Rotary Compressor Roller Dimples for Wear Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

In rotary compressors of the hinge vane type, the roller is prone to tilting and colliding with or pressing against plates due to compression reaction forces and thermal deformation, leading to wear and reduced efficiency, whereas in rolling piston types, the lack of constraint allows quick restoration but does not address wear effectively.

Innovation Solution

Defining dimple portions or lubrication portions on the axial end surfaces of the roller and plates in the hinge vane type to prevent collision and consider thermal deformation, thereby reducing wear and refrigerant leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the roller is constrained to the vane in a hinge vane type rotary compressor, then stable vane behavior is achieved and axial leakage is reduced, but the roller is prone to tilting and colliding with plates due to compression reaction forces and thermal deformation, causing severe wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevane behavior stabilityVSAvoidroller collision and wear
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A buffer portion protruding in the axial direction from the axial end surface of the roller is provided, which serves as a cushioning element to absorb the impact and reduce wear when the roller collides with or presses against the plate during operation, thereby preventing severe damage while maintaining the hinge vane type's stability benefits

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If dimple portions are defined on the axial end surfaces of the roller and plates, then collision and wear are reduced, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroller collision and wearVSAvoidroller and plate structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of modifying the entire roller or plate structure, dimple portions are localized only at the axial end surfaces where collision occurs, providing wear reduction functionality precisely where needed while keeping the rest of the structure simple and maintaining manufacturing ease

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If the roller is not constrained to the vane in a rolling piston type, then the roller can quickly restore from collision posture, but the lack of constraint does not effectively prevent wear between roller and plate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroller restoration capabilityVSAvoidroller and plate wear
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The buffer portion acts as an intermediary element between the roller and the plate, absorbing the harmful impact forces during collision while allowing the roller to maintain its operational freedom, thus protecting against wear without restricting the roller's movement or restoration capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

The dimple portions effectively prevent the roller from colliding with or pressing against plates, reducing wear and refrigerant leakage, and enhancing compressor efficiency by minimizing friction loss and improving reliability.

Implementation Method 1

as the thermal deformation amount greatly increases compared to the other part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal deformation: Thermal Expansion

Implementation Method 2

Defining dimple portions or lubrication portions on the axial end surfaces of the roller and plates in the hinge vane type to prevent collision and consider thermal deformation, thereby reducing wear and refrigerant leakage

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLubrication: Lubrication

Data Source

PatentEP3744947B1Rotary compressor
Publication Date: 2024.05.29 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3744947B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3744947B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3744947B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A rotary compressor according to the present embodiment may include a rotary shaft; a plurality of plates supporting the rotary shaft; a cylinder provided between the plurality of plates to define a compression space, and provided with a vane slot; a roller slidably coupled to the rotary shaft to be provided inside the cylinder, and disposed with a hinge groove on an outer circumferential surface thereof; and a vane, one end of which is slidably coupled to the vane slot of the cylinder, and the other end of which is rotatably coupled to the hinge groove of the roller, wherein at least one of both axial end surfaces of the roller facing the plurality of plates is provided with a dimple portion having a preset depth. Through this, a contact surface between the roller and the plate may be suppressed from being in close contact with each other to suppress the roller or the plate from being damaged or the performance of the compressor due to a friction loss from being deteriorated, thereby improving the reliability and performance of the compressor.