Removable Hydropad for Scroll Compressor Wear Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Scroll compressors in vapor cycle refrigeration systems experience excessive wear on hydropad surfaces and seal glands during start-up and shutdown, leading to costly replacement of the entire motor housing due to the integral design.
Innovation Solution
A scroll compressor design featuring a removable hydropad that can be inserted, screwed, or pinned onto the motor housing, providing a wear-resistant material like cast iron or aluminum alloy to prevent damage to the motor housing during operation, allowing for easy replacement and repair without disassembling the entire unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the hydropad is made as an integral part of the motor housing (one-piece design), then the structural strength and stability are improved, but the repairability deteriorates because damage to the hydropad surface or seal glands requires replacement of the entire motor housing
Solution Approach 1:
The hydropad is separated from the motor housing into a distinct, removable component. The motor housing now includes a hydropad receiving surface that can accommodate a separate hydropad assembly, allowing the hydropad to be replaced independently without replacing the entire motor housing.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydropad is extracted from the integral motor housing design and made into a separate, removable part. This extraction allows the hydropad to be independently replaced when damaged, while the motor housing remains intact and reusable.
2Ease of repair
If the hydropad is made removable and separate from the motor housing, then the ease of repair is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional assembly and disassembly operations
Solution Approach 1:
The motor housing is designed with a specific hydropad receiving surface that provides localized functionality for accommodating the removable hydropad. This localized design feature enables easy replacement while maintaining overall structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The removable hydropad is designed to fit within the hydropad receiving surface of the motor housing, creating a nested arrangement where the hydropad can be easily inserted and removed while maintaining a compact overall structure.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If wear-resistant materials like cast iron are used for the hydropad, then the durability is improved, but the weight increases compared to aluminum alloy motor housing
Solution Approach 1:
Wear-resistant materials are applied locally only to the hydropad component that contacts the orbiting scroll, rather than the entire motor housing. This provides localized durability enhancement at the wear interface while keeping the overall housing lightweight.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses different materials for different components: the motor housing can be made of lightweight aluminum alloy while the hydropad is made of wear-resistant cast iron or similar material, creating a composite material solution that optimizes both weight and durability.
Data Source
AI summary
A scroll compressor is provided and includes a motor housing having a support surface, a fixed scroll fixedly disposable on the motor housing, an orbiting scroll which is operably disposable for fluid-compressive orbital movement relative to the fixed scroll and a removable hydropad removably disposable on the support surface between the orbiting scroll and the support surface.