Rotary compressor with reduced lubrication sensitivity
AssigneeCarrier Corporation
InventorsClark V. Cooper, Paul J. Bushnell, Martin M. Mertell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Lubrication deficiencies related to the use of synthetic lubricants such as POE oils in refrigeration compressors can be mitigated by providing a diamond-like-carbon coating on a member subject to wear due to lubrication deficiencies. Specifically, the tip of the vane of a rotary compressor is coated with a diamond-like-carbon coating made up of alternating layers of tungsten carbide and a lubricious material 0.5 to 5.0 microns thick.
Claims7
A high side rotary compressor for compressing HFC refrigerant which is lubricated by polyol ester oil lubricant comprising:
- shell means having a first end and a second end;
- cylinder means containing pump means including a vane and a piston coacting with said cylinder means to define suction and compression chambers;
- said cylinder means being fixedly located in said shell means near said first end and defining with said first end a first chamber which has an oil sump containing said oil lubricant;
- first bearing means secured to said cylinder means and extending towards said oil sump;
- second bearing means secured to said cylinder means and extending towards said second end;
- motor means including rotor means and stator means;
- said stator means fixedly located in said shell means between said cylinder means and said second end and axially spaced from said cylinder means and said second bearing means;
- eccentric shaft means supported by said first and second bearing means and including eccentric means operatively connected to said piston;
- said rotor means secured to said shaft means so as to be integral therewith and located within said stator so as to define therewith an annular gap;
- suction means for supplying gas to said pump means;
- discharge means fluidly connected to said shell means;
- said vane having a tip coacting with said piston;
- said tip having a diamond-like-carbon coating thereon made up of a series of alternating hard and lubricious layers whereby the coefficient of friction between said tip and piston is reduced and said tip has reduced wear even in the absence of sufficient oil lubricant as compared to a tip without said diamond-like-coating.
The compressor of claim 6 wherein said series is made up of a plurality of bilayers 1 to 20 mm thick.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.