Non-orbiting scroll mounting arrangements for a scroll machine

Abstract: A scroll type machine is disclosed which incorporates an improved mounting arrangement for the non-orbiting scroll member which mounting arrangement greatly facilitates manufacturing and assembly, effectively prevents radial displacement of the non-orbiting scroll member, and offers the advantages of axial compliance. In one embodiment, the non-orbiting scroll is axially movably secured to a bearing housing by means of a plurality of bolts or bolts and sleeves. In another embodiment a rigid annular ring serves to axially movably secure the non-orbiting scroll to the bearing housing while in a third embodiment a stamped ring is secured to both the non-orbiting scroll and the bearing housing.

Description: The present invention relates generally to scroll machines and more specifically to an improved axially compliant mounting arrangement for scroll type compressors. A unique axially compliant mounting arrangement is disclosed in US-A-4,877,382 on which the preamble of claim 1 is based. One embodiment of this mounting arrangement utilizes an elongated leaf spring strap having opposite ends secured to a flange portion provided on the non-orbiting scroll member. The center portion of this strap is secured to a pair of upstanding spaced posts provided on the main bearing housing. A stop flange is provided on the non-orbiting scroll which engages the lower surface of the strap to limit axial movement of the non-orbiting scroll member away from the orbiting scroll. A retainer overlies the center portion of the strap and serves as a backup to aid in limiting this axial separating movement of the non-rotating scroll. While this mounting arrangement offers excellent performance and durability characteristics, it requires a substantial number of components which render it rather costly in terms of both manufacturing and assembly time and material. Accordingly, the present invention seeks to provide an improved mounting arrangement which offers all of the advantages provided by the above described mounting system but additionally requires fewer components and hence offers substantial cost savings in both manufacturing and assembly. In one embodiment, the non-orbiting scroll member is secured to the main bearing housing by means of a plurality of bolts extending therebetween which allow limited relative axial movement between the bearing housing and the non-orbiting scroll member. In another embodiment, a separate annular ring is fixedly secured to the bearing housing in surrounding relationship to the non-orbiting scroll member and includes abutment surfaces operative to allow limited relative axial movement of the non-orbiting scroll. Both of these embodiments offer distinct advantages with respect to overcoming the often conflicting problems of minimizing the amount of high precision machining required, the need for accurately positioning the non-orbiting scroll member relative to the orbiting scroll member, minimizing the number of components required and hence the complexity and time required for assembly as well as minimizing costs without loss of durability and/or reliability of the resulting scroll compressor. According to the present invention there is provided a scroll-type machine comprising: a first scroll member including a first end plate having a first sealing surface thereon and a first spiral wrap disposed on said first sealing surface, the center axis of said first wrap being disposed generally perpendicular to said first sealing surface; a second scroll member including a second end plate having a second sealing surface thereon and a second spiral wrap disposed on said second sealing surface, the center axis of said second wrap being disposed generally perpendicular to said second sealing surface; a stationary body having means supporting said second scroll member for orbital movement with respect to said first scroll member, said second scroll member being positioned with respect to said first scroll member such that said first and second spiral wraps intermesh with one another so that orbiting of said second scroll member with respect to said first scroll member will cause said wraps to define moving fluid chambers, the edge of said first wrap spaced from said first end plate being in sealing engagement with said second sealing surface, the edge of said second wrap spaced from said second end plate being in sealing engagement with said first sealing surface; axially compliant mounting means including means on said first scroll member forming a first guide surface; means forming a second guide surface positioned in opposed relationship to said first guide surface to co-operate therewith to resist radial movement and guide axial movement of said first scroll member relative to said second scroll member; characterized in that said means forming a second guide surface includes stop means for cooperating with said first scroll member to limit axial movement thereof in a direction away from said second scroll member. Embodiments of apparatus will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a vertical section view of a scroll compressor incorporating a non-orbiting scroll mounting arrangement in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a section view of the compressor of Figure 1, the section being taken along line 2-2 thereof; Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section view of the mounting arrangement shown in Figure 1; Figures 4-6 are views similar to that of Figure 3 but showing other embodiments of the present invention, all in accordance with the present invention; Figure 7 is a fragmentary section view of a portion of a scroll compressor showing another embodiment of a non-orbiting scroll mounting arrangement in accordance with the present invention; Figure 8 is a section view of the embodiment shown in Figure 7, the section being taken along line 8-8 thereof; Figure 9 is a section view of a slider block assembly for use in preventing rotation of the non-orbiting scroll in the embodiment of Figures 7 and 8; Figure 10 is a perspective view of the slider block shown in Figure 9; Figure 11 is a perspective view of an alternative slider block for use in the embodiment of Figure 9; and Figure 12 is a section view of an alternative rotation limiting assembly for use in the embodiment of Figure 7. Referring now to the drawings and in particular to Figure 1, a compressor 10 is shown which comprises a generally cylindrical hermetic shell 12 having welded at the upper end thereof a cap 14 and at the lower end thereof a base 16 having a plurality of mounting feet (not shown) integrally formed therewith. Cap 14 is provided with a refrigerant discharge fitting which may have the usual discharge valve therein (not shown). Other major elements affixed to the shell include a transversely extending partition 22 which is welded about its periphery at the same point that cap 14 is welded to shell 12, a stationary main bearing housing or body 24 which is suitably secured to shell 12 and a lower bearing housing 26 also having a plurality of radially outwardly extending legs each of which is also suitably secured to shell 12. A motor stator 28 which is generally square in cross section but with the corners rounded off is pressfitted into shell 12. The flats between the rounded corners on the stator provide passageways between the stator and shell, which facilitate the flow of lubricant from the top of the shell to the bottom. A drive shaft or crankshaft 30 having an eccentric crank pin 32 at the upper end thereof is rotatably journaled in a bearing 34 in main bearing housing 24 and a second bearing 36 in lower bearing housing 26. Crankshaft 30 has at the lower end a relatively large diameter concentric bore 38 which communicates with a radially outwardly inclined smaller diameter bore 40 extending upwardly therefrom to the top of the crankshaft. Disposed within bore 38 is a stirrer 42. The lower portion of the interior shell 12 is filled with lubricating oil, and bore 38 acts as a pump to pump lubricating fluid up the crankshaft 30 and into passageway 40 and ultimately to all of the various portions of the compressor which require lubrication. Crankshaft 30 is rotatively driven by an electric motor including stator 28, windings 44 passing therethrough and a rotor 46 pressfitted on the crankshaft 30 and having upper and lower counterweights 48 and 50 respectively. A counterweight shield 52 may be provided to reduce the work loss caused by counterweight 50 spinning in the oil in the sump. The upper surface of main bearing housing 24 is provided with a flat thrust bearing surface 53 on which is disposed an orbiting scroll 54 having the usual spiral vane or wrap 56 on the upper surface thereof. Projecting downwardly from the lower surface of orbiting scroll 54 is a cylindrical hub having a journal bearing 58 therein and in which is rotatively disposed a drive bushing 60 having an inner bore 62 in which crank pin 32 is drivingly disposed. Crank pin 32 has a flat on one surface which drivingly engages a flat surface (not shown) formed in a portion of bore 62 to provide a radially compliant driving arrangement, such as shown in US-A-4,877,382, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. An Oldham coupling 63 is also provided positioned between and keyed to orbiting scroll 54 and bearing housing 24 to prevent rotational movement of orbiting scroll member 54. Oldham coupling 63 is preferably of the type disclosed in the above referenced US-A-4,877,382. A non-orbiting scroll member 64 is also provided having a wrap 66 positioned in meshing engagement with wrap 56 of scroll 54. Non-orbiting scroll 64 has a centrally disposed discharge passage 75 communicating with an upwardly open recess 77 which is in fluid communication with a discharge muffler chamber 79 defined by cap 14 and partition 22. An annular recess 81 is also formed in non-orbiting scroll 64 within which is disposed a seal assembly 83. Recesses 77 and 81 and seal assembly 83 cooperate to define axial pressure biasing chambers which receive pressurized fluid being compressed by wraps 56 and 66 so as to exert an axial biasing force on non-orbiting scroll member 64 to thereby urge the tips of respective wraps 56, 66 into sealing engagement with the opposed end plate surfaces. Scroll member 64 is designed to be mounted to bearing housing 24 and to this end has a plurality of radially outwardly projecting flange portions 68, 70, 72, 74 circumferentially spaced around the periphery thereof. As best seen with reference to Figure 3, flange portion 68 of non-orbiting scroll member 64 has an opening 76 provided therein within which is fitted an elongated cylindrical bushing 78, the lower end 80 of which is seated on bearing housing 24. A bolt 82 having a head 84 and washer 85 extends through an axially extending bore 86 provided in bushing 78 and into a threaded opening 88 provided in bearing housing 24. As shown, bore 86 of bushing 78 is of a diameter greater than the diameter of bolt 82 so as to accommodate some relative movement therebetween to enable final precise positioning of non-orbiting scroll member 64. Once scroll member 64 and hence bushing 78 have been precisely positioned, bolt 82 may be suitably torqued thereby securely and fixedly clamping bushing 78 between bearing housing 24 and washer 85. Washer 85 serves to insure uniform circumferential loading on bushing 78 as well as to provide a bearing surface for head 84 thereby avoiding any potential shifting of bushing 78 during the final torquing of bolt 82. It should be noted that as shown in Figure 3, the axial length of bushing 78 will be sufficient to allow non-orbiting scroll 64 to slidably move axially along bushing 78 in a direction away from the orbiting scroll thereby affording an axially compliant mounting arrangement with the washer 85 and head 84 of bolt 82 acting as a positive stop limiting such movement. Substantially identical bushings, bolts and washers are provided for each of the other flange portions 70, 72, and 74. The amount of separating movement can be relatively small (e.g. on the order of 0.13 mm (0.005") for a scroll 7.6 to 10.2 cm (3" to 4") in diameter and 2.5 to 5.1 cm (1" to 2") in wrap height) and hence the compressor will still operate to compress even though the separating force resulting therefrom may exceed the axial restoring force such as may occur on startup. Because the final radial and circumferential positioning of the non-orbiting scroll is accommodated by the clearances provided between bolts 82 and the associated bushings 78, threaded openings 88 in bearing housing 24 need not be as precisely located as would otherwise be required thus reducing the manufacturing costs associated therewith. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 4, the bolts 82 and bushings 78 may be replaced by a shoulder bolt 90 slidably fitted within openings 76' provided in the respective flange portions 68, 70, 72 and 74 of non-orbiting scroll 64. In this embodiment, the axial length "A" of the shoulder portion 92 of bolt 90 will be selected such that a slight clearance will be provided between the lower surface 91 of head portion of bolt 90 and the opposed surface of flange portion 68 when scroll member 64 is fully axially seated against scroll member 56 to thereby permit a slight axial separating movement in like manner as described above with reference to Figure 3. Also, as noted above, surface 91 of bolt 90 will act as a positive stop to limit this axial separating movement of scroll member 64. The relative diameters of shoulder portion 92 and bore 76' will be such as to allow sliding movement therebetween but yet effectively resist radial and/or circumferential movement of scroll member 64. While this embodiment eliminates concern over potential shifting of the bushing relative to the securing bolt which could occur in the embodiment of Figure 3, it is somewhat more costly in that the threaded holes in bearing housing 24 must be precisely located. Figures 5 and 6 illustrate further alternative arrangements for mounting non-orbiting scroll member 64 to bearing housing 24. In Figure 5, a bushing 94 is pressfitted within each of the openings 76'' provided in respective flange portions 68, 70, 72 and 74. A shoulder bolt 96 is provided extending through bushing 94 and as described above with reference to Figure 4 includes a shoulder portion 98 having an axial length "B" selected with respect to the length of bushing 94 to afford the desired axial movement of the non-orbiting scroll 64. In this embodiment, because bushing 94 is pressfitted within opening 76'' it will slidably move along shoulder portion 98 of bolt 96 along with scroll member 64 to afford the desired axially compliant mounting arrangement. This embodiment allows for somewhat less precise locating of the threaded bores 88 in bearing housing 24 as compared to the embodiment of Figure 4 in that the bushing 94 may be bored and/or reamed to provide the final precise positioning of the non-orbiting scroll member 64. Further, because the axial movement occurs between the bushing and shoulder bolt, concern as to possible wearing of the openings 76'' provided in the flange portions of the fixed scroll is eliminated. As shown, bushing 94 has an axial length such that it is seated on bearing housing 24 when scroll member 64 is fully axially seated against scroll member 54 so as to provide a maximum surface area of engagement with shoulder portion 98, however, if desired, a shorter bushing 94 could be utilized in place thereof. Again, as in the above described embodiments, the head of bolt 96 will cooperate either with the end of bushing 94 or flange 68 as desired to provide a positive stop limiting the axial separating movement of scroll 64. In the embodiment of Figure 6, a counterbore 100 is provided in bearing housing 24 which counterbore serves as a pilot to receive an extended shoulder portion 102 of shoulder bolt 104. Again the axial length C of shoulder portion 102 will be selected so as to allow for the desired limited axial movement of non-orbiting scroll 64 and the head of bolt 104 will provide a positive stop therefor. Because the pilot counterbore can be reamed to establish the precise relative location of the non-orbiting scroll, the tolerance for locating the threaded bore may be increased somewhat. Further, this embodiment eliminates the need to provide and assemble separately fabricated bushings. Also, similarly to that described above, the relative diameters of shoulder portions 98 and 102 with respect to the bores through which they extend will be such as to accommodate axial sliding movement yet resist radial and circumferential movement. A further embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figure 7 wherein corresponding portions are indicated by the same reference numbers used in Figure 1 primed. In this embodiment a separate annular retainer ring 106 is provided which surrounds non-orbiting scroll 64' and is securely bolted to bearing housing 24' by a plurality of fasteners 108. Retainer ring 106 is generally L-shaped in cross section and includes an accurately machined inner peripheral surface 110 which is adapted to abut a corresponding accurately machined annular surface 112 provided on non-orbiting scroll 64' to thereby accurately radially position same as well as to guide axial movement thereof. Additionally, retainer ring 106 has a plurality of accurately machined radially inwardly facing surface portions 114 which are adapted to abut accurately machined radially outwardly facing shoulder portions 116 formed on bearing housing 24' so as to thereby accurately locate retainer ring 106 with respect thereto. This mounting arrangement also incorporates the axially compliant feature discussed above by providing a slight clearance between surface 117 of retainer ring 106 and an opposed surface 118 provided on scroll 64' both of which surfaces are accurately machined so as to provide a positive stop limiting this axial separating movement. In order to prevent relative rotation of the non-orbiting scroll 64' with respect to retainer ring 106 and hence bearing housing 24', a slider block assembly 122 is provided on retainer ring 106. As best seen with reference to Figures 9-11, slider block assembly 122 comprises a block member 124 which is received within a suitably shaped radially extending slot 126 provided in a radially outwardly extending flange portion of the non-orbiting scroll member 64'. Block member 124 is generally T-shaped in cross section having a depending leg portion 130 received within a narrower portion 132 of slot 126 and oppositely extending arms 134, 136 loosely received within an upper portion 138 of slot 126 which arms serve to support block member 124 on scroll member 64'. A bolt 128 is threadedly secured within an opening 131 provided in retainer ring 106 and has a depending shaft portion 140 extending into a central opening 142 provided in block 124. In operation, the close tolerance fit of both shaft portion 140 within bore 142 and the opposite circumferentially spaced sidewalls of leg portion 130 with the circumferentially opposed sidewalls of the lower portion 132 of slot 126 will cooperate to effectively prevent rotational movement of the non-orbiting scroll member. Further, because block 124 is free to move axially along shaft portion 140 of bolt 128, this anti-rotation assembly will not restrict the desired axial movement of the non-orbiting scroll member discussed above. Preferably, slide block 124 will be fabricated from metal. An alternative slide block 144 is shown in Figure 11. Slide block 144 is similar to slide block 124 with the exception that it includes a lower pair of circumferentially outwardly extending flange portions 146, 148 which may underlie the lower surface of the non-orbiting scroll 64' to thereby aid in retaining slide block 144 within slot 126. Alternatively, in place of the slide block assembly described above, an anti-rotation clip assembly 150 may be utilized to prevent relative rotation of the non-orbiting scroll member. As shown in Figure 12, clip assembly 150 includes a generally U-shaped first clip member 152 having a center portion secured to the undersurface of a flange portion of the non-orbiting scroll 64" by means of a suitable threaded fastener 154 and a pair of spaced substantially parallel depending leg members 155, 157. A second clip member 156 is secured to an upstanding post 158 integrally formed at a suitable location on main bearing housing 24" by means of a suitable threaded fastener 159. Second clip member 156 has a pair of spaced substantially parallel upwardly extending arm members 160, 162 and a raised center portion 164 seated on post 158 which together define a pair of spaced channels 166, 168 adapted to receive legs 155, 157 of first clip member 152. Clip members 152 and 156 will be aligned along a radius of the non-orbiting scroll member such that channels 166, 168 and legs 155, 157 will operate to prevent relative rotation between bearing housing 24" and non-orbiting scroll 64". Additionally, the slip fit connection between clip members 152 and 156 will accommodate the desired relative axial movement of non-orbiting scroll member 64" as noted above.

Claims: A scroll-type machine comprising: a first scroll member (64, 64') including a first end plate having a first sealing surface thereon and a first spiral wrap (66) disposed on said first sealing surface, the center axis of said first wrap being disposed generally perpendicular to said first sealing surface; a second scroll member (54, 54') including a second end plate having a second sealing surface thereon and a second spiral wrap (56) disposed on said second sealing surface, the center axis of said second wrap being disposed generally perpendicular to said second sealing surface; a stationary body (24, 24') having means (53) supporting said second scroll member (54, 54') for orbital movement with respect to said first scroll member (64, 64'), said second scroll member being positioned with respect to said first scroll member such that said first and second spiral wraps (56, 66) intermesh with one another so that orbiting of said second scroll member with respect to said first scroll member will cause said wraps to define moving fluid chambers, the edge of said first wrap spaced from said first end plate being in sealing engagement with said second sealing surface, the edge of said second wrap spaced from said second end plate being in sealing engagement with said first sealing surface; axially compliant mounting means including means (68, 94) on said first scroll member (64, 64') forming a first guide surface (76, 76', 112); and means (78, 82, 90, 92, 96, 104, 106) forming a second guide surface (110) positioned in opposed relationship to said first guide surface to co-operate therewith to resist radial movement and guide axial movement of said first scroll member (64, 64') relative to said second scroll member (54, 54'); characterized in that said means (78, 82, 90, 92, 96, 104, 106) forming a second guide surface includes stop means (85, 91, 117) for cooperating with said first scroll member (64, 64') to limit axial movement thereof in a direction away from said second scroll member (54, 54'). A scroll-type machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second guide surfaces (76, 76', 110, 112) are slidably engaging abutment surfaces. A scroll-type machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein one of said abutment surfaces is a cylindrical member (78, 90, 96, 104, 112) and the other of said abutment surfaces is a bore (76, 76', 110) slidably receiving said cylindrical member. A scroll-type machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein said bore (76, 76') is formed in a radially outwardly projecting flange portion (68) of said first scroll member (64). A scroll-type machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said cylindrical member includes a fastening means (84, 90, 96, 104). A scroll-type machine as claimed in claim 5 wherein said fastening means (84, 85, 90, 96, 104) includes said stop means. A scroll-type machine as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 wherein said cylindrical member further includes a bushing (78) slidably received within said bore (76), said fastening means (84, 85) securing said bushing to said stationary body. A scroll-type machine as claimed in claim 7 wherein said fastening means (84) extends through said bushing (78) and a radial clearance is provided between said fastening means and said bushing to allow said first scroll member (64) to be radially adjustably mounted to said stationary body (24). A scroll-type machine as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8 wherein said fastening means (90, 96, 104) is a bolt and said stop means comprise an abutment surface on said bolt engageable with said flange portion (68) of said first scroll member (64). A scroll-type machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein said bore is formed in a bushing member (94) fitted within an opening (76) provided in a radially outwardly extending flange portion (68) of said first scroll member (64) and said cylindrical member comprises a fastening means (96) secured to said stationary body. A scroll-type machine as claimed in claim 10 wherein said fastening means (96) includes said stop means. A scroll-type machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein said bore is formed in a radially extending flange portion (68) of said first scroll member (64) and said cylindrical member comprises fastening means (90, 106) secured to said stationary body. A scroll-type machine as claimed in claim 12 wherein said stop means is carried by said fastening means (90, 106). A scroll-type machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said cylindrical member is adjustably mounted. A scroll-type machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said stop means (85, 91, 117) is adapted to limit said relative axial movement of said scroll members to a predetermined amount small enough to permit said machine to operate as a compressor on start-up when at a maximum displacement condition. A scroll-type machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said mounting means include an annular ring (106) said bore (110) being formed in said annular ring and said cylindrical member comprises an annular flange portion formed on said first scroll member (64'). A scroll-type machine as claimed in claim 16 wherein said stop means comprise axially opposed abutment surfaces (117, 118) formed on said annular ring (106) and said first scroll member (64'). A scroll-type machine as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17 wherein said annular ring (106) is secured to said stationary body by a plurality of fasteners (108). A scroll-type machine as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 18, further comprising means (124, 140, 144, 152, 158) for preventing relative rotation between said annular ring (106) and said first scroll member (64'). A scroll-type machine as claimed in claim 19 wherein said rotation preventing means comprise a first member (140, 156) secured to said annular ring (106) and a second member (124, 144, 152) associated with said first scroll member (64'), said first and second members being slidingly interengageable to allow relative axial movement but to resist relative radial and circumferential movement. A scroll-type machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced axially extending openings (76, 76') provided on the periphery of said first scroll member (64) and defining a plurality of said first guide surfaces; and fastening means (84, 90, 96, 104) extending through said openings and being secured to said stationary body (24), said fastening means defining a plurality of said second guide surfaces. A scroll-type machine as claimed in claim 21 wherein said fastening means (84, 90, 96, 104) are threadedly secured to said stationary body (24). A scroll-type machine as claimed in claim 21 or claim 22 wherein said stop means (91) are integrally formed with each of said fastening means (90, 96, 104). A scroll-type machine as claimed in any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein said fastening means (90, 96, 104) comprise a plurality of shoulder bolts each having an enlarged diameter shank portion (92, 98, 102). A scroll-type machine as claimed in claim 24 wherein said enlarged diameter shank portion (92, 98, 102) is sized to provide a close fit sliding relationship with said opening. A scroll-type machine as claimed in claim 24 further comprising a bushing (94) press fitted within said opening (76"), said enlarged diameter shank portion (98) being sized to provide a close fit sliding relationship with said bushing. A scroll-type machine as claimed in any one of claims 21 to 24, further comprising a bushing (78, 94) fitted within each of said openings, said fastening means (84, 96) extending through said bushing. A scroll-type machine as claimed in claim 27 wherein said bushing (78) is slidingly received within said opening (76) and said fastening means (84) is operative to clamp said bushing to said stationary body (24). A scroll-type machine as claimed in claim 28 wherein said fastening means (84) includes a shank portion (82) extending through an axial bore (86) in each of said bushings (78), said shank portion having a diameter less than the diameter of said bore thereby to facilitate precise positioning of said first scroll member (64) before said fastening means are moved into clamping relationship with said bushings.

Inventors: ANDERSON GARY JUSTIN, CAILLAT JEAN-LUC, ELSON JOHN PAUL, FOGT JAMES FRANKLIN, MONNIER KENNETH JOSEPH, ANDERSON, GARY JUSTIN, CAILLAT, JEAN-LUC, ELSON, JOHN PAUL, FOGT, JAMES FRANKLIN, MONNIER, KENNETH JOSEPH
Applicants: COPELAND CORP, COPELAND CORPORATION
Application year: 1991
Main classification: F04C18
IPC codes: F01C1, F04C18, F04C28, F04C23