JP2004270680A - Compressor having bearing support - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compressor having an improved bearing support in which an oil sump in a compressor housing is easily used. <P>SOLUTION: In a scroll compressor having a fixed scroll 22 and an orbiting scroll 24, the scrolls are disposed in a housing 88 to define a plenum 39 having an oil sump 58. A shaft 46 is coupled the orbiting scroll at one end to and is also coupled to a motor 90 located in the housing. A bearing support 66 is secured in the housing and has an outer ring and a plurality of support arms 134 extending from the outer ring to a boss. A lowermost portion of the outer ring freely extends for an arc of approximately 120 degrees between adjacent support arms. The lowermost portion of the outer ring is disposed in the oil sump and includes a recessed portion defining a passage between the outer ring and housing for communicating lubricating oil. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to scroll compressors, and more particularly to bearing supports for scroll compressors.

  Scroll compressors conventionally include a fixed scroll member and an orbiting scroll member having a shaft operably coupled to the orbiting scroll to transmit motion thereto. The shaft typically extends through a motor, and conventional designs include a bearing support disposed at the end of the motor opposite the orbiting scroll to rotatably support one end of the shaft. Often. Such bearing supports conventionally include a plurality of support arms symmetrically arranged about the axis of the shaft and equidistantly spaced around the circumference. Such a bearing support is an improved bearing support that may be at least partially disposed within a sump formed within the compressor housing and thus does not adversely affect the function of the sump. It is desirable.

  The present invention provides a compressor having an improved bearing support that facilitates the use of a sump in the compressor housing.

  The invention, in one form thereof, includes a compressor assembly that includes a housing that defines an internal plenum, wherein a lower portion of the plenum defines a sump. A compressor mechanism and a motor are arranged in the housing. A shaft having a first end and an opposite second end extends through the motor and is operatively coupled to the motor. The shaft defines a rotation axis having a substantially horizontal orientation, with a first end of the shaft operatively coupled to the compressor mechanism and a second end extending outwardly from the motor. The bearing support is secured within the housing and includes a radially inner shaft support member, a radially outer support member, and a plurality of support arms extending between the inner and outer support members. The outer support member has a radial outer surface, and a substantial portion of the radial outer surface is engaged with the housing. The radially outer surface and the housing define a first gap therebetween proximate a lowermost portion of the outer support member, wherein the lowermost portion is at least between a lowermost adjacent arm of the plurality of support arms. Extends freely through an arc of about 120 degrees.

  The radially outer surface of the outer support member and the housing can also define a second gap disposed vertically above the sump. In some embodiments, the plurality of support arms define a plurality of angles between adjacent pairs of the support arms, wherein the plurality of angles comprises at least two angles having different magnitudes.

  The invention, in another form of the invention, comprises a compressor assembly including a housing defining an internal plenum having a low pressure chamber and a discharge pressure chamber, a portion of the low pressure chamber defining a sump. A compressor mechanism and a motor are arranged in the housing. A shaft having a first end and an opposite second end extends through the motor and is operatively coupled to the motor. A first end of the shaft is operatively coupled to the compressor mechanism and a second end extends outward from the motor. The shaft defines an axis of rotation having a substantially horizontal orientation. The bearing support is secured within the housing and includes a radially inner shaft support member, a radially outer support member, and a plurality of support arms extending between the inner and outer support members. The outer support member has a radial outer surface, and a substantial portion of the radial outer surface is engaged with the housing. The radially outer surface and the housing define a first gap therebetween proximate a lowermost portion of the outer support member, the lowermost portion being disposed within the sump.

  The invention, in yet another aspect thereof, comprises a compressor assembly including a housing having a portion that is substantially cylindrical and defining an internal plenum having a low pressure chamber and a discharge pressure chamber. The lower portion of the plenum defines a sump. A compressor mechanism and a motor are arranged in the housing. A shaft having a first end and an opposite second end extends through the motor and is operatively coupled to the motor. A first end of the shaft is operatively coupled to the compressor mechanism and a second end extends outward from the motor. The shaft defines an axis of rotation having a substantially horizontal orientation. The bearing support is secured within a substantially cylindrical portion of the housing, and includes a radially inner shaft support member, a substantially circular radially outer support member, and an inner and outer support. A plurality of support arms extending between the members. The outer support member has a radial outer surface, and a substantial portion of the radial outer surface is engaged with the housing. The radial outer surface and the housing also define a first gap therebetween, proximate the bottom of the outer support member. The lowermost portion of the outer support member extends freely through an arc of at least about 120 degrees between the lowermost adjacent arm of the plurality of support arms and is disposed in the sump.

  An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a bearing support with its lowermost support arms spread at a relatively wide angle, thereby reducing the extent to which the support arms extend into the sump. It is possible that the amount of oil displaced by such a support arm is also reduced.

  Another advantage is that by providing a recess along the bottom outer surface of the outer ring of the bearing support, a passage is provided between the housing of the compressor and the outer ring which allows lubrication to pass therethrough. To get.

  Yet another advantage is that the recess is an outer ring of the bearing support above the sump, allowing the passage of refrigerant and pressure equalization on opposite sides of the outer ring in the compressor housing. Is to do.

  The above features and objects and other features and objects of the present invention, and methods for achieving the same, will become more apparent with reference to the following description of embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will be better understood.

  Throughout the drawings, corresponding reference symbols indicate corresponding parts. While the specific examples set forth herein illustrate embodiments of the invention, the embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive, and the scope of the invention is still disclosed. It is not intended to be construed as limiting to the form

  In accordance with the present invention, a scroll compressor 20 is shown in exploded view in FIG. The scroll compressor 20 includes a fixed or stationary scroll member 22 that is engaged with a orbiting scroll member 24. The fixed and orbiting scroll members 22, 24 each include an involute wrap 26, 28. The refrigerant is compressed in pockets formed between the scroll members 22, 24 and between the involute wraps 26, 28 and moving radially inward as the scroll member 24 circulates about the fixed scroll member 22. Refrigerant enters the space between the scroll members via an inlet 23 (FIG. 4) located at a low pressure radially outside the space formed between the scroll members 22 and 24, and is fixed at a relatively high pressure at a relatively high pressure. The air is discharged through an exhaust port 30 located close to the radial center of the scroll member 22. The scroll members 22, 24 are each mounted in a recess located at the distal tip of the involute wrap 26, 28 for providing a seal between the involute wrap 26, 28 and the base plate of the opposing scroll member. It has a carbon steel tip seal 40.

  The check valve allows the compressed refrigerant to be exhausted to the exhaust chamber or plenum 38 and prevents the compressed refrigerant located in the exhaust plenum 38 from flowing back to the exhaust port 30. The valve includes an exhaust valve leaf 32 that sealingly engages the fixed scroll member 22 at an exhaust port 30 and an exhaust valve retainer 34. The valve leaf 32 is fixed between the fixed scroll member 22 and the valve retainer 34. The valve retainer 34 has a bend at its distal end that allows the valve leaf 32 to bend outwardly from the exhaust port 30 when gas is compressed between the scroll members 22, 24, thereby evacuating high pressure gas. Passage to the plenum 38 is enabled. The valve retainer 34 limits the extent to which the valve leaf 32 can flex outwardly from the exhaust port 30 to prevent damage due to excessive flexing of the valve leaf 32. The screw component 36 fixes the valve retainer 34 and the valve leaf 32 to the fixed scroll member 22. An alternative valve that can be used by compressor 20 is U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 412,905, filed Sep. 23, 2002, entitled Haller et al., "Compressor with Exhaust Valve," incorporated herein by reference. Issue. A pressure relief valve 27 is disposed between the scroll members 22 and 24 to enable the gas at the discharge pressure to be directed to the intake pressure inlet in the case of over pressurization.

  An Oldham ring 44 that controls the relative movement between the orbiting scroll member 24 and the fixed scroll member 22 is disposed between the fixed scroll member 22 and the orbiting scroll member 24. The orbiting scroll 24 is mounted on an extension 48 eccentrically disposed on a shaft 46 such that rotation of the shaft 46 provides a relative orbiting motion between the orbiting scroll 24 and the fixed scroll 22. . The use of Oldham rings with shafts having eccentrically disposed extensions to provide relative orbital movement between the scroll members of the compressor is well known to those skilled in the art.

  The counterweight 50 (FIG. 1) includes a collar portion having an opening into which the shaft 46 is inserted. The counterweight 50 is not shown in FIGS. The counterweight 50 also includes a partially cylindrical wall 52 that eccentrically loads the shaft 46 to balance the eccentric loading of the shaft 46 by the orbiting scroll 24. In the disclosed embodiment, the counterweight 50 is fitted over the shaft 46 by heat shrinking. The shaft 46 includes an internal passage 54 extending along the longitudinal length of the shaft 46 and a secondary passage 56 extending laterally from the passage 54 to the radially outer surface of the shaft 46. Passages 54, 56 deliver lubricating oil between a sump 58 located in the intake pressure chamber of the compressor housing and a bearing rotatably engaging shaft 46.

Two roller bearings 60 are located on the shaft 46 where the shaft 46 engages the orbiting scroll 24 and the crankcase 62, respectively. A ball bearing 64 is located near the opposite end of the shaft 46 and is mounted in a bearing support 66. Support for the shaft 46 is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 964,241 filed Sep. 26, 2001, entitled Haller et al., "Axial Compliance Mechanism for Shafts," which is incorporated herein by reference. Can be performed in the same manner as described above.

  The crankcase 62 is secured to the fixed scroll 22 by a threaded component 72 that passes through a gap 74 located in the fixed scroll 22 and engages a threaded hole 76 in the crankcase 62. The crankcase 62 includes a thrust surface 68 that slidably engages the orbiting scroll 24 to limit movement of the orbiting scroll 24 away from the fixed scroll 22. Crankcase 62 also includes four legs 78 that secure the crankcase to stator 92 as described in more detail below. Shaft 46 extends through an opening 80 in crankcase 62. Crankcase 62 includes a shroud portion 70 disposed between legs 78 at the bottom of the horizontal compressor housing and enclosing the space in which counterweight 50 rotates. Shroud 70 includes an opening 81 along its top that allows pressure equalization between the space partially surrounded by shroud 70 and the low pressure chamber of compressor 20 or other space in plenum 39. The low pressure plenum 39 includes a space located in the compressor housing 88 between the orbiting scroll 24 and the end cap 168 and receives intake pressure refrigerant returned to the compressor 20 via the inlet tube 86.

  A suction baffle 82 (FIG. 1) is fixed between the two legs 78 using a fastener. Although the fastener shown is a socket head cap screw 84, other fasteners and other fastening methods, such as self-tapping screws, may be used to secure the suction baffle 82. The suction baffle 82 is located proximate the inlet tube 86, as best seen in FIG. The refrigerant enters the compressor housing 88 via the inlet tube 86, while the suction baffle 82 is located in the flow path of the incoming refrigerant and redirects the refrigerant along the outer circumference of the crankcase 62. The outer periphery of the crankcase 62 includes a recess 85 adjacent the suction baffle 82 that defines a passage to the inlet 23. The crankcase 62 includes a sleeve portion 89 in which is mounted a roller bearing 60 for rotatably supporting the shaft 46. Sleeve 89 is supported by shroud portion 70 opposite opening 80. An alternative crankcase and suction baffle assembly may include an inlet to the housing 88 positioned at an intermediate height, wherein the suction baffle is located between the inlet 86 and the inlet 23. It has a narrow opening extending across the direction of refrigerant flow along the suction baffle to remove oil from the suction baffle. Crankcase and suction baffles usable by compressor 20 are disclosed in US Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/412, filed Sep. 23, 2002, entitled Haller et al., “Compressor Assembly,” which is incorporated herein by reference. 768.

  Motor 90 is disposed adjacent to crankcase 62 and includes a stator 92 and a rotor 94. The bushing 96 is used to correctly position the stator 92 with respect to the crankcase 62 and the bearing support 66 when assembling the compressor 20. During assembly, the crankcase 62, motor 90 and bearing support 66 must individually have holes into which the shaft 46 is inserted in correct alignment. The crankcase 62, motor 90 and bearing support 66 are provided with smooth bore pilot holes 100, 102, 104 precisely positioned with respect to these holes. The alignment bushing 96 fits snugly within the pilot hole and properly positions the crankcase 62, motor 90 and bearing support 66. The bolts 98 (FIG. 1) are then used to secure the bearing support 66, motor 90 and crankcase 62 together. The pilot hole 100 is located at the distal end of the leg 78 in the crankcase 62, and when the crankcase 62, the motor 90 and the bearing support 66 are fixed together, bolts 98 pass through to form the threaded portion of the hole 100. Engages. A pilot hole 102 located in the stator 92 of the motor 90 extends through the stator 92 and allows a bolt 98 to pass therethrough. A pilot hole 104 located in the bearing support 66 also allows the passage of a bolt 98 therethrough, but prevents the passage of the bolt 98 through the head, and the bolt 98 engages the crankcase 62. When the crankcase 62, the motor 90 and the bearing support 66 are fixed together, they lean against the bearing support 66. In the disclosed embodiment, bushing 96 is a hollow sleeve and bolt 98 is inserted through bushing 96. However, in alternative embodiments, the correct alignment of the crankcase 62, the motor 90 and the bearing support 66 may be achieved by different ways of securing these parts together using pilot holes and bushings. . For example, the pilot hole may be separate from the opening into which the bolt 98 is inserted, or the pilot hole and alignment bushing 96 may be used to align the crankcase 62, motor 90 and bearing support 66. It is also possible to employ an alternative method of fixing. Alignment bushings usable by compressor 20 are described in US Provisional Patent Application No. 60, filed Sep. 23, 2002, entitled Skinner's "Compressor with Alignment Bushing and Method of Assembly," which is incorporated herein by reference. / 412,868.

  A termination pin cluster 108 is positioned on the motor 90, and wiring (not shown) connects the cluster 108 to a second termination pin cluster 110 attached to the end cap 168, and the motor 90 has this wiring Power is supplied via the. The terminal guard or fence 111 is welded to the end cap 168 and surrounds the terminal cluster 110. The shaft 46 extends through a hole in the rotor 94 and is rotatably secured thereto by shrink fitting, so that as the rotor 94 rotates, the shaft 46 also rotates. The rotor 94 includes a counterweight 106 at its end adjacent the bearing support 66.

  As described above, the shaft 46 is rotatably supported by a ball bearing 64 mounted in a bearing support 66. Bearing support 66 includes a central boss 112 that defines a substantially cylindrical opening 114 to which ball bearing 64 is mounted. To retain the ball bearing 64 in the boss 112, a retaining ring 118 is fitted into a groove 116 located inside the opening 114. Secured to the boss 112 is an oil shield 120, which has a cylindrical portion 122 extending therefrom toward the motor 90. A counterweight 106 is disposed in the space circumscribed by the cylindrical portion 122, thereby shielding the counterweight 106 from oil present in the oil reservoir 58. However, under most circumstances, the oil level 123 is expected to be below the oil shield 120 as shown in FIG. The oil shield 120 prevents the counterweight 106 from affecting the oil traveling to the sump 58 and is also generated by the movement of the refrigerant gas generated by rotation of the eccentrically disposed counterweight 106. It is arranged to prevent agitation of the oil in the potential sump 58. The second substantially cylindrical portion 124 of the oil shield 120 has a smaller diameter than the first cylindrical portion 122 and has a plurality of longitudinally extending portions having a radially inwardly bent distal portion. With tabs. Boss 112 includes a circular groove, and oil shield 120 is secured to boss 112 by engaging a radially inwardly bent distal portion with the circular groove. An oil shield that can be used by the compressor 20 is described in US Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/412, filed Sep. 23, 2002, entitled “Skimmer Compressor with Counterweight Shield,” which is incorporated herein by reference. , 838.

  The support arm 134 extends between the boss 112 of the bearing support 66 and the outer ring 136. A radially outer surface 139 that defines the outer circumference of the ring 136 engages the housing 88 by a press fit to secure the bearing support 66 therein. The inner circumference of outer ring 136 faces the winding of stator 92 when bearing support 66 is engaged with motor 90. A flat 138 is positioned on the outer circumference of the ring 136, and the upper flat 138 allows refrigerant to pass between the outer ring 136 and the housing 88 to facilitate equalization of pressure in the suction plenum. A flat 138 located along the bottom of ring 136 allows oil in sump 58 to pass between ring 136 and housing 88. A notch 140 located on the inner circumference of the outer ring 136 can be used to position the bearing support 66 during machining of the bearing support 66, and also allows coolant to flow between the stator 92 and the ring 136. The passage allows the pressure in the suction plenum 39 to be equalized.

  The support arms 134 limit the extent to which the two lowest arms 134 form an angle of about 120 degrees and extend into the oil in the sump 58, whereby such arms At 134, it is arranged to limit the displacement of the oil in the oil sump 58. The sleeve 142 projects rearward from the bearing support 66 and prepares for an uptake of lubricating oil from the oil sump 58. An oil pickup tube 144 is fixed to the sleeve 142 with a screw part 146. O-ring 148 provides a seal between oil pickup tube 144 and sleeve 142. As shown in FIG. 1, a hole in the sleeve is fixed with a vane 150, a reversing port plate 152, a pin 154, a washer and a wave spring 156, and a retaining ring 158 for facilitating the movement of the lubricant through the sleeve 142. It is arranged near the end of the shaft 46. The washer and wave spring 156 are shown as one part in FIG. 1 but are two separate parts, the washer is a flat circular part without a central opening, and the wave spring is made of sheet material. It is formed and has a circular outer periphery, a central opening and a waveform extending around the outer periphery. Such washers and wave springs are well known in the art. An oil pickup tube is received in opening 145 and fastener 146 is received in opening 147. 5 to 7 further show the bearing support 66. FIG.

  During manufacture, the compressor and motor subassembly is assembled by fitting the outer ring 136 onto the reduced diameter portion 402 of the stator 92, properly positioned using the bushing 96, and the center of the stator 92. Touches 404. Similarly, the legs 78 of the crankcase 62 are properly positioned using the bushings 96 and abut the center 404 of the stator 92. Next, the bolt 98 is inserted through the opening 104 in the outer ring 136 and the opening 102 in the stator 92 and is securely engaged in the threaded hole located in the leg 78. As the bolt 98 is tightened, the outer ring 136 will be securely engaged with the center 404 of the stator 92. The fixed scroll 22 is secured to the crankcase with bolts 72 before the compressor and motor assembly is placed in the housing 88. The cylindrical portion 166 of the housing 88 is heated before the compressor and motor assembly is inserted therein. As the cylindrical portion 166 cools and shrinks, the cylindrical portion securely engages the crankcase 62 and the radially outer surface 406 of the outer ring 136.

  The bearing support may also include one or more annularly-spaced recesses that lean against the stator on the surface of the outer ring, thereby providing for any stacking in the stator resulting from the fixation of the bearing support to the stator. Bulges can protrude into the recess. The use of such a recess is described in U.S. Patent Application No. 10 / 617,475 entitled "Compressor Bearing Support and Stator Assembly", which is incorporated herein by reference.

  When assembled, outer ring 136 engages housing 88 and has a surface 408 that engages one end of stator core 404. Stator core 404 supports a stator hoist 402 that extends from the opposite end of stator core 404, which is schematically illustrated in the drawing as a reduced diameter portion of stator 92. When the surface 408 of the outer ring 136 is engaged with the stator core 404, the radially inner surface 410 of the outer ring 136 faces the hoist 402 of the stator 92. As FIG. 7 shows, the lowermost support arms 134a and 134b form an angle 134 'that is approximately 120 degrees. This configuration of the support arms 134a and 134b allows the location where the support arms 134a and 134b join the external support ring 136 to a point above the sump 58 or the support arms 134a and 134b into the sump 58. It is raised to a point that reduces the extent to which it extends and displaces the oil located therein. In the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 5-7, the upper support arms 134c and 134d form an angle therebetween that is also about 120 degrees. As a result, the angles between the arms 134a and 134c and between the arms 134b and 134d are smaller than 120 degrees.

  By using the lowermost support arms 134a and 134b positioned at a relatively large angle with respect to each other, the support arms 134a and 134b do not displace any oil in the sump 58 or Displaces only a limited amount of oil. This limited displacement of oil in sump 58 is advantageous. Because it is desirable to keep oil out of the hole defined by stator 92 and within which rotor 94 is located, and to minimize displacement of oil in sump 58 with legs 134a and 134b. By restraining, the upper surface of the oil present in the sump 58 will have a bearing support with a support arm in which a predetermined amount of oil in the sump 58 occupies a significant volume of the space below the internal plenum 39. This is because it becomes lower than in the case of a compressor having the above.

  FIG. 7 shows two oil levels, 123H and 123L, which may be present in the compressor 20 at the location of the support arm and which may define the upper level of the sump 58 in the housing 88. I have. The oil level 123L represents a lower oil level at which the lowermost support arms 134a and 134b do not enter the sump 58, and the oil level 123H represents a comparison where the lowermost arms 134a and 134b are located within the sump 58. Represents a higher oil level that displaces a very small amount of oil. 7, the outer ring 136 is spaced from the cylindrical portion 166 of the housing 88 at the flat 138, thereby defining an oil passage 412 and a refrigerant passage 414 between the outer ring 136 and the housing 88. . A passage 412 is located along the lowermost portion of the outer ring 136 extending between the support arms 134a and 134b and allows oil to pass between the outer ring 136 and the housing 88. A passage 414 is located above sump 58 between outer ring 136 and housing 88 to allow refrigerant to move therethrough, thus equalizing pressure in suction plenum 39 opposite outer ring 136. Let it. Stator core 404 also has a flat disposed about its outer periphery to allow the passage of oil between stator core 404 and cylindrical portion 166 of housing 88, and a lower portion of stator core 404, and a coolant It defines a passage along both sides of the stator core 404 that allows passage.

  8 to 11 show a second embodiment 66 'of the bearing support. Features of the second embodiment that are similar to the first embodiment are indicated using primed reference numbers, and these reference numbers are the same as in the first embodiment, so that these common A description of the features is omitted. As can be seen in FIG. 11, the back of the bearing support 66 'includes a plurality of holes 133 located near the outer periphery of the back of the boss 112'. Hole 133 is an oil pickup used in bearing support 66, similar to that attached to an integral portion of bearing support 66 that extends rearward of boss 112 in the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. Can be used to attach features. A variety of oil pick-up mechanisms are well known in the art, and alternative mechanisms may be used for the bearing support 66 '. The outer ring 136 'and the support arm 134' also differ from the outer ring 136 and the support arm 134 of the bearing support 66, and the opening 104 'does not intersect with the support arm 134'.

  3 and 4, the compressor housing 88 includes a discharge end cap 160 having a relatively flat portion 162. Housing 88 also includes a cylindrical shell 166 and a rear end cap 168. Both end caps 160, 168 are welded to the cylindrical shell 166 to provide a sealed enclosure. The exhaust pipe 164 extends through an opening in the flat portion 162. Securing the exhaust pipe 164 to the end cap 160 by welding or leaking is facilitated by the use of a flat portion 162 immediately surrounding the opening through which the exhaust pipe 164 is positioned.

  When the compressor and motor subassembly is assembled and shrink-fitted into the cylindrical housing shell 166, the stationary scroll member 22 is positioned within the discharge end cap 160 and securely engages the inner surface of the end cap 160. I do. An exhaust plenum 38 is formed between the discharge end cap 160 and the fixed scroll member 22. Since the compressed refrigerant is discharged through the exhaust port 30, the refrigerant enters the exhaust plenum 38 and is subsequently discharged from the compressor 20 through the exhaust pipe 164. The compressed refrigerant also carries oil as it enters the exhaust plenum 38. Some of this oil accumulates at the bottom of the exhaust plenum 38 away from the refrigerant. The exhaust pipe 164 is located near the bottom of the exhaust plenum 38 so that the steam flow exhausted through the exhaust pipe 164 carries along with the oil accumulated at the bottom of the exhaust plenum 38, thereby The amount of oil that can be stored is limited. Although the disclosed embodiment uses a straight, short tube to provide the exhaust 164, other embodiments of the outlet can be used. An exhaust plenum that can be used by compressor 20 is described in US Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 412,871, filed Sep. 23, 2002, entitled “Skimmer Exhaust Assembly of Compressor,” which is incorporated herein by reference. It has been described.

  Mounting brackets 206 and 208 are welded to housing 88 to support compressor 20 in a generally horizontal direction. However, as can be seen from FIG. 4, because the mounting brackets 206, 208 have legs of different lengths, the axis of the shaft 46 defined by the passage 54 while being substantially horizontal is disposed at an angle. With such a shape of the brackets 206, 208, a portion of the low pressure plenum 39 positioned below the bearing support 66 and defining the sump 58 is the lowest portion in the compressor 20. The bottom brace members 210, 212 can be secured to the support members 214, 216 (FIG. 2) by a swaging operation. The mounting bracket used by the compressor 20 is described in US Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 412,884, filed Sep. 23, 2002, to Skinner, entitled “Compressor Mounting Bracket and Method of Manufacture,” which is hereby incorporated by reference. Can be described by a number. The use of other mounting brackets is also possible. For example, a mounting bracket formed by a support member similar to the support members 214 and 216 but having more rigidity provided by bending the outer end thereof downward along the entire length of the support member is provided by the compressor 20. It can also be used without a supporting cross brace.

  Although the present invention has been described as having an exemplary design, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles.

1 is an exploded view of a scroll compressor according to the present invention. It is a side view of the compressor shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the compressor of FIG. 2 taken along line 3-3. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the compressor of FIG. 2 taken along line 4-4. It is a perspective view of a bearing support. FIG. 6 is a rear view of the bearing support shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 6 is a side view of the bearing support shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the bearing support. It is a front view of the bearing support shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of the bearing support shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 9 is a rear view of the bearing support shown in FIG. 8.

Claims (14)

A compressor assembly,
A housing defining an internal plenum, wherein a lower portion of the plenum defines a sump;
A compressor mechanism arranged in the housing,
A motor arranged in the housing;
A shaft having a first end and an opposite second end, the first end being operatively coupled to the compressor mechanism, the shaft extending through the motor and connected to the motor. Operatively coupled, the second end extending outwardly from the motor, the shaft defining a rotation axis having a substantially horizontal orientation;
A bearing support secured within the housing, the bearing support including a radially inner shaft support member, a radially outer support member, and a plurality extending between the inner and outer support members. Wherein the outer support member has a radially outer surface, a substantial portion of the radially outer surface is engaged with the housing, and the radially outer surface and the housing are Proximate the lowermost portion of the outer support member and defines a first gap therebetween, the lowermost portion being via an arc of at least about 120 degrees between the lowermost adjacent arm of the plurality of support arms. A freely expanding compressor assembly.   The compressor assembly according to claim 1, wherein said internal plenum defines a low pressure chamber and a high pressure chamber, and wherein said motor, said shaft, said oil sump, and said bearing support are all located in said low pressure chamber. .   The compressor mechanism includes a fixed scroll member fixed in the housing, and a revolving scroll member fixed in the housing, the revolving scroll member is engaged with the fixed scroll member, and The compressor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the compressor assembly is operatively coupled to the first end of the shaft.   The compressor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the radially outer surface of the outer support member and the housing define a second gap vertically disposed above the sump.   The compressor assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of support arms define a plurality of angles between adjacent pairs of the support arms, the plurality of angles including at least two angles having different magnitudes. A compressor assembly,
A housing defining an internal plenum, the plenum having a low pressure chamber and a discharge pressure chamber, a portion of the low pressure chamber defining a sump;
A compressor mechanism arranged in the housing,
A motor arranged in the housing;
A shaft having a first end and an opposite second end, the first end operatively coupled to the compressor mechanism, the shaft extending through the motor and connected to the motor. Operatively coupled, the second end extending outwardly from the motor, the shaft defining a rotation axis having a substantially horizontal orientation;
A bearing support secured within the housing, the bearing support including a radially inner shaft support member, a radially outer support member, and a plurality extending between the inner and outer support members. Wherein the outer support member has a radially outer surface, a substantial portion of the radially outer surface is engaged with the housing, and the radially outer surface and the housing are A compressor assembly proximate a lowermost portion of an outer support member defining a first gap therebetween, the lowermost portion being disposed within the sump.   The compressor assembly of claim 6, wherein said lowermost portion of said bearing support extends freely through an arc of at least about 120 degrees between a lowermost adjacent arm of said plurality of support arms.   The compressor assembly according to claim 6, wherein said bearing support, said motor, and said shaft are all located in said low pressure chamber.   The compressor mechanism includes a fixed scroll member fixed in the housing, and a revolving scroll member fixed in the housing, the revolving scroll member is engaged with the fixed scroll member, and The compressor assembly according to claim 6, operatively coupled to said first end of said shaft.   The compressor assembly according to claim 6, wherein the radially outer surface of the outer support member and the housing define a second gap vertically disposed above the sump. A compressor assembly,
A housing including a portion that is substantially cylindrical and defining an internal plenum, the plenum having a low pressure chamber and a discharge pressure chamber, a lower portion of the plenum defining a sump;
A compressor mechanism arranged in the housing,
A motor arranged in the housing;
A shaft having a first end and an opposite second end, the first end operatively coupled to the compressor mechanism, the shaft extending through the motor and connected to the motor. Operatively coupled, the second end extending outwardly from the motor, the shaft defining a rotation axis having a substantially horizontal orientation;
A bearing support secured within the substantially cylindrical portion of the housing, wherein the bearing support includes a radially inner shaft support member and a substantially circular, radially outer, outer support member. A support member and a plurality of support arms extending between the inner and outer support members, wherein the outer support member has a radial outer surface, and a substantial portion of the radial outer surface is the housing. And the radially outer surface and the housing are proximate a lowermost portion of the outer support member and define a first gap therebetween, the lowermost portion being the uppermost of the plurality of support arms. A compressor assembly that extends freely through an arc of at least about 120 degrees between lower adjacent arms, the lowermost portion being disposed in the sump.   The compressor assembly according to claim 11, wherein said bearing support, said motor, and said shaft are all located in said low pressure chamber.   The compressor mechanism includes a fixed scroll member fixed in the housing, and a revolving scroll member fixed in the housing, the revolving scroll member is engaged with the fixed scroll member, and The compressor assembly according to claim 11, operatively coupled to the first end of the shaft.   The compressor assembly of claim 11, wherein the radially outer surface of the outer support member and the housing define a second gap vertically disposed above the sump.

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