Thrust bearing assembly, compressor, and refrigerant cycle system

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a thrust bearing assembly, a compressor, and a refrigerant circulation system. The thrust bearing assembly includes: a first thrust bearing, wherein a first thrust surface and a first positioning surface thereof are disposed on the same side of the first thrust bearing, the first thrust surface is located radially inside the first positioning surface and protrudes axially outward relative to the first positioning surface; a second thrust bearing, wherein a second thrust surface and a second positioning surface thereof are disposed on the same side of the second thrust bearing, the second thrust surface is located radially inside the second positioning surface and protrudes axially outward relative to the second positioning surface, the second thrust surface faces the first thrust surface, and the second positioning surface faces the first positioning surface; a positioning ring disposed between the first thrust bearing and the second thrust bearing, including a first mating surface that fits with the first positioning surface and a second mating surface that fits with the second positioning surface. The present disclosure defines the interval between the first thrust surface and the second thrust surface by the distance between the first mating surface and the second mating surface of the positioning ring.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the technical fields of rotary machinery and refrigeration technology, and particularly relates to a thrust bearing assembly, a compressor, and a refrigerant circulation system. Background Art

[0002] A thrust bearing, also known as a thrust stop bearing, is commonly used to bear the axial force of a rotating shaft and axially limit the rotating shaft. In some high-speed and high-precision applications, the installation and machining requirements for thrust bearings are very high. The clearance of a thrust bearing is very small. For example, for a hydrostatic gas bearing, due to the very thin gas film, the clearance of the gas bearing is extremely small, only on the order of micrometers or dozens of micrometers, and the machining accuracy of parts is required to be sub-micrometer level, with very high requirements for component machining and assembly accuracy. In some applications of rotating shafts, two thrust bearings are often arranged at one end of the shaft to axially stop the rotating shaft in both directions. In order to ensure the high-speed and high-precision rotation of the rotating shaft, the accuracy requirements for the clearance of the thrust bearing are getting higher and higher. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a thrust bearing assembly, which is easier to adjust and ensure the clearance of the thrust bearing when axially stopping the rotating shaft in both directions. The present disclosure also provides a compressor having the thrust bearing assembly and a refrigerant circulation system having the compressor.

[0004] The first aspect of the present disclosure discloses a thrust bearing assembly, including:

[0005] A first thrust bearing, including a first thrust surface and a first positioning surface, the first thrust surface and the first positioning surface are arranged on the same side of the first thrust bearing, located radially inside the first positioning surface and protruding axially outward relative to the first positioning surface;

[0006] A second thrust bearing, including a second thrust surface and a second positioning surface, the second thrust surface and the second positioning surface are arranged on the same side of the second thrust bearing, located radially inside the second positioning surface and protruding axially outward relative to the second positioning surface, the second thrust surface is opposite to the first thrust surface, and the second positioning surface is opposite to the first positioning surface; and

[0007] A positioning ring, arranged between the first thrust bearing and the second thrust bearing, including a first mating surface that fits with the first positioning surface and a second mating surface that fits with the second positioning surface, and is used to define the interval between the first thrust surface and the second thrust surface by the distance between the first mating surface and the second mating surface.

[0008] In some embodiments, the first thrust bearing and the second thrust bearing are gas bearings.

[0009] In some embodiments, the positioning ring includes a fluid passage communicating the radially inner side and the radially outer side of the positioning ring.

[0010] In some embodiments, the fluid passage is located on one end face of the positioning ring.

[0011] In some embodiments, the fluid passage includes a groove and / or a hole provided on the positioning ring.

[0012] In some embodiments, the fluid passage includes a plurality of grooves circumferentially distributed along the positioning ring.

[0013] In some embodiments, the groove is a radial groove, and the plurality of radial grooves are evenly distributed circumferentially along the positioning ring.

[0014] In some embodiments, the first mating surface and the second mating surface of the positioning ring are the outermost planes of the two end faces of the positioning ring.

[0015] In some embodiments, the positioning ring is provided with a through hole for mounting the positioning ring on the first thrust bearing or the second thrust bearing.

[0016] The second aspect of the present disclosure discloses a compressor, including:

[0017] A compressor rotor, including a thrust disk; and

[0018] A thrust bearing assembly, which is the thrust bearing assembly of the first aspect of the present disclosure, and the two end faces of the thrust disk are respectively in contact with the first thrust surface and the second thrust surface of the thrust bearing assembly.

[0019] In some embodiments, the compressor is a centrifugal compressor.

[0020] The third aspect of the present disclosure provides a refrigerant circulation system, including the compressor described in the second aspect of the present disclosure.

[0021] Based on the thrust bearing assembly provided by the present disclosure, when the thrust member of the rotating shaft performs bidirectional thrust on the rotating shaft, by providing a positioning ring, the spacing between the first thrust surface and the second thrust surface is defined by the cooperation between the first mating surface and the second mating surface of the positioning ring and the first positioning surface of the first thrust bearing and the second positioning surface of the second thrust bearing. The sum of the clearances between the thrust member of the rotating shaft and the first thrust bearing and the second thrust bearing can be adjusted by adjusting the spacing between the first mating surface and the second mating surface of the positioning ring. At the same time, the first thrust surface of the first thrust bearing protrudes axially outward relative to the first positioning surface, and the second thrust surface of the second thrust bearing protrudes axially outward relative to the first positioning surface, which also makes it more convenient to process the first thrust surface of the first thrust bearing and the second thrust surface of the second thrust bearing by high-precision processing methods such as grinding, helping to ensure the precision of the first thrust bearing and the second thrust bearing, and thus further ensuring the clearance requirements of the thrust bearing assembly during operation.

[0022] Based on the compressor applying the thrust bearing assembly provided by the present disclosure and the refrigerant cycle system having the compressor, they also have the corresponding beneficial effects of the thrust bearing assembly provided by the present disclosure.

[0023] Through the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure with reference to the accompanying drawings, other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become clear. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The accompanying drawings described herein are used to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure, and constitute a part of this application. The illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure and their descriptions are used to explain the present disclosure and do not constitute an improper limitation of the present disclosure. In the drawings:

[0025] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of the thrust bearing assembly of an embodiment of the present disclosure installed in a compressor;

[0026] Figure 2 is Figure 1 a schematic structural diagram of the positioning ring of the thrust bearing assembly of the illustrated embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0027] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present disclosure, rather than all of the embodiments. The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is actually only illustrative and in no way constitutes a limitation on the present disclosure and its application or use. Based on the embodiments in the present disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts belong to the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

[0028] Unless otherwise specifically noted, the relative arrangements of components and steps, numerical expressions, and numerical values set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. At the same time, it should be understood that, for ease of description, the dimensions of the various parts shown in the drawings are not drawn in actual proportional relationships. Technologies, methods, and devices known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, such technologies, methods, and devices should be regarded as part of the authorization specification. In all the examples shown and discussed here, any specific value should be construed as merely exemplary and not as a limitation. Thus, other examples of the exemplary embodiments may have different values. It should be noted that like reference numerals and letters denote like items in the following figures, and thus, once an item is defined in one figure, further discussion thereof is not required in subsequent figures.

[0029] For ease of description, spatial relative terms such as "above", "over", "on the upper surface", "upper", etc. may be used herein to describe the spatial positional relationship of one device or feature shown in the figures with respect to other devices or features. It should be understood that the spatial relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is inverted, a device described as "above" or "over" other devices or structures will then be positioned "below" or "beneath" the other devices or structures. Thus, the exemplary term "above" can include both the orientations of "above" and "below". The device may also be positioned in other different ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and corresponding interpretations of the spatial relative descriptions used herein will be made.

[0030] As Figure 1 , Figure 2As shown, the thrust bearing assembly of the embodiments of the present disclosure includes a first thrust bearing 6, a second thrust bearing 9, and a positioning ring 8. The first thrust bearing 6 includes a first thrust surface 62 and a first positioning surface 61. The first thrust surface 62 and the first positioning surface 61 are disposed on the same side of the first thrust bearing 6, located radially inside the first positioning surface 61 and protruding axially outward relative to the first positioning surface 61. The second thrust bearing 9 includes a second thrust surface 92 and a second positioning surface 91. The second thrust surface 92 and the second positioning surface 91 are disposed on the same side of the second thrust bearing 9, located radially inside the second positioning surface 91 and protruding axially outward relative to the second positioning surface 91. The second thrust surface 92 faces the first thrust surface 62, and the second positioning surface 91 faces the first positioning surface 61. The positioning ring 8 is disposed between the first thrust bearing 6 and the second thrust bearing 9, and includes a first mating surface 81 that fits with the first positioning surface 61 and a second mating surface 82 that fits with the second positioning surface 91, and is used to define the interval between the first thrust surface 62 and the second thrust surface 92 through the distance between the first mating surface 81 and the second mating surface 82.

[0031] The first thrust surface 62 of the first thrust bearing 6 and the second thrust surface 92 of the second thrust bearing 9 are respectively used to cooperate with the mating surfaces on both sides of the thrust member of the rotating shaft 13. In Figure 1 the illustrated embodiment, the first thrust surface 62 and the second thrust surface 92 respectively cooperate with the left end surface and the right end surface of the thrust disk 3 fixedly connected to the rotating shaft 13 of the compressor. The first thrust surface 62 is used to bear the axial force of the rotating shaft 13 to the left, and the second thrust surface 92 is used to bear the axial force of the rotating shaft 13 to the right.

[0032] The first positioning surface 61 of the first thrust bearing 6 and the second positioning surface 91 of the second thrust bearing 9 are used to determine the interval between the first thrust surface 62 and the second thrust surface 92. In this embodiment, the first positioning surface 62 and the second positioning surface 92 are respectively in contact with the first mating surface 81 and the second mating surface 82 of the positioning ring 8, so that the distance between the first mating surface 81 and the second mating surface 82 of the positioning ring 8 defines the distance between the first thrust bearing 6 and the second thrust bearing 9, that is, defines the interval between the first thrust surface 62 and the second thrust surface 92, which also defines the sum of the mating clearances between the thrust member that cooperates with the first thrust surface 62 and the second thrust surface 92 and the first thrust surface 62 and the second thrust surface 92. Thus, by adjusting the distance between the first mating surface 81 and the second mating surface 82 of the positioning ring 8, the working clearance of the thrust bearing assembly can be adjusted.

[0033] When it is necessary to reduce the working clearance of the thrust bearing assembly, for example, in Figure 1In the shown compressor, due to wear after a period of operation, the first thrust surface 62 of the first thrust bearing 6 and / or the second thrust surface 92 of the second thrust bearing 9 cause the gap between the first thrust surface 62 and the second thrust bearing 9 to increase. As a result, the sum of the clearance between the left end face of the thrust disk 3 and the first thrust surface 62 and the clearance between the right end face and the second thrust surface 92 becomes larger, and it is necessary to reduce the clearance of the thrust bearing assembly. At this time, the thrust bearing assembly can be taken out of the compressor, and the clearance of the worn thrust bearing assembly is measured. The adjustment amount of the positioning ring 8 is determined based on this clearance. Then, the positioning ring 8 is taken out of the thrust bearing assembly, and the first mating surface 81 and / or the second mating surface 82 of the positioning ring 8 are processed by grinding or other machining methods according to the determined adjustment amount to reduce the distance between the first mating surface 81 and the second mating surface 82. Then, the second thrust bearing 9 is fixed on the bearing mounting seat of the compressor body 1. After the second mating surface 82 of the positioning ring 8 is fitted with the second positioning surface 92, the positioning ring 8 is fixedly connected to the second thrust bearing 9. Then, the first positioning surface 62 of the first thrust bearing 6 is fitted with the first mating surface 81, and the diffuser 7 at the left end of the first thrust bearing 6 is installed and tightened to press the first thrust bearing 6 against the positioning ring 8.

[0034] When it is necessary to increase the working clearance of the thrust bearing, just replace the positioning ring 8 with a suitable distance between the first mating surface 81 and the second mating surface 82. By setting the positioning ring 8, the clearance of the thrust bearing assembly can be adjusted conveniently.

[0035] The first thrust surface 62 of the first thrust bearing 6 is located radially inside the first positioning surface 61, that is, the first thrust surface 62 is located in the middle of the first thrust bearing 6, and the first positioning surface 61 is located outside the first thrust bearing 6. The first thrust surface 62 protrudes axially outward relative to the first positioning surface 61, that is, the first thrust bearing 6 is in a stepped shape with a convex middle on the side where the first positioning surface 61 and the first thrust surface 62 are located. Since the first thrust surface 62 is the working surface that cooperates with the thrust member and has high precision requirements, and the positioning accuracy of the first positioning surface 61 can be adjusted by the positioning ring 8, the accuracy requirements of the first positioning surface 61 are relatively low. This setting is beneficial to the high-precision machining of the first thrust surface 62 of the first thrust bearing 6, such as surface grinding. Similarly, the same setting of the second thrust surface 92 and the second positioning surface 91 of the second thrust bearing 9 also helps to achieve the high-precision machining of the second thrust bearing 9.

[0036] The clearance of the thrust bearing assembly in this embodiment is easy to adjust, and at the same time, the first thrust bearing 6 and the second thrust bearing 9 are easy to achieve high-precision machining.

[0037] In some embodiments, the first thrust bearing 6 and the second thrust bearing 9 are gas bearings, which can be, for example, hydrostatic gas bearings or hydrodynamic gas bearings. Gas bearings utilize gas to form a gas film between the thrust surface of the thrust bearing and the thrust member, and have advantages such as high rotational speed and low noise. For example, in Figure 1 In the embodiment of the compressor shown, when the first thrust bearing 6 is a hydrostatic gas bearing, pressurized gas can be injected between the left end face of the thrust disk 3 of the compressor and the first thrust surface 61, so that a gas film can be formed between the left end face of the thrust disk 3 and the first thrust surface 61. After the first thrust bearing 6 and the second thrust bearing 9 adopt hydrostatic gas bearings, they can have advantages such as ultra-high rotational accuracy, ultra-low friction, ultra-low vibration, ultra-low noise, long service life, and no pollution, and are suitable for high-speed and high-precision occasions, such as being suitable for application in centrifugal compressors, especially miniaturized centrifugal compressors.

[0038] In some embodiments, the positioning ring 8 includes a fluid passage that communicates the radially inner side and the radially outer side of the positioning ring 8. In the embodiments where the first thrust bearing 6 and the second thrust bearing 9 are gas bearings, this setting can enable the exhaust gas between the thrust member and the thrust surface of the gas bearing to be smoothly discharged from the fluid passage to the outside of the positioning ring 8, thereby preventing the exhaust gas from staying between the thrust surface and the thrust member of the first thrust bearing 6 and the second thrust bearing 9, preventing the back pressure of the gas bearing from rising and affecting the internal gas film pressure distribution of the bearing, thereby affecting the stiffness and load-carrying capacity of the gas bearing, and preventing the occurrence of gas hammer vibration. This embodiment helps to make the exhaust of the gas bearing smooth and improves the rotational stability of the gas bearing rotor system.

[0039] In some embodiments, the fluid passage is located on one end face of the positioning ring 8. As shown in Figure 1 、 Figure 2 In the shown embodiment, the fluid passage is provided on the left end face of the positioning ring 8. This setting can facilitate the machining of the fluid passage, make the structure of the positioning ring 8 more compact, and reduce the machining influence on the mating surface of the positioning ring 8 compared with having fluid passages on both end faces.

[0040] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 1 、 Figure 2 The fluid passage includes a groove 83 provided on the end face of the positioning ring 8. This setting facilitates the machining of the fluid passage, the structure of the positioning ring 8 is simple, and it also helps the smooth exhaust of the gas bearing.

[0041] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 2 The fluid passage includes a plurality of grooves 83 distributed circumferentially. This setting further helps the smooth exhaust of the gas bearing and improves the exhaust stability of the gas bearing.

[0042] In some embodiments, the slot 83 is a radial slot, and a plurality of radial slots are evenly distributed circumferentially along the positioning ring 8. This arrangement helps to facilitate the machining of the positioning ring 8.

[0043] In an embodiment not shown, the fluid passage may also be provided as a hole penetrating the radial inner side and the radial outer side of the positioning ring 8.

[0044] In some embodiments, the first mating surface 81 and the second mating surface 82 of the positioning ring 8 are the outermost planes of the two end faces of the positioning ring 8. This arrangement helps to facilitate the adjustment and machining of the mating surfaces of the positioning ring 8 by surface grinding, and helps to improve the dimensional accuracy, shape accuracy and positioning accuracy of the positioning ring 8.

[0045] In some embodiments, the positioning ring 8 is provided with a through hole for mounting the positioning ring 8 on the first thrust bearing 6 or the second thrust bearing 9. As Figure 1 、 Figure 2 shown, the positioning ring 8 is provided with a through hole, and the positioning ring 8 can be mounted and fitted on the second thrust bearing 9 by using the screw 2. At the same time, the second thrust bearing can also be mounted on the bearing mounting seat of the compressor body 1.

[0046] The embodiment of the present disclosure also provides a compressor, which includes a compressor rotor and the aforementioned thrust bearing assembly. As Figure 1 shown, the compressor rotor includes a rotating shaft 13 and a thrust disc 3 fixed on the rotating shaft 13; the two end faces of the thrust disc 3 are respectively in contact with the first thrust surface 62 and the second thrust surface 92 of the thrust bearing assembly.

[0047] In some embodiments, the compressor is a centrifugal compressor.

[0048] The embodiment of the present disclosure also provides a refrigerant circulation system, which includes the compressor in the foregoing embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0049] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present disclosure and are not intended to limit them; although the present disclosure has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that it is still possible to modify the specific implementation manners of the present disclosure or perform equivalent replacements for some technical features; without departing from the spirit of the technical solutions of the present disclosure, they should all be covered within the scope of the technical solutions claimed by the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A thrust bearing assembly, characterized in that, Comprising: A first thrust bearing (6), including a first thrust surface (62) and a first positioning surface (61), the first thrust surface (62) and the first positioning surface (61) are arranged on the same side of the first thrust bearing (6), the first thrust surface (62) is located radially inside the first positioning surface (61) and protrudes axially outward relative to the first positioning surface (61); A second thrust bearing (9), including a second thrust surface (92) and a second positioning surface (91), the second thrust surface (92) and the second positioning surface (91) are arranged on the same side of the second thrust bearing (9), the second thrust surface (92) is located radially inside the second positioning surface (91) and protrudes axially outward relative to the second positioning surface (91), the second thrust surface (92) faces the first thrust surface (62), and the second positioning surface (91) faces the first positioning surface (61); and A positioning ring (8), arranged between the first thrust bearing (6) and the second thrust bearing (9), including a first mating surface (81) that fits with the first positioning surface (61) and a second mating surface (82) that fits with the second positioning surface (91), for defining the interval between the first thrust surface (62) and the second thrust surface (92) by the distance between the first mating surface (81) and the second mating surface (82).

2. The thrust bearing assembly according to claim 1, wherein, The first thrust bearing (6) and the second thrust bearing (9) are gas bearings.

3. The thrust bearing assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The positioning ring (8) includes a fluid passage that connects the radially inner side and the radially outer side of the positioning ring (8).

4. The thrust bearing assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that The fluid passage is located on one end face of the positioning ring (8).

5. The thrust bearing assembly according to claim 3, wherein, The fluid passage includes a groove (83) and / or holes provided on the positioning ring (8).

6. The thrust bearing assembly according to claim 3, wherein, The fluid passage includes a plurality of grooves (83) distributed circumferentially along the positioning ring (8).

7. The thrust bearing assembly according to claim 6, wherein, The groove (83) is a radial groove, and the plurality of radial grooves are evenly distributed circumferentially along the positioning ring (8).

8. The thrust bearing assembly according to claim 1, wherein, The first mating surface (81) and the second mating surface (82) of the positioning ring (8) are the outermost planes of the two end faces of the positioning ring (8).

9. The thrust bearing assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The positioning ring (8) is provided with through holes for installing the positioning ring (8) on the first thrust bearing (6) or the second thrust bearing (9).

10. A compressor, characterized in that, Comprising: A compressor rotor, including a thrust disk; and A thrust bearing assembly, being the thrust bearing assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9, and two end faces of the thrust disk respectively cooperate with the first thrust surface (62) and the second thrust surface (92) of the thrust bearing assembly.

11. The compressor according to claim 10, wherein, The compressor is a centrifugal compressor.

12. A refrigerant circulation system, characterized in that, Including the compressor according to claim 10 or 11.

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