Patent ID: 7819644

Claim:
A scroll compressor comprising: a shell containing a lubricant; a thrust plate disposed within the shell, the thrust plate includes a thrust surface; an orbiting scroll member disposed within the shell atop the thrust surface; a fixed scroll member disposed within the shell; an anti-rotation device engaging the orbiting scroll member; a motor that includes a rotor radially supported by an upper bearing and a lower bearing; a crankpin bearing defining a centerline; a drive shaft driven by the rotor to rotate about an axis that is radially offset relative to the centerline of the crankpin bearing, wherein: a) the crankpin bearing radially couples the drive shaft in driving engagement with the orbiting scroll member; b) the upper bearing defines a location where a nominal diameter of the drive shaft exists; c) the drive shaft defines a lubricant gallery that discharges the lubricant through a lubricant gallery opening defined by an upper surface of the drive shaft; d) the drive shaft defines a vent having a vent inlet leading to a vent outlet, wherein the vent inlet is in fluid communication with the lubricant gallery such that the lubricant can flow sequentially up through the lubricant gallery, through the vent inlet, through the vent, and out through the vent outlet; e) the vent outlet is spaced apart from the upper bearing and the crankpin bearing, is lower than the thrust surface, and is situated radially beyond the nominal diameter of the drive shaft; and f) the axis is radially interposed between the vent outlet and the lubricant gallery; and a counterweight extending radially from the drive shaft at an elevation that is above the upper bearing, the counterweight extends beyond the nominal diameter of the drive shaft, and the vent passes through the counterweight.