Maintenance Method for Scroll Fluid Machine, and Scroll Fluid Machine

Abstract

Provided are a maintenance method for a scroll fluid machine and a scroll fluid machine, which obviate replacement of a part of a motor unit when replacing a main body unit. In a maintenance method for replacing a main body unit 1A with a main body unit 1B on a scroll compressor including the main body unit 1A and a motor unit 2, the motor unit 2 has on a protruding portion 36 of its flange 34 an outer circumferential side fitting surface 51A and an outer circumferential side fitting surface 51B at positions different from each other in a circumferential direction, the main body unit 1A has on its main body casing 14A an inner circumferential side fitting surface 52A, which is fitted on only the fitting surface 51A, and the main body unit 1B has on its main body casing 14B an inner circumferential side fitting surface 52B to be fitted on only the fitting surface 51B.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a maintenance method for a scroll fluid machine, and also to a scroll fluid machine.

BACKGROUND ART

Patent Document 1 discloses a scroll fluid machine. The scroll fluid machine includes a main body unit and a motor unit connected to each other. The main body unit includes a fixed scroll, an orbiting scroll for forming working chambers between itself and the fixed scroll, a support supporting the orbiting scroll for orbiting motion thereon, and a casing connected to the fixed scroll and accommodating the orbiting scroll and the support therein. The motor unit allows the orbiting scroll to undergo orbiting motion via a crankshaft.

As depicted in Patent Document 1, the motor unit has on its flange a protruding portion that protrudes toward the main body unit, and this protruding portion has an outer circumferential side fitting surface. The main body unit has on its housing an inner circumferential side fitting surface. When connecting the motor unit and the main body unit together, the accuracy of alignment between a center of the motor unit (specifically, a center of the crankshaft) and a center of the main body unit (specifically, the center of orbiting motion of the orbiting scroll) is improved by fitting (what is generally called a spigot joint structure) between the fitting surface of the protruding portion of the flange of the motor unit and the fitting surface of the housing of the main body unit.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT

Patent Document

Patent Document 1: JP-2006-029238-A

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

However, there is a possibility that the fitting surface of the protruding portion of the flange of the motor unit and the fitting surface of the housing of the main body unit may wear by such a cause as microvibrations during operation of the compressor. If wearing occurs, the accuracy of alignment between the center of the motor unit and the center of the main body unit is lowered when replacing the main body unit. A need hence arises to replace not only the main body unit but also the flange of the motor unit.

The present invention has been made with the foregoing matter in view, and has, as one of problems, the obviation of the replacement of the flange of the motor unit when replacing the main body unit.

Means for Solving the Problem

For solution of the above-described problem, the configurations described in the claims are applied. The present invention includes a plurality of types of means to solve the above-described problem, and provides as an example thereof a maintenance method for replacing a main body unit on a scroll fluid machine including the main body unit that has a fixed scroll, an orbiting scroll for forming working chambers between itself and the fixed scrolls, a support supporting the orbiting scroll for orbiting motion thereon, and a main body casing connected to the fixed scroll and accommodating the orbiting scroll and the support therein, and a motor unit that is connected to the main body unit to allow the orbiting scroll to undergo orbiting motion via a crankshaft. The motor unit has a flange having a protruding portion that extends toward the main body unit and has an outer circumferential side first fitting surface and an outer circumferential side second fitting surface at positions different from each other in a circumferential direction or a radial direction. The main body casing of the main body unit before the replacement has an inner circumferential side third fitting surface fitted on only the first fitting surface, and the main body casing of the main body unit after the replacement has an inner circumferential side fourth fitting surface fitted on only the second fitting surface.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, it is possible to obviate the replacement of the flange of the motor unit when replacing the main body unit.

It is to be noted that objects, configurations, and effects other than those described above will become apparent by the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view depicting a construction of a scroll compressor in a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is another perspective view depicting the construction of the scroll compressor in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a further perspective view depicting the construction of the scroll compressor in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an axial cross-sectional view depicting the construction of the scroll compressor in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an axial cross-sectional view depicting detachment of a first main body unit from a motor unit in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an axial cross-sectional view depicting attachment of a second main body unit to the motor unit in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a radial cross-sectional view as viewed in a direction A-A in FIG. 5 or 6.

FIGS. 8A and 8B depict a radial cross-sectional view as viewed in a direction B-B in FIG. 5 and a radial cross-sectional view as viewed in a direction C-C in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is an axial cross-sectional view depicting detachment of a third main body unit from a motor unit in a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an axial cross-sectional view depicting attachment of a fourth main body unit to the motor unit in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 11A and 11B depict a radial cross-sectional view as viewed in a direction D-D in FIG. 9 or 10 and a radial cross-sectional view as viewed in a direction E-E in FIG. 9 or 10.

FIGS. 12A and 12B depict a radial cross-sectional view as viewed in a direction F-F in FIG. 9 and a radial cross-sectional view as viewed in a direction G-G in FIG. 10.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Taking a scroll compressor as an example of a subject to which the present invention is applicable, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views (perspective views seen from a side of a main body unit) depicting a construction of a scroll compressor in this embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a further perspective view (a further perspective view seen from a side of a motor unit) depicting the construction of the scroll compressor in this embodiment. FIG. 4 is an axial cross-sectional view depicting the construction of the scroll compressor in this embodiment. It is to be noted that FIGS. 1 and 4 depict a state in which the main body unit, the motor unit, and a duct are connected together. FIGS. 2 and 3 depict a state in which the main body unit and the motor unit are separated from each other, and the depiction of the duct is omitted. In FIGS. 3 and 4, a main body casing of the main body unit is depicted for the sake of convenience as one having no characteristics of this embodiment (see FIGS. 5 and 8A or FIGS. 6 and 8B to be described below).

The scroll compressor of this embodiment includes a main body unit 1, a motor unit 2, and a duct 3, which are connected together. The duct 3 introduces cooling air, which has been generated by a cooling fan (details of which will be mentioned below) of the motor unit 2, into the main body unit 1.

The main body unit 1 includes a fixed scroll 11, an orbiting scroll 12 for forming compression chambers (working chambers) between itself and the fixed scroll 11, a support 13 supporting the orbiting scroll 12 for orbiting motion thereon, and a cylindrical main body casing 14 connected to the fixed scroll 11 and accommodating the orbiting scroll 12 and the support 13 therein.

The fixed scroll 11 has a substantially circular end plate 15, a spiral wrap 16 erected on one side (a right side in FIG. 4) of the end plate 15, a plurality of cooling fins 17 erected on an opposite side (a left side in FIG. 4) of the end plate 15, and a cover 18 secured to tip sides (left sides in FIG. 4) of the cooling fins 17. The cooling air from the duct 3 flows into cooling flow paths formed by the cooling fins 17 and the cover 18. The fixed scroll 11 is cooled accordingly.

The orbiting scroll 12 includes a substantially circular end plate 19, a spiral wrap 20 erected on one side (the left side in FIG. 4) of the end plate 19, a plurality of cooling fins 21 erected on an opposite side (the right side in FIG. 4) of the end plate 19, and a plate 22 secured to tip sides (right sides in FIG. 4) of the cooling fins 21. The cooling air from the duct 3 flows into cooling flow paths defined by the cooling fins 21 and the plate 22. The orbiting scroll 11 is cooled accordingly.

The support 13 is configured, for example, of three auxiliary crankshafts and three pairs of auxiliary bearings that support the auxiliary crankshafts. The support 13 may be configured using ball coupling mechanisms, Oldham couplings, or the like. The support 13 supports the orbiting scroll 12 for orbiting motion thereon, and at the same time prevents rotation of the orbiting scroll 12. In addition, the support 13 receives an axial load of the orbiting scroll 12.

The motor unit 2 allows the orbiting scroll 12 to undergo orbiting motion via a crankshaft 30. Between the wrap 16 of the fixed scroll 11 and the wrap 20 of the orbiting scroll 12, a plurality of working chambers are formed. As the orbiting scroll 12 undergoes orbiting motion, each working chamber moves from an outer side toward an inner side in a wrap extending direction (in other words, in such a manner as to move closer to a central portion in a radial direction of the fixed scroll 11), and at the same time sequentially undergoes a suction stroke, a compression stroke, and a discharge stroke. The working chamber in the suction stroke draws gas (for example, air) through a suction filter 23 and a suction flow passage of the fixed scroll 11. The working chamber in the compression stroke compresses the gas (in other words, changes the pressure of the gas). The working chamber in the discharge stroke discharges the compressed gas (in other words, the gas the pressure of which has been changed) through a discharge flow passage 24 of the fixed scroll 11.

The motor unit 2 includes the above-mentioned crankshaft 30, a rotor 31 fixed on an outer circumferential side of the crankshaft 30, a stator 32 spacedly arranged on an outer circumferential side of the rotor 31, a cylindrical motor casing 33 supporting the stator 32 thereon, a flange 34 secured to one side in an axial direction (the left side in FIG. 4) of the motor casing 33, and an end bracket 35 secured to an opposite side in the axial direction (the right side in FIG. 4) of the motor casing 33.

The flange 34 of the motor unit 2 has a protruding portion 36 that protrudes toward the main body unit 1 side (the left side in FIG. 4). With the protruding portion 36 accommodated in the main body casing 14 of the main body unit 1, the flange 34 of the motor unit 2 is connected to the main body casing 14 of the main body unit 1 by a plurality of bolts 4.

The crankshaft 30 is rotatably supported by a main bearing 37 (loading side bearing) disposed on the flange 34 and an auxiliary bearing 38 (counter-loading bearing) disposed on the end bracket 35. The crankshaft 30 is rotated by an electromagnetic force generated by the rotor 31 and the stator 32.

The crankshaft 30 protrudes from the flange 34 on a side of one end thereof (the left side in FIG. 4), where a crank portion 39 is disposed. The crank portion 39 of the crankshaft 30 is eccentric from a center of the crankshaft 30, and is connected to a boss portion of the plate 22 of the orbiting scroll 12 via an orbiting bearing 40. It is to be noted that the orbiting scroll 12 is not required to include the plate 22. If this is the case, the crank portion 39 of the crankshaft 30 is only required to be connected to a boss portion of the end plate 19 of the orbiting scroll 12 via the orbiting bearing 40.

The orbiting bearing 40 is configured to be separable into an outer ring fixed on the boss portion of the orbiting scroll 12 and an inner ring fixed on the crank portion 39 of the crankshaft 30. The main body unit 1 and the motor unit 2 can be separated accordingly.

The crankshaft 30 protrudes from the end bracket 35 on a side of the other end thereof (the right side in FIG. 4), where a cooling fan 41 is disposed. The cooling fan 41 rotates together with the crankshaft 30 to generate cooling air. The duct 3 introduces the cooling air which has been generated by the cooling fan 41, into the cooling flow passage of the main body unit 1.

A description will next be made about replacement of the main body unit as maintenance of the above-mentioned scroll compressor.

In this embodiment, a main body unit 1A is detached from the motor unit 2 as depicted in FIG. 5, and subsequently, a main unit 1B is attached to the motor unit 2 as depicted in FIG. 6. FIG. 7 is a radial cross-sectional view as viewed in a direction A-A in FIG. 5 or 6, FIG. 8A is a radial cross-sectional view as viewed in a direction B-B in FIG. 5, and FIG. 8B is a radial cross-sectional view as viewed in a direction C-C in FIG. 6. It is to be noted that, in FIGS. 5 and 6, the depiction of some parts of the main body unit 1A or 1B and some parts of the motor unit 2 are omitted for the sake of convenience. Further, the depiction of the support 13 is omitted in FIGS. 8A and 8B.

The protruding portion 36 of the flange 34 of the motor unit 2 has outer circumferential side fitting surfaces 51A (first fitting surfaces) and outer circumferential side fitting surfaces 51B (second fitting surfaces), positions of which are different from one another in a radial direction.

There are, for example, as many as three of the fitting surfaces 51A, which are formed in circumferential direction ranges θ1, θ2, and θ3 (for example, a range of 0 deg. to 60 deg., a range of 120 deg. to 180 deg., and a range of 240 deg. to 300 deg.)

There are, for example, as many as three of the fitting surfaces 51B, which are formed in circumferential direction ranges θ4, θ5, and θ6 (for example, a range of 65 deg. to 115 deg., a range of 185 deg. to 235 deg., and a range of 305 deg. to 355 deg.).

The main body unit 1A has on a main body casing 14A thereof inner circumferential side fitting surfaces 52A (third fitting surfaces) that fit on only the fitting surfaces 51A mentioned above. Similar to the fitting surfaces 51A, there are, for example, as many as three of the fitting surfaces 52A of the main body casing 14A, which are formed in circumferential direction ranges θ1, θ2, and θ3. The main body casing 14A has recesses indented outward in a radial direction between the fitting surfaces 52A, and forms clearances between itself and the above-mentioned fitting surfaces 51B.

When connecting the motor unit 2 and the main body unit 1A, the accuracy of alignment between a center of the motor unit 2 (specifically, the center of the crankshaft 30) and a center of the main body unit 1A (specifically, an orbiting center of the orbiting scroll 12) is improved by the fitting (what is generally called a spigot structure) of the fitting surfaces 51A of the protruding portion 36 of the flange 34 of the motor unit 2 and the fitting surfaces 52A of the main body casing 14A of the main body unit 1A. Even if wearing subsequently occurs on the fitting surfaces 51A of the protruding portion 36 of the flange 34 of the motor unit 2 and the fitting surfaces 52A of the main body casing 14A of the main body unit 1A by such a cause as microvibrations during operation of the compressor, no wearing occurs on the fitting surfaces 51B of the protruding portion 36 of the flange 34 of the motor unit 2.

The main body unit 1B has on a main body casing 14B thereof inner circumferential side fitting surfaces 52B (fourth fitting surfaces) that fit on only the fitting surfaces 51B mentioned above. Similar to the fitting surfaces 51B, there are, for example, as many as three of the fitting surfaces 52B of the main body casing 14B, which are formed in circumferential direction ranges θ4, θ5, and θ6 (are therefore different in their positions in the circumferential direction from the fitting surfaces 52A). The main body casing 14B has recesses indented outward in a radial direction between the fitting surfaces 52B, and forms clearances between itself and the above-mentioned fitting surfaces 51A.

When separating the motor unit 2 and the main body unit 1A and connecting the motor unit 2 and the main body unit 1B, the accuracy of alignment between the center of the motor unit 2 and a center of the main body unit 1B is improved by the fitting of the fitting surfaces 51B of the protruding portion 36 of the flange 34 of the motor unit 2 and the fitting surfaces 52B of the main body casing 14B of the main body unit 1B. Here, no wearing has occurred on the fitting surfaces 51B of the protruding portion 36 of the flange 34 of the motor unit 2 as mentioned above. It is therefore possible to obviate the replacement of the flange 34 of the motor unit 2.

Further, the circumferential direction ranges of the fitting surfaces 51A corresponding to the fitting surfaces 52A and the circumferential direction ranges of the fitting surfaces 51B corresponding to the fitting surfaces 52B are separated with a predetermined interval (for example, 5 deg.) in this embodiment. It is therefore possible to further prevent occurrence of wearing on the fitting surfaces 51B before the replacement of the main body unit.

It is to be noted that, in the first embodiment, the description has been made taking as an example a case in which there are as many as three of each of the fitting surfaces 51A, the fitting surfaces 51B, the fitting surfaces 52A, and the fitting surfaces 52B. Without being limited to this configuration, there may be as many as four or more of them.

A description will be made of a second embodiment of the present invention. It is to be noted that, in this embodiment, portions equivalent to those in the first embodiment are identified by the identical reference characters, and their descriptions are omitted as appropriate.

In this embodiment, a main body unit 1C is detached from the motor unit 2 as depicted in FIG. 9, and subsequently, a main body unit 1D is attached to the motor unit 2 as depicted in FIG. 10. FIG. 11A is a radial cross-sectional view as viewed in a direction D-D in FIG. 9 or 10, and FIG. 11B is a radial cross-sectional view as viewed in a direction E-E in FIG. 9 or 10. FIG. 12A is a radial cross-sectional view as viewed in a direction F-F in FIG. 9, and FIG. 12B is a radial cross-sectional view as viewed in a direction G-G in FIG. 10.

The protruding portion 36 of the flange 34 of the motor unit 2 has an outer circumferential side fitting surface 51C (a first fitting surface) and an outer circumferential side fitting surface 51D (a second fitting surface), positions of which are different from each other in the axial direction and the radial direction. The fitting surface 51C is located, relative to the fitting surface 51D, toward a main body unit side and a center side of the crankshaft.

The main body unit 1C has on a main body casing 14C thereof an inner circumferential side fitting surface 52C (a third fitting surface) that fits on only the fitting surface 51C mentioned above. The main body casing 14C forms a clearance between itself and the above-mentioned fitting surface 51D.

When connecting the motor unit 2 and the main body unit 1C, the accuracy of alignment between the center of the motor unit 2 and a center of the main body unit 1C is improved by the fitting of the fitting surface 51C of the protruding portion 36 of the flange 34 of the motor unit 2 and the fitting surface 52C of the main body casing 14C of the main body unit 1C. Even if wearing subsequently occurs on the fitting surface 51C of the protruding portion 36 of the flange 34 of the motor unit 2 and the fitting surface 52C of the main body casing 14C of the main body unit 1C by such a cause as microvibrations during operation of the compressor, no wearing occurs on the fitting surface 51D of the protruding portion 36 of the flange 34 of the motor unit 2.

The main body unit 1D has on a main body casing 14D thereof an inner circumferential side fitting surface 52D (a fourth fitting surface) that fits on only the fitting surface 51D mentioned above. The main body casing 14D forms a clearance between itself and the above-mentioned fitting surface 51C.

When separating the motor unit 2 and the main body unit 1C and connecting the motor unit 2 and the main body unit 1D, the accuracy of alignment between the center of the motor unit 2 and a center of the main body unit 1B is improved by the fitting of the fitting surface 51D of the protruding portion 36 of the flange 34 of the motor unit 2 and the fitting surface 52D of the main body casing 14D of the main body unit 1D. Here, no wearing occurs on the fitting surface 51D of the protruding portion 36 of the flange 34 of the motor unit 2 as mentioned above. It is therefore possible to obviate the replacement of the flange 34 of the motor unit 2.

It is to be noted that, in the foregoing, the description has been made taking the scroll compressors as examples of the subject to which the present invention is applicable, although not limited to them. For example, the present invention may be applied to scroll vacuum pumps and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

• 1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D: Main body unit
• 2: Motor unit
• 11: Fixed scroll
• 12: Orbiting scroll
• 13: Support
• 14, 14A, 14B, 14C, 14D: Main body casing
• 30: Crankshaft
• 34: Flange
• 36: Protruding portion
• 51A, 51C: Fitting surface (first fitting surface)
• 51B, 51D: (Second fitting surface)
• 52A, 52C: Fitting surface (third fitting surface)
• 52B, 52D: Fitting surface (fourth fitting surface)

Claims

1. A maintenance method for replacing a main body unit on a scroll fluid machine including the main body unit that has a fixed scroll, an orbiting scroll for forming working chambers between itself and the fixed scroll, a support supporting the orbiting scroll for orbiting motion thereon, and a main body casing connected to the fixed scroll and accommodating the orbiting scroll and the support therein, and a motor unit that is connected to the main body unit to allow the orbiting scroll to undergo orbiting motion via a crankshaft, wherein the motor unit has a flange having a protruding portion that extends toward the main body unit and has an outer circumferential side first fitting surface and an outer circumferential side second fitting surface at positions different from each other in a circumferential direction or a radial direction,

the main body casing of the main body unit before the replacement has an inner circumferential side third fitting surface fitted on only the first fitting surface, and the main body casing of the main body unit after the replacement has an inner circumferential side fourth fitting surface fitted on only the second fitting surface.

2. The maintenance method according to claim 1, wherein the first fitting surface and the second fitting surface are each three or more fitting surfaces at positions different from one another in the circumferential direction, and

the third fitting surface and the fourth fitting surface are each three or more fitting surfaces at positions different from one another in the circumferential direction.

3. The maintenance method according to claim 2, wherein circumferential direction ranges of the first fitting surfaces corresponding to the third fitting surfaces and circumferential direction ranges of the second fitting surfaces corresponding to the fourth fitting surfaces are separated with a predetermined interval.

4. A scroll fluid machine including a main body unit that has a fixed scroll, an orbiting scroll for forming working chambers between itself and the fixed scroll, a support supporting the orbiting scroll for orbiting motion thereon, and a main body casing connected to the fixed scroll and accommodating the orbiting scroll and the support therein, and a motor unit that is connected to the main body unit to allow the orbiting scroll to undergo orbiting motion via a crankshaft, wherein

the motor unit has a flange having a protruding portion that extends toward the main body unit and has an outer circumferential side first fitting surface and an outer circumferential side second fitting surface at positions different from each other in a circumferential direction or a radial direction, and

the main body casing of the main body unit selectively has one of an inner circumferential side third fitting surface fitted on only the first fitting surface and an inner circumferential side fourth fitting surface fitted on only the second fitting surface.

5. The scroll fluid machine according to claim 4, wherein the first fitting surface and the second fitting surface are each three or more fitting surfaces at positions different from one another in the circumferential direction, and

the third fitting surface and the fourth fitting surface are each three or more fitting surfaces at positions different from one another in the circumferential direction.

6. The scroll fluid machine according to claim 5, wherein circumferential direction ranges of the first fitting surfaces corresponding to the third fitting surfaces and circumferential direction ranges of the second fitting surfaces corresponding to the fourth fitting surfaces are separated with a predetermined interval.