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-9598960-B2
Application number	US-201414448132-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 31, 2014
Priority date	Jul 31, 2013
Publication date	Mar 21, 2017
Grant date	Mar 21, 2017

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;
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, the baseplate having a spiral wrap element extending from a first side of the baseplate and having a sleeve extending from a second side of the baseplate opposite to the first side, the sleeve defining a cavity, 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 baseplate;
wherein the one or more oil passages include at least one first oil passage that extends through the baseplate to the second side of the baseplate to feed lubricating fluid into the cavity defined by the sleeve of the baseplate to lubricate the first radial orbital bearing; and
the one or more oil passages include at least one second oil passage that extends through the baseplate to the second side of the baseplate and opens to a location outside of the cavity defined by the sleeve so as to feed lubricating fluid to the second side of the baseplate to lubricate the orbiting scroll hydrodynamic thrust bearing.

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 one or more oil supply passages of the bearing housing and from the one or more oil passages in the baseplate.

3. A scroll compressor orbiting scroll bearing lubrication system, comprising:
a lubricating fluid sump;
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 200 psid relative to a suction pressure of the scroll compressor.

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 70 psid relative to a suction pressure of the scroll compressor.

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 the first stage orbiting scroll comprises a 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, and
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 configured to supply lubricating fluid to one or more of the orbiting scroll hydrodynamic thrust bearing associated with the first stage orbiting scroll, 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 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.

10. The scroll compressor orbiting scroll bearing lubrication system according to claim 8 , wherein the stored lubricating fluid is pressurized at 200 psid relative to a suction pressure of the scroll compressor.

11. 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 orbiting scroll hydrodynamic thrust bearing associated with the first stage orbiting scroll, the first orbiting scroll radial bearing, and the second orbiting scroll radial bearing.

12. The scroll compressor orbiting scroll bearing lubrication system according to claim 7 , wherein lubricating fluid is further supplied to the second orbiting scroll radial bearing via the one or more oil passages.

13. 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 no more than 70 psid relative to a suction pressure of the scroll c

Assignees

• Trane Int Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• F04C2240/51

  for cantilever assemblies · CPC title

• F04C23/008

  Hermetic pumps · CPC title

• F04C29/021

  Control systems for the circulation of the lubricant · CPC title

• F04C29/023

  Lubricant distribution through a hollow driving shaft (F04C29/025 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F04C23/001

  of similar working principle · CPC title