Aerostatic thrust bearing and method of aerostatically supporting a thrust load in a scroll compressor

An oil-free scroll compressor, comprising:

• a first scroll member having a baseplate and a spiral wrap that projects from the baseplate;
• a second scroll member having a baseplate and a spiral wrap that projects from the baseplate;
• an aerostatic thrust bearing that supports the second scroll member in an axial direction and includes:
• a back surface of the baseplate of the second scroll member,
• a surface of a fixed supporting member, and
• a first gas distributing structure on one of the back surface of the baseplate of the second scroll member and the surface of the fixed supporting member, wherein
• a first flow of pressurized gas is provided to the first gas distributing structure and the first gas distributing structure forms a layer of the pressurized gas between the back surface of the baseplate of the second scroll member and the surface of the fixed supporting member;
• a crankshaft that rotates causing the second scroll member to orbit relative to the first scroll member;
• and
• an aerostatic radial bearing that supports the crankshaft in a radial direction while the crankshaft rotates and includes:
• an outer radial surface of the crankshaft,
• a supporting surface that faces the outer radial surface of the crankshaft, and
• a second gas distributing structure on one of the outer radial surface of the crankshaft and the supporting surface, wherein
• a second flow of pressurized gas is provided to the second gas distributing structure and the second gas distributing structure forms a layer of the pressurized gas between the outer radial surface of the crankshaft and the supporting surface.