Spring-Loaded Suction Valve Sealing for Compressor Shutdown Leakage

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Compressors face refrigerant leakage from the high pressure side to the low pressure side when stopped, leading to increased temperatures in applications like showcase cooling, as existing technologies fail to effectively seal the system during shutdown.

Innovation Solution

A compressor design featuring a suction valve with a seal that moves to the predetermined position upon shutdown, sealing the inner pipe end and preventing backward refrigerant flow, utilizing a combination of a suction valve body, projection portion, and spring to ensure the seal is maintained, even when the compressor is not in operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the suction valve is not moved to the predetermined position when the compressor stops, then the structure is simple, but the refrigerant leaks from the high pressure side to the low pressure side

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing performanceVSAvoidvalve structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The suction valve is designed to dynamically change position based on compressor operation state. During operation, the valve opens to allow refrigerant flow. When the compressor stops, the valve automatically moves to a predetermined position under spring force to seal the suction port, preventing refrigerant leakage. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction by providing both operational functionality and sealing reliability without requiring a completely separate sealing mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The suction valve system is self-regulating through the spring mechanism. When compression force decreases during compressor shutdown, the spring automatically pushes the valve to the predetermined position to seal the suction port, preventing refrigerant leakage without external intervention. This self-service mechanism achieves reliable sealing while maintaining relatively simple structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Loss of energy

If the compressor stops temporarily during showcase cooling, then energy consumption is reduced, but the refrigerant leaks causing temperature increase inside the showcase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidshowcase internal temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The suction valve is designed to proactively seal the suction port at the predetermined position before refrigerant leakage can occur during compressor shutdown. This preliminary sealing action maintains system pressure integrity, preventing temperature increase in the showcase even when the compressor stops temporarily for energy conservation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If a seal is mounted at the lower end of the suction pipe independently of the suction valve, then the sealing is enhanced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidnumber of sealing components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The suction valve is designed to perform multiple functions: it opens during compression to allow refrigerant flow and automatically positions itself to seal the suction port when the compressor stops. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate sealing components, achieving enhanced sealing reliability while maintaining relatively simple device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing function is merged into the suction valve mechanism itself. The valve body and seal structure are integrated, allowing the suction valve to simultaneously perform flow control during operation and sealing during shutdown. This consolidation achieves reliable sealing without adding independent sealing components, thus maintaining device simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 design effectively prevents refrigerant leakage from the high pressure side to the low pressure side for a specified period, maintaining the temperature inside the showcase and ensuring efficient operation during temporary compressor stops.

Implementation Method 1

a spring arranged in the suction hole and configured to push the suction valve to a predetermined position in the suction hole

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the suction valve is arranged in the suction hole and is configured to allow a flow of the refrigerant from the suction pipe into a compression chamber of the compression mechanism

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical containment: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentEP4165312B1A compressor
Publication Date: 2024.04.24 SIAM COMPRESSOR INDUSTRY CO LTD
  • EP4165312B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4165312B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4165312B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4D

AI summary

The present application discloses a compressor 1 comprising: an outer pipe 50 being connected from an outside to pass through the vessel 10; an inner pipe 52 being closely inserted into the outer pipe 50; a compression mechanism 20 including a suction hole 29 formed of a blind hole and a suction valve 40 in the suction hole 29. The suction valve 40 includes a seal 48 on a side facing an opening 29c of the suction hole 29 to seal an entire end 52a of the inner pipe 52 on a side facing the suction valve 40 when the compressor 1 stops.