Co-rotating Scroll Compressor Lubricant Leakage Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Co-rotating scroll compressors face issues with lubricant leakage from the synchronous drive mechanism, leading to reduced lifespan and contamination of compressed fluid due to lack of lubrication.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a drive-side plate between the driving scroll member and the drive unit, allowing the synchronous drive mechanism to be placed without a direct driving shaft, thereby creating a space to house the mechanism and prevent lubricant leakage, using a pin ring, crank pin, or Oldham linkage mechanism, and a driven-side housing section to further inhibit lubricant leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a synchronous drive mechanism using a pin ring or crankpin with rolling bearing is used to transmit driving force, then the driving scroll member and driven scroll member can rotate in the same direction at the same angular velocity, but the lubricant supplied to the mechanism leaks out due to centrifugal force, reducing the mechanism's life and contaminating the compressed fluid

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelife of synchronous drive mechanismVSAvoidlubricant leakage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the compressor into separate functional zones by introducing a drive-side plate and driven-side housing section. The synchronous drive mechanism is isolated in a dedicated space between the drive-side plate and driving scroll member, separating the lubrication system from the compression space. This segmentation prevents lubricant from the drive mechanism from contaminating the compressed fluid while maintaining the mechanism's rotational function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The drive-side plate acts as an intermediary component that transmits rotational driving force from the driving shaft to the driving scroll member without requiring a direct through-hole connection. This intermediary structure enables the synchronous drive mechanism to be housed in a confined space with proper lubrication containment, preventing lubricant leakage into the compression zone while maintaining power transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Power

If a driving shaft is connected directly to the driving scroll member by extending on the rotation axis, then the rotational driving force can be transmitted efficiently, but no space is available to house the synchronous drive mechanism without forming through-holes that would allow lubricant leakage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission of rotational driving forceVSAvoidstructural configuration for housing synchronous drive mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transitions from a one-dimensional direct axial connection to a multi-dimensional power transmission path. The drive-side plate is positioned at a predetermined distance from the driving scroll member along the rotation axis, creating a three-dimensional space for the synchronous drive mechanism. Power is transmitted through this spatial arrangement via the fixing portion connected to the outer periphery, eliminating the need for through-holes while maintaining efficient force transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The drive-side plate serves as an intermediary structure that decouples the direct axial connection between the driving shaft and driving scroll member. By introducing this intermediate component with a fixing portion on the outer periphery, the system achieves both efficient power transmission and proper housing for the synchronous drive mechanism without lubricant leakage paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-generated harmful factors

If the synchronous drive mechanism is housed in a compact space between the drive-side plate and driving scroll member, then lubricant leakage is inhibited, but the mechanism requires precise positioning at a predetermined distance from the driving scroll member

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelubricant leakage preventionVSAvoidpositioning of drive-side plate
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The drive-side plate is pre-positioned at a predetermined distance from the driving scroll member during assembly, establishing the correct spatial relationship before operation. This preliminary positioning ensures the synchronous drive mechanism is housed in the appropriate space for lubricant containment while maintaining proper functional clearance, reducing the need for complex precision adjustments during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 effectively inhibits lubricant leakage, extending the lifespan of the synchronous drive mechanism and preventing contamination of the compressed fluid, ensuring reliable operation.

Implementation Method 1

a synchronous drive mechanism configured to transmit a driving force from a driving shaft to the driven scroll member such that the driving scroll member and the driven scroll member performs rotating motion in a same direction at a same angular velocity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

a drive-side wall placed on a drive-side end plate of the driving scroll member and a driven-side wall of the driven scroll member are meshed with each other, thereby forming a compression space

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Compression: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP3540230B1Co-rotating scroll compressor
Publication Date: 2021.08.18 MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND LTD
  • EP3540230B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3540230B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3540230B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention provides a co-rotating scroll compressor that can inhibit leakage of lubricant supplied to a synchronous drive mechanism. A co-rotating scroll compressor includes a drive-side plate 20 placed between a driving scroll member 70 and a motor 5 at a predetermined distance from the driving scroll member 70 in a direction of a drive-side rotation axis CL1. The drive-side plate 20 includes a shaft portion 20b fixed to a driving shaft 6 of the motor 5 and a fixing portion 20a fixed to an outer periphery of the driving scroll member 70, and a synchronous drive mechanism made up of a needle bearing 32a and a pin 32b is placed between the drive-side plate 20 and driving scroll member 70.