Abstract: A compressor is powered by a motor which is, in turn, powered by a variable speed drive (VSD). The voltage/frequency relationship of the VSD may be adjusted dynamically to maximize efficiency or permit performance within a compressor performance envelope otherwise unavailable in view of the VSD and motor.

Abstract: To counter downstream oil infiltration through a shaft seal, a small portion of the compressed fluid is diverted from downstream to upstream through a passageway in a rotor. The diverted fluid is introduced to a space at a downstream side of the seal. An exemplary implementation is in a compressor having a central male rotor intermeshed with a pair of female rotors. The seal is located at an upstream (inlet) end of the lobed working portion of the male rotor.

Abstract: A compressor for compressing refrigerant in an air conditioning or refrigeration system, including a housing having a suction port, a discharge port, and a compression chamber, a mechanism for producing a compression cycle for compressing the refrigerant, wherein the compression cycle occurs in the suction port, discharge port and compression chamber, and a mechanism for providing liquid refrigerant into the compression cycle at a desired location for reducing pressure pulsations and associated radiated noise produced during the compression cycle.

Abstract: To counter downstream oil infiltration through a shaft seal, a small portion of the compressed fluid is diverted from downstream to upstream through a passageway in a rotor. The diverted fluid is introduced to a space at a downstream side of the seal. An exemplary implementation is in a compressor having a central male rotor intermeshed with a pair of female rotors. The seal is located at an upstream (inlet) end of the lobed working portion of the male rotor.

Abstract: A screw compressor includes at least two components defining at least two operating zones of different pressure and having surfaces defining a flow point between the at least two zones, and a surface treatment positioned on the surfaces so as to reduce clearance between the surfaces, and thereby reduce leakage through the flow point.

Abstract: A method for coating surfaces of a screw machine. The method includes the steps of providing at least one of a plurality of screw machine components including a rotor housing having at least a pair of parallel, overlapping bores; at least a conjugate pair of intermeshing rotors located in the bores, wherein each of the rotors has helical lobes having radially outward tip portions and intervening radially inward root portions; rough coating a surface of at least one of the plurality of components with a conformable coating, wherein the coating is substantially unevenly applied to the surface and has variable thickness over said surface; and leveling the conformable coating to a substantially uniform thickness prior to final assembly of the plurality of components, the substantially uniform thickness selected to ease assembly of the components, while maintaining coating performance criteria.

Abstract: A compressor for compressing refrigerant in an air conditioning or refrigeration system, including a housing having a suction port, a discharge port, and a compression chamber, a mechanism for producing a compression cycle for compressing the refrigerant, wherein the compression cycle occurs in the suction port, discharge port and compression chamber, and a mechanism for providing liquid refrigerant into the compression cycle at a desired location for reducing pressure pulsations and associated radiated noise produced during the compression cycle.

Abstract: A screw compressor includes at least two components defining at least two operating zones of different pressure and having surfaces defining a flow point between the at least two zones, and a surface treatment positioned on the surfaces so as to reduce clearance between the surfaces, and thereby reduce leakage through the flow point

Abstract: A fluid compressor includes a compressor inlet for receiving a medium, a compressor for compressing the medium, a compressor outlet for discharging the compressed medium and a compressor muffler. The compressor muffler includes a housing defining an inner space, an inlet for receiving a compressed medium, a muffling structure located in the inner space, wherein the muffling structure has a plurality of chambers for receiving the compressed medium from the inlet, an outlet for discharging the compressed medium and a flow path located in the inner space; The flow path communicates the inlet with the muffling structure and the muffling structure with the outlet; A method for reducing any noise-generating frequencies present in a compressed medium is additionally presented.

Abstract: A portion of the condensed liquid in a condenser is diverted to a generator where it supplies heat to boil off refrigerant from a refrigerant oil mixture and is thereby subcooled. The subcooled liquid is supplied to the motor for cooling. The boiling off of refrigerant in the generator results in an “oil rich” liquid which is supplied to the bearings, etc. for lubrication. One, or more, jet or ejector pumps are preferably used to supply the oil rich liquid to the lubrication distribution system.

Abstract: The end ring(s) and counterweight(s) attached to the rotor of a hermetic compressor are located within a cover which isolates them from the interior of the compressor. The cover may be fixed or it may rotate as a unit with the rotor, end ring and counterweight. In each embodiment the asymmetric counterweight is prevented from acting as a fan with respect to the interior of the shell and is thereby prevented from producing a pressure gradient tending to act on the sump and cause a higher oil circulation rate to the refrigeration system.

Abstract: In a high side rotary compressor, interior shell pressure is used to force lubricant from the sump into the compression chamber. The lubricant is delivered only after the suction port has closed and before chamber pressure exceeds shell pressure.

Abstract: In a horizontal rotary compressor the gas passes from the discharge chamber and enters the eccentric shaft bore by passing through an annular space defined between the inlet of the eccentric shaft bore and the discharge end of the oil pickup tube. As a result, a jet pump is created delivering oil from the sump to the axial bore of eccentric shaft bore. Because the eccentric shaft is rotating, oil tends to collect on the walls of the bore and feeds radial lubrication passages which act as centrifugal pumps with the shaft rotating. The discharge flow passing through the eccentric shaft bore impinges upon the shell cover thereby diverting 180.degree. and passes through the annular space between the rotor and stator before being discharged from the compressor.

Abstract: In a horizontal rotary compressor the gas path from the muffler is between the rotor and stator whereupon the flow direction is changed 180.degree. and the flow takes place between the stator and the upper shell. Oil drainage to the sump is in a flow path between the stator and the lower shell. The gas and oil paths serve to cool the rotor and the stator windings. Also, the gas flow reduces oil circulation from the compressor.

Abstract: A scroll compressor has a pair of mating scrolls that are disposed on parallel, eccentric axes, and each of these scrolls has a scroll plate and a spiral, involute wrap. The scrolls are driven so that one of them orbits about the axis of the other scroll while maintaining a fixed azimuthal relationship to it. The orbital motion causes a compressible fluid to enter at the periphery of the scrolls, and be carried and compressed by pockets formed between the mating wraps of these scrolls. The compressed gas is discharged out a discharge port at the center of one of the scrolls. The discharge port is bored diagonally into the scroll plate of the one scroll so that it has an elongated elliptical aperture at the center of the scroll plate. The port is machined into the scroll from the wrap side of the scroll. The enlarged size of the port aperture reduces the resistance to fluid flow and hence reduces the back pressure, thereby increasing the compressor efficiency.

Abstract: A high side hermetic scroll compressor passes the discharge gas along the interior of the shell and is thereby cooled prior to being subjected to a centrifugal separation to remove the oil before being discharged from the compressor. The separated oil is returned to the sump via a fluid path isolated from the discharge gas.

Abstract: A scroll compressor can be provided with different wrap thicknesses to compensate for the different material properties of the orbiting and fixed scroll elements. The concept of different wrap thicknesses also aids in the select-fitting of parts and in the provision of and adjustment of a clearance or spacing between the wrap elements. Additionally, in the manufacture of a scroll compressor, the total wrap thickness of the two wraps is kept constant within narrow tolerances while the individual wrap thicknesses are allowed to vary over a predetermined range. The cutting tools used are sized such that even if they differ in their cutting diameters, the combined cutting diameters, and therefore the total wrap thicknesses, are constant within narrow tolerances. This permits the tools to be used and resharpened until their cutting diameters fall below the minimum acceptable diameter.

Abstract: An orientation insensitive scroll compressor is assembled by assembling the internal compressor as on an assembly which is inserted into a middle shell. The tubes are inserted and then the top and bottom shells are partially inserted into the middle shell and secured in place.

Abstract: A scroll compressor is run with a clearance between the wraps and oil is injected between the wraps for sealing. In addition to providing a sealing function, the oil also provides a lubrication function prior to injection.

Abstract: Lubrication oil is supplied to provide a thrust force tending to keep the fixed and orbiting scroll means together in opposition to the forces acting thereon due to compressing gas between the wraps.