Co-rotating compressor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10995754-B2
Application number	US-201815877870-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 23, 2018
Priority date	Feb 6, 2017
Publication date	May 4, 2021
Grant date	May 4, 2021

Abstract

A compressor may include first and second compression members, first and second bearing assemblies, a sensor, and processing circuitry. The second compression member cooperates with the first compression member to define a compression pocket. The first and second bearing assemblies rotatably support the first and second compression members, respectively. The first bearing assembly may include a bearing rotor and a bearing stator. The bearing stator may surround the bearing rotor and may include poles each having a winding. The sensor may measure a radial position of the bearing rotor relative to the bearing stator. The processing circuitry may be in communication with the sensor and may control electrical current supplied to the windings based on the radial position measured by the sensor to adjust the radial position of the bearing rotor relative to the bearing stator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A compressor comprising:
a first scroll member;
a second scroll member cooperating with the first scroll member to define a compression pocket therebetween;
a bearing assembly supporting one of the first and second scroll members for rotation about a rotational axis, the bearing assembly including an annular bearing rotor and an annular bearing stator, the bearing stator surrounding the bearing rotor and including axial control windings; and
processing circuitry controlling electrical current supplied to the axial control windings to adjust an axial position of the bearing rotor relative to the bearing stator,
wherein the processing circuitry is configured to modulate the compressor between a full-capacity state and a reduced-capacity state by controlling the electrical current supplied to the axial control windings to axially move the one of the first and second scroll members relative to the other one of the first and second scroll members between a first position corresponding to the full-capacity state and a second position corresponding to the reduced-capacity state.

2. The compressor of claim 1 , wherein the bearing stator includes a plurality of poles each having a radial control winding, and wherein the processing circuitry controls electrical current supplied to the radial control windings to adjust a radial position of the bearing rotor relative to the bearing stator.

3. The compressor of claim 2 , wherein the one of the scroll members includes a hub, and wherein the bearing rotor is attached to the hub.

4. The compressor of claim 3 , further comprising a motor assembly including a motor rotor engaging the first scroll member, wherein the motor rotor surrounds a first end plate of the first scroll member and a second end plate of the second scroll member.

5. A compressor comprising:
a first compression member;
a second compression member cooperating with the first compression member to define a compression pocket therebetween;
a first bearing assembly supporting the first compression member for rotation about a first rotational axis, the first bearing assembly including an annular bearing rotor and an annular bearing stator, the bearing stator surrounding the bearing rotor and including a plurality of poles each having a winding;
a second bearing assembly supporting the second compression member for rotation about a second rotational axis that is parallel to the first rotational axis and offset from the first rotational axis;
a gap sensor measuring a radial position of the bearing rotor relative to the bearing stator; and
processing circuitry in communication with the gap sensor and controlling electrical current supplied to the windings based on the radial position measured by the gap sensor to adjust the radial position of the bearing rotor relative to the bearing stator,
wherein the processing circuitry is configured to modulate the compressor between a full-capacity state and a reduced-capacity state by controlling the electrical current supplied to the windings, wherein controlling the electrical current supplied to the windings modulates the radial position of the first compression member relative to the second compression member, and wherein modulating the radial position of the first compression member relative to the second compression member modulates spiral wraps of the first and second compression members between a sealingly engaged state and a radially separated state.

6. The compressor of claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of gap sensors positioned around the circumference of the bearing rotor and each measuring a corresponding radial distance between the bearing rotor and the bearing stator, and wherein the processing circuitry is in communication with the plurality of gap sensors and controls electrical current to the windings based on data received from the plurality of gap sensors.

7. The compressor of claim 5 , wherein the first and second compression members are first and second scroll members, respectively.

8. The compressor of claim 5 , wherein the bearing stator includes axial control windings in communication with the processing circuitry, and wherein the processing circuitry controls electrical current supplied to the axial control windings to adjust the axial position of the bearing rotor relative to the bearing stator.

9. The compressor of claim 5 , wherein the first compression member includes a first hub received in and fixed relative to the bearing rotor.

10. The compressor of claim 9 , wherein the second compression member includes a second hub rotatably supported by the second bearing assembly.

11. The compressor of claim 10 , further comprising a motor assembly including a motor rotor engaging the first compression member and disposed axially between the first and second bearing assemblies.

12. The compressor of claim 11 , wherein the motor rotor surrounds a first end plate of the first compression member and a second end plate of the second compression member.

13. The compressor of claim 12 , wherein the first and second bearing assemblies are disposed within first and second bearing housings, respectively, and wherein the motor assembly includes a motor stator surrounding the motor rotor and disposed axially between the first and second bearing housings.

14. The compressor of claim 13 , wherein the motor rotor includes a radially extending portion that extends radially outward relative to the first rotational axis and an axially extending portion that extends parallel to the first rotational axis.

15. The compressor of claim 14 , wherein the axially extending portion engages the first end plate and surrounds the first compression member.

16. The compressor of claim 15 , further comprising a seal engaging the motor rotor and the second end plate, wherein the radially extending portion engages the seal, and wherein the second end plate is disposed between the second end plate and the radially extending portion in a direction extending along the first rotational axis.

17. A compressor comprising:
a first compression member;
a second compression member cooperating with the first compression member to define a compression pocket therebetween;
a first magnetic bearing assembly supporting the first compression member for rotation about a first rotational axis, the first magnetic bearing assembly including an annular first bearing rotor and an annular first bearing stator, the first bearing stator surrounding the first bearing rotor and including a plurality of first poles each having a winding;
a second magnetic bearing assembly supporting the second compression member for rotation about a second rotational axis that is parallel to the first rotational axis and offset from the first rotational axis, the second magnetic bearing assembly including an annular second bearing rotor and an annular second bearing stator, the second bearing stator surrounding the second bearing rotor and including a plurality of second poles each having a winding;
a first gap sensor measuring a radial position of the first bearing rotor relative to the first bearing stator;
a second gap sensor measuring a radial position of the second bearing rotor relative to the second bearing stator; and
processing circuitry in communication with the first and second gap sensors and controlling electrical current supplied to the windings of the first and second poles based on the radial positions measured by the first and second gap sensors to adjust the radial positions of the first and second rotational axes relative to each other,
where

Assignees

• Emerson Climate Technologies

Inventors

• Doepker Roy J
• Stover Robert C

Classifications

• F04C2240/50

  Bearings · CPC title

• F04C2240/40

  Electric motor · CPC title

• F04C29/0042

  Driving elements, brakes, couplings, transmissions specially adapted for pumps (brakes, couplings, transmissions per se F16, B60) · CPC title

• F04C28/28 Primary

  Safety arrangements; Monitoring · CPC title

• F04C18/0215 Primary

  where only one member is moving · CPC title