Scroll Compressor Oldham Ring Grooves for Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional scroll compressors generate noise due to vibration-induced contact between the Oldham ring and the main bearing member, particularly near the key groove, which affects the operational sound quality.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates grooves on the Oldham ring sliding surfaces adjacent to the key groove of the main bearing member, creating a gap that prevents contact between the Oldham ring and the main bearing member, thereby reducing vibration-induced noise. These grooves are laterally symmetric and strategically positioned to absorb the reaction force from the orbiting scroll, ensuring the Oldham ring does not come into contact with the main bearing member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If parallel keys are provided on side surfaces of the main bearing member and key grooves are formed in the main bearing member to remove the thrust bearing member, then costs are reduced, but the Oldham ring and key groove vibrate and contact each other generating operation sound
Solution Approach 1:
The invention provides cushioning portions on the Oldham ring at positions corresponding to the key grooves of the main bearing member. These cushioning portions absorb the reaction force from the orbiting scroll before it can cause the Oldham ring to contact the key groove, thereby preventing vibration-induced operation sound while maintaining the cost-reducing design of having parallel keys on the main bearing member
2Power
If the orbiting scroll is pushed toward the main bearing member by variation in compressing pressure, then the compressing operation is performed, but the Oldham ring and main bearing member contact and vibrate generating noise
Solution Approach 1:
The cushioning portions on the Oldham ring act as an intermediary element between the orbiting scroll and the main bearing member. When the orbiting scroll pushes the Oldham ring toward the main bearing member during compressing operation, the cushioning portions absorb the reaction force, preventing direct contact and vibration between the Oldham ring and main bearing member, thus eliminating operation sound while maintaining compressing power
Data Source
AI summary
In a scroll compressor of the present invention, a fixed scroll 11 and an orbiting scroll 12 are meshed with each other such that spiral laps of the fixed scroll 11 and the orbiting scroll 12 inwardly face each other, an Oldham ring 26 is provided between the main bearing member 19 and the orbiting scroll 12, and a key portion of the Oldham ring 26 is inserted into a key groove 19a of the main bearing member 19. Grooves 19b are formed in Oldham ring 26 sliding surfaces on both sides of the key groove 19a. According to this configuration, the Oldham ring 26 and the main bearing member 19 can be restrained from coming into contact with each other in the vicinity of the bearing key groove 19a, and restrained from vibrating, and it is possible to provide an inexpensive scroll compressor of low noise.