compressor

Abstract

This invention provides a compressor comprising: an oil storage area storing lubricating oil; a compression mechanism for compressing a working fluid; a drive mechanism for driving the compression mechanism; and an oil supply system including an oil pumping mechanism for delivering lubricating oil from the oil storage area to the compressor's components to be lubricated, wherein the oil pumping mechanism is connected to and driven by the compression mechanism. The compressor according to this invention has a simple structure and reliable operation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a compressor, and more particularly to a scroll compressor with an improved oil supply system. Background Technology

[0002] This section provides background information related to the present invention, which does not necessarily constitute prior art.

[0003] In this paper, a compressor includes a compression mechanism for compressing the working fluid and a drive mechanism for driving the compression mechanism. For example, a scroll compressor includes a scroll mechanism and a rotating shaft. Typically, during the operation of a scroll compressor, the rotating shaft rotates to drive the compression mechanism to compress the working fluid, while lubricant (e.g., lubricating oil) is supplied through the internal through-holes of the rotating shaft to the various components of the scroll compressor that require lubrication (including bearings, scrolls, thrust surfaces, etc.), thereby meeting the needs of lubrication and cooling.

[0004] For existing horizontal scroll compressors, especially those with the motor located on the low-pressure side, it is usually necessary to set up an oil reservoir and a dual oil pump system on the side of the rotating shaft opposite to the compression mechanism. The oil pump is driven by the crank of the rotating shaft to meet the oil supply needs of the compressor. This increases the complexity of the compressor and is not conducive to the miniaturization of the compressor.

[0005] For existing vertical scroll compressors, an oil pump is typically installed on the side of the rotating shaft opposite to the compression mechanism, and driven by the crank of the rotating shaft to meet the compressor's oil supply needs. However, there is currently no specific (active oil supply) lubrication design for the thrust surface. The lubricating oil for the thrust surface mainly rises parabolically to the thrust surface through the agitation of oil in the countersunk bore of the main bearing housing, or overflows to the thrust surface due to the sloshing caused by the scroll motion. In this situation, when the compressor is running at low speed, the thrust surface may be poorly lubricated; when the compressor is running at high speed, the oil overflowing from the thrust surface may be sucked into the scroll, resulting in an excessively high oil circulation rate. In addition, the power consumption of oil agitation is also relatively large under high speed conditions.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide an oil supply system applicable to compressors, such as horizontal scroll compressors and vertical scroll compressors, which not only improves lubrication, especially for thrust surfaces and improves the control of the compressor's oil circulation rate, but also simplifies the compressor's structure and facilitates its miniaturization. Summary of the Invention

[0007] One of the objectives of this invention is to provide a compressor with an improved oil supply system that has good reliability, effectively lubricates not only the various bearings on the drive mechanism, but also provides stable lubrication, especially for the thrust surfaces, thereby enhancing the oil management capability of the compressor system.

[0008] One of the objectives of this invention is to provide a compressor with an improved oil supply system, which makes the compressor structure simpler and its shape more compact.

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, a compressor is provided, the compressor comprising: an oil storage area storing lubricating oil; a compression mechanism for compressing a working fluid; a drive mechanism for driving the compression mechanism; and an oil supply system including an oil pumping mechanism for delivering lubricating oil from the oil storage area to a component of the compressor to be lubricated, wherein the oil pumping mechanism is connected to and driven by the compression mechanism.

[0010] Optionally, the oil pumping mechanism includes an oil pump and a drive connector for connecting the oil pump to the compression mechanism.

[0011] Optionally, the compressor is configured as a scroll compressor, the compression mechanism including a fixed scroll and a moving scroll, and the oil pumping mechanism is connected to the moving scroll.

[0012] Optionally, the oil pump is constructed as a rotor pump with a rotor, and the drive connection is constructed as a crank, with the first end of the crank connected to a moving scroll and the second end of the crank connected to the rotor.

[0013] Optionally, the compressor is configured as a scroll compressor, and the compression mechanism includes a fixed scroll, a moving scroll, and a cross slip ring, with the oil pump mechanism connected to the cross slip ring.

[0014] Optionally, the oil pump is configured as a reciprocating piston pump with a plunger section, and the drive connector is configured as a drive pin, with the first end of the drive pin connected to a cross ring and the second end of the drive pin connected to the plunger section.

[0015] Optionally, the compressor also includes a main bearing housing for supporting the compression mechanism, and the oil pump mechanism is at least partially disposed in the main bearing housing.

[0016] Optionally, the drive mechanism includes a rotating shaft, a main bearing housing having a main bearing mounting portion and a thrust surface serving as a component to be lubricated, the thrust surface abutting against and supporting the moving scroll of the compression mechanism, and the main bearing mounting portion accommodating a first bearing for supporting the rotating shaft and also serving as a component to be lubricated.

[0017] Optionally, the compressor is configured as a horizontal scroll compressor, wherein the oil supply system further includes an oil inlet channel and an oil outlet channel formed in the main bearing housing. One end of the oil inlet channel is immersed in an oil sump located at the bottom of the compressor, which serves as an oil storage area. The other end of the oil inlet channel is connected to the inlet of the oil pumping mechanism. One end of the oil outlet channel is connected to the outlet of the oil pumping mechanism. The other end of the oil outlet channel is located at the position of the main bearing housing, thereby providing lubricating oil to the first bearing.

[0018] Optionally, the compressor also includes a drive bearing and a second bearing, which are also used as lubricated components, respectively disposed on both sides of the first bearing. The oil supply system also includes a main oil supply channel disposed in the rotating shaft, a bearing passage passing through the first bearing, and a main shaft oil inlet hole passing through the wall of the rotating shaft connecting the main oil supply channel and the bearing passage, thereby providing lubricating oil to the drive bearing and the second bearing via the bearing passage, the main shaft oil inlet hole and the main oil supply channel.

[0019] Optionally, the oil supply system also includes an annular groove disposed on the radial inner surface of the main bearing mounting portion, and the oil discharge channel is connected to the annular groove.

[0020] Optionally, the compressor is a vertical scroll compressor, wherein the main bearing housing is defined with a countersunk hole, which is suitable for storing lubricating oil and serves as an oil reservoir. The oil supply system also includes an oil inlet channel and an oil outlet channel formed in the main bearing housing. One end of the oil inlet channel opens at the inner surface of the defined countersunk hole of the main bearing housing to form an oil inlet opening, and the other end of the oil inlet channel is connected to the inlet of the oil pumping mechanism. One end of the oil outlet channel is connected to the outlet of the oil pumping mechanism, and the other end of the oil outlet channel opens at the thrust surface to form an oil outlet opening, thereby providing lubricating oil to the thrust surface.

[0021] Optionally, the oil inlet is located near the bottom of the countersunk hole.

[0022] Optionally, the main bearing housing is also provided with an oil discharge hole, which is used to return the lubricating oil in the countersunk hole to an oil sump located at the bottom of the compressor, which also serves as an oil storage area. The oil discharge hole forms an oil discharge opening at the inner surface defining the countersunk hole, wherein the position of the oil discharge opening in the axial direction of the compressor is higher than the position of the oil inlet opening.

[0023] Optionally, the oil supply system also includes an annular oil groove disposed at the thrust surface and communicating with the oil outlet.

[0024] Optionally, the oil supply system also includes an oil return groove located at the thrust surface that connects the annular oil groove to the counterbore.

[0025] Overall, the compressor with an oil supply system according to the present invention has a simple structure, high reliability, and wide applicability. On the one hand, when the oil supply system according to the present invention is particularly applied to a horizontal scroll compressor, it can shorten the initial oil pumping time, improve the lubrication conditions of the main bearing and drive bearing in terms of oil supply volume and controllability and reduce oil temperature, and make the compressor structure simpler and more compact. On the other hand, when the oil supply system according to the present invention is particularly applied to a vertical scroll compressor, it can reliably supply oil to the thrust surface, reduce the amount of oil in the countersunk hole of the main bearing housing, reduce the power consumption of oil churning, and control the oil circulation rate of the compressor to be stable. Attached Figure Description

[0026] The features and advantages of one or more embodiments of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings provided herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. The drawings are not drawn to scale and some features may be enlarged or reduced to show details of specific parts. In the drawings:

[0027] Figure 1 This is a longitudinal sectional view of a horizontal scroll compressor according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of the compression mechanism, main bearing housing, rotating shaft, and oil pumping mechanism of a scroll compressor according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 3 This is a longitudinal sectional view of a horizontal scroll compressor according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 4 This is an exploded view of the compression mechanism, main bearing housing, rotating shaft, and oil pumping mechanism of a scroll compressor according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 5 This is a longitudinal sectional view of a vertical scroll compressor according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 6 This is an exploded view of the compression mechanism, main bearing housing, rotating shaft, and oil pumping mechanism of a scroll compressor according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 7 This is a partial cross-sectional view along a section of a scroll compressor according to a third embodiment of the present invention, showing the oil drain passage in the main bearing housing.

[0034] Figure 8 This is a partial cross-sectional view of a scroll compressor according to a third embodiment of the present invention, along another section, showing the oil inlet passage in the main bearing housing.

[0035] Figure 9 This is a perspective view of the main bearing housing of a scroll compressor according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and

[0036] Figure 10 This is a longitudinal sectional view of a horizontal scroll compressor as a comparative example. Detailed Implementation

[0037] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. This description is merely exemplary and does not constitute a limitation on the present invention and its applications.

[0038] Figure 1A scroll compressor 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The scroll compressor 100 is configured as a horizontal scroll compressor. The scroll compressor 100 includes a generally closed cylindrical housing 10, which includes a main body 11 located in the middle and a second end cover 12 and a first end cover 13 fixed to the axial (longitudinal) ends of the main body. An intake connector (not shown) for drawing in working fluid is mounted on the main body 11, while an exhaust connector 15 for discharging compressed working fluid is mounted on the first end cover 13. A partition 16 extending generally laterally (i.e., perpendicular to the axial direction of the scroll compressor 100, or radially) is also provided between the main body 11 and the first end cover 13, thereby dividing the internal space of the compressor housing 10 into a high-pressure side and a low-pressure side. Specifically, the space between the first end cover 13 and the partition 16 constitutes the high-pressure side space, while the space between the partition 16 and the second end cover 12 constitutes the low-pressure side space. The low-pressure side space contains a compression mechanism 40 and a drive mechanism for driving the compression mechanism 40. The drive mechanism includes, for example, a motor 20 and a rotating shaft 30. The motor 20 drives the rotating shaft 30 to rotate and drives the compression mechanism 40 through the rotating shaft 30. This type of compressor is also called a low-pressure side compressor.

[0039] exist Figure 1 In the example shown, as a horizontal compressor, the extension direction of the rotating shaft 30 (or the axial or longitudinal direction of the horizontal compressor 100) is generally parallel to the horizontal direction. The rotating shaft 30 includes a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. A compression mechanism 40 is disposed at the first end of the rotating shaft 30. The compression mechanism 40 includes a fixed scroll 42 and a moving scroll 44 that mesh with each other, forming a series of compression chambers between the fixed scroll 42 and the moving scroll 44. The first end of the rotating shaft 30 is configured with an eccentric crank pin 32, which is inserted via a bushing into the hub 46 of the moving scroll 44 to drive the moving scroll 44, causing the moving scroll 44 to perform a translational rotation about the fixed scroll component 42 (i.e., the central axis of the moving scroll 44 rotates about the central axis of the fixed scroll 42, but the moving scroll 44 itself does not rotate about its own central axis), thereby compressing the working fluid drawn into the compression mechanism 40. In addition, a drive bearing 33 is provided between the bushing and the hub 46 of the moving scroll 44.

[0040] The first end of the rotating shaft 30 is supported by a first bearing (main bearing) 53 arranged in a first bearing housing 50 (main bearing housing), while the second end is supported by a second bearing (bottom bearing or auxiliary bearing) arranged in a second bearing housing (bottom bearing housing or auxiliary bearing housing) 52. Specifically, the first bearing housing 50 may have a main bearing mounting portion 50a located near the first end of the rotating shaft 30, and the first bearing 53 is mounted on the radially inner surface of the main bearing mounting portion. The first bearing 53 is, for example, a sliding bearing that is interference-fitted to the main bearing mounting portion 50a. In other words, the first bearing 53 is located near the first end of the rotating shaft 30, the second bearing is located near the second end of the rotating shaft 30, and the drive bearing 33 and the second bearing are respectively arranged on both sides of the first bearing 53. Furthermore, the first bearing housing 50 also provides support for the compression mechanism 40, i.e., the first bearing housing 50 has a thrust surface S that abuts against the end plate of the moving scroll 44.

[0041] In order to achieve lubrication and cooling of the various components in the compressor, the compressor 100 is also provided with an oil supply system for delivering lubricating oil from the oil storage area of ​​the scroll compressor to the components to be lubricated.

[0042] like Figure 1 As shown, the oil supply system includes an oil pump mechanism 170 and various oil passages. The scroll compressor 100 is a horizontal compressor, and the lubricating oil inside the compressor accumulates at the bottom of the compressor 100 (in...). Figure 1 The oil sump (shown as the lower portion of compressor 100 along the radial direction of the compressor) is located in the compressor. Furthermore, the first bearing housing 50 defines a countersunk hole CB, which can accommodate the hub 46 of the rotating scroll and is also suitable for storing lubricating oil. Thus, the oil sump at the bottom of the compressor and the countersunk hole of the main bearing housing constitute the oil reservoir area for storing lubricating oil in the scroll compressor. A main oil supply passage 34 is provided in the rotating shaft 30, which can... Figure 1 The main oil supply channel 34, as shown, is formed by two radially offset segments connected to each other. Specifically, the main oil supply channel 34 may include a first segment and a second segment that communicate with each other. The first segment opens onto a first end face of the rotating shaft 30 (i.e., the end face of the eccentric crank pin 32), and the second segment opens onto a second end face of the rotating shaft 30 opposite to the first end face. The first segment is radially offset relative to the second segment. The oil pumping mechanism 170 can deliver oil from the oil sump to the main oil supply channel 34 and further to the components in the compressor that require lubrication. On one hand, the oil travels along a portion of the main oil supply channel 34 (e.g., the first segment) toward the first end face of the rotating shaft 30 and exits from the first end face, thereby lubricating the components near the rotating volute. On the other hand, the oil can travel along a portion of the main oil supply channel 34 (e.g., the second segment) toward the second end face of the rotating shaft 30 and exits from the second end face, returning to the oil sump at the bottom of the compressor 100.

[0043] See Figure 1 and Figure 2 The following will describe the oil pumping mechanism 170 and its corresponding oil passages in detail. The oil pumping mechanism 170 is connected to and driven by the compression mechanism 40. Specifically, the oil pumping mechanism 170 mainly includes an oil pump and a drive connector for connecting the oil pump to the compression mechanism 40. Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the example shown, the drive connector is constructed as a crank 173, and the oil pump is constructed as a rotary pump, mainly including a thrust washer 174, a pump body 175, a rotor 176, and a pump cover 177. The oil pump is fixed to the main bearing housing 50 by fasteners, such as bolts 178. The main bearing housing 50 is provided with a receiving portion 158, which can be configured, for example, as a cavity recessed axially inward from the end face of the main bearing housing 50 facing the motor 20. The oil pumping mechanism 170 can be at least partially accommodated in the receiving portion 158 and assembled integrally with the main bearing housing 50. A sliding bearing 172 is also provided between the oil pumping mechanism 170 and the receiving portion 158. The bottom of the cavity of the receiving portion 158 of the main bearing housing 50 is also provided with a through hole. The first axial section of the crank 173 extends through the through hole and is inserted into the connecting hole 48 correspondingly provided in the end plate of the moving scroll 44; the second axial section of the crank 173 is inserted into the rotor 176 of the oil pump. Thus, the first end of the crank 173 is connected to the moving scroll 44, and the opposite second end is connected to the rotor 176. Thus, during the operation of the compressor 100, the translational rotation of the moving scroll 44 can drive the crank 173 to rotate, and the rotation of the crank 173 can drive the rotor 176 to rotate in the pump body 175, thereby driving the oil pump.

[0044] The first section of crank 173 is connected to the second section and is eccentrically positioned relative to the second section, that is, the central axis of the first section of crank 173 is radially offset relative to the central axis of the second section. Preferably, the eccentricity of crank 173 can be modulated according to the vortex to match different radii of rotation.

[0045] like Figure 1As shown, an oil inlet channel 156 (not consistent with the reference numerals) is formed in the main bearing housing 50, extending generally radially and having an opening on its outer surface (e.g., radial outer surface). This oil inlet channel 156 is located near the bottom of the main bearing housing 50 close to the compressor 100, i.e., near the oil sump of the compressor 100, such that one end of the oil inlet channel 156 (i.e., the opening on the outer surface of the main bearing housing 50) can be immersed in the oil sump, while the opposite end of the oil inlet channel 156 is connected to the inlet of the oil pump. An oil outlet channel 154 (not consistent with the reference numerals) is also formed in the main bearing housing 50, having an opening on its radial inner surface. One end of the oil outlet channel 154 is connected to the outlet of the oil pump, while the other end (i.e., the opening on the radial inner surface of the main bearing housing 50) is located at a position corresponding to the first bearing 53 in the main bearing housing 50, i.e., at the position of the main bearing mounting portion 50a. Therefore, the lubricating oil in the oil sump can be drawn into the oil pump through the oil inlet channel 156 and discharged by the oil pump through the oil outlet channel 154 to the position of the first bearing 53, thereby lubricating and cooling the first bearing 53.

[0046] Preferably, an annular groove may be provided on the radial inner surface of the main bearing housing 50 at the position corresponding to the first bearing 53 (i.e., at the position of the main bearing mounting part), and the oil drain channel 154 is connected to the annular groove, so as to provide sufficient lubricating oil to improve the lubrication and cooling effect.

[0047] Furthermore, the first bearing 53 is provided with a bearing channel that extends through the first bearing 53, for example, generally in the radial direction. Near the first end of the rotating shaft 30, a main shaft oil inlet hole (not shown in the figure) is formed, which connects the main oil supply channel 34 to the bearing channel, passing through the wall of the rotating shaft 30. One end of the main shaft oil inlet hole forms an opening on the radially outer surface of the rotating shaft 30, while the other end connects to the main oil supply channel 34. Along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 30, the main shaft oil inlet hole is positioned corresponding to the bearing channel of the first bearing 53. In other words, as the rotating shaft 30 rotates, the main shaft oil inlet hole can be aligned with and connected to the bearing channel of the first bearing 53. More specifically, one end of the main shaft oil inlet hole (i.e., the opening formed on the radially outer surface of the rotating shaft 30) can be aligned with and connected to the bearing channel of the first bearing 53. The main shaft oil inlet hole can be a single hole or multiple holes distributed along the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft 30 to increase the oil supply. During the rotation of the rotating shaft 30, when the spindle oil inlet is connected to the bearing channel of the first bearing 53, the lubricating oil passing through the bearing channel of the first bearing 53 can enter the main oil supply channel 34 through the spindle oil inlet.

[0048] In addition, a main shaft oil drain hole (not shown in the figure) is formed at the second end of the rotating shaft 30. One end of the main shaft oil drain hole forms an opening on the radial outer surface of the rotating shaft 30, while the other end connects to the main oil supply channel 34. The main shaft oil drain hole is located at a position corresponding to the second bearing, so that the lubricating oil in the main oil supply channel 34 can be delivered to the second bearing through the main shaft oil drain hole to lubricate and cool the second bearing. Thus, lubricating oil is supplied to the drive bearing 33 and the second bearing through the bearing passage, the main shaft oil inlet hole, and the main oil supply channel 34.

[0049] Overall, the oil circulation path of the oil supply system is roughly as follows: Figure 1 As shown by the arrow, under the action of the oil pumping mechanism 170, the lubricating oil in the oil sump can be drawn in through the oil inlet channel 156, and then transported to the first bearing 53 through the oil outlet channel 154 to provide lubrication and cooling to the first bearing 53. Subsequently, the lubricating oil enters the main oil supply channel 34 through the bearing channel on the first bearing 53 and the main shaft oil inlet on the rotating shaft 30, and travels along the main oil supply channel 34 toward both ends (the first end and the second end) of the rotating shaft 30 respectively. Lubricating oil traveling toward the first end of the rotating shaft 30 can exit the main oil supply channel 34 through an opening at the first end face of the rotating shaft 30, lubricating components such as the drive bearing 33 and the thrust surface S, and returning to the oil sump via the gap between the moving scroll 44 and the rotating shaft 30, the main bearing housing 50, etc., and / or through an oil discharge hole provided in the main bearing housing 50 at a position corresponding to the hub 46 of the moving scroll 44. A portion of the lubricating oil traveling toward the second end of the rotating shaft 30 can be delivered to the second bearing through the main shaft oil drain hole of the rotating shaft 30, providing lubrication and cooling to the second bearing, while another portion can exit the main oil supply channel 34 through an opening at the second end face of the rotating shaft 30 and ultimately return to the oil sump. In the oil circulation path, lubricating oil can be delivered to each component of the scroll compressor to be lubricated and lubricate each component. The components of the scroll compressor to be lubricated include the first bearing, the second bearing, the thrust surface, the drive bearing, etc.

[0050] The following will combine, for example, Figure 10 The comparative examples shown illustrate the advantages of the scroll compressor, and in particular the oil supply system, according to the present invention.

[0051] Figure 10 A scroll compressor 1 according to a comparative example is shown. This scroll compressor 1 is constructed as a horizontal scroll compressor, and its basic structure and working principle are similar to those of the scroll compressor 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and will not be described again here. The main difference between this compressor 1 and the compressor 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention lies in the oil supply system and its related settings.

[0052] Specifically, the oil supply system of the scroll compressor 1 includes an oil pumping mechanism 70 located at the second end of the rotating shaft 30 and various oil passages. The scroll compressor 1 also includes an oil chamber partition plate 60 located near the second end of the rotating shaft 30, thereby separating an oil reservoir CO from a motor chamber CM housing the motor 20 in the low-pressure side space. The oil chamber partition plate 60 extends generally laterally (in the radial direction of the compressor), thereby forming the oil reservoir CO between the oil chamber partition plate 60 and the second end cover 12, and forming the motor chamber CM between the partition plate 16 and the oil chamber partition plate 60. A central opening is provided in the central portion of the oil chamber partition plate 60 for connection with the second bearing housing 52 of the compressor 1 and / or for at least a portion of the second bearing housing 52 to pass through. Thus, a portion (second end) of the rotating shaft 30 extends through the central opening of the oil chamber partition plate 60 and is located in the oil reservoir CO. As a horizontal compressor, the lubricating oil in the scroll compressor 1 accumulates in an oil sump formed at the bottom of the compressor 100. The oil sump includes oil sump located in the motor chamber CM and the oil storage chamber CO, respectively. The motor chamber CM and the oil storage chamber CO can be connected by an overflow hole provided at a predetermined height position of the oil chamber partition plate 60.

[0053] The oil pumping mechanism 70 includes a first oil pump and a second oil pump (i.e., a dual-pump system) located at the second end of the rotating shaft 30 in the oil reservoir CO. Both the first and second oil pumps are connected to and driven by the rotating shaft 30. For example, both the first and second oil pumps are constructed as rotary pumps. The first oil pump draws lubricating oil from the oil sump at the bottom of the motor chamber CM through a first suction pipe 80 and delivers the lubricating oil through an orifice formed in the second bearing housing 52 to the oil reservoir CO, where it accumulates in the oil sump at the bottom of the oil reservoir CO. The second oil pump draws lubricating oil from the oil sump at the bottom of the oil reservoir CO through a second suction pipe 90 and delivers the lubricating oil to the main oil supply channel 34 of the rotating shaft 30. Subsequently, as... Figure 10 As indicated by the arrows, the lubricating oil travels along the main oil supply channel 34 toward the first end of the rotating shaft 30 and is discharged from the first end face of the rotating shaft 30 to lubricate components such as the drive bearing 33, and finally returns to the oil sump at the bottom of the motor chamber CM. The rotating shaft 30 may also be provided with a first main shaft oil drain hole and a second main shaft oil drain hole at positions corresponding to the first bearing 53 and the second bearing, respectively. During the process of the lubricating oil traveling along the main oil supply channel 34 toward the first end of the rotating shaft 30, a portion of the lubricating oil can be supplied to the first bearing 53 and the second bearing respectively through the first main shaft oil drain hole and the second main shaft oil drain hole, thereby lubricating the first bearing 53 and the second bearing respectively.

[0054] Comparing the present invention (first embodiment) with the comparative example, it can be found that, firstly, the compressor according to the present invention does not require a compressor near the second end of the rotating shaft (in... Figure 1An oil reservoir is provided on the right side of the compressor (shown in the diagram), thus significantly reducing the overall length of the compressor (i.e., the dimension along the axial direction of the compressor). For example, experiments have shown that for a compressor with an inner diameter of 6.3 inches, the overall length of the compressor according to the invention is reduced by 14% (approximately 70 mm) compared to the compressor according to the comparative example. Secondly, the oil supply system of the compressor according to the invention employs a scroll-driven crankshaft, which in turn drives the oil pump. The oil pumping mechanism can be arranged very close to the oil sump at the bottom of the compressor, and the oil inlet channel is almost completely submerged in the oil in the sump. This allows the oil pumping mechanism to pump oil quickly initially, enabling rapid lubrication even after long-term shutdown or storage. Furthermore, the oil pumping mechanism in the compressor according to the invention delivers lubricating oil to the first bearing, for example, to the annular groove on the radial inner surface of the main bearing housing 50, and then to the drive bearing and the second bearing via the main oil supply channel in the rotating shaft. This not only provides reliable lubrication to each component to be lubricated, but also, for compressors equipped with induction motors, reduces the impact of motor heat on oil temperature because the lubricating oil delivered to the drive bearing does not need to pass through the motor. Furthermore, in the compressor according to the present invention, the oil pump is connected to the moving scroll via a crank, which also serves to prevent the moving scroll from rotating on its own. Therefore, a dedicated anti-scroll rotation component (e.g., a cross slip ring) in the compressor can be omitted, thereby achieving an integrated design of anti-scroll rotation and oil supply, simplifying the compressor structure. Finally, compared to the compressor according to the comparative example, the compressor according to the present invention omits one oil pump (simplifying the dual-pump system to a single-pump system), the first and second oil suction pipes, and the oil chamber partition plate, resulting in fewer compressor parts, a simplified structure, and lower costs.

[0055] Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that the oil supply system according to the invention is not limited to the compressors described herein or shown in the accompanying drawings, such as the horizontal scroll compressor 100. In particular, since the oil pump mechanism is located at the main bearing housing rather than at the second bearing at the second end of the rotating shaft, the oil supply system according to the invention is also applicable to compressors with a double-headed scroll.

[0056] Figure 3 and Figure 4 A scroll compressor 200 according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. This scroll compressor 200 is constructed as a horizontal scroll compressor, and its basic structure and working principle are similar to those of the scroll compressor 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and will not be described again here. The main difference between the scroll compressor 200 of the second embodiment of the present invention and the scroll compressor 100 of the first embodiment of the present invention lies in the oil supply system, particularly the oil pumping mechanism.

[0057] Specifically, the oil supply system of the scroll compressor 200 includes an oil pumping mechanism 270 and various oil passages. The oil pumping mechanism 270 is connected to and driven by the anti-scroll rotation component—the cross-slip ring 49—of the compressor 200. Specifically, the oil pumping mechanism 270 mainly includes an oil pump and a drive connector for connecting the oil pump to the cross-slip ring 49. Figure 3 and Figure 4 In the example shown, the drive connector is constructed as a drive pin 273, and the oil pump is constructed as a reciprocating plunger pump, mainly including a first stop seat 271, a first ball 276, a first elastic element 275, a second stop seat 277, a second ball 278, a second elastic element 279, and a plunger portion 274. The main bearing housing 50 is provided with a receiving portion 258, which can be constructed, for example, including a first cavity recessed radially inward from the radially outer surface of the main bearing housing 50 and a second cavity recessed axially inward from the end face of the main bearing housing 50 facing the motor 20. The oil pumping mechanism 270 can be at least partially disposed in the receiving portion 258 and assembled integrally with the main bearing housing 50. Specifically, both the first and second recesses can be configured as approximately cylindrical and interconnected. The plunger portion 274, the first elastic element 275, the first ball 276, and the first stop seat 271 of the oil pump can be sequentially installed into the first recess of the main bearing housing 50, while the second ball 278, the second elastic element 279, and the second stop seat 277 of the oil pump can be sequentially installed into the second recess of the main bearing housing 50. A through hole is also provided on the side of the first recess of the main bearing housing 50 near the cross slip ring. The first axial section of the drive pin 273 extends through this through hole and is inserted into the corresponding connecting hole of the cross slip ring 49. The second axial section of the drive pin 273 is fixedly connected to the plunger portion 274 of the oil pump. That is, the first end of the drive pin 273 is connected to the cross slip ring 49, and the second end of the drive pin 273, opposite to the first end, is connected to the plunger portion 274. Therefore, during the operation of the compressor 200, the reciprocating motion of the cross slip ring 49 can drive the drive pin 273, and through the drive pin 273, drive the plunger part 274 to reciprocate, thereby driving the oil pump.

[0058] like Figure 3As shown, similar to the oil supply system in the scroll compressor 100 of the first embodiment of the present invention, an oil inlet channel 256 and an oil outlet channel 254 are formed in the main bearing housing 50. The oil inlet channel 256 may be formed by a through hole in a first stop seat 271 disposed in a first cavity of the main bearing housing 50. That is, the first stop seat 271 is disposed in the first cavity of the main bearing housing 50, one end of the through hole in the first stop seat 271 can communicate with an opening formed on the radial outer surface of the main bearing housing 50, so as to be immersed in the oil sump at the bottom of the compressor, and the other end of the through hole in the first stop seat 271 is configured as the inlet of the oil pump. One end of the oil outlet channel 254 is connected to the outlet of the oil pump (i.e., the opening formed on the side wall of the second cavity), and the other end (i.e., the opening formed on the radial inner surface of the main bearing housing 50) is provided at a position corresponding to the first bearing 53 in the main bearing housing 50. Therefore, the scroll compressor 200 can achieve an oil circulation path similar to that of the compressor 100 in the first embodiment of the present invention, generally as follows: Figure 3 As shown by the arrow in the image.

[0059] Since the compressor 200 of the second embodiment of the present invention has an oil circulation path similar to that of the compressor 100 of the first embodiment, similar effects can be obtained, such as a reduction in the overall length of the compressor, an increase in the initial oil pumping speed of the oil pumping mechanism due to its proximity to the oil sump at the bottom of the compressor, a reduction in the impact of motor heat on oil temperature while providing reliable lubrication to each component to be lubricated by the oil supply system, and a reduction in the number of compressor parts, a simpler structure, and easier assembly.

[0060] Figure 5 and Figure 6 A scroll compressor 300 according to a third embodiment of the present invention is shown. This scroll compressor 300 is constructed as a vertical compressor. As a vertical compressor, the extension direction of the rotating shaft 30 of the scroll compressor 300 (or the axial direction or longitudinal direction of the vertical compressor 300) is approximately vertical. The remaining basic structure and operating principle of the scroll compressor 300 are similar to those of the horizontal scroll compressor 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and will not be described again here. The main difference between the scroll compressor 300 of the third embodiment of the present invention and the scroll compressor 100 of the first embodiment of the present invention lies in the oil supply system.

[0061] like Figure 5 As shown, the oil supply system of the scroll compressor 300 includes a first oil pumping mechanism (oil pumping mechanism) 370, a second oil pumping mechanism 470, and various oil passages. As a vertical compressor, the scroll compressor 300 accumulates lubricating oil at the bottom of the compressor 300 (in...). Figure 5The oil sump (shown as the lower portion of the compressor along the axial direction) is located in the compressor. The rotating shaft 30 includes a first end where the compression mechanism 40 is located and a second end opposite to the first end. A second oil pumping mechanism 470 is located at the second end of the rotating shaft 30 and near the oil sump at the bottom of the compressor 300. The second oil pumping mechanism 470 may include, for example, an oil pump and a crank for connecting the oil pump to the rotating shaft, whereby the rotational movement of the rotating shaft 30 drives the crank, which in turn drives the oil pump, thereby enabling the rotating shaft 30 to drive the oil pump of the second oil pumping mechanism 470. A main oil supply passage 34 is provided in the rotating shaft 30. Figure 5 As indicated by the arrow, the oil pump of the second oil pumping mechanism 470, driven by the rotating shaft 30, can draw oil from the oil sump and deliver it to the main oil supply channel 34. The oil then flows upwards along the main oil supply channel 34 until it reaches the top surface of the eccentric crank pin 32. The lubricating oil discharged from the top surface of the eccentric crank pin 32 lubricates the eccentric crank pin and various components near the moving scroll hub, such as the drive bearing 33. Subsequently, a portion of the lubricating oil accumulates in the countersunk hole CB of the main bearing housing 50, which accommodates the moving scroll and is suitable for storing lubricating oil. Another portion of the lubricating oil can pass through the gap between the main bearing housing 50 and the rotating shaft 30 and / or the oil drain hole in the main bearing housing 50 (in... Figure 9 (As shown in the diagram) it is discharged from the main bearing housing 50 and thus returned to the oil sump.

[0062] Because some lubricating oil accumulates in the countersunk bore CB of the main bearing housing 50, the movement of the hub 46 of the moving scroll within the countersunk bore agitates the lubricating oil. This allows the lubricating oil to overflow or be thrown towards the thrust surface S of the main bearing housing 50, thus lubricating the thrust surface S. However, this lubrication of the thrust surface S may be unstable. For example, when the compressor operates at low speed, the agitation of the lubricating oil in the countersunk bore of the main bearing housing 50 by the moving scroll is insufficient, and the lubricating oil may have difficulty reaching the thrust surface S, resulting in poor lubrication of the thrust surface S. When the compressor operates at high speed, a large amount of lubricating oil overflows from the thrust surface S and is drawn into the scroll, potentially causing excessive lubricating oil to leave the compressor and enter the external system, affecting the control of the oil circulation rate of the compressor system.

[0063] To improve the lubrication of the thrust surface S, the compressor 300 according to the third embodiment of the present invention is specifically provided with a first oil pumping mechanism 370. The first oil pumping mechanism 370 is connected to and driven by the compression mechanism 40. Specifically, the first oil pumping mechanism 370 mainly includes an oil pump and a drive connector for connecting the oil pump to the compression mechanism 40. Figure 6As shown, the drive connector is constructed as a crank 373, and the oil pump is constructed as a rotor pump, mainly including a thrust washer 374, a pump body 375, a rotor 376, and a pump cover 377. The oil pump is fixed to the main bearing housing 50 by fasteners, such as bolts 378. The main bearing housing 50 is provided with a receiving portion 358, which can be configured, for example, as a cavity recessed axially inward from the end face of the main bearing housing 50 facing the motor 20. The oil pumping mechanism 370 can be at least partially disposed in the receiving portion 358 and assembled integrally with the main bearing housing 50. A sliding bearing 372 is also provided between the oil pumping mechanism 370 and the receiving portion 358. The bottom of the cavity forming the receiving portion 358 of the main bearing housing 50 (in Figure 1 A through hole is also provided above the receiving portion 358 (shown in the diagram). The first axial section of the crank 373 extends through this through hole and is inserted into the connecting hole 48 correspondingly provided in the moving scroll end plate of the moving scroll 44. The first section of the crank 373 is slidably connected to the connecting hole 48. The second axial section of the crank 373 is inserted into the rotor 376 of the oil pump. Thus, during the operation of the compressor 300, the translational rotation of the moving scroll 44 can drive the crank 373 to rotate, and the rotation of the crank 373 can drive the rotor 376 to rotate in the pump body 375, thereby driving the oil pump.

[0064] like Figure 8 As shown, an oil inlet opening is formed in the main bearing housing 50 at the inner surface of the defined countersunk hole CB of the main bearing housing 50 (i.e., in... Figure 9 The oil inlet channel 356, shown as oil inlet opening 351, has an inner surface of the countersunk bore of the main bearing housing 50, including the inner circumferential surface of the countersunk bore (i.e., the radial inner surface of the main bearing housing 50) and / or the bottom surface of the countersunk bore. One end of the oil inlet channel 356 opens at the inner surface of the countersunk bore of the main bearing housing 50 to form oil inlet opening 351, while the opposite end of the oil inlet channel 356 is connected to the inlet of the oil pump. Figure 7 As shown, the main bearing housing 50 also has an oil outlet formed on the thrust surface S of the main bearing housing 50 (i.e., in... Figure 9 The oil outlet 353 shown in the figure has an oil discharge channel 354. One end of the oil discharge channel 354 is connected to the outlet of the oil pump, and the other end opens at the thrust surface S of the main bearing housing 50 to form an oil outlet. Thus, the lubricating oil accumulated in the countersunk hole of the main bearing housing 50 can be drawn into the oil pump of the first oil pumping mechanism 370 through the oil inlet channel 356, and discharged by the oil pump through the oil discharge channel 354 to the position of the thrust surface S, thereby lubricating and cooling the thrust surface S.

[0065] Preferably, such as Figure 9As shown, the oil inlet opening 351 of the oil inlet channel 356 is located near the bottom of the countersunk hole of the main bearing housing 50 to ensure the oil supply of the first oil pumping mechanism 370. For example, the oil inlet opening 351 can be configured such that part of it is formed on the circumferential surface of the countersunk hole of the main bearing housing 50 and another part is formed on the bottom surface of the countersunk hole.

[0066] Preferably, such as Figure 9 As shown, an annular oil groove 355 communicating with the oil outlet 353 can be provided at the thrust surface S of the main bearing housing 50 to further improve the lubrication effect of the thrust surface S. The annular oil groove 355 can preferably be located approximately at the center of the thrust surface S in the radial direction; that is, the annular oil groove 355 can be arranged around the countersunk hole of the main bearing housing 50 and spaced a certain distance from the edge of the countersunk hole. Therefore, when lubricating oil is delivered to the thrust surface S by the first oil pumping mechanism 370, the lubricating oil can enter the annular oil groove 355 through the oil outlet 353 and reach the entire thrust surface S, making the lubrication of the thrust surface S more uniform and reliable.

[0067] Preferably, such as Figure 9 As shown, the thrust surface S of the main bearing housing 50 can be further provided with an oil return groove 359 that connects the annular oil groove 355 to the counterbore (counterbore opening) to prevent excessive lubricating oil from overflowing from the thrust surface S and being sucked into the vortex. This oil return groove 359 can be located between the radially inner edge of the annular oil groove 355 and the edge of the counterbore opening. One end of the oil return groove 359 forms an opening on the inner wall of the annular oil groove 355, and the other end forms an opening on the inner circumferential surface defining the counterbore. Thus, when lubricating oil is delivered to the thrust surface S by the first pumping mechanism 370 and participates in lubrication, a portion of the lubricating oil can return to the counterbore of the main bearing housing 50 through the oil return groove 359, preventing excessive lubricating oil from overflowing from the thrust surface S and being sucked into the vortex when too much oil is delivered to it, thereby enhancing oil management capabilities.

[0068] like Figure 9 As shown, one end of the oil drain hole of the main bearing housing 50 forms an oil drain opening 357 on the inner surface (e.g., the inner circumferential surface) of the defined counterbore of the main bearing housing 50, while the other end forms an opening on the outer surface (e.g., the outer bottom surface of the main bearing housing 50), thereby facilitating the return of lubricating oil accumulated in the counterbore to the bottom oil sump of the compressor via the oil drain hole. Preferably, the position of the oil drain opening 357 in the axial direction of the compressor is higher than the position of the oil inlet opening 351, thereby ensuring lubrication of the thrust surface S.

[0069] Overall, due to the arrangement of the first oil pump mechanism 370 and its corresponding oil passage, on the one hand, a stable oil supply to the thrust surface can be achieved, improving the lubrication effect of the thrust surface; on the other hand, the lubricating oil delivered to the thrust surface can return to the bottom oil sump of the compressor through the internal circulation path (i.e., the path formed by the annular oil groove 355, the return groove 359, and the oil discharge hole 357), thereby reducing the amount of oil overflowing from the thrust surface and being sucked into the vortex, which is beneficial to stabilizing the system oil circulation rate. In addition, the lubricating oil accumulated in the countersunk hole returns to the bottom oil sump of the compressor through the oil discharge hole 357, reducing the amount of oil in the countersunk hole, thus reducing the power consumption caused by agitating the oil in the countersunk hole, thereby improving the efficiency of the compressor. Furthermore, since the oil pump of the first oil pump mechanism 370 is connected to the moving vortex through a crank, it can also play a role in preventing the moving vortex from rotating on its own. Therefore, a dedicated anti-vortex rotation component (e.g., a cross slip ring) in the compressor can even be omitted, thereby achieving an integrated design of anti-vortex rotation and oil supply, simplifying the compressor structure.

[0070] Those skilled in the art will understand that the first, second, and third embodiments of the present invention can be implemented individually or in combination. For example, although in the third embodiment of the present invention, the oil supply system of the compressor 300 includes a first oil pumping mechanism 370 and a second oil pumping mechanism 470, the second oil pumping mechanism 470 can be omitted, and the lubrication of each component in the compressor can be performed solely by the first oil pumping mechanism 370. When the second oil pumping mechanism 470 is omitted, an oil suction pipe communicating with the oil sump at the bottom of the compressor can be provided for the first oil pumping mechanism 370. Driven by the compression mechanism, the first oil pumping mechanism 370 draws oil from the bottom oil sump via the oil suction pipe, and then delivers it to the drive bearing, the first bearing, the main oil supply channel, and the second bearing respectively through a path similar to the oil circuit in the compressor 100 of the first embodiment. For another example, the oil circuit for lubricating the thrust surface in the third embodiment of the present invention can also be provided in the horizontal compressor of the first embodiment. Furthermore, for another example, the oil pump of the first oil pumping mechanism in the third embodiment of the present invention can also be a reciprocating piston pump as described in the second embodiment of the present invention. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that although the various embodiments of the present invention are shown as scroll compressors, the related design of the oil supply system of the present invention can also be applied to other types of compressors, such as reciprocating compressors, centrifugal compressors, etc. For example, in the case of a reciprocating compressor, the compression mechanism may include a cylinder and a plunger that reciprocates within the cylinder. Accordingly, the oil pump may be configured as a reciprocating plunger pump with a plunger portion, and the drive connector may be configured as a drive pin, the first end of which may be connected to the plunger (specifically, to the portion of the plunger located outside the cylinder), and the second end of which may be connected to the plunger portion.

[0071] The compressor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiments. It is understood that the above description is exemplary and not restrictive, and various modifications and variations can be conceived by those skilled in the art with reference to the above description without departing from the scope of the invention. These modifications and variations are also included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A compressor (100, 200, 300), said compressor comprising: An oil storage area, wherein the oil storage area stores lubricating oil; Compression mechanism (40) for compressing working fluid; A drive mechanism, which drives the compression mechanism; as well as An oil supply system, comprising an oil pumping mechanism (170, 270, 370) for delivering lubricating oil from the oil storage area to the components of the compressor to be lubricated. The characteristic feature is that the oil pumping mechanism is connected to and driven by the compression mechanism.

2. The compressor according to claim 1, wherein, The oil pumping mechanism includes an oil pump and drive connectors (173, 273, 373) for connecting the oil pump to the compression mechanism.

3. The compressor according to claim 2, wherein, The compressor is configured as a scroll compressor, and the compression mechanism includes a fixed scroll and a moving scroll, with the oil pumping mechanism connected to the moving scroll.

4. The compressor according to claim 3, wherein, The oil pump is constructed as a rotor pump with a rotor, and the drive connection is constructed as a crank, with the first end of the crank connected to the moving vortex and the second end of the crank connected to the rotor.

5. The compressor according to claim 2, wherein, The compressor is configured as a scroll compressor, and the compression mechanism includes a fixed scroll, a moving scroll, and a cross slip ring. The oil pumping mechanism is connected to the cross slip ring.

6. The compressor according to claim 5, wherein, The oil pump is a reciprocating plunger pump with a plunger section, and the drive connector is a drive pin. The first end of the drive pin is connected to the cross slip ring, and the second end of the drive pin is connected to the plunger section.

7. The compressor according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein, The compressor also includes a main bearing housing (50) for supporting the compression mechanism, and the oil pump mechanism is at least partially disposed in the main bearing housing.

8. The compressor according to claim 7, wherein, The drive mechanism includes a rotating shaft (30), the main bearing housing has a main bearing mounting portion (50a) and a thrust surface (S) serving as the component to be lubricated, the thrust surface (S) abuts against the moving scroll of the compression mechanism and supports the moving scroll, the main bearing mounting portion accommodating a first bearing (53) that also serves as the component to be lubricated and supports the rotating shaft.

9. The compressor according to claim 8, wherein, The compressor is a horizontal scroll compressor. The oil supply system further includes an oil inlet channel (156, 256) and an oil outlet channel (154, 254) formed in the main bearing housing. One end of the oil inlet channel is immersed in an oil sump located at the bottom of the compressor, which serves as the oil storage area. The other end of the oil inlet channel is connected to the inlet of the oil pumping mechanism. One end of the oil outlet channel is connected to the outlet of the oil pumping mechanism. The other end of the oil outlet channel is located at the position of the main bearing mounting part, thereby providing lubricating oil to the first bearing.

10. The compressor according to claim 9, wherein, The compressor also includes a drive bearing (33) and a second bearing, which are also used as the components to be lubricated, respectively disposed on both sides of the first bearing. The oil supply system further includes a main oil supply channel (34) disposed in the rotating shaft, a bearing passage passing through the first bearing, and a main shaft oil inlet hole passing through the wall of the rotating shaft for connecting the main oil supply channel (34) and the bearing passage, thereby providing lubricating oil to the drive bearing and the second bearing via the bearing passage, the main shaft oil inlet hole and the main oil supply channel.

11. The compressor according to claim 9, wherein, The oil supply system also includes an annular groove disposed on the radial inner surface of the main bearing mounting portion, and the oil discharge channel is connected to the annular groove.

12. The compressor according to claim 8, wherein, The compressor is a vertical scroll compressor. The main bearing housing defines a countersunk hole (CB) adapted to store lubricating oil as the oil reservoir. The oil supply system further includes an oil inlet channel (356) and an oil outlet channel (354) formed in the main bearing housing. One end of the oil inlet channel opens at the inner surface of the main bearing housing defining the countersunk hole to form an oil inlet opening (351). The other end of the oil inlet channel is connected to the inlet of the oil pumping mechanism. One end of the oil outlet channel is connected to the outlet of the oil pumping mechanism. The other end of the oil outlet channel opens at the thrust surface to form an oil outlet opening (353), thereby providing lubricating oil to the thrust surface.

13. The compressor according to claim 12, wherein, The oil inlet is located near the bottom of the countersunk hole.

14. The compressor according to claim 13, wherein, The main bearing housing is also provided with an oil drain hole, which is used to return the lubricating oil in the countersunk hole to an oil sump located at the bottom of the compressor, which also serves as the oil storage area. The oil drain hole forms an oil drain opening (357) at the inner surface defining the countersunk hole. In the axial direction of the compressor, the position of the oil discharge opening (357) is higher than the position of the oil inlet opening (351).

15. The compressor according to claim 12, wherein, The oil supply system also includes an annular oil groove (355) located on the thrust surface and communicating with the oil outlet.

16. The compressor according to claim 15, wherein, The oil supply system also includes an oil return groove (359) located on the thrust surface that connects the annular oil groove to the counterbore.

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