Compressor with floating seal

A compressor comprising:

• a first scroll including a first end plate and a first spiral wrap extending from the first end plate, the first end plate defining a discharge passage and a first annular recess surrounding the discharge passage;
• a second scroll including a second end plate and a second spiral wrap extending from the second end plate, the first and second spiral wraps cooperating to define a plurality of fluid pockets therebetween;
• a one-piece seal at least partially received in the first annular recess and cooperating with the first scroll to define a biasing chamber receiving fluid at an intermediate pressure that is less than a discharge pressure and greater than a suction pressure, the seal including a plurality of first annular grooves and a plurality of second annular grooves, the first annular grooves surrounding the discharge passage, the second annular grooves are disposed radially outward relative to the first annular grooves;
• a shell assembly in which the first and second scroll and the seal are disposed, the shell assembly defining a suction-pressure region and a discharge-pressure region;
• and
• a partition disposed within the shell assembly and separating the suction-pressure region from the discharge-pressure region,
• wherein the seal sealingly engages the partition,
• wherein at least one of the first annular grooves does not have an annular seal disposed therein,
• wherein working fluid from the discharge passage is allowed to flow into the at least one of the first annular grooves to form a turbulent swirling flow within the at least one of the first annular grooves,
• wherein at least one of the second annular grooves does not have an annular seal disposed therein,
• wherein working fluid from the biasing chamber is allowed to flow into the at least one of the second annular grooves to form a turbulent swirling flow within the at least one of the second annular grooves.

A compressor comprising:

• a first scroll including a first end plate and a first spiral wrap extending from the first end plate, the first end plate defining a biasing passage, a discharge passage and a first annular recess surrounding the discharge passage, the first annular recess including a first diametrical surface and a second diametrical surface, the second diametrical surface disposed radially outward relative to the first diametrical surface;
• a second scroll including a second end plate and a second spiral wrap extending from the second end plate, the first and second spiral wraps cooperating to define a plurality of fluid pockets therebetween, the fluid pockets decreasing in volume as the fluid pockets move from a radially outer position to a radially intermediate position to a radially inner position;
• a seal at least partially received in the first annular recess radially between the first and second diametrical surfaces of the first annular recess, the seal and the first scroll cooperating with each other to define a biasing chamber, the biasing chamber in communication with one of the fluid pockets via the biasing passage when the one of the fluid pockets is at the radially intermediate position, the seal including an annular body having an inner diametrical surface and an outer diametrical surface;
• a shell assembly in which the first and second scrolls and the seal are disposed, the shell assembly defining a suction-pressure region and a discharge-pressure region;
• and
• a partition disposed within the shell assembly and separating the suction-pressure region from the discharge-pressure region,
• wherein a plurality of first annular grooves are formed in one of the first diametrical surface of the first scroll and the inner diametrical surface of the seal,
• wherein a plurality of second annular grooves are formed in one of the second diametrical surface of the first scroll and the outer diametrical surface of the seal,
• wherein at least one of the first annular grooves does not have an annular seal disposed therein,
• wherein working fluid from the discharge passage is allowed to flow into the at least one of the first annular grooves to form a turbulent swirling flow within the at least one of the first annular grooves,
• wherein at least one of the second annular grooves does not have an annular seal disposed therein,
• wherein working fluid from the biasing chamber is allowed to flow into the at least one of the second annular grooves to form a turbulent swirling flow within the at least one of the second annular grooves, and
• wherein the seal sealingly engages the partition.