Abstract: A hermetically sealed scotch yoke compressor assembly is disclosed wherein a crankcase includes annular channels formed on the top and bottom surfaces thereof defining muffling chambers. Gas refrigerant compressed within radially disposed cylinders into cylinder head covers is channeled into the upper annular muffler chamber and them through passages extending through the crankcase into the lower muffling chamber. An annular cover plate for covering the bottom annular channel is attached to the crankcase at its radially inner extreme and is biased against the crankcase at its radially outer extreme. Spacers between the cover plate and the crankcase provide an annular discharge opening directing discharge gas onto the motor windings.

Abstract: A compressor assembly is disclosed including a compressor mechanism mounted within a hermetically sealed housing. The compressor mechanism includes a crankcase having a suction inlet opening providing direct communication into a suction cavity within the crankcase. The compressor mechanism is located in an upper chamber of the housing and a motor is located in a lower chamber, the entire interior of the housing being at discharge pressure. Suction gas is isolated from the motor so that heat from the motor does not increase the temperature of the suction gas. The discharge tube is positioned in the lower chamber so that discharge gas flows over the motor to cool it, thereby improving efficiency.

Abstract: A scotch yoke compressor assembly is disclosed wherein four radially disposed pistons reciprocate in cylinders defined in a crankcase. In a central portion of the crankcase, a scotch yoke mechanism operably couples the pistons to an eccentric portion on a rotating crankshaft. Each piston includes suction ports extending therethrough and a suction valve on the piston head. The suction valve is operably retained on a piston head and the piston is attached to a yoke member by a single bolt. The bolt head is received within a recess coined in a valve plate interposed between the crankcase and a cylinder head cover. Circularly arranged discharge ports in the valve plate are opened and closed by an annular discharge valve guidedly retained against the valve plate at diametrically opposed locations, by a combination of guide pins and an annular retainer member.

Abstract: A direct suction hermetic compressor assembly is disclosed including a hermetically sealed housing having enclosed therein a compressor mechanism discharging compressed gas refrigerant into the interior of the housing, thereby creating a high pressure housing. The compressor mechanism includes a crankcase defining a suction cavity into which low pressure suction gas is directly introduced. Bearings in the crankcase communicate between the housing interior and the suction cavity, and rotatably support a crankshaft. Annular seals received within grooves in the crankshaft bear against the bearings and are actuated and lubricated by oil fed from within the grooves to prevent high to low pressure gas leakage and to facilitate bearing lubrication. A scotch yoke mechanism operably couples a plurality of radially disposed pistons to a crankshaft eccentric portion within the suction cavity. Oil ducts open onto the loaded surface of the eccentric to limit oil leakage into the suction cavity.

Abstract: A suction accumulator for the compressor of a refrigeration system is disclosed in which a suction tube connected to the outlet of the accumulator extends vertically within the accumulator vessel and has liquid metering openings located adjacent to the bottom of the vessel and as gas inlet openings located adjacent to the top of the vessel between the liquid metering openings and the accumulator outlet along the length of the suction tube. A float valve member surrounds the suction tube and is slidable along the vertical length thereof. In response to the accumulation of liquid refrigerant, the valve member covers the gas inlet openings to prevent introduction of liquid refrigerant therethrough. Extension of the gas inlet opening along the vertical length of the suction tube provides progressive opening and closing by the valve member in response to changes in liquid accumulation.

Abstract: A refrigeration system adapted particularly for a vehicle air conditioning system and including a capacity modulation mechanism. A portion of the liquid refrigerant at the outlet of the condenser is fed back to the suction chamber of the compressor through the orifice of a bypass valve. The valve is mounted on the compressor and is responsive to suction chamber pressure. As the evaporator temperature decreases, suction chamber pressure also decreases thereby opening the valve to meter a small amount of bypassed liquid refrigerant into the suction chamber of the compressor. A portion of the hot discharge gas may also be bypassed back into the suction chamber through the same valve that meters the bypassed liquid refrigerant.

Abstract: In a rotary hermetic compressor an improved lubrication arrangement is provided for the sliding cylinder vanes. An oil pump in the lower portion of the crankshaft extends into the oil sump of the compressor. The oil pump comprises an axial aperture in the crankshaft which angles diagonally radially outwardly in the upward direction. Oil is pumped through this aperture into an annulus surrounding the crankshaft. A passageway in the outboard bearing conducts the oil radially outwardly from the annulus and then upwardly against gravity to a vertical oil channel which is open to both sides of the sliding vane and adjacent thereto. The positive pressure provided by the oil pump will ensure that the oil channel is filled with oil at all times. Excess oil exits at the upper end of the vane through a relief in the main bearing and then flows down around the cylinder by gravity and into the oil sump.

Abstract: In a rotary hermetic compressor, a suction tube seal is provided between the cylinder and the suction tube. The suction tube end extends through the housing of the hermetic compressor and is sealingly secured thereto such as by welding. The compressor cylinder, which is located in the housing has an aperture in the cylindrical wall thereof for receiving the end of the suction tube extending into the housing. The inside diameter of the aperture is greater than the outside diameter of the suction tube so that the suction tube is slidably axially received in the aperture. The suction tube is sealed to the cylinder by flexible sealing means which is interposed between the outside of the suction tube and the inside of the aperture. The sealing means is preferably an O ring constructed of oil resistant, flexible rubber material.

Abstract: In a rotary hermetic compressor an improved bearing is provided which is attached to the housing of the compressor at three points located circumferentially equidistantly spaced around the bearing. The compressor cylinder is secured to the bearing. The bearing is held in compression against the housing whereby the housing acts as a spring so that variations in the outside diameter of the bearing can be accommodated by the spring action of the housing.

Abstract: A direct suction radial compressor having a crankcase therein dividing the compressor into an upper chamber and a lower chamber sealed one from the other, and suction inlet tubing extending through the top portion of the upper chamber for delivering refrigerant to the compressor. A suction chamber is disposed in the crankcase and sealed from the upper chamber and in communication with the suction inlet tubing, and a plurality of radially disposed cylinders are disposed in the crankcase. Positioned between the suction inlet and the cylinders is a centrifuging assembly that separates liquid refrigerant and oil from gaseous refrigerant, and returns the liquids through a unique network of passageways to an oil sump in the lower chamber.

Abstract: A discharge gas temperature sensing corrective arrangement for a hermetic motor-compressor unit is disclosed wherein a heat sensitive element is supported in a discharge muffler located remote from the compressor outlet and in good heat transfer relation with compressed gas entering the discharge muffler from the compressor outlet so that the heat sensitive element provides an indication of the temperature of that compressed gas as it enters the discharge muffler. The discharge muffler outlet is connected to a somewhat conventional refrigerating circuit and a conduit connects the discharge muffler inlet to the compressor outlet. The compressor may include a plurality of gas compressing cylinders having their respective discharge ports connected together to form a discharge gas manifold which functions as a muffler within the compressor with the conduit connected to that discharge gas manifold.

Abstract: A scotch yoke radial compressor especially adapted for use in automotive airconditioners having a cast aluminum crankcase which is split along a plane axially passing through the center lines of the radially oriented cylinders. Each of the crankcase halves has a plurality of radially extending semicylindrical recesses which, when assembled, form the cylinders. Cylindrical cylinder liners are preassembled to the pistons and this assembly is then placed in one of the crankcase halves with the liners being received in their respective semicylindrical recesses. The second crankcase half is then secured to the first, again with the semi-cylindrical recesses overlying the cylinder liners. The distal ends of the liners are sealed by means of annular flanges which are clamped between the crankcase and the valve plate assemblies located at the ends of the cylinders.

Abstract: A piston intended for use in refrigeration compressors and other applications wherein a heat barrier is provided in the piston skirt between the head of the piston and the wrist pin. The heat barrier substantially reduces the conduction of heat from the higher temperature piston head to the wrist pin bearing surfaces, which would otherwise result in rapid wear of the wrist pin bearings and ultimate failure of the compressor. The heat barrier preferably comprises a pair of openings extending through the wrist pin bosses in close proximity to the wrist pin holes thereby partially thermally isolating the wrist pin holes from the head of the piston. The openings are spaced on opposite sides of an axial line extending from the piston head to the wrist pin holes so that there remains a bridge of the piston skirt material to provide the necessary support for hydraulic loads that occur when the compressor slugs.

Abstract: A muffler for a refrigeration gas compressor which is tuned such that the attenuation curve and the impedance curve cross the frequency axis at the pumping frequency of the compressor so as to result in optimum sound attenuation for the higher frequencies with minimum impedance at the pumping frequency. The muffler comprises a housing having first and second compartments with an inlet tube in the first compartment adapted for connection to a compressor gas outlet line to permit gas flow from the compressor gas outlet into the first compartment. An elongated tube has a first section in the housing with an inlet in the first compartment, a second section in the housing with an outlet in the second compartment, with these sections being joined by a third curved section disposed entirely outside of the housing. An outlet from the second compartment leads to the exterior of the compressor housing.

Abstract: A scotch yoke radial compressor especially adapted for use in automotive airconditioners having a cast aluminum crankcase which is split along a plane axially passing through the center lines of the radially oriented cylinders. Each of the crankcase halves has a plurality of radially extending semicylindrical recesses which, when assembled, form the cylinders. Cylindrical cylinder liners are preassembled to the pistons and this assembly is then placed in one of the crankcase halves with the liners being received in their respective semicylindrical recesses. The second crankcase half is then secured to the first, again with the semicylindrical recesses overlying the cylinder liners. The distal ends of the liners are sealed by means of annular flanges which are clamped between the crankcase and the valve plate assemblies located at the ends of the cylinders.

Abstract: A valve arrangement for a compressor, particularly a compressor for compressing refrigerant, in which a compressor is provided with ports distributed circumferentially about the axis of the piston and cylinder of the compressor and with a valve member in the form of a ring adjacent the ports for controlling the ports. Associated with the valve ring is a spring in the form of a wave washer urging the ring toward the valve ports. The ring forming the movable member of the valving arrangement and the wave washer serving as a spring require the minimum in space and have long life because the fatigue factor in respect of both is quite small.

Abstract: A system for protecting a machine against thermal overload, in particular, a compressor, and more particularly still, in respect of thermal protection of the valving of a compressor. The compressor is provided with a heat sensitive element in close proximity to the valving and in good heat exchange relation with gas passing through the valving, particularly, the gas being discharged through the valving. The heat sensitive element is connected in controlling relation to the drive motor for the compressor.

Abstract: A refrigeration compressor including a sealed housing with a stationary cylinder block having an annular array of axial cylinders, pistons reciprocable in the cylinders, a rotatable cam for reciprocating the pistons, an annular inlet channel around the cylinder block, intake valving for admitting fluid from the inlet channel to the cylinders on the intake strokes of the pistons, outlet valving for discharging high pressure fluid from the cylinders on the compression strokes of the pistons, and a baffle mounted on the end of the cylinder block over the outlet valving.