Scroll compressor having idler cranks and strengthening and heat dissipating ribs

A scroll compressor comprising:

• a motor housed in a motor shell and having a motor shaft extending axially from said motor shell;
• a compressor housing secured to said motor shell, said housing having a circumferential side wall and a bottom, said bottom defining a boss, said motor shaft being rotatably journaled in said boss and extending through said boss into said housing;
• an eccentric mounted on said motor shaft within said housing for rotation with said shaft;
• an orbiting scroll member mounted on said eccentric to be orbitally driven by said motor shaft when said motor shaft rotates, said orbiting scroll including a plate having an inboard surface and an outboard surface, and an involute extending from said inboard surface, said plate being mounted to said eccentric;
• a fixed scroll secured to said housing, said fixed scroll including a plate having an inboard surface and an outboard surface of defining an inlet and an outlet and an involute extending from said inboard surface of said fixed scroll plate, said fixed scroll involute meshing with said orbiting scroll involute to define suction zones at outer ends of the involutes, and fluid pockets, said fluid pockets being reduced in size as said scroll compressor is operated to compress a fluid;
• at least two idler crank assemblies, each idler crank assembly extending between said fixed and orbiting scroll;
• means for maintaining the running clearance between said fixed scroll and said orbiting scroll;
• sealing means for providing a seal between a tip of one involute and a plate of its opposing scroll member;
• rib means on at least one surface of said scroll members for strengthening said scroll members and for dissipating heat;
• each said idler crank assembly includes a first idler crank received in said orbiting scroll member and a second idler crank received in said fixed scroll member, said first and second idler cranks being operatively connected such that one orbit is relative to the other when said said scroll compressor is operated;
• said scroll members define triangulated arranged bosses defining boss seats, each scroll member boss seat having aligned bores which receive said crank assemblies, said bores having shoulders formed therein adjacent inboard surfaces of said scroll members, each said idler crank including a crank shaft having a head, a first bearing journaled on said crank shaft and positioned in said boss seat, a second bearing journaled on said crank shaft spaced from said seat, and a bearing nut holding said bearings journaled on said crank shaft, said first and second bearings being spaced apart, said idler cranks including a shim to maintain said first and second bearings in their spaced apart relationship, said bearings being preloaded, and said idler cranks including a spring means positioned between said crank shaft head and said first bearing to absorb the thrust forces generated upon said first bearing and to provide internal clearance between the first and second bearings and provide precision alignment of the fixed and orbiting scrolls during functioning of the scroll compressor.

An orbiting scroll member for use with a scroll compressor, said scroll member including:

• a base having an inboard surface and an outboard surface;
• an involute spiral extending upwardly from said inboard surfaces;
• a bearing boss on said outboard surface for connecting said scroll member to a motor assembly;
• a plurality of ribs on said outboard surface, said ribs extending from bearing boss at other than a right angle to said bearing boss.

A scroll compressor comprising, a fixed scroll member and an orbiting scroll member, each said scroll member having a plate with a spiral involute extending inwardly from said plate, each said scroll member generally defining a circle having radially extending projections, each said projection defining a bearing boss, an idler crank assembly extending between said scroll members, said idler crank assembly including a fixed scroll member idler crank received in the bearing boss of said fixed scroll member, an orbiting scroll member idler crank received in the bearing boss of said orbiting said scroll member, and a plate, said fixed and orbiting scroll member idler crank assemblies being connected to opposite sides of said plate offset from one another, each of the first and second scroll members having inboard surfaces, said bearing bosses having shoulders formed therein adjacent the inboard surfaces of said scroll members, each said idler crank including a crank shaft having a head, a first bearing journaled on said crank shaft and positioned on said boss shoulder, a second bearing journaled on said crank shaft spaced from said shoulder, and a bearing nut, said crank of said second idler crank is fixed to said plate at the center thereof and said first idler crank shaft is fixed to said plate at a periphery of said disk, said first and second bearings being spaced apart, said idler cranks including a shim to maintain said first and second bearings in their spaced apart relationship, said bearings being preloaded, said idler cranks including a spring means positioned between said crank shaft head and said first bearing, said spring means being a wave washer, means for maintaining a running clearance, said means includes said assembly shims and said crank assembly nuts, said nuts being adjustable to adjust the running clearance between said scroll members, and said first bearing is a radial load supporting bearing and said second bearing is a thrust load supporting bearing.