DRIVING MEMBER FOR SCROLL COMPRESSOR AND SCROLL COMPRESSOR

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a National Stage application of International Patent Application No. PCT/CN2023/109896, filed on Jul. 28, 2023, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Applications No. 202210925503.4, filed on Jul. 29, 2022, and No. 202222027419.9 filed on Jul. 29, 2022, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present invention relates to a driving member for a scroll compressor and a scroll compressor including the driving member.

BACKGROUND

A conventional scroll compressor includes a fixed scroll and an orbiting scroll. The fixed scroll has an end plate and a fixed scroll wrap protruding from the end plate. The orbiting scroll has an end plate and an orbiting scroll wrap protruding from the end plate of the orbiting scroll. The orbiting scroll wrap and the fixed scroll wrap cooperate to form a compression cavity for compressing a medium. A motor drives the orbiting scroll to move through a drive shaft to compress the medium in the compression cavity.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention provide a driving member for a scroll compressor and a scroll compressor including the driving member, which can improve lubrication performance between the driven scroll of the scroll compressor and the driving member.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a driving member for a scroll compressor, including: a hub portion having an inner hole, the hub portion including a first end and a second end opposite to each other; and a flange portion extending outward from the first end of the hub portion in a radial direction of the hub portion, the flange portion having a surface facing in a direction from the second end to the first end, the surface of the flange portion having an annular thrust surface and an oil groove.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the oil groove includes a first oil groove on the annular thrust surface of the surface of the flange portion, the first oil groove extends laterally in a direction from a radial inner side of the annular thrust surface towards a radial outer side of the annular thrust surface and extends laterally through a portion of the annular thrust surface, the first oil groove is spaced apart from a radial outer edge of the annular thrust surface in the radial direction of the hub portion.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first oil groove extends in a radial direction.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first oil groove extends from a radial inner edge of the annular thrust surface.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the annular thrust surface extends from an edge of the inner hole of the hub portion in the radial direction of the hub portion.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first oil groove extends from the edge of the inner hole of the hub portion towards the radial outer side of the annular thrust surface and communicates with the inner hole.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the oil groove further includes a second oil groove arranged on the surface of the flange portion, on a radial outer side of the annular thrust surface of the surface of the flange portion, and the second oil groove extends around the annular thrust surface.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a depth of the second oil groove is greater than a depth of the first oil groove.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the oil groove further includes a second oil groove arranged on the surface of the flange portion, on the radial outer side of the annular thrust surface of the surface of the flange portion, and the second oil groove extends around the annular thrust surface.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the second oil groove is a closed annular oil groove.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the driving member further includes: a retaining ring arranged in the second oil groove.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the retaining ring has a rectangular cross section.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the retaining ring has a C-shaped cross section and an opening facing a rotational axis of the driving member.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the driving member further includes: an eccentric ring hole in the surface of the flange portion, wherein a portion of the second oil groove corresponding to the eccentric ring hole are located on the inner side of the eccentric ring hole in the radial direction of the hub portion.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the driving member further includes: an eccentric ring hole in the surface of the flange portion, wherein the second oil groove including a plurality of second oil groove segments, each of the plurality of second oil groove segments is located between adjacent eccentric ring holes, and an end of each of the plurality of second oil groove segments communicates with the eccentric ring hole.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the second oil groove extends along a circle, and a center of the circle is on a rotation axis of the driving member.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an oil discharge hole extending through the flange portion and located on the radial outer side of the annular thrust surface of the surface of the flange portion.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the driving member further includes: an annular wedge-shaped protrusion protruding from the annular thrust surface of the surface of the flange portion, wherein a cross section of the wedge-shaped protrusion in a radial direction has a wedge-shaped shape, and the wedge-shaped protrusion has a wedge-shaped protrusion surface facing axially outward, on the cross section in the radial direction, a first wedge-shaped protrusion point of the wedge-shaped protrusion surface in the radial direction has a largest axial distance from the surface of the flange portion, and a second wedge-shaped protrusion point in the radial direction has zero axial distance from the surface of the flange portion.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first wedge-shaped protrusion point is located on a radial outer side of the second wedge-shaped protrusion point.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the second wedge-shaped protrusion point is located at an edge of the inner hole of the hub portion.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, at the first wedge-shaped protrusion point, an axial distance between the wedge-shaped protrusion surface and the surface of the flange portion is in a range of 0.1 micrometer to 1 millimeter.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a scroll compressor including: the driving member described above.

An embodiment of the present invention further provides a scroll compressor including: a first scroll including a first end plate and a first scroll wrap protruding downward from the first end plate; a second scroll including a second end plate and a second scroll wrap protruding upward from the second end plate, the second scroll and the first scroll cooperating with to form a compression cavity for compressing refrigerant; a motor; the driving member described above, wherein the driving member is located below the second scroll, the motor drives the first scroll to rotate through the driving member, and the first scroll drives the second scroll to rotate, the second end plate of the second scroll is rotatably supported on the flange portion of the driving member; and a support, wherein the driving member is rotatably supported on the support.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the scroll compressor further includes: a scroll cover including an end plate with a central hole; and a cylindrical portion extending downward from an outer periphery of the end plate, wherein the cylindrical portion of the scroll cover is connected to the flange portion of the driving member, and the end plate of the scroll cover is connected to the first end plate of the first scroll.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the scroll compressor further includes: a fixed shaft, wherein a lower end of the fixed shaft is fixed to the support, and the hub portion of the driving member is rotatably mounted to the fixed shaft.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the inner hole of the driving member has a stepped portion or a concave-convex connection portion.

By providing oil grooves and/or wedge-shaped protrusions on the annular thrust surface of the driving member, the lubrication performance between the driven scroll and the driving member of the scroll compressor at high speeds can be improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic cross-sectional view of a scroll compressor according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a schematic cross-sectional view of a scroll compressor according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a driving member of a scroll compressor according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic top view of the driving member of the scroll compressor shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the driving member of the scroll compressor taken along line A-A in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of the driving member of the scroll compressor shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a driving member of a scroll compressor according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic top view of the driving member of the scroll compressor shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the driving member of the scroll compressor taken along line B-B in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of a driving member of a scroll compressor according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic top view of the driving member of the scroll compressor shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the driving member of the scroll compressor taken along line C-C in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view of the driving member of a scroll compressor according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a schematic top view of the driving member of the scroll compressor shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the driving member of the scroll compressor taken along line D-D in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a schematic perspective view of the driving member of a scroll compressor according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a schematic top view of the driving member of the scroll compressor shown in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the driving member of the scroll compressor shown in FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is a schematic perspective view of a retaining ring of the driving member of the scroll compressor shown in FIG. 15;

FIG. 19 is a schematic perspective view of a driving member of a scroll compressor according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a schematic top view of the driving member of the scroll compressor shown in FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the driving member of the scroll compressor shown in FIG. 19;

FIG. 22 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a driving member of a scroll compressor according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a schematic perspective view of a retaining ring of the driving member of the scroll compressor shown in FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 is a partially enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of the driving member of the scroll compressor shown in FIG. 22;

FIG. 25 is a schematic top view of a driving member of a scroll compressor according to a modified example of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 26 is a schematic top view of a driving member of a scroll compressor according to a modified example of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 27 is a schematic top view of a driving member of a scroll compressor according to a modified example of the embodiment shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 28 is a schematic top view of a driving member of a scroll compressor according to a modified example of the embodiment shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 29 is a schematic perspective view of a driving member of a scroll compressor according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 30 is a schematic top view of the driving member of the scroll compressor shown in FIG. 29.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1i, a scroll compressor 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first scroll 11, a second scroll 12, a scroll cover 6, a support 4, a motor 7, and a driving member 3. The first scroll 11 includes a first end plate 112 and a first scroll wrap 1B protruding from the first end plate 112. The second scroll 12 includes a second end plate 123 and a second scroll wrap 124 protruding from the second end plate 123. The second scroll wrap 124 and the first scroll wrap 113 cooperate to form a compression cavity for compressing medium. The support 4 is located on a side of the second scroll 12 away from the first scroll 11. The scroll cover 6 is connected to a flange portion 32 of the driving member 3, for example, by bolts, and to the first scroll 11, for example, by bolts, thereby fixedly connecting the driving member 3 to the first scroll 11. The driving member 3 is rotatably mounted to the support 4 and is located on the side of the second scroll 12 away from the first scroll 11. The motor 7 drives the first scroll 11 to rotate through the driving member 3 and the scroll cover 6, and the first scroll 11 drives the second scroll 12 to rotate.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1i, in the embodiment of the present invention, the scroll compressor 100 further includes a fixed shaft 5, and a lower end of the fixed shaft 5 is fixed to the support 4. The driving member 3 is rotatably mounted to the fixed shaft 5 through a hub portion 31 so that the driving member 3 is rotatably mounted to the support 4. The second end plate 123 of the second scroll 12 is rotatably supported on the flange portion 32 of the driving member 3.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, in the embodiments of the present invention, the motor 7 may be an axial flux motor or a radial flux motor. In some embodiments, the motor 7 includes a rotor 71 and a stator 72 fixed to the support 4, and the rotor 71 of the motor 7 drives the first scroll 11 to rotate by driving the driving member 3 to rotate.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, 6 to 17, 19 to 22, and 25 to 30, the driving member 3 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a hub portion 31 having an inner hole 30, wherein the hub portion 31 includes a first end 311 and a second end 312 opposite to each other; and a flange portion 32 extending outward from the first end 311 of the hub portion 31 in the radial direction of the hub portion 31, the flange portion 32 having a surface 321 facing in a direction from the first end 311 to the second end 312, the surface 321 of the flange portion 32 having an annular thrust surface 3210 and an oil groove.

Referring to FIGS. 6 to 17 and FIGS. 26 to 30, in an embodiment of the present invention, the oil groove includes: a first oil groove 331 on the annular thrust surface 3210 of the surface 321 of the flange portion 32. The first oil groove 331 extends laterally in a direction from a radial inner side of the annular thrust surface 3210 towards a radial outer side of the annular thrust surface 3210 and extends laterally through a portion of the annular thrust surface 3210. The first oil groove 331 is spaced apart from a radial outer edge 3211 of the annular thrust surface 3210 in the radial direction of the hub portion 31. The first oil groove 331 may extend in a radial direction or at an acute angle to the radial direction. According to an example of the present invention, the first oil groove 331 extends from a radial inner edge 3212 of the annular thrust surface 3210. The first oil groove 331 may also extend from other position, for example, at a certain distance from the radial inner edge 3212 of the annular thrust surface 3210 in the radial direction. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the annular thrust surface 3210 extends in the radial direction from an edge 300 of the inner hole 30 of the hub portion 31. For example, the first oil groove 331 extends from the edge 300 of the inner hole 30 of the hub portion 31 towards the radial outer side of the annular thrust surface 3210 and communicates with the inner hole 30. The annular thrust surface 3210 may also extend from other position in the radial direction of the hub portion 31, for example, at a certain distance from the edge 300 of the inner hole 30 of the hub portion 31 in the radial direction. In an embodiment of the present invention, the first oil groove 331 may be at least one oil groove, or two or more oil grooves distributed at a certain distance (such as equidistant) in a circumferential direction. By providing a first oil groove on the thrust surface, even when the compressor is running at high speed, the first oil groove may store lubricating oil and supply lubricating oil to a friction pair between the driving member and the second scroll.

Referring to FIGS. 9 to 17, 19 to 22, and 27 to 30, in an embodiment of the present invention, the oil groove further includes a second oil groove 332 arranged on the surface 321 of the flange portion 32, on the radial outer side of the annular thrust surface 3210 of the surface 321 of the flange portion 32, and the second oil groove 332 extends around the annular thrust surface 3210. Referring to FIGS. 9 to 17 and FIGS. 27 to 30, in an embodiment of the present invention, a depth of the second oil groove 332 is larger than that of the first oil groove 331. The second oil groove 332 may store lubricating oil and prevent the lubricating oil from flowing from the first oil groove directly out of the thrust surface due to a centrifugal force in the radial direction.

Referring to FIGS. 9 to 11, 15 to 17, 19 to 22, 27, 29, and 30, in an embodiment of the present invention, the second oil groove 332 is a closed annular oil groove. Referring to FIGS. 15 to 18, 22, and 23, in an embodiment of the present invention, the driving member 3 further includes a retaining ring 35 arranged in the second oil groove 332. Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, the retaining ring 35 may have a rectangular cross section or a square cross section, and the retaining ring 35 may be solid. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 22 to 24, the retaining ring 35 has a C-shaped cross section and an opening 351 facing a rotation axis of the driving member 3. An outer part of the retaining ring may be a C-shaped portion 352 made of wear-resistant material (such as Teflon material), and an inner part thereof is provided with a spring 353 as a support structure. In other words, the retaining rings 35 shown in FIGS. 18 and 23 may be placed in the second oil groove 332 of the driving member 3 shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 and FIGS. 19 to 21, respectively. The retaining ring may block a portion of the lubricating oil from flowing radially out of a contact area between the driving member and the second scroll.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, 6 to 17, 19 to 22, and 25 to 30, the driving member 3 further includes eccentric ring holes 326 in the surface 321 of the flange portion 32. The driving member 3 may have three eccentric ring holes 326. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, 15 to 17, and 27, portions of the second oil groove 332 corresponding to the eccentric ring holes 326 are located on inner sides of the eccentric ring holes 326 in the radial direction of the hub portion 31. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 12 to 14 and FIG. 28, the second oil groove 332 includes a plurality of second oil groove segments 3320, each of the plurality of second oil groove segments 3320 is located between adjacent eccentric ring holes 326, and an end 3321 of each of the plurality of second oil groove segments 3320 communicates with the eccentric ring hole 326. The second oil groove 332 may extend along a circle, and the center of the circle is on the rotation axis of the driving member 3. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 19 to 22 and FIGS. 29 to 30, the driving member 3 further includes: an annular second oil groove 332 arranged on the surface 321 of the flange portion 32, on the radial outer side of the annular thrust surface 3210 of the surface 321 of the flange portion 32. The second oil groove 332 may extend along a circle, the center of the circle is on the rotation axis of the driving member 3, and the portions of the second oil groove 332 corresponding to the eccentric ring holes 326 are located on the outer sides of the eccentric ring holes 326 in the radial direction of the hub portion 31. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 19 to 22, the first oil groove 331 is removed and only the second oil groove is kept.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 25 to 30, in some embodiments of the present invention, the driving member 3 further includes an oil discharge hole 325 that extends through the flange portion 32 and is located on the radial outer side of the annular thrust surface 3210 on the surface 321 of the flange portion 32. Referring to FIGS. 19 and 20, in other embodiments of the present invention, the driving member 3 further includes an oil discharge hole 325 extending through the flange portion 32 and the oil discharge hole 325 is located on a portion of the annular thrust surface 3210 adjacent to the radial outer side thereof. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the driving member 3 includes three oil discharge holes 325. The oil drain holes 325 may be any suitable number of oil drain holes 325. When the lubricating oil flows to the end of the thrust surface, the lubricating oil will flow into the oil discharge holes and eventually return to an oil pool at the bottom.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 5 and 25, in some embodiments of the present invention, the driving member 3 further includes: an annular wedge-shaped protrusion 36 protruding from the annular thrust surface 3210 of the surface 321 of the flange portion 32. The wedge-shaped protrusion 36 has a wedge-shaped cross section in a radial direction, and the wedge-shaped protrusion 36 has a wedge-shaped protrusion surface 360. On the cross section in the radial direction, a first wedge-shaped protrusion point 361 of the wedge-shaped protrusion surface 360 in the radial direction has a largest axial distance from the surface 321 of the flange portion 32, and a second wedge-shaped protrusion point 362 of the wedge-shaped protrusion surface 360 in the radial direction has zero axial distance from the surface 321 of the flange portion 32. The first wedge-shaped protrusion point 361 may be located on a radial outer side or a radial inner side of the second wedge-shaped protrusion point 362. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the second wedge-shaped protrusion point 362 is located at the edge 300 of the inner hole 30 of the hub portion 31. The second wedge-shaped protrusion point 362 may also be at a certain distance from the edge 300 of the inner hole 30 of the hub portion 31 in the radial direction. At the first wedge-shaped protrusion point 361, the axial distance between the wedge-shaped protrusion surface 360 and the surface 321 of the flange portion 32 is in a range of 0.1 micrometer to 1 millimeter. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the annular thrust surface 3210 of the surface 321 is provided with an annular wedge-shaped protrusion 36, but without a first oil groove 331 and a second oil groove 332. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 19 to 24, the annular thrust surface 3210 of the surface 321 is provided with an annular wedge-shaped protrusion 36 and a second oil groove 332, but without a first oil groove 331. In addition, for the wedge-shaped protrusion 36, the first oil groove 331, and the second oil groove 332, at least one of the three may be provided on the surface 321. For example, the annular thrust surface 3210 of the surface 321 may only be provided with the first oil groove 331, the surface 321 may only be provided with the second oil groove 332, or only the first oil groove 331 and the second oil groove 332 may be provided. By providing a wedge-shaped protrusion on the thrust surface, it is beneficial to form an oil film between the second scroll and the driving member.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 6, FIG. 7, FIG. 9, FIG. 10, FIG. 12, FIG. 13, FIG. 15, FIG. 16, FIG. 19, FIG. 20, and FIGS. 25 to 30, in the embodiments of the present invention, the flange portion 32 of the driving member 3 has a driving-member connection hole 323, and the driving-member connection hole 323 of the flange portion 32 of the driving member 3 has a threaded portion, as shown in FIG. 1. The scroll cover 6 is fixedly connected to the flange portion 32 of the driving member 3 through bolts and the threaded portion of the driving-member connection hole 323. The scroll cover 6 is also connected to the first scroll 11 by bolts, and thus the driving member 3 is fixedly connected to the first scroll 11.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19, 20, 25 to 30, in the embodiments of the present invention, the flange portion 32 of the driving member 3 has a driving-member pin hole 322. The scroll cover 6 has a scroll-cover pin hole, and a pin is inserted into the scroll-cover pin hole and the driving-member pin hole 322 of the flange portion 32 of the driving member 3 to determine relative positions of the scroll cover 6 and the driving member 3, thereby determining relative positions of the first scroll 11 and the driving member 3.

When the compressor is in operation, lubricating oil is pumped from the oil pool at the bottom through the inner hole 30 of the hub portion 31 to the thrust surface. With the help of centrifugal force, the lubricating oil flows from the inner side of the thrust surface of the driving member to the outer side of the thrust surface. With the first oil groove and/or the second oil groove, more oil can be stored to form an oil film and partially prevent lubricating oil from flowing out of the thrust surface.

According to the embodiments of the present invention, the compressor can partially prevent lubricating oil from flowing out of the thrust surface at high speed.

Although the above embodiments have been described, some features of the above embodiments may be combined to form new embodiments.

For example, although the wedge-shaped protrusion 36 is only shown in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 and FIG. 25, the wedge-shaped protrusion 36 may be provided in each embodiment of the invention.

While the present disclosure has been illustrated and described with respect to a particular embodiment thereof, it should be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications to this disclosure may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.