Patent Description:
Scroll compressors may typically include orbiting and non-orbiting scroll members meshingly engaged with one another. The non-orbiting scroll member may generally be rotationally fixed to a bearing housing using a fastener. The use of the fastener may require machining a bore in a flange of the non-orbiting scroll member to receive the bolt. An additional sleeve guide may be used in combination with the bolt to provide for limited axial travel of the non-orbiting scroll member relative to the main bearing housing. The machining of the bore and the addition of a sleeve guide may provide additional cost and assembly times for a compressor assembly.

<CIT> a scroll apparatus with an axial gap control function. <CIT> discloses a scroll machine. <CIT> discloses a compressor according to the pre-characterising portion of claim <NUM>.

According to the invention, there is provided a compressor according to claim <NUM>.

The axial retention member includes a retaining ring fixed to the housing and disposed around a perimeter of the non-orbiting scroll member. The non-orbiting scroll member includes a protrusion extending radially outwardly relative to the perimeter and located axially between the housing and the retaining ring to limit axial translation of the non-orbiting scroll member relative to the housing. The compressor of may additionally include a fastener extending through the retaining ring and the housing to fix the retaining ring relative thereto.

The rotational retention member includes a pin engaged with the non-orbiting scroll member and the housing. The non-orbiting scroll member may be slidably engaged with the pin. The non-orbiting scroll member may be axially displaceable relative to the shell and the pin may generally extend in the direction of axial displacement of the non-orbiting scroll member.

The housing may include a main bearing housing. The main bearing housing may include a radially extending portion having arms extending axially therefrom. The axial retention member may be engaged with the arms and the rotational retention member may be engaged with the radially extending portion.

The axial retention member may limit radial translation of the non-orbiting scroll member relative to the housing.

The rotational retention member includes a pin engaged with the non-orbiting scroll member and the axial retention member.

The shell may include a partition overlying the non-orbiting scroll member and engaged with the housing to form the axial retention member. The partition may include an axially extending protrusion engaged with and forming a first axial guide for the non-orbiting scroll member. The housing may include an axially extending arm engaged with and a forming a second axial guide for the non-orbiting scroll member.

An alternative compressor of this disclosure may include a shell, a housing fixed within the shell, a compression mechanism supported by said housing and including an orbiting scroll member and a non-orbiting scroll member meshingly engaged to form a series of compression pockets, and a retaining assembly. The retaining assembly may include an axial retention member and a rotational retention member. The axial retention member may include a retaining ring fixed to the housing and disposed around a perimeter of the non-orbiting scroll member. The non-orbiting scroll member may include a protrusion extending radially outwardly relative to the perimeter and located axially between the housing and the retaining ring to limit axial translation of the non-orbiting scroll member relative to the housing. The rotational retention member may be engaged with the non-orbiting scroll member to limit axial translation and rotation of the non-orbiting scroll member relative to the housing.

The rotational retention member includes a pin engaged with the non-orbiting scroll member and the housing.

Another alternative compressor of this disclosure not claimed as such may include a shell, a housing fixed within the shell, a compression mechanism supported by the housing and including an orbiting scroll member and a non-orbiting scroll member meshingly engaged to form a series of compression pockets, and a retaining assembly. The retaining assembly may include an axial retention member and a rotational retention member. The axial retention member is engaged with the non- orbiting scroll member to limit axial translation of the non-orbiting scroll member relative to the housing. The rotational retention member includes a pin engaged with the non-orbiting scroll member and the housing. The non-orbiting scroll member may be slidably engaged with the pin.

It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, which is defined by the claims.

The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way.

The present teachings are suitable for incorporation in many different types of scroll compressors, including hermetic machines, open drive machines and non-hermetic machines. For exemplary purposes, a compressor <NUM> is shown as a hermetic scroll refrigerant-compressor of the low-side type, i.e. where the motor and compressor are cooled by suction gas in the hermetic shell, as illustrated in the vertical section shown in <FIG>.

With reference to <FIG>, compressor <NUM> may include a cylindrical hermetic shell <NUM>, a compression mechanism <NUM>, a seal assembly <NUM>, a main bearing housing <NUM>, a retaining assembly <NUM>, a motor assembly <NUM>, a refrigerant discharge fitting <NUM>, a discharge valve assembly <NUM>, and a suction gas inlet fitting <NUM>. Hermetic shell <NUM> may house compression mechanism <NUM>, main bearing housing <NUM>, and motor assembly <NUM>. Shell <NUM> may include an end cap <NUM> at the upper end thereof, a transversely extending partition <NUM>, and a base <NUM> at a lower end thereof. End cap <NUM> and transversely extending partition <NUM> may generally define a discharge muffler <NUM>. Refrigerant discharge fitting <NUM> may be attached to end cap <NUM> at opening <NUM>. Suction gas inlet fitting <NUM> may be attached to shell <NUM> at opening <NUM>. Compression mechanism <NUM> may be driven by motor assembly <NUM> and supported by main bearing housing <NUM>. Main bearing housing <NUM> may be affixed to shell <NUM> at a plurality of points in any desirable manner, such as staking.

Motor assembly <NUM> may generally include a motor stator <NUM>, a rotor <NUM>, and a drive shaft <NUM>. Windings <NUM> may pass through stator <NUM>. Motor stator <NUM> may be press fit into shell <NUM>. Drive shaft <NUM> may be rotatably driven by rotor <NUM>. Rotor <NUM> may be press fit on drive shaft <NUM>.

Drive shaft <NUM> may include an eccentric crank pin <NUM> having a flat <NUM> thereon and upper and lower counter-weights <NUM>, <NUM>. Drive shaft <NUM> may include a first journal portion <NUM> rotatably journaled in a first bearing <NUM> in main bearing housing <NUM> and a second journal portion <NUM> rotatably journaled in a second bearing <NUM> in lower bearing housing <NUM>. Drive shaft <NUM> may include an oil-pumping concentric bore <NUM> at a lower end. Concentric bore <NUM> may communicate with a radially outwardly inclined and relatively smaller diameter bore <NUM> extending to the upper end of drive shaft <NUM>. The lower interior portion of shell <NUM> may be filled with lubricating oil. Concentric bore <NUM> may provide pump action in conjunction with bore <NUM> to distribute lubricating fluid to various portions of compressor <NUM>.

Compression mechanism <NUM> may generally include an orbiting scroll <NUM> and a non-orbiting scroll <NUM>. With additional reference to <FIG>, orbiting scroll <NUM> may include an end plate <NUM> having a spiral vane or wrap <NUM> on the upper surface thereof and an annular flat thrust surface <NUM> on the lower surface. End plate <NUM> may include a first flange <NUM> and a second flange (not shown) extending radially outwardly therefrom. The second flange may be generally similar to first flange <NUM>. Therefore, it is understood that the description of first flange <NUM> applies equally to the second flange. First flange <NUM> may include a recess <NUM> therein to prevent rotation of orbiting scroll <NUM>, as discussed below. Thrust surface <NUM> may interface with an annular flat thrust bearing surface <NUM> on an upper surface of main bearing housing <NUM>. A cylindrical hub <NUM> may project downwardly from thrust surface <NUM> and may have a drive bushing <NUM> rotatively disposed therein. Drive bushing <NUM> may include an inner bore in which crank pin <NUM> is drivingly disposed. Crank pin flat <NUM> may drivingly engage a flat surface in a portion of the inner bore of drive bushing <NUM> to provide a radially compliant driving arrangement.

With additional reference to <FIG>, non-orbiting scroll <NUM> may include an end plate <NUM> having a spiral wrap <NUM> on a lower surface thereof. Spiral wrap <NUM> may form a meshing engagement with wrap <NUM> of orbiting scroll <NUM>, thereby creating an inlet pocket <NUM>, intermediate pockets <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and an outlet pocket <NUM>. Non-orbiting scroll <NUM> may be axially displaceable relative to main bearing housing <NUM>, shell <NUM>, and orbiting scroll <NUM>. Non-orbiting scroll <NUM> may include a housing <NUM> generally surrounding spiral wrap <NUM>.

Housing <NUM> includes a radially outwardly extending flange <NUM> defining a radially outwardly extending protrusion to limit axial displacement of non-orbiting scroll <NUM> relative to main bearing housing <NUM>, as discussed below. Flange <NUM> may be located at an end of housing <NUM> that is distal from end plate <NUM> and may include a series of discrete flanges <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> extending radially outwardly therefrom. Flanges <NUM>, <NUM> may extend generally opposite one another with flange <NUM> disposed circumferentially therebetween. Flanges <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may include recesses <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> therein for preventing rotation and orbital movement of non-orbiting scroll <NUM> relative to main bearing housing <NUM>. Recess <NUM> may extend radially through radially inner and outer portions of flange <NUM> and into inlet pocket <NUM>.

Non-orbiting scroll <NUM> may include a discharge passageway <NUM> in communication with outlet pocket <NUM> and upwardly open recess <NUM> which may be in fluid communication with discharge muffler <NUM> via an opening <NUM> in partition <NUM>. Recess <NUM> may include first and second portions <NUM>, <NUM>. First portion <NUM> may have a cross-sectional area that is less than the cross-sectional area of second portion <NUM>. Discharge passageway <NUM> may be offset relative to a center of recess <NUM>.

Non-orbiting scroll <NUM> may include an annular recess <NUM> in the upper surface thereof defined by parallel coaxial inner and outer side walls <NUM>, <NUM>. Annular recess <NUM> may provide for axial biasing of non-orbiting scroll <NUM> relative to orbiting scroll <NUM>, as discussed below. More specifically, a passage <NUM><NUM> may extend through end plate <NUM> of non-orbiting scroll <NUM>, placing recess <NUM> in fluid communication with intermediate pocket <NUM>. While passage <NUM><NUM> is shown extending into intermediate pocket <NUM>, it is understood that passage <NUM><NUM> may alternatively be placed in communication with any of the other intermediate pockets <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

Seal assembly <NUM> may include first and second seals <NUM>, <NUM>. First and second seals <NUM>, <NUM> may each include an L-shaped cross-section and may sealingly engage partition <NUM>, as described in "Compressor Sealing Arrangement", filed <CIT>. Discharge valve assembly <NUM> may generally prevent a reverse flow of fluid during compressor shut-down, as described in "Compressor Having a Shutdown Valve", filed <CIT>.

With additional reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, orbiting scroll <NUM> and non-orbiting scroll <NUM> may generally be supported by main bearing housing <NUM>. Main bearing housing <NUM> may include a radially extending body portion <NUM> defining thrust bearing surface <NUM> and having arms <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> extending axially upwardly therefrom. More specifically, arms <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may extend axially upwardly to a location at least at a midpoint of one of wraps <NUM>, <NUM>. Each of arms <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may include a threaded aperture <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> extending axially into an upper surface thereof. An additional aperture <NUM> may extend axially into radially extending body portion <NUM> near arm <NUM>. Apertures <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may provide mounting locations for components of retaining assembly <NUM>, as discussed below.

Retaining assembly <NUM> includes an Oldham coupling <NUM>, an orientation pin <NUM>, and a retaining ring <NUM>. Oldham coupling <NUM> may be a four-up Oldham coupling including a ring <NUM> and first, second, third, and fourth keys <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. Third and fourth keys <NUM>, <NUM> may each include first portions <NUM>, <NUM> and second portions <NUM>, <NUM>. Oldham coupling <NUM> may be disposed on and abut body portion <NUM>. Oldham coupling <NUM> may be located within arms <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. Orbiting scroll <NUM> may abut thrust bearing surface <NUM> and may be disposed adjacent Oldham coupling <NUM>.

First and second keys <NUM>, <NUM> may extend into recesses <NUM> of orbiting scroll <NUM>, slidably coupling orbiting scroll <NUM> relative thereto and generally preventing rotation of orbiting scroll <NUM> relative thereto. Second portions <NUM>, <NUM> of third and fourth keys <NUM>, <NUM> may be slidably engaged with recesses <NUM>, <NUM> in non-orbiting scroll <NUM>, generally preventing rotation of non-orbiting scroll <NUM> relative to Oldham coupling <NUM>. Since recess <NUM> may extend into inlet pocket <NUM>, a travel of Oldham coupling <NUM> within recess <NUM> may be maintained while reducing the radially outward extent of flange <NUM> relative to a configuration of flange <NUM> where recess <NUM> does not extend into inlet pocket <NUM>.

Orientation pin <NUM> extends into recess <NUM> in non-orbiting scroll <NUM> and aperture <NUM> in main bearing housing <NUM>. Orientation pin 184further limits orbital and rotational movement of non-orbiting scroll <NUM>. More specifically, orientation pin <NUM> prevents rotation of non-orbiting scroll <NUM> relative to main bearing housing <NUM>. Orientation pin <NUM> may be a generally cylindrical member and may be located within aperture <NUM> in main bearing housing <NUM> and slidably disposed within recess <NUM> in non-orbiting scroll <NUM>. While shown as an independent member, orientation pin <NUM> may be integrally formed on main bearing housing <NUM>. Since third and fourth keys <NUM>, <NUM> fix non-orbiting scroll <NUM> against rotation relative to Oldham coupling <NUM>, orientation pin <NUM> also prevents rotation of Oldham coupling <NUM> relative to main bearing housing <NUM>.

Axial displacement of non-orbiting scroll <NUM> may be limited by retaining ring <NUM>. Retaining ring <NUM> may include a generally annular body <NUM> having a series of apertures <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> corresponding to apertures <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> in arms <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of main bearing housing <NUM>. Body <NUM> may include first and second portions <NUM>, <NUM>. First portion <NUM> may have apertures <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> passing therethrough. Second portion <NUM> may extend axially outwardly from first portion <NUM> toward body portion <NUM> of main bearing housing <NUM>. Second portion <NUM> may have an outer diameter that is less than the outer diameter of first portion <NUM>. Second portion <NUM> may have an outer diameter that is slightly less than an inner diameter defined by an upper portion <NUM> of arms <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of main bearing housing <NUM>.

The inner diameter of retaining ring <NUM> may be slightly greater than the outer diameter of end plate <NUM> of non-orbiting scroll <NUM> and less than the outer diameter of flange <NUM> of non-orbiting scroll <NUM>. Non-orbiting scroll <NUM> may be supported within main bearing housing <NUM> such that flange <NUM> is disposed axially between retaining ring <NUM> and body portion <NUM> of main bearing housing <NUM>. Second portion <NUM> of retaining ring <NUM> may extend into arms <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of main bearing housing <NUM> and first portion <NUM> may abut upper surfaces of arms <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. Second portion <NUM> may include a tapered surface to facilitate placing retaining ring <NUM> over non-orbiting scroll <NUM> during assembly. Fasteners <NUM> may extend into apertures <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of retaining ring <NUM> and may threadingly engage apertures <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> in arms <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of main bearing housing <NUM>, fixing retaining ring <NUM> relative thereto. Axial displacement of non-orbiting scroll <NUM> may therefore be limited to an axial clearance between flange <NUM> and retaining ring <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, an alternate retaining assembly <NUM> is shown. Retaining assembly <NUM> may include an Oldham coupling <NUM>, an orientation pin <NUM>, and a retaining ring <NUM>. Oldham coupling <NUM> may be generally similar to Oldham coupling <NUM> and orientation pin <NUM> may be generally similar to orientation pin <NUM>. However, orientation pin <NUM> may be engaged with non-orbiting scroll <NUM> and retaining ring <NUM>, as discussed below.

Retaining ring <NUM> may be generally similar to retaining ring <NUM> with the exception of aperture <NUM> and protrusions <NUM>. Aperture <NUM> may extend axially through retaining ring <NUM> an opening <NUM> may extend into flange <NUM> of non-orbiting scroll <NUM>. Orientation pin <NUM> may extend through aperture <NUM> and opening <NUM>. Since retaining ring <NUM> is fixed to main bearing housing <NUM> (similar to retaining ring <NUM>), relative rotation between non-orbiting scroll <NUM> and main bearing housing may be prevented by orientation pin <NUM>.

Protrusions <NUM> may be spaced around an axially outer surface of retaining ring <NUM> and may extend axially outwardly relative to an axial end of non-orbiting scroll <NUM>. With reference to <FIG>, protrusions <NUM> may abut a lower surface <NUM> of partition <NUM>. More specifically, during assembly, once retaining ring <NUM> is fixed to main bearing housing <NUM>, partition <NUM> may be inserted into shell <NUM> until a lower surface <NUM> thereof abuts protrusions <NUM>, locating partition <NUM> relative to main bearing housing <NUM>. Partition <NUM> may then be fixed to shell <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, an alternate retaining assembly <NUM> is shown. Retaining assembly <NUM> may include an Oldham coupling <NUM> and a retaining ring <NUM>. Oldham coupling <NUM> may be generally similar to Oldham coupling <NUM>, except Oldham coupling <NUM> may include a fifth key <NUM>. Fifth key <NUM> may extend into a slot <NUM> in main bearing housing <NUM> to prevent relative rotation between Oldham coupling <NUM> and main bearing housing <NUM>, and therefore between non-orbiting scroll <NUM> and main bearing housing <NUM>.

Retaining ring <NUM> may be generally similar to retaining rings <NUM>, <NUM>, except retaining ring <NUM> may having an axially outward extent generally equal to protrusions <NUM> around an entire circumferential extent thereof. As such, an engagement between retaining ring <NUM> and a partition (not shown) may be generally similar to the engagement between retaining ring <NUM> and partition <NUM>. Additionally, rather than being bolted to main bearing housing <NUM>, retaining ring <NUM> may be press fit into the compressor shell (not shown).

While retaining assemblies <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> have been individually described with various features, it is understood that the features of retaining assemblies17, <NUM>, <NUM> may be interchanged and used with one another in a variety of combinations.

With reference to <FIG>, an alternate compressor <NUM> is shown. Compressor <NUM> may be generally similar to compressor <NUM>, with the exception of main bearing housing <NUM> and partition <NUM>. Arms <NUM> of main bearing housing <NUM> may have a greater axial extent than arms <NUM> of main bearing housing <NUM> and may contact partition <NUM>, as discussed below.

Main bearing housing <NUM> may form a pilot ring for flange <NUM> of non-orbiting scroll <NUM>. More specifically, a radially inner surface <NUM> of arm <NUM> may generally surround and form a first guide for axial displacement of flange <NUM>. An axially outer end of arm <NUM> may additionally form locating region for partition <NUM>. Arm <NUM> may include a stepped region <NUM> forming a locating region for partition <NUM>. Therefore, partition <NUM> may be located relative to main bearing housing <NUM> independent of the position of main bearing housing <NUM> within shell <NUM>.

Partition <NUM> may include first and second annular protrusions <NUM>, <NUM> extending axially toward main bearing housing <NUM>. First protrusion <NUM> may extend axially within shell <NUM> and may abut stepped region <NUM> to locate partition <NUM> relative to main bearing housing <NUM>. Second protrusion <NUM> may be located radially inwardly relative to first protrusion <NUM> and may form a second guide for axial displacement of an upper portion of non-orbiting scroll <NUM>. More specifically, a radially inner surface of second protrusion <NUM> may generally surround and may be generally parallel to an outer surface of non-orbiting scroll <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A compressor (<NUM>) comprising:
a shell (<NUM>);
a housing (<NUM>) fixed within said shell;
a compression mechanism (<NUM>) supported by said housing and including an orbiting scroll member (<NUM>) and a non-orbiting scroll member (<NUM>) meshingly engaged to form a series of compression pockets; and
a retaining assembly (<NUM>) including an axial retention member (<NUM>) and an Oldham coupling (<NUM>), said axial retention member (<NUM>) engaged with said non-orbiting scroll member (<NUM>) to limit axial translation of said non-orbiting scroll member (<NUM>) relative to said housing (<NUM>);
wherein said Oldham coupling (<NUM>) is engaged with said orbiting and non-orbiting scroll members to prevent relative rotation therebetween; and
the retaining assembly further comprises a pin (<NUM>) extending into an aperture (<NUM>) in said housing (<NUM>) and a recess (<NUM>) in said non-orbiting scroll member (<NUM>) to prevent relative rotation between said non-orbiting scroll member (<NUM>) and said housing (<NUM>),
characterised in that said axial retention member includes a retaining ring (<NUM>) fixed to said housing (<NUM>) and disposed around a perimeter of said non-orbiting scroll member (<NUM>), wherein said non-orbiting scroll member (<NUM>) includes a protrusion extending radially outwardly relative to said perimeter and located axially between said housing (<NUM>) and said retaining ring (<NUM>) to limit axial translation of said non-orbiting scroll member (<NUM>) relative to said housing (<NUM>).