Abstract: A temperature sensor on an outer surface of an upper shell at a location is associated with a discharge chamber. The temperature sensor includes electronics molded into an overmolded plastic and includes a spring member. The spring member snaps into a sensor housing connected to the outer surface.

Abstract: A temperature sensor on an outer surface of an upper shell at a location is associated with a discharge chamber. The temperature sensor includes electronics molded into an overmolded plastic and includes a spring member. The spring member snaps into a sensor housing connected to the outer surface.

Abstract: A sealed compressor has a lower end cap secured to a center shell, and defines a sealed chamber. An electric motor is received within the sealed chamber. The electric motor drives a shaft that drives a compressor pump unit. A lower bearing housing includes a bearing for supporting the shaft, and an oil pump. The oil pump includes a pump housing including one of a slot and a leg, with the bearing housing including the other of a slot and a leg. The leg is received in the slot to position the pump housing within the bearing housing. The oil pump further includes a piston to be driven by the shaft to drive the lubricant from a sump in the sealed chamber upwardly into a passage in the shaft.

Abstract: A valve for selectively allowing the return of oil from a discharge plenum to a suction plenum includes a passage which is selectively opened or blocked by a valve spool. The valve spool sees a pressure from a discharge pressure location upstream of a discharge check valve on one face, and a discharge pressure from a discharge plenum on an opposed face. While the compressor is running, the two pressures should be relatively equal. The face which sees the pressure from the chamber upstream of the check valve is larger than the face which sees the pressure from the discharge plenum. Thus, when the compressor is running, the valve spool is biased to a first position at which it allows oil return from the discharge plenum to the suction plenum. However, upon shutdown of the compressor, the pressure in the chamber upstream of the discharge valve drops. The valve spool will be driven to a second position at which it blocks communication for oil return.

Abstract: A scroll compressor is provided with injection tubes which extend through an upper shell and into a fixed scroll member. The injection tubes are fixed relative to the fixed scroll member, and may be press-fit or otherwise secured. This arrangement simplifies the provision of injection ports into a scroll compressor.

Abstract: An electric motor drives a shaft to cause one scroll member to orbit relative to another scroll member. The shaft has an eccentric pin extending upwardly into a slider block. The eccentric pin is further provided with a generally flat drive surface, with clearance provided between the bore of the slider block and an outer periphery of the eccentric pin such that the slider block can move relative to the eccentric pin. The slider block extends upwardly into a boss extending away from the base of one scroll member wrap. A spring is positioned to bias the one scroll wrap toward the other scroll member wrap. The spring is positioned between the eccentric pin and the bore of the slider block.

Abstract: A slider block has an inner bore which receives an eccentric pin, and a generally flat drive surface over a limited circumferential extent to be engaged by a flat drive surface on an eccentric pin. A counterweight is positioned on an outer periphery of the slider block. The counterweight has a center line defining a first plane. A second plane is defined parallel to the first plane, with the second plane including a point on the flat drive surface of the slider block, with the flat drive surface of the slider block including a third plane, and a non-zero angle defined between the second and third planes.

Abstract: A compressor has a controller which is provided with current information for a current passing into a motor associated with the compressor. The compressor includes a compressor pump unit driven by the motor, and a discharge line. The controller is programmed to utilize the current information to predict a discharge pressure at the discharge of the compressor.

Abstract: A sealed compressor has a lower end cap secured to a center shell, and defines a sealed chamber. An electric motor is received within the sealed chamber. The electric motor drives a shaft that drives a compressor pump unit. A lower bearing housing includes a bearing for supporting the shaft, and an oil pump. The oil pump includes a pump housing including one of a slot and a leg, with the bearing housing including the other of a slot and a leg. The leg is received in the slot to position the pump housing within the bearing housing. The oil pump further includes a piston to be driven by the shaft to drive the lubricant from a sump in the sealed chamber upwardly into a passage in the shaft.

Abstract: A spacer is positioned between an outer periphery of a motor stator, and the inner periphery of a center shell for a sealed compressor. The spacer allows a relatively small diameter motor to be used in a relatively large diameter center shell. The spacer includes a bearing mount in a lower plate, and a plurality of axially extending fingers positioned between the stator and the center shell. The spacer also includes a stop for proper positioning of the stator within the center shell.

Abstract: A scroll compressor is provided having appropriate clearance for movement of the orbiting scroll member. Clearance is provided without requiring contact between the crankcase, which supports the orbiting scroll, and the non-orbiting scroll member. Clearance is established during the assembly process using installation tooling that establishes locations of components using a reference point. Clearance is also established using spacers.

Abstract: A valve for selectively allowing the return of oil from a discharge plenum to a suction plenum includes a passage which is selectively opened or blocked by a valve spool. The valve spool sees a pressure from a discharge pressure location upstream of a discharge check valve on one face, and a discharge pressure from a discharge plenum on an opposed face. While the compressor is running, the two pressures should be relatively equal. The face which sees the pressure from the chamber upstream of the check valve is larger than the face which sees the pressure from the discharge plenum. Thus, when the compressor is running, the valve spool is biased to a first position at which it allows oil return from the discharge plenum to the suction plenum. However, upon shutdown of the compressor, the pressure in the chamber upstream of the discharge valve drops. The valve spool will be driven to a second position at which it blocks communication for oil return.

Abstract: A scroll compressor is provided with injection tubes which extend through an upper shell and into a fixed scroll member. The injection tubes are fixed relative to the fixed scroll member, and may be press-fit or otherwise secured. This arrangement simplifies the provision of injection ports into a scroll compressor.

Abstract: A control for a compressor motor is programmed to operate the motor at at least one low capacity and at least one higher capacity. The control is operable to estimate an amount of oil which will have migrated from said compressor shell, at least when the compressor is operating at the lower capacity rate. The motor control moves the compressor motor from the lower capacity to at least one higher capacity once the estimated quantity of oil exceeds a predetermined limit. The capacity may be related to space.

Abstract: A scroll compressor is provided with some capacity reduction technique such as a bypass port. The electric motor for driving the scroll compressor is not an induction motor, but rather a line fed permanent magnet synchronous motor is utilized. Such motors have a higher overall efficiency, and thus will be more efficient at reduced capacity operation.

Abstract: A sealed compressor is provided with a temperature sensor biased against an outer surface of its shell. By biasing the temperature sensor against the shell, good contact between the temperature sensor and the shell is ensured. Also by use of molded material around the senor, the sensor is insulated from ambient air, increasing the accuracy of the sensor.

Abstract: A scroll compressor is provided with a cavity in its back pressure chamber to increase a volume of the back pressure chamber. In this manner, at start-up, the back pressure chamber will not be effective to bias the two scroll members together until this enlarged volume is filled with a compressed refrigerant. This reduces the load on the electric motor at start-up.

Abstract: A scroll compressor is provided with an oil bleed valve that selectively communicates a discharge pressure chamber to a suction pressure chamber. The oil bleed valve controls flow of hot oil through a passage and onto a safety shutoff switch for an electric motor.

Abstract: A scroll compressor is provided with an oil bleed valve that selectively communicates a discharge pressure chamber to a suction pressure chamber. The oil bleed valve controls flow of hot oil through a passage and onto a safety shutoff switch for an electric motor.

Abstract: A scroll compressor is provided with a cavity in its back pressure chamber to increase a volume of the back pressure chamber. In this manner, at start-up, the back pressure chamber will not be effective to bias the two scroll members together until this enlarged volume is filled with a compressed refrigerant. This reduces the load on the electric motor at start-up.