Back to results
US 6,672,846 B2Granted
Capacity modulation for plural compressors
AssigneeCopeland Corporation
InventorsRajan Rajendran, John P. Sheridan, Carl H. Knapke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A compressor system includes a pair of compressors located in a common shell. A common drive shaft drives both compressors and the drive shaft is powered by a single motor. One or both of the compressors can be equipped with a pulse width modulated capacity control system and a vapor injection system. When one compressor is equipped with these systems, the capacity can be varied between 50% and 110%. When both compressors are equipped with these systems, the capacity can be varied between 0% and 120%.
Claims41
A scroll machine comprising:
- an outer shell defining a suction pressure zone;
- a first scroll compressor disposed within said suction pressure zone of said shell;
- a second scroll compressor disposed within said suction pressure zone of said shell;
- a drive shaft extending between and coupled to each of said first and second scroll compressors said drive shaft operable to drive said first and second scroll compressors for compressing fluid disposed within said suction pressure zone;
- a mounting frame disposed within said suction pressure zone of said shell, said first and second scroll compressors being attached to said mounting frame;
- a motor disposed within said suction pressure zone of said shell between said first and second scroll compressors, said motor being attached to said mounting frame and drivingly coupled to said drive shaft;
- and
- an oil sump disposed between said outer shell and said mounting frame, said oil sump being in communication with said first scroll compressor through a first bore in said drive shaft and said second scroll compressor through a second bore in said drive shaft.
5 more elements
A scroll machine comprising:
- an outer shell defining a suction pressure zone;
- a first scroll compressor disposed within said suction pressure zone of said shell, said first scroll compressor including a first non-orbiting scroll member interleaved with a first orbiting scroll member, said first orbiting scroll member being mounted for radial movement within said outer shell;
- a second scroll compressor disposed within said suction pressure zone of said shell, said second scroll compressor including a second non-orbiting scroll member interleaved with a second orbiting scroll member, said second orbiting scroll member being mounted for radial movement within said outer shell;
- a drive shaft extending between and coupled to each of said first and second orbiting scroll members, said drive shaft operable to drive said first and second scroll compressors for compressing fluid disposed within said suction pressure zone;
- and
- a motor disposed within said suction pressure zone shell between said first and second scroll compressors, said motor being drivingly coupled to said drive shaft.
3 more elements
A scroll machine comprising:
- an outer shell defining a suction pressure zone;
- a first scroll compressor disposed within said suction pressure zone of said shell, said first scroll compressor comprising:
- a first scroll member having a first end plate and a first spiral wrap extending therefrom;
- a second scroll member having a second end plate and a second spiral wrap extending therefrom, said first and second scroll members being positioned with said first and second spiral wraps interleaved with each other;
- a second scroll compressor disposed within said suction pressure zone of said shell, said second scroll compressor comprising;
- a third scroll member having a third end plate and a third spiral wrap extending therefrom;
- a fourth scroll member having a fourth end plate and a fourth spiral wrap extending therefrom, said third and fourth scroll members being positioned with said third and fourth spiral wraps interleaved with each other;
- a drive shaft extending between and coupled to each of said first and third scroll members said drive shaft operable to drive said first and second scroll compressors for compressing fluid disposed within said suction pressure zone;
- said second scroll member being movable between a first relationship in which sealing surfaces of said first and second scroll members are in sealing relationship to close off first fluid pockets and a second relationship wherein at least one of said sealing surfaces of said first and second scroll members are spaced apart to define a first leakage path between said first fluid pockets;
- and
- a first fluid operated piston secured to said second scroll member, said first fluid operated piston being actuatable to apply a force to said second scroll member to move said second scroll member between said first relationship where said first scroll compressor operates at substantially full capacity and said second relationship where said first scroll compressor operates at substantially zero capacity.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.