US 8,585,382 B2Granted

Compressor having capacity modulation assembly

AssigneeEmerson Climate Technologies, Inc.

InventorsMasao Akei, Roy J. Doepker

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Abstract

A compressor includes a shell assembly, first and second scroll members and a capacity modulation assembly. The first and second scroll members form a series of pockets. A first modulation port defined in the first scroll member is in communication with a first pocket. The capacity modulation assembly is in communication with the first modulation port and is operable in full, partial and first and second pulse width modulation (PWM) capacity modes. The full capacity mode includes the first modulation port isolated from a suction pressure region of the compressor, the partial capacity mode includes the first modulation port in communication with the suction pressure region, the first PWM capacity mode includes a capacity between full and partial capacity via PWM between the full and partial capacity modes and the second PWM capacity mode includes a capacity between full and zero capacity by providing PWM of the capacity modulation assembly.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A compressor comprising:

a shell assembly defining a suction pressure region and a discharge pressure region;
a first scroll member supported within said shell assembly and including a first end plate having a discharge passage, a first spiral wrap extending from said first end plate and a first modulation port extending through said first end plate;
a second scroll member supported within said shell assembly and including a second end plate having a second spiral wrap extending therefrom, said first and second spiral wraps meshingly engaged and forming a series of pockets during orbital displacement of said second scroll member relative to said first scroll member, said first modulation port being in communication with a first of said pockets;
and
a capacity modulation assembly located within said shell assembly, in communication with said first modulation port and operable in:
a full capacity mode with said first modulation port isolated from a suction pressure region of the compressor to operate the compressor at a full capacity;
a partial capacity mode with said first modulation port in communication with said suction pressure region to operate the compressor at partial capacity between the full capacity and zero capacity;
a first pulse width modulation capacity mode to operate the compressor at a first intermediate capacity between the full capacity and the partial capacity by providing pulse width modulated control of said capacity modulation assembly by switching between the full capacity mode and the partial capacity mode;
and
a second pulse width modulation capacity mode to operate the compressor at a second intermediate capacity between the full capacity and zero capacity by providing pulse width modulated control of said capacity modulation assembly.

7 more elements

In a compressor comprising a shell assembly defining a suction pressure region and a discharge pressure region, a first scroll member supported within said shell assembly and including a first end plate having a discharge passage, a first spiral wrap extending from said first end plate, and a second scroll member supported within said shell assembly and including a second end plate having a second spiral wrap extending therefrom, a capacity modulation assembly located within said shell assembly includes a first valve, a second valve, a first modulation port, a biasing chamber and a modulation control chamber and operates in a substantially full capacity, a partial capacity and an intermediate capacity to operate the compressor at a capacity between the full capacity and zero capacity;

said first valve operates in an open and a closed position for selective communication between said modulation control chamber and said biasing chamber;
said second valve operates in an open and a closed position for selective communication between said modulation control chamber and said suction pressure region;
said first modulation port extends through said first end plate of said first scroll;
said biasing chamber biases said first and second spiral wraps into meshing engagement to form a series of pockets during orbital displacement of said second scroll member relative to said first scroll member at said full capacity;
and
said modulation control chamber selectively operates at a pressure between a higher pressure and a lower pressure to limit communication between a first of said pockets and said suction pressure region through said first modulation port in said full capacity and to provide communication between said first of said pockets and said suction pressure region through said first modulation port in said partial capacity.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/181,065Filed 12 Jul 2011 · continuation
Priority: 7 Apr 2009
Published: US 2011/0268597 A13 Nov 2011
Granted: 19 Nov 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

F04C 18/0215
Both members having co-operating elements in spiral form: where only one member is moving
F01C 1/0215
Both members having co-operating elements in spiral form: where only one member is moving
F01C 1/0253
Details concerning the involute wraps or their base, e.g. geometry: details concerning the base
F04C 18/0253
Details concerning the involute wraps or their base, e.g. geometry: details concerning the base

Family

Application61/167,309Us provisional application · filed 7 Apr 2009
Application12/754,920Parent of this continuation · filed 6 Apr 2010
US 2011/0268597 A1Pre-grant publication · published 3 Nov 2011
US 7,988,433 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2010/0254841 A1Published application
US 8,585,382 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.