Abstract: A scroll compressor may be provided with a check valve interposed between a balance chamber and a discharge chamber. The check valve may allow balance chamber pressure to remain low during start-up of the compressor. Low balance chamber pressure may allow an orbiting scroll to remain unclamped to a fixed scroll thereby reducing torque required to initiate rotation of the orbiting scroll. After steady-state operational speed is reached the check valve may close and the scrolls may be clamped together to produce a desired steady-state operating condition for the compressor.

Abstract: A scroll compressor may be provided with a check valve interposed between a balance chamber and a discharge chamber. The check valve may allow balance chamber pressure to remain low during start-up of the compressor. Low balance chamber pressure may allow an orbiting scroll to remain unclamped to a fixed scroll thereby reducing torque required to initiate rotation of the orbiting scroll. After steady-state operational speed is reached the check valve may close and the scrolls may be clamped together to produce a desired steady-state operating condition for the compressor.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for simulating a building environment through which emergency personnel may be trained by practicing search and rescue. The present invention provides an apparatus including a plurality of wall panels which can be joined together and simulate a floor plan of a building. The wall panels preferably are modular prefabricated wall panels adapted to be assembled and disassembled permitting the same wall panels to be adapted for use to provide different floor plans. Thus, a modular kit incorporating a plurality of different wall panels may be arranged and subsequently rearranged into as many different floor plans as desired thus providing a variety of different floor plans which will provide challenging training in search and rescue.