIG. 1illustrates the interior configuration of a general orbiting vane compressor. Referring toFIG. 1, the orbiting vane compressor generally comprises a shell1configured such that refrigerant gas is introduced through a lower refrigerant suction tube1aand is discharged to the outside of the shell1through an upper refrigerant discharge tube1b. A crankshaft6is vertically mounted in the shell1to be rotatably supported by means of upper and lower flanges7and7a. The crankshaft6has an eccentric unit6aat the lower portion thereof. A drive unit D and a compression unit P are also mounted in the shell1at the upper and lower portions of the crankshaft6. The drive unit D includes a stator2, and a rotor3disposed in the stator2to drive the crankshaft6upon receiving electric current. The compression unit P includes an orbiting vane4coupled to the eccentric unit6aof the crankshaft6, and a cylinder5disposed beneath the orbiting vane4. The orbiting vane4has a circular vane4a, which performs an orbiting movement in an annular space5a, defined between an inner ring5band the inner wall of the cylinder5, according to a rotation of the crankshaft6. As a result of the orbiting movement, refrigerant gas, introduced into the cylinder5through an inlet5cformed at one side of the cylinder5, is compressed and discharged to the interior of the shell1.

After being compressed in the annular space5aof the cylinder5through the orbiting movement of the orbiting vane4, the refrigerant gas is discharged to a muffler8, which encloses a lower surface of the lower flange7a, by passing through the cylinder5and the lower flange7a, thereby being discharged to the interior of the shell1via a discharge pipe9provided at the muffler8.

FIG. 2is an exploded perspective view illustrating the compression unit P of the general orbiting vane compressor. Referring toFIG. 2, as stated above, the compression unit P of the conventional orbiting vane compressor includes the cylinder5disposed in the lower region of the compressor and having the annular space5adefined between the inner ring5band the inner wall of the cylinder5, and the orbiting vane4having the circular vane4aand a boss4bformed at the lower surface of a vane plate4cto be inserted respectively into the annular space5aand the inner ring5b, the orbiting vane4performing an orbiting movement. The compression unit P further includes a slider70inserted into the annular space5ato perform a reciprocating movement while coming into close contact at a lateral surface thereof with a linear lateral edge of the circular vane4adefining an opening41a.

The annular space5aincludes a linear portion51ain one end region thereof. The slider70is inserted in the linear portion51asuch that the lateral surface thereof comes into close contact with the linear lateral edge of the circular vane4adefining the opening41a. As the circular vane4aperforms an orbiting movement, the slider70linearly reciprocates in the linear portion51a.

The slider70configured as stated above serves to isolate a pair of compression chambers, defined at the inside and the outside of the circular vane4a, from each other as it is disposed in the opening41aof the circular vane4a. The slider70performs a reciprocating movement while coming into close contact with the linear lateral edge of the circular vane4adefining the opening41a, the inner wall of the cylinder5at the linear portion51aof the annular space5a, and the lower surface of the vane plate4c.

The conventional orbiting vane compressor, however, has a problem in that it fails to provide effective lubrication to respective reciprocating surfaces of the slider, resulting in excessive friction at the reciprocating surfaces. Such an excessive friction consequently deteriorates the reliability and performance of the compressor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an oil supply structure for a slider of an orbiting vane compressor which can provide effective lubrication to reciprocating surfaces of the slider reciprocating in an annular space of a compressor cylinder.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an oil supply structure for a slider of an orbiting vane compressor which can allow oil, supplied to the slider, to be smoothly discharged to the outside of a compressor cylinder.

In accordance with the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of an oil supply structure for a slider of an orbiting vane compressor, the compressor comprising: a cylinder having an annular space defined between an inner ring and an inner wall of the cylinder; an orbiting vane having a circular vane and a boss inserted in the annular space and the inner ring of the cylinder, respectively, to perform an orbiting movement, the orbiting vane being adapted to compress refrigerant gas introduced into the cylinder according to a rotating movement of a crankshaft included in the compressor; and the slider inserted in the annular space to perform a reciprocating movement while coming into close contact at a lateral surface thereof with a lateral edge of the circular vane defining an opening, wherein the oil supply structure comprises: an oil supply slot to supply oil to outer surfaces of the slider; an oil groove portion formed at the outer surfaces of the slider to guide the oil, supplied through the oil supply slot, along the overall outer surfaces of the slider; and an oil discharge channel to discharge the oil, guided along the oil groove portion, to the outside of the cylinder.

Preferably, the oil supply slot may be formed at an upper surface of the inner ring of the cylinder to allow the oil filled in the inner ring to be pumped and supplied to the oil groove portion according to an orbiting movement of the boss of the orbiting vane.

Preferably, the oil groove portion may include horizontal oil grooves formed at upper and lower surfaces of the slider, and vertical oil grooves formed at front and rear surfaces of the slider to be connected to the horizontal oil grooves.

Preferably, the oil discharge channel may be perforated through the cylinder at a lower end of the annular space corresponding to a lower end of the oil groove portion.

Preferably, the oil groove portion further may include one or more storage grooves formed at the outer surfaces of the slider to be connected to the oil grooves to store the oil guided along the oil grooves.

Preferably, the oil supply slot may be positioned lower than the horizontal oil groove formed at the upper surface of the slider.

Preferably, the storage grooves may include horizontal storage grooves formed at the upper and lower surfaces of the slider by enlarging the center of the respective horizontal oil grooves, and vertical storage grooves formed at the front and rear surfaces of the slider by enlarging the center of the respective vertical oil grooves.

Preferably, an inclined wall surface may be formed between bottom surfaces of the oil grooves and storage grooves and the outer surfaces of the slider.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 3is an exploded perspective view illustrating a compression unit of an orbiting vane compressor according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 4is an enlarged perspective view of a slider ofFIG. 3.

Referring toFIGS. 3 and 4, the compression unit of the orbiting vane compressor comprises a cylinder10mounted in the lower region of the compressor, the cylinder10having an inner ring11and an annular space12defined between the inner ring11and the inner wall of the cylinder10, an orbiting vane20inserted in the cylinder10to perform an orbiting movement, and a slider30inserted in a linear portion12aof the annular space12to perform a reciprocating movement according to the orbiting movement of the orbiting vane20. To supply oil to the slider30for the smooth reciprocating movement thereof, the present invention provides an oil supply structure, which comprises an oil supply slot40to supply oil to the outer surfaces of the slider30, an oil groove portion50to guide the oil, supplied through the oil supply slot40, along the outer surfaces of the slider30, and an oil discharge channel60to discharge the oil, passed through the oil groove portion50, to the outside of the cylinder10.

The orbiting vane20has a circular vane21and a boss22, which are inserted, respectively, into the annular space12and the inner ring11of the cylinder10in a state wherein a vane plate23of the orbiting vane20comes into contact with an upper surface of the cylinder10. In such an inserted state, the circular vane21and the boss22perform orbiting movements inside the annular space12and the inner ring11, respectively. Although not shown, a crankshaft of the compressor is fitted in the boss22to be inserted into the inner ring11of the cylinder10. As the crankshaft (not shown) rotates, the orbiting vane20performs the orbiting movement to thereby compress refrigerant gas introduced into the cylinder10.

During the orbiting movement of the orbiting vane20, the slider30, inserted in the linear portion12aof the annular space12, reciprocates linearly while being in contact with a linear lateral edge of the circular vane21defining an opening21a.

The oil supply slot40of the oil supply structure is formed at an upper surface of the inner ring11to supply oil, filled in the inner ring11, to the oil groove portion50.

The oil, filled in the inner ring11, is smoothly pumped according to the orbiting movement of the boss22inserted in the inner ring11, thereby being introduced into the oil groove portion50, formed at the outer surfaces of the slider30, by way of the oil supply slot40.

The oil groove portion50of the oil supply structure includes horizontal oil grooves51formed at upper and lower surfaces of the slider30, and vertical oil grooves52formed at front and rear surfaces of the slider30to be connected to the horizontal oil grooves51. The oil, supplied to the outer surfaces of the slider30by way of the oil supply slot40, is guided along the oil groove portion50formed at the outer surfaces of the slider30.

In this way, the oil is guided along the outer surfaces of the slider30by way of the horizontal oil grooves51and the vertical oil grooves52connected to the horizontal oil grooves51, thereby providing effective lubrication to the outer surfaces, namely, reciprocating surfaces, of the slider30that come into contact with the inner wall of the cylinder10defining the annular space12and with the vane plate23of the orbiting vane20. As a result, the reciprocating surfaces of the slider30are less affected by friction generated when the slider30reciprocates linearly.

The oil groove portion50further includes an oil storage53. The oil storage53consists of horizontal storage grooves531formed at the upper and lower surfaces of the slider30, and vertical storage grooves532formed at the front and rear surfaces of the slider30. Here, the horizontal storage groove531is formed by enlarging the center of the horizontal oil groove51, and the vertical storage groove532is formed by enlarging the center of the vertical oil groove52.

The oil storage53provides a space for storing the oil flowing along the oil groove portion50, and reduces the overall area of the reciprocating surfaces of the slider30as wide as the total area of the horizontal and vertical storage grooves531and532formed at the reciprocating surfaces of the slider30to thereby reduce the frictional area of the slider30.

As stated above, the horizontal and vertical oil grooves51and52are formed along the outer surfaces of the slider30to be successively connected to one another. This provides uniform oil supply throughout the reciprocating surfaces of the slider30.

The grooves51,52,531and532are recessed from the outer surfaces of the slider30to form an inclined wall surface54throughout the circumference of the grooves51,52,531and532. The inclined wall surface54functions to facilitate the introduction of the oil into the grooves51,52,531and532, or the discharge of the oil from the grooves51,52,531and532to the outer surfaces, namely, reciprocating surfaces of the slider30.

The oil discharge channel60is perforated through the cylinder10at the lower end of the linear portion12aof the annular space12corresponding to the lower end of the oil groove portion50formed at the slider30.

By passing through the oil discharge channel60, the oil, passed through the oil groove portion50of the slider30, is discharged from the annular space12to the outside of the cylinder10.

FIG. 5is a cross sectional view of the compression unit ofFIG. 3, in an assembled state.FIG. 6is a sectional view taken along line A-A ofFIG. 5.

Referring toFIGS. 5 and 6, as the boss22of the orbiting vane20, inserted in the inner ring11of the cylinder10, performs an orbiting movement, the oil filled in the inner ring11is pumped.

Thereby, the oil filled in the inner ring11is introduced into the annular space12through the oil supply slot41, and simultaneously, is introduced into the horizontal and vertical oil grooves51and52of the slider30, which is inserted in the linear portion12aof the annular space12.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the oil supply slot41formed at the cylinder10is positioned lower than the horizontal oil groove51formed at the upper surface of the slider30. This allows the oil, supplied through the oil supply slot41, to be first introduced and filled in the vertical oil groove52formed at the front surface of the slider30, and sequentially be introduced into the horizontal oil groove51.

In other words, by virtue of a height difference between the oil supply slot40and the horizontal oil groove51, the oil, supplied through the oil supply slot41, can be first introduced into the vertical oil groove52and sequentially be introduced into the horizontal oil groove51, thereby being smoothly supplied to both the horizontal and vertical oil grooves51and52.

The oil, introduced into the horizontal and vertical oil grooves51and52as stated above, is guided along the horizontal and vertical oil grooves51and52, which are successively formed along the outer surfaces of the slider30, while being partially stored in the horizontal and vertical storage grooves531and532, thereby providing effective lubrication to the outer surfaces of the slider30.

The oil, used in the lubrication of the outer surfaces of the slider30, is discharged to the outside of the cylinder10by way of the oil discharge channel60, which is perforated through the cylinder10at the position corresponding to the lower end of the annular space12and the ends of the horizontal and vertical oil grooves51and52.

As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides an oil supply structure for a slider of an orbiting vane compressor having several advantageous effects as follows.

First, the oil supply structure of the present invention provides effective lubrication to reciprocating surfaces of the slider reciprocating in an annular space of a compressor cylinder to thereby reduce friction between the slider and the compressor cylinder, resulting in improved compressor reliability and performance.

Second, the oil supply structure of the present invention allows lubricant oil to be smoothly supplied from an inner ring to the slider as a boss of an orbiting vane inserted in the inner ring performs an orbiting movement. Thereby, the oil can be supplied according to a compressing operation of the compressor, enabling more stable lubrication of the slider.

Third, according to the present invention, the oil can be smoothly guided along the overall reciprocating surfaces of the slider, achieving uniform lubrication of the slider.

Fourth, the oil, used in the lubrication of the slider, can be smoothly discharged to the outside of the cylinder. This has the effect of preventing oil accumulation in the annular space around the slider.

Finally, as a result of forming the slider to store the oil supplied thereto, it is possible to achieve continuous lubrication of the slider and to reduce the total area of the reciprocating surfaces of the slider, achieving more stable lubrication of the slider and reducing the frictional area between the slider and the cylinder.