REFRIGERANT COMPRESSOR

Abstract

A refrigerant compressor configured to compress ethylene fluorohydrocarbon or a mixture containing the ethylene fluorohydrocarbon as a refrigerant, the refrigerant compressor including: a compression element configured to compress the refrigerant and including a sliding component that constitutes a sliding portion; and refrigerator oil configured to be supplied to the sliding component so as to lubricate the sliding portion, wherein at least one of the sliding surfaces of the sliding component is formed by non-metal, and wherein a polymerization inhibitor configured to suppress polymerization of the refrigerant is contained in the refrigerator oil.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-086267 filed on Apr. 17, 2013, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Aspects of the invention relate to a refrigerant compressor for use in a refrigerator/air-conditioner and, specifically, to a refrigerant compressor using ethylene fluorohydrocarbon or a mixture containing the ethylene fluorohydrocarbon as a refrigerant.

BACKGROUND

In the field of a car air-conditioner, as a low GWP (Global Warming Potential) refrigerant, there is known HFO-1234yf (CF₃CF═CH₂) which is propylene fluorohydrocarbon.

Generally, in propylene fluorohydrocarbon having a double bond in its composition, due to the presence of the double bond, resolution or polymerization is easy to occur. Thus, for example, JP-A-2009-299649 discloses a method for suppressing the resolution or polymerization of a refrigerant by forming a surface of a sliding portion of the compressor, where its temperature becomes high and thus the resolution or polymerization of propylene fluorohydrocarbon is easy to occur, by a non-metal component.

Also, tetrafluoroethylene is useful as a monomer for manufacturing fluoro-resin and a fluorine-containing elastomer having excellent heat resistance, chemical resistance and the like. However, since this material is very easy to polymerize, in order to suppress the polymerization, it is necessary to add a polymerization inhibitor to tetrafluoroethylene when it is produced. JP-A-H11-246447 discloses such technology.

SUMMARY

A refrigerant of HFO-1234yf, which is propylene fluorohydrocarbon, has a high standard boiling point of −29° C. and is lower in the operation pressure and smaller in the refrigeration capacity per suction volume than an R410A refrigerant (standard boiling point of −51° C.) or the like used in a stationary air-conditioner. In the stationary air-conditioner, in order to obtain a refrigeration capacity, which is equivalent to that of the R410A refrigerant, by using the HFO-1234yf refrigerant, a volume flow rate of the refrigerant must be increased. In this case, there were problems due to increase in a displacement of the compressor, and problems of increase in the pressure loss of the refrigerant and deterioration in the efficiency due to the increased volume flow rate.

Thus, when a low GWP refrigerant is applied to a stationary air-conditioner, a low GWP refrigerant of a low standard boiling point is suitable. Generally, there is a tendency that, the smaller the carbon number of a refrigerant is, the lower the low boiling point thereof is. Therefore, when compared with using propylene fluorohydrocarbon whose carbon umber is 3 as in related-art, by using ethylene fluorohydrocarbon whose carbon number is 2, a compound of a low boiling point, that is, a refrigerant of a low boiling point can be obtained.

However, when compared with propylene fluorohydrocarbon, since ethylene fluorohydrocarbon is high in reactivity, is thermally and chemically unstable and is easy to resolve or polymerize, it is difficult to suppress the resolution or polymerization by using only the method disclosed in JP-A-2009-299649.

Also, when ethylene fluorohydrocarbon is used as the refrigerant, resolution or polymerization is easy to occur from just after the time of production of the refrigerant, and even during the storage thereof, resolution or polymerization occurs. To suppress the resolution or polymerization of the refrigerant at and after the storage thereof, to a refrigerant constituted of ethylene fluorohydrocarbon, polymerization inhibitor as disclosed in, for example, JP-A-H11-246447, is added to the refrigerator to suppress polymerization at and after the time of production of the refrigerant. Therefore, since the polymerization inhibitor is contained in the refrigerant, it was thought that there is no need to add a polymerization inhibitor to the refrigerator oil. However, even when the polymerization inhibitor has been added to the refrigerant, since the refrigerant circulates within a refrigeration circuit while repeating phase change between liquid and gas, in a sliding portion of a compressor or in a winding portion of a motor where the temperature becomes high and thus polymerization is easy to occur, the refrigerant vaporizes. Since the polymerization inhibitor is contained in the vaporized refrigerant and is carried out together therewith, it may not be sufficiently supplied to the sliding portion of the compressor or the winding portion of the motor, which makes it difficult to obtain a sufficient suppressing effect on the polymerization of the refrigerant.

Especially, when each sliding portion is formed of metal, due to the mutual sliding operation thereof, the sliding surface becomes high in temperature to thereby activate the metal of the sliding surface. Since the activated metal acts as a reaction catalyst to promote the resolution of ethylene fluorohydrocarbon, when the polymerization inhibitor is insufficient, the production of a polymer, which is produced when a resolvent is polymerized, is promoted.

Aspects of the invention is made to solve the above-described problems and an object thereof is to, in a refrigerant compressor using ethylene fluorohydrocarbon or a mixture containing the ethylene fluorohydrocarbon as a refrigerant, suppress resolution of the refrigerant in a sliding portion of a compression element and also suppress polymerization of the resolvent of the refrigerant.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a refrigerant compressor configured to compress ethylene fluorohydrocarbon or a mixture containing the ethylene fluorohydrocarbon as a refrigerant, the refrigerant compressor including: a compression element configured to compress the refrigerant and including a sliding component that constitutes a sliding portion; and refrigerator oil configured to be supplied to the sliding component so as to lubricate the sliding portion, wherein at least one of the sliding surfaces of the sliding component is formed by non-metal, and wherein a polymerization inhibitor configured to suppress polymerization of the refrigerant is contained in the refrigerator oil.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a refrigerant compressor configured to compress ethylene fluorohydrocarbon or a mixture containing the ethylene fluorohydrocarbon as a refrigerant, the refrigerant compressor including: a compression element configured to compress the refrigerant and including a sliding component that constitutes a sliding portion, wherein the sliding component is a sintered component in which a polymerization inhibitor configured to suppress polymerization of the refrigerant is contained, and wherein at least one of the sliding surfaces of the sliding component is formed by non-metal.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a refrigerant compressor configured to compress ethylene fluorohydrocarbon or a mixture containing the ethylene fluorohydrocarbon as a refrigerant, the refrigerant compressor including: a compression element configured to compress the refrigerant and including a sliding component that constitutes a sliding portion; and an electric element configured to drive the compression element and including windings, wherein a polymerization inhibitor configured to suppress polymerization of the refrigerant is contained in a gap between the windings, and wherein at least one of the sliding surfaces of the sliding component is formed by non-metal.

Accordingly, an increase in the temperature of the sliding portion of the compression element can be suppressed, the activation of the metal of the sliding surface can be suppressed, the resolution of the refrigerant by the activated metal can be suppressed, and the polymerization of the resolvent of the refrigerant can be suppressed by the polymerization inhibitor of the refrigerator oil.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section view of a refrigerant compressor according to embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a section view of the refrigerant compressor according to the embodiment 1 of the present invention, taken along the A-A line shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a compression element component according to embodiment 6 of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main bearing 4 (a part of the main bearing 4 is omitted) according to embodiment 7 of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiment 1

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to a rotary compressor as an example of a refrigerant compressor. Here, although a single cylinder rotary compressor will be described as an example, the invention may also be carried out by using a multiple cylinder rotary compressor.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section view of a rotary compressor 200 and FIG. 2 is a section view taken along the A-A line shown in FIG. 1.

Hereinafter, the whole structure of the rotary compressor 200 will be briefly described.

An example of the rotary compressor 200 shown in FIG. 1 is a vertical type compressor including a sealed container 20 having high internal pressure. A compression element 101 is accommodated in the lower portion of the inside of the sealed container 20. An electric element 102 for driving the compression element 101 is accommodated above the compression element 101 in the upper portion of the inside of the sealed container 20.

Refrigerator oil 30 for lubricating respective sliding portions of the compression element 101 is accommodated in the bottom portion of the inside of the sealed container 20.

Firstly, the structure of the compression element 101 will be described. A cylinder 1 containing a compression chamber therein includes an outer periphery having a substantially circular shape when viewed from above and also includes therein a cylinder chamber 1b which is a space having a substantially circular shape when viewed from above. The cylinder chamber 1b is opened at both axial-direction ends thereof. The cylinder 1 has a predetermined axial-direction height when viewed from the side.

The cylinder 1 includes parallel vane grooves 1a formed such that it penetrates the cylinder 1 in the axial direction. Each vane groove communicates with the cylinder chamber 1b formed of a substantially circular space in the cylinder 1 and extends in the radial direction of the cylinder 1.

At a back side (outside) of the vane groove 1a, there is formed a back pressure chamber 1c which is a space communicating with the vane groove 1a and having a substantially circular shape when viewed from the above.

The cylinder 1 has an intake port (not shown) through which suction gas from an externally provided refrigeration circuit passes. The intake port penetrates through the cylinder chamber 1b from the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder 1.

The cylinder 1 includes a discharge port (not shown) formed by cutting off a portion adjacent to a circle forming the cylinder chamber 1b (end face at the electric element 102 side) which is a substantially circular space.

The cylinder 1 is made of gray iron, a sinter, carbon steel or the like.

A rolling piston 2 eccentrically rotates within the cylinder chamber 1b. The rolling piston 2 has a ring-like shape and the inner periphery of the rolling piston 2 is slidably engaged with an eccentric shaft portion 6a of a crank shaft 6.

The rolling piston 2 and the cylinder 1 perform the eccentric movement such that the outer periphery of the rolling piston 2 almost follows the inner wall of the cylinder chamber 1b of the cylinder 1.

The rolling piston 2 is made of, for example, alloy steel containing chromium or the like.

A vane 3 is accommodated in the vane groove 1a of the cylinder 1 and is always pressed against the rolling piston 2 by a vane spring 8 provided in the back pressure chamber 1c. In the rotary compressor 200, since the sealed container 20 has high internal pressure, when the rotary compressor 200 starts its operation, force caused by a pressure difference between the high internal pressure of the sealed container 20 and the pressure of the cylinder chamber 1b acts on the back surface (back pressure chamber 1c side) of the vane 3. Thus, the vane spring 8 is mainly used to press the vane 3 against the rolling piston 2 at the start of the rotary compressor 200 (while no pressure difference exists between the inside of the sealed container 20 and cylinder chamber 1b).

A shape of the vane 3 is a flat and is substantially a rectangular parallelpiped (the thickness in the peripheral direction is smaller than the lengths in the radial and axial directions).

The vane 3 is made mainly of high speed tool steel.

The main bearing 4 is slidably engaged with the main shaft portion 6b (the portion above the eccentric shaft portion 6a) of the crank shaft 6 and closes one end face (at the electric element 102 side) of the cylinder chamber 1b (including the vane groove 1a) of the cylinder 1.

The main bearing 4 includes a discharge valve (not shown). However, the discharge valve may also be included in the main bearing 4, an auxiliary bearing 5, or both of them.

The main bearing 4 has a substantially inverted-T shape when viewed from the side.

The auxiliary bearing 5 is slidably engaged with the auxiliary shaft portion 6c (the portion existing downwardly of the eccentric shaft portion 6a) of the crank shaft 6 and closes the other end face (existing on the refrigerator oil 30 side) of the cylinder chamber 1b (including the vane groove 1a) of the cylinder 1.

The auxiliary bearing 5 has a substantially T-like shape when viewed at the side.

The main bearing 4 and the auxiliary bearing 5, similarly to the cylinder 1, are respectively made of gray iron, a sinter, carbon steel or the like.

A discharge muffler 7 is mounted on the outside (the electric element 102 side) of the main bearing 4. Discharge gas of high temperature and high pressure, which is discharged from the discharge valve of the main bearing 4, enters the discharge muffler 7 and is thereafter ejected from the discharge muffler 7 into the sealed container 20. However, the discharge muffler 7 may also be provided on the auxiliary bearing 5 side.

At a lateral side of the sealed container 20, there is provided a suction muffler 21 which sucks therein refrigeration gas of low pressure from the refrigeration circuit, and suppresses the liquid refrigerant from being directly sucked into the cylinder chamber of the cylinder 1 when liquid refrigerant returns. The suction muffler 21 is connected through a suction pipe 22 to the suction port of the cylinder 1. The main body of the suction muffler 21 is fixed to the side surface of the sealed container 20 by welding or the like.

Next, the structure of the electric element 102 will be described. A brushless DC motor is used as the electric element 102. However, an induction motor may also be used as the electric element 102.

The electric element 102 includes a stator 12 and a rotor 13. The stator 12 is engaged with and fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the sealed container 20, and the rotor 13 is disposed inside the stator 12 with a clearance therebetween.

The stator 12 includes a stator iron core 12a, which is produced by punching an electromagnetic steel plate having a thickness of 0.1 to 1.5 mm into a predetermined shape, laminating a predetermined number of punched pieces in the axial direction and fixing them together by caulking, by welding or the like. Further, the stator 12 includes a three-phase winding 12b wound on a plurality of teeth portions (not shown) of the stator iron core 12a by a concentrated winding method. The winding 12b is wound on the teeth portion through an insulation member 12c. The winding 12b is made of copper wires coated with AI (amid imide)/EI (ester imide) or the like. For the insulation member 12c, PET (polyethylene terephtalate), PBT (polybutylene terephtalate), FEP (tetrafluoroethylene hexafluoropropylene copolymer (4.6 Fluorinated)), PFA (tetrafluoroethylene perfluoro alkyl vinyl ether copolymer), PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), LCP (liquid crystal polymer), PPS (polyphenylenesulfide), phenol resin and the like are mainly used.

The winding 12b partially projects from the two axial-direction ends (in FIG. 1, the axial-direction upper and lower ends) of the stator iron core 12a. The projected portions are called coil ends. In FIG. 1, the portion designated by the reference (12b) is one (counter compression element 101 side) coil end of the winding 12. A lead wire 23 is connected to a terminal (not shown) which is mounted on the insulation member 12c.

Notches (not shown) are formed to an outer periphery of the stator iron core 12a at multiple positions with substantially regular intervals. These notches constitute one of passages for the discharge gas which is discharged from the discharge muffler 7 into the sealed container 20 and also serve as a passage through which the refrigerant oil 30 returns from the top of the electric element 102 to the bottom of the sealed container 20.

The rotor 13 arranged inside the stator 12 with a clearance (normally, about 0.3 to 1 mm) therebetween includes a rotor iron core 13a, which, similarly to the stator iron core 12a, is produced by punching an electromagnetic steel plate having a thickness of 0.1 to 1.5 mm into a predetermined shape, laminating a given number of punched pieces in the axial direction and fixing them together by caulking, by welding or the like. Further, the rotor 13 includes a permanent magnet (not shown) to be inserted into a permanent magnet insertion hole (not shown) formed in the rotor iron core 13a. As the permanent magnet, there is used a magnet such as a ferrite or a rare earth.

In order to prevent the permanent magnet inserted in the permanent magnet insertion hole from falling off in the axial direction, end plates are provided at the two axial-direction ends (in FIG. 1, axial-direction upper and lower ends) of the rotor 13. The rotor 13 includes an upper end plate 13b on the axial-direction upper end portion and a lower end plate 13c on the axial-direction lower end portion.

The upper and lower end plates 13b and 13c serve as rotation balancers. Further, the upper and lower end plates 13b and 13c are integrally caulked and fixed by using multiple fixing rivets and the like (not shown).

The rotor iron core 13a has multiple penetration holes (not shown) penetrating therethrough substantially in the axial direction and serving as gas passages for the discharge gas.

A terminal 24, which is to be connected to a power supply serving as the electric power supply source, is fixed to the sealed container 20 by welding. In the example of FIG. 1, the terminal 24 is provided on the upper surface of the sealed container 20. To the terminal 24, the lead wire 23 from the electric element 102 is connected.

Into the upper surface of the sealed container 20, a discharge pipe 25 having two open ends is fitted. The discharge gas discharged from the compression element 101 is discharged from within the sealed container 20 through the discharge pipe 25 to an external refrigeration circuit.

Here, when the electric element 102 is configured by an induction motor, the rotor 13 has a rotor iron core 13a produced by punching an electromagnetic steel plate having a thickness of 0.1 to 1.5 mm into a specified shape, laminating a given number of punched pieces in the axial direction and fixing them together by caulking by welding or the like. Further, the rotor 13 has and a squirrel-cage winding produced by filling or inserting a conductor made of aluminum or copper into a slot formed in the rotor iron core 13a, while the two ends of the conductor are short-circuited by an end ring.

As the refrigeration oil 30 to be accumulated in the bottom portion of the inside of the sealed container 20, there is used, for example, POE (polyol ester) which is synthetic oil, PVE (polyvinyl ether) and AB (arkylbenzen). As the viscosity of the oil, there is selected the viscosity that sufficiently lubricates the rotary compressor 200 including the mixing of the refrigerant into the oil and also prevents the efficiency of the rotary compressor 200 from being reduced. Generally, the kinematic viscosity (at 40° C.) of base oil is about 5 to 300 [cSt].

The refrigerator oil contains 0.1% to 5% of limonene as a refrigerant polymerization inhibitor.

In the compressor, trans-1,2, difuluoroethylene (R1132 (E)) which is a low-boiling-point refrigerant similarly to R410A, is used as the refrigerant.

General operation of the rotary compressor 200 will be described. When power is supplied from the terminal 24 and lead wire 23 to the stator 12 of the electric element 102, the rotor 13 rotates. Then, the crank shaft 6 fixed to the rotor 13 rotates, whereby the rolling piston 2 rotates eccentrically within the cylinder chamber 1b of the cylinder 1. A space between the cylinder chamber 1b of the cylinder 1 and the rolling piston 2 is divided into two by the vane 3. With the rotation of the crank shaft 6, the volumes of the two spaces change. Specifically, one space sucks therein the refrigerant from the suction muffler 21 due to its gradually increased volume, while the other space compresses the refrigeration gas therein due to its gradually reduced volume. The compressed discharge gas is discharged from the discharge muffler 7 into the sealed container 20, then passes through the electric element 102, and is further discharged from the discharge pipe 25 provided to the sealed container 20 to the outside of the sealed container 20.

The discharge gas flowing through the electric element 102 passes through the penetration hole of the rotor 13 of the electric element 102, an air gap including the slot opening (not shown) of the stator iron core 12a, notches formed in the outer periphery of the stator iron core 12a, and the like.

When the rotary compressor 200 carries out the above operation, as described below, there are a plurality of sliding portions where the components slide with each other:

(1) First sliding portion: Outer periphery 2a of rolling piston 2 and leading end 3a (inside) of vane 3;

(2) Second sliding portion: Vane groove 1a of cylinder 1 and side surface portions 3b of vane 3 (both side surfaces);

(3) Third sliding portion: Inner periphery 2b of rolling piston 2 and eccentric shaft portion 6a of crank shaft 6;

(4) Fourth sliding portion: Inner periphery of main bearing 4 and main shaft portion 6b of crank shaft 6; and,

(5) Fifth sliding portion: Inner periphery of auxiliary bearing 5 and auxiliary shaft portion 6c of crank shaft 6.

Components, which are provided in the compression element 101 and constitute the sliding portions, are as follows:

(1) Cylinder 1;

(2) Rolling piston 2;

(3) Vane 3:

(4) Main bearing 4;

(5) Auxiliary bearing 5;

(6) Crank shaft 6.

Further, although not shown, there is also known a swing-type rotary compressor in which, as the drive shaft is driven, simultaneously when the projection leading end portion of the vane 3 provided integrally on the rolling piston 2 moves into and out of a support body along the receiving groove of the support body, the support body turns. That is, in the swing-type rotary compressor, the vane 3 advances and retreats in the radial direction while oscillating according to the revolution of the rolling piston 2, thereby always dividing the inside of the cylinder chamber 1b to a compression chamber and a suction chamber.

In such swing-type rotary compressor, the projection leading end portion of the vane 3 and the receiving groove of the support body constitute the sliding portion.

Also, between the suction and discharge ports of the cylinder 1, there is formed a cylindrical hold hole. A support body constituted of two semi-cylindrical-shaped members each having a semi-circular-shaped cross section is rotatably engaged to the cylindrical hold hole. Thereby the outer peripheral surface of the support body and the tubular hold hole of the cylinder constitute another sliding portion.

In this embodiment, since trans-1,2, difuluoroethylene (R1132 (E)) is used as a refrigerant, the refrigerant is thermally and chemically unstable and thus resolution or polymerization due to chemical reaction is easy to occur. When the refrigerant is polymerized to produce a polymer, there is a possibility that the inside of the compressor or the refrigeration circuit may be clogged with such polymer. Especially, in a portion where the temperature becomes high, the chemical reaction of the refrigerant is promoted and thus polymerization thereof is easy to occur. Therefore, to suppress the polymerization of the refrigerant, it is necessary to take measures, for example, to attach a polymerization inhibitor to the high temperature portion.

The above-mentioned sliding portions of the compression element and the winding portions of the electric element are portions where the temperatures become high in the compressor. The sliding portion of the compression element generates heat when the components of the compression element slide relative to each other, while the winding portion of the electric element generates heat when a current is supplied to the winding for rotation of the rotor 13.

Since ethylene fluorohydrocarbon has high reactivity, even during storage at room temperature, resolution or polymerization occurs. Therefore, when using ethylene fluorohydrocarbon as the refrigerant, when the refrigerant is produced, a polymerization inhibitor for suppressing the polymerization of the refrigerant is added to the refrigerant. Even during storage, a polymerization inhibitor is always mixed into ethylene fluorohydrocarbon. In a state where ethylene fluorohydrocarbon and polymerization inhibitor are separated from each other, the refrigerant is not used or kept. However, within the compressor, since the resolution of the refrigerant is promoted due to the relative sliding movements of metals, there is a high possibility that the resolvent is polymerized. Thus, even when the polymerization inhibitor is already added to the refrigerant, in the sliding portions of the compression element and the winding portions of the electric element which have high temperature, the refrigerant is evaporated, and the polymerization inhibitor is moved out together with the evaporated refrigerant and is not left in the high-temperature portions. Therefore, the effect of the polymerization inhibitor can not be sufficiently obtained.

On the other hand, the refrigerator oil 30 accumulated in the sealed container 20 is supplied to the respective sliding portions of the compressor by an oiling mechanism (not shown) provided in the compression element to lubricate the sliding portions. Generally, the refrigerant and refrigerator oil are accumulated and transported separately and, when an air-conditioner is assembled, the refrigerant and refrigerator oil are charged into the compressor and refrigeration circuit. Therefore, even when a polymerization inhibitor that suppresses the polymerization of a refrigerant such as limonene is added to the refrigerator oil, since the refrigerator oil and the refrigerant do not mix with each other, the polymerization inhibitor will not act on the refrigerator oil during storage to suppress the polymerization of the refrigerant. Therefore, it is not necessary to add the polymerization inhibitor to the refrigerator oil. Further, even after the refrigerator oil is charged into the compressor and the refrigeration circuit, while the compressor is stopping, although the refrigerant may vaporize and thus may move freely within the refrigeration circuit, the refrigeration oil is accumulated in the bottom portion of the sealed container and is unable to move freely. Therefore, even when the polymerization inhibitor is added to the refrigeration oil, it will not mix with the refrigerant and thus the polymerization inhibitor will not act on the refrigerant to suppress the polymerization thereof. Therefore, while the compressor is stopping, when the polymerization inhibitor is already added to the refrigerant, it is not necessary to add the polymerization inhibitor to the refrigerator oil. However, while the compressor is operating, by adding a polymerization inhibitor to the refrigerator oil, the polymerization inhibitor may be supplied to the sliding portions together with the refrigerator oil, whereby a sufficient amount of polymerization inhibitor may be kept at the sliding portions. Thus, even when the sliding portions become high in temperature, the refrigerant may be suppressed from being polymerized. Therefore, the polymerization inhibitor may fulfill its effect. Also, the high-temperature refrigerant compressed by the compression element, as described above, passes through the electric element 102 and is discharged outside the sealed container 20 from the discharge pipe 25 provided on the upper surface of the sealed container 20. In this case, since the refrigerant flows fast, a part of the refrigerator oil containing limonene is conveyed to the electric element while it is molten in the refrigerant. The refrigerant conveyed to the electric element collides with the electric element and then the refrigerant and refrigerator oil are separated from each other, whereby the refrigerant flows toward the discharge pipe 25 existing upward and the refrigerator oil returns to the bottom portion of the sealed container where the refrigerator oil is accumulated. A portion of the separated refrigerator oil attaches to the winding of the electric element when colliding with the electric element and is temporarily kept thereto. Thus, even when the winding becomes high in temperature, the refrigerant is suppressed from being polymerized, so that the polymerization inhibitor may provide its effect.

As described above, in the sliding portions of the compression element and the winding portions of the electric element which become high in temperature in the compressor, by supplying the refrigerator oil containing limonene as a polymerization inhibitor, a sufficient amount of polymerization inhibitor may be kept.

Also, the polymerization inhibitor contained in the refrigerant acts on the vaporized refrigerant, thereby effectively suppressing the polymerization of the refrigerant.

Thus, at high temperature portions where polymerization is easy to occur, the polymerization can be suppressed by the refrigerator oil containing limonene. Therefore, even by using a refrigerant that easily polymerizes, sufficient reliability can be maintained.

In the sliding portions of the compression element, when each of them are formed by metals, the sliding surfaces thereof become high in temperature due to the relative sliding movements of the metals, and the metals of the sliding surfaces are activated. The activated metal surfaces of the sliding portions act as reactive catalysts on a thermally and chemically unstable refrigerant to induce the resolution of the refrigerant. Further, the exposed metal activated surface of the resultant resolvent acts as a polymer catalyst to promote the generation of a polymer. The polymerization inhibitor suppresses not only the polymerization of the resolvent but also the resolution of the refrigerant, whereby the action of the polymerization inhibitor may be enhanced further. That is, in the sliding portions of the compression element, by suppressing the activated metal surfaces from being exposed, the catalyst action may be suppressed.

As will be described hereinafter, at least one of the two components constituting the sliding portion is formed by a non-metal material. In the case that one component of the sliding portion is formed by a non-metal material having low specific heat, when compared with the relative sliding movements of two metals, a temperature increase can be reduced, thereby being able to suppress the sliding portion metal surface from being activated. Thus, the resolution and polymerization of the refrigerant can be suppressed.

Firstly, in the outer periphery of the rolling piston 2 and the leading end 3a of the vane 3 which constitute the first sliding portion, the surface of the vane 3 is coated with a carbon DLC-Si (diamond like carbon-silicone) coating (an example of non-metals). Thus, in the relative sliding motion between the outer periphery of the rolling piston 2 and the leading end 3a of the vane 3, direct contact between metals can be avoided. Accordingly, the first sliding portion is hard to become high in temperature and the metal surface is also hard to be activated, thereby being able to suppress the polymerization of the refrigerant.

The DLC-Si coating is amorphous carbon containing silicone, while it has a surface layer hardness of 2000 to 2500 Hmv and a film thickness of 3 μm or so.

Also, in the vane groove 1a of the cylinder 1 and the side surface portion 3b of the vane 3 which constitute the second sliding portion, by coating the above-mentioned surface of the vane 3 with a DLC-Si coating, the direct contact between metals can be avoided, and the metal surface is hard to be activated and is hard to become high in temperature, thereby being able to suppress the polymerization of the refrigerant.

In the inner periphery 2b of the rolling piston 2 and the eccentric shaft portion 6a of the crank shaft 6 which constitute the third sliding portion, by forming a manganese phosphate film (an example of non-metals) on the surface the crank shaft 6, the direct contact between metals can be avoided, and the metal surface is hard to be activated and is hard to become high in temperature, thereby being able to suppress the refrigerant from being polymerized. Here, the manganese phosphate film can also be formed on the inner periphery 2b of the rolling piston 2.

In the inner periphery of the main bearing 4 and the main shaft portion 6b of the crank shaft 6 which constitute the fourth sliding portion and in the inner periphery of the auxiliary bearing 5 and the auxiliary shaft portion 6c of the crank shaft 6 which constitute the fifth sliding portion, by forming a manganese phosphate film on the surface the crank shaft 6, the direct contact between metals may be avoided, and the metal surface is hard to be activated and is hard to become high in temperature, thereby being able to suppress the refrigerant from being polymerized. Here, the manganese phosphate film may also be formed on the inner peripheries of the main bearing 4 and the auxiliary bearing 5.

According to the above structure, in the respective sliding portions of the rotary compressor 200, since the direct contact between metals can be avoided, the metal surface serving as the sliding surface can be suppressed from being activated and the sliding portions can be suppressed from increasing in temperature, thereby suppressing the resolution and polymerization of the refrigerant. This may suppress failure of the rotary compressor 200 and clogging of the refrigeration circuit, which may otherwise be caused by the resultant polymers of the refrigerant. Thus, the compressor may provide reliability for a long term.

Here, the non-metal structure need not be employed in all of the above sliding portions. Since the activation of the metal surface is easy to occur in such a portion where the surface pressure of the sliding portion is large, the sliding speed is fast, and the state of lubrication is poor, by forming such portion by a non-metal material, the resolution or polymerization of the refrigerant can be suppressed and a process for changing such portion into a non-metal structure may be saved. In a portion where the surface pressure of the sliding portion is small, the sliding speed is slow and the lubrication state is good, even when the sliding portions are respectively made of metals, the sliding surfaces are hard to be activated. Therefore, it is not always necessary to change it into a non-metal structure.

Also, by preventing the direct contact of metals, the promotion of resolution of the refrigerant is suppressed and the resolvent of the refrigerant is suppressed from polymerization by the polymerization inhibitor contained in refrigerator oil. Therefore, the generation of polymers can be suppressed further and thus the reliability of the compressor can be enhanced further.

In the above description, there has been shown an example using trans-1,2, difluoroethylene (R1132 (E)) as a refrigerant. However, using fluoroethylene (R1141), cis-1,2 difluoroethylene (R1132 (Z)), 1,1 difluoroethylene (R1132a), 1,1,2 trifluoroethylene (R1123) or the like can provide similar effects.

In the above description, limonene is used as a polymerization inhibitor contained in the refrigerator oil. However terpene hydrocarbon such as pecan, camphene, cymene and terpene, or terpene alcohol such as cirtronellol, terpineol and borneol may also be used.

Embodiment 2

The embodiment 1 showed a method in which, in the portion easy to increase in temperature, a sufficient amount of refrigerator oil containing a polymerization inhibitor is provided to thereby suppress polymerization. However, the polymerization inhibitor may also be contained in the sliding component in advance. This method will be described hereinafter.

The cylinder 1, the main bearing 4 and the auxiliary bearing 5 shown in the embodiment 1 may also be configured by porous sintered components. A polymerization inhibitor or refrigerator oil containing the polymerization inhibitor is impregnated in these sintered components in advance and a compressor is then assembled. In this method, since, within the compressor cylinder or in the sliding portion easy to increase in temperature, the polymerization inhibitor leaks out from the sintered components, the polymerization of the refrigerant can be further suppressed.

Thus, even when the polymerizing condition of the refrigerant is satisfied in a state where the amount of the refrigerator oil charged into the sliding portion of the compression element is not sufficient, the polymerization of the refrigerant can be suppressed by the polymerization inhibitor held by the sintered component.

Embodiment 3

Other than the sliding portion, in the winding portion of the electric element which is also easy to increase in temperature, similarly to the embodiment 2, a polymerization inhibitor may also be contained in advance. This method will be described hereinafter.

In the winding portion 12b of the electric element, when each winding has a circular section, a gap exists between one winding and another winding. The gap between the windings, similarly to the porous property of the sintered component, is capable of containing and holding therein a polymerization inhibitor or refrigerator oil containing a polymerization inhibitor. For example, a polymerization inhibitor is contained in working oil for use in a winding process, or a winding is immersed in a polymerization inhibitor. Since a polymerization inhibitor in the winding portion 12b is sufficiently supplied to the winding portion where polymerization occurs, the refrigerant polymerization preventive effect may be enhanced.

Thus, even when the refrigerant polymerization condition is satisfied in a state where the amount of the refrigerator oil charged into the sliding portion of the winding portion of the electric element is not sufficient, the polymerization of the refrigerant can be suppressed by the polymerization inhibitor contained in the winding portion.

Embodiment 4

The embodiment 1 showed an example of a method for, in five sliding portions, avoiding direct contact between the metals to thereby suppress the activation of the metal surfaces and suppress the temperature increase of the sliding portions. However, as the method for obtaining a similar effect, several kinds of methods other than the method of the embodiment 1 are available. This embodiment 4 shows another method relating to the first sliding portion constituted of the outer periphery 2a of the rolling piston 2 and the leading end 3a of the vane 3.

Although the embodiment 1 showed the method for coating the vane 3 with the DLC-Si coating, as a coating to be applied to the vane 3, DLC (diamond like carbon), CrN (chromium nitride), TiN (titanium nitride), TiCN (titanium carbonitride), TiAlN (titanium nitride aluminum), WC/C (tungsten carbide coating), VC (vanadium carbide) or the like may also be used. Since no metal is exposed to the sliding surface of the vane, these coatings also provide a similar effect to the embodiment 1.

Also, for the vane 3, besides the above-mentioned method for covering the surface of the metal with the non-metal coating, there is also known a method for forming the vane 3 itself by a ceramic material. The material includes SiC (silicon carbide), ZrO₂ (zirconium dioxide), Al₂O₃ (aluminum oxide), Si₃N₄ (silicon nitride) and the like. Since use of them may prevent the metal from being exposed to the sliding surface of the vane 3, a similar effect to the embodiment 1 can be obtained.

Although the embodiment 1 showed the method for suppressing the metal surface from being exposed to the surface of the vane 3, a similar method may also be employed in the outer periphery 2a of the rolling piston 2. When the surface including the outer periphery 2a of the rolling piston 2 is covered with a coating of DLC-Si, DLC, CrN, TiN, TiCN, TiAlN, WC/C, VC or the like, the metal is not exposed to the sliding surface of the outer periphery 2a of the rolling piston 2. Thus, a similar effect to the embodiment 1 can be obtained.

Also, for the rolling piston 2 as well, other than the method for covering the metal surface with the non-metal coating, a method for forming the rolling piston 2 itself of a ceramic material may also be employed. The material may include SiC, ZrO₂, Al₂O₃, Si₃N₄ and the like. Since the metal is not exposed to the sliding surface of the outer periphery 2a of the rolling piston 2, a similar effect to the embodiment 1 can be obtained.

Embodiment 5

Similarly to the embodiment 4, embodiment 5 shows an example relating to the second sliding portion constituted of the vane groove 1a of the cylinder 1 and the side surface portion 3b of the vane 3. Like the embodiment 4, the vane 3 may be covered with a coating of DLC, CrN, TiN, TiCN, TiAlN, WC/C, VC or the like. Thus, in the second sliding portion as well, since the metal can be suppressed from being exposed to the sliding surface of the vane 3, a similar effect to the embodiment 1 can be obtained. When the vane 3 is also formed of ceramics such as SiC, ZrO₂, Al₂O₃ and Si₃N₄, since the metal is not exposed to the sliding surface of the vane 3 in the second sliding portion as well, a similar effect to the embodiment 1 can be obtained.

Embodiment 6

Embodiment 6 shows another embodiment relating to the third sliding portion constituted of the inner periphery 2b of the rolling piston 2 and the eccentric shaft portion 6a of the crank shaft 6.

FIG. 3 shows the embodiment 6 and is a perspective view of the rolling piston 2.

Although the embodiment 1 showed the method for forming the manganese phosphate film on the surface of the crank shaft 6, different measures may also be taken on the rolling piston 2 side, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, there may be applied a method for using a bearing member 9 on the inside diameter portion of the rolling piston 2.

This bearing member 9 includes two kinds of members. One is made of metal and the other is made of resin (non-metal). The resin-made bearing member 9 (an example of non-metal members) is a characteristic feature of this embodiment.

Specifically, a bearing member 9 containing PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) or POM (polyacetal) as a main component can preferably be used. In this case, since the metal is not exposed to the sliding portion on the rolling piston inside diameter side, a similar effect to the embodiment 1 can be obtained.

Here, the bearing member 9 (an example of non-metal members) may also be used in the eccentric shaft portion 6a of the crank shaft 6.

Embodiment 7

Embodiment 7 shows another example relating to the fourth sliding portion constituted of the inner periphery of the main bearing 4 and the main shaft portion 6b of the crank shaft 6 and the fifth sliding portion constituted of the inner periphery of the auxiliary bearing 5 and the auxiliary shaft portion 6c of the crank shaft 6.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the main bearing 4 (partially omitted), showing the seventh embodiment.

Although the embodiment 1 has showed the method for forming the manganese phosphate film on the surface of the crank shaft 6, different measures may also be taken on the main and auxiliary bearings 4 and 5 side, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, there may also be employed a method for using a bearing member 10 (an example of non-metal members) on the inside diameter portion of the main bearing 4.

This bearing member 10 includes two kinds of members. One is made of metal and the other is made of resin. A resin-made bearing member 10 is a characteristic feature of this embodiment.

Specifically, a bearing member 10 containing PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) or POM (polyacetal) as a main component may preferably be used. In this case, since no metal is exposed to the sliding portion on the inside diameter side of the main bearing 4, a similar effect to the embodiment 4 can be obtained.

Here, the bearing member 10 may also be used in the main and auxiliary shaft portions 6b and 6c of the crank shaft 6.

Although the example in which at least the sliding surface of one of the components constituting the sliding portions is made of non-metal has been described, at least the sliding surfaces of both of the components constituting the sliding portions may be made of non-metal.

Embodiment 8

The refrigerator oil used in the above embodiments generally contains a wear preventing agent. While the wear preventing agent has a function of preventing the wear of the sliding portions by the resolution of itself, it is known that the resolvent of the wear preventing agent reacts with the resolvent of the easily resolvable ethylene fluorohydrocarbon or its mixture to generate solids. There is a fear that the solids may accumulate in fine flow passages such as an expansion valve and a capillary tube within a refrigeration cycle to cause clogging and thus poor cooling. In this embodiment, since the refrigerator oil is selected properly such that it does not include an wear preventing agent, there can be provided a refrigerant compressor which does not produce solids generated by the reaction between the resolvent of the wear preventing agent and ethylene fluorohydrocarbon or the resolvent of the mixture thereof, nor cause clogging on the refrigeration circuit, thereby being able to keep excellent performance for a long period of time.

The present invention provides illustrative, non-limiting aspects as follows:

(1) In a first aspect, there is provided a refrigerant compressor configured to compress ethylene fluorohydrocarbon or a mixture containing the ethylene fluorohydrocarbon as a refrigerant, the refrigerant compressor including: a compression element configured to compress the refrigerant and including a sliding component that constitutes a sliding portion; and refrigerator oil configured to be supplied to the sliding component so as to lubricate the sliding portion, wherein at least one of the sliding surfaces of the sliding component is formed by non-metal, and wherein a polymerization inhibitor configured to suppress polymerization of the refrigerant is contained in the refrigerator oil.

(2) In a second aspect, there is provided a refrigerant compressor configured to compress ethylene fluorohydrocarbon or a mixture containing the ethylene fluorohydrocarbon as a refrigerant, the refrigerant compressor including: a compression element configured to compress the refrigerant and including a sliding component that constitutes a sliding portion, wherein the sliding component is a sintered component in which a polymerization inhibitor configured to suppress polymerization of the refrigerant is contained, and wherein at least one of the sliding surfaces of the sliding component is formed by non-metal.

(3) In a third aspect, there is provided a refrigerant compressor configured to compress ethylene fluorohydrocarbon or a mixture containing the ethylene fluorohydrocarbon as a refrigerant, the refrigerant compressor including: a compression element configured to compress the refrigerant and including a sliding component that constitutes a sliding portion; and an electric element configured to drive the compression element and including windings, wherein a polymerization inhibitor configured to suppress polymerization of the refrigerant is contained in a gap between the windings, and wherein at least one of the sliding surfaces of the sliding component is formed by non-metal.

(4) In a fourth aspect, there is provided the refrigerant compressor according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the ethylene fluorohydrocarbon includes at least one of fluoroethylene (R1141), trans-1,2 difluoroethylene (R1132 (E)), cis-1,2 difluoroethylene (R1132 (Z)), 1,1 difluoroethylene (R1132a), and 1,1,2 trifluoroethylene (R1123).

(5) In a fifth aspect, there is provided the refrigerant compressor according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the polymerization inhibitor is a terpin compound.

(6) In a sixth aspect, there is provided the refrigerant compressor according to the fifth aspect, wherein the terpin compound is at least one of limonene, pinene, camphene, cymene, terpinen, citronellol, terpineol and bornelol.

(7) In a seventh aspect, there is provided the refrigerant compressor according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the non-metal is formed by performing a coating process on the surface of the sliding component.

(8) In an eighth aspect, there is provided the refrigerant compressor according to the seventh aspect, wherein one of DLC (diamond like carbon), DLC-Si (diamond like carbon-silicon), CrN (chromium nitride), TiN (titanium nitride), TiCN (titanium carbonitride), TiAlN (titanium nitride aluminum), WC/C (tungsten carbide coating) and VC (vanadium carbide) is coated as a coating in the coating process.

(9) In a ninth aspect, there is provided the refrigerant compressor according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the non-metal is configured by a non-metallic bearing member.

(10) In a tenth aspect, there is provided the refrigerant compressor according to the ninth aspect, wherein the non-metallic bearing member contains PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) or POM (polyacetal) as a main component.

(11) In an eleventh aspect, there is provided the refrigerant compressor according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein at least one of the components constituting the sliding portion is formed by a ceramic material.

(12) In a twelfth aspect, there is provided the refrigerant compressor according to the eleventh aspect, wherein the ceramic material is one of SiC (silicon carbide), ZrO₂ (zirconium dioxide), Al₂O₃ (aluminum oxide) and Si₃N₄ (silicon nitride).

(13) In a thirteenth aspect, there is provided the refrigerant compressor according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the non-metal is configured by a manganese phosphate film.

(14) In a fourteenth aspect, there is provided the refrigerant compressor according to any one of the first to eighth, eleventh and twelfth aspects, wherein the compression element includes, a ring-shaped rolling piston configured to eccentrically rotate within a cylinder chamber of a cylinder, and a vane accommodated in a vane groove of the cylinder and configured to slide within the vane groove while being pressed against the rolling piston, and wherein the sliding portion is constituted of a leading end of the vane and an outer periphery of the rolling piston.

(15) In a fifteenth aspect, there is provided the refrigerant compressor according to any one of the first to eighth, eleventh and twelfth aspects, wherein the compression element includes, a cylinder including a vane groove, and a vane accommodated in the vane groove of the cylinder and configured to slide within the vane groove, and wherein the sliding portion is constituted of the vane groove and the vane.

(16) In a sixteenth aspect, there is provided the refrigerant compressor according to any one of the first to sixth, ninth, tenth and thirteenth aspects, wherein the compression element includes, a ring-shaped rolling piston configured to eccentrically rotate within a cylinder chamber of a cylinder, and a crank shaft having an eccentric shaft portion eccentric to a main shaft portion, and wherein the sliding portion is constituted of an inner periphery of the rolling piston and the eccentric shaft portion of the crank shaft.

(17) In a seventeenth aspect, there is provided the refrigerant compressor according to any one the first to sixth, ninth, tenth and thirteenth aspects, wherein the compression element includes, a crank shaft having a main shaft portion and an auxiliary shaft portion, a main bearing configured to slidably engage with the main shaft portion of the crank shaft, and an auxiliary bearing configured to slidably engage with the auxiliary shaft portion of the crank shaft, and wherein the sliding portion is constituted of the main bearing, the auxiliary bearing and the crank shaft.

Claims

1. A refrigerant compressor configured to compress ethylene fluorohydrocarbon or a mixture containing the ethylene fluorohydrocarbon as a refrigerant, the refrigerant compressor comprising:

a compression element configured to compress the refrigerant and including a sliding component that constitutes a sliding portion; and

refrigerator oil configured to be supplied to the sliding component so as to lubricate the sliding portion,

wherein at least one of the sliding surfaces of the sliding component is formed by non-metal, and

wherein a polymerization inhibitor configured to suppress polymerization of the refrigerant is contained in the refrigerator oil.

2. A refrigerant compressor configured to compress ethylene fluorohydrocarbon or a mixture containing the ethylene fluorohydrocarbon as a refrigerant, the refrigerant compressor comprising:

a compression element configured to compress the refrigerant and including a sliding component that constitutes a sliding portion,

wherein the sliding component is a sintered component in which a polymerization inhibitor configured to suppress polymerization of the refrigerant is contained, and

wherein at least one of the sliding surfaces of the sliding component is formed by non-metal.

3. A refrigerant compressor configured to compress ethylene fluorohydrocarbon or a mixture containing the ethylene fluorohydrocarbon as a refrigerant, the refrigerant compressor comprising:

a compression element configured to compress the refrigerant and including a sliding component that constitutes a sliding portion; and

an electric element configured to drive the compression element and including windings,

wherein a polymerization inhibitor configured to suppress polymerization of the refrigerant is contained in a gap between the windings, and

wherein at least one of the sliding surfaces of the sliding component is formed by non-metal.

4. The refrigerant compressor according to claim 1,

wherein the ethylene fluorohydrocarbon includes at least one of fluoroethylene (R1141), trans-1,2 difluoroethylene (R1132 (E)), cis-1,2 difluoroethylene (R1132 (Z)), 1,1 difluoroethylene (R1132a), and 1,1,2 trifluoroethylene (R1123).

5. The refrigerant compressor according to claim 1,

wherein the polymerization inhibitor is a terpin compound.

6. The refrigerant compressor according to claim 5,

wherein the terpin compound is at least one of limonene, pinene, camphene, cymene, terpinen, citronellol, terpineol and bornelol.

7. The refrigerant compressor according to claim 1,

wherein the non-metal is formed by performing a coating process on the surface of the sliding component.

8. The refrigerant compressor according to claim 7,

wherein one of DLC (diamond like carbon), DLC-Si (diamond like carbon-silicon), CrN (chromium nitride), TiN (titanium nitride), TiCN (titanium carbonitride), TiAlN (titanium nitride aluminum), WC/C (tungsten carbide coating) and VC (vanadium carbide) is coated as a coating in the coating process.

9. The refrigerant compressor according to claim 1,

wherein the non-metal is configured by a non-metallic bearing member.

10. The refrigerant compressor according to claim 9,

wherein the non-metallic bearing member contains PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) or POM (polyacetal) as a main component.

11. The refrigerant compressor according to claim 1,

wherein at least one of the components constituting the sliding portion is formed by a ceramic material.

12. The refrigerant compressor according to claim 11,

wherein the ceramic material is one of SiC (silicon carbide), ZrO2 (zirconium dioxide), Al2O3 (aluminum oxide) and Si3N4 (silicon nitride).

13. The refrigerant compressor according to claim 1,

wherein the non-metal is configured by a manganese phosphate film.

14. The refrigerant compressor according to claim 1,

wherein the compression element includes, a ring-shaped rolling piston configured to eccentrically rotate within a cylinder chamber of a cylinder, and a vane accommodated in a vane groove of the cylinder and configured to slide within the vane groove while being pressed against the rolling piston, and

wherein the sliding portion is constituted of a leading end of the vane and an outer periphery of the rolling piston.

15. The refrigerant compressor according to claim 1,

wherein the compression element includes, a cylinder including a vane groove, and a vane accommodated in the vane groove of the cylinder and configured to slide within the vane groove, and

wherein the sliding portion is constituted of the vane groove and the vane.

16. The refrigerant compressor according to claim 1,

wherein the compression element includes, a ring-shaped rolling piston configured to eccentrically rotate within a cylinder chamber of a cylinder, and a crank shaft having an eccentric shaft portion eccentric to a main shaft portion, and

wherein the sliding portion is constituted of an inner periphery of the rolling piston and the eccentric shaft portion of the crank shaft.

17. The refrigerant compressor according to claim 1,

wherein the compression element includes, a crank shaft having a main shaft portion and an auxiliary shaft portion, a main bearing configured to slidably engage with the main shaft portion of the crank shaft, and an auxiliary bearing configured to slidably engage with the auxiliary shaft portion of the crank shaft, and

wherein the sliding portion is constituted of the main bearing, the auxiliary bearing and the crank shaft.