Scroll Compressor Release Valve Seat Reliability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The release valve device in scroll compressors, when using lightweight materials for the orbiting and fixed scrolls, faces reliability issues due to collisions between the release valve and valve seat, especially when the valve seat is formed integrally with the fixed scroll, leading to potential damage from repeated openings and closings.
Innovation Solution
A scroll compressor design featuring a valve seat member housed in a housing hole with a larger diameter than the release hole, a valve plate that contacts or separates from the valve seat surface by pressure difference, and a spring system with a stopper and retainer to secure the valve seat member, ensuring the valve seat surface is not integral with the fixed scroll, thus enhancing impact resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a lightweight material such as aluminum-based material is used for the orbiting scroll and fixed scroll to enable high-speed rotation, then the compressor can operate at high speed with reduced weight, but the valve seat formed integrally with the fixed scroll is damaged due to collision between the release valve and valve seat
Solution Approach 1:
The valve seat is separated from the fixed scroll into an independent valve seat member. This segmentation allows the valve seat to be made of a material with high impact resistance while the fixed scroll can be made of lightweight aluminum-based material for high-speed operation. The valve seat member is installed in a valve seat receiving portion of the fixed scroll, creating a modular structure that resolves the contradiction between speed and durability.
2Device complexity
If the valve seat is formed integrally with the fixed scroll to simplify structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the valve seat cannot withstand repeated collisions from the release valve
Solution Approach 1:
The valve seat receiving portion of the fixed scroll is designed with specific dimensional tolerances and geometric features to securely hold the valve seat member. The valve seat member itself is made of material with high impact resistance specifically for the collision-prone valve seat area, while the rest of the fixed scroll maintains lightweight properties. This local quality enhancement allows the valve seat area to have high strength without making the entire fixed scroll complex or heavy.
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 design improves the reliability of the release valve device by using a separate valve seat member with higher impact resistance, preventing damage from repeated collisions and ensuring efficient operation even with lightweight materials for the scrolls, allowing for high-speed rotation and efficient refrigerant handling.
Implementation Method 1
a spring that presses the valve plate in contact with or separation from the valve seat surface
Implementation Method 2
a valve plate that contacts with or separates from the valve seat surface by a pressure difference
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a scroll compressor capable of ensuring reliability of a release valve device. The scroll compressor is provided with: an orbiting scroll having an orbiting scroll wrap; a fixed roll having a fixed scroll wrap intermeshing with the orbiting scroll wrap; a release hole formed in the fixed scroll; a housing hole communicating with the release hole and having larger diameter than that of the release hole; a valve seat member which is housed in the housing hole and has a valve seat surface; a valve plate contacting with or separating from the valve seat surface by a pressure difference; a spring for pressing the valve plate against the valve seat surface; a stopper which is equipped with the spring and secures the valve seat member; and a retainer for securing the stopper.