Pump Body Assembly Layout for Smooth Frozen Oil Return

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Solution Overview

Problem

The issue of liquid frozen oil not smoothly flowing back into the oil pool in compressors leads to insufficient oil supply, causing reliability problems and wear of friction components.

Innovation Solution

The design of the pump body assembly includes staggered arrangements of air suction holes and sliding vane grooves relative to the return passage, ensuring efficient oil return by optimizing the structure of the upper flange to prevent overlap and enhance rigidity, thereby facilitating smooth oil flow back to the oil pool.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the return passage is positioned directly above the air suction hole and sliding vane groove, then the structural arrangement is simplified, but liquid frozen oil flows back into the air suction hole and sliding vane groove causing ineffective oil return

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural arrangementVSAvoidoil return effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by staggering the return passage and air suction hole at different angular positions around the cylinder axis. Instead of symmetric alignment, the return passage is positioned at an angular offset from the air suction hole, preventing direct flow paths and ensuring oil returns to the oil pool without entering the suction system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary spatial arrangement where the return passage discharges oil into a separate region of the cylinder that is not directly connected to the air suction hole or sliding vane groove. This intermediary positioning acts as a buffer zone, allowing oil to settle and return to the oil pool without directly entering the refrigerant suction pathways.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If the upper flange structure is optimized to enhance rigidity, then structural strength is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural rigidityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The upper flange is segmented into multiple functional regions: a return passage receiving region with reinforced structure for oil discharge, and air suction regions positioned at staggered locations. This segmentation allows each region to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall manufacturability through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by providing enhanced structural reinforcement specifically at the return passage receiving region where rigidity is most critical for maintaining proper oil discharge geometry. Other regions of the upper flange maintain standard thickness and structure, balancing overall manufacturing ease with localized strength requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4707600A1Pump body assembly, compressor and air conditioner
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 ZHUHAI GREE REFRIGERATION TECH CENT OF ENERGY SAVING & ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
  • EP4707600A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4707600A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4707600A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed are a pump body assembly, a compressor and an air conditioner. The pump body assembly comprises: a cylinder (11), wherein a air suction hole (111) and a slide vane groove (112) are arranged at intervals on the cylinder (11); an upper flange (12) arranged on the cylinder (11), wherein the upper flange (12) is located above the cylinder (11), a return passage (121) is arranged on the upper flange (12), the return passage (121) passes through the upper flange (12) along the axial direction of the upper flange (12), and the return passage (121) extends along the circumferential direction of the upper flange (12); at least one of the air suction hole (111) and the sliding vane groove (112) is arranged in a staggered manner relative to the distribution interval of the return passage (121) along the circumferential direction of the upper flange (12). The pump body assembly can solve the technical problem in the prior art that the liquid frozen oil cannot smoothly flow back into the oil pool.