Back to results
US 6,648,607 B2Granted
Scroll compressor with oil reservoir associated with motor protector
AssigneeScroll Technologies
InventorsTracy L. Milliff, Jason Hugenroth, Chong Yeow Oo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A scroll compressor has lubricant flow which communicates lubricant onto a motor protector causing the motor protector to trip the motor and stop further rotation when a predetermined lubricant temperature is reached. The motor protector is surrounded by a reservoir which maintains contact between the motor protector and the lubricant, thus facilitating heat transfer between the motor protector and the lubricant. The lubricant is returned to an oil sump remote from the compressor pump set when the reservoir is filled.
Claims9
A scroll compressor comprising:
- a compressor pump unit having a first scroll member having a base and a generally spiral wrap extending from said base, a second scroll member having a base and a generally spiral wrap extending from said base, said spiral wraps of said first and second scroll members interfitting to define compression chambers, and a crankcase for supporting said second scroll member;
- a shaft for driving said second scroll member to orbit relative to said first scroll member, and compression chambers between said wraps of said first and second scroll member decreasing in size as said second scroll member orbits to compress an entrapped refrigerant;
- a motor for driving a shaft to cause said second scroll member to orbit, said motor having a rotor and a stator, and a motor protector associated with said motor stator, said motor protector being operable to stop further operation of said motor;
- an oil return passage for passing lubricant over a heating portion of said compressor pump unit, said oil return passage being positioned to return lubricant from said heating portion of said compressor pump unit to an outlet for passing lubricant into a reservoir surrounding said motor protector, said reservoir maintaining contact between lubricant and said motor protector;
- said motor stator having a first end spaced toward said compressor pump unit and a second end spaced on an opposed side of said first end relative to said compressor pump unit, said motor protector being at said first end of said motor stator with said reservoir also being at said first end of said motor stator.
2 more elements
A scroll compressor comprising:
- a compressor pump unit having a first scroll member having a base and a generally spiral wrap extending from said base, a second scroll member having a base and a generally spiral wrap extending from said base, said spiral wraps of said first and second scroll members interfitting to define compression chambers, and a crankcase for supporting said second scroll member;
- a shaft for driving said second scroll member to orbit relative to said first scroll member, and compression chambers between said wraps of said first and second scroll member decreasing in size as said second scroll member orbits to compress an entrapped refrigerant;
- a motor for driving a shaft to cause said second scroll member to orbit, said motor having a rotor and a stator, and a motor protector associated with said motor stator, said motor protector being operable to stop further operation of said motor;
- an oil return passage for passing lubricant over a heating portion of said compressor pump unit, said oil return passage being positioned to return lubricant from said heating portion of said compressor pump unit to an outlet for passing lubricant into a reservoir surrounding said motor protector, said reservoir maintaining contact between lubricant and said motor protector;
- and
- said reservoir comprises a closed bottom vessel such that excess lubricant overflows the top of said reservoir and returns to a sump.
3 more elements
A scroll compressor comprising:
- a compressor pump unit having a first scroll member having a base and a generally spiral wrap extending from said base, a second scroll member having a base and a generally spiral wrap extending from said base, said spiral wraps of said first and second scroll members interfitting to define compression chambers, and a crankcase for supporting said second scroll member;
- a shaft for driving said second scroll member to orbit relative to said first scroll member, and compression chambers between said wraps of said first and second scroll member decreasing in size as said second scroll member orbits to compress an entrapped refrigerant;
- a motor for driving a shaft to cause said second scroll member to orbit, said motor having a rotor and a stator, and a motor protector associated with said motor stator, said motor protector being operable to stop further operation of said motor;
- an oil return passage for passing lubricant over a heating portion of said compressor pump unit, said oil return passage being positioned to return lubricant from said heating portion of said compressor pump unit to an outlet for passing lubricant into a reservoir surrounding said motor protector, said reservoir maintaining contact between lubricant and said motor protector;
- and
- said reservoir includes an opening such that excess lubricant exits said reservoir through said opening and returns to a sump.
3 more elements
A scroll compressor comprising:
- a compressor pump unit having a first scroll member having a base and a generally spiral wrap extending from said base, a second scroll member having a base and a generally spiral wrap extending from said base, said spiral wraps of said first and second scroll members interfitting to define compression chambers, and a crankcase for supporting said second scroll member;
- a shaft for driving said second scroll member to orbit relative to said first scroll member, and compression chambers between said wraps of said first and second scroll member decreasing in size as said second scroll member orbits to compress an entrapped refrigerant;
- a motor for driving a shaft to cause said second scroll member to orbit, said motor having a rotor and a stator, and a motor protector associated with said motor stator, said motor protector being operable to stop further operation of said motor;
- an oil return passage for passing lubricant over a heating portion of said compressor pump unit, said oil return passage being positioned to return lubricant from said heating portion of said compressor pump unit to an outlet for passing lubricant into a reservoir surrounding said motor protector, said reservoir maintaining contact between lubricant and said motor protector;
- and
- said reservoir includes an oil return tube for returning lubricant to a sump.
3 more elements
A scroll compressor comprising:
- a compressor pump unit having a first scroll member having a base and a generally spiral wrap extending from said base, a second scroll member having a base and a generally spiral wrap extending from said base, said spiral wraps of said first and second scroll members interfitting to define compression chambers, and a crankcase for supporting said second scroll member;
- a shaft for driving said second scroll member to orbit relative to said first scroll member, and compression chambers between said wraps of said first and second scroll member decreasing in size as said second scroll member orbits to compress an entrapped refrigerant;
- a motor for driving a shaft to cause said second scroll member to orbit, said motor having a rotor and a stator, and a motor protector associated with said motor stator, said motor protector being operable to stop further operation of said motor;
- and
- an oil return passage for passing lubricant over a heating portion of said compressor pump unit, said oil return passage being positioned to return lubricant from said heating portion of said compressor pump unit to an outlet for passing lubricant into a reservoir surrounding said motor protector, said reservoir maintaining contact between lubricant and said motor protector, said compressor pump unit being received within a sealed housing, with a sump at an end of said motor spaced from said compressor pump unit, said oil moving from said reservoir into said sump, and said reservoir and said motor protector being spaced in a direction toward said compressor pump unit, and outwardly of said sump.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.