SCROLL COMPRESSOR

A collar of a fixed scroll includes a gasket contact surface with which a gasket comes into contact, and a metal contact surface that causes the collar and a compression housing to be in contact and receives the axial force of bolts. The collar has a protruding portion that protrudes in the axial direction relative to the gasket contact surface, and the metal contact surface is disposed on the protruding portion.

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Description
TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a scroll compressor.

BACKGROUND ART

An outline of a scroll compressor disclosed in Patent Literature 1 is formed by connecting a rear housing, a front housing, and a motor housing with bolts. A fixed scroll including a plate and a spiral portion is formed integrally with the rear housing.

A movable scroll serving as an orbiting scroll including a plate and a spiral portion is accommodated in a space surrounded by the rear housing and the front housing. The spiral portion of the movable scroll is meshed with the spiral portion of the fixed scroll. A clearance is formed between a distal end surface of the spiral portion of the movable scroll and the plate of the fixed scroll, and a clearance is formed between a distal end surface of the spiral portion of the fixed scroll and the plate of the movable scroll. That is, the scroll compressor has a clearance between the fixed scroll and the movable scroll.

A gasket seal is interposed between joint surfaces of the rear housing and the front housing. The gasket seal is formed of an iron plate corresponding to a shape of the joint surfaces. A continuous protrusion is provided on a seal surface of the gasket seal. A plurality of holes into which bolts for connecting the rear housing, the front housing, and the motor housing are inserted, respectively, are formed at four corners of the gasket seal.

At a time of assembling of the scroll compressor, the gasket seal is inserted between the joint surfaces of the rear housing and the front housing, and then tightened with the plurality of bolts. Such tightening holds a crimping force while the protrusion is deformed to some extent, so that a sufficient sealing effect is exerted.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

  • Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-202074

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

However, when a tightening force with the bolts varies, a clearance between the fixed scroll and the orbiting scroll varies to cause variations in a performance of the scroll compressor.

Solution to Problem

A scroll compressor for solving the above-described problems includes: a rotary shaft; a fixed scroll; an orbiting scroll revolving relative to the fixed scroll; a compression housing accommodating the fixed scroll and the orbiting scroll; a discharge housing disposed at a position opposite to the compression housing such that a collar of the fixed scroll is sandwiched by the discharge housing and the compression housing; a gasket sandwiched by the collar and the compression housing to seal a gap between the collar and the compression housing; and a plurality of bolts fixing the compression housing, the fixed scroll, and the discharge housing in an axial direction of the rotary shaft. Each of the collar and the compression housing includes a gasket contact surface with which the gasket is in contact, and a metal contact surface on which the collar and the compression housing are in contact with each other to receive an axial force of each of the bolts. At least one of the collar and the compression housing includes a protruding portion protruding in the axial direction relative to the gasket contact surface. The metal contact surface is disposed on the protruding portion.

Thus, the fixed scroll and the compression housing are fixed to each other in a state of approaching each other, due to the tightening with the plurality of bolts. The gasket disposed between the gasket contact surface of the collar and the gasket contact surface of the compression housing is deformed to some extent while being in contact with both the gasket contact surfaces.

The gasket contact surface of the collar and the gasket contact surface of the compression housing are spaced from each other in the axial direction by the protruding portion protruding from at least one of the gasket contact surfaces. Since the protruding portion protrudes from the gasket contact surface by a constant amount of protrusion, a distance between the gasket contact surfaces is constant. Then, the metal contact surface receives the axial force of each of the bolts, so that the distance between the gasket contact surfaces is kept constant even when the axial force varies. As a result, a clearance between the fixed scroll and the orbiting scroll is kept constant. Thus, variations in a performance of the scroll compressor can be suppressed.

In the scroll compressor, each of the compression housing, the fixed scroll, and the discharge housing may include a plurality of bolt insertion holes through which the plurality of bolts are inserted, respectively. Each of the bolt insertion holes may be opened in the metal contact surface of the protruding portion.

Thus, the metal contact surface of the protruding portion can be formed around the bolt insertion holes, respectively. The bolt insertion holes are portions required when the compression housing, the fixed scroll, and the discharge housing are fixed to each other with the bolts, and each have an existing structure in the scroll compressor. Since the protruding portion and the metal contact surface are provided utilizing such an existing structure, variations in the performance of the scroll compressor are suppressed while suppressing an increase in a size of the scroll compressor.

In the scroll compressor, the bolt insertion holes may be disposed outside an outer circumferential edge of the gasket.

Thus, airtightness of the bolt insertion holes need not be ensured, so that the number of components of the scroll compressor does not increase.

The scroll compressor may include a discharge gasket sandwiched between the fixed scroll and the discharge housing to seal a gap between the fixed scroll and the discharge housing. Each of the fixed scroll and the discharge housing may include a discharge gasket contact surface with which the discharge gasket is in contact. The fixed scroll may include a discharge protruding portion protruding toward the discharge housing in the axial direction relative to the discharge gasket contact surface, and a discharge metal contact surface on which the discharge protruding portion is in contact with the discharge housing to receive an axial force of each of the bolts may be disposed in the discharge protruding portion.

Accordingly, since the discharge housing is fixed with the bolts, the axial force of the bolts is also applied to the discharge housing. At this time, since the discharge metal contact surface receives the axial force of the bolts, deformation of the discharge housing due to the axial force of the bolts can be suppressed.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, variations in a performance of a scroll compressor can be suppressed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a scroll compressor according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a drawing of a collar and a gasket.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a part of the gasket.

FIG. 4 is a drawing of the collar and a discharge gasket.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the collar, the gasket, and a chamber forming peripheral wall.

FIG. 6(a) is a cross-sectional view of a state in which the gasket and the discharge gasket are sandwiched, and FIG. 6(b) is an enlarged view of the gasket and the discharge gasket.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a state before the gasket and the discharge gasket are sandwiched.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of another example.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of another example.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a scroll compressor according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 7. The scroll compressor of the present embodiment is used for a vehicle air conditioner, for example.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a scroll compressor 10 includes a housing 11 having a rectangular tubular shape, a rotary shaft 12 accommodated in the housing 11, an electric motor 20 that rotates the rotary shaft 12, and a compression mechanism 40 that is driven in response to the rotation of the rotary shaft 12.

The housing 11 includes a motor housing 13, a compression housing 15, a discharge housing 24, a collar 42a of a fixed scroll 41, and an inverter cover 36. The motor housing 13, the compression housing 15, the discharge housing 24, and the collar 42a of the fixed scroll 41 are fixed to each other with a plurality of bolts 38.

The scroll compressor 10 includes a gasket 35 sandwiched between the compression housing 15 and the collar 42a, and a discharge gasket 61 sandwiched between the discharge housing 24 and the collar 42a.

The motor housing 13 has an end wall 13a having a plate shape, a peripheral wall 13b extending in a rectangular tubular shape from an outer circumferential edge of the end wall 13a, a suction port 13c provided in the peripheral wall 13b, and a boss portion 13d provided on the end wall 13a. An axial direction of the peripheral wall 13b coincides with an axial direction of the rotary shaft 12.

The suction port 13c from which refrigerant as fluid is drawn into an inside of the housing 11 is provided. The suction port 13c is disposed in the peripheral wall 13b. The boss portion 13d cylindrically protrudes from an inner surface of the end wall 13a toward the inside of the housing 11. A distal end surface of the peripheral wall 13b is in contact with the compression housing 15. First bolt insertion holes 13e are provided at four corners of the peripheral wall 13b, respectively. Each of the first bolt insertion holes 13e is recessed from the distal end surface of the peripheral wall 13b. The first bolt insertion holes 13e of the motor housing 13 have internal threads, respectively.

The compression housing 15 is sandwiched between the distal end surface of the peripheral wall 13b and the collar 42a of the fixed scroll 41. The compression housing 15 includes a shaft support portion 16 having a cylindrical shape, a flange 17 extending in a radial direction from an outer peripheral surface of the shaft support portion 16, and a chamber forming peripheral wall 18 extending in a rectangular tubular shape from an outer circumferential edge of the flange 17.

The shaft support portion 16 has a small diameter hole 16a and a large diameter hole 16b whose diameter is larger than the small diameter hole 16a, in a central portion of the shaft support portion 16. The small diameter hole 16a is disposed closer to the end wall 13a than the large diameter hole 16b is.

The compression housing 15 has a facing surface 15a on an end surface of the shaft support portion 16 in which the large diameter hole 16b is opened. The compression housing 15 includes four anti-rotation pins 15b protruding from the facing surface 15a. The anti-rotation pins 15b are arranged around the large diameter hole 16b at regular intervals.

As indicated by two-dot chain lines in FIGS. 2 and 5, in the compression housing 15 as seen in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 12, an inner surface of the chamberforming peripheral wall 18 has a circular shape, and an outer surface of the chamber forming peripheral wall 18 has a rectangular shape. The gasket is sandwiched by a distal end surface 18a of the chamber forming peripheral wall 18 and a gasket contact surface 70 of the collar 42a. The gasket 35 is sandwiched by the collar 42a and the compression housing 15 to seal a gap between the collar 42a and the compression housing 15. Second bolt insertion holes 18b are formed at four corners of the chamber forming peripheral wall 18 and opened in the distal end surface 18a. The second bolt insertion holes 18b extend through the chamber forming peripheral wall 18.

The gasket 35 has an endless frame shape. The gasket 35 has a rectangular shape with four corners being recessed. The gasket 35 has a first bead 35a. The first bead 35a is a protrusion protruding from one surface toward the other surface of the gasket 35 in a thickness direction of the gasket 35. The first bead 35a is endless over the entire circumference of the gasket 35.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the gasket 35 has a second bead 35b. The second bead 35b has a cylindrical shape and protrudes from one surface toward the other surface of the gasket 35 in the thickness direction of the gasket 35. A protruding amount of the second bead 35b protruding from the one surface toward the other surface of the gasket 35 in the thickness direction of the gasket 35 is smaller than the protruding amount of the first bead 35a. FIG. 3 indicates auxiliary lines H for the purpose of clarity of the protruding amounts of the first bead 35a and the second bead 35b.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the motor housing 13 and the compression housing 15 define a motor chamber 23 inside the housing 11. Thus, the scroll compressor includes the motor chamber 23. The motor chamber 23 accommodates the electric motor 20. Refrigerant is drawn into the motor chamber 23 that is the inside of the housing 11, from an external refrigerant circuit (not illustrated) via the suction port 13c. Thus, the motor chamber 23 is a suction pressure area.

The electric motor 20 includes a stator 21 and a rotor 22 disposed inside the stator 21. The rotor 22 rotates integrally with the rotary shaft 12. The stator 21 surrounds the rotor 22.

A first end portion of the rotary shaft 12 in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 12 is inserted in the boss portion 13d. A bearing 14 is provided between an inner peripheral surface of the boss portion 13d and a peripheral surface of the first end portion of the rotary shaft 12. The first end portion of the rotary shaft 12 is supported in the motor housing 13 via the bearing 14.

A second end portion of the rotary shaft 12 is inserted into the small diameter hole 16a and the large diameter hole 16b. An end surface 12a of the second end portion of the rotary shaft 12 is positioned inside the shaft support portion 16. A bearing 19 is provided between a peripheral surface of the second end portion of the rotary shaft 12 and an inner peripheral surface of the compression housing 15 in the small diameter hole 16a. The rotary shaft 12 is rotationally supported in the compression housing 15 via the bearing 19.

The discharge housing 24 includes a chamber forming recess 25, an oil separation chamber 26, a discharge port 27, and a discharge hole 28.

As indicated by two-dot chain lines in FIGS. 4 and 5, in the discharge housing 24 as seen in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 12, an inner surface of the discharge housing 24 has a circular shape, and an outer surface of the discharge housing 24 has a rectangular shape. The discharge housing 24 has an end surface 24a close to the collar 42a. The discharge gasket 61 is sandwiched by the end surface 24a and a discharge gasket contact surface 74 of the collar 42a. The discharge gasket 61 is sandwiched between the fixed scroll 41 and the discharge housing 24 to seal a gap between the fixed scroll 41 and the discharge housing 24. Third bolt insertion holes 24b are formed at four corners of the discharge housing 24 and opened in the end surface 24a. The third bolt insertion holes 24b extend through the discharge housing 24.

The discharge gasket 61 has an endless frame shape. The discharge gasket 61 has a rectangular shape with four corners being recessed. The discharge gasket 61 has a first bead 61a. The first bead 61a is a protrusion protruding from one surface toward the other surface of the discharge gasket 61 in a thickness direction of the discharge gasket 61. The first bead 61a is endless over the entire circumference of the discharge gasket 61.

The discharge gasket 61 has a second bead 61b. The second bead 61b has a cylindrical shape and protrudes from one surface toward the other surface of the discharge gasket 61 in the thickness direction of the discharge gasket 61. A protruding amount of the second bead 61b protruding from the one surface toward the other surface of the discharge gasket 61 in the thickness direction of the discharge gasket 61 is smaller than the protruding amount of the first bead 61a.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the chamber forming recess 25 is recessed from the end surface 24a of the discharge housing 24. A discharge chamber 30 is defined in a space surrounded by the chamber forming recess 25 and a fixed plate 42. Thus, the scroll compressor 10 includes the discharge chamber 30.

The discharge port 27 is connected to an external refrigerant circuit (not illustrated). The oil separation chamber 26 is connected to the discharge port 27. An oil separator cylinder 31 is provided in the oil separation chamber 26. The discharge chamber 30 and the oil separation chamber 26 are connected to each other through the discharge hole 28.

The inverter cover 36 is attached to the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. An inverter device 37 is accommodated in a space defined by the inverter cover 36 and the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. The scroll compressor includes the inverter device 37. The inverter device 37 drives the electric motor 20.

The compression mechanism 40 accommodated in the compression housing 15 includes the fixed scroll 41 and an orbiting scroll 51 facing the fixed scroll 41. The fixed scroll 41 and the orbiting scroll 51 are disposed at a position opposite to the motor chamber 23 across the shaft support portion 16 of the compression housing 15.

The fixed scroll 41 includes a fixed plate 42 having the collar 42a, a fixed spiral wall 43 extending straight from the fixed plate 42, a fixed outer peripheral wall 44, and a discharge hole 45. Thus, the fixed scroll 41 includes the collar 42a.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the fixed plate 42 has a rectangular plate shape. The collar 42a corresponds to an outer peripheral portion of the fixed plate 42, closer to an outer periphery of the fixed plate 42 than the fixed spiral wall 43 and the fixed outer peripheral wall 44 are. In other words, the collar 42a corresponds to a part of the fixed plate 42 facing the distal end surface 18a of the chamber forming peripheral wall 18. Fourth bolt insertion holes 42b are formed at the four corners of the collar 42a, respectively. The fourth bolt insertion holes 42b extend through the collar 42a in the thickness direction of the collar 42a. The discharge hole 45 is disposed in a central portion of the fixed plate 42. The discharge hole 45 has a round hole shape. The discharge hole 45 extends through the fixed plate 42 in the thickness direction of the fixed plate 42. A discharge valve mechanism 45a that opens and closes the discharge hole 45 is attached to an end surface of the fixed plate 42 opposite to the orbiting scroll 51.

The collar 42a is sandwiched by the distal end surface 18a of the chamber forming peripheral wall 18 of the compression housing 15 and the end surface 24a of the discharge housing 24. Thus, the discharge housing 24 is disposed at a position opposite to the compression housing 15 such that the collar 42a of the fixed scroll 41 is sandwiched by the discharge housing 24 and the compression housing 15.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the bolts 38 are inserted into the third bolt insertion holes 24b of the discharge housing 24, the fourth bolt insertion holes 42b of the collar 42a, the second bolt insertion holes 18b of the chamber forming peripheral wall 18, and the first bolt insertion holes 13e of the peripheral wall 13b, respectively. The bolts 38 are screwed into the internal threads of the first bolt insertion holes 13e, respectively. As a result, the discharge housing 24, the discharge gasket 61, the fixed scroll 41, the gasket 35, the compression housing 15, and the motor housing 13 are in contact with and fixed to each other in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 12. Thus, the scroll compressor 10 includes the plurality of bolts 38 fixing the compression housing 15, the collar 42a, and the discharge housing 24 in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 12.

In the housing 11, an accommodation chamber S is defined between the fixed scroll 41, the shaft support portion 16 of the compression housing 15, and the chamber forming peripheral wall 18. The orbiting scroll 51 is turnably accommodated in the accommodation chamber S. Thus, the compression housing 15 accommodates the orbiting scroll 51 and the fixed scroll 41.

The fixed spiral wall 43 extends straight from the fixed plate 42 toward the orbiting scroll 51. The fixed outer peripheral wall 44 cylindrically extends straight from the outer periphery of the fixed plate 42. The fixed outer peripheral wall 44 surrounds the fixed spiral wall 43. The fixed outer peripheral wall 44 has an introduction recess (not illustrated).

The orbiting scroll 51 includes an orbiting plate 52, an orbiting spiral wall 53, a boss portion 54, and four recessed portions 55.

The orbiting plate 52 has a disc shape. The orbiting plate 52 faces the fixed plate 42. The orbiting spiral wall 53 extends straight from the orbiting plate 52 toward the fixed plate 42. The orbiting spiral wall 53 meshes with the fixed spiral wall 43. The orbiting spiral wall 53 is positioned inside the fixed outer peripheral wall 44. A clearance is secured between a distal end surface of the fixed spiral wall 43 and the orbiting plate 52, and a clearance is secured between a distal end surface of the orbiting spiral wall 53 and the fixed plate 42. Thus, the scroll compressor 10 includes a clearance between the fixed scroll 41 and the orbiting scroll 51 in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 12. The fixed spiral wall 43 is meshed with the orbiting spiral wall 53, so that a plurality of compression chambers 46 are defined.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the boss portion 54 cylindrically protrudes from the orbiting plate 52 opposite to the fixed plate 42. An axial direction of the boss portion 54 corresponds to the axial direction of the rotary shaft 12.

The four recessed portions 55 are arranged around the boss portion 54 of the orbiting plate 52. The four recessed portions 55 are arranged in a peripheral direction of the rotary shaft 12 at regular intervals. Ring members 55a each having an annular shape are attached inside the recessed portions 55, respectively. An outer circumferential surface of each of the ring members 55a is in contact with an inner circumferential surface of each of the recessed portions 55. The anti-rotation pins 15b protruding from the compression housing 15 are inserted into the ring members 55a of the recessed portions 55, respectively.

An eccentric shaft 47 is disposed in the end surface 12a of the rotary shaft 12. The eccentric shaft 47 protrudes toward the orbiting scroll 51 from a position eccentric relative to an axial line L1 of the rotary shaft 12. An axial direction of the eccentric shaft 47 coincides with the axial direction of the rotary shaft 12. The eccentric shaft 47 is inserted in the boss portion 54. A bush 49 is fitted to an outer peripheral surface of the eccentric shaft 47. A balance weight 48 is integrated with the bush 49. The balance weight 48 is accommodated in the large diameter hole 16b of the compression housing 15. The orbiting scroll 51 is supported by the eccentric shaft 47 so as to be rotatable relative to the eccentric shaft 47 via the bush 49 and a bearing 50.

The scroll compressor 10 includes an oil supply passage 39 connecting the oil separation chamber 26 and the large diameter hole 16b. A first end of the oil supply passage 39 is connected to the oil separation chamber 26, and a second end of the oil supply passage 39 is connected to the large diameter hole 16b. The oil supply passage 39 extends through the discharge housing 24, the second bead 61b of the discharge gasket 61, the collar 42a, the second bead 35b of the gasket 35, and the compression housing 15.

In the scroll compressor 10 with the above-described configuration, the rotation of the rotary shaft 12 is transmitted to the orbiting scroll 51 via the eccentric shaft 47, the bush 49, and the bearing 50. At this time, each of the anti-rotation pins 15b comes in contact with the inner circumferential surface of each of the ring members 55a, which prevents the orbiting scroll 51 from rotating and allows the orbiting scroll 51 to revolve relative to the fixed scroll 41. As a result, the orbiting scroll 51 revolves while the orbiting spiral wall 53 is in contact with the fixed spiral wall 43 to reduce a volume of the compression chambers 46. In the present embodiment, the anti-rotation pins 15b and the recessed portions 55 including the ring members 55a form an anti-rotation mechanism.

The refrigerant drawn from the suction port 13c into the motor chamber 23 is drawn into an outermost peripheral portion of each of the compression chambers 46 via an outer peripheral side of the compression housing 15 and the introduction recess of the fixed scroll 41. The refrigerant drawn into the outermost peripheral portion of each of the compression chambers 46 is compressed inside the compression chambers 46 in response to the revolution of the orbiting scroll 51.

The refrigerant compressed in the compression chambers 46 passes through the discharge valve mechanism 45a and is discharged from the discharge hole 45 into the discharge chamber 30. The refrigerant discharged into the discharge chamber 30 is discharged into the oil separation chamber 26 through the discharge hole 28. Lubricating oil contained in the refrigerant discharged into the oil separation chamber 26 is separated from the refrigerant by the oil separator cylinder 31.

The refrigerant from which the lubricating oil is separated flows into the oil separator cylinder 31 and is discharged from the discharge port 27 into the external refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant discharged into the external refrigerant circuit flows back to the motor chamber 23 through the suction port 13c. On the other hand, the lubricating oil separated from the refrigerant by the oil separator cylinder 31 is supplied from the oil separation chamber 26 into the large diameter hole 16b through the oil supply passage 39.

Next, a structure in which the gasket 35 and the discharge gasket 61 are sandwiched will be described. FIG. 5 does not illustrate the fixed spiral wall 43, the fixed outer peripheral wall 44, and the discharge valve mechanism 45a, for illustration of only the fixed plate 42 and the collar 42a.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, FIG. 5, FIG. 6(a), and FIG. 6(b), the collar 42a includes a gasket contact surface 70, four protruding portions 71, and four metal contact surfaces 72 arranged in the protruding portions 71, respectively.

The gasket contact surface 70 and the distal end surface 18a of the compression housing 15 sandwich the gasket 35. Therefore, the gasket 35 is in contact with the gasket contact surface 70. The gasket contact surface 70 of the collar 42a corresponds to one of opposite surfaces of the collar 42a in the thickness direction of the collar 42a, facing the orbiting plate 52. The gasket contact surface 70 is provided on a position except for the four corners of the collar 42a.

The protruding portions 71 each protrude in a columnar shape from the four corners of the collar 42a toward the chamber forming peripheral wall 18. In the collar 42a as seen in the thickness direction, distances between the protruding portions 71 adjacent to each other are all the same. Thus, the four protruding portions 71 are arranged in the collar 42a at regular intervals.

The fourth bolt insertion holes 42b are opened in the protruding portions 71, respectively. That is, the fourth bolt insertion holes 42b are opened in the metal contact surfaces 72 of the protruding portions 71, respectively. Each of the metal contact surfaces 72 surrounds the corresponding fourth bolt insertion hole 42b in a distal end surface of each of the protruding portions 71. Each of the metal contact surfaces 72 is a flat surface. A dimension M from the gasket contact surface 70 to each of the metal contact surfaces 72 is the same for all the four metal contact surfaces 72. That is, all the four metal contact surfaces 72 are located at positions away from the gasket contact surface 70, respectively, by the same distance.

FIG. 7 illustrates a state before the fixed scroll 41 and the compression housing 15 are fixed to each other with the bolts 38. That is, such a state is a state before the metal contact surfaces 72 are in contact with the distal end surface 18a. The dimension M is smaller than a thickness of the gasket 35 before being sandwiched.

As illustrated in FIG. 6(b), each of the metal contact surfaces 72 of the collar 42a is in contact with the distal end surface 18a of the chamber forming peripheral wall 18. Each of the metal contact surfaces 72 is in contact with the distal end surface 18a, so that the gasket contact surface 70 is spaced from the distal end surface 18a in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 12. The gasket 35 is sandwiched between the gasket contact surface 70 and the distal end surface 18a. Thus, a contact portion of the distal end surface 18a of the chamber forming peripheral wall 18 with the metal contact surfaces 72 is a metal contact surface being in contact with the collar 42a, and a portion of the distal end surface 18a other than such a metal contact surface is a gasket contact surface. Therefore, each of the collar 42a and the compression housing 15 has the gasket contact surface with which the gasket 35 is in contact, and the metal contact surface on which the collar 42a and the compression housing 15 are in contact with each other. The collar 42a has the protruding portions 71 protruding in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 12 relative to the gasket contact surface 70, and the protruding portions 71 have the metal contact surfaces 72, respectively.

The first bead 35a of the gasket 35 is in contact with the gasket contact surface 70. The gasket 35 is sandwiched such that the first bead 35a is deformed by a certain deforming amount. The second bead 35b of the gasket 35 is in contact with the gasket contact surface 70 while surrounding the oil supply passage 39. The fourth bolt insertion holes 42b of the collar 42a are disposed outside an outer circumferential edge of the gasket 35.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6(a), and FIG. 6(b), the fixed scroll 41 has a discharge gasket contact surface 74 on a side close to the discharge housing 24 in a thickness direction of the fixed scroll 41, four discharge protruding portions 75, and four discharge metal contact surfaces 76 arranged in the discharge protruding portions 75, respectively.

The discharge protruding portions 75 protrude in a columnar shape from the four corners of the collar 42a toward the discharge housing 24. That is, the fixed scroll 41 has the four discharge protruding portions 75 protruding toward the discharge housing 24 along the axial direction of the rotary shaft 12 relative to the discharge gasket contact surface 74. In the fixed scroll 41, the discharge protruding portions 75 have discharge metal contact surfaces 76, respectively. In the collar 42a as seen in the thickness direction of the collar 42a, the distances between the discharge protruding portions 75 adjacent to each other are all the same. Thus, the four discharge protruding portions 75 are arranged in the collar 42a at regular intervals.

The fourth bolt insertion holes 42b are opened in the discharge protruding portions 75, respectively. That is, the fourth bolt insertion holes 42b are opened in the discharge metal contact surfaces 76 of the discharge protruding portions 75, respectively. Each of the discharge metal contact surfaces 76 surrounds the corresponding fourth bolt insertion hole 42b in a distal end surface of each of the discharge protruding portions 75. Each of the discharge metal contact surfaces 76 is a flat surface. A dimension M from the discharge gasket contact surface 74 to each of the discharge metal contact surfaces 76 is the same for all the four discharge metal contact surfaces 76. That is, all the four discharge metal contact surfaces 76 are located at positions away from the discharge gasket contact surface 74, respectively, by the same distance.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the dimension M is smaller than a thickness of the discharge gasket 61 before being sandwiched.

As illustrated in FIG. 6(b), each of the discharge metal contact surfaces 76 of the collar 42a is in contact with the end surface 24a of the discharge housing 24. Each of the discharge metal contact surfaces 76 is in contact with the end surface 24a, so that the discharge gasket contact surface 74 is spaced from the end surface 24a in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 12. The discharge gasket 61 is sandwiched between the discharge gasket contact surface 74 and the end surface 24a. Thus, a contact portion of the end surface 24a of the discharge housing 24 with the discharge metal contact surfaces 76 is a metal contact surface being in contact with the collar 42a, and a portion other than such a metal contact surface is the discharge gasket contact surface 74.

The first bead 61a of the discharge gasket 61 protrudes toward the discharge gasket contact surface 74. The discharge gasket 61 is sandwiched such that the first bead 61a is deformed by a certain deforming amount. The second bead 61b of the discharge gasket 61 is in contact with the discharge gasket contact surface 74 while surrounding the oil supply passage 39.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the following operations and effects can be obtained.

(1) The collar 42a and the chamber forming peripheral wall 18 of the compression housing 15 are fixed to each other in a state of approaching each other, due to the tightening with the plurality of bolts 38. The gasket 35 disposed between the gasket contact surface 70 and the distal end surface 18a of the chamber forming peripheral wall 18 is deformed to some extent while being in contact with the gasket contact surface 70 and the distal end surface 18a. The gasket contact surface 70 and the distal end surface 18a are spaced from each other by the protruding portions 71, by a certain distance in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 12. The metal contact surfaces 72 and the distal end surface 18a receive an axial force of each of the bolts 38, so that the distance between the gasket contact surface 70 and the distal end surface 18a is kept constant even when the axial force varies. As a result, a clearance between the distal end surface of the fixed spiral wall 43 and the orbiting plate 52, and a clearance between the distal end surface of the orbiting spiral wall 53 and the fixed plate 42, that is, a clearance between the fixed scroll 41 and the orbiting scroll 51 is kept constant. Thus, variations in a performance of the scroll compressor 10 is suppressed.

(2) The bolts 38 having passed through the discharge housing 24, the collar 42a, and the compression housing 15 are screwed into the motor housing 13. Thus, the discharge housing 24, the collar 42a, the compression housing 15, and the motor housing 13 are pushed and fixed to each other in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 12. This suppresses vibration of the housing 11. In such a housing 11, variations in the axial force of the bolts 38 is likely to occur. However, the protruding portions 71 are provided in the collar 42a, and the metal contact surfaces 72 are in contact with the distal end surface 18a of the chamber forming peripheral wall 18, which suppresses reduction in the performance of the scroll compressor 10 due to the variations in the axial force of the bolts 38. Thus, reduction in the performance of the scroll compressor 10 is suppressed while suppressing vibration.

(3) The protruding portions 71 are arranged at the four corners of the collar 42a, respectively, at regular intervals. Thus, the four metal contact surfaces 72 allows the distance between the gasket contact surface 70 and the distal end surface 18a over the entire circumference to be easily kept constant. Therefore, the entire circumference of the gasket 35 is pushed and deformed uniformly.

(4) The protruding portions 71 protrude from the gasket contact surface 70 of the collar 42a. Since the collar 42a has a rectangular plate shape, the protruding portions 71 are easily processed and formed as compared with the chamber forming peripheral wall 18 having a tubular shape.

(5) The metal contact surfaces 72 are provided around the fourth bolt insertion holes 42b, respectively. Thus, the metal contact surfaces 72 easily receive the axial force of the bolts 38.

(6) The metal contact surfaces 72 of the protruding portions 71 are formed around the fourth bolt insertion holes 42b, respectively. The fourth bolt insertion holes 42b are portions required when the compression housing 15, the collar 42a, the motor housing 13, and the discharge housing 24 are fixed to each other with the bolts 38, and each have an existing structure in the scroll compressor 10. Since the protruding portions 71 and the metal contact surfaces 72 are provided utilizing such an existing structure, variations in the performance of the scroll compressor 10 are suppressed while suppressing an increase in a size of the scroll compressor 10.

(7) The fourth bolt insertion holes 42b are arranged outside an outer circumferential edge of the gasket 35. Thus, airtightness of the fourth bolt insertion holes 42b need not be ensured, so that the number of components of the scroll compressor 10 does not increase.

(8) The discharge gasket 61 is sandwiched between the discharge housing 24 and the collar 42a. The discharge protruding portions 75 that protrude from the discharge gasket contact surface 74 toward the discharge housing 24 and receive the axial force of the bolts 38 are provided in the collar 42a. The discharge metal contact surfaces 76 being in contact with the end surface 24a of the discharge housing 24 are provided in the discharge protruding portions 75, respectively. Since the discharge housing 24 is fixed with the bolts 38, the axial force of the bolts 38 is also applied to the discharge housing 24. At this time, since the discharge metal contact surfaces 76 receive the axial force of the bolts 38, deformation of the discharge housing 24 due to the axial force of the bolts 38 is suppressed.

(9) The protruding portions 71 and the metal contact surfaces 72 are provided at the four corners of the collar 42a. The collar 42a is downsized without impairing a function of the protruding portions 71 and the metal contact surfaces 72, as compared with a case in which the protruding portions 71 and the metal contact surfaces 72 surround the entire gasket 35 from the outer circumferential side thereof.

(10) The collar 42a includes the protruding portions 71 and the metal contact surfaces 72 suppressing variations in the performance of the scroll compressor 10, and the discharge protruding portions 75 and the discharge metal contact surfaces 76 suppressing deformation of the discharge housing 24. Only processing the collar 42a of the fixed scroll 41 exerts an effect suppressing variations in the performance of the scroll compressor 10 and an effect suppressing deformation of the discharge housing 24.

The present embodiment may be modified and implemented as follows. The above-mentioned embodiment may be combined with the following modified embodiments within a technically consistent range.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, a protruding portion 77 protruding from the four corners of the distal end surface 18a of the chamber forming peripheral wall 18 toward the collar 42a may be provided. Then, a gasket contact surface 78 is provided on the distal end surface 18a of the chamber forming peripheral wall 18, and a metal contact surface 79 is provided on the protruding portion 77. In this case, the protruding portion 71 is not formed in the collar 42a, and parts of the four corners of the collar 42a being in contact with the metal contact surface 79 of the protruding portion 77 protruding from the chamber forming peripheral wall 18 are a metal contact surface 42c. Parts of the collar 42a other than the metal contact surface 42c are a gasket contact surface 42d.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the protruding portion 71 and the metal contact surface 72 may be provided in the collar 42a, and the protruding portion 77, the gasket contact surface 78, and the metal contact surface 79 may be also provided on the distal end surface 18a of the chamber forming peripheral wall 18.

Then, the gasket 35 is sandwiched between the gasket contact surface 70 of the collar 42a and the gasket contact surface 78 of the chamber forming peripheral wall 18. The metal contact surface 72 of the collar 42a is in contact with the metal contact surface 79 of the chamber forming peripheral wall 18.

The discharge protruding portion 75 and the discharge metal contact surface 76 of the collar 42a need not be formed.

The fourth bolt insertion holes 42b of the collar 42a may be provided inside an inner circumferential edge of the gasket 35. In this case, airtightness around the fourth bolt insertion holes 42b is secured by an O-ring or a half bead provided in a part of the gasket 35.

Positions of the protruding portions 71 and the metal contact surfaces 72 may be changed. As an example, the protruding portions 71 may be provided inside the inner circumferential edge of the gasket 35. In this case, peripheral portions of the fourth bolt insertion holes 42b are positioned on the same surface as the gasket contact surface 70.

The protruding portions 71 may each have an annular shape surrounding the gasket 35. In this case, the metal contact surface 72 also has an annular shape surrounding the gasket 35.

A bead extending over the entire circumference of the gasket 35 other than the first bead 35a may be provided.

Although the gasket 35 is disposed such that the first bead 35a is in contact with the gasket contact surface 70 of the collar 42a, the first bead 35a may be in contact with the distal end surface 18a of the chamber forming peripheral wall 18.

Although the discharge gasket 61 is disposed such that the first bead 61a is in contact with the gasket contact surface 70 of the collar 42a, the first bead 61a may be in contact with the end surface 24a of the discharge housing 24.

Next, technical ideas that can be obtained from the above-described embodiment and the modified embodiments are added as follows.

(I) The housing includes an oil supply passage connecting a discharge pressure area and an accommodation chamber, and the gasket includes a half bead securing airtightness of the oil supply passage.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

    • 10 scroll compressor
    • 12 rotary shaft
    • 15 compression housing
    • 18a distal end surface including gasket contact surface and metal contact surface
    • 18b second bolt insertion hole
    • 24 discharge housing
    • 24a end surface as discharge gasket contact surface
    • 24b third bolt insertion hole
    • 35 gasket
    • 38 bolt
    • 41 fixed scroll
    • 42a collar
    • 42b fourth bolt insertion hole
    • 42c metal contact surface
    • 42d gasket contact surface
    • 51 orbiting scroll
    • 61 discharge gasket
    • 70 gasket contact surface
    • 71 protruding portion
    • 72 metal contact surface
    • 74 discharge gasket contact surface
    • 75 discharge protruding portion
    • 76 discharge metal contact surface
    • 77 protruding portion
    • 78 gasket contact surface
    • 79 metal contact surface

Claims

1. A scroll compressor comprising:

a rotary shaft;
a fixed scroll;
an orbiting scroll revolving relative to the fixed scroll;
a compression housing accommodating the fixed scroll and the orbiting scroll;
a discharge housing disposed at a position opposite to the compression housing such that a collar of the fixed scroll is sandwiched by the discharge housing and the compression housing;
a gasket sandwiched by the collar and the compression housing to seal a gap between the collar and the compression housing; and
a plurality of bolts fixing the compression housing, the fixed scroll, and the discharge housing in an axial direction of the rotary shaft, wherein
each of the collar and the compression housing includes a gasket contact surface with which the gasket is in contact, and a metal contact surface on which the collar and the compression housing are in contact with each other to receive an axial force of each of the bolts,
at least one of the collar and the compression housing includes a protruding portion protruding in the axial direction relative to the gasket contact surface, and
the metal contact surface is disposed on the protruding portion.

2. The scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein

each of the compression housing, the fixed scroll, and the discharge housing includes a plurality of bolt insertion holes through which the plurality of bolts are inserted, respectively, and
each of the bolt insertion holes is opened in the metal contact surface of the protruding portion.

3. The scroll compressor according to claim 2, wherein

the bolt insertion holes are disposed outside an outer circumferential edge of the gasket.

4. The scroll compressor according to claim 1 further comprising:

a discharge gasket sandwiched between the fixed scroll and the discharge housing to seal a gap between the fixed scroll and the discharge housing, wherein
each of the fixed scroll and the discharge housing includes a discharge gasket contact surface with which the discharge gasket is in contact,
the fixed scroll includes a discharge protruding portion protruding toward the discharge housing in the axial direction relative to the discharge gasket contact surface, and
the discharge protruding portion has a discharge metal contact surface on which the discharge protruding portion is in contact with the discharge housing to receive an axial force of each of the bolts.
Patent History
Publication number: 20240125324
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 24, 2022
Publication Date: Apr 18, 2024
Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI (Aichi)
Inventors: Yuji HASHIMOTO (Aichi), Hideharu YAMASHITA (Aichi), Kazunari HONDA (Aichi), Akihiro NAKASHIMA (Aichi)
Application Number: 18/277,473
Classifications
International Classification: F04C 18/02 (20060101); F04C 27/00 (20060101);