Compressor having compression subassembly and methods of assembling the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12352265-B2
Application number	US-202318485911-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 12, 2023
Priority date	Oct 12, 2023
Publication date	Jul 8, 2025
Grant date	Jul 8, 2025

Abstract

A compressor includes a compressor housing and a compression subassembly installed in the compressor housing. The compressor housing includes a shell defining a first chamber and an end cap defining a second chamber. The compression subassembly includes a support plate positioned in the compressor housing between the shell and the end cap, a non-orbiting scroll attached to the support plate and extending from the support plate into the first chamber, a main bearing housing positioned in the first chamber and attached to the non-orbiting scroll, and an orbiting scroll positioned between the non-orbiting scroll and the main bearing housing. The support plate separates the first chamber and the second chamber and supports the compression subassembly in the compressor housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A compressor comprising:
a compressor housing comprising a shell defining a first chamber and an end cap defining a second chamber; and
a compression subassembly installed in the compressor housing, the compression subassembly comprising:
a support plate positioned in the compressor housing between the shell and the end cap, wherein the support plate comprises an annular body separating the first chamber and the second chamber, the annular body having an inner circumferential surface defining a central opening,
wherein the support plate comprises a radially-extending flange member stepped from an outer radial edge of the annular body, wherein the radially-extending flange member is seated on and attached to a rim of the shell, and an axially-extending flange member received by the rim to center the support plate on the shell, and
wherein the radially-extending flange member terminates prior to an outer radial edge of the rim, wherein the end cap is seated on and attached to the rim of the shell and the end cap circumscribes the radially-extending flange member;

a non-orbiting scroll attached to the support plate and extending from the support plate into the first chamber, wherein the non-orbiting scroll comprises a raised portion extending into the central opening of the support plate, the raised portion defining a raised circumferential surface, wherein the raised circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface of the support plate are in sealing engagement and comprise complementing threads for threadedly engaging one another;
a main bearing housing positioned in the first chamber and attached to the non-orbiting scroll; and
an orbiting scroll positioned between the non-orbiting scroll and the main bearing housing;

wherein the compression subassembly is supported in the compressor housing by the support plate.

2. The compressor of claim 1 , wherein the support plate and the non-orbiting scroll cooperatively seal the first chamber from the second chamber.

3. The compressor of claim 1 , wherein an outer radial surface of the non-orbiting scroll is accessible via the central opening of the annular body.

4. The compressor of claim 1 , wherein the support plate comprises a collar circumscribing the central opening and defining the inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential surface, and wherein a flat is defined in the outer circumferential surface.

5. The compressor of claim 1 , wherein the non-orbiting scroll is attached to the main bearing housing with fasteners.

6. The compressor of claim 1 , wherein the raised portion of the non-orbiting scroll extends from a lower radial surface, wherein the lower radial surface engages a radial surface of the annular body of the support plate proximate the central opening.

7. The compressor of claim 1 , wherein the non-orbiting scroll is attached to the support plate and the main bearing housing by separate fastening mechanisms.

8. The compressor of claim 7 , wherein the non-orbiting scroll is threadedly attached to the support plate and the non-orbiting scroll is attached to the main bearing housing with fasteners.

9. The compressor of claim 1 , wherein the compression subassembly further comprises a driveshaft positioned within the compressor housing and operably connected to the orbiting scroll for moving the orbiting scroll relative to the non-orbiting scroll.

10. A method of assembling a compressor, the method comprising:
assembling a compression subassembly by:
attaching a non-orbiting scroll to a support plate by threadedly engaging the non-orbiting scroll and the support plate,
wherein the support plate comprises a radially extending flange member;

positioning an orbiting scroll on a surface of a main bearing housing; and
attaching the main bearing housing to the non-orbiting scroll such that the orbiting scroll is positioned between the non-orbiting scroll and the main bearing housing;

installing the compression subassembly as a single unit in a first chamber defined by a shell of a compressor housing by positioning the support plate on the shell such that the compression subassembly is supported in the first chamber by the support plate,
wherein positioning the support plate comprises:
seating the radially-extending flange member on a rim of the shell, and
attaching the radially-extending flange member on the rim of the shell,

wherein an axially-extending flange member is received by the rim to center the support plate on the shell, and
wherein an outer edge at a leading end of the axially-extending flange member received by the rim is chamfered;

positioning an end cap of the compressor housing on the shell such that a second chamber is defined between the end cap and the shell, wherein the second chamber is separated from the first chamber by the support plate; and
attaching the support plate and the end cap to the shell.

11. A compressor comprising:
a compressor housing comprising a shell defining a first chamber and an end cap defining a second chamber; and
a compression subassembly installed in the compressor housing, the compression subassembly comprising:
a support plate positioned in the compressor housing between the shell and the end cap, wherein the support plate comprises an annular body separating the first chamber and the second chamber, the annular body having an inner circumferential surface defining a central opening,
wherein the support plate comprises a radially-extending flange member stepped from an outer radial edge of the annular body, wherein the radially-extending flange member is seated on and attached to a rim of the shell, and an axially-extending flange member received by the rim to center the support plate on the shell, and
wherein an outer edge at a leading end of the axially-extending flange member received by the rim is chamfered;

a non-orbiting scroll attached to the support plate and extending from the support plate into the first chamber, wherein the non-orbiting scroll comprises a raised portion extending into the central opening of the support plate, the raised portion defining a raised circumferential surface, wherein the raised circumferential surface and the inner circumferential surface of the support plate are in sealing engagement and comprise complementing threads for threadedly engaging one another;
a main bearing housing positioned in the first chamber and attached to the non-orbiting scroll; and
an orbiting scroll positioned between the non-orbiting scroll and the main bearing housing;

wherein the compression subassembly is supported in the compressor housing by the support plate.

12. The compressor of claim 11 , wherein the support plate and the non-orbiting scroll cooperatively seal the first chamber from the second chamber.

13. The compressor of claim 11 , wherein an outer radial surface of the non-orbiting scroll is accessible via the central opening of the annular body.

14. The compressor of claim 11 , wherein the support plate comprises a collar circumscribing the central opening and defining the inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential surface, and wherein a flat is defined in the outer circumferential surface.

15. The compressor of claim 11 , wherein the non-orbiting scroll is attached to the main bearing housing with fasteners.

16. The compressor of claim 11 , wherein the raised portion of the non-orbiting scroll extends from a lower radial surface, wherein the lower radial surface engages a radial surface of the annular body of the support plate proximate the central opening.

Assignees

• Copeland Lp

Inventors

• Hopkins Stephen
• Bergman Kyle M
• Loerke David

Classifications

• F04C2240/60

  Shafts · CPC title

• F04C2240/50

  Bearings · CPC title

• F04C2240/805

  Fastening means, e.g. bolts · CPC title

• F04C2240/30

  Casings or housings · CPC title

• F04C2230/60

  Assembly methods · CPC title