Maintenance method for scroll fluid machine, and scroll fluid machine

Abstract

Provided are: a maintenance method for a scroll fluid machine that dispenses with the need to exchange a portion of a motor unit when exchanging a body unit; and a scroll fluid machine.　In this maintenance method for exchanging a body unit 1A with a body unit 1B in a scroll compressor comprising the body unit 1A and a motor unit 2: a protrusion 36 of a flange 34 of the motor unit 2 has a fitting surface 51A and a fitting surface 51B on the outer circumferential side whose positions in the circumferential direction are different from each other; a body casing 14A of the body unit 1A has a fitting surface 52A on the inner circumferential side which only fits with the fitting surface 51A; and a body casing 14B of the body unit 1B has a fitting surface 52B on the inner circumferential side which only fits with the fitting surface 51B.

Description

Maintenance method for scroll-type fluid machine and scroll-type fluid machine

[0001] The present invention relates to a maintenance method for a scroll-type fluid machine and a scroll-type fluid machine.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a scroll-type fluid machine. The scroll-type fluid machine includes a main unit and a motor unit connected to each other. The main unit includes a fixed scroll, an orbiting scroll that forms a working chamber between the fixed scroll and the main unit, a support that supports the orbiting scroll so that the orbiting scroll can orbit, and a casing connected to the fixed scroll and that houses the orbiting scroll and the support. The motor unit orbits the orbiting scroll via a crankshaft.

[0003] As shown in Patent Document 1, the flange of the motor unit has a protruding portion that protrudes toward the main unit, and this protruding portion has a mating surface on the outer periphery. The housing of the main unit has a mating surface on the inner periphery. When the motor unit and the main unit are connected, the mating surface of the protruding portion of the motor unit flange fits into the mating surface of the housing of the main unit (a so-called spigot structure), which improves the accuracy of alignment between the center of the motor unit (more specifically, the center of the crankshaft) and the center of the main unit (more specifically, the orbiting center of the orbiting scroll).

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-029238

[0005] However, the mating surface of the motor unit's flange protrusion and the mating surface of the main unit housing can wear due to factors such as micro-vibrations during compressor operation. If wear occurs, the accuracy of aligning the center of the motor unit with the center of the main unit decreases when replacing the main unit. This makes it necessary to replace not only the main unit but also the motor unit flange.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and one of its objects is to eliminate the need to replace the flange of the motor unit when replacing the main unit.

[0007] The present invention includes a plurality of means for solving the above-mentioned problems, and one example thereof is a maintenance method for replacing a main unit of a scroll-type fluid machine including: a fixed scroll, an orbiting scroll that forms a working chamber between itself and the fixed scroll, a support that orbitally supports the orbiting scroll, and a main casing that is connected to the fixed scroll and that houses the orbiting scroll and the support, and a motor unit that is connected to the main unit and orbits the orbiting scroll via a crankshaft, wherein a flange of the motor unit has a protruding portion that protrudes toward the main unit and has an outer peripheral first fitting surface and a second fitting surface that are positioned differently from each other in a circumferential direction or a radial direction, the main casing of the main unit before replacement has an inner peripheral third fitting surface that fits only with the first fitting surface, and the main casing of the main unit after replacement has an inner peripheral fourth fitting surface that fits only with the second fitting surface.

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to eliminate the need to replace the flange of the motor unit when replacing the main body unit.

[0009] Problems, configurations, and effects other than those described above will become clear from the following description.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of a scroll compressor according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the structure of a scroll compressor according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the structure of a scroll compressor according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an axial cross-sectional view showing the structure of a scroll compressor according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an axial cross-sectional view showing the removal of a first main unit from a motor unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an axial cross-sectional view showing the attachment of a second main unit to a motor unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a radial cross-sectional view taken along arrows A-A in FIG. 5 or FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a radial cross-sectional view taken along arrows B-B in FIG. 5 and a radial cross-sectional view taken along arrows C-C in FIG. 6. FIG. 9 is an axial cross-sectional view showing the removal of a third main unit from a motor unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is an axial cross-sectional view showing the attachment of a fourth main unit to a motor unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a radial cross-sectional view taken along arrows D-D and E-E in FIG. 9 or FIG. 10. FIG. 12 is a radial cross-sectional view taken along arrows F-F in FIG. 9 and a radial cross-sectional view taken along arrows G-G in FIG. 10.

[0011] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, taking a scroll compressor as an example of an application of the present invention.

[0012] 1 and 2 are perspective views (perspective views seen from the main unit side) showing the structure of a scroll compressor in this embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view (perspective view seen from the motor unit side) showing the structure of a scroll compressor in this embodiment. FIG. 4 is an axial cross-sectional view showing the structure of a scroll compressor in this embodiment. Note that FIGS. 1 and 4 show a state in which the main unit, motor unit, and duct are connected. FIGS. 2 and 3 show a state in which the main unit and motor unit are separated, and the duct is not shown. For convenience, in FIGS. 3 and 4, the main casing of the main unit is shown as not having the features of this embodiment (see FIGS. 5 and 8(a) or 6 and 8(b) described below).

[0013] The scroll compressor of this embodiment includes a main unit 1, a motor unit 2, and a duct 3, which are connected to each other. The duct 3 guides cooling air generated by a cooling fan (described in detail later) of the motor unit 2 to the main unit 1.

[0014] The main unit 1 comprises a fixed scroll 11, a revolving scroll 12 that forms a compression chamber (working chamber) between the fixed scroll 11, a support body 13 that supports the revolving scroll 12 so that it can revolve, and a cylindrical main casing 14 that is connected to the fixed scroll 11 and houses the revolving scroll 12 and the support body 13.

[0015] The fixed scroll 11 has a substantially circular end plate 15, a spiral wrap 16 provided upright on one surface of the end plate 15 (right side in FIG. 4), a plurality of cooling fins 17 provided upright on the opposite surface of the end plate 15 (left side in FIG. 4), and a cover 18 attached to the tip side of the cooling fins 17 (left side in FIG. 4). Cooling air from the duct 3 flows through a cooling flow path formed by the cooling fins 17 and the cover 18. This cools the fixed scroll 11.

[0016] The orbiting scroll 12 includes a substantially circular end plate 19, a spiral wrap 20 erected on one side (left side in FIG. 4 ) of the end plate 19, a plurality of cooling fins 21 erected on the opposite side (right side in FIG. 4 ) of the end plate 19, and a plate 22 attached to the tip side (right side in FIG. 4 ) of the cooling fins 21. Cooling air from the duct 3 flows through a cooling flow path formed by the cooling fins 21 and the plate 22. This cools the orbiting scroll 12.

[0017] The support 13 is configured, for example, by three auxiliary crankshafts and three pairs of auxiliary bearings that support the auxiliary crankshafts. The support 13 may be configured using a ball joint, an Oldham coupling, or the like. The support 13 supports the orbiting scroll 12 so that the orbiting scroll 12 can rotate, and prevents the orbiting scroll 12 from rotating on its own axis. The support 13 also bears the axial load of the orbiting scroll 12.

[0018] The motor unit 2 orbits the orbiting scroll 12 via the crankshaft 30. A plurality of working chambers are formed between the wrap 16 of the fixed scroll 11 and the wrap 20 of the orbiting scroll 12. As the orbiting scroll 12 orbits, each working chamber moves from the outside to the inside in the wrap extension direction (in other words, toward the radial center of the fixed scroll 11) and sequentially performs an intake process, a compression process, and a discharge process. The working chamber during the intake process draws in gas (e.g., air) through the intake filter 23 and the intake flow path of the fixed scroll 11. The working chamber during the compression process compresses the gas (in other words, changes the pressure of the gas). The working chamber during the discharge process discharges the compressed gas (in other words, gas whose pressure has been changed) through the discharge flow path 24 of the fixed scroll 11.

[0019] The motor unit 2 comprises the above-mentioned crankshaft 30, a rotor 31 fixed to the outer periphery of the crankshaft 30, a stator 32 arranged at a distance from the outer periphery of the rotor 31, a cylindrical motor casing 33 supporting the stator 32, a flange 34 attached to one axial side of the motor casing 33 (left side in Figure 4), and an end bracket 35 attached to the opposite axial side of the motor casing 33 (right side in Figure 4).

[0020] The flange 34 of the motor unit 2 has a protruding portion 36 that protrudes toward the main unit 1 (left side in FIG. 4 ). The flange 34 of the motor unit 2 is connected to the main casing 14 of the main unit 1 with a plurality of bolts 4, with the protruding portion 36 housed in the main casing 14 of the main unit 1.

[0021] The crankshaft 30 is rotatably supported by a main bearing 37 (load side bearing) provided on the flange 34 and a sub-bearing 38 (anti-load side bearing) provided on the end bracket 35. The crankshaft 30 rotates due to electromagnetic forces generated by the rotor 31 and the stator 32.

[0022] One end side (left side in FIG. 4 ) of the crankshaft 30 protrudes from the flange 34 and is provided with a crank portion 39. The crank portion 39 of the crankshaft 30 is eccentric from the center of the crankshaft 30 and is connected to a boss portion of the plate 22 of the orbiting scroll 12 via an orbiting bearing 40. The orbiting scroll 12 does not necessarily have to include the plate 22. In this case, the crank portion 39 of the crankshaft 30 may be connected to a boss portion of the end plate 19 of the orbiting scroll 12 via the orbiting bearing 40.

[0023] The orbiting bearing 40 is configured to be separable into an outer ring fixed to the boss portion of the orbiting scroll 12 and an inner ring fixed to the crank portion 39 of the crankshaft 30. This allows the main unit 1 and the motor unit 2 to be separated.

[0024] The other end of the crankshaft 30 (the right side in FIG. 4 ) protrudes beyond the end bracket 35 and is provided with a cooling fan 41. The cooling fan 41 rotates together with the crankshaft 30 to generate cooling air. The duct 3 guides the cooling air generated by the cooling fan 41 to the cooling flow path of the main unit 1.

[0025] Next, replacement of the main body unit as maintenance of the scroll compressor will be described.

[0026] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5, the main unit 1A is removed from the motor unit 2, and then the main unit 1B is attached to the motor unit 2 as shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 7 is a radial cross-sectional view taken along arrows A-A in Fig. 5 or Fig. 6, Fig. 8(a) is a radial cross-sectional view taken along arrows B-B in Fig. 5, and Fig. 8(b) is a radial cross-sectional view taken along arrows C-C in Fig. 6. Note that, for convenience, Figs. 5 and 6 omit illustration of a portion of the main unit 1A or 1B and a portion of the motor unit 2. Also, for convenience, Figs. 8(a) and 8(b) omit illustration of the support 13.

[0027] The protrusion 36 of the flange 34 of the motor unit 2 has an outer peripheral mating surface 51A (first mating surface) and a mating surface 51B (second mating surface) that are located at different radial positions. There are, for example, three mating surfaces 51A, which are formed in circumferential ranges θ1, θ2, and θ3 (e.g., ranges of 0 to 60 degrees, 120 to 180 degrees, and 240 to 300 degrees). There are, for example, three mating surfaces 51B, which are formed in circumferential ranges θ4, θ5, and θ6 (e.g., ranges of 65 to 115 degrees, 185 to 235 degrees, and 305 to 355 degrees).

[0028] The main body casing 14A of the main unit 1A has an inner mating surface 52A (third mating surface) that mates only with the above-mentioned mating surface 51A. Like the mating surfaces 51A, the main body casing 14A has three mating surfaces 52A, which are formed in circumferential ranges θ1, θ2, and θ3. The main body casing 14A has a recess recessed radially outward between the mating surfaces 52A, forming a gap between the main body casing 14A and the above-mentioned mating surface 51B.

[0029] When connecting the motor unit 2 and the main unit 1A, the fitting surface 51A of the protrusion 36 of the flange 34 of the motor unit 2 fits into the fitting surface 52A of the main casing 14A of the main unit 1A (a so-called spigot structure), improving the accuracy of alignment between the center of the motor unit 2 (more specifically, the center of the crankshaft 30) and the center of the main unit 1A (more specifically, the orbital center of the orbiting scroll 12). Even if wear subsequently occurs between the fitting surface 51A of the protrusion 36 of the flange 34 of the motor unit 2 and the fitting surface 52A of the main casing 14A of the main unit 1A due to factors such as micro-vibrations during compressor operation, no wear occurs on the fitting surface 51B of the protrusion 36 of the flange 34 of the motor unit 2.

[0030] The main body casing 14B of the main unit 1B has an inner mating surface 52B (fourth mating surface) that mates only with the above-mentioned mating surface 51B. Like the mating surfaces 51B, the main body casing 14B has three mating surfaces 52B, which are formed in circumferential ranges θ4, θ5, and θ6 (i.e., their circumferential positions are different from those of the mating surfaces 52A). The main body casing 14B has a recess recessed radially outward between the mating surfaces 52B, forming a gap between the main body casing 14B and the above-mentioned mating surface 51A.

[0031] When the motor unit 2 and main unit 1A are separated and then connected together, the fitting surface 51B of the protrusion 36 of the flange 34 of the motor unit 2 fits into the fitting surface 52B of the main casing 14B of the main unit 1B, improving the accuracy of aligning the center of the motor unit 2 with the center of the main unit 1B. As described above, the fitting surface 51B of the protrusion 36 of the flange 34 of the motor unit 2 is not worn. This eliminates the need to replace the flange 34 of the motor unit 2.

[0032] In this embodiment, the circumferential range of the mating surface 51A corresponding to the mating surface 52A and the circumferential range of the mating surface 51B corresponding to the mating surface 52B are separated by a predetermined distance (e.g., 5 degrees), which further prevents wear on the mating surface 51B before replacing the main unit.

[0033] In the first embodiment, the case where there are three mating surfaces 51A, 51B, 52A, and 52B has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and there may be four or more mating surfaces each.

[0034] A second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0035] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 9, the main unit 1C is removed from the motor unit 2, and then, as shown in Fig. 10, the main unit 1D is attached to the motor unit 2. Fig. 11(a) is a radial cross-sectional view taken along arrows D-D in Fig. 9 or 10, and Fig. 11(b) is a radial cross-sectional view taken along arrows E-E in Fig. 9 or 10. Fig. 12(a) is a radial cross-sectional view taken along arrows F-F in Fig. 9, and Fig. 12(b) is a radial cross-sectional view taken along arrows G-G in Fig. 10.

[0036] The protrusion 36 of the flange 34 of the motor unit 2 has an outer peripheral mating surface 51C (first mating surface) and an outer peripheral mating surface 51D (second mating surface) that are located at different axial and radial positions. The mating surface 51C is located closer to the main unit and closer to the center of the crankshaft than the mating surface 51D.

[0037] A main body casing 14C of the main unit 1C has an inner fitting surface 52C (third fitting surface) that fits only with the above-mentioned fitting surface 51C. A gap is formed between the main body casing 14C and the above-mentioned fitting surface 51D.

[0038] When connecting the motor unit 2 and the main unit 1C, the fitting surface 51C of the protrusion 36 of the flange 34 of the motor unit 2 fits into the fitting surface 52C of the main casing 14C of the main unit 1C, thereby improving the accuracy of alignment between the center of the motor unit 2 and the center of the main unit 1C. Even if wear subsequently occurs between the fitting surface 51C of the protrusion 36 of the flange 34 of the motor unit 2 and the fitting surface 52C of the main casing 14C of the main unit 1C due to factors such as micro-vibrations during compressor operation, no wear occurs on the fitting surface 51D of the protrusion 36 of the flange 34 of the motor unit 2.

[0039] A main body casing 14D of the main unit 1D has an inner circumferential mating surface 52D (fourth mating surface) that mates only with the mating surface 51D described above. A gap is formed between the main body casing 14D and the mating surface 51C described above.

[0040] When the motor unit 2 and main unit 1C are separated and then connected together, the fitting surface 51D of the protrusion 36 of the flange 34 of the motor unit 2 fits into the fitting surface 52D of the main casing 14D of the main unit 1D, improving the accuracy of aligning the center of the motor unit 2 with the center of the main unit 1B. As mentioned above, the fitting surface 51D of the protrusion 36 of the flange 34 of the motor unit 2 is not worn. This eliminates the need to replace the flange 34 of the motor unit 2.

[0041] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to a scroll compressor, it is not limited to this and may be applied to a scroll vacuum pump or the like.

[0042] 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D... Main body unit, 2... Motor unit, 11... Fixed scroll, 12... Orbiting scroll, 13... Support body, 14, 14A, 14B, 14C, 14D... Main body casing, 30... Crankshaft, 34... Flange, 36... Protrusion, 51A, 51C... Fitting surface (first fitting surface), 51B, 51D... (second fitting surface), 52A, 52C... Fitting surface (third fitting surface), 52B, 52D... Fitting surface (fourth fitting surface)

Claims

1. A maintenance method for replacing a main body unit of a scroll-type fluid machine comprising a main body unit including a fixed scroll, a rotating scroll which forms a working chamber between itself and the fixed scroll, a support which rotatably supports the rotating scroll, and a main body casing which is connected to the fixed scroll and which houses the rotating scroll and the support, and a motor unit which is connected to the main body unit and rotates the rotating scroll via a crankshaft, wherein a flange of the motor unit has a protruding portion which protrudes toward the main body unit and has a first mating surface and a second mating surface on the outer circumferential side which are positioned differently from each other in the circumferential or radial direction, the main body casing of the main body unit before replacement has a third mating surface on the inner circumferential side which mating only with the first mating surface, and the main body casing of the main body unit after replacement has a fourth mating surface on the inner circumferential side which mating only with the second mating surface.

2. A maintenance method for a scroll-type fluid machinery as described in claim 1, characterized in that the first mating surface and the second mating surface are located at different circumferential positions and there are three or more of each, and the third mating surface and the fourth mating surface are located at different circumferential positions and there are three or more of each.

3. A maintenance method for a scroll-type fluid machine as described in claim 2, characterized in that the circumferential range of the first mating surface corresponding to the third mating surface and the circumferential range of the second mating surface corresponding to the fourth mating surface are separated by a predetermined interval.

4. A scroll-type fluid machine comprising a main body unit including a fixed scroll, a rotating scroll which forms an operating chamber between itself and the fixed scroll, a support which rotatably supports the rotating scroll, and a main body casing which is connected to the fixed scroll and which houses the rotating scroll and the support, and a motor unit which is connected to the main body unit and rotates the rotating scroll via a crankshaft, wherein a flange of the motor unit has a protruding portion which protrudes toward the main body unit and has a first mating surface and a second mating surface on the outer periphery which are positioned differently from each other in the circumferential or radial direction, and the main body casing of the main body unit selectively has one of a third mating surface on the inner periphery which matings only with the first mating surface and a fourth mating surface on the inner periphery which matings only with the second mating surface.

5. A scroll-type fluid machine as described in claim 4, wherein the first mating surface and the second mating surface are located at different circumferential positions and there are three or more of each, and the third mating surface and the fourth mating surface are located at different circumferential positions and there are three or more of each.

6. A scroll-type fluid machine as described in claim 5, characterized in that the circumferential range of the first mating surface corresponding to the third mating surface and the circumferential range of the second mating surface corresponding to the fourth mating surface are separated by a predetermined interval.

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