Scroll Compressor Blocking Portion for Backflow Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Scroll compressors with involute curve shapes for the fixed and orbiting wraps face issues with uneven compression ratios in compression chambers, leading to refrigerant backflow and increased noise due to the need for check valves, which can be damaged and costly to fabricate.

Innovation Solution

A blocking portion is integrated into the discharge passage to temporarily obscure the discharge hole at the start of discharging, preventing refrigerant backflow without a check valve, ensuring consistent compression ratios and reducing noise and fabrication costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a check valve is installed to prevent refrigerant backflow, then refrigerant backflow is prevented, but device complexity and fabrication cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverefrigerant backflow preventionVSAvoidvalve structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the check valve component from the system by using the blocking portion structure integrated into the discharge passage, thereby preventing refrigerant backflow without the complexity of a valve mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The blocking portion acts as an intermediary structure that temporarily obstructs the discharge hole to prevent refrigerant backflow, replacing the need for a mechanical check valve while achieving the same functional outcome

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a check valve is installed to prevent refrigerant backflow, then refrigerant backflow is prevented, but fabrication cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverefrigerant backflow preventionVSAvoidfabrication cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the check valve component entirely and replaces it with a blocking portion that is integrated into the discharge passage structure, reducing fabrication cost by eliminating a separate valve assembly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The blocking portion is merged with the discharge passage structure, combining two functions into a single integrated component that reduces manufacturing steps and fabrication cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If check valves are used to prevent refrigerant backflow, then refrigerant backflow is prevented, but noise increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverefrigerant backflow preventionVSAvoidnoise

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the check valve component and replaces it with a blocking portion that prevents refrigerant backflow without the valve opening/closing actions that generate noise

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harm of refrigerant backflow into a beneficial controlled discharge mechanism where the blocking portion temporarily holds and then releases refrigerant in a controlled manner, eliminating noise while maintaining backflow prevention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS8961159B2Scroll compressor

Publication Date: 2015.02.24 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

A scroll compressor may include a blocking portion provided in a fixed component thereof, and positioned adjacent to a discharge hole formed in an orbiting scroll of the compressor. The blocking portion may temporarily obscure the discharge hole upon initiation of a discharging operation, thereby preventing refrigerant discharged into a discharging space from flowing back into a compression chamber, without the use of a separate check valve. Such a blocking portion may prevent an increase in overall compressor noise due to noise typically generated by a check valve. Such a blocking portion may also prevent degradation in compressor reliability levels due to valve damage and increases in fabricating costs due to the addition of the valve.