Abstract: A impeller shaft assembly is disclosed for use in a refrigerant compressor, and more particularly in a commercial high-speed centrifugal impeller shaft configuration. The impeller shaft assembly includes a contoured spacer body. The contoured spacer body includes a front face, a rear face, a recessed spring bearing surface in its rear face, and a spring spacing abutment including a shoulder that is seated against a protective washer. The contoured spacer body functions to prevent the headed front end of a fastener from coming into direct contact with a spring assembly and protective washer. Consequently, the spring assembly and protective washer are not sized to correspond to the cross-section area of the headed front end as disclosed in the prior art. Instead, the protective washer and spring assembly are sized to fit the rear face of the contoured spacer body, which in turn is sized to fit the front face of a first stage impeller.

Abstract: A refrigeration unit having a compressor that includes a cast member, a cavity formed in the cast member, and an oil filter element dividing the cavity into an inlet cavity and an outlet cavity. An inlet port for directing the unfiltered oil into the inlet cavity and an outlet port for directing filtered oil out of the outlet cavity are also included. The filter element is secured in the cavity between an integral plate on one end and ears on the opposite end. A seal between the cast member and the removable cover is included. Also included is another seal positioned between the inlet and outlet cavities. The filter element may be cylindrical. At least one isolation valve that prevents or allows flow into and out of the filter cavity may be included. The inlet port may be formed in the cast member and the outlet port may be formed in the removable cover, or vice versa. At least one lubrication point and an oil conduit communicating between the lubrication port and the outlet port are included.

Abstract: A impeller shaft assembly is disclosed for use in a refrigerant compressor, and more particularly in a commercial high-speed centrifugal impeller shaft configuration. The impeller shaft assembly includes a contoured spacer body. The contoured spacer body includes a front face, a rear face, a recessed spring bearing surface in its rear face, and a spring spacing abutment including a shoulder that is seated against a protective washer. The contoured spacer body functions to prevent the headed front end of a fastener from coming into direct contact with a spring assembly and protective washer. Consequently, the spring assembly and protective washer are not sized to correspond to the cross-section area of the headed front end as disclosed in the prior art. Instead, the protective washer and spring assembly are sized to fit the rear face of the contoured spacer body, which in turn is sized to fit the front face of a first stage impeller.

Abstract: A refrigeration unit having a compressor that includes a cast member, a cavity formed in the cast member, and an oil filter element dividing the cavity into an inlet cavity and an outlet cavity. An inlet port for directing the unfiltered oil into the inlet cavity and an outlet port for directing filtered oil out of the outlet cavity are also included. The filter element is secured in the cavity between an integral plate on one end and ears on the opposite end. A seal between the cast member and the removable cover is included. Also included is another seal positioned between the inlet and outlet cavities. The filter element may be cylindrical. At least one isolation valve that prevents or allows flow into and out of the filter cavity may be included. The inlet port may be formed in the cast member and the outlet port may be formed in the removable cover, or vice versa. At least one lubrication point and an oil conduit communicating between the lubrication port and the outlet port are included.

Abstract: A refrigeration unit having a compressor that includes a cast member, a cavity formed in the cast member, and an oil filter element dividing the cavity into an inlet cavity and an outlet cavity. An inlet port for directing the unfiltered oil into the inlet cavity and an outlet port for directing filtered oil out of the outlet cavity are also included. The filter element is secured in the cavity between an integral plate on one end and ears on the opposite end. A seal between the cast member and the removable cover is included. Also included is another seal positioned between the inlet and outlet cavities. The filter element may be cylindrical. At least one isolation valve that prevents or allows flow into and out of the filter cavity may be included. The inlet port may be formed in the cast member and the outlet port may be formed in the removable cover, or vice versa. At least one lubrication point and an oil conduit communicating between the lubrication port and the outlet port are included.

Abstract: A refrigeration unit having a compressor includes a refrigerant gas inlet, a drive shaft, and at least one compression stage. At least one compression stage includes at least one impeller with a hub, the hub having a radially lobed bore. The drive shaft has a radially lobed portion complementary to the radially lobed bore of the impeller hub. The lobed portion of the drive shaft is received in the bore to define a coupling for transmitting torque from the drive shaft to the impeller. This coupling may have three lobes. The compressor may have more than one stage and more than one impeller. The first stage impeller is closer to the refrigerant gas inlet than the second stage impeller. The second stage impeller has a hub and radially lobed bore, wherein a second radially lobed portion of the drive shaft can be inserted to define another coupling. The cross-sectional area of this second coupling may be greater than the cross-sectional area of the first coupling.

Abstract: A refrigeration apparatus contains an oil sump having an interior portion. A housing is located, at least in part, within the oil sump interior. The housing has at least one inlet and at least one outlet. The inlet allows a vent gas stream to enter the housing and the outlet allows a vent gas stream to exit the housing. The inlet may be an aperture extending circumferentially around the housing about one-third to one-half of the housing's circumference. Additionally, the inlet should be above the surface level of any oil pool in the sump. A coalescing demister filter is located within the housing between the inlet and the outlet. The housing may include a wall for sheltering the filter from agitated areas of the gearbox. The filter is configured to remove substantially all of the oil from the vent gas stream. The filter may also have an outlet end which is sealed from the oil sump. The filter may also be pleated and enhances oil coalescence.

Abstract: A first shim mounted on the shaft extending from the high pressure end face of a screw rotor in a screw compressor establishes the operating clearance between the high pressure end face of the rotor and the high pressure end wall of the compressor's working chamber by fixing the axial position of a bearing group which is likewise mounted on the rotor shaft. A second shim, disposed between the bearing group and a spring biased spacer element, is determinative of the distance the spacer element, and therefore the rotor, can travel in a direction toward the high pressure end of the compressor under the impetus of reverse axial thrust. Contact of the rotor with the high pressure end wall of the working chamber is positively precluded because movement of the spacer element, under the influence of rotor movement toward the high pressure end of the compressor, collapses the biasing spring which causes the spacer element to contact a fixed surface of the compressor.