Patent Publication Number: US-9850901-B2

Title: Compressor shell assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/069,595, filed on Oct. 28, 2014. The entire disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a compressor, and more particularly, to a compressor shell assembly. 
     BACKGROUND 
     This section provides background information related to the present disclosure and is not necessarily prior art. 
     To provide a heating and/or cooling effect, a compressor may be used in a refrigeration, heat pump, HVAC, or chiller system (generically, “climate control system”) to circulate a working fluid therethrough. The compressor may be one of a variety of compressor types. For example, the compressor may be a scroll compressor, a rotary-vane compressor, a reciprocating compressor, a centrifugal compressor, or an axial compressor. Regardless of the exact type of compressor employed, consistent and reliable construction and assembly of the compressor shell assembly is desired to ensure that the compressor can effectively circulate the working fluid through the climate control system. 
     SUMMARY 
     This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features. 
     In one form, the present disclosure provides a compressor that may include a compression mechanism and a shell assembly housing the compression mechanism therein. The shell assembly may include a body, an end cap, and a snap ring. The end cap may be at least partially received into the body. The snap ring may engage the body and restrict removal of the end cap from the body. 
     In some configurations, the body may include an inner surface disposed between a first and second end of the body. The inner surface may have an annular groove disposed near the first end for receiving the snap ring therein. 
     In some configurations, the snap ring may be resiliently movable between an uncompressed condition in which the snap ring has a first diameter and a compressed condition in which the snap ring has a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter. 
     In some configurations, the inner surface of the body may include a ledge disposed near the first end. The end cap may include a radially outwardly extending flange engaging the ledge. The ledge may restrict movement of the end cap relative to the body in a first axial direction. The snap ring may restrict movement of the end cap relative to the body in a second opposite axial direction. 
     In some configurations, the flange may include a groove receiving an O-ring therein. 
     In some configurations, the body may include a chamfered edge disposed at the first end facilitating compression of the snap ring. 
     In some configurations, the end cap may include an outer wall having a discharge fitting extending therethrough. 
     In some configurations, the body may include at least one releasing orifice disposed near the first end providing access to the annular groove to release the snap ring received therein. 
     In some configurations, the end cap may include an annular side surface having a first groove partially receiving the snap ring therein and a second groove receiving an O-ring seal therein. 
     In some configurations, the end cap may include a shoulder extending radially outward beyond an inner surface of the body and engaging the first end of the body. 
     In another form, the present disclosure provides a compressor that may include a compression mechanism and a shell assembly. The shell assembly may include first and second snap rings, a body, and first and second end caps cooperating to enclose the compression mechanism within the body. The body may include first and second open ends and an inner surface extending between the first and second ends. The inner surface may include a first groove located near the first end and a second groove located near the second end. The first end cap may be at least partially received within the first end and may include a first outwardly extending flange engaging the body. The second end cap may be at least partially received within the second end and may include a second outwardly extending flange engaging the body. The first snap ring may be disposed within the inner surface of the body and may engage the first groove and the first end cap to restrict removal of the first end cap from the body. The second snap ring may be disposed within the inner surface of the body and may engage the second groove and the second end cap to restrict removal of the second end cap from the body. 
     In some configurations, the first outwardly extending flange may engage a first ledge disposed on the inner surface of the body near the first end, and the second outwardly extending flange may engage a second ledge disposed on the inner surface of the body near the second end. 
     In some configurations, both of the first and second outwardly extending flanges may include an annular groove receiving an O-ring seal therein. 
     In some configurations, the first outwardly extending flange may engage the first end of the body, and the second outwardly extending flange may engage the second end of the body. 
     In some configurations, the body may include a first chamfered edge disposed at the first end facilitating compression of the snap ring, and a second chamfered edge disposed at the second end facilitating compression of the second snap ring. 
     In some configurations, the body may include at least one orifice extending into each of the first and second grooves facilitating removal of the first and second snap rings from the first and second grooves, respectively. 
     In some configurations, both of the first and second end caps may include an annular side wall having an annular channel, the first snap ring may engage the annular channel of the first end cap, and the second snap ring may engage the annular channel of the second end cap. 
     In some configurations, both of the annular side walls may include a second annular channel each receiving an O-ring seal therein. 
     In some configurations, the first end cap may include an outer wall having a discharge fitting extending therethrough, and the second end cap may include an outer wall having a mounting base. 
     In some configurations, the snap ring may be resiliently movable between an uncompressed condition in which the snap ring has a first diameter and a compressed condition in which the snap ring has a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter. 
     Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a compressor including a compressor shell assembly according to the principles of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded cross-sectional view of the compressor shell assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of another compressor including another compressor shell assembly according to the principles of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded cross-sectional view of the compressor shell assembly of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed. 
     When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
     Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments. 
     Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature&#39;s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a compressor  20  is provided that may include a compressor shell assembly  22 , first and second bearing-housing assemblies  24 ,  26 , a motor assembly  28 , and a compression mechanism  30 . 
     The compressor shell assembly  22  may form a compressor housing and may contain therein the first and second bearing-housing assemblies  24 ,  26 , the motor assembly  28 , and the compression mechanism  30 . The compressor shell assembly  22  may include a body  32 , a first end cap  34 , a second end cap  36 , and a pair of snap rings  38 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the body  32  may be an annular member, and may include a first end  40 , a second end  42 , and outer and inner surfaces  44 ,  46  extending longitudinally between the first and second ends  40 ,  42 . 
     The inner surface  46  of the body  32  may include a pair of chamfered edges  48 , a pair of locking grooves  50 , and a pair of ledges  52 . Each chamfered edge  48  may be an angled surface (e.g. 45 degrees) formed between the inner surface  46  and a respective one of the ends  40 ,  42  of the body  32 . Each locking groove  50  may be an annular recess formed in the inner surface  46  of the body  32  and may be located near a respective one of the chamfered edges  48 . Each ledge  52  may be an annular surface located near a respective one of the locking grooves  50 . 
     The inner surface  46  of the body  32  may also include features  54  (shown schematically in  FIG. 1 ) that may be used for locating, aligning, and/or attaching various compressor components to the body  32 . For example, the features  54  may include detents and/or protrusions for engaging the bearing-housing assemblies  24 ,  26 , the motor assembly  28 , and/or a partition plate  29  that separates a suction-pressure region from a discharge-pressure region of the compressor  20 . 
     Disposed through the outer and inner surfaces  44 ,  46 , the body  32  may include an inlet fitting  57  and one or more releasing orifices  56  extending into each of the locking grooves  50 . The inlet fitting  57  may receive working fluid from a low side of a climate control system (not shown) into which the compressor  20  may be installed, and communicate the working fluid to the compression mechanism  30 , described further below. 
     The first and the second end caps  34 ,  36  may each include a first wall  58  closing an end of an annular side wall  60  having an annular flange  62  extending radially outward therefrom. An open end  64 , generally defined by the annular side wall  60 , may be located opposite the first wall  58 . 
     The first wall  58  of the first end cap  34  may include a discharge fitting  66  communicating working fluid discharged from the compression mechanism  30  to a high side of a climate control system into which the compressor  20  may be installed. In some configurations (e.g., configurations in which the compressor  20  is a high-side compressor), the first wall  58  or another portion of the first end cap  34  may include the inlet fitting  57 . The first wall  58  of the second end cap  36  may include a base  68 . The base  68  may be mounted to the first wall  58  or may be integrally formed therewith. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the annular flange  62  may include an axially outward-facing wall  80 , a side wall  82 , and an axially inward-facing wall  84 . The side wall  82  may include an annular groove  86  receiving therein an elastomeric gasket or O-ring  88  seal. 
     The snap rings  38  may be resiliently compressible members configured to be compressed radially inward. In other words, when uncompressed, the snap rings  38  may have a first diameter, and when compressed, the snap rings  38  may have a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter. The snap rings  38  may fit around the annular side wall  60  of the end caps  34 ,  36 , and once compressed, each snap ring  38  may engage a respective one of the locking grooves  50  formed in the inner surface  46  of the body  32 . The snap rings  38  may be, for example, SPIRLOX retaining rings produced by the SMALLEY STEEL RING COMPANY. 
     The first bearing housing assembly  24  may be fixed relative to the body  32  and may include a main bearing-housing  70  and a main bearing  72 . The main bearing-housing  70  may axially support the compression mechanism  30  and may house the main bearing  72  therein. The main bearing-housing  70  may include a plurality of radially extending arms  74  engaging the body  32 . 
     The motor assembly  28  may include a motor stator  76 , a rotor  78 , and a drive shaft  79 . The motor stator  76  may be press fit into the body  32  to fix the stator  76  relative to the body  32 . The drive shaft  79  may be rotatably driven by the rotor  78 , which may be press fit onto the drive shaft  79 . The drive shaft  79  may be rotatably supported by the first and second bearing-housing assemblies  24 ,  26 . 
     The compression mechanism  30  may include an orbiting scroll  90  and a non-orbiting scroll  92 . The scrolls  90 ,  92  may meshingly engage one another to compress the working fluid circulating through the climate control system. 
     While the compressor  20  is described as being a scroll compressor, it will be appreciated that the compressor  20  may be any other type of compressor, such as a reciprocating compressor, a rotary-vane compressor, a centrifugal compressor, or an axial compressor, for example. Furthermore, while the compressor  20  shown in  FIG. 1  is a low-side compressor (i.e., the motor assembly  28  and compression mechanism  30  are disposed in a suction-pressure region of the compressor  20 ), in some configurations, the compressor  20  could be a high-side compressor (e.g., wherein the motor assembly  28  and compression mechanism  30  are disposed in a discharge-pressure region of the compressor  20 ). 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , assembly of the compressor shell assembly  22  will be described. The O-ring seal  88  may be installed into a respective one of the annular grooves  86 . The open end  64  of the end caps  34 ,  36  may be inserted into one of the corresponding ends  40 ,  42  of the body  32  until the inward-facing wall  84  of each annular flange  62  abuts a corresponding ledge  52 . As the end caps  34 ,  36  are inserted into the body  32 , the O-ring seals  88  may be compressed and form a seal therebetween. 
     Each of the snap rings  38  may be placed around the annular side wall  60  of a respective one of the end caps  34 ,  36  and inserted into the corresponding end  40 ,  42  of the body  32 . As each snap ring  38  contacts the corresponding chamfered edge  48 , each snap ring  38  may be compressed radially inward to fit within the inner surface  46  of the body  32 . The snap rings  38  may be inserted into the body  32  until each snap ring  38  aligns with a corresponding one of the locking grooves  50 . Once aligned, each snap ring  38  may be allowed to resiliently un-compress radially outward therein and restrict or prevent separation of the corresponding end cap  34 ,  36  and the body  32 . 
     It should be understood that both end caps  34 ,  36  may be assembled onto the body  32  simultaneously, or the first end cap  34  may be assembled onto the body  32  before or after the second end cap  36  is assembled onto the body  32 . Furthermore, the bearing-housing assemblies  24 ,  26 , the motor assembly  28 , the partition place  29 , the compression mechanism  30 , and/or any of the other components of the compressor  20  may be installed within the body  32  before one or both of the end caps  34 ,  36  are assembled onto the body  32 . 
     Disassembly of the compressor shell assembly  22  may be accomplished by inserting a probe-like object (e.g., an elongated, rigid object) into the releasing orifices  56  to radially inwardly compress the snap rings  38  so that the snap rings  38  can be removed from the body  32 . The end caps  34 ,  36  may then be separated from the corresponding ends  40 ,  42  of the body  32 . It should be understood that although both end caps  34 ,  36  were described as being disassembled from the body  32  simultaneously, the first end cap  34  may be disassembled from the body  32  before or after the second end cap  36  is disassembled from the body  32 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , a compressor  120  is provided that may include a compressor shell assembly  122 , first and second bearing-housing assemblies  124 ,  126 , a motor assembly  128 , and a compression mechanism  130 . The structures and/or functions of the bearing-housing assemblies  124 ,  126 , the motor assembly  128 , and the compression mechanism  130  may be similar or identical to that of the bearing-housing assemblies  24 ,  26 , the motor assembly  28 , and the compression mechanism  30  described above, and therefore, will not be described again in detail. It will be appreciated, like the compressor  20  described above, the compressor  120  may be any type of compressor, such as a scroll compressor, a reciprocating compressor, a rotary-vane compressor, a centrifugal compressor, or an axial compressor, for example. 
     The compressor shell assembly  122  may form a compressor housing and may contain therein the first and second bearing-housing assemblies  124 ,  126 , the motor assembly  128 , and the compression mechanism  130 . The compressor shell assembly  122  may include a body  132 , a first end cap  134 , a second end cap  136 , and a pair of snap rings  138 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the body may be an annular member and may include a first end  140 , a second end  142 , and outer and inner surfaces  144 ,  146  extending longitudinally between the first and second ends  140 ,  142 . 
     The inner surface  146  of the body  132  may include a pair of chamfered edges  148  and a pair of locking grooves  150 . Each chamfered edge  148  may be an angled surface (e.g. 45 degrees) formed between the inner surface  146  and a respective one of the ends  140 ,  142  of the body  132 . Each locking groove  150  may be an annular recess formed in the inner surface  146  of the body  132  and may be located near a respective one of the chamfered edges  148 . 
     The inner surface  146  of the body  132  may also include features  154  (shown schematically in  FIG. 3 ) that may be similar or identical to features  54  described above, and therefore, will not be described again in detail. 
     The outer and inner surfaces  144 ,  146  of the body  132  may also include an inlet fitting  157  and one or more releasing orifices  156  extending into each of the locking grooves  150 . The structure and/or function of the inlet fitting  157  may be similar or identical to the inlet fitting  57  described above, and therefore, will not be described again in detail. 
     The first and the second end caps  134 ,  136  may each include a first wall  158  closing an end of an annular side wall  162  having an annular shoulder  164  extending radially outward therefrom. An open end  165 , generally defined by the annular side wall  162 , may be located opposite the first wall  158 . 
     The first wall  158  of the first end cap  134  may include a discharge fitting  166  and the first wall  158  of the second end cap  136  may include a base  168 . The structures and/or functions of the discharge fitting  166  and the base  168  may be similar or identical to the discharge fitting  66  and the base  68  described above, respectively, and therefore will not be described again in detail. 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , the annular side wall  162  of the end caps  134 ,  136  may include a first annular groove  170  receiving therein one of the snap rings  138 , described below, and a second annular groove  176  receiving therein an elastomeric gasket or O-ring seal  178 . 
     The snap rings  138  may be resiliently compressible members configured to be compressed radially inward. In other words, when uncompressed, the snap rings  138  may have a first diameter, and when compressed, the snap rings  138  may have a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter. The snap rings  138  may fit around the annular side wall  162  of the end caps  134 ,  136 , and when compressed, each snap ring  138  may engage a respective one of the locking grooves  150  formed in the inner surface  146  of the body  132 . 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , assembly of the compressor shell assembly  122  will be described. Each of the snap rings  138  may be installed into one of the respective first annular grooves  170 . Each O-ring seal  178  may be installed into a respective one of the second annular grooves  176 . 
     The open end  165  of the end caps  134 ,  136  may be inserted into a corresponding one of the ends,  140 ,  142  of the body  132 . As the end caps  134 ,  136  are inserted into the ends  140 ,  142  of the body, each snap ring  138  may contact one of the corresponding chamfered edges  148 , which may help urge the snap ring  138  radially inward into a compressed state to fit within the inner surface  146  of the body  132 . As the end caps  134 ,  136  are inserted into the body  132 , the O-ring seals  178  may be compressed and form a seal therebetween. 
     The end caps  134 ,  136  may be inserted into the ends  140 ,  142  body  132  until the annular shoulder  164  of each end cap  134 ,  136  engages a corresponding end  140 ,  142  of the body  132 , and each snap ring  138  aligns with one of the corresponding locking grooves  150 . Once aligned, the snap rings  138  may resiliently un-compress radially outward into the corresponding locking groove  150  and restrict or prevent removal of the end caps  134 ,  136  from the body  132 . 
     It should be understood that both end caps  134 ,  136  may be assembled onto the body  132  simultaneously or the first end cap  134  may be assembled onto the body  132  before or after the second end cap  136  is assembled onto the body  132 . Moreover, the bearing-housing assemblies  124 ,  126 , the motor assembly  128 , the compression mechanism  130 , and/or any of the other components of the compressor  120  may be installed within the body  132  before one or both of the end caps  134 ,  136  are assembled onto the body  132 . 
     Disassembly of the compressor shell assembly  122  may be accomplished by inserting a probe-like object (e.g., an elongated, rigid object) into the releasing orifices  156  to radially inwardly compress the snap rings  138  contained therein. In the radially inwardly compressed state, the snap rings  138  may be removed from the locking grooves  150 , and the end caps  134 ,  136  may then be removed from the body  132 . It should be understood that although both end caps  134 ,  136  were described as being disassembled from the body  132  simultaneously, the first end cap  134  may be disassembled from the body  132  before or after the second end cap  136  is disassembled from the body  132 . 
     The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically illustrated or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.