Scroll Compressor Oldham Ring Oil Supply Passage Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing Oldham ring structure in scroll compressors is disadvantageous for lubrication due to the keyway of the orbiting scroll being opposite to the direction of oil flow, and it faces insufficient oil supply in the intermediate pressure space, especially in low pressure ratio regions.
Innovation Solution
A scroll compressor design that includes an Oldham ring with an oil supply passage, such as an oil supply groove or hole, to facilitate the direct and active supply of oil from the bottom to the top, ensuring adequate lubrication and improving reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the keyway of the orbiting scroll is located opposite to the direction of oil flow, then the structure is simpler, but the lubrication is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the oil supply path into multiple segments by adding oil supply grooves on the Oldham ring and oil holes in the orbiting scroll, creating a segmented oil delivery system that overcomes the directional mismatch between oil flow and keyway orientation
Solution Approach 2:
The Oldham ring serves as an intermediary component that actively redirects oil flow toward the keyway through its grooves, mediating between the main oil supply and the lubrication point to resolve the directional conflict
2Adaptability or versatility
If the oil supply amount in the intermediate pressure space is reduced, then the low pressure ratio operation is enabled, but the oil supply to the Oldham ring becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The oil supply grooves on the Oldham ring and oil holes in the orbiting scroll are designed to capture and redirect oil before it flows away, ensuring lubrication is established in advance at the keyway interface even when overall oil supply is reduced for low pressure ratio operation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates localized oil accumulation zones through grooves and holes at the Oldham ring-keyway interface, concentrating lubrication where needed most while allowing overall oil supply to be reduced for low pressure ratio operation
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 improved oil supply structure enhances the reliability of the scroll compressor by ensuring more active and direct oil refueling to the key portion of the Oldham ring, even in low pressure ratio regions, thus maintaining efficient lubrication and operation.
Implementation Method 1
A scroll compressor design that includes an Oldham ring with an oil supply passage, such as an oil supply groove or hole, to facilitate the direct and active supply of oil from the bottom to the top
Implementation Method 2
The Oldham ring part of the compressor is a part that prevents the orbiting scroll from rotating and generally has a structure in which the key of the Oldham ring is in contact with a groove of the main frame and the orbiting scroll
Data Source
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AI summary
A scroll compressor includes a casing, a main frame provided inside the casing, a rotating shaft supported on the main frame, an orbiting scroll coupled to the rotating shaft and supported by the main frame, a fixed scroll fixed to the main frame and engaged with the orbiting scroll to form a compression chamber, and an Oldham ring slidably coupled to the orbiting scroll to prevent rotation of the orbiting scroll, wherein the Oldham ring includes: a ring body having an annular shape and is provided between the main frame and the orbiting scroll to be supported in an axial direction of the rotating shaft, and a key portion extending in the axial direction from the ring body and slidably inserted into a key accommodating portion provided in the orbiting scroll, the main frame, or the fixed scroll, wherein the ring body or the key portion includes an oil supply passage for guiding oil accumulated in a member on which the ring body is supported to between the key portion and the key accommodating portion.