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US 6,550,258 B1Granted
Pre-start bearing lubrication for refrigeration system compressor
AssigneeCarrier Corporation
InventorStephen L. Shoulders
Life of this patent
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AssigneeCarrier Corporation
InventorStephen L. Shoulders
Estimating the term…
At or just prior to shut-down, or at least prior to a significant pressure equalization in a refrigeration system, a vessel containing pressurized oil or a pressurized oil-rich oil-refrigerant solution, possibly in combination with some refrigerant gas is isolated from the rest of the refrigeration system and is then maintained in a pressurized state while the refrigeration system is not operating. Preliminary to start up of the refrigeration system, the pressurized oil and refrigerant gas or oil-rich oil-refrigerant solution, is placed in fluid communication with bearings and any other components requiring pre-start lubrication. Pre-start lubrication then results as oil flows to bearings and possibly other components due to the pressure difference between the vessel containing oil and the regions to be lubricated.
In a refrigeration system having a positive displacement compressor with components supported by bearings and a lubrication system which continuously receives lubricant from one portion of the refrigeration system and delivers lubricant to the bearings during compressor operation, a method of providing lubrication to the bearings prior to start up of the refrigeration system including the steps of:
A refrigeration system including:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.