Scroll compressor with improved bearing

A scroll compressor comprising:

• a stationary and an orbiting scroll each having a spiral wrap, the respective spiral wraps of said stationary and orbiting scrolls meshing each other to define compression chambers therebetween;
• means for driving said orbiting scroll;
• crankshaft means for operatively connecting said driving means to said orbiting scroll to cause said orbiting scroll to make an orbiting motion;
• at least two bearing means respectively arranged on both sides of said driving means for rotatably supporting said crankshaft means, wherein the bearing means which is the most remotely distanced from said orbiting scroll is a slidling bearing and has a self-aligning function of changing attitude in accordance with inclination of said crankshaft means;
• and a bearing holder for supporting said sliding bearing;
• wherein said bearing holder is composed of two parts which, in cooperation with each other, define an inner peripheral surface of said bearing holder, said two parts are jointed together so that the resulting inner peripheral surface provides a fitted condition to the outer peripheral surface of said sliding bearing;
• and
• wherein said sliding bearing rotates with the outer peripheral surface thereof sliding on the inner peripheral surface of said bearing holder.

A scroll compressor comprising:

• a stationary and an orbiting scroll each having a spiral wrap, the respective spiral wraps of said stationary and orbiting scrolls meshing each other to define compression chambers therebetween;
• means for driving said orbiting scroll;
• crankshaft means for operatively connecting said driving means to said orbiting scroll to cause said orbiting scroll to make an orbiting motion;
• at least two bearing means respectively arranged on both sides of said driving means for rotatably supporting said crankshaft means, wherein the bearing means which is the most remotely distanced from said orbiting scroll has a self-aligning function of changing attitude in accordance with inclination of said crankshaft means;
• a common casing in which said stationary scroll and said driving means are mounted;
• and a separate bearing housing which is fixed to said common casing,
• wherein said bearing means which is most remotely distanced from said orbiting scroll is mounted to said bearing housing and is comprised of a self-aligning type sliding bearing which has a spherical outer peripheral surface and which is rotatably supported by a bearing holder,
• wherein said bearing holder is composed of two parts which, in cooperation with each other, define an inner peripheral surface for receiving the spherical outer peripheral surface of said sliding bearing, said two parts are attached to said bearing housing and are integrally joined together so that the resulting inner peripheral surface provides a fitted condition to the outer peripheral surface of said sliding bearing, and
• wherein, in the fitted condition, said sliding bearing is tightened by said bearing holder and a change in attitude thereof is effected, thereby resulting in the outer peripheral surface of said sliding bearing sliding on the inner peripheral surface of said bearing holder, when an external force larger than a tightening force of said bearing holder is applied to said sliding bearing from said crankshaft means.

A scroll compressor comprising:

• a stationary and an orbiting scroll each having a spiral wrap, the respective spiral wraps of said stationary and orbiting scrolls meshing each other to define compression chambers therebetween;
• means for driving said orbiting scroll;
• crankshaft means for operatively connecting said driving means to said orbiting scroll to cause said orbiting scroll to make an orbiting motion;
• at least two bearing means respectively arranged on both sides of said driving means for rotatably supporting said crankshaft means, wherein the bearing means which is the most remotely distanced from said orbiting scroll has a self-aligning function of changing attitude in accordance with inclination of said crankshaft means;
• a rotation preventing means operatively engaged with said orbiting scroll for preventing rotation of said orbiting scroll about its own axis;
• and weight means attached to said crankshaft means for compensating for external forces applied to said crankshaft means, said weight means being provided to counterbalance a centrifugal force produced by said orbiting scroll and an inertial force produced by said rotation preventing means,
• wherein said rotation preventing means includes an Oldham ring,
• wherein said weight means comprises a balance weight and a counter weight which are fixed to said crankshaft means, respectively, and
• wherein said balance and counter weights are formed and arranged such that said balance weight has an unbalance mass which is a sum of an unbalance mass for generating a centrifugal force substantially equal to the centrifugal force generated by the orbiting movement of said orbiting scroll and an unbalance mass for generating a centrifugal force substantially equal to an average of the reciprocative inertial force generated by a reciprocating movement of said Oldham ring, and that said counter weight has an unbalance mass which counterbalances the centrifugal force generated by the unbalance mass of said balance weight.

A scroll compressor comprising:

• a stationary scroll having an end plate and a spiral wrap attached thereto;
• an orbiting scroll having an end plate and a spiral wrap attached thereto, the spiral wrap of said orbiting scroll being confronted by and meshing with the spiral wrap of said stationary scroll;
• electric motive means for driving said orbiting scroll;
• crankshaft means for connecting said electric motive means to said orbiting scroll to cause said orbiting scroll to make an orbital motion along a circular orbit;
• a rotation preventing means for preventing rotation of said orbiting scroll about an axis thereof to allow the orbital motion of said orbiting scroll;
• at least two bearing means respectively arranged on both sides of said electric motive means for rotatably supporting said crankshaft means, the bearing means which is the most remotely distanced from said orbiting scroll having a self-aligning function for changing attitude thereof in accordance with inclination of said crankshaft means to avoid local contact of said bearing means with said crankshaft means;
• and a weight means engaged with said crankshaft means for applying a force counterbalancing a centrifugal force generated by said orbiting scroll and an inertial force generated by said rotation preventing means to said crankshaft means,
• wherein said rotation preventing means includes an Oldham ring, said weight means comprises a balance weight attached to said crankshaft means and a counter weight attached to said crankshaft means in opposition to said balance weight, said balance and counter weights are formed and arranged such that said balance weight has an unbalance mass which is a sum of an unbalance mass for generating a centrifugal force substantially equal to the centrifugal force generated by the orbital motion of said orbiting scroll and an unbalance mass for generating a centrifugal force substantially equal to an average of the reciprocative inertial force generated by a reciprocating movement of said Oldham ring, and that said counter weight has an unbalance mass which counterbalances the centrifugal force generated by the unbalance mass of said balance weight.