Scroll compressor having function of preventing outflow of lubrication oil

Abstract

A scroll compressor having a function of preventing an outflow of lubrication oil comprises: a lubrication oil separating net installed at an upper surface of a fixed scroll; a lubrication oil separating plate installed at an upper portion of the lubrication oil separating net; and a refrigerant gas guide member installed outside the lubrication oil separating plate at a certain distance. Accordingly, lubrication oil is effectively prevented from flowing out of the casing through the discharge pipe together with a refrigerant gas when a refrigerant gas is discharged. Thus, the lubrication oil always remains in the casing, thereby reducing abrasion of each component. Thus, performance of each component can be improved, and thus compression performance of the compressor can be improved too.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a scroll compressor having a function of preventing an outflow of lubrication oil, and particularly, to a scroll compressor having a function of preventing an outflow of lubrication oil capable of preventing lubrication oil from flowing out together with a refrigerant when the refrigerant in a casing is discharged to a discharge pipe.

2. Description of the Background Art

In general, a scroll compressor is a high efficiency low noise compressor which is widely applied in the field of air conditioners, and has a structure that a refrigerant gas is successively compressed and discharged by continuously moving a plurality of compression chambers formed between a fixed scroll and an orbiting scroll toward the center portion of the orbiting scroll during the relative orbital movement of the fixed scroll and the orbiting scroll.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional scroll compressor.

As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional scroll compressor 1 includes: a casing 11 forming a hermetic receiving space therein; a compression part 41 received in the casing 11, for compressing a refrigerant gas; and a motor part 31 installed in the casing 11, for supplying a driving force to the compression part 41.

A suction pipe 13 for suction of a refrigerant gas is formed at one side of the casing 11, and a discharge pipe 15 for discharge of a refrigerant gas is formed at its other side.

An upper frame 21 and a lower frame 30 are separately installed at upper and lower portions of the casing 11 so as to support the compression part 41 and the motor part 31.

The motor part 31 is provided with a stator 33 installed in the casing 11; and a rotor 35 rotatably received/installed, centering around a rotary shaft 36 vertically disposed in the stator 33.

An eccentric portion 37 is formed at an upper portion of the rotary shaft 36, and a lubrication oil supply path 38 for supplying lubrication oil 18 received in a lubrication oil storing portion 17, a lower portion inside the casing 11, to the compression part 41 is formed inside the rotary shaft 36.

A lubrication oil supply part 39 is formed at a lower portion of the rotary shaft 36 so that the lubrication oil 18 stored in the lubrication oil storing portion 17 can be supplied to the compression part 41 along the lubrication oil supply path 38 during the rotation of the rotary shaft.

The compression part 41 includes a fixed scroll 43 having a wrap 44 of an involute shape and coupled to an upper side of the upper frame 21, and an orbiting scroll 53 having a wrap 54 of an involute shape, forming a compression space of a refrigerant gas by being interlocked with the fixed scroll 43, coupled with the eccentric part 37 and orbiting relative to the fixed scroll 43. A discharge hole 45 for discharging the compressed refrigerant gas is formed at the center portion of an upper surface of the fixed scroll 43.

The operation of the conventional scroll compressor having such a structure will now be described.

When power is applied to the motor part 31 and the rotor 35 rotates about the rotary shaft 36, the orbiting scroll 53 coupled to the eccentric portion 37 orbits with respect to the fixed scroll 43. At this time, the refrigerant gas sucked through the suction pipe 13 moves toward the central portion of the fixed scroll 43, thereby being compressed. The compressed refrigerant gas is discharged through the discharge hole 45, and then discharged outside the casing through the discharge pipe 15.

After circulating according to a freezing cycle, the refrigerant gas having been discharged to the outside of the casing 11 flows into the casing 11 again through the suction pipe 13. Such processes are repeated.

However, in the conventional scroll compressor having such construction, during the rotation of the rotary shaft 36, the lubrication oil 18 having been supplied to the compression part 41 along the lubrication oil supply path 38 is excessively discharged outside the casing 11 through the discharge pipe 15 together with the refrigerant gas compressed by the fixed scroll 43 and the orbiting scroll 53. Therefore, the lubrication oil filled to prevent abrasion of each component cannot be maintained in the necessary amount but becomes in short supply, which causes each component to be subject to abrasion and thus brings about deterioration of the performance of each part. As a result, the compression performance of the compressor is degraded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a scroll compressor having a function of preventing an outflow of lubrication oil capable of improving compression performance of a compressor by reducing the occurrence of abrasion of each component by leaving the proper amount of lubrication oil in a casing all the time by efficiently preventing lubrication oil from flowing out together with a refrigerant gas when the refrigerant gas in the casing is discharged to a discharge pipe.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a scroll compressor having a function of preventing an outflow of lubrication oil comprising: a casing forming a receiving space therein; a fixed scroll having a wrap of an involute shape and a discharge hole for discharging a compressed refrigerant gas, and disposed inside the casing; an orbiting scroll having a wrap of an involute shape and orbiting relatively to the fixed scroll by being interlocked with the fixed scroll; and a lubrication oil separating part disposed around the discharge hole, for separating lubrication oil from a refrigerant gas discharged through the discharge hole.

The lubrication oil separating part comprises: a lubrication oil separating net having a netlike body and installed at an upper surface of the fixed scroll at which the discharge hole is formed; a lubrication oil separating plate installed at an upper portion of the lubrication oil separating net; and a refrigerant gas guide member installed outside the lubrication oil separating plate at a certain distance.

An inclined surface is formed at an upper surface of the fixed scroll inside the lubrication oil separating net in order to gather the lubrication oil separated by the lubrication oil separating net.

A lubrication oil return path is penetratingly formed at the fixed scroll so as to guide the lubrication oil flowing along the inclined surface.

The lubrication oil return path communicates with an oil discharge hole formed at a thrust bearing of an upper frame.

A lubrication oil guide is formed under the upper frame so as to guide the lubrication oil introduced from the lubrication oil return path to a lower portion of the casing.

The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a unit of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional scroll compressor;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a scroll compressor having a function of preventing an outflow of lubrication oil in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a main part of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a scroll compressor having a function of preventing an outflow of lubrication oil in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view having a function of preventing an outflow of lubrication oil in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a main part of FIG. 2.

As shown, the scroll compressor 100 having a function of preventing an outflow of lubrication oil in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention includes: a casing 111 forming a receiving space therein; a fixed scroll 143 having a wrap 144 of an involute shape and a discharge hole 145 for discharging a compressed refrigerant gas, and disposed in the casing 111; an orbiting scroll 153 having a wrap 154 of an involute shape, orbiting relative to the fixed scroll 143 by being interlocked with the fixed scroll 143, and compressing a refrigerant gas; and a lubrication oil separating part 161 disposed around the discharge hole 145 so as to separate only the lubrication oil from a refrigerant gas discharged through the discharge hole 145 of the casing 111.

The casing 111 has a hermetic receiving space therein, a suction pipe 113 for suction of a refrigerant gas is installed at one side of the casing 111, and a discharge pipe 115 for discharge of the refrigerant gas is installed at its other side.

Inside the casing 111, a compression part 141 for compressing a refrigerant gas and a motor part 131 for providing a driving force to the compression part 141 are provided. Also, an upper frame 121 and a lower frame 130 are installed at upper and lower portions in the casing 111 so as to support the compression part 141 and the motor part 131.

The motor part 131 comprises: a stator 133 disposed in the casing 111; and a rotor 135 rotating about a rotary shaft 136 in the stator 133.

An eccentric portion 137 is formed at an upper end of the rotary shaft 136 so that the orbiting scroll 153 can be eccentrically driven. A lubrication oil supply path 138 is formed inside the rotary shaft 136 in order to supply the lubrication oil 118 received in a lower portion of the casing 111 toward the compression part 141. A lubrication oil supply part 139 which can supply the lubrication oil 118 toward the compression part 141 during the rotation of the rotary shaft is provided at a lower portion of the rotary shaft 136.

The compression part 141 includes; a fixed scroll 143 having a wrap 144 of an involute shape and coupled to an upper side of the upper frame 121; and an orbiting scroll 153 having a wrap 154 of an involute shape, forming a compression space of a refrigerant gas by being interlocked with the fixed scroll 143, and coupled to the eccentric portion 137 so as to eccentrically move with respect to the fixed scroll 143.

A lower portion of the orbiting scroll 153 is in contact with a thrust bearing 123 of the upper frame 121, and the orbiting scroll 153 can orbit relative to the upperframe 121.

An oil discharge hole 125 is formed at one side of the thrust bearing 123 in a horizontal direction so as to discharge the lubrication oil 118 having moved upwardly along the lubrication oil supply path 138.

A lubrication oil return path 127 is formed between the fixed scroll 143 and the casing 111, between the upper frame 121 and the casing 111 and between the stator 133 and the casing 111, and the oil discharge hole 125 communicates with the lubrication oil return path 127.

Also, a discharge hole 145 is formed at an upper portion of the center of the fixed scroll 143 so that a compressed refrigerant gas can be discharged therethrough. A lubrication oil separating part 161 is provided around the discharge hole 145 in order to separate the lubrication oil 118 discharged together with the refrigerant gas.

The lubrication oil separating part 161 comprises: a lubrication oil separating plate 163 formed of a plate-shaped member and disposed to be distanced from the discharge hole 145 at a predetermined distance along a direction that a refrigerant gas is discharged; and a lubrication oil separating net 165 formed as a cylindrical netlike body having predetermined meshes. Here, the size of the mesh of the lubrication oil separating net 165 is small enough to prevent the passing of the lubrication oil but big enough to allow the passing of the refrigerant gas.

An inclined surface 147 is formed on an upper surface of the fixed scroll 143 in order to gather the lubrication oil 118 separated from the refrigerant gas by the lubrication oil separating part 161. Accordingly, the lubrication oil 118 gathered by the lubrication oil separating part 161 is introduced into the lubrication oil return path 149 and 127 via the inclined surface 147 and then is supplied to the lubrication oil storing portion 117.

In the compressor 100 having a function of preventing an outflow of lubrication oil in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention having such a structure, when power is applied to the motor part 131 and the rotor 135 rotates, the orbiting scroll 153 makes an eccentric movement with respect to the fixed scroll 143. And the refrigerant gas sucked through the suction pipe 113 is compressed by moving toward the center of the fixed scroll 143, and then is discharged through the discharge hole 145. The refrigerant gas discharged in such a manner is discharged outside the casing 111 through the discharge pipe 115. At this time, the lubrication oil having been discharged through the discharge hole together with the refrigerant gas is gathered in the lubrication oil separating part 161 by the lubrication oil separating net 165, and the gathered lubricating oil 118 flows along the inclined surface 147 and is supplied to the lubrication oil storing portion 117 along the lubrication oil return path 149 and 127.

At the same time, the gaseous refrigerant gas from which the lubricating oil 118 has been separated passes through the lubrication oil separating net 165, is discharged outside the casing 111 through the discharge pipe 115, and is circulated according to a freezing cycle.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a scroll compressor having a function of preventing an outflow of lubricating oil in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

As shown, the scroll compressor 200 having a function of preventing an outflow of lubrication oil in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention includes: a casing 211 forming a receiving space therein; a fixed scroll 243 having a wrap 244 of an involute shape and a discharge hole 245 for discharging a compressed fluid, and disposed in the casing 211; an orbiting scroll 253 having a wrap 254 of an involute shape and orbiting relative to the fixed scroll 243 by being interlocked with the fixed scroll 243; and a lubrication oil separating part 261 disposed around the discharge hole 245 so as to separate only lubrication oil 218 from a refrigerant gas discharged through the discharge hole 245.

A discharge hole 245 is formed at an upper portion of the center of the fixed scroll 243 so that a compressed refrigerant gas can be discharged. And a lubrication oil separating part 261 is formed around the discharge hole 245 so as to separate the lubrication oil 218 discharged together with the refrigerant gas.

The lubrication oil separating part 261 includes: a lubrication oil separating plate 263 disposed to be distanced from the discharge hole 245 at a predetermined distance along a direction that a refrigerant gas is discharged; a lubrication oil separating net 265 formed as a netlike body with predetermined meshes; and a refrigerant gas guide member 273 disposed outside the lubrication oil separating plate 263. The center of the refrigerant gas guide member 273 is open, and its lower end is fixed to an upper surface of the fixed scroll 243.

An oil discharge hole 225 is formed at one side of the thrust bearing 223 in order to discharge the lubrication oil 218 which has moved upwardly along a lubrication oil supply path 238.

The lubrication oil return path 227 is formed between the fixed scroll 243 and the casing 211, between the upper frame 221 and the casing 211 and the stator 233 and the casing 211. The oil discharge hole 225 communicates with the lubrication oil return path 227.

An inclined surface 247 is formed on an upper surface of the fixed scroll 243 in order to gather lubrication oil 218 separated from a refrigerant gas by the lubrication oil separating part 261. Accordingly, the lubrication oil 218 gathered by the lubrication oil separating part 261 is introduced into the lubrication oil return path 249 and 227 via the inclined surface 247 and then is supplied to the lubrication oil storing portion 217.

A lubrication oil guide 275 is installed between the upper frame 221 and the lubrication oil storing portion 217, and guides the lubrication oil 218 which is supplied toward the lubrication oil storing portion 217 along the lubrication oil return path 227 so that the lubrication oil 218 supplied toward the lubrication oil storing portion 217 is not mixed with a refrigerant gas.

In the compressor 200 having a function of preventing an outflow of lubrication oil in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention having such a structure, when power is applied to the motor part 231 and the rotor 235 rotates, the orbiting scroll 253 orbits with respect to the fixed scroll 243, thereby compressing a refrigerant gas. The compressed refrigerant gas is discharged through the discharge hole 245 and then is discharged outside the casing 211 through the discharge pipe 215.

The lubrication oil 218 having been discharged through the discharge hole 245 together with the refrigerant gas is gathered in the lubrication oil separating part 261 by the lubrication oil separating net 265. The gathered lubrication oil 218 flows along the inclined surface 247 and introduced into the lubrication oil return path 227. The introduced lubrication oil 218 is guided by the lubrication oil guide 275 and thus is supplied to the lubrication oil storing portion 217.

At the same time, the gaseous refrigerant gas from which the lubrication oil 218 has been separated by the lubrication oil separating part 261 passes through the lubrication oil separating net 265, and is guided by the refrigerant gas guide member 273 to thereby be discharged outside the casing 211 through the discharge pipe 215. The refrigerant gas discharged in such a manner is circulated according to a freezing cycle.

As so far described, the present invention can effectively prevent lubrication oil from flowing out of the casing through the discharge pipe together with a refrigerant gas when a refrigerant gas is discharged. Thus, the lubrication oil always remains in the casing, thereby reducing abrasion of each component. Accordingly, performance of each component can be improved, and thus compression performance of the compressor can be improved too.

As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalence of such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A scroll compressor having a function of preventing an outflow of lubrication oil comprising:

a casing forming a receiving space therein;

a fixed scroll having a wrap of an involute shape and a discharge hole for discharging a compressed refrigerant gas, and disposed inside the casing;

an orbiting scroll having a wrap of an involute shape and orbiting relative to the fixed scroll by being interlocked with the fixed scroll; and

a lubrication oil separating part disposed around the discharge hole, for separating lubrication oil from a refrigerant gas discharged through the discharge hole.

2. The scroll compressor of claim 1, wherein the lubrication oil separating part comprises:

a lubrication oil separating net having a netlike body and installed at an upper surface of the fixed scroll at which the discharge hole is formed; and

a lubrication oil separating plate installed at an upper portion of the lubrication oil separating net.

3. The scroll compressor of claim 2, wherein a refrigerant gas guide member is installed outside the lubrication oil separating plate at a certain distance.

4. The scroll compressor of claim 1, wherein the lubrication oil separating part comprises:

a lubrication oil separating net having a mesh structure and disposed to encompass the discharge hole.

5. The scroll compressor of claim 2, wherein an inclined surface is formed at an upper surface of the fixed scroll inside the lubrication oil separating net in order to gather the lubrication oil separated by the lubrication oil separating net.

6. The scroll compressor of claim 5, wherein a lubrication oil return path is penetratingly formed at the fixed scroll so as to guide the lubrication oil flowing along the inclined surface.

7. The scroll compressor of claim 6, wherein the lubrication oil return path communicates with an oil discharge hole formed at a thrust bearing of an upper frame.

8. The scroll compressor of claim 7, wherein a lubrication oil guide is installed under the upper frame so as to guide the lubrication oil introduced from the lubrication oil return path to a lower portion of the casing.

9. A scroll compressor having a function of preventing an outflow of lubrication oil comprising:

a lubrication oil separating net installed at an upper surface of a fixed scroll;

a lubrication oil separating plate installed at an upper portion of the lubrication oil separating net; and

a refrigerant gas guide member installed outside the lubrication oil separating plate at a certain distance.

10. The scroll compressor of claim 9, wherein an inclined surface is formed at an upper surface of the fixed scroll inside the lubrication oil separating net in order to gather the lubrication oil separated by the lubrication oil separating net.

11. The scroll compressor of claim 10, wherein a lubrication oil return path is penetratingly formed at the fixed scroll so as to guide the lubrication oil flowing along the inclined surface.

12. The scroll compressor of claim 11, wherein the lubrication oil return path communicates with an oil discharge hole formed at a thrust bearing of an upper frame.

13. The scroll compressor of claim 12, wherein a lubrication oil guide is formed under the upper frame so as to guide the lubrication oil introduced from the lubrication oil return path to a lower portion of the casing.