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US 5,320,506 AGranted
Oldham coupling for scroll compressor
AssigneeCopeland Corporation
InventorJames F. Fogt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A scroll-type machine is disclosed which incorporates a unique Oldham coupling for preventing relative rotation between the two scroll members while allowing relative orbital motion therebetween. The Oldham coupling is positioned below the end plate of the orbiting scroll member and includes a first pair of keys slidingly engaging slots in the orbiting scroll and a second pair of keys slidingly engaging slots in the non-orbiting scroll. An optional third key may be provided to slidingly engage a slot in the non-rotating bearing housing.
Claims39
A scroll-type machine comprising:
- a first scroll member having a first spiral wrap projecting outwardly from an end plate;
- a second scroll member having a second spiral wrap projecting outwardly from an end plate and interleaved with said first spiral wrap to define a plurality of moving fluid chambers therebetween when said second scroll member orbits with respect to said first scroll member;
- fixed means for supporting both said scroll members;
- drive means for causing said first and second scroll members to orbit with respect to one another;
- and
- Oldham coupling means for preventing relative rotational movement between said first and second scroll members, said Oldham coupling means including an annular ring, a first pair of aligned abutment surfaces provided on said ring operatively associated with said first scroll member to prevent relative rotation between said coupling and said first scroll member and a second pair of aligned abutment surfaces provided on said ring and aligned at right angles to said first pair of abutment surfaces, said second pair of abutment surfaces being operatively associated with said second scroll member to prevent relative rotation between said coupling and said second scroll member, said second pair of abutment surfaces further defining a line offset from the center of said ring.
3 more elements
A scroll-type machine comprising:
- a fixed body having a portion which is generally circular about the machine axis;
- a non-orbiting scroll member;
- an orbital scroll member mounted for orbital movement about said axis with respect to said non-orbiting scroll member whereby said non-orbiting scroll member is interleaved with said orbital scroll member to define a plurality of moving fluid chambers therebetween when said orbital scroll member orbits with respect to said non-orbiting scroll member;
- means for causing said orbital scroll member to orbit with respect to said non-orbiting scroll member;
- and
- compact Oldham coupling means for preventing rotational movement of said orbital scroll member with respect to said non-orbiting scroll member comprising:
- means defining generally diametrically aligned first abutment surfaces on said non-orbiting scroll member;
- means defining generally aligned second abutment surfaces on said orbital scroll member, arranged at right angles to said first abutment surfaces;
- a transversely disposed annular ring member generally surrounding said circular body portion;
- a first pair of keys projecting axially from one face of said ring member into linear sliding engagement with said first abutment surfaces to prevent relative rotation between said non-orbiting scroll member and said ring member;
- and
- a second pair of keys projecting axially from said one face of said ring member into linear sliding engagement with said second abutment surfaces to prevent relative rotation between said orbital scroll member and said ring member, said second pair of keys defining a line offset from said machine axis.
9 more elements
A scroll-type machine comprising:
- a housing having a generally circular body portion defining an axial thrust surface;
- a first scroll member supported on said axial thrust surface of said housing, said first scroll member having a pair of aligned slots provided thereon;
- means for causing said first scroll member to orbit with respect to said housing;
- a second scroll member having a pair of diametrically aligned slots, said first scroll member slots being aligned at right angles to said second scroll member slots;
- means for mounting said second scroll member relative to said housing;
- said first and second scroll members interleaved to define a plurality of moving fluid chambers therebetween when one scroll member orbits with respect to the other scroll member;
- and Oldham coupling means for preventing relative rotation between said first and second scroll members, said Oldham coupling including an annular ring having radically outwardly projecting flange portions positioned in surrounding relationship to said circular body portion, a first pair of keys projecting into sliding engagement with respect to said first scroll member slots and a second pair of diametrically aligned keys projecting from said flanges into sliding engagement with respect to said second scroll member slots, said annular ring being positioned below said axial thrust surface.
4 more elements
A fluid scroll machine comprising:
- a fixed frame;
- a fixed mechanism including first and second scroll members which have end plates opposed to each other at a certain interval and spiral wraps projecting from the end plates to alternately overlap one upon the other;
- an Oldham coupling movably supported in the scroll machine and including:
- a ring-shaped plate having a first side facing the end plate of the first scroll member, an axis center, and at least one flange projecting radially outward from said axis center;
- a pair of first projections projected from the first side of the ring-shaped plate and positioned on a line which extends in a first direction;
- and
- a pair of second projections projected from the first side of the ring-shaped plate and positioned on another line which extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction wherein at least one of said second projections projects from said at least one flange;
- a pair of first guide passages included in said first scroll member extending in the first direction of the ring-shaped plate for allowing the first projections to slide relative to said first scroll member in the first direction;
- a pair of second guide passages included in said scroll machine extending in the second direction of the ring-shaped plate for allowing the second projections to slide in the second direction and thereby prevent relative rotation between said scroll members;
- and
- a means for orbiting the first scroll member with respect to the second scroll member.
8 more elements
A fluid scroll machine comprising:
- a fixed frame;
- a fluid mechanism including first and second scroll members which have end plates opposed to each other at a certain interval and spiral wraps projecting from the end plates to alternately overlap one upon the other;
- an Oldham coupling movably supported by the fixed frame and including:
- a ring-shaped plate having a first side facing the end plate of the first scroll member, an axis center, and flanges projecting radially outward;
- a pair of first projections projected from the first side of the ring-shaped plate and positioned on a line which extends in a first radial direction to pass through the axis center of the ring-shaped plate;
- and
- a pair of second projections projected from the first side of said flanges of the ring-shaped plate and positioned on another line which extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first radial direction;
- a pair of first guide passages included in one of said scroll members extending in the first radial direction of the ring-shaped plate for allowing the first projections to slide in the first radial direction;
- a pair of second guide passages included in the other of said scroll members extending in the second direction of the ring-shaped plate for allowing the second projections to slide relative to said other scroll member in the second direction;
- and
- means for orbiting said other scroll member with respect to said one scroll member.
8 more elements
A fluid scroll machine comprising:
- a fixed frame;
- a fluid mechanism including first and second scroll members which have end plates opposed to each other at a certain interval and spiral wraps projecting from the end plates to alternately overlap one upon the other;
- an Oldham coupling movably supported by the fixed frame and including:
- a ring-shaped plate having a first side facing the end plate of the first scroll member and an axis center,
- a pair of first projections projected from the first side of the ring-shaped plate and positioned on a line which extends in a first radial direction, and
- a pair of second projections projected from the first side of the ring-shaped plate and positioned on another line which extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first radial direction;
- a pair of first guide passages included in one of the said scroll members extending in the first radial direction of the ring-shaped plate for allowing the first projections to slide in the first radial direction;
- a pair of second guide passages included in the other of said scroll members extending in the second direction of the ring-shaped plate for allowing the second projections to slide relative to said other scroll member in the second direction;
- and
- means for orbiting said one scroll member with respect to said other scroll member.
7 more elements
An Oldham coupling for use in a scroll-type machine having a first and second scroll member comprising:
- an annular ring having a first face and an axis center;
- a pair of first projections projecting from said first face defining a first line and engaging said first scroll member to maintain a relatively fixed angular relationship between said Oldham ring and said first scroll member;
- a pair of second projections projecting from said first face defining a second line and engaging said second scroll member for maintaining a relatively fixed angular relationship between said Oldham coupling and said second scroll member;
- at least one of said lines being offset from the axis center.
1 more element
An Oldham coupling for use in a scroll machine to assist in maintaining a relatively fixed angular relationship between first and second scroll members comprising:
- an annular ring having a first face and an axis center;
- first two aligned pairs of abutment surfaces provided on said first face for operable association with said first scroll member to prevent relative rotation between said coupling and said first scroll member and defining a first line;
- second two aligned pairs of abutment surfaces provided on said first face defining a second line at right angles to said first line and offset from said axis center, said second two pairs of abutment surfaces being operatively associated with said second scroll member to prevent relative rotation between said coupling and said second scroll member.
A scroll type machine comprising:
- a fixed body;
- a non-orbiting scroll member;
- an orbital scroll member mounted for orbital movement with respect to said non-orbiting scroll member;
- means for causing said orbital scroll member to orbit with respect to said non-orbiting scroll member whereby said non-orbiting scroll member is interleaved with said orbital scroll member to define a plurality of moving fluid chambers therebetween when said orbital scroll member orbits with respect to said non-orbiting scroll member;
- and
- Oldham coupling means for preventing rotational movement of said orbital scroll member with respect to said non-orbiting scroll member comprising:
- first abutment surfaces on said non-orbiting scroll member;
- second abutment surfaces on said orbital scroll member arranged at right angles to said first abutment surfaces;
- a ring member having a center and an inner peripheral surface comprising, at opposite ends, circular arcs of equal radius, the centers of curvature of said arcs being spaced apart a predetermined distance L and relatively straight portions connecting said arcs;
- a first pair of keys, defining a first line and projecting axially from one face of said ring member into engagement with said first abutment surfaces to prevent relative rotation between said non-orbiting scroll member in said ring member;
- and
- a second pair of keys defining a second line and projecting axially from said one face of said ring member into engagement with said second abutment surfaces to prevent relative rotation between said orbital scroll member and said ring member, said second line being disposed at a right angle to said first line and not passing through said center.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.