Variable Displacement Compressor Oil Separation via Drive Shaft Holes
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional variable displacement compressors require separate oil separators and additional spaces for oil separation, which complicates the design and assembly process.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a sealing member, such as a lock nut or oil-less bearing, at the rear end of the drive shaft to facilitate oil separation within the compressor without the need for an additional oil separator, utilizing communication holes in the lug plate to centrifugally separate oil from refrigerant gas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate oil separator is installed in the conventional variable displacement compressor, then oil separation function is achieved, but device complexity and design complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the oil separation function with the drive shaft by forming communication holes directly in the drive shaft body. The drive shaft simultaneously serves as both a rotational drive component and an oil separation device, eliminating the need for a separate oil separator component.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive shaft is designed to perform multiple functions: it transmits rotational motion to the swash plate while simultaneously separating oil from refrigerant gas through the communication holes formed in its body. This multi-functional design reduces the total number of components required.
2Reliability
If a separate oil separator is installed, then oil separation is achieved, but manufacturing and assembly complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The oil separation function is integrated into the drive shaft component itself rather than being a separate assembly. The communication holes are formed directly in the drive shaft, eliminating the need for separate assembly steps for installing an oil separator.
3Reliability
If additional space is allocated for a separate oil separator, then oil separation capacity is improved, but compressor volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The oil separation function is integrated into the existing drive shaft volume rather than adding a separate oil separator component. The communication holes utilize the internal space of the drive shaft, avoiding additional external volume requirements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution allows for effective oil separation and lubrication within the compressor, simplifying the internal structure and assembly by eliminating the need for a separate oil separator, ensuring smooth operation and reduced design complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a portion of the refrigerant gas passing through the interior of the oil separator 39, adjacent to an inner periphery of the oil separator 39, is rotated together with the oil separator 39. As a result of the rotation, misty oil contained in the refrigerant gas is centrifugally separated from the refrigerant gas.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6C
AI summary
Provided is an oil separating structure of a variable displacement compressor including: a cylinder block having a plurality of cylinder bores; a front housing disposed in the front of the cylinder block to form a swash plate chamber; a drive shaft rotatably supported at the cylinder block; a lug plate disposed in the swash plate chamber of the front housing and fixedly installed at the drive shaft; a rear housing disposed in the rear of the cylinder block and having a discharge chamber and a suction chamber communicating with the cylinder bores; a swash plate installed to be rotated by the lug plate to vary its inclination angle; pistons connected to the swash plate and reciprocating in the cylinder bores; a suction path for communicating the swash plate chamber and the discharge chamber; an additional exhaust path for communicating the swash plate chamber and the suction chamber; and a control valve installed in the middle of the suction path, characterized in that the drive shaft (140) has a communication aperture (142) formed therein for communicating the swash plate chamber (120a) and the suction chamber (132), and the lug plate (180) has a first communication hole (185a) passing therethrough and a second communication hole (185b) formed therein for communicating the first communication hole (185a) and the communication aperture (142). Therefore, oil and refrigerant are smoothly separated from each other using only the communication hole formed in the lug plate without an additional oil separator, thereby simplifying an inner constitution of a compressor.