COMPRESSOR

Abstract: A compressor (1) is disclosed which includes a compressor housing (10), a front housing (20) which is attached to one end of the compressor housing (10) and a drive shaft (13) which is rotatably supported within the front housing (20) through radial bearings (21, 22). A shaft seal mechanism (19) is disposed between both radial bearings (21, 22) for sealing between the inside and outside of the compressor housing (10). One of the radial bearings (22) which is disposed at the outside is provided with a pulling portion (221) for taking off itself to the outside. Therefore, since the radial bearing (21) at the outside can be easily removed from the outside, maintenance for replacement of shaft seal mechanism (19) is improved.

Description: This invention relates to a compressor, and more particularly, to a compressor with a radial bearing for supporting a drive shaft. Referring to Figure 1, the construction of a conventional scroll type compressor is shown. A compressor 1 includes a compressor housing 10 which comprises a front end plate 11 and a cup-shaped housing 12 fixed on one end surface of front end plate 11. A drive mechanism and compression mechanism for compression operation are disposed in compressor housing 10. An opening 111 for penetration of a drive shaft 13 is formed in front end plate 11 at the center thereof. One end of drive shaft 13 is fixedly connected with an annular disc 14 which is rotatably supported on a radial bearing 15 which is fixedly disposed in opening 111. The other end of drive shaft 13 extends to the outside through the cavity of a tubular front boss 16 which is securedly fixed on the outer end surface of front end plate 11 by bolts 17. A radial bearing 18 is fixedly disposed on the inner surface of tubular front boss 16 for rotatably supporting the other end of drive shaft 13. A shaft seal mechanism 19 is disposed between the inner surface of tubular front boss 16 and the outer surface of drive shaft 13 at the side of front end plate 11 rather than radial bearing 18 for sealing the interior of compressor housing 10 thereby preventing refrigerant and lubricating oil therein from leaking to the outside. In the above-mentioned construction, shaft seal mechanism 19 needs to be replaced more frequently than any other parts as shaft seal mechanism 19 is easily broken down. Accordingly, it is desirable to enable to easily maintain shaft seal mechanism 19. The maintenance of shaft seal mechanism 19 in the above compressor is made by turns as follows. Fixture between front boss 16 and front end plate 11 is first released by unfastening bolts 17. Front boss 16 is second detached from front end plate 11. At the same time, radial bearing 18 which is fixedly disposed within front boss 16 is removed from drive shaft 13 together with front boss 16. Shaft seal mechanism 19 is third removed through the end of drive shaft 13. However, the above replacement process is complicated thereby causing to become low in maintenance performance. Further, since front boss 16 and front end plate 11 are made, respectively, and assembled, the cost becomes high in manufacture. It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a compressor with a radial bearing for supporting a drive shaft which becomes high in maintenance performance. It is an other object of the present invention to provide a compressor with a radial bearing for supporting a drive shaft of which the cost becomes low in manufacture. A compressor according to the present invention includes a compressor housing, a front housing which is attached to one end of the compressor housing and a drive shaft which is rotatably supported within the front housing through radial bearings. A shaft seal mechanism is disposed between both radial bearings for sealing between the inside and outside of the compressor housing. One of the radial bearings which is disposed at the outside is provided with a pulling portion for taking off itself to the outside. Further objects, features and other aspects of this invention will be understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of this invention with reference to the annexed drawings. Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional scroll type compressor. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a front housing construction which includes a radial bearing for supporting a drive shaft in accordance with one embodiment of this invention. Referring to Figure 2, a front housing construction including a radial bearing for supporting a drive shaft in accordance with one embodiment of this invention is shown. An opening of cup-shaped casing 12 is closed by a front housing 20 which integrally includes a front end plate portion 201 and a tubular front boss portion 202. A first penetration hole 201a is formed within front end plate portion 201 at the center thereof and a second penetration hole 202a is also formed within tubular front boss portion 202 to communicate with first penetration hole 201a, so that drive shaft 13 extends to the outside through first and second penetration holes 201a and 202a. Annular disc 14 of drive shaft 13 is rotatably supported with the inner surface of first penetration hole 201a through a radial bearing 21 which is fixedly disposed in first penetration hole 201a. The other end of drive shaft 13 is also rotatably supported with tubular front boss portion 202 through a radial bearing 22 which is fixedly disposed between the inner surface of second penetration hole 202a and the outer surface of drive shaft 13. Shaft seal mechanism 19 is disposed on the outer surface of drive shaft 13 in abutting with first and second penetration holes 201a and 202a to prevent refrigerant gas and lubricating oil from leaking to the outside through both penetration holes 201a and 202a. Radial bearing 22 is provided with an exposed portion 221 at one end thereof. Annular groove 221a is formed on the outer surface of exposed portion 221 to surround thereto. Accordingly, replacement of radial bearing 22 is easily made by using a jig as to hung annular groove 221a. Therefore, in the above compressor housing, shaft seal mechanism 19 can be easily taken off from drive shaft 13 by pulling radial bearing 22 out from the outside thereby maintenance performance for replacement of a shaft seal mechanism is improved. This invention has been described in detail in connection with a preferred embodiment, but this is an example only and this invention is not restricted thereto. It will be easily understood by those skilled in the art that other variations and modifications can be easily made within the scope of this invention.

Claims: 1. A compressor (1) including a compressor housing (10), a front housing (20) attached to one end of said compressor housing, a drive shaft (13) rotatably supported within said front housing (20) through radial bearings (21, 22), and a shaft seal mechanism (19) disposed between both said radial bearings (21, 22) for sealing between the inside and outside of said compressor housing, characterized in that one of said radial bearings is provided with a pulling portion (221) for taking off itself to the outside. 2. The compressor according to claim 1, characterized in that said pulling portion (221) is exposed at the outside. 3. The compressor according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said pulling portion is an annular groove (221a) radially extending on the outer surface of said radial bearing. 4. The compressor according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said compressor housing (10) is integrally formed of a front end plate portion (11) provided with an opening for extending said drive shaft (13) to the outside and a tubular front boss portion (16) communicating with said opening for surrounding said drive shaft (13) at the side of the outside.

Inventors: MIYAZAWA, KIYOSHI, SHIMIZU, SHIGEMI
Applicants: SANDEN CORPORATION
Application year: 1988
Main classification: F04C29
IPC codes: F04C18, F16C43, F04C29, F16C35, F04B39