Scroll compressor having upper and lower bearing housings and a method of testing and assembling the compressor

A scroll-type machine comprising:

• a first scroll member including a first end plate having a first spiral wrap disposed on said first end plate;
• a second scroll member including a second end plate having a second spiral wrap disposed on said second end plate;
• a drive shaft drivingly coupled to said second scroll member for effecting orbital movement of said second scroll member relative to said first scroll member;
• motor means including a rotor secured to said drive shaft and a stator surrounding said rotor;
• a stationary body, said stationary body including
• a first member supporting said first and second scroll members for relative orbital movement,
• a second member for supporting said stator in a surrounding position relative to said rotor,
• said first and second members including interengaging locating means for accurately radially and axially positioning said first and second members relative to each other;
• and
• fastening means for securing said first and second members together.

A method of assembling a scroll-type compressor comprising:

• fitting a motor stator into a lower bearing housing;
• fitting one end of a drive shaft having a rotor secured thereto into bearing means provided in said lower bearing housing;
• assembling an upper bearing housing assembly to said lower bearing housing with said shaft extending therethrough;
• assembling a first scroll member having first scroll wrap thereon to the other end of said drive shaft, said first scroll member being supported by said upper bearing housing;
• assembling a second scroll member having second wrap thereon to said first scroll member with said second wraps being in intermeshing relationship with said first scroll wraps;
• and
• installing fastening means for securing said upper bearing housing to said lower bearing housing.

A scroll-type machine comprising:

• a first scroll member including a first end plate having a first spiral wrap disposed on said end plate;
• a second scroll member including a second end plate having a second spiral wrap disposed on said end plate;
• a drive shaft drivenly connected to said second scroll member;
• motor means including a rotor secured to said drive shaft and a stator positioned in surrounding relationship to said rotor;
• a lower bearing housing supporting said stator, said lower bearing housing including lower bearing means rotatably supporting one end of said drive shaft;
• an upper bearing assembly engageable with said lower bearing housing, said upper bearing assembly including bearing means for rotatably supporting said drive shaft, said upper bearing assembly including a first surface for axially supporting said second scroll member and a second surface spaced from said first surface for radially positioning said first scroll member;
• and
• fastening means extending between said upper bearing assembly and said lower bearing housing for securing said lower bearing housing and said upper bearing assembly in assembled relationship and thereby positioning said first and second scroll members with respect thereto and with one of said first and second scroll members being axially movable with respect to the other of said first and second scroll members.

A scroll-type machine comprising:

• a hermetically sealed shell;
• a first scroll member including a first end plate having a first spiral wrap disposed on said end plate;
• a second scroll member including a second end plate having a second spiral wrap disposed on said end plate;
• a drive shaft drivenly connected to said second scroll member;
• motor means including a rotor secured to said drive shaft and a stator positioned in surrounding relationship to said rotor;
• a lower bearing housing supporting said stator, said lower bearing housing including lower bearing means rotatably supporting one end of said drive shaft;
• an upper bearing assembly secured to said lower bearing housing said upper bearing assembly including bearing means for rotatably supporting said drive shaft, said upper bearing assembly including a first surface for axially supporting said second scroll member and a second surface spaced from said first surface for radially positioning said first scroll member;
• means for securing said first scroll member, said second scroll member, said lower bearing housing and said upper bearing housing in assembled relationship with one of said first and second scroll members being axially movable with respect to the other of said first and second scroll members;
• said lower bearing housing cooperating with said shell to provide the sole support for said compressor within said shell.