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US 11,879,460 B2Granted
Compressor modulation system with multi-way valve
AssigneeCopeland Corporation
InventorCamden L. Ives
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A compressor may include first and second scrolls, an axial biasing chamber, and a control valve. The second scroll includes an outer port and an inner port. The outer and inner ports may be open to respective intermediate-pressure compression pockets. The control valve may be in fluid communication with the inner port, the outer port, and the axial biasing chamber. Movement of the control valve into the first position allows fluid communication between the inner port and the axial biasing chamber. Movement of the control valve into the second position allows fluid communication between the outer port and the axial biasing chamber.
Claims22
A compressor comprising:
- a shell assembly;
- a first scroll disposed within the shell assembly and including a first end plate and a first spiral wrap extending from the first end plate;
- a second scroll disposed within the shell assembly and including a second end plate and a second spiral wrap extending from the second end plate, the first and second spiral wraps meshing with each other and forming a plurality of compression pockets therebetween, wherein the compression pockets include a suction-pressure compression pocket, a discharge-pressure compression pocket at a higher pressure than the suction-pressure compression pocket, and a plurality of intermediate-pressure compression pockets at respective pressures between the pressures of the suction and discharge compression pockets, wherein the second end plate includes an outer port and an inner port, wherein the outer port is disposed radially outward relative to the inner port, wherein the outer port is configured to receive working fluid from a first one of the intermediate-pressure compression pockets, and wherein the inner port is configured to receive working fluid from a second one of the intermediate-pressure compression pockets;
- an axial biasing chamber disposed within the shell assembly, wherein working fluid disposed within the axial biasing chamber axially biases one of the first and second scrolls toward the other of the first and second scrolls;
- and
- a control valve in fluid communication with the inner port, the outer port, and the axial biasing chamber,
- wherein:
- the control valve is movable between a first position and a second position,
- movement of the control valve into the first position switches the compressor into a reduced-capacity mode and allows fluid communication between the inner port and the axial biasing chamber while preventing fluid communication between the outer port and the axial biasing chamber,
- movement of the control valve into the second position switches the compressor into a full-capacity mode and allows fluid communication between the outer port and the axial biasing chamber while preventing fluid communication between the inner port and the axial biasing chamber, and
- the control valve includes a valve body and a valve member movable relative to the valve body between the first and second positions, and wherein the valve body includes a first port, a second port, a third port, a fourth port, a fifth port, and a sixth port.
8 more elements
A compressor comprising:
- a shell assembly;
- a first scroll disposed within the shell assembly and including a first end plate and a first spiral wrap extending from the first end plate;
- a second scroll disposed within the shell assembly and including a second end plate and a second spiral wrap extending from the second end plate, the first and second spiral wraps meshing with each other and forming a plurality of compression pockets therebetween, wherein the compression pockets include a suction-pressure compression pocket, a discharge-pressure compression pocket at a higher pressure than the suction-pressure compression pocket, and a plurality of intermediate-pressure compression pockets at respective pressures between the pressures of the suction and discharge compression pockets, wherein the second end plate includes an outer port and an inner port, wherein the outer port is disposed radially outward relative to the inner port, wherein the outer port is configured to receive working fluid from a first one of the intermediate-pressure compression pockets, and wherein the inner port is configured to receive working fluid from a second one of the intermediate-pressure compression pockets;
- an axial biasing chamber disposed within the shell assembly, wherein working fluid disposed within the axial biasing chamber axially biases one of the first and second scrolls toward the other of the first and second scrolls;
- and
- a control valve in fluid communication with the inner port, the outer port, and the axial biasing chamber,
- wherein:
- the control valve is movable between a first position and a second position,
- movement of the control valve into the first position allows fluid communication between the inner port and the axial biasing chamber while preventing fluid communication between the outer port and the axial biasing chamber,
- movement of the control valve into the second position allows fluid communication between the outer port and the axial biasing chamber while preventing fluid communication between the inner port and the axial biasing chamber, and
- the control valve includes a valve body and a valve member movable relative to the valve body between the first and second positions, and wherein the valve body includes a first port, a second port, a third port, a fourth port, a fifth port, and a sixth port.
8 more elements
A compressor comprising:
- a shell assembly;
- a first scroll disposed within the shell assembly and including a first end plate and a first spiral wrap extending from the first end plate;
- a second scroll disposed within the shell assembly and including a second end plate and a second spiral wrap extending from the second end plate, the first and second spiral wraps meshing with each other and forming a plurality of compression pockets therebetween;
- an axial biasing chamber disposed within the shell assembly, wherein working fluid disposed within the axial biasing chamber axially biases one of the first and second scrolls toward the other of the first and second scrolls;
- and
- a control valve in fluid communication with the axial biasing chamber,
- wherein:
- the control valve includes a valve body and a valve member movable relative to the valve body between a first position and a second position,
- the valve body includes a first port, a second port, a third port, a fourth port, a fifth port, and a sixth port,
- the valve member includes a first plug, a second plug, a third plug, and a fourth plug,
- the first, second, third, and fourth plugs are movable together between the first and second positions,
- the first plug closes an end of the third port in the first position and opens the end of the third port in the second position,
- the second plug opens an end of the second port in the first position and closes the end of the second port in the second position,
- the third plug closes an end of the fourth port in the first position and opens the end of the fourth port in the second position,
- the fourth plug opens an end of the fifth port in the first position and closes the end of the fifth port in the second position, and
- the valve body includes a first cavity and a second cavity that are fluidly separated from each other, wherein the first cavity is fluidly connected with the first,
- second, and third ports, and wherein the second cavity is fluidly connected with the fourth, fifth, and sixth ports.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.