Scroll compressor having a frame and open sleeve for controlling gas and lubricant flow

A gas compressor of the scroll type comprising:

• a shell, said shell defining a suction pressure portion and a discharge pressure portion, said suction pressure portion defining an oil sump;
• a first scroll member, said first scroll member having a scroll wrap;
• a second scroll member, said second scroll member having a scroll wrap, the scroll wrap of said second scroll member being in an interleaved relationship with the scroll wrap of said first scroll member, said second scroll member being mounted in said shell for orbital motion with respect to said first scroll member and said first and said second scroll members comprising a compression mechanism;
• a motor mounted in said suction pressure portion of said shell;
• an open-ended sleeve fixedly mounted in said shell, said motor being mounted in said sleeve and cooperating therewith to define a first portion of a flow path for suction gas to said compression mechanism, suction gas being initially introduced into said suction pressure portion of said shell exterior of said sleeve;
• a frame fixedly mounted in said shell, said frame defining a cavity in flow communication with said sump through an oil return path which is exterior of said sleeve, said frame, in cooperation with the interior of said sleeve, defining a second portion of said flow path for suction gas, said frame and said sleeve cooperating to isolate said flow path for suction gas from said cavity and from said oil return path by said frame and said sleeve;
• and
• a drive shaft driven by said motor, said drive shaft being drivingly connected to said second scroll member and defining an oil gallery and a vent passage, said oil gallery being in flow communication with said sump and said vent passage communicating between said oil gallery and said suction gas flow path, said vent passage opening into said suction gas flow path at a location which is at a pressure relatively lower than the pressure in said oil sump when said compressor is in operation.

A scroll compressor comprising:

• a shell, said shell defining a suction pressure portion and a discharge pressure portion, said suction pressure portion defining an oil sump;
• a first scroll member, said first scroll member being fixedly mounted in said shell and having a scroll wrap;
• a second scroll member, said second scroll member having an end plate from which a scroll wrap extends, said scroll wrap of said second scroll member being in an interleaved relationship with the scroll wrap of said first scroll member, said second scroll member being mounted in said shell for orbital motion with respect to said first scroll member and said first and said second scroll members comprising a compression mechanism;
• a motor, said motor being disposed in said suction pressure portion of said shell;
• a drive shaft having a drive surface, said drive shaft being driven by said motor and said drive shaft driving said second scroll member through said drive surface, said drive shaft defining an oil flow path between said sump and said drive surface;
• an open-ended sleeve fixedly mounted in said shell, said motor being disposed in said sleeve and cooperating therewith to define a first portion of the flow path through which suction gas is constrained to flow enroute to said compression mechanism;
• and
• a frame fixedly mounted in said shell, said frame defining a cavity and having a first and a second bearing surface, said first bearing surface rotatably supporting said drive shaft and said second bearing surface being a thrust surface in engagement with the end plate of said second scroll member, said shell and said sleeve cooperating to define an oil return path from said cavity to said sump which is exterior of said sleeve, and said frame and said sleeve cooperating to define a second portion of the flow path through which suction gas is constrained to flow enroute to said compression mechanism, said second portion of said suction gas flow path being in communication with said portion of the suction gas flow path defined by said sleeve and said motor, suction gas initially entering said suction pressure portion of shell being delivered into said oil-return path exterior of said sleeve and being constrained to change flow direction in order to enter said open end of said sleeve, said change in flow direction causing the disentrainment of oil from suction gas entering said sleeve.

A scroll compressor comprising:

• a shell, said shell defining a suction pressure portion and a discharge pressure portion, said suction pressure portion defining an oil sump, said shell having a reduced diameter necked-in portion;
• a compression mechanism mounted in said necked-in portion of said shell;
• a motor mounted in said suction pressure portion of said shell for driving said compression mechanism;
• a sleeve disposed about said motor, said sleeve cooperating with said motor to define a flow path for suction gas to said compression mechanism and said sleeve cooperating with said shell to define a return path for oil to said sump in said suction pressure portion of said shell;
• and
• a frame mounted in said suction pressure portion of said shell, said frame defining at least one oil return port and at least one suction gas flow passage and having a circumferential surface, said at least one suction gas flow passage being isolated from said at least one oil return port, said oil return port being in flow communication with said oil return path defined by said sleeve and said shell and said at least one suction gas flow passage being in flow communication with said suction gas flow path defined by said sleeve and said motor, said circumferential surface of said frame cooperating with the interior wall of said necked-in portion of said shell to define a boundary between said oil return path and said suction gas flow path so as to isolate oil being returned to said sump from the suction gas delivered to said compression mechanism, suction gas delivered into said suction pressure portion of said shell initially entering said oil return path and being constrained by said sleeve to change flow direction in order to enter said flow path for suction gas to said compression mechanism, said change in flow direction causing the disentrainment of oil from suction gas entering said suction gas flow path.

A scroll compressor comprising:

• a shell, said shell defining a suction pressure portion and a discharge pressure portion, said suction pressure portion defining a lubricant sump and said shell having a reduced diameter, necked-in portion;
• a frame, said frame having an annular surface ensconced in said necked-in portion of said shell, said frame defining (i) an oil collection cavity, (ii) at least one oil return port in flow communication with said oil collection cavity and (iii) at least one suction gas passage, said at least one suction gas flow passage being isolated from both said oil collection cavity and said at least one oil return port by a wall of said frame;
• a compression mechanism disposed in said necked-in portion of said shell;
• a motor mounted in said suction pressure portion of said shell for driving said compression mechanism;
• and
• a sleeve depending from said frame in said suction pressure portion of said shell, said motor being disposed in said sleeve and cooperating therewith to define a flow path for suction gas to said compression mechanism through said at least one suction gas passage defined by said frame, said sleeve, said shell and said frame cooperating to define an oil return path from said oil collection cavity to said sump which is isolated from said flow path for suction gas to said compression mechanism.