Compressor One-Piece Valve Plate Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerant compressors have complex and expensive two-layer valve plate designs, which complicate manufacturing and reduce efficiency due to small valve openings, necessitating increased power to transport refrigerant.
Innovation Solution
A compressor with a one-piece valve plate connected to the cylinder cover or block via a screw or support element, featuring a large, stable valve opening for enhanced refrigerant throughput, utilizing a circular outlet and annular inlet design with tapered sealing sections for improved sealing and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a two-layer valve plate design is used, then structural stability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The valve plate is divided into a stationary valve plate and a movable valve element (valve cap), where the stationary plate provides structural stability and the movable element provides sealing function. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing overall complexity while maintaining stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the sealing function and the structural support function into a single integrated valve plate assembly, where the stationary valve plate and movable valve element work together as one unit. This merging eliminates the need for separate sealing mechanisms and support structures, simplifying the overall design.
2Productivity
If valve opening size is increased, then refrigerant throughput is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The valve opening is made dynamic through the movable valve element that can shift position based on operating conditions. This allows the effective opening size to vary during operation, optimizing throughput while maintaining manufacturable dimensions for the valve components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the valve opening by providing different opening sizes at different locations (circular outlet opening vs. annular inlet opening) and allowing the effective opening to change with valve element displacement. This enables large throughput while using standard manufacturing tolerances.
3Loss of energy
If valve opening size is increased, then power consumption is reduced, but valve plate structural stability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the valve plate into stationary and movable components, the patent enables large openings in the stationary plate while the movable element provides the necessary structural reinforcement and sealing, maintaining stability despite larger openings.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve plate assembly uses different materials or material configurations in different regions - the stationary valve plate may use stronger materials or thicker sections around large openings to maintain structural integrity while allowing large flow areas.
Data Source
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AI summary
Compressor for compressing coolant with a cylinder block, a cylinder cover (12) and a valve plate (10) which is arranged between the cylinder block and the cylinder cover (12) and has an outlet opening (22) for compressed coolant, wherein the compressor also has a valve element or a valve body (26) for sealing or closing the outlet opening (22), wherein the valve plate (10) is in one piece or one layer, wherein the valve plate (10) is supported on the cylinder cover (12) and/or on the cylinder block in the region of a pressure unit, and in particular is connected or secured thereto by means of a connection element, in particular a screw (38).