Back to results
US 6,179,589 B2Granted
Scroll machine with discus discharge valve
AssigneeCopeland Corporation
InventorsMark Bass, Werner H. Prenger, Roy J. Doepker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A scroll compressor includes a discharge valve assembly for blocking compressed refrigerant flow from the discharge chamber through the scroll members. This blocking of flow results in an increased performance for the scroll compressor by minimizing the recompression volume due to the configuration of the value assembly and thus the elimination of reverse rotation at shut down. The discharge valve assembly includes a valve seat, a disc shaped valve member, a retainer, a spring and a stop secured within a recess formed within the scroll member.
Claims35
A scroll machine comprising:
- a shell defining a discharge chamber;
- a first scroll member disposed in said shell, said first scroll member having a first spiral wrap projecting outwardly from an end plate;
- a second scroll member disposed in said shell, said second scroll member having a second spiral wrap projecting outwardly from an end plate, said second spiral wrap intermeshed with said first spiral wrap;
- a drive member for causing said scroll members to orbit relative to one another whereby said spiral wraps will create pockets of progressively changing volume between a suction pressure zone and a discharge pressure zone, said discharge pressure zone being in fluid communication with said discharge chamber;
- a discharge valve disposed between said discharge pressure zone and said discharge chamber, said discharge valve movable between an open position where fluid flow between said discharge pressure zone and said discharge chamber is permitted and a closed position where fluid flow between said discharge chamber and said discharge pressure zone is prohibited, said discharge valve comprising:
- a valve seat disposed within a recess defined by one of said first and second scroll members;
- a retainer disposed within said recess adjacent to said valve seat;
- a generally circular disc-shaped valve having a non-planar valve surface disposed within said recess and movable between a first position where said non-planar valve surface is adjacent said valve seat to place said discharge valve in said closed position and a second position where said non-planar valve surface is spaced from said valve seat to place said discharge valve in said open position, said retainer engaging said disc-shaped valve for guiding said movement;
- and
- a stop disposed within said recess for limiting said movement of said generally circular disc-shaped valve.
7 more elements
A scroll machine comprising:
- a shell defining a discharge chamber;
- a first scroll member disposed in said shell, said first scroll member having a first spiral wrap projecting outwardly from an end plate;
- a second scroll member disposed in said shell, said second scroll member having a second spiral wrap projecting outwardly from an end plate, said second spiral wrap intermeshed with said first spiral wrap;
- a drive member for causing said scroll members to orbit relative to one another whereby said spiral wraps will create pockets of progressively changing volume between a suction pressure zone and a discharge pressure zone, said discharge pressure zone being in fluid communication with said discharge chamber;
- a discharge valve disposed between said discharge pressure zone and said discharge chamber, said discharge valve movable between an open position where fluid flow between said discharge pressure zone and said discharge chamber is permitted and a closed position where fluid flow between said discharge chamber and said discharge pressure zone is prohibited, said discharge valve comprising:
- a valve seat disposed within a recess defined by one of said first and second scroll members, said valve seat defining a contact surface and a frusto-conical shaped relief surface disposed adjacent said contact surface;
- a generally circular disc-shaped valve disposed within said recess and movable between a position adjacent said contact surface of said valve seat to place said discharge valve in said closed position and a position spaced from said contact surface of said valve seat to place said discharge valve in said open position;
- and
- a stop disposed within said recess for limiting said movement of said generally circular disc-shaped valve.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.