Scroll Compressor Oil Recess and Supply Passage Design

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing scroll compressor design requires storing oil in a receiving chamber, which leads to increased frictional resistance and churning loss due to the drive shaft or engaging portion being soaked in oil, resulting in higher motive energy consumption and potential oil mist formation.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates an annular recess on the bottom of the receiving portion to collect and redirect lubricating oil, reducing the likelihood of the engaging portion being soaked in oil and incorporating an oil exhaust channel to return excess oil to the reservoir, thereby minimizing churning loss and preventing oil mist formation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If oil is stored in the receiving chamber to ensure reliable lubrication of the sliding portion, then lubrication reliability is improved, but the drive shaft or engaging portion becomes soaked in oil, increasing frictional resistance and churning loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelubrication reliabilityVSAvoidchurning loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The receiving chamber is segmented into two distinct spaces: a first space for receiving the engaging portion and a second space for storing lubricating oil. The partition wall with an oil supply hole separates these spaces, allowing oil to be supplied to the sliding portion without the engaging portion being soaked in oil, thus reducing churning loss while maintaining lubrication reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The oil supply hole in the partition wall provides localized oil delivery to the sliding portion between the drive shaft and engaging portion. This ensures that oil is present only where needed for lubrication, rather than filling the entire receiving chamber, thereby avoiding increased frictional resistance and churning loss in other areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If oil is stored in the receiving chamber to lubricate the sliding portion, then lubrication is ensured, but the electric motor consumes more motive energy due to increased frictional resistance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelubrication reliabilityVSAvoidmotive energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the receiving chamber into a first space (for the engaging portion) and a second space (for oil storage), the invention ensures that oil is available for lubrication without causing the engaging portion to churn through excess oil, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining lubrication reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The partition wall acts as an intermediary structure that separates the engaging portion from the stored oil, while still allowing controlled oil flow through the oil supply hole to the sliding portion. This mediator prevents direct contact between the engaging portion and bulk oil, reducing energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If oil is stored in the receiving chamber to ensure lubrication supply, then lubrication reliability is improved, but oil mist may form due to drive shaft rotation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelubrication reliabilityVSAvoidoil mist formation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The partition wall separates the oil storage area from the engaging portion rotation area, preventing the drive shaft from churning the stored oil. The oil supply hole provides controlled oil delivery to the sliding portion without allowing bulk oil to be agitated by rotation, thus preventing oil mist formation while ensuring lubrication reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 reduces oil churning loss, prevents oil mist, and ensures reliable lubrication of the sliding portions, enhancing the efficiency and reliability of the scroll compressor by minimizing the motive energy consumption and maintaining a stable oil supply.

Implementation Method 1

the cylindrical projection (79) elastically deforms along the drive shaft (60) when the drive shaft (60) warps radially outward during rotation of the drive shaft (60)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

an oil pump is provided at a lower end portion of the drive shaft in order to suck up oil from an oil reservoir at the bottom of the casing. The oil sucked up by the oil pump with the rotation of the drive shaft flows upward through an oil passage in the drive shaft.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPumping: Pump

Data Source

PatentEP2940302B1Scroll compressor
Publication Date: 2019.07.10 DAIKIN INDUSTRIES LTD
  • EP2940302B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2940302B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2940302B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A housing (25) of a scroll compressor is provided with a recess (78) which is provided on a bottom (26a) of a receiving portion (26), and in which oil accumulates after lubricating a sliding portion (44) of an engaging portion (43), and an oil supply passage (70) which delivers the oil in the recess (78) to a sliding portion (35, 45) of a compression mechanism (20).