Scroll Compressor Gas Passage for Noise Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional scroll-type compressors experience noise and vibration due to repeated contact and separation between the orbiting and fixed scrolls, which is caused by the pressure-induced movement of the orbiting scroll.

Innovation Solution

A scroll-type compressor design featuring a gas passage in the orbiting base plate that allows refrigerant gas to flow from the compression chamber to the back pressure chamber without requiring separation of the orbiting scroll from the fixed scroll, thereby stabilizing the orbiting scroll and reducing noise by maintaining continuous contact and promoting lubrication through increased back pressure chamber pressure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the air supply passage is formed in the orbiting wall to feed refrigerant gas to the back pressure chamber, then the pressure in the back pressure chamber increases to press the orbiting scroll toward the fixed scroll, but the orbiting scroll repeatedly contacts and separates from the fixed scroll causing noise and vibration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestable operationVSAvoidnoise and vibration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A gas passage is formed in the orbiting base plate (an intermediary component) to provide a dedicated pathway for refrigerant gas flow from the compression chamber to the back pressure chamber. This separates the gas flow function from the compression function, allowing the orbiting scroll to maintain stable contact with the fixed scroll while still achieving the necessary back pressure for lubrication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The orbiting base plate is divided into functional zones: a compression side surface facing the compression chamber, a back pressure chamber side surface facing the back pressure chamber, and a gas passage connecting them. This segmentation allows independent optimization of compression and back pressure functions without interfering with scroll contact stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If the orbiting scroll is pressed toward the fixed scroll by back pressure to prevent excessive separation, then contact stability improves, but the gas passage must be positioned to allow flow without blocking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescroll contact stabilityVSAvoidgas passage positioning

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gas passage is positioned at specific locations on the orbiting base plate with distinct local qualities: the inlet opening is on the compression side surface at a position that faces between opposing portions of the orbiting spiral wall, while the outlet opening is on the back pressure chamber side surface at a position facing an area on the radially inner side than the outer circumference of the bearing. This localized positioning ensures proper gas flow while maintaining scroll contact stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If the gas passage opening in the back pressure side surface is positioned at radially inner side than bearing outer circumference, then gas flow to back pressure chamber is optimized, but the passage must navigate complex spatial constraints

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegas flow efficiencyVSAvoidpassage configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gas passage utilizes the thickness dimension of the orbiting base plate to transition from the compression side surface to the back pressure chamber side surface. By positioning the outlet opening on the back pressure chamber side surface at a radially inner side position, the passage effectively uses the axial thickness of the base plate to achieve the required spatial relationship without adding radial complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

The design suppresses noise and vibration by maintaining continuous contact between the scrolls, enhancing lubrication, and stabilizing the orbiting scroll, while maintaining efficient compression and discharge of refrigerant gas.

Implementation Method 1

the pressure of the refrigerant gas in the back pressure chamber presses the orbiting scroll toward the fixed scroll

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

an orbiting scroll supported by a bearing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLubrication: Lubrication

Implementation Method 3

an eccentric shaft being offset from a rotation center of the rotation shaft. The orbiting scroll is fixed onto the eccentric shaft through a bush and a bearing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEccentric motion: Eccentric

Data Source

PatentUS9624928B2Scroll-type compressor with gas passage formed in orbiting plate to restrict flow from compression chamber to back pressure chamber

Publication Date: 2017.04.18 TOYOTA INDUSTRIES CORP

AI summary

The orbiting base plate has a compression side surface and a back pressure chamber side surface. The gas passage has an opening in the compression side surface of the orbiting base plate between portions of the orbiting spiral wall that face each other, and the gas passage has an opening in the back pressure side surface at a position that faces an area on a radially inner side than the outer circumference of the bearing, so as to feed the refrigerant gas in the compression chamber to the back pressure chamber.