US 6,146,119 A · Pressure actuated seal

Abstract

A scroll compressor (10) is disclosed which incorporates, in the first embodiment, a floating seal (50) having an inner face seal (52) and an outer face seal (54). The floating seal also has inner and outer diametric seals (58, 60) to seal against the walls of a recess (41) in the crankcase (36). The axial thickness of the floating seal exceeds the depth of the recess. As the scroll compressor undergoes start-up, the orbiting scroll element (14) is forced against the face seals (52, 54) to create a sealed chamber (40). Intermediate pressure from a compression pocket between the scroll elements pressurizes chamber (40) defined between the seals to force the orbiting scroll element (14) into engagement with the fixed scroll element (12). In a second embodiment, a floating seal (80) uses actuator piston (88) which is urged into continuous sealing contact with the orbiting scroll element (14) by an actuator spring (92) to create a sealed chamber. Upon start-up, the chamber (96) is provided with intermediate pressure gas which urges the orbiting scroll element (14) into engagement with the fixed scroll element (12).

Claims15

Dependent claims

A seal for a chamber formed between a scroll element and another portion in a scroll compressor, the scroll element movable along an axis of orbital motion, one of the scroll element and portion having at least one annular, axially extending surface, pressure in the chamber urging the scroll element axially into engagement with a mating scroll element to form compression pockets therebetween, comprising:

a seal ring engaged with said annular, axially extending surface for axial movement relative thereto, said seal ring having a seal for sealing against said annular, axially extending surface as the seal ring moves axially;
means to move the seal ring and the other one of said scroll element and portion into sealing engagement during start-up of the compressor;
and
pressurized fluid from a compression pocket entering the chamber forming an enclosed volume defined by the seal between the seal ring and the annular, axially extending surface and a seal between the seal ring and the other one of said scroll element and portion to force the scroll element axially into engagement with the mating scroll element, said means being an actuator piston mounted for axial movement within said seal ring, and means for urging said actuator piston into continuous sealing engagement with the other one of said scroll element and portion.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Pressure actuated seal

Life of this patent

Pressure actuated seal

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15