EP3757393B1 - Compressor and household appliance - Google Patents

Compressor and household appliance Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP3757393B1
EP3757393B1 EP20176498.2A EP20176498A EP3757393B1 EP 3757393 B1 EP3757393 B1 EP 3757393B1 EP 20176498 A EP20176498 A EP 20176498A EP 3757393 B1 EP3757393 B1 EP 3757393B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
compressor
drive shaft
roller
oil
refrigerant
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP20176498.2A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3757393A1 (en
Inventor
Jose Antonio Ruiz Bermejo
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Original Assignee
BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by BSH Hausgeraete GmbH filed Critical BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Publication of EP3757393A1 publication Critical patent/EP3757393A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3757393B1 publication Critical patent/EP3757393B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04CROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
    • F04C23/00Combinations of two or more pumps, each being of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type, specially adapted for elastic fluids; Pumping installations specially adapted for elastic fluids; Multi-stage pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids
    • F04C23/008Hermetic pumps
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04CROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
    • F04C29/00Component parts, details or accessories of pumps or pumping installations, not provided for in groups F04C18/00 - F04C28/00
    • F04C29/02Lubrication; Lubricant separation
    • F04C29/026Lubricant separation
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04CROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
    • F04C18/00Rotary-piston pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids
    • F04C18/30Rotary-piston pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids having the characteristics covered by two or more of groups F04C18/02, F04C18/08, F04C18/22, F04C18/24, F04C18/48, or having the characteristics covered by one of these groups together with some other type of movement between co-operating members
    • F04C18/34Rotary-piston pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids having the characteristics covered by two or more of groups F04C18/02, F04C18/08, F04C18/22, F04C18/24, F04C18/48, or having the characteristics covered by one of these groups together with some other type of movement between co-operating members having the movement defined in group F04C18/08 or F04C18/22 and relative reciprocation between the co-operating members
    • F04C18/356Rotary-piston pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids having the characteristics covered by two or more of groups F04C18/02, F04C18/08, F04C18/22, F04C18/24, F04C18/48, or having the characteristics covered by one of these groups together with some other type of movement between co-operating members having the movement defined in group F04C18/08 or F04C18/22 and relative reciprocation between the co-operating members with vanes reciprocating with respect to the outer member
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04CROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
    • F04C29/00Component parts, details or accessories of pumps or pumping installations, not provided for in groups F04C18/00 - F04C28/00
    • F04C29/02Lubrication; Lubricant separation
    • F04C29/028Means for improving or restricting lubricant flow
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04CROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
    • F04C2240/00Components
    • F04C2240/80Other components
    • F04C2240/809Lubricant sump
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04CROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS
    • F04C29/00Component parts, details or accessories of pumps or pumping installations, not provided for in groups F04C18/00 - F04C28/00
    • F04C29/02Lubrication; Lubricant separation
    • F04C29/025Lubrication; Lubricant separation using a lubricant pump

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a compressor for a household appliance and to a household appliance with such a compressor.
  • Household appliances like refrigerators, heat pump dryers, heat pump washers, heat pump washer-dryers or heat pump dishwashers comprise a compressor for compressing a gaseous phase of a refrigerant.
  • the compressor can be a rotary compressor with a piston or roller inside a compression chamber that is driven by means of a drive shaft of an electro motor.
  • the roller is arranged inside the compression chamber of the compressor.
  • the roller and other internal parts of the compressor in movement or in possible friction have to be lubricated during compressing the gaseous phase of the refrigerant.
  • oil is used.
  • the refrigerant is soluble in the oil thereby reducing the amount of refrigerant that is available for a heat transfer process.
  • US 5,542,266 A describes a refrigerating system which includes a refrigerating line through which refrigerant flows, a refrigerant compressor for circulating the refrigerant through the refrigerating line, and an oil separation passage connected to the refrigerant compressor.
  • the refrigerant compressor includes an enclosed chamber storing therein a refrigeration oil insoluble in the refrigerant.
  • the oil separation passage directs the refrigerant introduced from an inlet port of the refrigerant compressor to an outlet port through the enclosed chamber for separating the refrigeration oil contained in the refrigerant entering from the inlet port.
  • US 4,091,638 A describes a hermetic rotary refrigerant compressor that is provided with means for handling the oil and refrigerant vapor mixture to provide sufficient cooling of the motor without external precoolers and related conduits and apparatus.
  • the oil is collected and caused to flow along a portion of the internal surface of the hermetic shell in such a way that the shell itself functions as a heat exchanger. The heat is transferred through the shell to the cooler ambient air in contact with the external surface thereof.
  • US 4,449,895 A describes a refrigerant compressor that suitable for use in refrigerators, air conditioners, heat pumps or the like apparatus.
  • the refrigerant compressor has a closed casing which encases a driving electric motor section and a compressor section constructed as a unit.
  • the compressor section has a substantially horizontal crank shaft consisting of a main shaft portion fixed to one end of the rotor of the driving motor, an eccentric portion rotatably carrying a rotary piston and an end journal portion.
  • the lubrication system of this compressor has a passage means for introducing a lubricating oil to various parts requiring lubrication, and a lubricator adapted to supply the lubrication oil to the passage means.
  • the passage means includes a peripheral oil groove formed in the portion having crank shaft of the minimum eccentricity and connected at its one end to a peripheral oil groove formed in the main shaft portion and at its other end to a peripheral oil groove in the journal portion of the crank shaft.
  • the lubricator includes a curved oil pipe fixed at its one end and immersed at its other end in the lubricating oil collected in the closed casing, and a coiled spring rotatably received by the oil pipe and connected at its one end to the journal portion of the crank shaft while the other end is immersed in the lubricating oil through the end opening of the oil pipe.
  • JP H04 27788 A describes a compression system with an oil sump section for collecting a lubricant, wherein the oil sump section is formed on the inner bottom section of a sealed case.
  • a compressor for a household appliance comprises a rotating roller for compressing a gaseous phase of a refrigerant, wherein the roller is lubricated by means of a mixture of oil and the refrigerant being dissolved in the oil, an oil sump for receiving the mixture, and a rotating agitation element which is at least partly submerged in the mixture for agitating it.
  • the agitation element is a propeller.
  • the compressor further comprises a drive shaft for driving the roller, wherein the agitation element is attached to the drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft comprises a cam which is received in the roller, wherein the drive shaft comprises a central bore which runs along a longitudinal direction of the drive shaft, and wherein the cam has an outlet for the mixture.
  • a further advantage being related to the homogeneous blend of oil and refrigerant in the mixture is that the lubrication function is improved because of the extra forced agitation. This can in particular be very beneficial in oil mixtures which are provided with additives in the form of nanoparticles or nanofluids.
  • the compressor preferably is a rotary compressor or can be named rotary compressor.
  • a "refrigerant” is a substance or mixture, usually a fluid, used in a heat pump and refrigeration cycle. In most cycles it undergoes phase transitions from a liquid to a gas and back again. The gaseous phase can be transferred into the liquid phase and vice versa.
  • the gaseous phase can be named gaseous refrigerant.
  • the liquid phase can be named liquid refrigerant.
  • the mixture means circulating or stirring it.
  • the gaseous phase of the refrigerant is at least so some extend soluble in the oil. Agitating the mixture reduces the time for achieving the stable solubility that corresponds to particular operating conditions of the compressor.
  • the oil sump does not only contain oil, it can be named sump or mixture sump.
  • the mixture can be part of the compressor.
  • the roller is a piston or can be named piston or rotating piston. Apart from the roller there are other internal parts of the compressor in movement or friction. These internal parts can include a vane, bearings or the like.
  • the compressor further comprises a drive shaft for driving the roller, wherein the agitation element is attached to the drive shaft.
  • the agitation element is attached to the drive shaft at the bottom thereof.
  • the drive shaft is arranged vertically.
  • the agitation element is attached to an end of the drive shaft that protrudes into the oil sump.
  • the drive shaft is rotatably supported in a compressor housing.
  • the shaft can be part of an electric motor of the compressor.
  • the electric motor can comprise a rotor that is fixed to the drive shaft and a stator that is fixed to the compressor housing.
  • the drive shaft preferably has a cam which is received in the roller.
  • the roller preferably has a ring-shape. Due to the cam, the roller fulfills an eccentric movement when the shaft rotates.
  • the shaft can have a central intake bore that runs along a longitudinal direction of the shaft.
  • the intake bore can have a helical intake element which is used to take in the mixture of oil and the refrigerant when rotating the shaft.
  • the intake element can have the form of a thread.
  • the cam has an outlet for the mixture.
  • the outlet can be a bore that is arranged perpendicular to the intake bore. In this way, the outlet provides the mixture into a gap that is provided in between the cam and the roller. In this way the roller and the cam are lubricated when the shaft rotates.
  • the outlet constitutes a lubrication point for lubricating the cam and the roller.
  • the compressor further comprises a bottom bearing and a top bearing for supporting the drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft extends beyond the bottom bearing, and wherein the bottom bearing is arranged between the agitation element and the top bearing.
  • the bearings can be part of the afore-mentioned electric motor.
  • the bearings can be friction bearings or rolling bearings.
  • the drive shaft extends beyond the bottom bearing into the oil sump.
  • the bottom bearing can be at least partly submerged into the mixture of oil and refrigerant.
  • the shaft can have two further outlets for delivering the mixture from the intake bore to the bearings. In this way, the bearings can be lubricated when the shaft rotates. These outlets constitute further lubrication points for lubricating the bearings.
  • the compressor further comprises a compressor housing, wherein the oil sump is part of the compressor housing.
  • the compressor housing preferably has a cylindric shape with an outer wall, a bottom cap and a top cap.
  • the caps hermetically close the outer wall at its ends.
  • the compressor housing can be made of steel.
  • the outer wall can be rotation-symmetric to a centerline.
  • the centerline is preferably arranged vertically so that also the compressor housing is arranged vertically.
  • the compressor further comprises a compression chamber which receives the roller, wherein the compression chamber is arranged inside the compressor housing.
  • the roller For pressurizing the gaseous phase of the refrigerant, the roller rotates inside the compression chamber.
  • the roller comes into contact with a wall of the compression chamber when the shaft rotates.
  • the compression chamber can be part of the compressor housing.
  • the oil sump is fluidly connected to a lubrication point for lubricating the roller.
  • the number of lubricating points is arbitrarily.
  • the oil sump is fluidly connected to a number of different lubrication points that have the function of distributing the oil or the mixture for proper lubrication.
  • These lubrication points can be - as mentioned before - between the cam and the roller as well as between the drive shaft and the bearings.
  • Fluidly connected means that the mixture of the oil and the refrigerant can flow from the oil sump to the lubrication points. After the lubrication is done, the oil comes back to the oil sump. This is repeated cyclically.
  • the agitation element is a propeller.
  • the propeller can have an annular basic section that receives one end of the drive shaft.
  • the propeller has blades that are attached to the basic section.
  • the basic section is optional. That means that the blades can also be directly attached to the drive shaft.
  • the propeller has at least one blade. Preferably, the propeller has at least two blades.
  • the agitation element has two, three or more than three blades.
  • the number of blades is arbitrary. There can for example be four or five blades.
  • the design of the blades can be modified as needed. Parameters for modifying the agitation element are for example a diameter of the agitation element, the geometric design of the blades, an angle of the blades or the like.
  • the blades can be named propeller blades.
  • a household appliance comprising such a compressor is provided.
  • the household appliance can be a laundry dryer, a dishwasher, a refrigerator, a deep freezer or the like.
  • the compressor can be part of a heat pump.
  • the household appliance can be a heat pump dryer, a heat pump washer, a heat pump washer-dryer or a heat pump dishwasher.
  • Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of one embodiment of a household appliance 1.
  • the household appliance 1 can be a laundry dryer, a dishwasher, a refrigerator, a deep freezer or the like.
  • the household appliance 1 has a housing 2 comprising a bottom 3, a ceiling 4 which is arranged opposite the bottom 3, two opposing side walls 5, 6 and a back wall 7.
  • the housing 2 is cuboid-shaped.
  • the housing 2 has a front wall 8 which opposes the back wall 7.
  • a door 9 is provided at the front wall 8 which can be opened to put laundry or other items into the household appliance 1.
  • the household appliance 1 is a front loader.
  • the door 9 can also be provided at the ceiling 4.
  • the household appliance 1 is a top loader.
  • Fig. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a compressor 10 for the household appliance 1.
  • the compressor 10 is capable of compressing a gaseous phase GR of a refrigerant.
  • a "refrigerant” is a substance or mixture, usually a fluid, used in a heat pump and refrigeration cycle. In most cooling or heat pump cycles it undergoes phase transitions from a liquid to a gas and back again.
  • the refrigerant also has a liquid phase.
  • the gaseous phase GR can be transferred into the liquid phase and vice versa.
  • the compressor 10 transfers the gaseous phase GR from low pressure to high pressure.
  • the liquid phase is transferred into the gaseous phase GR by means of an evaporator (not shown).
  • the gaseous phase GR can be named gaseous refrigerant.
  • the liquid phase can be named liquid refrigerant.
  • the compressor 10 is a rotary compressor 10.
  • the compressor 10 comprises a compressor housing 11.
  • the compressor housing 11 can be made of steel.
  • the compressor housing 11 is cylindrical.
  • the compressor housing 11 is constructed rotationsymmetrical towards a centerline 12.
  • the centerline 12 is arranged vertically.
  • the compressor housing 11 comprises a cylindrical outer wall 13, a top cap 14 and a bottom cap 15.
  • the caps 14, 15 hermetically close the outer wall 13 at its ends.
  • the top cap 14 can be provided with a discharge pipe 16 to discharge the gaseous phase GR with high pressure.
  • the discharge pipe 16 can be pipe that is arranged vertically.
  • the outer wall 13 can comprise a suction port 17 for intaking the gaseous phase GR at low pressure.
  • the suction port 17 can be a pipe that is arranged horizontally. Upstream the suction port 17 can be provided an accumulator (not shown) for separating the liquid phase from the gaseous phase GR and for storing the liquid phase until it evaporates. In this way, the accumulator prevents the liquid phase from entering the compressor 10.
  • the bottom cap 15 can be provided with a flange 18.
  • the flange 18 can have a triangular shape with three openings (not shown) in the corners of the triangle. The openings can be used to attach the compressor 10 to the household appliance 1. Alternatively, the flange 18 can have a circular shape.
  • the compressor 10 is provided with a compression chamber 19 which is enclosed in the compressor housing 11 or which is part of the compressor housing 11.
  • the gaseous phase GR of the refrigerant is compressed to obtain the gaseous phase GR with high pressure.
  • the compression chamber 19 takes in the gaseous phase GR at low pressure through the suction port 17 and discharges the gaseous phase GR at a higher pressure through a discharge valve (not shown).
  • the compressor has a drive shaft 20.
  • the drive shaft 20 is rotatably supported in the compressor housing 11.
  • a bottom bearing 21 and a top bearing 22 are provided to support the drive shaft 20.
  • the drive shaft 20 is supported in the compressor housing 11 by means of the bearings 21, 22.
  • the bearings 21, 22 can be friction bearings or rolling bearings.
  • the drive shaft 20 can be part of an electric motor (not shown).
  • the electric motor can comprise a rotor that is fixed to the drive shaft 20 and a stator that is fixed to the compressor housing 11.
  • the drive shaft 20 is used to drive a roller 23 to compress the gaseous phase GR.
  • the roller 23 can be named piston or rotating piston.
  • the roller 23 is suspended on the drive shaft 20 which runs through the compression chamber 19.
  • the drive shaft 20 has a cam which is received in the roller 23.
  • the roller 23 can be ring-shaped. When the drive shaft 20 rotates, the roller 23 fulfills an eccentric movement by means of the cam.
  • the roller 23 is arranged inside the compression chamber 19.
  • the compressor 10 further has at least one valve, electric cables, springs and further elements that are not shown in Fig. 2 .
  • Attached to the drive shaft is an agitation element 24.
  • the agitation element 24 can be bar-shaped.
  • the agitation element 24 can comprise two bars that are screwed into blind holes being provided in an end of the drive shaft 20 that extends over the bottom bearing 21. That means, the drive shaft overpasses the bottom bearing 21 at least slightly.
  • the compressor 10 comprises an oil sump 25.
  • the oil sump 25 is at the bottom of the compressor housing 11.
  • the oil sump 25 can be constituted by a part of the outer wall 13 and the bottom cap 15. That means, the oil sump 25 is part of the compressor housing 11. At least, the oil sump 25 is fluidly connected to lubrication points.
  • the oil sump 25 is at least partly filled with a mixture M of oil and the refrigerant.
  • the agitation element 24 is submerged in this mixture M.
  • the bottom bearing 21 can also be at least partly submerged in the mixture M.
  • the mixture M is used to lubricate internal parts of the compressor 10 in movement or in friction.
  • the internal parts can comprise the roller 23 and/or the bearings 21, 22. There can be provided a system of bores in the drive shaft 20 to provide proper lubrication with the mixture M.
  • Fig. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the compressor 10, in an example that does not form part of the claimed invention, in Fig. 3 only the drive shaft 20 and the agitation element 24 are shown.
  • the agitation element 24 can be bar-shaped.
  • the agitation element 24 can have a circular, a rectangular, a triangular or any other desired cross section.
  • the agitation element 24 can be made of one piece and can be pushed into a bore that is provided in the drive shaft 20. In this case, the two ends of the agitation element 24 protrude radially outwards from the drive shaft 20.
  • the agitation element 24 can comprise two bars 26, 27 that are screwed into two threaded holes being provided at the end of the drive shaft 20 that submerges into the mixture M.
  • Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of an embodiment according to the claimed invention of an agitation element 24 for the compressor.
  • the agitation element 24 has the form of a propeller or can be named propeller.
  • the agitation element 24 has an annular basic section 28 that receives the drive shaft 20.
  • the basic section 28 can be fixed to the drive shaft 20.
  • Two blades 29, 30 are attached to the basic section 28.
  • the basic section 28 is optional. This means that the two blades 29, 30 can be directly attached to the drive shaft 20.
  • Fig. 5 shows a schematic view of a further embodiment of an agitation element 24 for the compressor.
  • This agitation element 24 also has the form of a propeller or can be named propeller.
  • the agitation element 24 according to Fig. 5 differs from the agitation element 24 according to Fig. 4 only in that it has tree blades 29 to 31 instead of two blades 29, 30.
  • the number of blades 29 to 31 is arbitrary. There can be more than three blades 29 to 31.
  • the design of the blades 29 to 31 can be modified as needed.
  • Parameters for modifying the agitation element 24 are for example a diameter of the agitation element 24, the geometric design of the blades 29 to 31, an angle of the blades 29 to 31 or the like.
  • the function of the agitation element 24 is to agitate the mixture M in the oil sump 25 during compression of the gaseous phase GR of the refrigerant. This decreases the time for achieving the stable solubility that corresponds to particular operating conditions of the compressor 10. Consequently, there is more refrigerant available for doing energy interchange in a heat exchanger (not shown). This improves the efficiency and cycle time of the household appliance 1.
  • a further advantage being related to the homogeneous mixture of oil and refrigerant in the mixture M is that the lubrication function is improved because of the extra forced agitation. Without such an agitation element 24, there could be different heterogeneous phases doing the lubrication.
  • the homogeneous mixing of the oil and the refrigerant can in particular be very beneficial in oil mixtures which are provided with additives in the form of nanoparticles or nanofluids.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Applications Or Details Of Rotary Compressors (AREA)

Description

  • The present invention relates to a compressor for a household appliance and to a household appliance with such a compressor.
  • Household appliances like refrigerators, heat pump dryers, heat pump washers, heat pump washer-dryers or heat pump dishwashers comprise a compressor for compressing a gaseous phase of a refrigerant. The compressor can be a rotary compressor with a piston or roller inside a compression chamber that is driven by means of a drive shaft of an electro motor. The roller is arranged inside the compression chamber of the compressor. The roller and other internal parts of the compressor in movement or in possible friction have to be lubricated during compressing the gaseous phase of the refrigerant. For this purpose, oil is used. However, the refrigerant is soluble in the oil thereby reducing the amount of refrigerant that is available for a heat transfer process.
  • US 5,542,266 A describes a refrigerating system which includes a refrigerating line through which refrigerant flows, a refrigerant compressor for circulating the refrigerant through the refrigerating line, and an oil separation passage connected to the refrigerant compressor. The refrigerant compressor includes an enclosed chamber storing therein a refrigeration oil insoluble in the refrigerant. The oil separation passage directs the refrigerant introduced from an inlet port of the refrigerant compressor to an outlet port through the enclosed chamber for separating the refrigeration oil contained in the refrigerant entering from the inlet port.
  • US 4,091,638 A describes a hermetic rotary refrigerant compressor that is provided with means for handling the oil and refrigerant vapor mixture to provide sufficient cooling of the motor without external precoolers and related conduits and apparatus. The oil is collected and caused to flow along a portion of the internal surface of the hermetic shell in such a way that the shell itself functions as a heat exchanger. The heat is transferred through the shell to the cooler ambient air in contact with the external surface thereof.
  • US 4,449,895 A describes a refrigerant compressor that suitable for use in refrigerators, air conditioners, heat pumps or the like apparatus. The refrigerant compressor has a closed casing which encases a driving electric motor section and a compressor section constructed as a unit. The compressor section has a substantially horizontal crank shaft consisting of a main shaft portion fixed to one end of the rotor of the driving motor, an eccentric portion rotatably carrying a rotary piston and an end journal portion. The lubrication system of this compressor has a passage means for introducing a lubricating oil to various parts requiring lubrication, and a lubricator adapted to supply the lubrication oil to the passage means. The passage means includes a peripheral oil groove formed in the portion having crank shaft of the minimum eccentricity and connected at its one end to a peripheral oil groove formed in the main shaft portion and at its other end to a peripheral oil groove in the journal portion of the crank shaft. The lubricator includes a curved oil pipe fixed at its one end and immersed at its other end in the lubricating oil collected in the closed casing, and a coiled spring rotatably received by the oil pipe and connected at its one end to the journal portion of the crank shaft while the other end is immersed in the lubricating oil through the end opening of the oil pipe.
  • JP H04 27788 A describes a compression system with an oil sump section for collecting a lubricant, wherein the oil sump section is formed on the inner bottom section of a sealed case.
  • It is one object of the present invention to provide an improved compressor.
  • Accordingly, a compressor for a household appliance is provided. The compressor comprises a rotating roller for compressing a gaseous phase of a refrigerant, wherein the roller is lubricated by means of a mixture of oil and the refrigerant being dissolved in the oil, an oil sump for receiving the mixture, and a rotating agitation element which is at least partly submerged in the mixture for agitating it. The agitation element is a propeller. The compressor further comprises a drive shaft for driving the roller, wherein the agitation element is attached to the drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft comprises a cam which is received in the roller, wherein the drive shaft comprises a central bore which runs along a longitudinal direction of the drive shaft, and wherein the cam has an outlet for the mixture.
  • Agitating or stirring the mixture could reduce the needed time to achieve the stable solubility of the refrigerant according to the operating conditions in whatever moment in the oil. Consequently, there is in a shorter time more refrigerant available for doing energy interchange in a heat exchanger, in the case the refrigerant is egressing from the oil which happens during startup of the compressor. This improves the efficiency of the household appliance. A further advantage being related to the homogeneous blend of oil and refrigerant in the mixture is that the lubrication function is improved because of the extra forced agitation. This can in particular be very beneficial in oil mixtures which are provided with additives in the form of nanoparticles or nanofluids.
  • The compressor preferably is a rotary compressor or can be named rotary compressor. A "refrigerant" is a substance or mixture, usually a fluid, used in a heat pump and refrigeration cycle. In most cycles it undergoes phase transitions from a liquid to a gas and back again. The gaseous phase can be transferred into the liquid phase and vice versa. The gaseous phase can be named gaseous refrigerant. The liquid phase can be named liquid refrigerant.
  • "Agitating" the mixture means circulating or stirring it. In particular, the gaseous phase of the refrigerant is at least so some extend soluble in the oil. Agitating the mixture reduces the time for achieving the stable solubility that corresponds to particular operating conditions of the compressor. Since the oil sump does not only contain oil, it can be named sump or mixture sump. The mixture can be part of the compressor. The roller is a piston or can be named piston or rotating piston. Apart from the roller there are other internal parts of the compressor in movement or friction. These internal parts can include a vane, bearings or the like.
  • The compressor further comprises a drive shaft for driving the roller, wherein the agitation element is attached to the drive shaft.
  • In particular, the agitation element is attached to the drive shaft at the bottom thereof. Preferably, the drive shaft is arranged vertically. In particular, the agitation element is attached to an end of the drive shaft that protrudes into the oil sump. The drive shaft is rotatably supported in a compressor housing. The shaft can be part of an electric motor of the compressor. The electric motor can comprise a rotor that is fixed to the drive shaft and a stator that is fixed to the compressor housing. The drive shaft preferably has a cam which is received in the roller. The roller preferably has a ring-shape. Due to the cam, the roller fulfills an eccentric movement when the shaft rotates. The shaft can have a central intake bore that runs along a longitudinal direction of the shaft. The intake bore can have a helical intake element which is used to take in the mixture of oil and the refrigerant when rotating the shaft. The intake element can have the form of a thread. The cam has an outlet for the mixture. The outlet can be a bore that is arranged perpendicular to the intake bore. In this way, the outlet provides the mixture into a gap that is provided in between the cam and the roller. In this way the roller and the cam are lubricated when the shaft rotates. The outlet constitutes a lubrication point for lubricating the cam and the roller.
  • According to a further embodiment, the compressor further comprises a bottom bearing and a top bearing for supporting the drive shaft, wherein the drive shaft extends beyond the bottom bearing, and wherein the bottom bearing is arranged between the agitation element and the top bearing.
  • The bearings can be part of the afore-mentioned electric motor. The bearings can be friction bearings or rolling bearings. In particular, the drive shaft extends beyond the bottom bearing into the oil sump. The bottom bearing can be at least partly submerged into the mixture of oil and refrigerant. The shaft can have two further outlets for delivering the mixture from the intake bore to the bearings. In this way, the bearings can be lubricated when the shaft rotates. These outlets constitute further lubrication points for lubricating the bearings.
  • According to a further embodiment, the compressor further comprises a compressor housing, wherein the oil sump is part of the compressor housing.
  • The compressor housing preferably has a cylindric shape with an outer wall, a bottom cap and a top cap. The caps hermetically close the outer wall at its ends. The compressor housing can be made of steel. The outer wall can be rotation-symmetric to a centerline. The centerline is preferably arranged vertically so that also the compressor housing is arranged vertically.
  • According to a further embodiment, the compressor further comprises a compression chamber which receives the roller, wherein the compression chamber is arranged inside the compressor housing.
  • For pressurizing the gaseous phase of the refrigerant, the roller rotates inside the compression chamber. The roller comes into contact with a wall of the compression chamber when the shaft rotates. The compression chamber can be part of the compressor housing.
  • According to a further embodiment, the oil sump is fluidly connected to a lubrication point for lubricating the roller.
  • The number of lubricating points is arbitrarily. In particular, the oil sump is fluidly connected to a number of different lubrication points that have the function of distributing the oil or the mixture for proper lubrication. These lubrication points can be - as mentioned before - between the cam and the roller as well as between the drive shaft and the bearings. "Fluidly connected" means that the mixture of the oil and the refrigerant can flow from the oil sump to the lubrication points. After the lubrication is done, the oil comes back to the oil sump. This is repeated cyclically.
  • The agitation element is a propeller.
  • The propeller can have an annular basic section that receives one end of the drive shaft. The propeller has blades that are attached to the basic section. The basic section is optional. That means that the blades can also be directly attached to the drive shaft. The propeller has at least one blade. Preferably, the propeller has at least two blades.
  • According to a further embodiment, the agitation element has two, three or more than three blades.
  • The number of blades is arbitrary. There can for example be four or five blades. The design of the blades can be modified as needed. Parameters for modifying the agitation element are for example a diameter of the agitation element, the geometric design of the blades, an angle of the blades or the like. The blades can be named propeller blades.
  • Further, a household appliance comprising such a compressor is provided.
  • The household appliance can be a laundry dryer, a dishwasher, a refrigerator, a deep freezer or the like. In the case that the household appliance is a laundry dryer or a dishwasher, the compressor can be part of a heat pump. In particular, the household appliance can be a heat pump dryer, a heat pump washer, a heat pump washer-dryer or a heat pump dishwasher.
  • Further possible implementations or alternative solutions of the invention also encompass combinations - that are not explicitly mentioned herein - of features described above or below with regard to the embodiments. The person skilled in the art may also add individual or isolated aspects and features to the most basic form of the invention.
  • Further embodiments, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent description and dependent claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
    • Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of one embodiment of a household appliance;
    • Fig. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a compressor for the household appliance according to Fig. 1;
    • Fig. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the compressor according to the intersection line III-III of Fig. 2;
    • Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of one embodiment of an agitation element for the compressor according to Fig. 2; and
    • Fig. 5 shows a schematic view of one further embodiment of an agitation element for the compressor according to Fig. 2.
  • In the Figures, like reference numerals designate like or functionally equivalent elements, unless otherwise indicated.
  • Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of one embodiment of a household appliance 1. The household appliance 1 can be a laundry dryer, a dishwasher, a refrigerator, a deep freezer or the like. The household appliance 1 has a housing 2 comprising a bottom 3, a ceiling 4 which is arranged opposite the bottom 3, two opposing side walls 5, 6 and a back wall 7. The housing 2 is cuboid-shaped. The housing 2 has a front wall 8 which opposes the back wall 7. A door 9 is provided at the front wall 8 which can be opened to put laundry or other items into the household appliance 1. In this case, the household appliance 1 is a front loader. The door 9 can also be provided at the ceiling 4. In this case, the household appliance 1 is a top loader.
  • Fig. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a compressor 10 for the household appliance 1. The compressor 10 is capable of compressing a gaseous phase GR of a refrigerant. A "refrigerant" is a substance or mixture, usually a fluid, used in a heat pump and refrigeration cycle. In most cooling or heat pump cycles it undergoes phase transitions from a liquid to a gas and back again. The refrigerant also has a liquid phase. The gaseous phase GR can be transferred into the liquid phase and vice versa. The compressor 10 transfers the gaseous phase GR from low pressure to high pressure. The liquid phase is transferred into the gaseous phase GR by means of an evaporator (not shown). The gaseous phase GR can be named gaseous refrigerant. The liquid phase can be named liquid refrigerant.
  • The compressor 10 is a rotary compressor 10. The compressor 10 comprises a compressor housing 11. The compressor housing 11 can be made of steel. The compressor housing 11 is cylindrical. The compressor housing 11 is constructed rotationsymmetrical towards a centerline 12. The centerline 12 is arranged vertically. The compressor housing 11 comprises a cylindrical outer wall 13, a top cap 14 and a bottom cap 15. The caps 14, 15 hermetically close the outer wall 13 at its ends.
  • The top cap 14 can be provided with a discharge pipe 16 to discharge the gaseous phase GR with high pressure. The discharge pipe 16 can be pipe that is arranged vertically. The outer wall 13 can comprise a suction port 17 for intaking the gaseous phase GR at low pressure. The suction port 17 can be a pipe that is arranged horizontally. Upstream the suction port 17 can be provided an accumulator (not shown) for separating the liquid phase from the gaseous phase GR and for storing the liquid phase until it evaporates. In this way, the accumulator prevents the liquid phase from entering the compressor 10.
  • The bottom cap 15 can be provided with a flange 18. The flange 18 can have a triangular shape with three openings (not shown) in the corners of the triangle. The openings can be used to attach the compressor 10 to the household appliance 1. Alternatively, the flange 18 can have a circular shape.
  • The compressor 10 is provided with a compression chamber 19 which is enclosed in the compressor housing 11 or which is part of the compressor housing 11. In the compression chamber 19, the gaseous phase GR of the refrigerant is compressed to obtain the gaseous phase GR with high pressure. The compression chamber 19 takes in the gaseous phase GR at low pressure through the suction port 17 and discharges the gaseous phase GR at a higher pressure through a discharge valve (not shown).
  • The compressor has a drive shaft 20. The drive shaft 20 is rotatably supported in the compressor housing 11. A bottom bearing 21 and a top bearing 22 are provided to support the drive shaft 20. The drive shaft 20 is supported in the compressor housing 11 by means of the bearings 21, 22. The bearings 21, 22 can be friction bearings or rolling bearings. The drive shaft 20 can be part of an electric motor (not shown). The electric motor can comprise a rotor that is fixed to the drive shaft 20 and a stator that is fixed to the compressor housing 11.
  • The drive shaft 20 is used to drive a roller 23 to compress the gaseous phase GR. The roller 23 can be named piston or rotating piston. The roller 23 is suspended on the drive shaft 20 which runs through the compression chamber 19. The drive shaft 20 has a cam which is received in the roller 23. The roller 23 can be ring-shaped. When the drive shaft 20 rotates, the roller 23 fulfills an eccentric movement by means of the cam. The roller 23 is arranged inside the compression chamber 19. The compressor 10 further has at least one valve, electric cables, springs and further elements that are not shown in Fig. 2. Attached to the drive shaft is an agitation element 24. The agitation element 24 can be bar-shaped. The agitation element 24 can comprise two bars that are screwed into blind holes being provided in an end of the drive shaft 20 that extends over the bottom bearing 21. That means, the drive shaft overpasses the bottom bearing 21 at least slightly.
  • The compressor 10 comprises an oil sump 25. The oil sump 25 is at the bottom of the compressor housing 11. The oil sump 25 can be constituted by a part of the outer wall 13 and the bottom cap 15. That means, the oil sump 25 is part of the compressor housing 11. At least, the oil sump 25 is fluidly connected to lubrication points. The oil sump 25 is at least partly filled with a mixture M of oil and the refrigerant. The agitation element 24 is submerged in this mixture M. The bottom bearing 21 can also be at least partly submerged in the mixture M. The mixture M is used to lubricate internal parts of the compressor 10 in movement or in friction. The internal parts can comprise the roller 23 and/or the bearings 21, 22. There can be provided a system of bores in the drive shaft 20 to provide proper lubrication with the mixture M.
  • Fig. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the compressor 10, in an example that does not form part of the claimed invention, in Fig. 3 only the drive shaft 20 and the agitation element 24 are shown. The agitation element 24 can be bar-shaped. The agitation element 24 can have a circular, a rectangular, a triangular or any other desired cross section. The agitation element 24 can be made of one piece and can be pushed into a bore that is provided in the drive shaft 20. In this case, the two ends of the agitation element 24 protrude radially outwards from the drive shaft 20. Alternatively, the agitation element 24 can comprise two bars 26, 27 that are screwed into two threaded holes being provided at the end of the drive shaft 20 that submerges into the mixture M.
  • Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of an embodiment according to the claimed invention of an agitation element 24 for the compressor. The agitation element 24 has the form of a propeller or can be named propeller. The agitation element 24 has an annular basic section 28 that receives the drive shaft 20. The basic section 28 can be fixed to the drive shaft 20. Two blades 29, 30 are attached to the basic section 28. The basic section 28 is optional. This means that the two blades 29, 30 can be directly attached to the drive shaft 20.
  • Fig. 5 shows a schematic view of a further embodiment of an agitation element 24 for the compressor. This agitation element 24 also has the form of a propeller or can be named propeller. The agitation element 24 according to Fig. 5 differs from the agitation element 24 according to Fig. 4 only in that it has tree blades 29 to 31 instead of two blades 29, 30. The number of blades 29 to 31 is arbitrary. There can be more than three blades 29 to 31.
  • The design of the blades 29 to 31 can be modified as needed. Parameters for modifying the agitation element 24 are for example a diameter of the agitation element 24, the geometric design of the blades 29 to 31, an angle of the blades 29 to 31 or the like.
  • The function of the agitation element 24 is to agitate the mixture M in the oil sump 25 during compression of the gaseous phase GR of the refrigerant. This decreases the time for achieving the stable solubility that corresponds to particular operating conditions of the compressor 10. Consequently, there is more refrigerant available for doing energy interchange in a heat exchanger (not shown). This improves the efficiency and cycle time of the household appliance 1. A further advantage being related to the homogeneous mixture of oil and refrigerant in the mixture M is that the lubrication function is improved because of the extra forced agitation. Without such an agitation element 24, there could be different heterogeneous phases doing the lubrication. The homogeneous mixing of the oil and the refrigerant can in particular be very beneficial in oil mixtures which are provided with additives in the form of nanoparticles or nanofluids.
  • Although the present invention has been described in accordance with preferred embodiments, it is obvious for the person skilled in the art that modifications are possible in all embodiments without departing from the scope defined by the appended claims.
  • Reference Numerals:
  • 1
    household appliance
    2
    housing
    3
    bottom
    4
    ceiling
    5
    side wall
    6
    side wall
    7
    back wall
    8
    front wall
    9
    door
    10
    compressor
    11
    compressor housing
    12
    centerline
    13
    outer wall
    14
    top cap
    15
    bottom cap
    16
    discharge pipe
    17
    suction port
    18
    flange
    19
    compression chamber
    20
    drive shaft
    21
    bottom bearing
    22
    top bearing
    23
    roller
    24
    agitation element
    25
    oil sump
    26
    bar
    27
    bar
    28
    basic section
    29
    blade
    30
    blade
    31
    blade
    GR
    gaseous phase
    M
    mixture

Claims (6)

  1. A compressor (10) for a household appliance (1), comprising a rotating roller (23) for compressing a gaseous phase (GR) of a refrigerant, wherein the roller (23) is lubricated by means of a mixture (M) of oil and the refrigerant being dissolved in the oil, an oil sump (25) for receiving the mixture (M), and a rotating agitation element (24) which is at least partly submerged in the mixture (M) for agitating it, wherein the compressor (10) further comprises a drive shaft (20) for driving the roller (23), wherein the agitation element (24) is attached to the drive shaft (20), wherein the drive shaft (20) comprises a cam which is received in the roller (23), wherein the drive shaft (20) comprises a central bore which runs along a longitudinal direction of the drive shaft (20), and characterised in that the cam has an outlet for the mixture (M) and in that the agitation element (24) is a propeller.
  2. The compressor according to claim 1, further comprising a compressor housing (11), wherein the oil sump (25) is part of the compressor housing (11).
  3. The compressor according to claim 2, further comprising a compression chamber (19) which receives the roller (23), wherein the compression chamber (19) is arranged inside the compressor housing (11).
  4. The compressor according to claim 3, wherein the oil sump (25) is fluidly connected to a lubrication point for lubricating the roller (3).
  5. The compressor according to one of claims 1 - 4, wherein the agitation element (24) has two, three or more than three blades (29 - 31).
  6. A household appliance (1) comprising a compressor (10) according to one of claims 1 - 5.
EP20176498.2A 2019-06-26 2020-05-26 Compressor and household appliance Active EP3757393B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19382542 2019-06-26

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3757393A1 EP3757393A1 (en) 2020-12-30
EP3757393B1 true EP3757393B1 (en) 2024-01-17

Family

ID=67180710

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP20176498.2A Active EP3757393B1 (en) 2019-06-26 2020-05-26 Compressor and household appliance

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3757393B1 (en)
CN (1) CN112145433A (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP4086538A1 (en) 2021-05-03 2022-11-09 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Compressor module having means for cooling and household appliance including such
CN114542469B (en) * 2022-03-09 2023-08-04 广东美芝制冷设备有限公司 Rotary compressor and refrigeration equipment

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4091638A (en) * 1976-12-13 1978-05-30 Borg-Warner Corporation Cooling system for hermetic compressor
US4449895A (en) * 1980-12-23 1984-05-22 Matsushita Reiki Co., Ltd. Refrigerant compressor
JPH0427788A (en) * 1990-05-24 1992-01-30 Toshiba Corp Sealed compressor
ES2120494T3 (en) * 1992-04-28 1998-11-01 Daikin Ind Ltd ROTARY COMPRESSOR WITH INTEGRATED WING AND ROLLER.
US5542266A (en) * 1993-10-20 1996-08-06 Matsushita Refrigeration Company Refrigeration system with compressor using refrigeration oil insoluble in refrigerant
JPH07301190A (en) * 1994-05-06 1995-11-14 Hitachi Ltd Rotary compressor
JP3961274B2 (en) * 2001-12-05 2007-08-22 松下電器産業株式会社 Compressor
JP2010190183A (en) * 2009-02-20 2010-09-02 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd Sealed type rotary compressor

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN112145433A (en) 2020-12-29
EP3757393A1 (en) 2020-12-30

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
KR870001784B1 (en) Scroll compressor
EP3757393B1 (en) Compressor and household appliance
JPH02196188A (en) Rotary compressor
EP3276175B1 (en) Hermetic compressor and refrigeration device
US8978826B2 (en) Compressor
CN107061272B (en) Rotary Compressor
EP2940300A1 (en) Hermetic compressor and refrigeration device with same
CN107893758B (en) Scroll compressor and air conditioner with same
JP2023071508A (en) Hermetic rotary compressor
US11168687B2 (en) Scroll compressor
US2930522A (en) Vapor lock preventing means for compressor lubrication system
JP4720649B2 (en) Electric compressor
US3081935A (en) Centrifugal oil separating and antislugging device for refrigeration compressors
WO2023181141A1 (en) Horizontal scroll compressor and refrigeration cycle apparatus equipped with said horizontal scroll compressor
CN205047436U (en) Compressor
JP2000097185A (en) Rotary compressor
JP7267087B2 (en) Air conditioning compressor
JP2013204488A (en) Scroll type fluid machine
CN109386467A (en) Oil separator and horizontal compressor
JP7399347B2 (en) Compressor and refrigeration cycle equipment
KR100270871B1 (en) Rotary compressor
KR100771594B1 (en) crankshaft of compressor for refrigerating machine
JP2009062954A (en) Hermetic compressor
JP2022148052A (en) Hermetic type rotary compressor and refrigerator using the same
JP2022147381A (en) Hermetic type rotary compressor and refrigerator using the same

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN PUBLISHED

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: BA ME

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20210630

RBV Designated contracting states (corrected)

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: EXAMINATION IS IN PROGRESS

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20220905

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: GRANT OF PATENT IS INTENDED

INTG Intention to grant announced

Effective date: 20230914

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE PATENT HAS BEEN GRANTED

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R096

Ref document number: 602020024385

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: LT

Ref legal event code: MG9D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: MP

Effective date: 20240117

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: MK05

Ref document number: 1650694

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20240117

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20240117