Double-ended scroll compressor lubrication of one orbiting scroll bearing via crankshaft oil gallery from another orbiting scroll bearing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017191479-A1
Application number	US-201715463218-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 20, 2017
Priority date	Jul 31, 2013
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A scroll compressor orbiting scroll bearing lubrication system includes a scroll compressor crankshaft having a lubricating fluid gallery extending therethrough between a first stage orbiting scroll and a second stage orbiting scroll. The first stage employs an orbiting scroll radial bearing and an orbiting scroll hydrodynamic thrust bearing, while the second stage employs an orbiting scroll radial bearing and an orbiting scroll hydrostatic thrust bearing. Lubricating fluid is supplied to the second stage orbiting scroll radial bearing via the lubricating fluid gallery.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A scroll compressor orbiting scroll bearing lubrication system, comprising:
a lubricating fluid sump storing a lubricating fluid pressurized higher than the scroll compressor suction pressure; a compressor crankshaft comprising:
a first eccentric drive pin extending from a first end of the crankshaft, wherein the first drive pin is rotatably disposed at least partially within a first radial orbital bearing and configured to engage a first orbiting scroll comprising a baseplate and a spiral wrap element extending from the baseplate, and further comprising one or more oil passages in the baseplate;
a second eccentric drive pin extending from a second end of the crankshaft, wherein the second drive pin is rotatably disposed at least partially within a second radial orbital bearing and configured to engage a second orbiting scroll;
an orbiting scroll hydrodynamic thrust bearing associated with the first orbiting scroll, wherein the first radial orbital bearing and the orbiting scroll hydrodynamic thrust bearing are configured to receive lubricating fluid from the lubricating fluid sump via the one or more oil passages in the first orbiting scroll baseplate;

2 . The scroll compressor orbiting scroll bearing lubrication system according to claim 1 , further comprising a bearing housing containing one or more oil supply passages, wherein the first radial orbital bearing and orbiting scroll hydrodynamic thrust bearing are configured to receive lubricating fluid from the lubricating fluid sump via the oil passage in the bearing housing and in the one or more oil passages in the first orbiting scroll baseplate.

3 . A scroll compressor orbiting scroll bearing lubrication system, comprising:
a lubricating fluid sump storing a lubricating fluid pressurized substantially higher than the scroll compressor suction pressure; a compressor crankshaft comprising:
a first eccentric drive pin extending from a first end of the crankshaft, wherein the first drive pin is rotatably disposed at least partially within a first radial orbital bearing and configured to engage a first orbiting scroll comprising a baseplate and a spiral wrap element extending from the baseplate, and further comprising one or more oil passages in the baseplate;
a second eccentric drive pin extending from a second end of the crankshaft, wherein the second drive pin is rotatably disposed at least partially within a second radial orbital bearing and configured to engage a second orbiting scroll;
an orbiting scroll hydrodynamic thrust bearing associated with the first orbiting scroll; and an orbiting scroll hydrostatic thrust bearing associated with the second orbiting scroll; wherein the compressor crankshaft further comprises a lubricating fluid gallery extending axially through the crankshaft between the first orbiting scroll and the second orbiting scroll such that lubricating fluid is supplied to the second radial orbital bearing via the one or more oil passages in the first orbiting scroll baseplate and the lubricating fluid gallery.

4 . The scroll compressor orbiting scroll bearing lubrication system according to claim 3 , further comprising a clearance volume between the first end of the crankshaft and a hub bore associated with the first orbiting scroll, wherein the clearance volume stores lubricating fluid from the lubricating fluid sump such that the lubricating fluid supplied to the second radial orbital bearing is further supplied via the clearance volume.

5 . The scroll compressor orbiting scroll bearing lubrication system according to claim 3 , wherein the stored lubricating fluid is pressurized at or above about 200 psid relative to the scroll compressor suction pressure.

6 . The scroll compressor orbiting scroll bearing lubrication system according to claim 3 , wherein lubricating fluid is supplied to the first radial orbital bearing at or about 70 psid relative to the scroll compressor suction pressure.

7 . A scroll compressor orbiting scroll bearing lubrication system, comprising:
a scroll compressor crankshaft comprising a lubricating fluid gallery extending therethrough: a first stage orbiting scroll driven via a first end of the scroll compressor crankshaft rotatably disposed at least partially within a first orbiting scroll radial bearing; a second stage orbiting scroll driven via a second end of the scroll compressor crankshaft rotatably disposed at least partially within a second orbiting scroll radial bearing; an orbiting scroll hydrodynamic thrust bearing associated with the first stage orbiting scroll; and an orbiting scroll hydrostatic thrust bearing associated with the second stage orbiting scroll; wherein lubricating fluid is supplied to the second orbiting scroll radial bearing via the lubricating fluid gallery.

8 . The scroll compressor orbiting scroll bearing lubrication system according to claim 7 , further comprising a lubricating fluid sump storing a lubricating fluid pressurized substantially higher than the scroll compressor suction pressure, and configured to supply the lubricating fluid to one or more of the first orbiting scroll thrust bearing, the first orbiting scroll radial bearing, and the second orbiting scroll radial bearing.

9 . The scroll compressor orbiting scroll bearing lubrication system according to claim 7 , wherein the first stage orbiting scroll comprises baseplate and a spiral wrap element extending from the baseplate, and further comprises one or more oil passages extending through the baseplate, such that lubricating fluid is supplied to the first orbiting scroll radial bearing via the one or more oil passages.

10 . The scroll compressor orbiting scroll bearing lubrication system according to claim 9 , wherein lubricating fluid is further supplied to the second orbiting scroll radial bearing via the one or more oil passages.

11 . The scroll compressor orbiting scroll bearing lubrication system according to claim 8 , further comprising a clearance volume between the first end of the crankshaft and a hub bore associated with the first orbiting scroll, wherein the clearance volume stores lubricating fluid from the lubricating fluid sump such that the lubricating fluid supplied to the second orbiting scroll radial bearing is further supplied via the clearance volume.

12 . The scroll compressor orbiting scroll bearing lubrication system according to claim 7 , wherein lubricating fluid is supplied to the first orbiting scroll radial bearing at or about 70 psid relative to the scroll compressor suction pressure.

13 . The scroll compressor orbiting scroll bearing lubrication system according to claim 8 , wherein the stored lubricating fluid is pressurized at or above about 200 psid relative to the scroll compressor suction pressure.

14 . The scroll compressor orbiting scroll bearing lubrication system according to claim 8 , further comprising an oil passage to supply lubricating fluid to the orbiting scroll hydrostatic thrust bearing associated with the second stage orbiting scroll at a pressure different than a pressure of the lubricating fluid supplied to one or more of the first orbiting scroll thrust bearing, the first orbiting scroll radial bearing, and the second orbiting scroll radial bearing.

15 - 22 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Trane Int Inc

Inventors

• Rood Jerry Allen
• Smerud Scott Joseph
• Novak Keith Adam
• Heger Joseph M
• Lepak Derrick
• Benco Michael Gerard

Classifications

• F04C29/02 Primary

  Lubrication (of machines or engines in general F01M); Lubricant separation (separation in general B01D) · CPC title

• F04C2240/809

  Lubricant sump · CPC title

• F04C18/0215 Primary

  where only one member is moving · CPC title

• F04C29/0057

  for eccentric movement · CPC title

• F04C2240/50

  Bearings · CPC title