Oil pump subject to pumping a two phase flow
AssigneeCarrier Corporation
InventorRussell E. Wood
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a lubrication system subject to two phase flow, the oil pump is provided with a capacity such that it can always pump sufficient oil plus the refrigerant and/or excess oil. The excess oil and/or outgassed refrigerant is vented to provide the desired lubricant flow.
Claims4
For a compressor having an oil pump driven by a crankshaft and an oil supply subject to becoming a two phase flow, a method of operating said oil pump subject to pumping a two phase flow for delivering oil to a lubrication system located in said crankshaft including the steps of:
- pumping from said oil supply solely to said lubrication system at a rate sufficient to furnish a desired amount of oil under two phase flow conditions;
- venting excess oil and outgassed refrigerant so as to deliver an amount of oil equal to said desired amount to said lubrication system.
An oil pump driven by a crankshaft for delivering oil subject to being in a two phase flow from an oil supply to a lubrication system located in said crankshaft comprising:
- an oil pump normally delivering to said lubrication system an amount of flow equal to a desired amount of oil plus an amount equal to the gaseous portion of a two phase flow which may be present as excess oil and outgassed refrigerant;
- means for venting excess flow beyond said desired amount of oil;
- and
- means for delaying said venting until priming of said oil pump is achieved.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.