Abstract: A pressure equalization system staffs a compressor while maintaining the condenser at a high pressure, including a valve and a bleed port. The compressor inlet receives a fluid at a first pressure. The compressor outlet discharges the fluid at a second pressure, and is operable to compress the fluid from the first pressure to the second pressure. The valve, proximate to and in fluid communication with the compressor outlet, is movable to an open position during compressor operation to permit the fluid at the second pressure to flow through the valve and is movable to a closed position when the compressor stops operating to prevent backflow of the fluid at the second pressure through the valve toward the compressor inlet. The bleed port, upstream of the valve and in fluid communication with the compressor inlet, equalizes the pressure of the fluid contained in the compressor when compressor operation stops.

Abstract: Suction gas feed assemblies to provide gas to a hermetic compressor are provided. The feed assemblies have capacity for reducing suction noise resulting from suction conduit vibration, valving operation, suction gas pulsing, or the like. The suction gas feed assemblies include a suction plenum in the form of a substantially cylindrical end cap or motor cap having substantially straight side wall, a contoured top wall, and a gas inlet aperture and suction conduit aperture which are configured to provide strong suction and motor cooling, with reduced superheat, suction pulsation, and noise attenuation. The motor cap has excellent structural stiffness and low sound radiation.

Abstract: A hermetic compressor unit housing comprised of a shell having a top section and a bottom section which receives the top section, the shell being formed of sheet metal and having generally cylindrical sidewalls wherein the sidewall taken in a generally axial direction is substantially straight, each shell section having an opening, a substantially cylindrical portion, and a closed end portion, the opening having a substantially circular horizontal cross-sectional geometry defined by a major axis and a minor axis, the horizontal cross-sectional geometry including substantially liner opposing sidewall portions preferably disposed adjacent to the intersection of the horizontal sectional geometry with the minor axis, and methods of aligning the shell sections for installation of fixtures and mating of the shell sections.

Abstract: A die cast aluminum piston for a reciprocating compressor. The piston is cast with no coring and thus includes no aperture in the as-cast piston for a wrist pin. The aperture for the wrist pin is subsequently formed in the wrist pin in a preselected location after casting. The wrist pin is formed of a preselected diameter. Because the wrist pin can be placed in a preselected location with a preselected diameter, the same cast piston design can be used in a plurality of applications by varying the location of the aperture or the size of the aperture, or both.

Abstract: Suction gas feed assemblies to provide gas to a hermetic compressor are provided. The feed assemblies have capacity for reducing suction noise resulting from suction conduit vibration, valving operation, suction gas pulsing, or the like. The suction gas feed assemblies include a suction plenum in the form of a substantially cylindrical end cap or motor cap having substantially straight side wall, a contoured top wall, and a gas inlet aperture and suction conduit aperture which are configured to provide strong suction and motor cooling, with reduced superheat, suction pulsation, and noise attenuation. The motor cap has excellent structural stiffness and low sound radiation.

Abstract: A hermetic compressor unit housing comprised of a shell having a top section and a bottom section which receives the top section, the shell being formed of sheet metal and having generally cylindrical sidewalls wherein the sidewall taken in a generally axial direction is substantially straight, each shell section having an opening, a substantially cylindrical portion, and a closed end portion, the opening having a substantially circular horizontal cross-sectional geometry defined by a major axis and a minor axis, the horizontal cross-sectional geometry including substantially liner opposing sidewall portions preferably disposed adjacent to the intersection of the horizontal sectional geometry with the minor axis, and methods of aligning the shell sections for installation of fixtures and mating of the shell sections.

Abstract: A rotary compressor having a housing with a motor and an internal accumulator located on the low pressure side and an oil sump located on the high pressure side. A sealing means positioned within the housing defines a first low pressure chamber and a second high pressure chamber. The sealing means substantially maintains the pressure differential between the chambers by segregating high pressure fluid in the high pressure chamber from low pressure fluid in the low pressure chamber. The fluid entering the housing is separated into a gas portion and a liquid portion, the liquid portion being directed downward toward the motor to provide cooling for the motor while the gas portion is directed to a compressor portion through a channeling means internal to the compressor housing. The liquid portion collects above the sealing means.

Abstract: A die cast aluminum piston for a reciprocating compressor. The piston is cast with no coring and thus includes no aperture in the as-cast piston for a wrist pin. The aperture for the wrist pin is subsequently formed in the wrist pin in a preselected location after casting. The wrist pin is formed of a preselected diameter. Because the wrist pin can be placed in a preselected location with a preselected diameter, the same cast piston design can be used in a plurality of applications by varying the location of the aperture or the size of the aperture, or both.

Abstract: A rotary compressor having a housing with a motor and an internal accumulator located on the low pressure side and an oil sump located on the high pressure side. A sealing means positioned within the housing defines a first low pressure chamber and a second high pressure chamber. The sealing means substantially maintains the pressure differential between the chambers by segregating high pressure fluid in the high pressure chamber from low pressure fluid in the low pressure chamber. The fluid entering the housing is separated into a gas portion and a liquid portion, the liquid portion being directed downward toward the motor to provide cooling for the motor while the gas portion is directed to a compressor portion through a channeling means internal to the compressor housing. The liquid portion collects above the sealing means.

Abstract: A reciprocating compressor having a linear motor, at least one piston and cylinder arrangement and a mechanism operatively connecting the linear motor to the piston and cylinder arrangement is provided. The piston and cylinder arrangement operate to compress a fluid, preferably a refrigerant gas. The piston and cylinder arrangement has a cylinder, a piston configured and disposed to travel in the cylinder and a piston rod connected to the piston. The mechanism connects the linear motor to the piston rod to move the piston in the cylinder upon operation of the linear motor. The mechanism is configured and disposed to limit overtravel of the piston in the cylinder in response to a light load of the reciprocating compressor and to limit undertravel of the piston in the cylinder in response to a heavy load in the reciprocating compressor.

Abstract: A rotary compressor having a housing with a motor and an internal accumulator located on the low pressure side and an oil sump located on the high pressure side. A sealing means positioned within the housing defines a first chamber and a second chamber. The sealing means substantially maintains the pressure differential between the chambers by segregating high pressure fluid in the second chamber from low pressure fluid in the first chamber. The fluid entering the housing is separated into a gas portion and a liquid portion, the liquid portion being directed downward toward the motor to provide cooling for the motor while the gas portion is directed to a compressor portion. The liquid portion collects about the motor above the sealing means. An orifice or aperture through the sealing means allows liquid collected above the sealing means to be reintroduced into the compressor suction inlet and metered into the refrigerant gas in a controlled fashion and resupply the sump with lubricant.

Abstract: A shaft load balancing system includes a housing divided into a first chamber at a first operating pressure and a second chamber at a second, lower operating pressure. A shaft passes from the first chamber into the second chamber. The shaft includes a first end in the first chamber, a second end in the second chamber, and a substantially axial channel connecting the first end and the second end. The first end is in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir in the housing. A reaction member engages the second end. The reaction member includes a compression volume in fluid communication with the channel. A pressure differential between the chambers forces fluid from the fluid reservoir through the channel and into the compression volume. The reaction member transmits the fluid force to the housing, allowing the fluid to create a force on the second end of the shaft.

Abstract: A compressor system includes a housing with a low pressure first chamber and a high pressure second chamber. A motor in the first chamber has a shaft that passes into the second chamber. A compressor in the housing is operably connected to the motor by the shaft. The second chamber contains an oil sump storing lubricating oil for the compressor. A fluid path through the compressor system includes a first orifice in the housing communicating a suction tube with the first chamber, a first fluid passage communicating the first chamber with the compressor suction port, a second fluid passage communicating the compressor discharge port with the second chamber, and a second orifice in the housing communicating the second chamber with a discharge tube. By the action of the compressor, the fluid in the first chamber is maintained at compressor suction pressure and the fluid in the second chamber is maintained at compressor discharge pressure.

Abstract: A shaft load balancing system includes a housing divided into a first chamber at a first operating pressure and a second chamber at a second, lower operating pressure. A shaft passes from the first chamber into the second chamber. The shaft includes a first end in the first chamber, a second end in the second chamber, and a substantially axial channel connecting the first end and the second end. The first end is in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir in the housing. A reaction member engages the second end. The reaction member includes a compression volume in fluid communication with the channel. A pressure differential between the chambers forces fluid from the fluid reservoir through the channel and into the compression volume. The reaction member transmits the fluid force to the housing, allowing the fluid to create a force on the second end of the shaft. In one embodiment, the reaction member is axially movable on the shaft and rotatable with respect to the housing.

Abstract: A compressor system includes a housing with a low pressure first chamber and a high pressure second chamber. A motor in the first chamber has a shaft that passes into the second chamber. A compressor in the housing is operably connected to the motor by the shaft. The second chamber contains an oil sump storing lubricating oil for the compressor. A fluid path through the compressor system includes a first orifice in the housing communicating a suction tube with the first chamber, a first fluid passage communicating the first chamber with the compressor suction port, a second fluid passage communicating the compressor discharge port with the second chamber, and a second orifice in the housing communicating the second chamber with a discharge tube. By the action of the compressor, the fluid in the first chamber is maintained at compressor suction pressure and the fluid in the second chamber is maintained at compressor discharge pressure.