Scroll compressor with a lubrication arrangement
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Solution Overview
Problem
In scroll compressors, a small diameter orbiting scroll poses challenges in achieving appropriate lubrication and sealing, leading to reduced efficiency and reliability due to oil grooves constantly communicating with compression or intermediate pressure chambers.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates multiple oil grooves on the orbiting scroll that communicate with the oil passage outlet at specific times, ensuring lubrication to the sliding surfaces while preventing lubricant flow into the compression chamber, allowing for a smaller diameter orbiting scroll without compromising performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single ring-shaped oil groove is provided on the orbiting scroll to constantly communicate with the oil passage outlet, then continuous lubrication is supplied to the sliding surface, but the lubricant flows into the compression chamber or intermediate pressure chamber, reducing compressor efficiency and reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The single continuous ring-shaped oil groove is divided into multiple separate oil grooves (first oil groove and second oil groove) that do not communicate with each other. Each oil groove is independently controlled to communicate with the oil passage outlet at specific timing, preventing lubricant from flowing into compression chambers while ensuring sliding surface lubrication.
Solution Approach 2:
The oil grooves are designed to communicate with the oil passage outlet periodically rather than continuously. The communication timing is controlled so that each oil groove communicates with the outlet at different rotational positions of the orbiting scroll, ensuring lubrication is supplied only when needed and not when the groove would communicate with compression chambers.
2Volume of moving object
If the orbiting scroll diameter is reduced to decrease compressor size, then suction volume and capacity can be increased within the same body diameter, but the oil groove constantly communicates with compression chambers causing lubricant leakage
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the oil groove into multiple separate grooves with independent communication timing, the system can maintain effective lubrication even with a smaller orbiting scroll diameter. The segmented design allows precise control over when each groove communicates with the oil passage outlet, preventing lubricant leakage issues that would be magnified in a compact design.
Solution Approach 2:
The oil groove communication is made dynamic rather than static. The multiple oil grooves are positioned and dimensioned so that their communication with the oil passage outlet varies dynamically with the rotational position of the orbiting scroll, allowing the system to adapt to the smaller diameter geometry while maintaining proper lubrication control.
3Reliability
If a single ring-shaped oil groove is provided to constantly communicate with the oil passage outlet, then lubrication is continuously supplied, but the lubricant flows into compression chambers reducing efficiency and reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous oil groove is segmented into multiple separate grooves that are independently controlled. This segmentation allows the system to supply lubrication reliably to the sliding surface while preventing lubricant from flowing into compression chambers, thereby eliminating the energy loss associated with lubricant contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuous communication between the oil groove and oil passage outlet, the system uses periodic communication where each segmented oil groove communicates at specific intervals. This periodic action ensures lubrication is supplied when needed for sliding surface protection while preventing lubricant from entering compression chambers during other phases of the cycle.
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 effectively supplies lubrication to the sliding surfaces, enhances sealing force, and allows for a reduction in the compressor's size while maintaining performance, enabling increased suction volume and capacity within the same body diameter.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of oil grooves which are configured to supply the lubricant to a sliding surface of the fixed scroll
Data Source
AI summary
A scroll compressor including an orbiting scroll having a small diameter compared to a case in which an oil groove is provided in a ring shape and constantly communicates with an outlet of an oil passage. The scroll compressor includes a fixed scroll and an orbiting scroll configured to orbit in engagement with the fixed scroll. The fixed scroll includes an outlet of an oil passage configured to communicate with an oil tray storing lubricant, the outlet of the oil passage connected to a sliding surface of the orbiting scroll. The orbiting scroll includes a plurality of oil grooves configured not to communicate with each other so as to supply the lubricant to a sliding surface of the fixed scroll, the plurality of oil grooves configured to communicate with the outlet at least once and not to communicate with the outlet at least once while the orbiting scroll rotates once.