WO2014000671A1

WO2014000671A1 - Oil return device and scroll compressor having the same

Info

Publication number: WO2014000671A1
Application number: PCT/CN2013/078212
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pan Ma; Chengzhong SU; Rujun YANG; Xuefeng Chen; Licheng Wang; Jianyun PENG
Original assignee: Shenzhen Byd Auto R&D Company Limited; Byd Company Limited
Priority date: 2012-06-29
Filing date: 2013-06-27
Publication date: 2014-01-03
Also published as: TWM462800U; HK1179817A2; CN202789539U

Abstract

An oil return device and a scroll compressor are provided. The oil return device comprises: a shell (100); a fixed scroll (200) defining a first end surface and a second end surface, in which the first end surface is fixedly connected to an inner end surface of the shell (100), the fixed scroll (200) has an oil passage (240) formed in the first end surface thereof, and the oil passage (240) defines a first end formed with an oil return passage (260) extending through the fixed scroll (200); an orbiting scroll (300) defining a first end surface engaged with the second end surface of the fixed scroll (200); and an end cover (800) having an oil storage chamber (810) communicated with the oil return passage (260).

Description

OIL RETURN DEVICE AND SCROLL COMPRESSOR HAVING THE SAME

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and benefits of Chinese Patent Application Serial No. 201220309727.4, filed with the State Intellectual Property Office of P. R. China on June 29, 2012, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a scroll compressor, especially relate to an oil return device and a scroll compressor comprising the oil return device.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, scroll compressors used in air conditioners are developed very quickly. However, in traditional scroll compressors, there is no sufficient lubricant oil in transmission parts during the operation process of the scroll compressor. Therefore components in the transmission parts may be badly damaged and service life of the scroll compressor may be reduced. Moreover, partial refrigerant oils may enter into an air conditioning system of the air conditioner, which has a bad influence on heat transfer of the air conditioning system. SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure seek to solve at least one of the problems existing in the prior art to at least some extent, or to provide a consumer with a useful commercial choice.

According to embodiments of a first broad aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an oil return device. The oil return device comprises: a shell; a fixed scroll defining a first end surface and a second end surface, in which the first end surface is fixedly connected to an inner end surface of the shell, the fixed scroll has an oil passage formed in the first end surface thereof, and the oil passage defines a first end formed with an oil return passage extending through the fixed scroll; an orbiting scroll defining a first end surface engaged with the second end surface of the fixed scroll; and an end cover having an oil storage chamber communicated with the oil return passage.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the oil passage is formed around a circumference of the first end surface of the fixed scroll.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the oil passage defines a second end formed with a first oil storage groove, and the oil return passage is formed above the first oil storage groove.

In yet an embodiment of the present disclosure, the shell has a second oil storage groove. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the oil passage has a substantially arc shape.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the oil return passage has an inlet and an outlet, and a cross sectional area of the outlet is smaller than a cross sectional area of the inlet.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the fixed scroll has an oil passing chamber communicated with the oil return passage and disposed adjacent to the outlet.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the oil return device further comprises a support plate defining a first end rotatably engaged with a second end surface of the orbiting scroll, and a second end fixedly connected with the end cover, and the support plate has a notch formed around a circumference thereof and communicated with the oil storage chamber.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the support plate has five notches; the end cover has five oil storage chambers communicated with to the five notches respectively.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the oil return device further comprises an eccentric balance block rotatably connected to the end cover.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the end cover has an accommodating groove communicated with the oil storage chamber and configured to accommodate the eccentric balance block.

According to embodiments of a second broad aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a scroll compressor. The scroll compressor includes the oil return device mentioned above.

With the oil return device according to embodiments of the present disclosure, partial refrigerant oils spurted onto the orbiting scroll and the fixed scroll may lubricate the orbiting scroll and the fixed scroll, and partial refrigerant oils spurted into and stored in the oil storage chamber may lubricate transmission parts of the scroll compressor.

Additional aspects and advantages of embodiments of present disclosure will be given in part in the following descriptions, become apparent in part from the following descriptions, or be learned from the practice of the embodiments of the present disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following descriptions made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a cross-sectional view of a scroll compressor according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig.2 is a cross-sectional view through line A-A shown in Fig.l;

Fig.3 is a cross-sectional view through line B-B shown in Fig.l;

Fig.4 is an enlarged schematic view of part C shown in Fig. l ;

Fig.5 is a schematic view of a support plate of an oil return device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig.6 is a schematic view of a support plate and an end cover of an oil return device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

Fig.7 is an exploded view of a scroll compressor according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will be made in detail to embodiments of the present disclosure. The embodiments described herein with reference to drawings are explanatory, illustrative, and used to generally understand the present disclosure. The embodiments shall not be construed to limit the present disclosure. The same or similar elements and the elements having same or similar functions are denoted by like reference numerals throughout the descriptions.

According to embodiments of a first broad aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an oil-gas separation device. The oil-gas separation device comprises: a shell; a fixed scroll defining a first end surface and a second end surface, in which the first end surface of the fixed scroll is fixedly connected to an inner end surface of the shell; an orbiting scroll engaged with the second end surface of the fixed scroll; and a sealing chamber defined between the shell and the fixed scroll, and including a gas exhaust chamber and an oil-gas separation chamber communicated with the gas exhaust chamber, in which the oil-gas separation chamber includes a first oil-gas separation groove formed in the first end surface of the fixed scroll and including a straight groove and a curved groove. The oil-gas separation device and the scroll compressor according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to Figs.1-7 below.

As shown in Figs.1-4, an oil-gas separation device of the scroll compressor is provided. The oil-gas separation device comprises: a shell 100; a fixed scroll 200 defining a first end surface and a second end surface, in which the first end surface of the fixed scroll 200 is fixedly connected to an inner end surface of the shell 100; an orbiting scroll 300 engaged with the second end surface of the fixed scroll 200; and a sealing chamber 400 defined between the shell 100 and the fixed scroll 200. The sealing chamber 400 has a gas exhaust chamber 410 and an oil-gas separation chamber 420 communicated with the gas exhaust chamber 410, in which the oil-gas separation chamber 420 includes a first oil-gas separation groove 220 formed in the first end surface of the fixed scroll 200, and the first oil-gas separation groove 220 includes a straight groove 221 and a curved groove 222. In an embodiment, the straight groove 221 is communicated with the curved groove 222.

According to an embodiment of the present disclose, the straight groove 221 includes an end communicated with the curved groove 222. Specifically, the end of the straight groove 221 is communicated with a lower portion of the curved groove 222.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the fixed scroll 200 has a first gas exhaust groove 210 and the first oil-gas separation groove 220 communicated with the first gas exhaust groove 210, and both formed in the first end surface of the fixed scroll 200. The shell 100 has a second gas exhaust groove 110 and a second oil-gas separation groove 120 communicated with the first gas exhaust groove 110, and both formed in the inner surface of the shell 100. The first and second gas exhaust grooves 210, 110 form the gas exhaust chamber 410 (for example, a sealing chamber in the scroll compressor). The first and second oil-gas separation grooves 220, 210 form the oil-gas separation chamber 420 (for example, a sealing chamber in the scroll compressor).

Specially, as shown in Fig. 3, the gas exhaust chamber 410 includes the first gas exhaust groove 210 formed in the first end surface of the fixed scroll 200 and the second gas exhaust groove 110 formed in the inner surface of the shell 100, and the oil-gas separation chamber 420 includes the first oil-gas separation groove 220 formed in the first end surface of the fixed scroll 200 and a second oil-gas separation groove 120 formed in the inner surface of the shell 100.

In some embodiments, a cross section of the second oil-gas separation groove 120 has a substantially arc shape.

In some embodiments, the straight groove 221 is straight, and a cross section of the straight groove 221 is semicircle; the curved groove 222 is designed to be as long as possible in a limited volume of the scroll compressor, and has a substantially arc shape.

In one embodiment, the fixed scroll 200 comprises a first outlet 230 configured to communicate with the gas exhaust chamber 410. In an embodiment, the first outlet 230 is approximately disposed in the center of the fixed scroll 200. In one embodiment, the oil-gas separation device comprises a valve disc 231 covering the first outlet 230. With the valve disc, gas backstreaming (for example, from outside into the scroll compressor) may be efficiently prevented.

In some embodiments, the shell 100 has a second outlet 140 configured to communicate with the oil-gas separation chamber 420.

In some embodiments, the fixed scroll 200 has an oil passage 240 formed in the first end surface thereof. In one embodiment, the oil passage 240 is formed around a circumference of the first end surface of the fixed scroll 200 and has a substantially arc shape. The oil passage 240 defines a first end formed with a first oil storage groove 250 and a second end formed with an oil return passage 260 communicated with a low pressure chamber of the scroll compressor, and the oil return passage 260 is formed above the first oil storage groove 250.

In some embodiments, the shell 100 has a second oil storage groove 130 formed in a lower end of the second oil-gas separation groove 120. The first oil storage groove 250 and the second oil storage groove 130 form an oil storage groove 500. The second oil storage groove 130 is communicated with the second oil-gas separation groove 120, thus the oil storage groove 500 is communicated with the oil-gas separation chamber 420.

In one embodiment, the oil-gas separation device comprises a filter 600 disposed between the first oil storage groove 250 and the second oil storage groove 130. The filter 600 may prevent impurities in the refrigerant oil, such as metal particles, from entering the scroll compressor again. In one embodiment, the filter 600 includes a filtering net.

The operating principle and working process of the oil-gas separation device according to the present disclosure will be explained in details below.

When the scroll compressor is started, the orbiting scroll 300 engages with the fixed scroll 200 and continuously rotates to compress the gas to form a high-pressure gas. During the compressing process, a refrigerant oil is mixed into the high-pressure gas to form a gas-oil mixture. The high-pressure gas-oil mixture discharged into the gas exhaust chamber 410 continuously through the first outlet 230 and the valve disc 231.

The high-pressure gas-oil mixture is discharged from the first outlet 230 and spurted onto the bottom of the shell 100, and then flows in the sealing chamber 400. As the high-pressure gas (in the high pressure gas-oil mixture) is spurted into the sealing chamber 400 continuously, a pressure in the sealing chamber 400 becomes higher and higher, therefore the high-pressure gas-oil mixture becomes a vortex flow. Specially, a part of the high-pressure gas remains on the bottom of the oil-gas separation chamber 420 and forms a part of the refrigerant oil, and most parts of the high-pressure gas firstly flows along the straight groove 221 of the second oil-gas separation groove 220 by means of vortex-centrifugal flowing, and then flows into and along the curved groove 222 to separate the gas from the refrigerant oil.

In some embodiments, the straight groove 221 is a straight and has a semicircle cross s-section, the high-pressure gas-oil mixture flows along the straight groove 221 by means of vortex-centrifugal flowing, which may accelerate the oil-gas separation process. The curved groove 222 is designed to be very long in the limited volume of the fixed scroll 200, which separates the oil from the gas completely.

Then, a part of the refrigerant oil condensates on inner walls of the seahng chamber 400, and flows downward the seahng chamber 400 under an effect of gravity and into the sealing chamber 500. Then, the refrigerant oil flows to pass the filtering net 600 under an effect of the gravity and a pressure, flows upward along the oil passage 240, and then flows into the low-pressure chamber of the scroll compressor via the oil return passage 260.

Finally, the gas will flow upward along the outline of the sealing chamber 400 under the high pressure, and be exhausted from the second outlet 140.

With the oil-gas separation device, the scroll compressor according to embodiments of the present disclosure has the sealing chamber (including the gas exhaust chamber and the oil-gas separation chamber) disposed between the shell and the fixed scroll, without additional components to the oil-gas separation device. Further, the first oil-gas separation groove comprises the straight groove and the curved groove, which effectively lengthens a path for oil-gas separation, thus the oil and the gas may be separated more completely. In addition, the oil-gas separation device may have a simplified structure and the cost thereof is reduced.

According to embodiments of a third broad aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an oil return device. The oil return device comprises: a shell; a fixed scroll defining a first end surface and a second end surface, in which the first end surface is fixedly connected to an inner end surface of the shell, the fixed scroll has an oil passage formed in the first end surface thereof, and the oil passage defines a first end formed with an oil return passage extending through the fixed scroll; an orbiting scroll defining a first end surface engaged with the second end surface of the fixed scroll; and an end cover having an oil storage chamber communicated with the oil return passage.

The oil return device and the scroll compressor according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to Figs.1-7 below.

As shown in Fig. 1-7, an oil return device of a scroll compressor is provided. The oil return device comprises: a shell 100; a fixed scroll 200 defining a first end surface and a second end surface, in which the first end surface is fixedly connected to an inner end surface of the shell 100, the fixed scroll 200 has an oil passage 240 formed in the first end surface thereof, and the oil passage 240 defines a first end formed with an oil return passage 260 extending through the fixed scroll 200; an orbiting scroll 300 defining a first end surface engaged with the second end surface of the fixed scroll 200; and an end cover 800 having an oil storage chamber 810 communicated with the oil return passage 260.

In some embodiments, the oil passage 240 defines a second end formed with a first oil storage groove 250, and the oil return passage 260 is formed above the first oil storage groove 250. In this way, the refrigerant oil may flow from the top to the bottom of the scroll compressor under gravity, so as to lubricate most parts of the scroll compressor.

In some embodiments, the oil passage 240 is formed around a circumference of the first end surface of the fixed scroll 200.

In one embodiment, the shell 100 has a second oil storage groove 130, the first and second oil storage grooves 130, 250 form an oil storage groove in the scroll compressor.

In one embodiment, the oil passage 240 has a substantially arc shape.

In one embodiment, the oil return passage 260 comprises an inlet 261 and an outlet 262, and a cross sectional area of the outlet 262 is smaller than a cross sectional area of the inlet 261. Therefore the refrigerant oil that discharged from the outlet 262 may has a larger pressure. In an embodiment, the oil return passage 260 has a circular cross section.

In some embodiments, the fixed scroll 200 has an oil passing chamber 270 communicated with the oil return passage 260 and disposed adjacent to the outlet 262.

In one embodiment, the oil return device further comprises a support plate 700 defining a first end rotatably engaged with a second end surface of the orbiting scroll 300, and a second end fixedly connected with the end cover 800. The support plate 700 has a notch 710 formed around a circumference thereof and communicated with the oil storage chamber 810.

In one embodiment, the support plate 700 has five notches 710; the end cover 800 comprises five oil storage chambers 810 accordingly. It should be noted that there are no limitations for the number of the notch 710 and the oil storage chamber 810, provided the number of the notch 710 and the oil storage chamber 810 complies with the operation requirements of the scroll compressor.

In some embodiments, the oil return device further comprising an eccentric balance block 900 rotatably connected to the end cover 800.

In some embodiments, the end cover 800 has an accommodating groove 820 communicated with the oil storage chamber 810 and configured to accommodate the eccentric balance block 900. Each oil storage chamber 810 is communicated with the accommodating groove 820 correspondingly, and the refrigerant oil may reach the transmission part of the scroll compressor under gravity and a centrifugal force provided by the eccentric balance block 900, thereby lubricating each components of the transmission part.

When the scroll compressor is working, the orbiting scroll rotates, and a part of the refrigerant oil may be spurted directly on the second end surface of the fixed scroll 200 and the first end surface of the orbiting scroll 300, which performs a lubricating function therebetween. The other part of the refrigerant oil may be spurted into the oil storage chamber 810. Specially, with the oil passing chamber 270 communicated with the oil return passage 260 and disposed adjacent to the outlet 262, the refrigerant oil may be discharged from the oil return passage 260 more fluently. In addition, as the orbiting scroll 300 has an eccentric circular shape, the refrigerant oil may pass the oil passing chamber 270 and be brought between the fixed and orbiting scrolls 200, 300 when the edge of the orbiting scroll 300 is aligned with the oil return passage 260, thus lubricating the fixed and orbiting scrolls 200, 300, while the refrigerant oil may be spurted into the oil storage chamber 810 via the notch 710 when the orbiting scroll 300 rotates to a place where the edge of the orbiting scroll 300 is not aligned with the oil return passage 260 (where the outlet 262 of the oil return passage 260 is not completely covered by the orbiting scroll 300, i.e. at least a part of the outlet 262 is exposed).

According to embodiments of a fourth broad aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a scroll compressor. The scroll compressor includes the oil return device mentioned above.

In embodiments of the present disclosure, the terms "lower portion", "top", "bottom" and "above" are referred to directions shown in drawings and are used for illustrative purposes only.

Although explanatory embodiments have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the above embodiments cannot be construed to limit the present disclosure, and changes, alternatives, and modifications can be made in the embodiments without departing from spirit, principles and scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An oil return device, comprising:

a shell;

a fixed scroll defining a first end surface and a second end surface, wherein the first end surface is fixedly connected to an inner end surface of the shell, the fixed scroll has an oil passage formed in the first end surface thereof, and the oil passage defines a first end formed with an oil return passage extending through the fixed scroll;

an orbiting scroll defining a first end surface engaged with the second end surface of the fixed scroll; and

an end cover having an oil storage chamber communicated with the oil return passage.

2. The oil return device according to claim 1, wherein the oil passage is formed around a circumference of the first end surface of the fixed scroll.

3. The oil return device according to claim 1, wherein the oil passage defines a second end formed with a first oil storage groove, and the oil return passage is formed above the first oil storage groove.

4. The oil return device according to claim 3, wherein the shell has a second oil storage groove.

5. The oil return device according to claim 1, wherein the oil passage has a substantially arc shape.

6. The oil return device according to claim 1, wherein the oil return passage has an inlet and an outlet, and a cross sectional area of the outlet is smaller than a cross sectional area of the inlet.

7. The oil return device according to claim 6, wherein the fixed scroll has an oil passing chamber communicated with the oil return passage and disposed adjacent to the outlet.

8. The oil return device according to claim 1, further comprising a support plate defining a first end rotatably engaged with a second end surface of the orbiting scroll, and a second end fixedly connected with the end cover, and

wherein the support plate has a notch formed around a circumference thereof and communicated with the oil storage chamber.

9. The oil return device according to claim 8, wherein the support plate has five notches, the end cover has five oil storage chambers communicated with to the five notches respectively.

10. The oil return device according to claim 1, further comprising an eccentric balance block rotatably connected to the end cover.

11. The oil return device according to claim 10, wherein the end cover has an accommodating groove communicated with the oil storage chamber and configured to accommodate the eccentric balance block.

12. A scroll compressor comprising the oil return device according to any of the preceding claims.