Abstract: A compressor (20) has a housing (22) having first (52) and second (48) members. A motor (24) within the housing (22) is coupled to one or more working elements (26, 28) to drive the one or more working elements (26, 28) to compress a fluid. A number of electrical terminals (104) are each mounted in an associated aperture (132) in the second housing member (48) and electrically connected to the motor (24).

Abstract: A unique positioning of a discharge tube relative to a pivot axis of a check valve in a compressor reduces the wear and fatigue stresses on the pivoting check valve components. The tube is centered on an axis that is non-perpendicular to an axis that is parallel to the pivot axis of the check valve, and in one embodiment was at 45°. With the inventive positioning of the discharge tube relative to the pivot axis, the flow streamlines heading from the discharge port to the discharge tube are no loner normal to the flapper valve surface, and the amount of wear between moving valve components and fatigue stresses are reduced.

Abstract: An abradable coating is formed on portions of the flank wall of the wraps of a scroll compressor. The radially outer portions of the flank wall are left uncoated, and can bear a force between the scroll wraps. In this manner, the load is not transferred through a coated portion, but rather through the uncoated portion. As the scroll wraps move relative to each other at run-in, the abradable coating wears away leaving a tight fit between the flank walls at the radially inner locations.

Abstract: A unique positioning of a discharge tube relative to a pivot axis of a check valve in a compressor reduces the wear and fatigue stresses on the pivoting check valve components. The tube is centered on an axis that is non-perpendicular to an axis that is parallel to the pivot axis of the check valve, and in one embodiment was at 45°. With the inventive positioning of the discharge tube relative to the pivot axis, the flow streamlines heading from the discharge port to the discharge tube are no loner normal to the flapper valve surface, and the amount of wear between moving valve components and fatigue stresses are reduced.

Abstract: An abradable coating is formed on portions of the flank wall of the wraps of a scroll compressor. The radially outer portions of the flank wall are left uncoated, and can bear a force between the scroll wraps. In this manner, the load is not transferred through a coated portion, but rather through the uncoated portion. As the scroll wraps move relative to each other at run-in, the abradable coating wears away leaving a tight fit between the flank walls at the radially inner locations.

Abstract: A scroll compressor is provided with a generally spiral wrap having an abradable or conformable coating on radially inner portions of its tip. The coating is not applied to radially outer portions. During operation of the scroll compressor, the coating will eliminate tip gap leakage adjacent radially inner, higher discharge pressure portions of the compression process. The outer, non-coated portions will bear the axial load, and ensure the coating will not wear away to an undue amount.

Abstract: An axial slide valve is provided with an axially extending fluid chamber at each end with one chamber receiving a spring and being acted on by suction pressure and the other chamber coacting with a fixed piston and being acted upon by discharge pressure or the like whereby the slide valve is positioned so as to balance the spring and fluid pressures and thereby the compressor capacity.

Abstract: An axial slide valve is provided with an axially extending fluid chamber at each end with one chamber receiving a spring and being acted on by suction pressure and the other chamber coacting with a fixed piston and being acted upon by discharge pressure or the like whereby the slide valve is positioned so as to balance the spring and fluid pressures and thereby the compressor capacity.

Abstract: In its unstressed state, a suction valve is spaced from its valve seat such that the suction valve must be deformed against its inherent spring force in order to achieve seating. The spring force due to deformation provides an opening bias to the suction valve such that it opens earlier in the suction stroke and offsets the effects of adhesion due to the presence of oil between the seating surface and the valve.

Abstract: The seat of a suction valve of a reciprocating compressor is modified to limit the radial extent and thereby the area in which an annular oil film can be established between the valve and the valve seat. The preferred radial extent of the seating surface is 0.014 to 0.018 inches and the preferred ratio of the area of the suction valve seat to the passage therethrough is in the range of 13% to 25%.

Abstract: The seat of a suction valve of a reciprocating compressor is modified to limit the area in which an annular oil film can be established between the valve and the valve seat. The seat is configured to limit the oil film from 3% to 33% of the total inlet port opening. In a modified embodiment gas at discharge pressure exerts an opening bias to the suction valve at the end of the discharge stroke.

Abstract: In addition to seating on its valve seat during the combined compression and discharge stroke, the suction valve seats on the structure associated with the valve seat which has at least one shallow recessed area. In seating on its valve seat, the suction valve seats on the structure defining the shallow recesses to trap fluid therein. The recesses serve to reduce the area available for adhesion and the trapped fluid pressure provides an opening bias to the suction valve. If necessary, or desired, restricted communication between the compression chamber and the shallow recess can take place to provide a higher pressure in the recess at the time of transition from discharge to suction.

Abstract: A spring must be engaged and deformed by the suction valve in order for the suction valve to seat. The spring provides an opening bias to the suction valve with negates most, if not all, of the effects of adhesion due to the presence of a thin oil film between the suction valve and suction valve seat when the suction valve is closed. Accordingly, the opening of the suction valve takes place sooner in the suction stroke and is essentially solely responsive to the differential pressure across the suction valve.

Abstract: A compressor having plural banks of cylinders can be operated multi-stage, single stage, plural parallel single stages and, when multi-stage, with or without an economizer. One of the low stage banks of cylinders can be unloaded to reduce the first stage output during multi-stage operation or to permit operation of a single stage when the second stage is bypassed.

Abstract: The oil sump and suction plenum of a hermetic compressor are in continuous fluid communication through an oil equalization port assembly. Additionally, communication is established between the oil sump and the suction plenum if pressure in the oil sump is greater than that in the suction plenum by more than a few pounds. Multiplexing is established through a port in the suction plenum.

Abstract: In a compressor where an oil pump is driven by a crankshaft through a drive tang with oil passing through the drive tang. The bolts holding the drive tang in place tend to agitate the oil and create foam. To prevent foam from being drawn into the oil pump, the agitation is isolated by a sub-chamber defined in part by a spring retainer while oil is supplied via a tube extending through the sub-chamber.

Abstract: In a compressor having an oil sump located therein, a restricted communication is provided between the oil sump and the suction plenum. As a result, froth generation due to a rapid pressure drop in the oil sump is reduced. A relief valve is provided to limit the pressure differential between the suction plenum and the oil sump.

Abstract: A wrist pin and wrist pin retainer are combined in a subassembly which prevents inadvertent removal of the retainer from the assembly. The subassembly is placed in a bore defined by a piston and a connecting rod with at least one annular groove formed in the bore. When the subassembly is located in the bore, the retainer coacts with the annular groove to secure the wrist pin in the bore.

Abstract: An internally compounded two-stage compressor has an interstage cooler and an oil separator associated therewith. The oil, and any hot gas mixed with it, discharged from the oil separator is passed in heat exchanger relationship with the cooling refrigerant flowing into the interstage cooler.

Abstract: In a compressor having a plurality of banks of cylinders, smaller steps of unloading are achieved by unloading a single cylinder in a bank. When only one cylinder is to be unloaded, gas bypass is used in order to maintain a closer balance of forces in the bank. When the entire bank is unloaded, it is preferably done via the suction cutoff method.