HIGH-SPEED GEAR-DRIVEN SPINNING SCROLL

Abstract

A gear-driven spinning scroll device is provided. The scroll device comprises a housing defining a working fluid volume and a lubrication chamber defining a lubrication volume. The working fluid volume and the lubrication volume are separated from one another. The device also comprises a first scroll rotatably supported by one of a set of second drive gears and a second scroll rotatably supported by another one of the set of second drive gears. The set of second drive gears are disposed in the lubrication volume. The device also comprises a motor and a drive shaft connected to the motor. The drive shaft is supported by a set of first drive gears disposed in the lubrication volume and is configured to transmit torque from the motor to each of the first scroll and the second scroll via the set of first drive gears and the set of second drive gears.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of and priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/152,997, filed Feb. 24, 2021, entitled “High-Speed Gear-Driven Spinning Scroll,” the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety, for all that it teaches and for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure generally relates to spinning scroll devices, and relates more particularly to co-rotating spinning scroll devices.

A typical scroll compressor generally provides two scrolls to compress or pressurize fluid such as liquids and gases. A traditional orbiting scroll compressor design has one scroll which is fixed and a second scroll that orbits relative to the fixed scroll, without rotating. Similarly, a typical scroll expander generally provides two scrolls that are used to convert energy from expanding gas into rotational energy. A traditional orbiting scroll expander design has one scroll which is fixed and a second scroll that orbits relative to the fixed scroll, without rotating. These devices may use grease-packed bearings for applications in which oil cannot enter the process gas, or oil-flooded bearings for applications in which oil is allowed to enter the process gas.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Co-rotating scroll compressor devices according to some embodiments of the present disclosure utilize a novel compressor design and are capable of operating at higher speeds than traditional orbiting scroll compressors. The two scroll housings have an offset center, resulting in a similar relative motion between the scrolls as in an orbiting scroll design. However, the higher operating speeds allow for a reduction in overall size when compared to a traditional orbiting design.

A spinning scroll device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: a housing defining a working fluid volume; a lubrication chamber defining a lubrication volume, wherein the working fluid volume and the lubrication volume are separated from one another; a first scroll mounted within the housing and rotatably supported by one of a set of second drive gears, the set of second drive gears disposed in the lubrication volume; a second scroll mounted within the housing and rotatably supported by another one of the set of second drive gears; a motor; and a drive shaft operatively connected to the motor, the drive shaft supported by a set of first drive gears, the drive shaft configured to transmit torque from the motor to each of the first scroll and the second scroll via the set of first drive gears and the set of second drive gears, the set of first drive gears disposed in the lubrication volume.

The device may further comprise a set of bearing plates coupled to the housing and a set of cover plates respectively coupled to the set of bearing plates, wherein the housing, the set of bearing plates, and the set of cover plates form the lubrication chamber.

The lubrication chamber may comprise a first drive gear portion housing one of the set of first drive gears and a second drive gear portion housing another one of the set of first drive gears.

The lubrication chamber may comprise a passageway fluidly connecting the first drive gear portion and the second drive gear portion.

The lubrication chamber may comprise lubrication and a portion of the set of first drive gears is in contact with the lubrication, and wherein rotation of the set of first drive gears disperses the lubrication to the set of second drive gears.

Each of the first scroll and the second scroll may comprise a scroll shaft coupled to a scroll plate, wherein the scroll shaft is supported by a respective second drive gear of the set of second drive gears.

The device may further comprise a first scroll bearing configured to support the scroll shaft of the first scroll; a second scroll bearing configured to support the scroll shaft of the second scroll; and a drive bearing configured to support the drive shaft, wherein the first scroll bearing, the second scroll bearing, and the drive bearing are disposed in the lubrication volume.

The motor may be liquid cooled.

A spinning scroll device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: a housing defining a working fluid volume; a lubrication chamber defining a lubrication volume, wherein the working fluid volume and the lubrication volume are fluidly separated from one another; a first scroll rotatably mounted within the housing and supported by a first scroll bearing, the first scroll bearing disposed in the lubrication volume; a second scroll rotatably mounted within the housing and supported by a second scroll bearing, the second scroll bearing disposed in the lubrication volume; a motor; a drive shaft operatively connected to the motor, the drive shaft configured to transmit torque from the motor to each of the first scroll and the second scroll, the drive shaft supported by a drive bearing disposed in the lubrication volume.

The device may further comprise a set of first drive gears configured to support the drive shaft, the set of first drive gears disposed in the lubrication volume; a set of second drive gears disposed in the lubrication volume, wherein one of the set of second drive gears is configured to support the first scroll and, wherein another one of the set of second drive gears is configured to support the second scroll, wherein the drive shaft transmit torque from the motor to each of the first scroll and the second scroll via the set of first drive gears and the set of second drive gears.

The lubrication chamber may comprise a first drive gear portion housing one of the set of first drive gears and a second drive gear portion housing another one of the set of first drive gears.

The lubrication chamber may comprise a passageway fluidly connecting the first drive gear portion and the second drive gear portion.

The lubrication chamber may comprise lubrication and a portion of the set of first drive gears is in contact with the lubrication, and wherein rotation of the set of first drive gears disperses the lubrication to the set of second drive gears.

The lubrication may comprise an oil.

Each of the first scroll and the second scroll may comprise a scroll shaft coupled to a scroll plate, wherein the scroll shaft is supported by a respective second drive gear of the set of second drive gears.

The device may further comprise a set of bearing plates coupled to the housing and a set of cover plates coupled to the set of bearing plates, wherein the housing, the set of bearing plates, and the set of cover plates form the lubrication chamber.

A spinning scroll device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: a housing defining a working fluid volume; a lubrication chamber defining a lubrication volume, wherein the working fluid volume and the lubrication volume are separated and independent of one another; a first scroll mounted within the housing and rotatably supported by a first drive gear of a set of second drive gears and a first scroll bearing, the set of second drive gears and the first scroll bearing disposed in the lubrication volume; a second scroll mounted within the housing and rotatably supported by a second drive gear of the set of second drive gears and a second scroll bearing, the second scroll bearing disposed in the lubrication volume; a motor; and a drive shaft operatively coupled with the motor and supported by a set of first drive gears and a drive bearing, the drive shaft configured to transmit torque from the motor to each of the first scroll and the second scroll via the set of first drive gears and the set of second drive gears, the set of first drive gears and the drive bearing disposed in the lubrication volume.

Each of the first scroll bearing, the second scroll bearing, and the drive bearing may comprise a pair of bearings.

The lubrication chamber may comprise a lubrication fluid and a portion of the set of first drive gears is in contact with the lubrication fluid, and wherein rotation of the set of first drive gears disperses the lubrication fluid to the set of second drive gears.

Each of the first scroll bearing, the second scroll bearing, and the drive bearing may comprise open sides configured to enable the lubrication fluid to pass through the respective first scroll bearing, the second scroll bearing, and the drive bearing.

Although one or more aspects of the present disclosure may be illustrated with respect to a scroll compressor or a scroll expander, the present disclosure is generally applicable to and includes any type of scroll device, without limitation.

The term “scroll device” as used herein refers to scroll compressors, scroll vacuum pumps, scroll expanders, and similar mechanical devices. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will understand that basic modifications may need to be made to aspects of the present disclosure to enable usage of the present disclosure with scroll expanders, which basic modifications are well within the knowledge and skill of a person of ordinary skill in the art.

The preceding is a simplified summary of the disclosure to provide an understanding of some aspects of the disclosure. This summary is neither an extensive nor exhaustive overview of the disclosure and its various aspects, embodiments, and configurations. It is intended neither to identify key or critical elements of the disclosure nor to delineate the scope of the disclosure but to present selected concepts of the disclosure in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description presented below. As will be appreciated, other aspects, embodiments, and configurations of the disclosure are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below.

Numerous additional features and advantages are described herein and will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following Detailed Description and in view of the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are incorporated into and form a part of the specification to illustrate several examples of the present disclosure. These drawings, together with the description, explain the principles of the disclosure. The drawings simply illustrate preferred and alternative examples of how the disclosure can be made and used and are not to be construed as limiting the disclosure to only the illustrated and described examples. Further features and advantages will become apparent from the following, more detailed, description of the various aspects, embodiments, and configurations of the disclosure, as illustrated by the drawings referenced below.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a co-rotating spinning scroll device according to at least some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a co-rotating spinning scroll device according to at least some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a co-rotating spinning scroll device according to at least some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional elevation view taken along line A-A shown in FIG. 3 of the co-rotating spinning scroll device according to at least some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an oil chamber according to at least some embodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 6 is cross-sectional perspective view taken along line A-A shown in FIG. 3 of the co-rotating spinning scroll device according to at least some embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any embodiments of the disclosure are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Further, the present disclosure may use examples to illustrate one or more aspects thereof. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, the use or listing of one or more examples (which may be denoted by “for example,” “by way of example,” “e.g.,” “such as,” or similar language) is not intended to and does not limit the scope of the present disclosure.

The ensuing description provides embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the claims. Rather, the ensuing description will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing the described embodiments. It being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Various aspects of the present disclosure will be described herein with reference to drawings that may be schematic illustrations of idealized configurations.

A scroll device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure utilizes a drive shaft driven by an electric motor. This drive shaft may have two large diameter gears which transmit torque to two independent, parallel misaligned scroll shafts. These scroll shafts may have small diameter gears (e.g., smaller in diameter than the large diameter gears, etc.), which allow the scroll shafts to spin at high speeds in comparison to the drive shaft due to the gear ratio between the large diameter gears and the small diameter gears. A scroll, which may include an involute spiral wall and a base plate, may be affixed to the end of each of the two scroll shafts. The parallel misalignment of the scroll shafts, from now forward called the eccentric, creates swept volumes that reduce as the two scrolls co-rotate. This process generates pressure and flow rate. The drive shaft, gears, and scroll shafts are connected in a way that maintains angular positioning (or clocking) between the two scrolls. This clocking is important because as the two scrolls co-rotate, their angular position and velocity must be identical to prevent contact between the two involutes.

A co-rotating spinning scroll device 100 is shown in FIGS. 1-4 and 6. The scroll device 100 comprises a housing 102, a motor 104, an inlet 106, and outlets 108A, 108B. It will be appreciated that in some embodiments, the scroll device 100 may comprise more than one inlet and/or one outlet or more than two outlets. The purpose of the co-rotating scroll device 100 may be to compress any gaseous operating fluid (or pump any liquid operating fluid), although the design of the scroll device 100 can be utilized for any co-rotating scroll compressor, expander, or pump. Additionally, the design utilizes a sealed oil chamber to simultaneously lubricate bearings, gears, and seals (which will be described in detail in conjunction with FIGS. 4-6) which, among other things, enables the use of oil-lubricated bearings. Such oil-lubricated bearings may have less drag compared to conventional greased bearings, which may increase an efficiency of the scroll device 100. Further, the compact nature of the scroll device 100 coupled with its high-speed operation makes it suitable for a variety of size and weight sensitive applications.

Turning to FIG. 2, an exploded perspective view of the scroll device 100 is shown. The scroll device 100 utilizes a gear system to transmit rotational force from the motor 104 to the scrolls. The scroll device 100 comprises a housing 102, within which two scrolls 110A, 110B are mounted on scroll bearings 112A, 112B, thus enabling the scrolls 110A, 110B to rotate relative to the housing 102. The scroll bearings 112A, 112B may each comprise a pair of bearings, or in other instances, may comprise one bearing, two bearings, or more than two bearings. Each scroll 110A, 110B comprises a scroll plate 114A, 114B coupled to a respective scroll shaft 116A, 116B (visible in FIG. 4) supported by the scroll bearings 112A, 112B. In some embodiments, the scrolls 110A, 110B may be integrated with each scroll shaft 116A, 116B. In the illustrated embodiment, each scroll shaft 116A, 116B comprises a bore 118A, 118B and each bore 118A, 118B may be in fluid communication with the respective outlet 108A, 108B. In other embodiments, only one of the scrolls shafts 116A, 116B may comprise a bore 118A, 118B. In the illustrated embodiment, the scroll shafts 116A, 116B each extend through first scroll bearings 112A-1, 112B-1 nearest the housing 102, one of a set of second drive gears 120A, 120B, and second scroll bearings 112A-2, 112B-2 (which are further from the housing 102 than the first scroll bearings 112A-1, 112B-1). Each first bearing 112A-1, 112B-1 is supported by a bearing plate 122A, 122B and each second bearing 112A-2, 112B-2 is supported by a cover plate 124A, 124B. It will be appreciated that in some embodiments, the cover plates 124A, 124B, the bearing plates 122A, 122B, and/or the housing 102 may be formed or integrated as one piece. The housing 102, the cover plates 124A, 124B, and/or the bearing plates 122A, 122B may be made, for example, of aluminum, an aluminum alloy, or any other metal or metal alloy. In some embodiments, at least one of the housing 102, the cover plates 124A, 124B, and/or the bearing plates 122A, 122B may be made of a composite material and/or a non-metallic material. Each scroll 110A, 110B is fixedly secured to one of the set of second drive gears 120A, 120B, which wraps around or encompasses a circumference of the scroll shafts 116A, 116B.

The motor 104 is secured or otherwise attached to the housing 102. In some embodiments, the motor 104 may be housed in a motor housing (not shown). The motor 104 is operatively connected to a drive shaft 126, which may be supported by two drive bearings 128A, 128B. It will be appreciated that in some embodiments, the drive shaft 126 may be supported by one, two, or more than two drive bearings. The drive shaft 126, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, extends through the bearing plates 122A, 122B, the housing 102, and the cover plate 124B. A first set of drive gears 130A, 130B are mounted to the drive shaft 126, with each first drive gear 130A, 130B positioned to engage a corresponding gear of the set of second drive gears 120A, 120B. A plurality of fasteners 132 may be used to secure various components of the scroll device 100 in position.

Inside the volume formed by the housing 102, the bearing plates 122A, 122B, and the scroll plates 124A, 124B may correspond to two opposing scrolls 110A, 110B, each comprising an involute 134A, 134B, respectively. Relative motion of the involutes 134A, 134B causes working fluid to be trapped within pockets formed between the two involutes 134A, 134B. These pockets continuously move the working fluid toward the center of the involutes 134A, 134B as the involutes 134A, 134B move relative to each other. The pockets also decrease in size, thus compressing the working fluid (for scroll devices that, like the scroll device 100, are scroll compressors). To prevent leakage of working fluid from inside these pockets, tip seals may be provided along the distal edge of each involute 134A, 134B. More specifically, a tip seal may be provided along the edge of the involute 134A that is proximate the scroll 110B (such that the tip seal contacts the scroll 110B), and another tip seal may be provided along the edge of the involute 134B that is proximate the scroll 110A (such that the tip seal contacts the scroll 110B).

During operation of the scroll device 100, uncompressed working fluid (for a scroll compressor) is received into the scroll housing 102 (and thus into the volume surrounding the scrolls 110A, 110B) via the inlet 106. The working fluid is drawn into pockets that form between the involutes 134A, 134B as the scrolls 110A, 110B move relative to each other. Compressed working fluid exits the pockets at or near a center of the volume formed by the involutes 134A, 134B. The center volume is in fluid communication with an internal volume of the scroll shaft 116A, 116B, which internal volume is in fluid communication with the respective outlet 108A, 108B. The outlets 108A, 108B may discharge the working fluid to hoses, pipes, or other conduits secured to the outlets 108A, 108B and utilized to route compressed working fluid to a desired location.

Turning to FIGS. 4-6, a cross-sectional elevation view of the scroll device 100 taken from line A-A of FIG. 3, a schematic diagram of a lubrication chamber 136, and a cross-sectional perspective view of the scroll device 100 taken from line A-A of FIG. 3 are respectively shown. The lubrication chamber 136 is formed by the bearing plates 122A, 122B and the cover plates 124A, 124B, which define a lubrication volume. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the lubrication chamber 136 is identified by dashed lines. The first drive gears 130A, 130B, the second drive gears 120A, 120B, the drive shaft 126, the scroll bearings 112A, 112B, and the drive bearings 128A, 128B are each disposed in the lubrication volume, in which lubrication (which may be, for example, oil) is dispersed by the first drive gears 130A, 130B to lubricate the second drive gears 120A, 120B, the first drive gears 130A, 130B, the scroll bearings 112A, 112B, and the drive bearings 128A, 128B.

The lubrication chamber 136 may be sealed by seal 138 and seals 140 comprising seals 140A, 140B, 140C, 140D (visible in FIG. 5) such that the lubrication chamber 136 is sealed and separated from the working fluid. More specifically, the seal 138 may be used to prevent leakage of the lubrication into the motor 104 and vice versa, and the seals 140A, 140B, 140C, 140D may be used to prevent leakage of the lubrication into the working fluid in the housing 102 and vice versa. The seals 138, 140 may be seated inside corresponding grooves or channels. The seals 138, 140 may be dynamic 0-rings, dynamic gaskets, radial seals, mechanical shaft seals, labyrinth seals, bushings, or any other seals useful for preventing leakage of a fluid or lubrication through a joint between two components. Further, the seals 138, 140 may be made of compressed non-asbestos fiber, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), rubber, silicone, other non-metallic materials, or any combination thereof; metal (whether a pure metal, a metal alloy, or a combination of metals or metal alloys); or a combination of non-metallic materials and metal. Some of the seals 138, 140 may be made of one material or combination of materials, and others of the seals 138, 140 may be made of a different material or combination of materials. Each seal 138, 140 may be selected to provide a needed or desired level of impermeability, compressibility, creep resistance, resilience, chemical resistance, temperature resistance, anti-stick properties, and anti-corrosion properties. Because different scroll devices 100 may be used with different working fluids and/or lubrications, the seals 138, 140 may be selected based on the particular application intended for the scroll device 100 in which the seals 138, 140 will be installed.

The lubrication chamber 136 may comprise a level of lubrication 142 (e.g., a lubrication sump) disposed near a bottom 144 of the lubrication chamber 136. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the level of lubrication 142 may occupy less than ¼ of the volume of the lubrication chamber 136, though it will be appreciated that in other embodiments, the level of lubrication 142 may occupy more than ¼ of the volume of the lubrication chamber 136. In operation, the motor 104 causes the drive shaft 126 to spin, or rotate, about an axis, thus causing the first drive gears 130A, 130B to rotate. As the first drive gears 130A, 130B rotate, a portion of the first drive gears 130A, 130B that were in contact with the lubrication 142 are rotated the lubrication 142 is carried away from the bottom 144 of the lubrication chamber 136 (e.g., in a direction toward the top of the lubrication chamber 136, outwardly from a center of the first drive gears 130A, 130B, etc., and/or combinations thereof). Further, the first drive gears 130A, 130B may rotate at a speed such that the rotation of the first drive gears 130A, 130B causes the first drive gears 130A, 130B to disperse the lubrication—whether by flinging or splashing the lubrication or otherwise—in multiple directions and trajectories throughout the lubrication chamber 136. Such dispersion of the lubrication results in the lubrication of components vertically above and adjacent to the first drive gears 130A, 130B such as the scroll bearings 112A, 112B, the drive bearings 128A, 128B, and the second drive gears 120A, 120B. The scroll bearings 112A, 112B and the drive bearings 128A, 128B may each comprise one or more open sides 148, 150 such that oil may enter and exit the scroll bearings 112A, 112B and the drive bearings 128A, 128B through the open sides 148, 150, thus allowing the lubrication to further move throughout the lubrication chamber 136. In some examples, the lubrication may correspond to a low viscosity oil. In one example, the lubrication may not correspond to a grease and may have a viscosity or weight less than or equal to a Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) 140 rating. The lubrication may correspond to an engine oil, extreme pressure oil, transmission oil, gear oil, a gearbox oil, synthetic oil, transmission fluid, etc., and/or combinations thereof. Some examples of the lubrication described herein may include, but are in no way limited to, Castrol® brand Transmax Type F, Mobil™ Delvac 1 brand 75W-90 synthetic gear oil, Mobil™ Delvac 1 brand transmission fluid 40, Grantt brant gear oil (e.g., API GL-4 SAE 140, etc.), and/or the like.

The lubrication chamber 136 may also comprise a passageway 152 that provides at least one path and fluid connection for the lubrication between a first drive gear portion 154A housing the first drive gear 130A and defined by the bearing plate 122A and the cover plate 124A, and a second drive gear portion 154B housing the second drive gear 130B and defined by the bearing plate 122B and the cover plate 124B. In other words, the passageway 152 enables the first drive gear portion 154A and the second drive gear portion 154B to be in fluid communication. Further, the passageway 152 enables the lubrication to settle at an even level between the first drive gear portion 154A and the second drive gear portion 154B when the scroll device 100 is not operating. As visible in FIGS. 2 and 6, the passageway 152 extends through the bearing plates 122A, 112B, and the housing 102. Though not shown, the scroll device 100 may comprise a port in communication with the lubrication chamber 136 for adding or removing lubrication to or from the lubrication chamber 136 and/or a view port for viewing a level of the lubrication.

As previously described, in operation, the motor 104 spins the drive shaft 126, thus causing the first drive gears 130A, 130B to rotate. The first drive gears 130A, 130B transmit torque to the second drive gears 120A, 120B, the rotation of which results in the rotation of the scrolls 110A, 110B to which they are affixed. Using the first drive gears 130A, 130B and the second drive gears 120A, 120B beneficially allows the motor 104 to be located away from the scrolls 110A, 110B, and facilitates the provision of large working fluid outlets 108A, 108B. This, in turn, enables the scroll device 100 to be utilized in applications where a high flow rate is needed. Use of the drive shaft 126 and the first drive gears 130A, 130B and the second drive gears 120A, 120B beneficially enables the use of a single motor to drive both of the scrolls 110A, 110B.

Additionally, the use of the first drive gears 130A, 130B and the second drive gears 120A, 120B allows the scroll device 100 to benefit from mechanical advantage. More specifically, by adjusting the size of the first drive gears 130A, 130B relative to the second drive gears 120A, 120B, mechanical advantage may be beneficially utilized to obtain the desired scroll rotation speed while allowing the motor 104 to operate at a different (perhaps more efficient) speed, and/or to enable a less-powerful (and likely cheaper) motor 104 to be used than would be required with a 1:1 drive ratio. For example, such mechanical advantage enables high gear ratios that allows high speed rotation of the scrolls 110A, 110B with a lower input shaft and operational speed of the motor 104. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in some embodiments, the scroll device 100 may utilize a 1:1 drive ratio. Additionally, in some embodiments, the first drive gears 130A, 130B and the second drive gears 130A, 130B may comprise meshed gears to maintain angular positioning between the scroll shafts 116A, 116B, which may be parallel and misaligned. In some embodiments, the first drive gears 130A, 130B and the second drive gears 120A, 120B may comprise helical cut gears.

Where the working fluid is an incompressible fluid, such that there is a 1:1 ratio between the inlet volume and the outlet volume, the inlet 106 and the outlet(s) 108A, 108B may be reversed. Additionally, the scroll device 100 could be modified to utilize two inlets and/or two outlets to reduce throttling effects and increase flow rate. For example, an additional aperture could be provided in the housing 102 adjacent the working fluid volume, thus enabling the aperture to serve as a second outlet (or, if the outlets 108A, 108B and the inlet 106 are reversed, as a second inlet).

In the scroll device 100, the drive shaft 126 must remain equidistant from the center of rotation of each scroll of the scroll device to maintain an equal rotation speed and thus the needed relative angular position between the scrolls. In some embodiments, the drive shaft 126 may comprise the rotor of the motor 104, in which event the stator and other portions of the motor 104 may be centrally mounted and positioned around the drive shaft 126, in between the gears that are also mounted to the drive shaft 126. It will be appreciated that in some embodiments, the motor 104 may utilize liquid cooling to remove heat therefrom. The liquid coolant may be routed around the motor in channels provided in, for example, any housing in which the motor is mounted for that purpose, or the liquid coolant may be routed around the motor via tubing, hoses, or any other suitable conduit.

The exemplary devices, methods, and systems of this disclosure have been described in relation to scroll devices such as scroll pumps or compressors, etc. However, to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present disclosure, the preceding description omits a number of known structures and devices. This omission is not to be construed as a limitation of the scope of the claimed disclosure. Specific details are set forth to provide an understanding of the present disclosure. It should, however, be appreciated that the present disclosure may be practiced in a variety of ways beyond the specific detail set forth herein.

A number of variations and modifications of the disclosure can be used. It would be possible to provide for some features of the disclosure without providing others.

References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” “some embodiments,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in conjunction with one embodiment, it is submitted that the description of such feature, structure, or characteristic may apply to any other embodiment unless so stated and/or except as will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the description. The present disclosure, in various embodiments, configurations, and aspects, includes components, methods, processes, systems and/or apparatus substantially as depicted and described herein, including various embodiments, subcombinations, and subsets thereof. Those of skill in the art will understand how to make and use the systems and methods disclosed herein after understanding the present disclosure. The present disclosure, in various embodiments, configurations, and aspects, includes providing devices and processes in the absence of items not depicted and/or described herein or in various embodiments, configurations, or aspects hereof, including in the absence of such items as may have been used in previous devices or processes, e.g., for improving performance, achieving ease, and/or reducing cost of implementation.

The foregoing discussion of the disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The foregoing is not intended to limit the disclosure to the form or forms disclosed herein. In the foregoing Detailed Description for example, various features of the disclosure are grouped together in one or more embodiments, configurations, or aspects for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. The features of the embodiments, configurations, or aspects of the disclosure may be combined in alternate embodiments, configurations, or aspects other than those discussed above. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed disclosure requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment, configuration, or aspect. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate preferred embodiment of the disclosure.

Moreover, though the description of the disclosure has included description of one or more embodiments, configurations, or aspects and certain variations and modifications, other variations, combinations, and modifications are within the scope of the disclosure, e.g., as may be within the skill and knowledge of those in the art, after understanding the present disclosure. It is intended to obtain rights, which include alternative embodiments, configurations, or aspects to the extent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges, or steps to those claimed, whether or not such alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges, or steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publicly dedicate any patentable subject matter.

It is to be appreciated that any feature described herein can be claimed in combination with any other feature(s) as described herein, regardless of whether the features come from the same described embodiment.

As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “include,” “including,” “includes,” “comprise,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

The term “a” or “an” entity refers to one or more of that entity. As such, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more,” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein. It is also to be noted that the terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” can be used interchangeably.

The phrases “at least one,” “one or more,” “or,” and “and/or” are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B and C,” “at least one of A, B, or C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, or C,” and “A, B, and/or C” means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B, and C together. When each one of A, B, and C in the above expressions refers to an element, such as X, Y, and Z, or a class of elements, such as X1-Xn, Y1-Ym, and Z1-Zo, the phrase is intended to refer to a single element selected from X, Y, and Z, a combination of elements selected from the same class (e.g., X1 and X2) as well as a combination of elements selected from two or more classes (e.g., Yb1 and Zo).

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and this disclosure.

It should be understood that every maximum numerical limitation given throughout this disclosure is deemed to include each and every lower numerical limitation as an alternative, as if such lower numerical limitations were expressly written herein. Every minimum numerical limitation given throughout this disclosure is deemed to include each and every higher numerical limitation as an alternative, as if such higher numerical limitations were expressly written herein. Every numerical range given throughout this disclosure is deemed to include each and every narrower numerical range that falls within such broader numerical range, as if such narrower numerical ranges were all expressly written herein.

Claims

1. A spinning scroll device comprising:

a housing defining a working fluid volume;

a lubrication chamber defining a lubrication volume, wherein the working fluid volume and the lubrication volume are separated from one another;

a first scroll mounted within the housing and rotatably supported by one of a set of second drive gears, the set of second drive gears disposed in the lubrication volume;

a second scroll mounted within the housing and rotatably supported by another one of the set of second drive gears;

a motor; and

a drive shaft operatively connected to the motor, the drive shaft supported by a set of first drive gears, the drive shaft configured to transmit torque from the motor to each of the first scroll and the second scroll via the set of first drive gears and the set of second drive gears, the set of first drive gears disposed in the lubrication volume.

2. The spinning scroll device of claim 1, further comprising a set of bearing plates coupled to the housing and a set of cover plates respectively coupled to the set of bearing plates, wherein the housing, the set of bearing plates, and the set of cover plates form the lubrication chamber.

3. The spinning scroll device of claim 1, wherein the lubrication chamber comprises a first drive gear portion housing one of the set of first drive gears and a second drive gear portion housing another one of the set of first drive gears.

4. The spinning scroll device of claim 3, wherein the lubrication chamber comprises a passageway fluidly connecting the first drive gear portion and the second drive gear portion.

5. The spinning scroll device of claim 1, wherein the lubrication chamber comprises lubrication and a portion of the set of first drive gears is in contact with the lubrication, and wherein rotation of the set of first drive gears disperses the lubrication to the set of second drive gears.

6. The spinning scroll device of claim 1, wherein each of the first scroll and the second scroll comprises a scroll shaft coupled to a scroll plate, wherein the scroll shaft is supported by a respective second drive gear of the set of second drive gears.

7. The spinning scroll device of claim 6, further comprising:

a first scroll bearing configured to support the scroll shaft of the first scroll;

a second scroll bearing configured to support the scroll shaft of the second scroll; and

a drive bearing configured to support the drive shaft,

wherein the first scroll bearing, the second scroll bearing, and the drive bearing are disposed in the lubrication volume.

8. The spinning scroll device of claim 1, wherein the motor is liquid cooled.

9. A spinning scroll device comprising:

a housing defining a working fluid volume;

a lubrication chamber defining a lubrication volume, wherein the working fluid volume and the lubrication volume are fluidly separated from one another;

a first scroll rotatably mounted within the housing and supported by a first scroll bearing, the first scroll bearing disposed in the lubrication volume;

a second scroll rotatably mounted within the housing and supported by a second scroll bearing, the second scroll bearing disposed in the lubrication volume;

a motor;

a drive shaft operatively connected to the motor, the drive shaft configured to transmit torque from the motor to each of the first scroll and the second scroll, the drive shaft supported by a drive bearing disposed in the lubrication volume.

10. The spinning scroll device of claim 9, further comprising:

a set of first drive gears configured to support the drive shaft, the set of first drive gears disposed in the lubrication volume;

a set of second drive gears disposed in the lubrication volume, wherein one of the set of second drive gears is configured to support the first scroll and, wherein another one of the set of second drive gears is configured to support the second scroll,

wherein the drive shaft transmit torque from the motor to each of the first scroll and the second scroll via the set of first drive gears and the set of second drive gears.

11. The spinning scroll device of claim 10, wherein the lubrication chamber comprises a first drive gear portion housing one of the set of first drive gears and a second drive gear portion housing another one of the set of first drive gears.

12. The spinning scroll device of claim 11, wherein the lubrication chamber comprises a passageway fluidly connecting the first drive gear portion and the second drive gear portion.

13. The spinning scroll device of claim 10, wherein the lubrication chamber comprises lubrication and a portion of the set of first drive gears is in contact with the lubrication, and wherein rotation of the set of first drive gears disperses the lubrication to the set of second drive gears.

14. The spinning scroll device of claim 13, wherein the lubrication comprises an oil.

15. The spinning scroll device of claim 10, wherein each of the first scroll and the second scroll comprises a scroll shaft coupled to a scroll plate, wherein the scroll shaft is supported by a respective second drive gear of the set of second drive gears.

16. The spinning scroll device of claim 9, further comprising a set of bearing plates coupled to the housing and a set of cover plates coupled to the set of bearing plates, wherein the housing, the set of bearing plates, and the set of cover plates form the lubrication chamber.

17. A spinning scroll device comprising:

a housing defining a working fluid volume;

a lubrication chamber defining a lubrication volume, wherein the working fluid volume and the lubrication volume are separated and independent of one another;

a first scroll mounted within the housing and rotatably supported by a first drive gear of a set of second drive gears and a first scroll bearing, the set of second drive gears and the first scroll bearing disposed in the lubrication volume;

a second scroll mounted within the housing and rotatably supported by a second drive gear of the set of second drive gears and a second scroll bearing, the second scroll bearing disposed in the lubrication volume;

a motor; and

a drive shaft operatively coupled with the motor and supported by a set of first drive gears and a drive bearing, the drive shaft configured to transmit torque from the motor to each of the first scroll and the second scroll via the set of first drive gears and the set of second drive gears, the set of first drive gears and the drive bearing disposed in the lubrication volume.

18. The spinning scroll device of claim 17, wherein each of the first scroll bearing, the second scroll bearing, and the drive bearing comprise a pair of bearings.

19. The spinning scroll device of claim 17, wherein the lubrication chamber comprises a lubrication fluid and a portion of the set of first drive gears is in contact with the lubrication fluid, and wherein rotation of the set of first drive gears disperses the lubrication fluid to the set of second drive gears.

20. The spinning scroll device of claim 19, wherein each of the first scroll bearing, the second scroll bearing, and the drive bearing comprise open sides configured to enable the lubrication fluid to pass through the respective first scroll bearing, the second scroll bearing, and the drive bearing.