Scroll-type compressor

Abstract

To provide a scroll-type compressor capable of discharging a refrigerant from a back pressure chamber without depending on a position of a turning scroll during stop of an operation.SOLUTION: A scroll-type compressor 10 includes a housing 11, a support member 13 that supports a rotating shaft 15, a fixed scroll 25 and a turning scroll 26. The scroll-type compressor 10 includes a suction pressure region, a compression chamber 27, a discharge pressure region and a back pressure chamber 50. The back pressure chamber 50 communicates with the suction region by using an intermittent exhaust passage 60 and communicates with the discharge pressure region by using an exhaust passage 70. An exhaust valve enabling switching between an exhaust state and a non-exhaust state is disposed in the exhaust passage 70. The exhaust valve becomes the exhaust state when pressure of the back pressure chamber 50 is higher than that of the discharge pressure region. When stopped, the scroll-type compressor 10 can discharge the refrigerant in the back pressure chamber 50 by using the exhaust passage 70 even if the intermittent exhaust passage 60 and the suction pressure region are shut off by the turning scroll 26.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a scroll compressor. [Background technology]

[0002] A scroll compressor has a housing, a rotating shaft, a fixed scroll, and an orbiting scroll. The housing has a support member. The rotating shaft is rotatably supported by the housing. The fixed scroll is fixed to the housing. The orbiting scroll is disposed between the support member and the fixed scroll. The orbiting scroll revolves relative to the fixed scroll as the rotating shaft rotates.

[0003] A scroll compressor has a compression chamber, a discharge chamber, and a back pressure chamber. Refrigerant is drawn into the compression chamber from a suction pressure region located radially outward of the orbiting scroll. The scroll compressor compresses the refrigerant in the compression chamber by orbiting the orbiting scroll relative to the fixed scroll. The compressed refrigerant is discharged from the compression chamber to the discharge chamber. The back pressure chamber is defined between the orbiting scroll and a support member. The refrigerant introduced into the back pressure chamber urges the orbiting scroll toward the fixed scroll.

[0004] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a scroll compressor having an intake passage and a communication groove as an intermittent exhaust passage. During operation, the scroll compressor supplies a portion of the refrigerant compressed in the compression chamber from the compression chamber to the back pressure chamber through the intake passage. The intake passage isolates the back pressure chamber from the discharge chamber when the pressure in the back pressure chamber exceeds the pressure in the discharge chamber. The communication groove intermittently connects the back pressure chamber to the suction pressure region as the orbiting scroll revolves. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-204457 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Scroll compressors are sometimes evacuated for maintenance or other purposes after shutting down. Even if the pressure in the back pressure chamber exceeds the pressure in the discharge chamber, the back pressure chamber is isolated from the discharge chamber by the supply passage, allowing the refrigerant in the back pressure chamber to be exhausted through the intermittent exhaust passage. However, depending on the position of the orbiting scroll when the compressor is shut down, the refrigerant in the back pressure chamber may not be able to be exhausted through the intermittent exhaust passage. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A scroll compressor for solving the above problems includes a housing having a rotating shaft and a support member supporting the rotating shaft, a fixed scroll fixed to the housing, an orbiting scroll disposed between the support member and the fixed scroll and revolving relative to the fixed scroll as the rotating shaft rotates, a suction pressure region provided within the housing and into which refrigerant is drawn, a compression chamber defined by the orbiting scroll and the fixed scroll and in which the refrigerant drawn into the suction pressure region is compressed, a discharge pressure region provided within the housing and including a discharge chamber from which the refrigerant compressed in the compression chamber is discharged, a back pressure chamber defined between the orbiting scroll and the support member and into which refrigerant is introduced to urge the orbiting scroll toward the fixed scroll, and a discharge chamber defined between the orbiting scroll and the support member and into which a portion of the refrigerant compressed in the compression chamber is discharged. to the back pressure chamber; an air supply mechanism capable of switching between an air supply state in the air supply passage that allows refrigerant to flow from the compression chamber to the back pressure chamber and a non-air supply state that blocks refrigerant from flowing from the back pressure chamber to the compression chamber; and an intermittent exhaust passage provided to the support member that intermittently connects the back pressure chamber to the suction pressure region as the orbiting scroll revolves, wherein the housing has an exhaust passage connecting the back pressure chamber to the discharge pressure region, and an exhaust valve disposed in the exhaust passage that is switchable between an exhaust state that allows refrigerant to flow from the back pressure chamber to the discharge pressure region and a non-exhaust state that blocks refrigerant from flowing from the back pressure chamber to the discharge pressure region, and the exhaust valve is in the exhaust state when the pressure in the back pressure chamber is higher than the pressure in the discharge pressure region.

[0008] According to this, when the scroll compressor is operating, a portion of the refrigerant compressed in the compression chamber flows toward the back pressure chamber through the supply passage when the supply mechanism is in the supply state. In this case, because the pressure in the back pressure chamber is lower than the pressure in the discharge pressure region, the exhaust passage is in a non-discharge state by the exhaust valve. Therefore, the flow of refrigerant from the back pressure chamber toward the discharge pressure region is blocked. By blocking the flow of refrigerant from the back pressure chamber toward the discharge pressure region in the exhaust passage during operation, the scroll compressor can prevent refrigerant flowing from the back pressure chamber from being mixed with refrigerant in the discharge pressure region.

[0009] Furthermore, when the operation of the scroll compressor is stopped, the supply passage is in a non-supply state. In this case, the refrigerant in the back pressure chamber is discharged through the intermittent exhaust passage or the exhaust passage. In this case, the pressure in the back pressure chamber is higher than the pressure in the discharge pressure region, so the exhaust passage is in an exhaust state by the exhaust valve. Therefore, the refrigerant in the back pressure chamber is discharged from the back pressure chamber through the exhaust passage. In other words, the scroll compressor can prevent refrigerant from remaining in the back pressure chamber regardless of the position of the orbiting scroll when the scroll compressor is stopped. As described above, the scroll compressor can discharge refrigerant from the back pressure chamber regardless of the position of the orbiting scroll when it is stopped.

[0010] In the above scroll compressor, the housing may have a discharge housing connected to the support member, a seal member interposed between the support member and the discharge housing, the exhaust passage may have a first passage formed in the support member and a second passage formed in the discharge housing, the seal member may have a seal hole that connects the first passage and the second passage, and the exhaust valve may be accommodated in the second passage and may be in the non-exhaust state by closing the seal hole and in the exhaust state by opening the seal hole.

[0011] According to this, when the exhaust valve is in a non-exhaust state, the exhaust valve closes the seal hole. The seal member functions as a valve seat on which the exhaust valve sits. At this time, the seal member seals the gap between the first passage and the second passage. In this case, the seal member that is interposed between the support member and the discharge housing and seals the gap between the support member and the discharge housing can also be used as a seal member that isolates the gap between the first passage and the second passage, eliminating the need for a separate seal member.

[0012] In the above scroll compressor, the exhaust valve may have a sealing member at a portion that contacts the housing in the non-exhaust state to close the exhaust passage, and at a portion that does not contact the housing in the exhaust state.

[0013] With this, when the exhaust valve is in a non-exhaust state, the gap between the housing and the exhaust valve is sealed by the seal member of the exhaust valve, which makes it easier to provide the seal member than when the exhaust valve does not have a seal member.

[0014] In the scroll compressor, a valve accommodating chamber is formed in the exhaust passage, the valve accommodating chamber extends in a direction in which the refrigerant flows, and is partitioned by a first valve regulating surface at a first end and a second valve regulating surface at a second end facing a direction opposite to the first valve regulating surface, the first valve regulating surface has a regulating hole through which the refrigerant flows from the back pressure chamber via the exhaust passage, and the second valve regulating surface has an open hole through which the refrigerant flows from the discharge pressure region via the exhaust passage, the exhaust valve has a main body portion facing the first valve regulating surface and a regulating portion facing the second valve regulating surface, and is accommodated in the valve accommodating chamber so as to be reciprocable between the first valve regulating surface and the second valve regulating surface, and the exhaust valve closes the regulating hole when the main body portion is in contact with the first valve regulating surface, and does not close the regulating hole when the regulating portion is in contact with the second valve regulating surface.

[0015] In this configuration, the flow of refrigerant between the back pressure chamber and the discharge pressure region is controlled by the reciprocating motion of the exhaust valve in the valve chamber. This allows for control of the flow of refrigerant between the back pressure chamber and the discharge chamber with a simpler configuration than when using a ball valve or the like as the exhaust valve. Therefore, the scroll compressor allows for control of the flow of refrigerant in the exhaust passage with a simple configuration. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the present invention, when the operation is stopped, the refrigerant can be discharged from the back pressure chamber regardless of the position of the orbiting scroll. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a scroll compressor. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the scroll compressor. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of the scroll compressor. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of the scroll compressor. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a part of a scroll compressor according to a modified example. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a part of a scroll compressor according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Hereinafter, one embodiment of a scroll compressor will be described with reference to FIGS. <Basic configuration of a scroll compressor> As shown in FIG. 1 , the scroll compressor 10 has a cylindrical housing 11. The housing 11 is made up of a motor housing 12, a support member 13, and a discharge housing 14. Therefore, the housing 11 has the support member 13 and the discharge housing 14. The motor housing 12, the support member 13, and the discharge housing 14 are made of a metal material. The motor housing 12, the support member 13, and the discharge housing 14 are made of aluminum, for example. The scroll compressor 10 has a rotating shaft 15. The rotating shaft 15 is accommodated in the housing 11.

[0019] <Motor housing> The motor housing 12 has a plate-shaped motor housing end wall 12a and a cylindrical motor housing peripheral wall 12b. The motor housing peripheral wall 12b extends cylindrically from the outer periphery of the motor housing end wall 12a. The axial direction of the motor housing peripheral wall 12b coincides with the axial direction of the rotating shaft 15. The motor housing 12 has a plurality of female threaded holes 12c. Each female threaded hole 12c is formed at an open end of the motor housing peripheral wall 12b. Note that FIG. 1 shows only one female threaded hole 12c. The motor housing 12 also has an intake port 12h. Refrigerant is drawn in through the intake port 12h. The intake port 12h is formed in a portion of the motor housing peripheral wall 12b that is located on the motor housing end wall 12a side. The intake port 12h connects the inside and outside of the motor housing 12.

[0020] The motor housing 12 has a cylindrical housing boss 12d. The housing boss 12d protrudes from the center of the inner surface of the motor housing end wall 12a. A first end, which is one axial end of the rotating shaft 15, is inserted into the housing boss 12d. The scroll compressor 10 has a first bearing 16. The first bearing 16 is, for example, a rolling bearing. The first bearing 16 is provided between the inner circumferential surface of the housing boss 12d and the outer circumferential surface of the first end of the rotating shaft 15. The first end of the rotating shaft 15 is rotatably supported by the motor housing 12 via the first bearing 16.

[0021] <Supporting member> The support member 13 has a plate-shaped support end wall 17 and a cylindrical support peripheral wall 18. The support peripheral wall 18 extends cylindrically from the outer periphery of the support end wall 17. The axial direction of the support peripheral wall 18 coincides with the axial direction of the rotating shaft 15. The support member 13 also has an annular flange wall 19. The flange wall 19 extends from an end of the outer periphery of the support peripheral wall 18 opposite the support end wall 17 toward the outside in the radial direction of the rotating shaft 15.

[0022] A rotary shaft 15 is inserted through the center of the support member 13. The end face of the second end of the rotary shaft 15 is located inside the support peripheral wall . The scroll compressor 10 has a second bearing 21. The second bearing 21 is a rolling bearing. The second bearing 21 is provided between the inner circumferential surface of the support peripheral wall 18 and the outer circumferential surface of the rotating shaft 15. The rotating shaft 15 is rotatably supported by the support member 13 via the second bearing 21. Therefore, the support member 13 rotatably supports the rotating shaft 15. In this way, the housing 11 has the support member 13 that supports the rotating shaft 15.

[0023] The support member 13 has a plurality of motor-side bolt insertion holes 19a. Each motor-side bolt insertion hole 19a is formed on the outer periphery of the flange wall 19. Each motor-side bolt insertion hole 19a penetrates the flange wall 19 in the thickness direction. Each motor-side bolt insertion hole 19a communicates with each of the female threaded holes 12c. Note that only one motor-side bolt insertion hole 19a is shown in FIG. 1.

[0024] <Suction pressure range> The scroll compressor 10 has a motor chamber 20. The motor chamber 20 is defined by the motor housing 12 and the support member 13. The motor housing 12 defines the motor chamber 20 together with the support member 13. In this manner, the motor chamber 20 is formed within the housing 11. The motor chamber 20 is connected to the suction port 12h. Refrigerant is drawn into the motor chamber 20 from the suction port 12h. The refrigerant in the motor chamber 20 contains oil. The motor chamber 20 is a suction pressure region into which the refrigerant containing oil is drawn. As described above, the scroll compressor 10 has the motor chamber 20 as a suction pressure region into which the refrigerant is drawn. The suction pressure region is provided within the housing 11.

[0025] <Motor> The scroll compressor 10 has a motor 22. The motor 22 is housed in the motor chamber 20. The motor 22 has a cylindrical stator 23 and a cylindrical rotor 24. The rotor 24 is disposed inside the stator 23. The rotor 24 rotates integrally with the rotary shaft 15. The stator 23 surrounds the rotor 24. The rotor 24 has a rotor core 24a fixed to the rotary shaft 15 and a plurality of permanent magnets (not shown) provided in the rotor core 24a.

[0026] The stator 23 has a cylindrical stator core 23a and a motor coil 23b. The stator core 23a is fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the motor housing peripheral wall 12b. The motor coil 23b is wound around the stator core 23a. The rotor 24 rotates when power controlled by an inverter (not shown) is supplied to the motor coil 23b. This causes the rotating shaft 15 to rotate integrally with the rotor 24. Therefore, the motor 22 rotates the rotating shaft 15.

[0027] <Compression mechanism> The scroll compressor 10 has a compression mechanism C1. The compression mechanism C1 is a scroll type having a fixed scroll 25 and an orbiting scroll 26. Therefore, the scroll compressor 10 has the fixed scroll 25 and the orbiting scroll 26. The fixed scroll 25 and the orbiting scroll 26 are each arranged on the opposite side of the motor chamber 20 with the support member 13 sandwiched therebetween. The fixed scroll 25 is fixed to the housing 11. The orbiting scroll 26 is arranged between the support member 13 and the fixed scroll 25. The orbiting scroll 26 revolves relative to the fixed scroll 25 as the rotary shaft 15 rotates.

[0028] <Fixed Scroll> The fixed scroll 25 has a fixed base plate 25a and a fixed spiral wall 25b. The fixed base plate 25a is disk-shaped. The thickness direction of the fixed base plate 25a coincides with the axial direction of the rotary shaft 15. A discharge port 25h is formed in the center of the fixed base plate 25a. The discharge port 25h is a circular hole-shaped hole. The discharge port 25h penetrates the fixed base plate 25a in the thickness direction. The fixed spiral wall 25b stands upright from the fixed base plate 25a. The fixed scroll 25 also has an outer circumferential wall 25c. The outer circumferential wall 25c stands upright from the outer periphery of the fixed base plate 25a. The outer circumferential wall 25c surrounds the fixed spiral wall 25b.

[0029] A recess 25e is formed in the fixed scroll end surface 25d of the outer peripheral wall 25c. The recess 25e is circular. The recess 25e has a recess bottom surface 25f. The recess bottom surface 25f is flat. The recess bottom surface 25f is located on the same plane as the tip end surface of the fixed spiral wall 25b.

[0030] The scroll compressor 10 has a discharge valve 25v. The discharge valve 25v is attached to a fixed base plate 25a. The discharge valve 25v is configured to be able to open and close a discharge port 25h.

[0031] <Rotating Scroll> The orbiting scroll 26 has an orbiting base plate 26a and an orbiting spiral wall 26b. The orbiting base plate 26a is disk-shaped. The thickness direction of the orbiting base plate 26a coincides with the axial direction of the rotation shaft 15. The orbiting base plate 26a faces the fixed base plate 25a. The orbiting spiral wall 26b rises from the orbiting base plate 26a toward the fixed base plate 25a. The orbiting spiral wall 26b meshes with the fixed spiral wall 25b. The orbiting base plate 26a is located inside the recess 25e. The orbiting scroll 26 revolves with the orbiting base plate 26a located inside the recess 25e. The orbiting base plate 26a can slide against the tip surface of the fixed spiral wall 25b. Therefore, the orbiting base plate 26a has a portion that can slide against the tip of the fixed spiral wall 25b. A portion of the orbiting base plate 26a located radially outward of the rotating shaft 15 relative to the orbiting spiral wall 26b can come into sliding contact with the recessed portion bottom surface 25f. Therefore, the portion of the orbiting base plate 26a located radially outward of the rotating shaft 15 relative to the orbiting spiral wall 26b is a portion of the orbiting base plate 26a that can come into sliding contact with the fixed scroll 25. In addition, the recessed portion bottom surface 25f is a portion of the fixed scroll 25 that can come into sliding contact with the orbiting base plate 26a. The tip surface of the orbiting spiral wall 26b can come into sliding contact with the fixed base plate 25a. Therefore, the fixed base plate 25a has a portion that can come into sliding contact with the tip of the orbiting spiral wall 26b.

[0032] The scroll compressor 10 has a compression chamber 27. The compression chamber 27 is defined by the fixed base plate 25a, the fixed spiral wall 25b, the orbiting base plate 26a, and the orbiting spiral wall 26b. Therefore, the compression chamber 27 is defined by the fixed scroll 25 and the orbiting scroll 26. The compression chamber 27 is formed between the fixed scroll 25 and the orbiting scroll 26. The compression chamber 27 takes in and compresses the refrigerant sucked into the motor chamber 20. Therefore, the compression chamber 27 compresses the refrigerant sucked into the suction pressure region.

[0033] The orbiting base plate 26a has a cylindrical orbiting boss portion 26c. The orbiting boss portion 26c protrudes from an end surface 26e of the orbiting base plate 26a opposite the fixed base plate 25a. The axial direction of the orbiting boss portion 26c coincides with the axial direction of the rotary shaft 15. The orbiting base plate 26a also has a plurality of grooves 26d. The grooves 26d are formed around the orbiting boss portion 26c on the end surface 26e of the orbiting base plate. The grooves 26d are arranged at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction of the rotary shaft 15. Note that only one groove 26d is shown in FIG. 1. An annular ring member 28 is fitted into each groove 26d. A pin 29 is inserted into each ring member 28. Each pin 29 protrudes from the support end surface 13e of the support member 13 on the orbiting scroll 26 side.

[0034] The scroll compressor 10 has an elastic plate 30. The elastic plate 30 is annular. The elastic plate 30 is sandwiched between the support end surface 13e and the fixed scroll end surface 25d of the outer peripheral wall 25c. The elastic plate 30 constantly biases the orbiting scroll 26 toward the fixed scroll 25.

[0035] The scroll compressor 10 has an eccentric shaft 31. The eccentric shaft 31 protrudes toward the orbiting scroll 26 from a position eccentric with respect to the central axis L1 of the rotary shaft 15 on the end face of the second end of the rotary shaft 15. The eccentric shaft 31 is formed integrally with the rotary shaft 15. The axial direction of the eccentric shaft 31 coincides with the axial direction of the rotary shaft 15. The eccentric shaft 31 is inserted into the orbiting boss portion 26c.

[0036] The scroll compressor 10 has a balance weight 32 and a bushing 33. The bushing 33 is fitted onto the outer peripheral surface of the eccentric shaft 31. The balance weight 32 is integrated with the bushing 33. The balance weight 32 is housed inside the support member 13. The orbiting scroll 26 is supported on the eccentric shaft 31 via the bushing 33 and the rolling bearing 34 so as to be rotatable relative to the eccentric shaft 31. Therefore, the rolling bearing 34 supports the orbiting scroll 26 so as to be rotatable relative to the eccentric shaft 31.

[0037] The rotation of the rotating shaft 15 is transmitted to the orbiting scroll 26 via the eccentric shaft 31, the bushing 33, and the rolling bearing 34. This causes the orbiting scroll 26 to rotate on its axis. Then, contact between each pin 29 and the inner circumferential surface of each ring member 28 prevents the orbiting scroll 26 from rotating on its axis, allowing only the orbiting scroll 26 to revolve. As a result, the orbiting scroll 26 revolves while the orbiting spiral wall 26b is in contact with the fixed spiral wall 25b. As the orbiting scroll 26 revolves, the volume of the compression chamber 27 decreases, and the refrigerant is compressed in the compression chamber 27. The balance weight 32 offsets the centrifugal force acting on the orbiting scroll 26 as it revolves. This reduces the amount of imbalance in the orbiting scroll 26.

[0038] <Discharge housing> The discharge housing 14 has a plate-shaped discharge housing end wall 14a and a cylindrical discharge housing circumferential wall 14b. The discharge housing circumferential wall 14b extends cylindrically from the outer periphery of the discharge housing end wall 14a. The axial direction of the discharge housing circumferential wall 14b coincides with the axial direction of the rotation shaft 15. The discharge housing circumferential wall 14b has a discharge housing end surface 14d at an end of the discharge housing circumferential wall 14b in the axial direction that is not connected to the discharge housing end wall 14a. The discharge housing circumferential wall 14b surrounds the fixed scroll 25. In other words, the fixed scroll 25 is accommodated within the housing 11.

[0039] The discharge housing 14 has a plurality of discharge-side bolt insertion holes 14c. Each discharge-side bolt insertion hole 14c is formed in the discharge housing peripheral wall 14b. Note that only one discharge-side bolt insertion hole 14c is shown in FIG. 1. Each discharge-side bolt insertion hole 14c communicates with a corresponding motor-side bolt insertion hole 19a.

[0040] The bolts B1 passing through each discharge-side bolt insertion hole 14c pass through the motor-side bolt insertion hole 19a and are threaded into each female-threaded hole 12c of the motor housing 12. This connects the support member 13 to the motor housing peripheral wall 12b, and connects the discharge housing 14 to the flange wall 19. In other words, the discharge housing 14 is connected to the support member 13. The discharge housing end face 14d faces the support end face 13e. Therefore, the motor housing 12, the support member 13, and the discharge housing 14 are arranged in this order in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 15. The fixed scroll 25 is sandwiched between the discharge housing end wall 14a and the support member 13. In this way, the fixed scroll 25 is fixed to the housing 11. The discharge housing 14 is connected to the fixed scroll 25.

[0041] The scroll compressor 10 has a first gasket 401 as a sealing member. The first gasket 401 is a thin plate made of resin. The first gasket 401 is annular. The first gasket 401 seals between the support member 13 and the discharge housing 14. The discharge housing end face 14d faces the support end face 13e via the first gasket 401. The first gasket 401 is provided between the support member 13 and the discharge housing 14, in a portion that is outer than the elastic plate 30 in the radial direction of the rotating shaft 15. In other words, the first gasket 401 is interposed between the support member 13 and the discharge housing 14.

[0042] Gasket holes 401a serving as sealing holes are formed in first gasket 401. Gasket holes 401a penetrate first gasket 401 in the thickness direction. The scroll compressor 10 has a plate-shaped second gasket 402. The second gasket 402 is a thin metal plate. The second gasket 402 is annular. The second gasket 402 provides a seal between the discharge housing end wall 14a and the fixed base plate 25a.

[0043] <Suction passage> The scroll compressor 10 has a suction passage 35. The suction passage 35 has a first groove 36, a first hole 37, and a second groove 38. A plurality of first grooves 36 are formed in the inner circumferential surface of the motor housing peripheral wall 12b of the motor housing 12. Each of the first grooves 36 opens at an open end of the motor housing peripheral wall 12b. A plurality of first holes 37 are formed in the outer circumferential portion of the flange wall 19. Each of the first holes 37 penetrates the flange wall 19 in the thickness direction. Each of the first holes 37 communicates with a corresponding one of the first grooves 36. A plurality of second grooves 38 are formed in the inner circumferential surface of the discharge housing peripheral wall 14b. Each of the second grooves 38 communicates with a corresponding one of the first holes 37.

[0044] An intake port 39 is formed in the outer peripheral wall 25c of the fixed scroll 25. The intake port 39 penetrates the outer peripheral wall 25c in the thickness direction. The intake port 39 communicates with the second groove 38. The intake port 39 communicates with the outermost peripheral portion of the compression chamber 27.

[0045] The refrigerant in the motor chamber 20 passes through the first groove 36, the first hole 37, the second groove 38, and the suction port 39, and is drawn into the compression chamber 27. The suction passage 35, which is formed by the first groove 36, the first hole 37, and the second groove 38, and the suction port 39, form a suction pressure region through which the refrigerant drawn into the compression chamber 27 flows. The refrigerant drawn into the compression chamber 27 is compressed within the compression chamber 27 by the orbital motion of the orbiting scroll 26. In this way, the compression mechanism C1 compresses the refrigerant drawn into the housing 11.

[0046] <Discharge pressure range> The scroll compressor 10 has a discharge pressure region. The discharge pressure region is provided inside the housing 11. The discharge pressure region includes a discharge chamber 41, an oil separation chamber 43, and a discharge port 45. Refrigerant compressed by the compression mechanism C1 is discharged from a discharge port 25h into the discharge pressure region.

[0047] The scroll compressor 10 has a discharge chamber 41. The discharge chamber 41 is provided inside the housing 11. The discharge chamber 41 is formed between the discharge housing end wall 14a and the fixed base plate 25a. The discharge chamber 41 communicates with the discharge port 25h. Refrigerant compressed in the compression chamber 27 is discharged into the discharge chamber 41 through the discharge port 25h.

[0048] The scroll compressor 10 has an oil reservoir 42. The oil reservoir 42 is formed between the discharge housing end wall 14a and the fixed base plate 25a. The oil reservoir 42 is disposed vertically below the discharge chamber 41. The oil reservoir 42 stores oil separated from the refrigerant discharged into the discharge chamber 41. A second gasket 402 seals the gap between the discharge chamber 41 and the oil reservoir 42.

[0049] The scroll compressor 10 has an oil separation chamber 43. The oil separation chamber 43 is formed inside the discharge housing 14. An elongated cylindrical outer cylinder 44 is formed in a part of the discharge housing end wall 14a. The oil separation chamber 43 is formed inside the outer cylinder 44. A first end of the outer cylinder 44 forms a discharge port 45 that discharges refrigerant to the outside. The discharge port 45 communicates with the oil separation chamber 43. A second end of the outer cylinder 44 communicates with the oil storage chamber 42. In other words, the oil separation chamber 43 communicates with the oil storage chamber 42 via the outer cylinder 44.

[0050] An inner cylinder 46 is fitted into the oil separation chamber 43. The axial direction of the inner cylinder 46 coincides with the radial direction of the rotating shaft 15. A first end of the inner cylinder 46 communicates with the discharge port 45. A second end of the inner cylinder 46 communicates with the oil separation chamber 43 on the side opposite the discharge port 45. An introduction hole 47 is formed in the outer cylinder 44. The introduction hole 47 communicates between the discharge chamber 41 and the oil separation chamber 43. The introduction hole 47 introduces the refrigerant discharged into the discharge chamber 41 into the oil separation chamber 43.

[0051] The refrigerant compressed in the compression chamber 27 and discharged into the discharge chamber 41 through the discharge port 25h is introduced into the oil separation chamber 43 through the introduction hole 47. The refrigerant introduced into the oil separation chamber 43 swirls around the inner cylinder 46. This applies centrifugal force to the oil contained in the refrigerant, causing the oil to be separated from the refrigerant in the oil separation chamber 43. Therefore, the oil separation chamber 43 separates the oil contained in the refrigerant discharged into the discharge chamber 41.

[0052] The refrigerant from which the oil has been separated flows into and passes through the inner cylinder 46. The refrigerant that has passed through the inner cylinder 46 then flows out to an external refrigerant circuit (not shown) through the discharge port 45. The oil separated from the refrigerant in the oil separation chamber 43 flows by its own weight toward the oil reservoir chamber 42 and is stored in the oil reservoir chamber 42.

[0053] <Back pressure chamber> The scroll compressor 10 has a back pressure chamber 50. The back pressure chamber 50 is formed in the housing 11. The back pressure chamber 50 is defined between the orbiting scroll 26 and the support member 13. The back pressure chamber 50 is formed between the orbiting base plate 26a and the support member 13. The back pressure chamber 50 is formed on the side of the orbiting base plate 26a opposite to the fixed base plate 25a. The support member 13 separates the back pressure chamber 50 from the motor chamber 20. Refrigerant is introduced into the back pressure chamber 50 to urge the orbiting scroll 26 toward the fixed scroll 25. The rolling bearing 34 is a bearing disposed in the back pressure chamber 50. Therefore, the rolling bearing 34 that supports the orbiting scroll 26 so that it can rotate relative to the eccentric shaft 31 is disposed in the back pressure chamber 50.

[0054] <Air supply passage> The scroll compressor 10 has an air supply passage 51. The air supply passage 51 is formed in the orbiting scroll 26. A first end of the air supply passage 51 opens at the tip of the orbiting scroll wall 26b. The first end of the air supply passage 51 can communicate with the compression chamber 27. A second end of the air supply passage 51 communicates with the back pressure chamber 50. The air supply passage 51 penetrates the inner end of the orbiting scroll wall 26b, which converges in a spiral shape toward the center of the orbiting scroll 26, and the orbiting base plate 26a. The first end of the air supply passage 51 opens at the tip of the orbiting scroll wall 26b and can communicate with the compression chamber 27, and the second end communicates with the back pressure chamber 50. The air supply passage 51 supplies a portion of the refrigerant compressed in the compression chamber 27 to the back pressure chamber 50. As a result, the pressure in the back pressure chamber 50 is higher than the pressure in the motor chamber 20.

[0055] The scroll compressor 10 has an air supply mechanism D1. The air supply mechanism D1 is composed of a fixed scroll 25 and an orbiting scroll 26. The air supply mechanism D1 controls the flow of refrigerant in an air supply passage 51.

[0056] When the pressure in the back pressure chamber 50 is higher than the pressure in the compression chamber 27, the orbiting scroll 26 is urged toward the fixed scroll 25 due to the pressure gradient between the back pressure chamber 50 and the compression chamber 27. As a result, the tip of the orbiting spiral wall 26b is pressed against the fixed base plate 25a. As a result, the first end of the air supply passage 51 is blocked by the orbiting spiral wall 26b, and the flow of refrigerant from the compression chamber 27 toward the back pressure chamber 50 is blocked. In other words, in this case, the fixed scroll 25 and the orbiting scroll 26 are in a state where they block the flow of refrigerant from the compression chamber 27 toward the back pressure chamber 50. Hereinafter, the state where the fixed scroll 25 and the orbiting scroll 26 block the flow of refrigerant from the compression chamber 27 toward the back pressure chamber 50 will be referred to as a non-air supply state. In other words, when the pressure in the back pressure chamber 50 is higher than the pressure in the compression chamber 27, the air supply mechanism D1 is in a non-air supply state.

[0057] When the pressure in the back pressure chamber 50 is lower than the pressure in the compression chamber 27, the orbiting scroll 26 is urged in a direction away from the fixed scroll 25 due to the pressure gradient between the back pressure chamber 50 and the compression chamber 27. As a result, the tip of the orbiting spiral wall 26b moves away from the fixed base plate 25a. As a result, the supply passage 51 allows refrigerant to flow from the compression chamber 27 toward the back pressure chamber 50. In other words, in this case, the fixed scroll 25 and the orbiting scroll 26 are in a state where they allow refrigerant to flow from the compression chamber 27 toward the back pressure chamber 50. Hereinafter, the state where the fixed scroll 25 and the orbiting scroll 26 allow refrigerant to flow from the compression chamber 27 toward the back pressure chamber 50 will be referred to as the supply state. In other words, when the pressure in the back pressure chamber 50 is lower than the pressure in the compression chamber 27, the supply mechanism D1 is in the supply state.

[0058] As described above, the air supply mechanism D1 can switch between an air supply state in the air supply passage 51 that allows refrigerant to flow from the compression chamber 27 toward the back pressure chamber 50, and a non-air supply state that blocks the flow of refrigerant from the back pressure chamber 50 toward the compression chamber 27.

[0059] <Intermittent exhaust passage> As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the scroll compressor 10 has an intermittent exhaust passage 60. The intermittent exhaust passage 60 is formed in the housing 11. The intermittent exhaust passage 60 is provided in the support member 13. A first end of the intermittent exhaust passage 60 opens to the support end surface 13e. A through-hole 30a penetrating the elastic plate 30 in the thickness direction is formed in a portion of the elastic plate 30 facing the first end of the intermittent exhaust passage 60. The first end of the intermittent exhaust passage 60 can be in a state where it is in communication with the suction pressure region via the through-hole 30a formed in the elastic plate 30, or in a state where it is not in communication with the suction pressure region. The first end of the intermittent exhaust passage 60 switches between a state where it is in communication with the suction pressure region and a state where it is not in communication with the suction pressure region in accordance with the orbital motion of the orbiting scroll 26.

[0060] A second end of the intermittent exhaust passage 60 opens to the inner circumferential surface of the flange wall 19. In other words, the second end of the intermittent exhaust passage 60 opens to the back pressure chamber 50. That is, the intermittent exhaust passage 60 communicates with the back pressure chamber 50.

[0061] When the first end of the intermittent exhaust passage 60 is in communication with the suction pressure region, it faces the fixed scroll 25. In this state, the intermittent exhaust passage 60 is in communication with the suction port 39 through a space defined by the fixed scroll 25, the orbiting scroll 26, and the elastic plate 30. When the first end of the intermittent exhaust passage 60 is in communication with the suction pressure region, the intermittent exhaust passage 60 connects the suction pressure region and the back pressure chamber 50.

[0062] When the first end of the intermittent exhaust passage 60 is not in communication with the suction pressure region, it faces the orbiting scroll 26. In this state, the orbiting scroll 26 blocks the intermittent exhaust passage 60 from communicating with the suction port 39. In other words, when the first end of the intermittent exhaust passage 60 is not in communication with the suction pressure region, the intermittent exhaust passage 60 is blocked from communicating with the suction pressure region. In other words, when the first end of the intermittent exhaust passage 60 is not in communication with the suction pressure region, the orbiting scroll 26 blocks the connection between the suction pressure region and the back pressure chamber 50. As described above, the intermittent exhaust passage 60 intermittently connects the back pressure chamber 50 and the suction pressure region as the orbiting scroll 26 revolves.

[0063] <Exhaust passage> As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, the scroll compressor 10 has an exhaust passage 70. The exhaust passage 70 is formed inside the housing 11. The exhaust passage 70 has a first passage 71 formed in the support member 13 and a second passage 72 formed in the discharge housing 14. The exhaust passage 70 is formed inside the support member 13 and the discharge housing 14, and connects the back pressure chamber 50 and the discharge port 45. In other words, the back pressure chamber 50 can communicate with the discharge pressure region through the exhaust passage 70. Therefore, the exhaust passage 70 connects the back pressure chamber 50 and the discharge pressure region.

[0064] A first gasket 401 is interposed between the first passage 71 and the second passage 72. Gasket holes 401a are formed in the first gasket 401 at portions facing the first passage 71 and the second passage 72. The first passage 71 and the second passage 72 communicate with each other through the gasket holes 401a. In other words, the first gasket 401 is provided with the gasket holes 401a that communicate the first passage 71 and the second passage 72.

[0065] <1st aisle> The first passage 71 is made up of a radial path 711 and an axial path 712. The radial path 711 and the axial path 712 are each formed inside the support member 13.

[0066] A first end of the passage 711 opens to the back pressure chamber 50. A second end of the passage 711 is located in a portion of the support member 13 that is not aligned with the fixed scroll 25 in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 15. The passage 711 extends in the radial direction of the rotary shaft 15 from the first end to the second end.

[0067] A first end of the axial passage 712 is connected to a portion of the radial passage 711 closer to the second end. In other words, the first end of the axial passage 712 is located in a portion of the support member 13 that is not aligned with the fixed scroll 25 in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 15. A second end of the axial passage 712 opens to the support end surface 13e of the support member 13. The axial passage 712 extends in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 15 from the first end toward the second end.

[0068] As described above, the first passage 71 opens to the back pressure chamber 50 at a first end of the radial passage 711, and opens to the support end surface 13e of the support member 13 at a second end of the axial passage 712. The first end of the radial passage 711 and the second end of the axial passage 712 are in communication with each other through the inside of the first passage 71. In other words, the back pressure chamber 50 opens to the support end surface 13e of the support member 13 through the first passage 71. The first passage 71 opens to the outside of the support member 13 only at the first end of the radial passage 711 and the second end of the axial passage 712. For example, within the inside of the support member 13, the first passage 71 is not connected to a portion of the suction passage 35 defined by the support member 13.

[0069] <Second aisle> The second passage 72 extends inside the discharge housing 14 in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 15. A first end of the second passage 72 opens to the discharge housing end face 14d of the discharge housing 14. A second end of the second passage 72 opens to a portion of the discharge housing peripheral wall 14b that defines the discharge port 45. In other words, the second end of the second passage 72 opens to a portion of the discharge housing peripheral wall 14b that faces the discharge housing end wall 14a. In other words, the second passage 72 communicates with the discharge port 45. The second passage 72 penetrates the discharge housing peripheral wall 14b in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 15. Only the first and second ends of the second passage 72 open to the outside of the discharge housing peripheral wall 14b of the discharge housing 14. For example, inside the discharge housing 14, the second passage 72 is not connected to the portion of the suction passage 35 defined by the discharge housing 14.

[0070] <Valve Containment Chamber> As shown in Figures 3 and 4, a valve accommodating chamber 73 is formed in the second passage 72. That is, the valve accommodating chamber 73 is formed in the exhaust passage 70. The valve accommodating chamber 73 extends in the direction in which the second passage 72 extends. In other words, the valve accommodating chamber 73 extends in the direction in which the refrigerant flows. A first end of the valve accommodating chamber 73 opens to the discharge housing end face 14d. The first end of the valve accommodating chamber 73 and the first end of the second passage 72 are aligned. The second end of the valve accommodating chamber 73 is located closer to the discharge housing end face 14d in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 15 than the second end of the second passage 72. The second end of the valve accommodating chamber 73 is located inside the discharge housing peripheral wall 14b.

[0071] The second passage 72 has a passage diameter that increases in a portion that becomes the valve storage chamber 73. In other words, the passage diameter of the second passage 72 decreases from the first end toward the second end. 2 and 3, the valve chamber 73 has a valve seat surface 73a serving as a first valve restraining surface and an open surface 73b serving as a second valve restraining surface. The valve seat surface 73a is a surface at a first end of the valve chamber 73 in the direction in which the second passage 72 extends. The valve chamber 73 is closed at the first end by a first gasket 401. The first gasket 401 has the valve seat surface 73a in a portion that closes the valve chamber 73. In other words, the first gasket 401 has the valve seat surface 73a. The open surface 73b is a surface at a second end of the valve chamber 73 in the direction in which the second passage 72 extends, and is a surface facing in a direction opposite the valve seat surface 73a. The valve chamber 73 is defined by the valve seat surface 73a at the first end and the open surface 73b at the second end.

[0072] The valve seat surface 73a is opened by a gasket hole 401a, which functions as a restriction hole. In this embodiment, the gasket hole 401a functions as both a sealing hole and a restriction hole. That is, the valve storage chamber 73 communicates with the first passage 71 and the back pressure chamber 50 through the gasket hole 401a.

[0073] The open surface 73b is a surface formed inside the discharge housing peripheral wall 14b. The open surface 73b is the surface that is located closest to the discharge housing end wall 14a among the surfaces that define the valve chamber 73. The open surface 73b faces in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotation shaft 15.

[0074] The open surface 73b is provided with an open hole 731. A portion of the second passage 72 that is different from the valve accommodating chamber 73 communicates with the valve accommodating chamber 73 through the open hole 731. In other words, the valve accommodating chamber 73 communicates with the discharge pressure region through the open hole 731.

[0075] Refrigerant can flow into the valve accommodating chamber 73 from the back pressure chamber 50 via the first passage 71 and the gasket hole 401a. Also, refrigerant can flow into the valve accommodating chamber 73 from the discharge port 45 via a portion of the second passage 72 that is different from the valve accommodating chamber 73 and the open hole 731. Therefore, the valve seat surface 73a is provided with the gasket hole 401a through which refrigerant flows from the back pressure chamber 50 via the exhaust passage 70. Also, the open surface 73b is provided with the open hole 731 through which refrigerant flows from the discharge pressure region via the exhaust passage 70.

[0076] The valve accommodating chamber 73 is surrounded by an inner chamber surface 73c in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the valve accommodating chamber 73. The valve accommodating chamber 73 is defined by a valve seat surface 73a, an open surface 73b, and the inner chamber surface 73c.

[0077] <Exhaust valve> The scroll compressor 10 has an exhaust valve 80. The exhaust valve 80 is arranged in the exhaust passage 70. The exhaust valve 80 is provided in the second passage 72. The exhaust valve 80 is accommodated in a valve chamber 73. In other words, the exhaust valve 80 is accommodated in the second passage 72. The exhaust valve 80 is reciprocable in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 15 in the valve chamber 73.

[0078] The exhaust valve 80 has a main body portion 81 and a restricting portion 82. The main body portion 81 is columnar. The main body portion 81 has a first main body surface 81a and a second main body surface 81b in the axial direction. The first main body surface 81a and the second main body surface 81b are each perpendicular to the axis of the main body portion 81. The main body portion 81 has an outer main body surface 81c, which is a surface different from the first main body surface 81a and the second main body surface 81b. The outer main body surface 81c connects the first main body surface 81a and the second main body surface 81b. The diameter of the outer main body surface 81c is smaller than the passage diameter of the storage chamber inner surface 73c.

[0079] The restricting portion 82 is a portion that bulges out from the main body portion 81 in the axial direction of the main body portion 81. The restricting portion 82 is formed on the second main body surface 81b. The restricting portion 82 has a blocking restricting surface 82a at an end portion of the main body portion 81 that is not connected to the main body portion 81 in the axial direction of the main body portion 81. The blocking restricting surface 82a is perpendicular to the axis of the main body portion 81. The blocking restricting surface 82a faces the same direction as the second main body surface 81b. When viewed from the axial direction of the main body portion 81, the cross-sectional area of ​​the restricting portion 82 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the main body portion 81. In other words, the area of ​​the blocking restricting surface 82a is smaller than the areas of the first main body surface 81a and the second main body surface 81b.

[0080] The restricting portion 82 is formed on the second main body surface 81b at a position that is offset from the axis of the main body portion 81. In other words, the restricting portion 82 is formed at a position that is eccentric from the axis of the main body portion 81.

[0081] The exhaust valve 80 is accommodated in the valve accommodating chamber 73 so that the axial direction of the main body portion 81 and the extension direction of the second passage 72 coincide with each other. The exhaust valve 80 is accommodated in the valve accommodating chamber 73 so that the first main body surface 81a faces the first gasket 401 and the blockage restriction surface 82a faces the open surface 73b. That is, the exhaust valve 80 has the main body portion 81 facing the valve seat surface 73a and the restriction portion 82 facing the open surface 73b. The gasket hole 401a and the first main body surface 81a are aligned in the extension direction of the second passage 72. In other words, the gasket hole 401a is formed in a portion of the first main body surface 81a that overlaps with the first main body surface 81a when the first gasket 401 is viewed from the extension direction of the second passage 72. The restriction portion 82 is located in a position on the first main body surface 81a that does not face the open hole 731. In other words, the restricting portion 82 and the release hole 731 are not aligned when viewed from the direction in which the second passage 72 extends.

[0082] The exhaust valve 80 is accommodated in the valve accommodating chamber 73 so that the main body outer surface 81c and the accommodating chamber inner surface 73c face each other with a gap (not shown) between them. The exhaust valve 80 is accommodated in the valve accommodating chamber 73 so that the exhaust valve 80 can reciprocate within the valve accommodating chamber 73 while a portion of the main body outer surface 81c is in sliding contact with the accommodating chamber inner surface 73c. ​​In other words, the exhaust valve 80 is accommodated in the valve accommodating chamber 73 so as to be able to reciprocate between the valve seat surface 73a and the opening surface 73b.

[0083] <Exhaust and non-exhaust states> Fig. 4 shows a state in which the exhaust valve 80 presses the restricting portion 82 against the open surface 73b, and a state in which the exhaust valve 80 presses the main body portion 81 against the valve seat surface 73a. In Fig. 4, the exhaust valve 80 in a state in which the restricting portion 82 is pressed against the open surface 73b is shown by a two-dot chain line. In Fig. 4, the exhaust valve 80 in a state in which the main body portion 81 is pressed against the valve seat surface 73a is shown by a solid line.

[0084] As shown by the two-dot chain lines in FIGS. 3 and 4 , when the pressure in the back pressure chamber 50 is higher than the pressure in the discharge pressure region, the exhaust valve 80 in the valve storage chamber 73 is biased in a direction from the back pressure chamber 50 toward the discharge port 45. In this case, the exhaust valve 80 presses the restricting portion 82 against the open surface 73b. When the exhaust valve 80 is viewed from the direction in which the second passage 72 extends, the restricting portion 82 is positioned so as not to overlap with the open hole 731. Therefore, when the restricting portion 82 is in contact with the open surface 73b, the exhaust valve 80 does not close the gasket hole 401a. In other words, in the valve storage chamber 73, the open hole 731 and the gasket hole 401a are in communication with each other through a gap between the main body outer surface 81c and the storage chamber inner surface 73c. ​​In other words, the back pressure chamber 50 is in communication with the discharge pressure region through the exhaust passage 70. The exhaust valve 80 allows refrigerant to flow from the back pressure chamber 50 toward the discharge pressure region. Hereinafter, the state of the exhaust valve 80 that allows refrigerant to flow from the back pressure chamber 50 toward the discharge pressure region will be referred to as the exhaust state S1. The exhaust valve 80 is in the exhaust state S1 when the pressure in the back pressure chamber 50 is higher than the pressure in the discharge pressure region. The exhaust valve 80 is in the exhaust state S1 when the first passage 71 and the second passage 72 are connected by the gasket hole 401a.

[0085] When the pressure in the back pressure chamber 50 is lower than the pressure in the discharge pressure region, the exhaust valve 80 in the valve housing chamber 73 is biased in a direction from the discharge port 45 toward the back pressure chamber 50 . As shown by the solid line in FIG. 4 , the exhaust valve 80 presses the main body portion 81 against the first gasket 401. When the main body portion 81 is in contact with the valve seat surface 73a, the exhaust valve 80 closes the gasket hole 401a. In other words, the gasket hole 401a of the first gasket 401 is closed by the first main body surface 81a. In the valve storage chamber 73, the connection between the open hole 731 and the gasket hole 401a is blocked by the exhaust valve 80. In other words, the back pressure chamber 50 is blocked from connection to the discharge pressure region in the exhaust passage 70. In other words, the exhaust valve 80 is in a state in which it blocks the flow of refrigerant from the back pressure chamber 50 toward the discharge pressure region. Hereinafter, the state of the exhaust valve 80 in which it blocks the flow of refrigerant from the back pressure chamber 50 toward the discharge pressure region is referred to as the non-exhaust state S2. The exhaust valve 80 enters the non-exhaust state S2 by closing the gasket hole 401a.

[0086] As described above, the exhaust valve 80 switches between an exhaust state S1 and a non-exhaust state S2 depending on the pressure gradient between the back pressure chamber 50 and the discharge pressure region. Therefore, the exhaust valve 80 can switch between the exhaust state S1, which allows refrigerant to flow from the back pressure chamber 50 toward the discharge pressure region, and the non-exhaust state S2, which blocks refrigerant from flowing from the back pressure chamber 50 toward the discharge pressure region.

[0087] [Operation of this embodiment] The operation of this embodiment will be described. The scroll compressor 10 compresses the refrigerant drawn into the suction pressure region in the compression chamber 27 by the fixed scroll 25 and the orbiting scroll 26. The scroll compressor 10 discharges the refrigerant compressed in the compression chamber 27 to the discharge chamber 41. The scroll compressor 10 supplies the refrigerant discharged to the discharge chamber 41 to an external refrigerant circuit connected to the scroll compressor 10. In other words, the refrigerant discharged from the compression chamber 27 is supplied to the external refrigerant circuit by passing through the discharge pressure region.

[0088] When the scroll compressor 10 is operating, the refrigerant in the back pressure chamber 50 is intermittently discharged through the intermittent discharge passage 60 toward the suction pressure region. In the scroll compressor 10, when the pressure in the back pressure chamber 50 decreases, the pressure urging the orbiting scroll 26 toward the fixed scroll 25 decreases, causing the tip of the orbiting spiral wall 26b to move away from the fixed base plate 25a. That is, the air supply mechanism D1 enters an air supply state. Furthermore, when the pressure in the back pressure chamber 50 decreases, the exhaust valve 80 of the exhaust passage 70 enters a non-exhaust state S2. That is, while the exhaust valve 80 prevents refrigerant from flowing out of the exhaust passage 70, some of the refrigerant compressed in the compression chamber 27 is supplied to the back pressure chamber 50 via the air supply passage 51. As a result, the pressure in the back pressure chamber 50 increases.

[0089] Next, consider a situation in which the operation of the scroll compressor 10 is stopped. When the scroll compressor 10 is stopped and the interior is evacuated, if the intermittent exhaust passage 60 is not in communication with the suction pressure region, the pressure in the back pressure chamber 50 is greater than the pressure in both the discharge pressure region and the suction pressure region. Therefore, the air supply mechanism D1 is in a non-air supply state.

[0090] When the scroll compressor 10 is stopped and the intermittent exhaust passage 60 is not in communication with the suction pressure region, the exhaust valve 80 is in the exhaust state S1. That is, the back pressure chamber 50 is in communication with the outside of the housing 11 through the exhaust passage 70.

[0091] [Effects of this embodiment] The effects of this embodiment will be described. (1) During operation, the scroll compressor 10 prevents refrigerant from flowing from the back pressure chamber 50 toward the discharge pressure region through the exhaust passage 70, thereby preventing refrigerant in the discharge pressure region from being mixed with refrigerant that has flowed from the back pressure chamber 50. Furthermore, when the operation of the scroll compressor 10 is stopped and the supply passage 51 is in a non-supply state, the refrigerant in the back pressure chamber 50 is discharged through the intermittent exhaust passage 60 or the exhaust passage 70. In other words, the scroll compressor 10 can discharge the refrigerant in the back pressure chamber 50 from the back pressure chamber 50 through the intermittent exhaust passage 60 or the exhaust passage 70, regardless of the position of the orbiting scroll 26 when the operation is stopped. As described above, the scroll compressor 10 can discharge refrigerant from the back pressure chamber 50 regardless of the position of the orbiting scroll 26 when the operation is stopped.

[0092] For example, evacuation is performed on a stopped scroll compressor 10. If the refrigerant in the back pressure chamber 50 of the stopped scroll compressor 10 cannot be exhausted, evacuation becomes insufficient. However, the scroll compressor 10 has an exhaust passage 70, which allows for sufficient evacuation.

[0093] (2) The first gasket 401 functions as a valve seat on which the exhaust valve 80 is seated in the valve chamber 73. As a result, the first gasket 401 can also be used as a sealing member for isolating the first passage 71 from the second passage 72, eliminating the need for a separate sealing member.

[0094] (3) The flow of refrigerant between the back pressure chamber 50 and the discharge pressure region is controlled by the reciprocating motion of the exhaust valve 80 in the valve chamber 73. For example, compared to when a ball valve or the like is used as the exhaust valve 80, the flow of refrigerant between the back pressure chamber 50 and the discharge pressure region can be controlled with a simpler configuration. Therefore, the scroll compressor 10 can control the flow of refrigerant in the exhaust passage 70 with a simple configuration.

[0095] [Example of change] The above embodiment can be modified as follows: The above embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other within the scope of technical compatibility.

[0096] The exhaust valve 80 does not have to have the main body 81 and the restricting portion 82. For example, the exhaust valve 80 may be a reed valve or a ball valve. The exhaust passage 70 does not necessarily have to be formed with the valve housing chamber 73. For example, the flow of refrigerant in the exhaust passage 70 may be controlled by a check valve provided directly inside the exhaust passage 70. In this case, for example, a butterfly valve may be used as the exhaust valve 80.

[0097] The exhaust valve 80 does not have to be housed in the second passage 72. The exhaust valve 80 may be housed in the first passage 71. As shown in FIG. 5 , the exhaust valve 80 may have a seat 83 as a sealing member. In this case, the first gasket 401 may not be provided on the valve seat surface 73a. The seat 83 is aligned with the restricting portion 82 and the main body 81 in the axial direction of the main body 81. The seat 83 is made of resin. For example, the seat 83 is formed by rubber processing the first main body surface 81a of the main body 81. In this case, the exhaust valve 80 closes the second end of the axial passage 712 with the seat 83.

[0098] At this time, in the non-exhaust state S2, the connection between the first passage 71 and the second passage 72 is interrupted by the seating portion 83 closing the second end of the axial passage 712. That is, the exhaust valve 80 has the seating portion 83 at a portion that comes into contact with the housing 11 and closes the exhaust passage 70 in the non-exhaust state S2. In other words, the exhaust valve 80 has the seating portion 83 at a portion that does not come into contact with the housing 11 in the exhaust state S1. In this case, a sealing member can be provided more easily than when the exhaust valve 80 does not have the seating portion 83.

[0099] Furthermore, because the exhaust valve 80 has the seating portion 83, the exhaust valve 80 can be provided in a location other than where the first gasket 401 serves as the valve seat. For example, as shown in FIG. 6 , the exhaust valve 80 may be provided in the first passage 71. In this case, the valve chamber 73 is formed in the first passage 71. In other words, because the exhaust valve 80 has the seating portion 83, it can accurately cut off the connection between the first passage 71 and the second passage 72 even when the first gasket 401 is not used as the valve seat.

[0100] The first gasket 401 does not have to be provided between the first passage 71 and the second passage 72. In this case, it is preferable that a seal member be provided between the discharge housing 14 and the support member 13 in the scroll compressor 10.

[0101] The exhaust passage 70 does not have to be formed in the discharge housing 14 and the support member 13. For example, the exhaust passage 70 may be formed in the discharge housing 14, the support member 13, and the fixed scroll 25.

[0102] The air supply mechanism D1 does not have to be composed of the orbiting scroll 26 and the fixed scroll 25. For example, the air supply mechanism D1 may be composed of a check valve provided in the air supply passage 51. In this case, the air supply passage 51 does not have to be formed in the orbiting scroll 26. For example, the air supply passage 51 may be formed in the fixed scroll 25 and the support member 13. In this case, the check valve provided in the air supply passage 51 restricts the flow of refrigerant from the back pressure chamber 50 to the compression chamber 27, while allowing the flow of refrigerant from the compression chamber 27 to the back pressure chamber 50.

[0103] The location where the second end of the second passage 72 opens is not limited to the embodiment. For example, the second passage 72 may be connected to the discharge chamber 41 without passing through the discharge port 45. In short, it is sufficient that the second end of the second passage opens at the location where the exhaust passage 70 connects to the discharge pressure region.

[0104] Discharge housing 14 may be composed of two members arranged side by side in the axial direction of rotation shaft 15. In this case, a seal member may be interposed between support member 13 and a member of discharge housing 14 adjacent to support member 13, and a seal hole may be provided in the seal member. Furthermore, in a discharge housing composed of two members, a seal member may be interposed between one member and the other member, and a seal hole may be provided in the seal member. [Explanation of symbols]

[0105] 10...Scroll compressor, 11...Housing, 13...Support member, 14...Discharge housing, 15...Rotating shaft, 20...Motor chamber as suction pressure region, 25...Fixed scroll, 26...Orbiting scroll, 27...Compression chamber, 41...Discharge chamber, 50...Back pressure chamber, 51...Air supply passage, 60...Intermittent exhaust passage, 70...Exhaust passage, 71...First passage, 72...Second passage, 73...Valve accommodating chamber, 73a...Valve seat surface as first valve regulating surface, 73b...Open surface as second valve regulating surface, 80...Exhaust valve, 81...Main body, 82...Regulating portion, 83...Seating portion as sealing member, 401...First gasket as sealing member, 401a...Gasket hole as sealing hole and regulating hole, 731...Open hole, D1...Air supply mechanism, S1...Exhaust state, S2...Non-exhaust state.

Claims

1. A rotation axis; a housing having a support member for supporting the rotating shaft; a fixed scroll fixed to the housing; an orbiting scroll disposed between the support member and the fixed scroll, and revolving relative to the fixed scroll as the rotation shaft rotates; a suction pressure region provided inside the housing and into which a refrigerant is drawn; a compression chamber defined by the orbiting scroll and the fixed scroll, in which the refrigerant drawn into the suction pressure region is compressed; a discharge pressure region provided inside the housing and including a discharge chamber into which the refrigerant compressed in the compression chamber is discharged; a back pressure chamber defined between the orbiting scroll and the support member, into which a refrigerant is introduced for urging the orbiting scroll toward the fixed scroll; a supply passage for supplying a portion of the refrigerant compressed in the compression chamber to the back pressure chamber; an air supply mechanism capable of switching between an air supply state in the air supply passage that allows refrigerant to flow from the compression chamber toward the back pressure chamber and an air non-supply state that blocks refrigerant from flowing from the back pressure chamber toward the compression chamber; an intermittent exhaust passage provided in the support member, intermittently connecting the back pressure chamber to the suction pressure region as the orbiting scroll revolves, the housing has an exhaust passage connecting the back pressure chamber and the discharge pressure region; an exhaust valve is disposed in the exhaust passage and is switchable between an exhaust state in which the refrigerant is allowed to flow from the back pressure chamber toward the discharge pressure region and a non-exhaust state in which the refrigerant is prevented from flowing from the back pressure chamber toward the discharge pressure region; The scroll compressor is characterized in that the exhaust valve is in the exhaust state when the pressure in the back pressure chamber is higher than the pressure in the discharge pressure region.

2. The housing has a discharge housing connected to the support member, and a seal member is interposed between the support member and the discharge housing. the exhaust passage includes a first passage formed in the support member and a second passage formed in the discharge housing, The seal member is provided with a seal hole that connects the first passage and the second passage, 2. The scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust valve is accommodated in the second passage, and is in the non-exhaust state by closing the seal hole, and in the exhaust state by opening the seal hole.

3. 2. The scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust valve has a seal member at a portion that contacts the housing in the non-exhaust state to close the exhaust passage, and at a portion that does not contact the housing in the exhaust state.

4. A valve accommodating chamber is formed in the exhaust passage, the valve accommodating chamber extends in a direction in which the refrigerant flows, and is defined by a first valve restriction surface at a first end and a second valve restriction surface at a second end facing in a direction opposite to the first valve restriction surface, The first valve restriction surface is provided with a restriction hole through which refrigerant flows from the back pressure chamber via the exhaust passage, The second valve restriction surface is provided with an open hole through which the refrigerant flows from the discharge pressure region through the exhaust passage, the exhaust valve has a main body portion facing the first valve restriction surface and a restriction portion facing the second valve restriction surface, and is accommodated in the valve accommodating chamber so as to be reciprocable between the first valve restriction surface and the second valve restriction surface, 2. The scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust valve closes the restriction hole when the main body contacts the first valve restriction surface, and does not close the restriction hole when the restriction portion contacts the second valve restriction surface.

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