Scroll Compressor High Vacuum Prevention via Decompression Member

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing scroll compressors face challenges with high vacuum states, leading to reduced compression efficiency and potential motor damage, due to complex and costly high vacuum preventing devices that are slow to respond and prone to suction loss and foreign object trapping.

Innovation Solution

A simplified high vacuum preventing device is introduced, featuring a communication hole with a decompression member that rapidly moves refrigerant from the high pressure discharge space to the low pressure suction space, reducing manufacturing costs and preventing high vacuum states by decompressing refrigerant to an appropriate pressure, thus minimizing suction loss and stabilizing the orbiting scroll.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a complex high vacuum preventing device using a valve is installed, then high vacuum states can be prevented, but manufacturing cost increases and device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehigh vacuum preventionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential function of high vacuum prevention from the complex valve mechanism and implements it through a simple communication hole formed in the non-orbiting scroll. This eliminates the need for separate valve components while maintaining the core function of preventing high vacuum states by allowing refrigerant to flow from the discharge space to the suction space when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The communication hole is integrated directly into the non-orbiting scroll structure, merging the high vacuum prevention function with the existing scroll component. This consolidation eliminates separate valve assemblies and reduces overall device complexity while maintaining effective high vacuum prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If a valve-based high vacuum preventing device is used, then high vacuum states can be prevented, but response time is slow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehigh vacuum preventionVSAvoidresponse speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

By removing the valve mechanism entirely and using only a communication hole, the system eliminates the mechanical movement and actuation delays inherent in valve-based systems. The communication hole provides immediate passage for refrigerant flow when pressure differential occurs, achieving instantaneous response to high vacuum conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If a valve-based high vacuum preventing device is used, then high vacuum states can be prevented, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehigh vacuum preventionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the valve component and its associated actuation mechanisms, retaining only the essential communication function through a simple hole in the non-orbiting scroll. This drastic simplification reduces manufacturing cost by eliminating expensive valve components, actuators, and associated assembly processes while maintaining high vacuum prevention capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The communication hole provides a simple, low-cost alternative to expensive valve mechanisms. While the hole itself is permanent, the approach embodies the principle of using simple, inexpensive structural features rather than complex, expensive components to achieve the desired function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Productivity

If refrigerant is moved rapidly from discharge space to suction space, then high vacuum states are resolved quickly, but suction loss may occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehigh vacuum resolution speedVSAvoidsuction loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The communication hole provides a dynamic flow path that operates only when needed - when a high vacuum state develops in the suction space. The refrigerant flow through the communication hole is pressure-driven and automatic, providing rapid response when required while remaining inactive during normal operation, thus avoiding unnecessary suction loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 solution effectively reduces manufacturing costs, rapidly resolves high vacuum states, minimizes suction loss, and enhances compressor efficiency by stabilizing the orbiting scroll and preventing leakage, while being easy to process and resistant to foreign object trapping.

Implementation Method 1

a communication hole with a decompression member that rapidly moves refrigerant from the high pressure discharge space to the low pressure suction space

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure gradient: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP3388672B1Scroll compressor
Publication Date: 2020.05.06 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3388672B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3388672B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3388672B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A scroll compressor includes a communication hole formed to penetrate from a side surface of the non-orbiting scroll adjacent to a discharge side to a thrust bearing surface between the non-orbiting scroll and an orbiting scroll and a decompression member having a radial sectional area smaller than that of the communication hole and inserted into the communication hole. A refrigerant discharged to the discharge space is introduced to the suction space through the passage between the communication hole and the decompression member, thereby preventing a high vacuum state of the compression chamber, and a refrigerant passing through the communication hole is decompressed during a normal operation to restrain leakage of the refrigerant to the thrust bearing surface between the non-orbiting scroll and the orbiting scroll, thus increasing compression efficiency.