Thrust bearing/coupling component for orbiting scroll-type machinery and scroll-type machinery incorporating the same

A thrust bearing/coupling component capable of simultaneously coupling an orbiting scroll member and a stationary scroll member in predetermined angular relationship as said orbiting scroll member is orbited with respect to said stationary scroll member and carrying axial loads imposed on said scroll members, comprising in combination

• (a) load carrying rolling members;
• (b) a ring member having a plurality of uniformly spaced bearing pads having first and second oppositely disposed surfaces in each of which is cut an indentation to provide a plurality of first and second oppositely disposed indentations;
• (c) a plurality of third indentations cut in one surface or said orbiting scroll member corresponding in location to said first indentations and defining therewith a first plurality of tracks for said load carrying rolling members retained therein;
• (d) a plurality of fourth indentations cut in a surface maintained stationary with respect to said orbiting scroll member corresponding in location to said second indentations and defining therewith a second plurality of tracks for said load carrying rolling members retained therein;
• said first and second tracks being of a size and configuration which permit said load carrying rolling members to undergo oscillatory motion over a distance equal to the orbit radius associated with said orbiting scroll member, and the longer axes of said first tracks being perpendicular to those of said second tracks.

A positive fluid displacement apparatus suitable as a fluid compressor, expander or pump, comprising in combination

• (a) a stationary scroll member comprising a stationary end plate and a stationary involute wrap;
• (b) an orbiting scroll member, comprising an orbiting end plate and an orbiting involute wrap;
• (c) means to orbit said orbiting scroll member with a predetermined orbit radius respect ot said stationary scroll member whereby said involute wraps make moving line contacts to seal off and define moving pockets of variable volume including a central pocket;
• (d) housing means enclosing said stationary and orbiting scroll members and defining a peripheral fluid zone therearound and
• (e) a thrust bearing/coupling component capable of simultaneously coupling said orbiting and stationary scroll members in predetermined angular relationship and carrying axial loads imposed on said scroll members, comprising in combination
• (1) a plurality of first circular spaced indentations cut in one surface of said orbiting scroll member,
• (2) a plurality of second circular spaced indentations of the same cross sectional configuration as said first indentations cut in a surface maintained stationary with respect to said orbiting scroll member and facing said first indentations, the centers of all of said indentations being located on circles having the same radius, and
• (3) an axial load carrying rolling sphere movable within each facing pair of said indentations, the relative diameters of said spheres and of said indentations being such as to permit said spheres to travel a distance equal to one-half of said orbit radius of said orbiting scroll member in all directions from their central positions thereby to maintain said predetermined angular relationship between said scroll members.

A positive fluid displacement apparatus suitable as a fluid compressor, expander or pump, comprising in combination

• (a) a stationary scroll member comprising a stationary end plate and a stationary involute wrap;
• (b) an orbiting scroll member, comprising an orbiting end plate and an orbiting involute wrap;
• (c) means to orbit said orbiting scroll member with respect to said stationary scroll member whereby said involute wraps make moving line contacts to seal off and define moving pockets of variable volume including a central pocket;
• (d) housing means enclosing said stationary and orbiting scroll members and defining a peripheral fluid zone therearound;
• and
• (e) a thrust bearing/coupling component capable of simultaneously coupling said orbiting and stationary scroll members in predetermined angular relationship and carrying axial loads imposed on said scroll members, comprising in combination
• (1) load carrying rolling members,
• (2) a ring member having a plurality of uniformly spaced bearing pads having first and second oppositely disposed surfaces in each of which is cut an indentation to provide a plurality of first and second oppositely disposed indentations, and
• (3) a plurality of third indentations cut in one surface of said orbiting scroll member corresponding in location to said first indentations and defining therewith a first plurality of tracks for said load carrying rolling members retained therein;
• and
• (4) a plurality of fourth indentations cut in a surface maintained stationary with respect to said orbiting scroll member corresponding in location to said second indentations and defining therewith a second plurality of tracks for said load carrying rolling members retained therein, said first and second tracks being of a size and configuration which permit said load carrying rolling members to undergo oscillatory motion over a distance equal to the orbit radius associated with said orbiting scroll member and the longer axes of said first tracks being perpendicular to those of said second tracks.