US2135515A - Refrigerating apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 8, 1938. H; B. HULL ET AL 2,135,515

REFRIGERAT ING APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. 31, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l wfiww Y LBFM BY ATTORNEY I Nov. '8, '1 938.

H. YB. HULL ET AL 2,135,515

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. 31 1931 5 Sheet-Sheet 2 W J VE TORQJ'QHCW d BY ATTOR N EY Nov. 8, 1938. H. B.'HULL ET AL REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed Jafi. 51, 1931 3 SheetsSheet 5 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 8, 1938 PATENT 'orrica REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Harry B. Hull and Alex -A. McCormack, Dayton,

Ohio, assignors, by mesne assignments, to General Motors Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application January 31, 1931, Serial No.

Renewed May 26, 1937 17 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus of the compression type and more particularly to motor-compressor units for use with refrigerating apparatus of such type.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved compressing apparatus which is inexpensive to manufacture, economical to operate and easily assembled. I

Another object is to provide an improved compressing means of the oscillating ring type having a plurality of compression spaces, and to provide means for sealing said compression spaces from one another, which means also seals the intake from the discharge sides of said compressing means.

Another object is to provide aneccentric cs cillating ring type compressing means with counter-balancing means to lessen vibrations.

Another object is to provide improved means for loading and unloading the compressing means.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is atop plan view, partly in elevation and partly broken away, of a compressing apparatus embodying features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of a refrigerating system embodying features of the invention showing, the system partly diagrammatic and an enlarged view in cross-section of the compressing apparatus shown in Fig. 1, the view of the compressing apparatus being taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; 1

Fig. 3 is a view in cross-section of a portion of the compressing apparatus shown in-Fig. 2, the view being taken in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 and showinga modified form of sealing means for the compressing apparatus; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the compressing apparatus shown in Fig. 1 andshowing a side view in elevation'ofthe discharge valve mechanism. Referring to the drawings, the numeral des- 3 ignates in general a refrigerating system-which includes therein. amotor-compressor unit 22, condenser 24 and cooling or evaporator element 26. The motor-compressor unit herein shown is of the type in which both the motor and compressor are enclosed within a fluid-tight, hermetically sealed casing. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such a compressing unit. The compressing unit 22 comprises motor which includes rotor 33 and stator 35, and a compressing means 31 ac- 5 tuated by motor 30. The compressing unit withdraws gaseous refrigerant from the evaporator through a vapor conduit 42, compresses the gaseous refrigerant and delivers it to the condenser wherein it is liquefied and from which it is de- 10 livered to a receiver 43 which is connected to the evaporator-by means of a supply conduit 45 under the control, of an expansion valve 36. The compressing means 31 is shown as driven by the electric motor 30 and the starting and 15 stopping of the motor is controlled by an automatic switch 4! controlled by a thermostat bulb 48 in the vicinity of the evaporator 26.

The motor-compressor unit 22 is enclosed within the fluid-tight casing to which includes an upper cover 50, and an intermediate member 52 and a lower member 54 suitably clamped together by screws 55 and 56. The lower member 54 and the intermediate member 52 cooperate to form a reservoirv 51 for a body of lubricating 25 oil preferably mineral oil. The intermediate member 52 serves also to provide an intake chamber 59, which is provided with a check valve located at the inlet thereof to permit refrigerant to enter said chamber but preventing re- 30 turn thereof. The intermediate member 52 is provided with a horizontal web or plate 62 at the top thereof which serves to divide the casing 40 into two separate chambers for compressed fluid,

- namely, 65 and 66. Both chambers are located 35 on the same side of the compressor, and for instance, on the high pressure side as shown in the drawings. The web 62 is provided with an annular groove which provides a compression chamber for the compressing means 31. 40

The compressing means 31 is of the oscillating ring type which is one of the types which must be 'flooded with a lubricant to accomplish any apthe outer periphery of said ring and a second compression space is provided adjacent the inner periphery of said ring. Thus it will be noted that there is provided a compression space adjacent each periphery of the ring I4 as shown in Fig. 3 where one compression space is indicated at I5 and a second compression space is indicated at I6. Each of the compression spaces is provided with a separate discharge valve 11. Compression abutments are provided in the form of an oscillating or rocking pin 80 disposed within the compression chamber III to seal one compression space from the other and arranged so as to be in engagement with at least one of the ends of the ring during pumping operation so as to prevent leakage from one compression space to the other. The oscillating pin as shown in Fig. 3 is disposed Within the chamber III with its ends in slidable engagement with opposite vertical walls of the annular groove or compression chamber 10. During the operation of the compressing means the pin 80 oscillates with its ends slidably engaging the walls of the compression chamber I0 while the ring member I4 oscillates within the compression chamber 10 with respect to the axis of the pin 80. Throughout operation of the compressing means there is a plane contact between at least one end of the ring I4 and one side of I the oscillating pin 80. That is, the end of the ring 14 is flush with the side wall of the oscillating pin during pumping action and is in a sliding engagement during pumping operation and in stationary engagement therewith when the compressor is in its idle condition. Thus the oscillating ring 14 oscillates within the compression chamber III with respect to the axis of the pin 88, and the oscillating pin oscillates with its ends slidably engaging opposite vertical walls of the compression chamber. By' this arrangement there is provided two distinct compression spaces, and, also by the present arrangement one compression space is entirely sealed from the other and the intake side of the compressing means is also sealed by the same means from the discharge side.

Referring now to Fig. 4, there is shown a modified form of compressing means. In this modification the oscillating pin 82 is formed in two pieces and is held in engagement with one end of the oscillating ring by means of a spring 83. This arrangement provides a self-adjusting contact between the ring and pin on the dis-- charge side of the compressing means to thus prevent any recompression of gas. Other details shown in this modification correspond to those shown in Fig. 3.

The compressing means 31 is arranged to be actuated by a shaft 85 which is driven by rotor 33 of motor 30. The shaft 85 is journaled on its one end in a bearing 81 which is carried by web 62 and on its opposite end is journaled in a hearing carried by the lower member 54 of the casing 40. The shaft 85 maintains its position within the bearings 81 and 98 by means of gravity, the end of said shaft resting upon a button carried by the lower member 54 of casing 40. The shaft on its upper end is provided with an eccentric portion 100 which carries the ball bearingmember I02. The ball bearing member I02 engages the disc-shaped member 12 by a slipfit at 12a to thus engage the ring I4. As shown vin the drawings the compression chamber is concentric with the main portion of the shaft 85 while the ring member 'I4 is concentric with the eccentric portion of shaft 85. Thus it will be noted that rotation of shaft 85 due to the eccentric arrangement-thereon that the ring I4 oscillates within the compression chamber III in the manner previously described. In order to countor-balance said eccentric arrangement there is provided counter-balancing means I05 which is carried by shaft 85 diametrically opposite to the eccentric portion of the shaft 85. The counter balancing means I05 includes a portion I88 above the disc-shaped member I2 and a similar portion I01 which is located below said disc-shaped member. As previously stated the disc-shaped member 12 forms the top Wall of the compression chamber I0 and as will be noted said disc-shaped member rests upon the web 62 by gravity alone.

Means have been provided for sealing the joints between the disc 12 and the web 62 to thus seal the compression chamber so as to enable the compressing means to perform its compressing action. In order to provide means for sealing said joint we employ the lubricant within the reservoir for submerging the compressing means in lubricant. This is accomplished by providing a spiral groove III) on the lower end of shaft 85. This groove receives lubricant from the reservoir 51 through strainer III and passage la. The groove IIU communicates with a radial bore I I2 in shaft 85, which bore leads to a central passage H5. The central passage permits lubricant to flow through the open end at the top of the passage and into the chamber 65. The lubricant thus supplied to the chamber 65 acts to lubricate the compressing means and to seal the joint between the disc-shaped member 12 and the web 62. ,The central passage H5 in shaft 85 also communicates with a radial bore I25 in shaft 85 for supplying lubricant to the bearing 81 while the spiral passage I III in shaft 85 serves to supply lubricant to bearing 90. The disc-shaped member I2 is provided with a plurality of vertical passages IIIIA which extend from the top of said disc-shaped member to the underside thereof which is in engagement with the web 62'to thus permit lubricant to flow therethrough to lubricate the joint between the disc and web. In order to lubricate the bottom wall of the compression chamber III a plurality of vertical passages I I2 have been provided in the disc-shaped member 12 and which extend from the top thereof through the bottom of the oscillating ring 14. A separate'passage H3 is provided in disc I2 which leads to a plurality of passages I I4 formed at right angles to each other in .pin 80 to lubricate between the ends of the pin 80 and walls of chamber I0, and between the sides of the pin 80 and the ends of ring I4.

The operation of the compressor is as follows:

The gaseous refrigerant, for example CHzClF, is withdrawn from the vapor conduit as previously stated and is drawn into the intake chamber 59 which communicates with the pressure chamber I0 through an intake passage I40 which communicates with a passage I42 provided in the ring I4. The passage I42 extends from one side to the other of ring I4 so as to supply fluid to be compressed to each compression space in the compression chamber I0. By this arrangement gaseous refrigerant or the refrigerant from the intake or low pressure side of the receiver is admitted to the compression chamber to be compressed. The compressed refrigerant is then discharged through valves I'I which are covered by a film of lubricant received from the oil pump III] to thus dampe valve noises. The valves 'I'I are provided with a cut-awayportion I45 15 tect the windings of the motor 2,135,515 which tends to form a small reservoir for lubriflow drain for lubricant from the chamber 65 to be returned to the reservoir 51. The high pressure gas also passes through conduits I before entering the high pressure chamber 66. The high pressure gas passes from the chamber 66 into the condenser 24 as previously stated through a suitable outlet passage I51. In order to prothere is provided a shield I which is carried by the rotor 33 and extends above the lowermost portion of the conduit I55. This shield I60 prevents the oil which is being drained from the chamber to reservoir 51 from splashing upon the windings of the motor and permits same to pass through passages I02 provided in the .rotor 33 to the reservoir 51, and since the uppermost portion of the shield I60 is above the lowermost portion of the conduit I55 the shield I60 tends to act as a separator for separating some of the lubricant which may become entrained with the gas in passing from conduit I55 to outlet I61. However, in the event some lubricantshould become entrained with the gas and pass into the chamber 66 on the outside of the-shield I60 itis returned to the reservoir 51 by means of one or more passages I6l provided in the stator 35.

In refrigerating apparatus of the type herein described it is customary to operate the compressor intermittently to maintain the evaporator, or the refrigerator cabinet which generally houses the evaporator at a substantially constant temperature. Thus it is customary to start the compressor when the temperature in the refrigerator reaches a predetermined high limit and to stop the compressor when the temperature reaches a predetermined low limit. Since the discharge or high pressure side of the compressor is under condenser pressure and the suction or low pressure side is under evaporator pressure, it is obvious that the compressor whether of the rotarytype, oscillating type, the vibrator type or of any other type, start'under load and consequently the motor requires a high starting torque unless some means is provided for permitting the motor to reach a running speed before the load is taken up. In order to provide means for loading and unloading the compressing means we have provided the intake chamber 59 and have'arranged for the high pressure gas in the chambers 65 and 66 to escape therefrom, during periods of idleness of the compressor, through the compressing means and compression chamber I0 into the intake chamber 59 so as to equalize the pressure within the chambers 59, 65 and 66. This leakage through the pump takes-place between the joint of the disc-shaped member and a web member 62 and some leakage occurs through the passages I I2 which leads'to the bottom wall of the compression chamber 10 from the chamber 65. By this arrangement sufiicient high pressure gaswill pass into the chamber 59 so as to enable the compression chamber '|0 to be supplied with high pressure gas until the motor attains a running speed. This is accomplished by providing an intake chamber of sufllcient size to accommodate such a quantity of high compressed gas. Thus it will be noted that the compressing means is acting upon high compressed gas and the compressing of low pressure gas into'high pressure gas will not take place until the high pressure gas has all been withdrawn from the chamber 59 and low pressure gas is admitted into the compression chamber I0.

The rotation of shaft is clockwise (Figs. 3 and 4) giving the ring 14 a tendency to rotate alsoclockwise, thus maintaining a contact be-' tween its end Ma and pin 80. The plane contact i also insures correct oscillation of the pin with the ring.

While the preferred form of the invention includes two compression chambers, it is to be understood that many advantages of the invention'may be obtained when only one compressionchamber is used, either on the inner or outer periphery of the ring. While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows: 1. A compressor for refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination a casing, means providing a chamber within said casing, an' oscillating ring disposed in said chamber, means for actuating said ring, said ring together with said first named means providing a compression space adjacent the inner periphery of said ring and providing a compression space adjacent the outer periphery of said ring, and a rocking pin cooperating with said ring for sealing said compression spaces from one another, there being a plane contact between said ring and said pin so as to provide a slidable engagement therebetween, and self-adjusting means for taking up clearance slack for maintaining said contact said self-adjusting means cooperating with said ring and pin.

2. A compressor for refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination a fluid-tight casing, means dividing said easing into a plurality of compartments, a shaft extending through said means, a motor below said means for driving said shaft, an eccentric on said shaft, a ball bearing member carried by the eccentric on said shaft, means forming a compression chamber, and an oscillating ring in said chamber actuated by said bearing member, said compression chamber communicating with 'one of said compartments and said compartment discharging compressed fluid to a second compartment through said ball bearing member, said casing providing an outlet passage in said latter compartment.

3. A compressor for refrigerating apparat comprising in combination a drive shaft, an eccentric on said shaft, a ball bearing member carried by the eccentric on said shaft, means forming an annular chamber, a disc-shaped member having a downwardly extending ring oscillated by said eccentric, the disc-shaped member forming the top wall of saidchamber and said ring ex-. tending into said chamber, said ring together with said chamber forming a plurality of compression spaces during the operation of said discshaped member, a pin passing through said ring and having a sealing engagement with said ring to seal said compression spaces from each other and individual outlet check valves for each compression space carried by said disc-shaped member whereby pressure differentials may be established between said compression spaces.

4. A compressor for refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination a member having a flat top portion and having a rectangularly crosssectioned annular groove in said portion, an oscillator having a flat bottom portion in sealing engagement with said flat top portion and having a downwardly extending ring in sealing contact with both side walls and bottom of said annular groove to form two compression spaces on each side of said ring, means in sealing contact with said member and with said ring forming compression abutments in said compression spaces, means forming a compression chamber above said member, means forming discharge passages from said compression spaces to said compression chamber adjacent said compression. abutments, and check valves for said discharge passages.

A compressor for refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination a member having a flat top portion and having a rectangularly crosssectioned annular groove in said portion, an o..-

cillator-having a flat bottom portion in sealing.-

engagement with said flat top portion and having a downwardly extending ring in sealing contact with both side walls and bottom of said annular groove to form two compression spaces on each side of said ring, means in sealing contact with said member and with said ring forming compression abutments in said compression spaces, means'forming a compression chamber above said member, means forming discharge passages from said compression spaces to said compression chamber adjacent said compression abutments, check valves for said discharge passages and means for maintaining a supply of oil over said check valves.

6. A compressor for refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination a motor driven shaft, an eccentric portion on said shaft, means forming an annular compression chamber, an oscillating ring concentric with said eccentric portion, said ring being located in said chamber and actuated by said eccentric and forming two compression spaces on each side of said ring, means sealing said spaces from each other and oil passages in said ring.

'7. A compressor for refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination a motor driven shaft, an eccentric portion on said shaft, means forming an annular compression chamber, an oscillating ring concentric with said eccentric portion, said ring being located in said chamberand actuated by said eccentric and forming two compression spaces on each side of said ring, means sealing said spaces from each other, means for discharging compressed fluid from one edge of the ring and back through the center of said ring.

8. A compressor for refrigerating apparatus comprising a drive shaft,/an eccentric on said drive shaft, means forming an annular chamber, a disc-shaped member having a downwardly extending ring oscillated by said eccentric, the discshaped member forming the top wall of said chamber and said ring extending into said chamber, said ring together with said chamber forming a compression space during the operation of said disc-shaped member, intake means for said compression space, upwardly directed discharge means from said compression space carried by said disc-shaped member, a check valve on said discharge means, and means to maintain a body of oil on said check valve.

9. A compressor for refrigerating apparatus comprising a drive shaft, an eccentric on said 7; drive shaft, means forming an annular chamber,

a horizontally disposed disc-shaped member having a downwardly extending ring oscillated by said eccentric, the disc-shaped member forming the top wall of said chamber and said ring extending into said chamber, said ring together with said chamber forming a plurality of compression spaces during the operation of said discshaped member, intake means for said compression spaces, upwardly directed discharge means in said disc-shaped member from said compression spaces, check valves carried by said discshaped member on said discharge means, and means to maintain a body of oil on said check valves.

10. A compressor comprising a drive shaft, an eccentric on said shaft, means forming a vertical cylindrical chamber, means forming a lower horizontal wall for said chamber, means forming an upper horizontal wall for said chamber, a ring oscillated by said eccentric against said vertical cylindrical chamber between said upper and lower horizontal walls, a gas outlet valve on said upper wall, and means for flowing a film of lubricant over said valve.

11. A compressor comprising a drive shaft, an eccentric on said drive shaft, means forming an annular cylindrical chamber having inner and outer coaxial vertical cylindrical walls, means forming a lower horizontal wall for said chamber, means forming an upper horizontal wall for said chamber, a ring having coaxial cylindrical walls oscillated by said eccentric against said inner and outer coaxial vertical cylindrical walls between said upper and lower horizontal walls, a gas outlet valve on said upper wall, and means for flowing a film of lubricant over said valve.

12. A compressor comprising a drive shaft, an

eccentric on said shaft, means forming a vertical cylindrical chamber, means forming a lower horizontal wall for said chamber, a plate forming an upper horizontal wall for said chamber, a ring carried by said plate and oscillated by said eccentric against said vertical cylindrical chamber and against said lower horizontal wall, a gas outlet valve on said plate and means for flowing a film of lubricant over said plate.

13. A motor-compressor unit comprising a casing, said casing enclosing a motor and a compressor drivingly connected together, said compressor comprising a drive shaft, an eccentric on said shaft, means forming a vertical cylindrical chamber, means forming a lower horizontal wall for said chamber, a plate forming an upper horizontal wall for said chamber, a ring carried by said plate and oscillated by said eccentric against said vertical cylindrical chamber and against said lower horizontal wall, a gas outlet valve on said plate, a reservoir for a body of lubricant, and means for lubricating said motor from said body of lubricant and for maintaining a film of lubricant over said valve.

14. A motor-compressor unit comprising a cas-' ing, said casing enclosing a motor drivingly connected to a compressor comprising a drive shaft, an eccentric on said drive shaft, means forming an annular cylindrical chamber having inner and outer coaxial vertical cylindrical walls, means forming a lower horizontal wall for said chamber, a plate forming an upper horizontal wall for said chamber, a ring carried by said plate having coaxial cylindrical walls oscillated by said eccentric against said inner and outer coaxial vertical cylindrical walls between said upper and lower horizontal walls, a gas outlet valve on said plate, and

means for maintaining lubricant over said valve and for circulating lubricant to said, motor.

15. A compressor for refrigerating apparatus comprising a drive shaft, an eccentric,on said drive shaft, means forming an annular chamber, a disc-shaped member having a downwardly extending ring oscillated by said eccentric, the disc-shaped member forming the top wall of said chamber and said ring extending into said chamber, said ring together with said chamber forming a compression space during the operation of said disc-shaped member, intake means for said compression space, upwardly directed discharge means from said compression space carried by said disc-shaped member, a check valve on said discharge means, and means causing the fluid compressed by said compressor to pass through said disc-shaped member after having been discharged through said check valve.

16. A compressor for refrigerating apparatus comprising a sealed casing divided by a flat plate having a cylinder formed therein, a disc-shaped piston member oscillating on said plate and cooperating with said cylinder, means for discharging compressed fluid from said cylinder to one side of said disc-shaped member, means for passing said compressed fluid through said disc-shaped member to the other side of said fiat plate and an outlet from the casing on the last named side of said flat plate.

17. A compressor having a cylinder, and a piston plate oscillatable with respect to said cylinder, a refrigerant inlet means in the side of said plate, means for discharging gaseous compressed refrigerant on one side of the'plate, and then passing thmgaseous refrigerant through the center of said compressor to the other side of said plate a casing on said last named side of said plate receiving said gaseous refrigerant, and a gaseous refrigerant outlet in said casing.

HARRY B. HULL. ALEX A. McCORMACK.

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