Drive for scroll compressor

In a scroll compressor having a first and second scroll, a crankshaft drive comprising:

• driven means coacting with and driving said first scroll and having an axially extending opening therein;
• a crankshaft having an axis;
• axially extending drive means integral with said crankshaft and having an axis eccentrically located with respect to said axis of said crankshaft;
• said drive means being located in said opening of said driven means for rotatably driving said driven means;
• bearing means in said opening permitting relative movement between said driving and driven means;
• said bearing means including a plurality of bearing elements located in said opening between said drive means and said driven means and movable with respect to both said drive means and said driven means whereby when said crankshaft rotates, said drive means coacts with said driven means through said bearing means and said drive means and said driven means rotate as a unit, said driven means drives said first scroll with respect to said second scroll and said movement of said crankshaft results in centrifugal force tending to move said driven means and said first scroll radially outward with respect to said axis of said crankshaft such that said first scroll coacts with said second scroll to compress gas which results in gas forces acting on said first and second scrolls with said bearing means providing a substantial reduction in resistance to relative movement between said drive means and said driven means to facilitate movement of said first scroll into contact with said second scroll when centrifugal force exceeds gas forces plus frictional forces between said driven means and said beating means, and out of contact when gas forces exceed centrifugal forces plus frictional forces between said driven means and said bearing means.