# US 2014/0154121 A1 · Compressor with capacity modulation and variable volume ratio > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0154121 A1 - Document ID: US20140154121A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/073,246 - Filed: 2013-11-06 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Emerson Climate Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Roy J. DOEPKER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140154121A1 ## CPC - F04C 28/16: using lift valves - F04C 18/0215: {where only one member is moving} - F04C 18/0261: {Details of the ports, e.g. location, number, geometry} - F04C 23/008: {Hermetic pumps} - F04C 28/24: characterised by using valves controlling pressure or flow rate, e.g. discharge valves {or unloading valves}(F04C28/10 takes precedence) - F04C: ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS (engines F03C); ROTARY-PISTON, OR OSCILLATING-PISTON, POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT PUMPS ## Abstract A compressor is provided and may include a shell assembly defining a suction pressure region and a discharge pressure region. A first scroll member may include a first discharge port and a first modulation port. A second scroll member may include a first variable volume ratio port. A capacity modulation valve assembly may be in fluid communication with the first modulation port and may be displaceable between open and closed positions to selectively provide communication between a first intermediate compression pocket and the suction pressure region via the first modulation port. A variable volume ratio valve assembly may be in fluid communication with the first variable volume ratio port. The variable volume ratio valve assembly may be displaceable between open and closed positions to selectively provide communication between a second intermediate compression pocket and the discharge pressure region via the first variable volume ratio port. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A compressor comprising: a shell assembly defining a suction pressure region and a discharge pressure region; a first scroll member disposed within said shell assembly, said first scroll member including a first end plate defining a first discharge port and a first modulation port and having a first spiral wrap extending from a first side thereof; a second scroll member disposed within said shell assembly and including a second end plate defining a first variable volume ratio port and having a second spiral wrap extending therefrom and meshingly engaged with said first spiral wrap to form a suction pocket in fluid communication with said suction pressure region, intermediate compression pockets, and a discharge pocket in fluid communication with said discharge pressure region, a first of said intermediate compression pockets being in fluid communication with said first modulation port and a second of said intermediate compression pockets being in fluid communication with said first variable volume ratio port; a capacity modulation valve assembly located within said shell assembly and in fluid communication with said first modulation port, said capacity modulation valve assembly displaceable between open and closed positions to selectively provide communication between said first intermediate compression pocket and said suction pressure region via said first modulation port; and a variable volume ratio valve assembly located within said shell assembly and in fluid communication with said first variable volume ratio port, said variable volume ratio valve assembly displaceable between open and closed positions to selectively provide communication between said second intermediate compression pocket and said discharge pressure region via said first variable volume ratio port. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The compressor of claim 1, further comprising a drive shaft engaged with said second scroll member and driving orbital displacement of said second scroll member relative to said first scroll member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The compressor of claim 2, wherein said first scroll member is a non-orbiting scroll member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The compressor of claim 1, wherein said first scroll member is axially displaceable relative to said second scroll member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The compressor of claim 1, wherein the compressor operates at a full capacity when said first modulation port is closed by said capacity modulation valve assembly and operates at a reduced capacity relative to the full capacity when said first modulation port is opened by said capacity modulation valve assembly, said capacity modulation valve assembly being adapted to cycle between opening and closing of said first modulation port in a pulse width modulated manner to provide a compressor operating capacity between the reduced capacity and the full capacity. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The compressor of claim 5, wherein said capacity modulation valve assembly is adapted to cycle between opening and closing of said first modulation port in a pulse width modulated manner to provide a compressor operating capacity between about fifty percent of the full capacity and the full capacity. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The compressor of claim 1, wherein said capacity modulation valve assembly includes: a modulation valve ring located axially between a seal assembly and said first end plate and being in sealing engagement with an outer radial surface of an annular hub and said seal assembly to define an axial biasing chamber in fluid communication with said biasing passage, said modulation valve ring being axially displaceable between first and second positions, said modulation valve ring abutting said first end plate and closing said first modulation port when in the first position and being displaced axially relative to said first end plate and opening said first modulation port when in the second position; a modulation lift ring located axially between said modulation valve ring and said first end plate and being in sealing engagement with said modulation valve ring to define a modulation control chamber; and a modulation control valve assembly operable in first and second modes and in fluid communication with said modulation control chamber, said modulation control valve assembly controlling an operating pressure within said modulation control chamber and providing a first pressure within said modulation control chamber when operated in the first mode to displace said modulation valve ring to the first position and providing a second pressure within said modulation control chamber greater than the first pressure when operated in the second mode to displace said modulation valve ring to the second position and reduce operating capacity of the compressor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The compressor of claim 7, wherein said modulation valve ring is displaced axially away from said modulation lift ring when said modulation valve ring is displaced from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The compressor of claim 7, wherein said modulation valve ring includes a first passage extending from said axial biasing chamber to said modulation control valve assembly and a second passage extending from said modulation control chamber to said modulation control valve assembly. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The compressor of claim 7, wherein the first pressure is a suction pressure within the compressor and the second pressure is an operating pressure within said axial biasing chamber. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The compressor of claim 7, wherein said modulation control valve assembly is in fluid communication with said axial biasing chamber, said modulation control valve assembly providing fluid communication between said modulation control chamber and said axial biasing chamber when operated in the second mode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The compressor of claim 11, wherein said modulation control valve assembly is in fluid communication with said suction pressure region, said modulation control valve assembly providing fluid communication between said modulation control chamber and said suction pressure region when operated in the first mode. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The compressor of claim 7, wherein said modulation valve ring defines an annular recess having said modulation lift ring disposed therein. ### Claim 14 (depends on 7) The compressor of claim 7, wherein said modulation lift ring abuts said first end plate when said modulation valve ring is in the second position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The compressor of claim 14, wherein said modulation lift ring includes protrusions defining radial flow passages therebetween, said protrusions abutting said first end plate when said modulation valve ring is in the second position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 7) The compressor of claim 7, wherein said capacity modulation valve assembly includes a retaining ring axially fixed relative to said first scroll member and defining an axial stop for said modulation valve ring. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The compressor of claim 1, further comprising a drive shaft engaged with said second scroll member and driving orbital displacement of said second scroll member relative to said first scroll member, said second end plate defines a second discharge port in communication with said variable volume ratio valve assembly. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The compressor of claim 17, wherein said variable volume ratio valve isolates communication between said second intermediate compression pocket and said discharge pocket via said variable volume ratio port when in the closed position and provides communication between said second intermediate compression pocket and said discharge pocket via said variable volume ratio port when in the open position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The compressor of claim 18, wherein a flow path is defined from said second intermediate compression pocket to said first discharge port via said variable volume ratio port and via said second discharge port when said variable volume ratio valve is in the open position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The compressor of claim 18, wherein said second scroll member includes a drive hub extending from said second end plate and engaged with said drive shaft, said variable volume ratio valve being located within said drive hub and axially between said drive shaft and said second end plate.