US 4,086,042 AGranted

Rotary compressor and vane assembly therefor

AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.

InventorRobert R. Young

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Abstract

A rotary compressor is provided in which the space between the rotor and the encompassing housing wall is separated into suction and discharge spaces by reciprocating vane assemblies, each of which includes a blade portion having a distal end portion carrying a pivotal shoe, the joint between the shoe and blade being of cylinder and socket character with the blade end forming the cylinder part of the joint and the shoe having a socket cavity for receiving the cylinder. In other forms, the shoe has a generally channel shape in transverse cross section with the leg of the channel facing the compression side having vent holes which reduces the turning movement applied to the shoe under conditions of high differential pressures between one side of the shoe and the other. This arrangement promotes stability and reduces the possibility of loss of equilibrium of the shoe against the moving surface.

Claims6

Dependent claims

In a rotary compressor;

a hollow housing;
a rotor in the housing having a changing curvature periphery presented to the spaces in said housing in which suction and compression take place as said rotor turns;
at least one generally radially movable vane assembly separating the spaces between the rotor periphery and the housing into a compression space and a suction space;
said vane assembly comprising a blade having a longitudinal edge of generally cylindrical-shape in transverse cross section, and a shoe carried in pivotal relation on said edge, said shoe having a socket-shaped recess within which said cylindrical-shaped edge is received and retained;
said housing includes slot means within which said vane assembly is radially movable, with a surface of said shoe bearing against said rotor periphery, the end of said vane assembly opposite said shoe being in communication with high side pressure developed by said compressor so that the force developed by said high side pressure urges said bearing surface of said shoe against said rotor periphery;
and
said shoe includes vent opening means only in the face thereof facing the compression space in said compressor to reduce the moment tending to tilt said shoe around said cylindrical-shaped edge.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.