External Rotor Compressor Lubricant Pickup for Low-Height Oil Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing refrigerant compressors with external rotor motors face a reduction in lubricant delivery capacity due to the increased height the lubricant must be conveyed, leading to decreased lubricant quantity delivered as the conveying head increases, which affects the compressor's efficiency and lubrication, especially at lower speeds.
Innovation Solution
A sleeve-shaped lubricant receptacle is attached to the carrier element in a rotationally fixed manner, allowing it to rotate with the crankshaft and dip into the lubricant sump, utilizing centrifugal force to increase lubricant pressure and delivery capacity without extending the crankshaft beyond the rotor, thus reducing the delivery height and enhancing lubrication efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the crankshaft is extended beyond the rotor to enable direct attachment of the lubricant receptacle, then the lubricant delivery capacity is improved, but the overall height of the compressor increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a carrier element as an intermediary component between the crankshaft and the lubricant receptacle. The carrier element is non-rotatably connected to the crankshaft and extends radially outwards, providing a mounting surface for the lubricant receptacle without requiring the crankshaft to extend beyond the rotor. This mediator enables the lubricant delivery system to function effectively while maintaining a compact compressor height.
2Shape
If the delivery height of lubricant is increased, then the lubricant can be delivered from a lower sump position, but the conveying capacity of the lubricant delivery system decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spatial arrangement by having the carrier element extend radially outwards from the crankshaft rather than axially. This radial extension allows the lubricant receptacle to be positioned optimally for picking up lubricant from the sump while maintaining a short delivery height, effectively utilizing the radial dimension to solve the vertical height constraint.
3Quantity of substance
If the carrier element extends radially outwards to support the lubricant receptacle, then the lubricant delivery capacity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier element serves multiple functions: it non-rotatably connects to the crankshaft to transmit rotational motion, radially extends to provide structural support, and serves as a mounting base for the lubricant receptacle. By combining these functions into a single component, the patent reduces overall device complexity while achieving improved lubricant delivery capacity.
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 configuration increases the lubricant delivery capacity, ensuring sufficient lubrication even at lower speeds, optimizing energy usage and maintaining compressor efficiency by reducing the delivery height and enhancing the conveying capacity of the lubricant delivery system.
Implementation Method 1
In the operating state, the sleeve-shaped lubricant receptacle dips into the oil sump, with lubricant being able to enter the lubricant receptacle, for example via a lubricant inlet opening. Due to the sleeve shape of the lubricant receptacle, i.e. the design of the lubricant receptacle as a hollow body in which lubricant can be accommodated, the lubricant in the lubricant receptacle is pressed against the inner wall of the lubricant receptacle by centrifugal force, causing the pressure to rise and the lubricant to be conveyed in the direction of the end of the crankshaft
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a refrigerant compressor, comprising: a preferably hermetically sealable compressor housing; an electric drive unit, comprising a rotor (4) and a stator (3); a crankshaft (1), which is connected to the rotor (4) for conjoint rotation and which has a longitudinal axis (2); a piston-cylinder unit, which can be driven by the crankshaft (1); wherein the electric drive unit is designed as an external rotor motor and the rotor (4) has a carrier element (12) extending outward radially with respect to the longitudinal axis (2) at least in some sections and the carrier element (12) is connected to the crankshaft (1) for conjoint rotation. According to the invention, in order to enable an increased delivery rate of lubricant from a lubricant sump together with preferably low or reduced height of the compressor, a sleeve-shaped lubricant receiver (8) for centrifugally conveying lubricant from a lubricant sump formed in a bottom region of the compressor housing toward the piston-cylinder unit is provided on a side of the carrier element (12) facing away from the piston-cylinder unit (5), the sleeve-shaped lubricant receiver (8) being joined to the carrier element (12) for conjoint rotation.