Patent Description:
A scroll compressor is configured such that an orbiting scroll and a non-orbiting scroll are engaged with each other and a pair of compression chambers is formed while the orbiting scroll performs an orbiting motion with respect to the non-orbiting scroll.

The compression chamber includes a suction pressure chamber formed in an outer side, an intermediate pressure chamber continuously formed toward a central portion from the suction pressure chamber while gradually decreasing in volume, and a discharge pressure chamber connected to the center of the intermediate pressure chamber. Typically, the suction pressure chamber is formed through a side surface of a non-orbiting scroll, the intermediate pressure chamber is sealed, and the discharge pressure chamber is formed through an end plate of the non-orbiting scroll.

Meanwhile, scroll compressors may be classified into a low-pressure type and a high-pressure type according to a path through which a refrigerant is suctioned. The low-pressure type is configured such that a refrigerant suction pipe is connected to an inner space of a casing to guide a suction refrigerant of a low temperature to flow into a suction pressure chamber via the inner space of the casing. Meanwhile the high-pressure type is configured such that the refrigerant suction pipe is connected directly to the suction pressure chamber to guide a refrigerant to flow directly into the suction pressure chamber without passing through the inner space of the casing.

On the other hand, in the case of the conventional scroll compressor, the refrigerant discharged from the inside of the compression chamber contains oil, and an oil separator is installed to separate the oil contained in the refrigerant.

In addition, the oil is recovered by an oil pump operated by power generated from a driving motor to separate the oil.

In particular, it is possible to recover the oil by the oil pump by power from the driving motor through a structure connecting a trochoid pump of the compressor and an oil recovery pipe.

A curved copper pipe is connected by welding or the like to the oil separator through a shell in the oil pump.

Such a copper pipe is simply applied without changing an internal components of the existing compressor, and through this, an oil recovery flow path is constructed.

The oil recovery flow path including the copper pipe is designed to suck oil from an external oil separator through the power of the oil pump and recover the oil to the inside.

In addition, the conventional oil recovery flow path is configured to recover the oil from the outside to an internal pump chamber through a copper pipe having a straight tube shape to the oil pump.

Since the conventional oil recovery flow path structure includes the copper pipe having a straight tube shape, rigidity of the copper pipe is difficult to withstand vibration caused by internal pressure and flow pulsation, and thus the pipe is damaged.

In addition, in order to solve the problem, the rigidity of the copper pipe is improved by applying a curved tube shape.

However, the structure of the copper pipe having a curved tube shape is advantageous in terms of rigidness and vibration compared to the pipe having a straight tube shape, but due to the structural weakness of the thin copper pipe, deformation occurs due to a difference in rigidness when the curved copper pipe is press-fit into an oil pickup.

In addition, quality and reliability problems occurred due to loosening of a press-fitting base by an external excitation source, such as flow pulsation and other vibration excitation sources.

The problem of loosening of the press-fitting base also causes a refrigerant leakage problem, causes a pressure drop between the oil recovery flow paths, reduces volumetric efficiency, causes severe vibration due to flow pulsation and other vibration excitation sources during a high-speed operation, and causes additional vibration and noise.

In addition, a special jig and extrusion mold are required to manufacture a copper pipe due to a geometric complex shape of the curved pipe, and a press process cannot be used in an oil pickup and curved copper pipe press-fitting process due to a complicated shape, so that a press-fitting process is performed by a user's manual during actual mass-production assembling, causing a quality control problem.

In addition, in a mass-production manufacturing process, a tack time increases due to an additional press-fitting process by an assembler, which reduces mass-productivity, and since an oil foaming prevention plate interference avoidance and shell connection portion is located at the bottom, an assembly process is complicated during an oil pickup and subframe fastening assembly process.

<CIT> discloses a scroll compressor capable of performing an oil pumping operation under a low temperature heating operation condition.

<CIT> relates to a scroll compressor capable of supplying oil within a shell into compression chambers using differential pressure.

<CIT> relates to a scroll compressor that includes a differential pressure hole formed at or in an orbiting scroll that communicates a high pressure part with an intermediate pressure part.

Therefore, an aspect of the detailed description is to provide a scroll compressor having an oil pump recovery structure that may be manufactured through a simple process during mass-production.

Another aspect of the detailed description is to provide a scroll compressor capable of improving volumetric efficiency and reducing vibration and noise by enabling an oil pump recovery structure to be applied without using a conventional copper pipe.

Another aspect of the detailed description is to provide a scroll compressor capable of implementing a recovery flow path connected to an oil pump housing in a subframe structure existing in an internal oil pump assembly.

Another aspect of the detailed description is to provide a scroll compressor having a structure capable of improving a quality problem that have occurred due to the use of existing complex forming parts.

Another aspect of the detailed description is to provide a scroll compressor having a structure capable of simplifying an assembly process and reducing material cost by reducing the number of parts to be used.

Another aspect of the detailed description is to provide a scroll compressor having a structure capable of solving a problem of an additional decrease in volumetric efficiency or an occurrence of vibration caused by leakage of a refrigerant due to loosening of a press-fitting base.

Another aspect of the detailed description is to provide a scroll compressor having a structure that enables the recovery of oil by utilizing a configuration existing therein without press-fitting a pipe.

Another aspect of the detailed description is to provide a scroll compressor having a structure capable of reducing material costs for mass-production by reducing the number of parts and improving price and quality competitiveness by simplifying manufacturing and a process.

Another aspect of the detailed description is to provide a scroll compressor having a structure capable of solving a problem of thermal deformation of a copper pipe and resultant water leakage problem in a press-fitting portion by not using the existing copper pipe.

Another aspect of the detailed description is to provide a scroll compressor having an oil pump direct oil supply structure in which oil recovered into a casing is directly supplied to an oil pump without passing through another flow path.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of this specification, as embodied and broadly described herein, a scroll compressor includes: a casing having an oil storage space, a suction pipe and a discharge pipe being connected to the casing; a driving motor installed in an inner space of the casing and including a rotating shaft rotating by generated driving force; a compression unit installed in the inner space of the casing and having a compression chamber operated by the driving motor to compress a refrigerant; an oil separator coupled to the discharge pipe, receiving a refrigerant discharged after being compressed by the compression unit, separating oil, and supplying the separated oil to an inside of the casing; and a subframe rotatably supporting the rotating shaft from one side of the rotating shaft, wherein the subframe is provided with a frame support portion extending in a radial direction and coupled to and supported by an inner periphery of the casing, and the frame support portion includes an oil recovery flow path provided in a radial direction and guiding oil to be recovered toward the inside of the casing from the oil separator.

Accordingly, in the scroll compressor of the present disclosure, since the oil recovery flow path is formed in the subframe, the conventional unnecessary copper pipe may not be used, thereby improving the volumetric efficiency.

In addition, since the oil recovery flow path is formed in the subframe, the oil pump recovery structure in which a vibration excitation source is removed by not using the existing copper pipe may be applied, thereby reducing vibration and noise.

According to the invention the subframe is provided with the frame support portion extending in a radial direction and coupled to and supported by the inner periphery of the casing, and the oil recovery flow path includes: a first flow path formed in the radial direction at the frame support portion and receiving oil provided from the oil separator; and a second flow path formed to intersect the first flow path and having an outlet opened toward the oil storage space to enable the oil provided from the first flow path to be provided to the oil storage space.

Accordingly, the scroll compressor of the present disclosure may be manufactured through a simple process during mass-production as the oil recovery flow path is formed of the first and second flow paths intersecting each other at the subframe.

In addition, a rib protrudes from one surface of the frame support portion, the rib extends in a radial direction, and the first flow path is provided in a radial direction inside the rib.

Preferably, one surface of the frame support portion may be coupled to the inner periphery of the casing, and the first flow path may penetrate through one surface of the frame support portion.

In addition, the rib may protrude from an upper surface or a lower surface of the frame support portion.

According to an example related to the present disclosure, the scroll compressor of the present disclosure may further include an oil pump recovering the oil separated from the oil separator, while operating by the rotational force of the rotating shaft, and pumping the oil filling the inner space of the casing to supply the oil to the oil flow path of the rotating shaft.

The oil pump may include: a pump housing coupled to one surface of the subframe and having a pumping space; an inner gear rotatably disposed in the pumping space of the pump housing and coupled to the rotating shaft for eccentric rotation; and an outer gear rotatably disposed in the pumping space to be engaged with the inner gear to change a volume of the pumping space, wherein the oil recovery flow path communicates with the pumping space.

According to another example related to the present disclosure, the oil recovery flow path may include a direct flow path provided to be parallel with a ground in the pumping space to directly provide the oil provided from the oil separator to the pumping space.

Due to the direct flow path formed to be parallel to the ground to directly provide the oil provided from the oil separator to the oil pump, an oil pump direct oil supply structure in which the oil recovered into the casing is directly supplied to the oil pump, without passing through another flow path, may be formed.

The oil recovery flow path may further include a cross flow path communicating with the direct flow path and formed in a direction intersecting the direct flow path.

The pump housing may further include: a recovery inlet formed to communicate between the oil recovery flow path and the pumping space; and a recovery guide groove formed in a circumferential direction on one surface of the subframe to guide oil flowing in from the oil recovery flow path to the recovery inlet.

According to another example related to the present disclosure, the scroll compressor of the present disclosure may further include: an oil recovery pipe having one end coupled to the oil separator and the other end coupled to the casing to provide the oil separated from the oil separator to the inside of the casing, wherein the casing may be provided with an oil recovery hole to which the oil recovery pipe is coupled at the other end of the oil recovery pipe, and the first flow path may be connected to the oil recovery hole.

Preferably, the oil recovery flow path may be formed in an oblique direction.

Further scope of applicability of the present application will become more apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the disclosure, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the scope of the claims will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description.

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

Hereinafter, a scroll compressor <NUM> according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, a description of some components may be omitted to clarify features of the present disclosure.

In addition, the term "upper side" used in the following description refers to a direction away from the support surface for supporting a scroll compressor <NUM> according to an implementation of the present disclosure, that is, a direction toward a motor unit when viewed based on the motor unit and a compression unit. The term "lower side" refers to a direction toward the support surface, that is, a direction toward the compression unit when viewed based on the motor unit and the compression unit.

The term "axial direction" used in the following description refers to a lengthwise (longitudinal) direction of a rotating shaft <NUM>. The "axial direction" may be understood as an up and down (or vertical) direction. The term "radial direction" refers to a direction that intersects the rotating shaft <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing a scroll compressor <NUM>, an oil separator <NUM>, and a refrigeration cycle of the present disclosure, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the scroll compressor <NUM> of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, in a casing <NUM>, a suction pipe <NUM> and a discharge pipe <NUM> are connected so that a compressor <NUM> forms a refrigeration cycle together with a condenser <NUM>, an expander <NUM>, and an evaporator <NUM>, the suction pipe <NUM> is connected to the evaporator <NUM> of the refrigeration cycle, while the discharge pipe <NUM> is connected to the oil separator <NUM> to which the condenser <NUM> of the refrigeration cycle is connected.

Also, the suction pipe <NUM> forms a structure directly connected to a compression unit <NUM> so that an inner space of the casing <NUM> may be filled with the refrigerant constituting a discharge pressure, and the compression unit <NUM> of the casing <NUM> forms a structure that discharges the refrigerant into the inner space. Also, in the middle of the discharge pipe <NUM>, that is, between the discharge pipe <NUM> of the compressor <NUM> and an inlet side of the condenser <NUM>, an oil separator <NUM> is installed to separate oil from the refrigerant discharged from the compressor <NUM> to the condenser <NUM> through the discharge pipe <NUM>.

In addition, referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the scroll compressor <NUM> of the present disclosure includes: a casing <NUM> having a storage space S11, the suction pipe <NUM> and the discharge pipe <NUM> being connected to the casing, a driving motor <NUM> installed in an inner space 10a of the casing <NUM> and including a rotating shaft <NUM> rotating by generated driving force; a compression unit <NUM> installed in the inner space 10a of the casing <NUM> and having a compression chamber P operated by the driving motor <NUM> to compress a refrigerant; an oil separator <NUM> coupled to the discharge pipe <NUM>, receiving a refrigerant discharged after being compressed by the compression unit <NUM>, separating oil, and supplying the separated oil to an inside of the casing <NUM>; and a subframe <NUM> rotatably supporting the rotating shaft <NUM> from one side of the rotating shaft <NUM>.

In addition, the subframe <NUM> is provided with an oil recovery flow path 12b, and a detailed configuration of the oil recovery flow path 12b will be described later.

The casing <NUM> includes the oil storage space S11, and the suction pipe <NUM> and the discharge pipe <NUM> are connected to the casing <NUM>. As an example, the driving motor <NUM> may be installed in a middle portion between the upper and lower sides of the casing <NUM>, and a main frame <NUM>, an orbiting scroll <NUM>, and a fixed scroll <NUM> may be sequentially installed at an upper side of the driving motor <NUM>.

The casing <NUM> may include a cylindrical shell <NUM>, an upper shell <NUM> and a lower shell <NUM>.

The cylindrical shell <NUM> may be formed in a cylindrical shape with both ends open.

The upper shell <NUM> may be coupled to an upper end portion of the cylindrical shell <NUM>, and the lower shell <NUM> may be coupled to a lower end portion of the cylindrical shell <NUM>.

That is, both the upper and lower end portions of the cylindrical shell <NUM> may be coupled to the upper shell <NUM> and the lower shell <NUM>, respectively, in a covering manner. The cylindrical shell <NUM>, the upper shell <NUM> and the lower shell <NUM> that are coupled together may define the inner space 10a of the casing <NUM>. At this time, the inner space 10a may be sealed.

The inner space 10a of the sealed casing <NUM> may be divided into an upper space S1, an oil storage space S11, and a discharge space S2.

The upper space S1 may be defined in an upper side of the main frame <NUM> and the oil storage space S11 and the discharge space S2 may be defined in a lower side of the main frame <NUM>.

The upper space S1 refers to a space above the compression unit <NUM>, and the oil storage space S11 refers to a lower space of the casing <NUM> in which oil is accumulated.

One end of the refrigerant suction pipe <NUM> may be coupled through a side surface of the cylindrical shell <NUM>. Specifically, the one end of the refrigerant suction pipe <NUM> may be coupled through the cylindrical shell <NUM> in a radial direction of the cylindrical shell <NUM>.

The refrigerant suction pipe <NUM> penetrates through the cylindrical shell <NUM> and is directly coupled to a suction through-hole 31b of the fixed scroll <NUM>. Accordingly, the refrigerant may be introduced into the compression chamber P through the refrigerant suction pipe <NUM>.

An accumulator (not shown) may be coupled to one end and the other end of the refrigerant suction pipe <NUM>.

The accumulator is connected to an outlet side of the evaporator <NUM> by a refrigerant pipe. Accordingly, in the refrigerant moving from the evaporator <NUM> to the accumulator, a liquid refrigerant is separated from the accumulator, and a gas refrigerant is directly sucked into the compression chamber P through the refrigerant suction pipe <NUM>.

The refrigerant discharge pipe <NUM> communicating with the inner space 10a of the casing <NUM> is coupled through the cylindrical shell <NUM>. Accordingly, the refrigerant discharged from the compression unit to the inner space 10a of the casing <NUM> is discharged to the oil separator <NUM> through the refrigerant discharge pipe <NUM>.

Meanwhile, in the inner space of the casing <NUM>, the main frame <NUM> and the subframe <NUM> supporting the rotating shaft <NUM> of the driving motor <NUM> and at the same time supporting the compression unit <NUM> are fixed to and installed on both sides of the driving motor <NUM>.

The driving motor <NUM> is installed in the inner space 10a of the casing <NUM> and includes the rotating shaft <NUM> that rotates by a generated driving force.

As the driving motor <NUM>, a constant speed motor having a constant rotation speed may be used, but an inverter motor having a variable rotation speed may be used in consideration of multi-functionalization of a refrigeration machine to which the compressor <NUM> is applied.

Also, the driving motor <NUM> includes a stator <NUM> fixed to an inner circumferential surface of the casing <NUM>, a rotor <NUM> rotatably disposed inside the stator <NUM>, and the rotating shaft <NUM> coupled to the center of the rotor <NUM> to transmit the rotational force from the driving motor <NUM> to the compression unit <NUM>. The rotating shaft <NUM> is supported by the main frame <NUM> and the subframe <NUM>. Also, an oil flow path 23a is provided through the rotating shaft <NUM> in the axial direction, and an oil pump <NUM> to be described later is installed at a lower end of the oil flow path 23a, that is, at a lower end of the rotating shaft <NUM> to pump oil toward the oil flow path 23a.

A detailed configuration of the oil pump <NUM> will be described later.

The compression unit <NUM> is installed in the inner space 10a of the casing <NUM>, and has the compression chamber P operated by the driving motor <NUM> to compress the refrigerant.

As will be described later, the compression unit <NUM> may include a fixed scroll <NUM> and an orbiting scroll <NUM>, and the compression chamber P may be formed by an orbiting wrap 31a of the fixed scroll <NUM> and an orbiting wrap 32a of the orbiting scroll <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the compression unit <NUM> may include a fixed scroll <NUM> coupled to the main frame <NUM>, an orbiting scroll <NUM> engaged with the fixed scroll <NUM> to form a pair of two compression chambers P that move continuously, an Oldham ring <NUM> installed between the orbiting scroll <NUM> and the main frame <NUM> to induce an orbiting motion of the orbiting scroll <NUM>, and a check valve <NUM> installed to open and close a discharge port 31c of the fixed scroll <NUM> to block a backflow of a discharge gas discharged through the discharge port 31c.

The fixed scroll <NUM> and the orbiting scroll <NUM> may have a fixed wrap 31a and an orbiting wrap 32a engaged with each other to form the compression chamber P, respectively, in a spiral shape. The suction pipe <NUM> for guiding the refrigerant from the refrigeration cycle is directly connected to a suction port 31b of the fixed scroll <NUM>, and the discharge port 31c of the fixed scroll <NUM> communicates with an upper space S1 of the casing <NUM>.

In the scroll compressor <NUM> of the present disclosure, when power is applied to the driving motor <NUM>, the rotating shaft <NUM> rotates together with the rotor <NUM> and transmits a rotational force to the orbiting scroll <NUM>. The orbiting scroll <NUM>, which has received the rotational force, rotates by an eccentric distance from the upper surface of the main frame <NUM> by the Oldham ring <NUM>, to form a pair of compression chambers P continuously moving between the fixed wrap 31a of the fixed scroll <NUM> and the orbiting wrap 32a of the orbiting scroll <NUM>, and, while the compression chambers P are moving to the center by the continuous orbiting motion of the orbiting scroll <NUM>, a volume thereof is reduced to compress the refrigerant being sucked.

A series of processes in which the compressed refrigerant is continuously discharged to the upper space S1 of the casing <NUM> through the discharge port 31c of the fixed scroll <NUM>, and then moves to a lower space S2 of the casing <NUM> and moves to the oil separator <NUM> through the discharge pipe <NUM>, so that a separated refrigerant is discharged to the condenser <NUM> of the refrigeration cycle, and the refrigerant discharged to the condenser <NUM> of the refrigeration cycle passes through the expander <NUM> and the evaporator <NUM> and is sucked into the compressor <NUM> again through the suction pipe <NUM> is repeated.

Meanwhile, the oil separated by the oil separator <NUM> flows to the inside of the casing <NUM> through the oil recovery pipe <NUM> and accumulates in the oil storage space S11 through the oil recovery flow path 12b or is supplied to the compression unit <NUM> and the like through the oil flow path 23a of the rotating shaft <NUM> for lubrication. The flow of the oil introduced into the casing <NUM> will be described later along with the description of the oil recovery flow path and the oil pump <NUM> of the first to fifth embodiments to be described later.

The oil separator <NUM> is coupled to the discharge pipe <NUM>, receives the refrigerant compressed and discharged from the compression unit <NUM> to separate the oil, and supplies the oil to the inside of the casing <NUM>.

The scroll compressor <NUM> of the present disclosure may further include an oil recovery pipe <NUM>.

The oil separator <NUM> is installed outside the casing <NUM>, and one end of the oil recovery pipe <NUM> for guiding the oil separated by the oil separator <NUM> to the oil pump <NUM> is connected to a lower end of the oil separator <NUM>. In addition, the other end of the oil recovery pipe <NUM> is coupled to an oil recovery hole 11b of the casing <NUM> from the outside of the casing <NUM>.

The oil separator <NUM> is formed to have a container-like shape having a sealed inner space as shown in <FIG> and <FIG> and is disposed side by side on one side of the casing <NUM>, and an oil recovery pipe <NUM> is connected to the oil separator <NUM> and supported by the casing <NUM>, or the oil separator <NUM> may be supported, while being wrapped by a separate support member <NUM> such as a clamp fixed to the casing <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the discharge pipe <NUM> is connected to an upper side wall surface of the oil separator <NUM> so that the refrigerant discharged from the inner space of the casing <NUM> is guided to the inner space of the oil separator <NUM>, a refrigerant pipe <NUM> is connected to an upper end of the oil separator <NUM> so that the refrigerant separated from oil in the inner space of the oil separator <NUM> moves to the condenser <NUM> of the refrigeration cycle, and the oil recovery pipe <NUM> is coupled to a lower end of the oil separator <NUM> so that the oil separated from the inner space of the oil separator <NUM> is guided to be recovered into the casing <NUM>. The oil recovery pipe <NUM> is formed of a metal pipe having a predetermined rigidity so as to stably support the oil separator <NUM>, and may be bent at an angle at which the oil separator <NUM> is disposed to be parallel to the compressor casing <NUM> to attenuate vibration of the compressor.

Also, various methods for separating oil may be applied. For example, a mesh screen is installed in the inner space of the oil separator <NUM> so that the refrigerant and oil are separated or the discharge pipe <NUM> may be connected to be twisted with respect to an axial center of the oil separator <NUM> so that the refrigerant rotates in a cyclone form and the relatively heavy oil is separated.

The subframe <NUM> rotatably supports the rotating shaft <NUM> from one side of the rotating shaft <NUM>. <FIG> shows the subframe <NUM> rotatably supporting the rotating shaft <NUM> from a lower side of the rotating shaft <NUM>.

An oil recovery flow path 12b is formed in the subframe <NUM>.

The oil recovery flow path 12b may include a radial flow path. The oil separated from the oil separator <NUM> is provided at one end in contact with the inner periphery of the casing <NUM> by the oil recovery flow path 12b to enable the oil to flow.

The oil recovery flow path 12b may enable recovery of oil to the oil storage space S11 or the rotating shaft <NUM>.

The subframe <NUM> may be provided with a frame support portion 12a. The frame support portion 12a extends radially from the main body of the subframe <NUM>, and is coupled to the inner periphery of the casing <NUM> to support the subframe <NUM> with respect to the casing <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, there is shown an example in which three frame support portions 12a are provided, and each frame support portion 12a extends radially from the subframe <NUM> body. For stable support on the inner periphery of the casing <NUM>, the frame support portions 12a may be arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of a lower portion of the scroll compressor <NUM> of the present disclosure, <FIG> is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the oil recovery flow path 12b of the first embodiment provided in the subframe <NUM>, and <FIG> is a perspective view of the subframe <NUM> in which the oil recovery flow path 12b of the first embodiment is provided.

Hereinafter, the oil recovery flow path 12b of the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to <FIG>.

The oil recovery flow path 12b may include first and second oil flow paths 12b1 and 12b2.

The first flow path 12b1 may be provided in a radial direction in the frame support portion 12a to receive oil provided from the oil separator <NUM>.

The second flow path 12b2 may be formed to intersect the first flow path 12b1, and may enable the oil provided from the first flow path 12b1 to be provided to the oil storage space S11 or the rotating shaft <NUM>. Of course, the second flow path 12b2 may also provide the oil provided from the first flow path 12b1 to an oil pump. The second flow path 12b2 may be formed in a main body of the subframe <NUM>. An outlet of the second flow path 12b2 may be opened toward the oil storage space S11 to provide oil to the oil storage space S11.

As shown in <FIG>, an example in which the first flow path 12b1 is provided in the right frame support portion 12a, among three frame support portions 12a, in a radial direction from the frame support portion 12a, and the second flow path 12b2 is provided from the top of the subframe <NUM> to the bottom to intersect the first flow path 12b is illustrated. In <FIG> and <FIG>, an example in which a left end of the first flow path 12b1 communicates with the second flow path 12b2 and a right end of the first flow path 12b1 is in contact with the oil recovery hole 11b of the casing <NUM> is illustrated.

Meanwhile, the oil recovery hole 11b is a hole to which the oil recovery pipe <NUM> through which the oil separated by the oil separator <NUM> flows is coupled.

Also, a rib 12c may protrude from one surface of the frame support portion 12a of the subframe <NUM>, and the protruding rib 12c may extend in a radial direction.

In this case, the first flow path 12b1 may be formed in the radial direction inside the rib 12c.

Referring to <FIG>, there is shown an example in which the rib 12c protrudes from an upper surface of the frame support portion 12a on the right side of the subframe <NUM>, and an example in which the rib 12c extends along the radial direction and the first flow path 12b1 is formed in the radial direction in which the rib 12c extends inside the rib 12c is shown.

In addition, an example in which the second flow path 12b2 is also formed in a direction intersecting the first flow path 12b1 so that oil flows in the radial direction through the first flow path 12b1 and then flows downward through the second flow path 12b2 is shown.

The oil separated by the oil separator <NUM> passes through the oil recovery pipe <NUM>, passes through the oil recovery hole 11b, passes through the first flow path 12b1, and flows into the oil pump <NUM> or the oil storage space S11 to be described later through the second flow path 12b2.

Through the first and second flow paths 12b1 and 12b2 formed in the subframe <NUM> without using the existing copper pipe, a problem in which a press-fitting band is loosened by the existing copper pipe and a problem in which the mass-production process is complicated may be solved, thereby improving the volumetric efficiency and being advantageous for vibration. In addition, since the existing copper pipe parts are not required, material costs may be reduced.

Meanwhile, there is shown an example in which the subframe <NUM> having the oil recovery flow path 12b of the first embodiment includes a coupling portion 12f coupled to the inner periphery of the casing <NUM>, and a fastening member such as a screw or the like may be coupled to the coupling portion 12f to couple the coupling portion 12f to the inner periphery of the casing <NUM>.

<FIG> is a perspective view of the subframe <NUM> in which the oil recovery flow path 112b of a second embodiment is provided, and <FIG> is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the oil recovery flow path 112b of the second embodiment provided in the subframe <NUM>.

Hereinafter, the oil recovery flow path 112b of the second embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, the rib 112c may protrude from a lower surface of the frame support portion 12a of the subframe <NUM>. <FIG> shows an example in which the rib 112c protrudes to extend in a radial direction from the lower surface of the frame support portion 12a of the subframe <NUM>.

In addition, as shown in <FIG>, a first flow path 112b1 of the subframe <NUM> is formed in the rib 112c in a radial direction, and an example in which it is formed to flow downward through the second flow path 112b2 is shown. Compared to the example in which the rib 12c is on the upper surface of the frame support portion 112a, when the rib 112c is on the lower surface of the frame support portion 112a, the second flow path 112b2 is configured by a relatively short distance.

The oil separated by the oil separator <NUM> passes through the oil recovery pipe <NUM>, passes through the oil recovery hole 11b to pass through the first flow path 112b1, and also passes through the second flow path 112b2 to be supplied to the compression unit or the like through the oil pump <NUM> or introduced into the oil storage space S11.

In the oil recovery flow path 112b of the second embodiment, since the second flow path 112b2 is formed on the rib 112c of the lower surface of the frame support portion 112a, the second flow path 112b2 is formed to be shorter than that of the previous embodiment, and therefore, flow resistance and loss are reduced by the short flow path. Meanwhile, an example in which the subframe <NUM> having the oil recovery flow path 112b of the second embodiment includes a coupling portion 112f coupled to the inner periphery of the casing <NUM> is illustrated, and a fastening member may be coupled to the coupling portion 112f and the coupling portion 112f may be coupled to the inner periphery of the casing <NUM>.

<FIG> is an exploded perspective view showing the subframe <NUM> and the oil pump <NUM> of the scroll compressor <NUM> of the present disclosure, and <FIG> is an enlarged view of A of <FIG> showing the subframe <NUM> and the oil pump of the scroll compressor <NUM> of the present disclosure.

<FIG> is a plan view showing a pump housing <NUM> including an inner gear <NUM> and an outer gear <NUM> in the oil pump <NUM>, and <FIG> is a plan view showing an upper surface of the pump housing <NUM> in which the inner gear <NUM> and the outer gear <NUM> are removed from the oil pump <NUM> according to <FIG>, and <FIG> are plan views schematically showing a process of pumping oil in the oil pump <NUM> according to <FIG>.

Meanwhile, as described above, the scroll compressor <NUM> of the present disclosure may further include the oil pump <NUM>.

Hereinafter, the oil pump <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

The oil pump <NUM> recovers the oil separated by the oil separator <NUM>, while operating by the rotational force of the rotating shaft <NUM> and pumps the oil filling the inner space of the casing <NUM> to supply the oil to the oil flow path 23a of the rotating shaft <NUM>, and the oil supplied to the oil flow path 23a cools the driving motor <NUM>, while lubricating the compression unit <NUM>.

The oil pump <NUM> may be installed at a lower end of the rotating shaft <NUM>.

Of course, the oil pump <NUM>, in addition to the oil separated by the oil separator <NUM>, may pump the oil filling the inner space of the casing <NUM> and supply the oil to the compression unit <NUM>, etc. through the oil flow path of the rotating shaft <NUM>.

The oil pump <NUM> may be a volumetric pump that pumps oil, while varied in volume, like a trochoidal gear pump.

The oil pump <NUM> may include the pump housing <NUM>, the inner gear <NUM>, and the outer gear <NUM>.

The pump housing <NUM> is coupled to a main body of the subframe, and a pumping space is provided in the pump housing <NUM>. The pumping space may be understood as a space for accommodating oil to be pumpable so as to be provided to a bearing through the rotating shaft <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, an example in which the pump housing <NUM> has a flat cylindrical shape and is coupled to a lower end of a main body 12d of the subframe <NUM> is illustrated. However, the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to this configuration, and the pump housing <NUM> may have any other shape than the cylindrical shape as long as a pumping space 12d1 is provided and the inner and outer gears <NUM> and <NUM> are installed therein.

The inner gear <NUM> is rotatably disposed in the pumping space 12d1 of the main body 12d of the subframe <NUM>, and is coupled to the rotating shaft <NUM> to perform eccentric rotation.

The outer gear <NUM> may be rotatably disposed in the pumping space 12d1 to be engaged with the inner gear <NUM> to change the volume of the pumping space 12d1.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the outer gear <NUM> may have a gear shape therein to be engaged with the inner gear <NUM>.

In addition, the pump housing <NUM> is provided with a recovery inlet <NUM>. The recovery inlet <NUM> may be configured to communicate with the oil recovery flow path 12b provided in the subframe <NUM>. In addition, the recovery inlet <NUM> allows the oil recovered from the oil recovery flow path 12b to be introduced into the pumping space 12d1 of the provided pump housing <NUM>.

An example in which the recovery inlet <NUM> has an "L" shape is illustrated in <FIG>, but is not necessarily limited to this structure, and the recovery inlet <NUM> may have any other shape as long as the recovery inlet <NUM> has a structure in which the oil recovered from the oil recovery flow path 12b flows into the pumping space 12d1 of the pump housing <NUM>. For example, the recovery inlet <NUM> may be formed with only a horizontal structure communicating with a groove at an upper portion of the pump housing <NUM>.

An example in which a suction port <NUM> is provided in the axial direction to communicate with the oil suction pipe <NUM> is illustrated. However, the suction port <NUM> may have any other shape as long as the suction port <NUM> has a structure in which oil sucked from the oil suction pipe <NUM> flows into the pumping space 12d1 of the pump housing <NUM>.

The oil suction pipe <NUM> is formed so that an inlet end thereof may be immersed in the oil filling the casing <NUM>. In addition, a blocking member 400a accommodating the oil suction pipe <NUM> to block intrusion of foreign substances may be further installed outside the oil suction pipe <NUM>.

In addition, a suction guide groove <NUM> communicating with the suction port <NUM> is provided in the pump housing <NUM> to guide suction of oil sucked through the suction port <NUM>, and a discharge guide groove <NUM> may be provided on the opposite side of the suction guide groove <NUM>. A discharge slit <NUM> may be provided on an inner wall of the discharge guide groove <NUM> to communicate with a communication groove <NUM>.

The variable volume formed by the inner gear <NUM> and the outer gear <NUM> includes a suction volume portion V1 and a discharge volume portion V2. As shown in <FIG>, the suction volume portion V1 is provided so that the volume gradually increases along a rotation direction of the inner gear <NUM> from a starting end of the first suction guide groove <NUM> to an end of the second suction guide groove <NUM>, and the discharge volume portion V2 is connected to the suction volume portion V1 and is provided so that the volume decreases along the rotation direction of the inner gear <NUM> from a starting end to an end of the discharge guide groove <NUM>.

A through-hole 12d2 may be formed in the main body 12d of the subframe <NUM> facing the pump housing <NUM> so that a pin portion 23b of the rotating shaft <NUM> passes therethrough.

Meanwhile, an oil supply hole (not shown) for injecting oil into the inner space of the compressor casing <NUM> may be formed in the lower half of the compressor casing <NUM>. The oil supply hole may utilize a uniform hole for connecting the plurality of compressors with each other in order to match an oil level height of each compressor when a plurality of compressors are provided.

In the scroll compressor <NUM> according to the present disclosure, a process of recovering oil separated from the oil and the refrigerant of the casing <NUM> by using the oil pump <NUM> and supplying the oil to the compression unit <NUM> is as follows.

That is, as the inner gear <NUM> of the oil pump <NUM> is coupled to the rotating shaft <NUM> and rotates eccentrically, the suction volume portion V1 and the discharge volume portion V2 are formed between the inner gear <NUM> and the outer gear <NUM>. As the recovery inlet <NUM> and the suction port <NUM> communicate with the suction volume portion V1, as shown in <FIG>, the oil separated from the oil separator <NUM> flows into the recovery guide groove <NUM> through the recovery inlet <NUM>, by passing through the oil recovery flow path 12b through oil recovery pipe <NUM>, while oil filling a bottom side of the casing <NUM> flows into the suction guide groove <NUM> through the suction port <NUM> through the oil suction pipe <NUM>. The oil introduced into the recovery guide groove <NUM> is contained in the suction volume portion V1 and flows into the suction guide groove <NUM> over the partition wall, and the oil introduced into the suction guide groove <NUM> moves from the suction volume portion V1 to the discharge volume portion V2.

Also, the oil that has moved to the discharge volume V2 flows into the discharge guide groove <NUM>, the oil that flows into the discharge guide groove <NUM> flows into the communicating groove <NUM> through the discharge slit <NUM> provided on an inner peripheral wall of the discharge guide groove <NUM>, and the oil that flows into the communicating groove <NUM> is sucked into the oil flow path 23a of the rotating shaft <NUM>. A process in which the oil sucked into the oil flow path 23a is pushed up through the oil flow path 23a and sucked upward by a centrifugal force of the oil flow path 23a, and a portion thereof is supplied to each bearing surface, while the rest is scattered from an upper end and flows into the compression unit <NUM> is repeated.

<FIG> is a cut-away perspective view of the subframe <NUM> in which the oil recovery flow path 212b of a third embodiment is provided, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the subframe <NUM> in which the oil recovery flow path 212b of the third embodiment is provided.

The third embodiment of the oil recovery flow path 212b will be described below. The oil recovery flow path 212b of the third embodiment may be understood as an oil recovery flow path 212b directly introduced into the oil pump <NUM> described above.

The oil recovery flow path 212b may include a direct flow path 212b1. The direct flow path 212b1 may extend in a horizontal direction from a rib 212c provided on a lower surface of the frame support portion 212a.

In addition, the oil recovery pipe <NUM> outside the casing <NUM> may extend downwardly to a position where the oil recovery flow path 212b of the third embodiment is provided and communicate with the oil recovery flow path 212b of the third embodiment.

Meanwhile, the oil recovery flow path 212b may communicate with a pumping space 212d1 to supply oil to the pumping space 212d1.

The oil recovery flow path 212b may include a direct flow path 212b1 to directly recover the oil separated from the oil separator <NUM> into the pumping space 212d1.

For example, the direct flow path 212b1 may be formed to be parallel to a ground in a radial direction at a point where the inner gear <NUM> and the outer gear <NUM> are provided.

As the oil recovery flow path 212b provides the oil directly separated to the pumping space 212d1 including the direct flow path 212b1, an oil pump direct oil supply structure in which the oil recovered into the casing <NUM> is directly supplied to the oil pump without passing through another flow path may be provided.

Meanwhile, the rib 212c may protrude from one surface of the frame support portion 212a of the subframe <NUM>, and the protruding rib 212c may extend in a radial direction. For example, the rib 212c may be formed on a lower surface of the subframe <NUM>. The direct flow path 212b1 may be provided to be parallel to the ground in a radial direction from the rib 212c.

<FIG> show an example in which the rib 212c is located on the lower surface of the frame support portion 212a of the subframe <NUM> and the direct flow path 212b1 is located in the rib 212c in the left-right direction so as to be parallel to the ground.

By forming the oil p ump direct oil supply structure in which the oil recovery flow path 212b is directly supplied to the oil pump <NUM> without passing through another flow path, compared to the first embodiment, flow resistance and loss is reduced by the directly supplied flow path and the oil separated from the oil separator <NUM> is directly supplied to the oil pump <NUM>.

Meanwhile, an example in which the subframe <NUM> having the oil recovery flow path 212b of the third embodiment has a coupling portion 212f coupled to the inner periphery of the casing <NUM> is illustrated, and a fastening member such as a screw may be coupled to the coupling portion 212f and the coupling portion 212f is coupled to the inner periphery of the casing <NUM>.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of a subframe in which the oil recovery flow path 312b of a fourth embodiment is provided.

The oil recovery flow path 312b of the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG>.

The oil recovery flow path 312b of the fourth embodiment may be understood as an oil recovery flow path 312b that may be recovered as the oil storage space S11 at the same time in addition to the structure directly flowing into the oil pump <NUM>, which is the structure described above in the oil recovery flow path 212b of the third embodiment.

The oil recovery flow path 312b of the fourth embodiment may include a direct flow path 312b1 and a cross flow path 312b2 connected in a direction intersecting the direct flow path 312b1 from the direct flow path 312b1 so that the oil separated from the oil separator <NUM> is directly recovered to the pumping space 312d1.

<FIG> shows an example in which the direct flow path 312b1 is provided in the left-right direction to be parallel to the ground, and the left side of the direct flow path 312b1 communicates with the oil pump. In addition, <FIG> shows an example of the cross flow path 312b2 formed downward at a point spaced apart from the oil pump on the left side of the direct flow path 312b1.

Like the oil recovery flow path 12b of the third embodiment, the oil recovery flow path 312b of the fourth embodiment includes a direct flow path 312b1 and provides directly separated oil directly to the pumping space of the oil pump, so that an oil pump direct oil supply structure in which the oil recovered into the casing <NUM> is directly supplied to the oil pump without passing through another flow path may be provided. At the same time, the oil recovery flow path 312b of the fourth embodiment may also recover oil in a downward direction from the direct flow path 312b1 by the cross flow path 312b2 formed to communicate in a direction intersecting the direct flow path 312b1, thereby forming a structure in which it is possible to directly recover oil to the oil pump, and at the same time to recover oil into the oil storage space S11.

Meanwhile, there is shown an example in which the subframe <NUM> having the oil recovery flow path 312b of the fourth embodiment includes a coupling portion 312f coupled to the inner periphery of the casing <NUM>, and a fastening member such as a screw may be coupled to the coupling portion 312f and the coupling portion 312f may be coupled to the inner periphery of the casing <NUM>.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the subframe in which the oil recovery flow path 412b of the fifth embodiment is provided. The oil recovery flow path 412b of the fifth embodiment will be described with reference to <FIG>.

The oil recovery flow path 412b of the fifth embodiment may include an oblique flow path 412b1 configured in a diagonal structure. <NUM> shows an example in which the oblique flow path 412b1 is provided in an oblique direction from an upper right to a lower left in the drawing.

In addition, the oil recovery flow path 412b of the fifth embodiment may extend in an oblique direction from the rib 412c formed on a lower surface of the frame support portion.

However, even in the case of the fifth embodiment, although the oil recovery flow path 412b is formed in an oblique direction on a longitudinal section of <FIG>, it should be noted that, like the previous embodiments, when viewed from above, the oil recovery flow path 412b is formed in a circumferential direction from the center of the rotating shaft <NUM>, that is, in a radial direction.

In addition, the oil recovery pipe <NUM> outside the casing <NUM> may also extend downwardly to a position where the oil recovery flow path 412b of the fifth embodiment is provided, to form a structure communicating with a right end of the oil recovery flow path 412b of the fifth embodiment.

Meanwhile, there is shown an example in which the subframe <NUM> having the oil recovery flow path 412b of the fifth embodiment includes a coupling portion 412f coupled to the inner periphery of the casing <NUM>, and a fastening member such as a screw may be coupled to the coupling portion 412f and the coupling portion 412f may be coupled to the inner periphery of the casing <NUM>.

The oil recovery flow path 412b of the fifth embodiment may form a flow path of a shorter distance than a structure (oil recovery flow paths 12b, 112b, and 312b of the first, second and fourth embodiments) in which oil flows by the plurality of flow paths formed in the oblique structure, and it is possible to recover oil by its own weight even when separate power is not required.

In addition, the oil recovery flow path 412b having a oblique structure has an advantage in that it requires less processing man-hours compared to other embodiments in which two flow paths are provided.

In the scroll compressor of the present disclosure, since the oil recovery flow path is formed in the subframe, the conventional unnecessary copper pipe may not be used, thereby improving the volumetric efficiency.

In addition, in the scroll compressor of the present disclosure, since the oil recovery flow path is formed in the subframe, the oil pump recovery structure in which a vibration excitation source is removed by not using the existing copper pipe may be applied, thereby reducing vibration and noise.

In addition, the scroll compressor of the present disclosure may be manufactured through a simple process during mass-production as the oil recovery flow path is formed of the first and second flow paths intersecting each other at the subframe.

In addition, in the scroll compressor of the present disclosure, by providing ribs at the upper and lower ends of the frame support portion of the subframe without press-fitting an existing pipe, it is possible to recover oil by utilizing the existing configuration.

In addition, in the scroll compressor of the present disclosure, a problem due to the shape of a curved pipe when manufacturing the existing copper pipe does not arise.

In addition, the scroll compressor of the present disclosure simplifies the assembly process of press-fitting the existing copper pipe by configuring an oil recovery flow path in the subframe, thereby reducing tack time, improving mass- production, and reducing manufacturing costs to have price competitiveness.

In addition, the scroll compressor of the present disclosure solves the problem of thermal deformation of the copper pipe and the problem of water leakage in a press-fitting portion due to the structure in which the oil recovery flow path is provided in the subframe, without using the existing copper pipe.

In addition, in the scroll compressor of the present disclosure, due to the direct flow path provided to be parallel to the ground so that the oil provided from the oil separator may be directly provided to the oil pump, flow path resistance and loss are reduced by the directly supplied flow path, and the oil pump direct oil supply structure in which oil recovered into the casing is directly supplied to the oil pump without passing through another flow path may be provided.

The scroll compressor <NUM> described above is not limited to the configuration and method of the embodiments described above, and all or some of the embodiments may be selectively combined so that various modifications may be made.

Claim 1:
A scroll compressor comprising:
a casing (<NUM>) having an oil storage space (S11), a suction pipe (<NUM>) and a discharge pipe (<NUM>) being connected to the casing (<NUM>);
a driving motor (<NUM>) installed in an inner space of the casing (<NUM>) and including a rotating shaft (<NUM>) rotatable by generated driving force;
a compression unit (<NUM>) installed in the inner space of the casing (<NUM>) and having a compression chamber (P) operated by the driving motor (<NUM>) to compress a refrigerant;
an oil separator (<NUM>) coupled to the discharge pipe (<NUM>), wherein the oil separator (<NUM>) is configured to receive a refrigerant discharged after being compressed by the compression unit (<NUM>), separate oil, and supply the separated oil to an inside of the casing (<NUM>); and
a subframe (<NUM>) rotatably supporting the rotating shaft (<NUM>) from one side of the rotating shaft (<NUM>),
wherein the subframe (<NUM>) is provided with a frame support portion (12a, 112a, 212a) extending in a radial direction and coupled to and supported by an inner periphery of the casing (<NUM>), and
the frame support portion (12a, 112a, 212a) includes an oil recovery flow path (212b) provided in a radial direction and configured to guide oil to be recovered toward the inside of the casing (<NUM>) from the oil separator (<NUM>),
wherein the oil recovery flow path (212b) includes:
a first flow path (12b1) formed in the radial direction at the frame support portion (12a, 112a, 212a) and configured to receive oil provided from the oil separator (<NUM>); and
a second flow path (12b2) formed to intersect the first flow path (12b1) and having an outlet opened toward the oil storage space (S11) to enable the oil provided from the first flow path (12b1) to be provided to the oil storage space (S11),
characterized in that the scroll compressor further comprises
a rib (12c, 112c, 212c) protrudes from one surface of the frame support portion (12a, 112a, 212a),
the rib (12c, 112c, 212c) extends in a radial direction, and
the first flow path (12b1) is provided in a radial direction inside the rib (12c, 112c, 212c).