Deformable Muffler Plate Hub for Sealing at High Compression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional compressors experience non-uniform deformation at the hub during high compression ratios, leading to improper sealing between the annular sealing member and the wear ring, allowing fluid to flow from the discharge chamber to the suction chamber.

Innovation Solution

The compressor incorporates a muffler plate with a deformable hub design, allowing for uniform elastic deformation during high compression ratios, ensuring the sealing member remains engaged with the wear ring to prevent fluid leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional rigid muffler plate is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but non-uniform deformation occurs at the hub during high compression ratios causing improper sealing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidmuffler plate structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The muffler plate hub is designed with varying thickness to enable dynamic elastic deformation during compression cycles. The deformable hub can uniformly deform under high compression ratios to maintain sealing contact between the sealing member and wear ring, resolving the contradiction between sealing reliability and structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The hub thickness parameter is varied radially, with the radial thickness being greater than the axial thickness. This parameter change allows the hub to exhibit controlled elastic deformation characteristics under different compression conditions, ensuring uniform deformation and proper sealing while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the hub is made thicker to prevent deformation, then sealing is improved, but non-uniform deformation still occurs during high compression ratios

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoiduniformity of deformation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The muffler plate hub is designed with non-uniform thickness distribution, where the radial thickness is greater than the axial thickness. This local quality variation ensures that the hub deforms uniformly in the radial direction during high compression ratios, preventing non-uniform deformation and maintaining proper sealing contact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If a deformable hub design is implemented, then uniform deformation and proper sealing are achieved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing reliabilityVSAvoidmuffler plate manufacturing ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The hub thickness parameter is systematically varied with a specific ratio (radial thickness greater than axial thickness), creating a predictable deformation pattern that can be manufactured using conventional machining processes. This parameter-based approach balances manufacturing complexity with sealing reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 deformable muffler plate maintains efficient and reliable operation by ensuring proper sealing, even at high compression ratios, preventing fluid leakage between the discharge and suction chambers.

Implementation Method 1

The compressor incorporates a muffler plate with a deformable hub design, allowing for uniform elastic deformation during high compression ratios, ensuring the sealing member remains engaged with the wear ring to prevent fluid leakage.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4150213B1Compressor having muffler plate
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 COPELAND LP
  • EP4150213B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4150213B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4150213B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A compressor includes a shell assembly, a muffler plate and a compression mechanism. The shell assembly has a suction chamber and a discharge chamber. The muffler plate is disposed within the shell assembly and separates the suction chamber from the discharge chamber. The muffler plate includes a hub having a circumferentially extending inner portion and a circumferentially extending intermediate portion. The circumferentially extending inner portion defines a discharge passage extending therethrough. The circumferentially extending intermediate portion has a slot formed in a surface thereof. The slot extends at least partially around the circumferentially extending intermediate portion. The compression mechanism is disposed within the suction chamber and provides working fluid to the discharge chamber via the discharge passage of muffler plate.