Scroll Compressor Differential Pressure Oil Supply Path

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing scroll compressors face challenges in smoothly supplying oil during low pressure ratio operation, leading to inefficiencies and reliability issues due to excessive oil supply variations and backward flow, especially when the compression unit is driven at low speed or high pressure ratios.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a differential pressure oil supply structure with an additional oil supply path that opens only during low pressure ratio operation, combined with a valve structure based on spring resilience to control oil supply, ensures stable oil delivery by adjusting the oil supply path's location and timing to maintain efficient operation across varying pressure conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional oil supply path is used in the compression unit, then oil can be supplied during high pressure ratio operation, but oil supply becomes unstable and excessive during low pressure ratio operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoil supply stabilityVSAvoidpressure ratio adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The oil supply system is divided into multiple independent paths: a first oil supply path for high pressure ratio operation and a second oil supply path for low pressure ratio operation. Each path is activated based on operating conditions, allowing stable oil supply across varying pressure ratios without excessive oil supply during low pressure ratio operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The oil supply system dynamically switches between different supply paths based on real-time pressure ratio conditions. A valve mechanism opens or closes specific paths according to operating conditions, enabling the system to adapt oil supply characteristics to match varying pressure ratio requirements and maintain optimal performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If the compression unit is positioned close to the discharge outlet, then the structure is compact, but oil supply becomes difficult and requires additional support structures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidoil supply difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The oil supply paths are routed through multiple spatial dimensions and components, utilizing the rotary shaft and case structure to deliver oil to the compression unit. This multi-dimensional routing enables oil supply to reach the compactly positioned compression unit without requiring additional external support structures.

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

3Stability of the object's composition

If the rotary shaft is positioned to support the compression unit, then the structure is stable, but the gas power action point does not match the repulsive force, causing scroll tilting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidscroll tilting
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces a counterbalancing mechanism that offsets the mismatch between gas power action points and repulsive forces. This counterweight mechanism prevents scroll tilting by balancing the forces acting on the compression unit, thereby maintaining both structural stability and operational reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

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 solution enables smooth oil supply and maintains efficiency and reliability even at low pressure ratios, preventing oil supply variations and backward flow, thus ensuring stable compressor performance across different operational conditions.

Implementation Method 1

a valve structure based on spring resilience to control oil supply

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring resilience: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

an additional oil supply path that opens only during low pressure ratio operation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDifferential pressure: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3719319B1compressor
Publication Date: 2023.11.22 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3719319B1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~1(b)
  • EP3719319B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3719319B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A scroll compressor is disclosed, which may provide an oil supply path opened only in case of driving of a low pressure ratio to improve a differential pressure oil supply structure which may have a defect in oil supply in case of driving of the low pressure ratio.