Scroll compressor with partial load capacity

A scroll compressor, comprising:

• a shell adapted to contain a lubricant;
• a scroll set in the shell, the scroll set including an orbiting scroll and a non-orbiting scroll, and pockets being formed between the orbiting scroll and the non-orbiting scroll for compressing gas;
• a drive shaft operatively connected with the orbiting scroll in the shell;
• a capacity modulator in fluid communication with the pockets for selectively unloading gas from the pockets;
• a lubricant opening in fluid communication with at least one bearing portion in the scroll compressor;
• and
• a gas diverting passage in the shell, the gas diverting passage including an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the gas diverting passage being in fluid communication with the capacity modulator, and the gas diverting passage extending below the lubricant opening such that gas from the outlet of the gas diverting passage can flow through a travel path of the lubricant that exits from the lubricant opening, and entrain the lubricant to a region around the scroll set to lubricate a bearing in the region.

A lubrication system for a scroll compressor, the scroll compressor including:

• a shell adapted to contain a lubricant;
• a scroll set in the shell that includes an orbiting scroll and a non-orbiting scroll with pockets being defined between the orbiting scroll and the non-orbiting scroll for compressing gas;
• a capacity modulator with a port in fluid communication with the pockets for selectively unloading gas from the pockets;
• and a drive shaft associated with the orbiting scroll in the shell;
• the lubrication system comprising:
• a lubricant opening in fluid communication with at least one bearing portion of the scroll compressor;
• and
• a gas diverting passage in the shell, the gas diverting passage including an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the gas diverting passage adapted to be in fluid communication with the port of the capacity modulator, and the gas diverting passage extending below the lubricant opening such that gas from the outlet of the gas diverting passage can flow through a travel path of the lubricant that exits from the lubricant opening and entrain the lubricant to at least one bearing portion in the scroll compressor for lubrication.

A method of lubricating an upper portion of a scroll compressor comprising:

• directing compressed gas from a capacity modulator through a gas diverting passage, the directing being during a partial capacity operation of the scroll compressor;
• entraining lubricant flowing from a lubricant opening using the gas directed through the gas diverting passage;
• and
• delivering the lubricant to at least one bearing portion of the scroll compressor to lubricate the at least one bearing portion during the partial capacity operation of the scroll compressor.