A scroll compressor to compress fluid in a compression chamber formed by combining a scroll wrap of a fixed scroll and a scroll wrap of an orbiting scroll, the scroll wrap of the fixed scroll and the scroll wrap of the orbiting scroll each having a scroll inner end part having a bulb shape defined by an outer surface involute curve, an inner surface involute curve, and a plurality of arcs connecting an end of the outer surface involute curve and an end of the inner surface involute curve, at least one of the scroll inner end parts being formed in an n-tier stair-like shape in which n (n≧3) number of bulb shapes are stacked on top of one another in an upright direction of the scroll wrap, the scroll compressor being configured to satisfy φos (0)>φos (1)>φos (2)> . . . >φos (n−1) where involute roll angles of the outer surface involute curve in tiers of the stair-like shape of the scroll inner end part are φos (0), φos (1), φos (2), . . . , φos (n−1), respectively, from a wrap tip side to a wrap root side.

A hermetic scroll compressor has a symmetric wrap structure. The scroll compressor includes fixed and movable scrolls, a crank shaft, a motor, and a casing. The casing includes an oil reservoir, and a motor space serving as a low-pressure space. The fixed and movable scrolls define first and second compression chambers. The fixed scroll has a first passage to guide gas refrigerant in the low-pressure space to the first and second compression chambers. The movable scroll has a second passage to guide gas refrigerant in the low-pressure space to the first compression chamber. The gas refrigerant that has passed through the first and second passages flows into the first compression chamber. The gas refrigerant that has passed through the first passage also flows into the second compression chamber.

A method of operating a thermal exchange engine having a thermal energy conduction surface and rotating elements in the vessel which form a plurality of closed working chambers which increase or decrease in volume as the rotating elements move. The method involves placing a phase change fluid in each of the working chambers and operating the vessel as on a closed cycle without addition of phase change fluid into the vessel or removal of phase change fluid from the vessel. The method involves applying thermal energy to the thermal energy conduction surface, thereby thermally increasing or decreasing a pressure inside at least one working chamber positioned adjacent to the thermal energy conduction surface, such that the change in pressure inside the at least one working chamber causes the rotating elements to move the at least one working chamber away from the thermal energy conduction surface.

A method of operating a thermal exchange engine having a thermal energy conduction surface and rotating elements in the vessel which form a plurality of closed working chambers which increase or decrease in volume as the rotating elements move. The method involves placing a phase change fluid in each of the working chambers and operating the vessel as on a closed cycle without addition of phase change fluid into the vessel or removal of phase change fluid from the vessel. The method involves applying thermal energy to the thermal energy conduction surface, thereby thermally increasing or decreasing a pressure inside at least one working chamber positioned adjacent to the thermal energy conduction surface, such that the change in pressure inside the at least one working chamber causes the rotating elements to move the at least one working chamber away from the thermal energy conduction surface.

A hot-air engine (10) includes a compressor (12), a heating chamber (14), a rotary displacement type working engine (16) and a drive means (22). The compressor (12) has an inlet (12a) and an outlet (12b). The heating chamber (14) has an inlet (14a), in fluid communication with the outlet (12b) of the compressor (12), and an outlet (14b). The working engine (16) has an inlet (16a), in fluid communication with the outlet (14b) of the heating chamber (14), and an output shaft (16a). The drive means (22) connects the working engine (16) to the compressor (12) such that operation of the working engine (16) causes operation of the compressor (12).

An air-conditioning apparatus includes a compressor, a four-way valve, expansion means, and an indoor heat exchanger, and further includes a check valve disposed between a discharge side of the compressor and the four-way valve, a first solenoid valve disposed between the expansion means and the indoor heat exchanger, and a controller. Opening and closing of the first solenoid valve are controllable. The controller switches the four-way valve and switches the first solenoid valve between open and closed states. When a heating operation is stopped, the controller switches the four-way valve from connection for the heating operation to connection for a cooling operation, closes the first solenoid valve, and then stops the compressor.

A scroll compressor is provided that may include a casing including a rotational shaft, a cover fixed inside of the casing to partition the inside of the casing into a suction space and a discharge space, a first scroll revolved by rotation of the rotational shaft, a second scroll disposed on or at one side of the first scroll to define a compression chamber together with the first scroll, the second scroll including a discharge, through which a refrigerant pressed in the compression chamber may be discharged, a switching device movably disposed on or at one side of the discharge to selectively open and close the discharge, a back pressure portion including a moving guide that accommodates at least a portion of the switching device, and a top surface that covers one side of the switching device; and an adhesion preventer that reduces a contact area between the switching device and at least a portion of the back pressure portion.

A scroll-type fluid machine reduces intrusion of abrasion powders, generated by sliding of a conductor causing an orbiting scroll side and a fixed scroll side to be conducted, into a compression chamber, and improves reliability of a compressor. The scroll-type machine includes a casing, a fixed scroll having a flange surface attached to the casing, and a wrap portion provided at an end plate, an orbiting scroll having a wrap portion provided at the end plate, and provided in an opposed relationship with the fixed scroll, a drive shaft connected through a crank portion to the orbiting scroll, an orbiting bearing, a face seal portion arranged between the orbiting scroll and the fixed scroll, a cooling fan, and an orbiting scroll side conductive brush.

A compressor is provided and may include a shell, a hub, an insert, and at least one collar. The hub may be disposed within the shell and define an axis of rotation. The hub may include an axially extending aperture. The insert may be disposed within the aperture. The at least one collar may be disposed about the hub.

A compressor may include a shell, first and second scroll members, a partition plate and a bypass valve member. The shell defines a discharge-pressure region and a suction-pressure region. The first scroll member is disposed within the shell and may include a first end plate having a discharge passage, and first and second bypass passages extending through the first end plate. The partition plate is disposed within the shell and separates the discharge-pressure region from the suction-pressure region and includes an opening in communication with the discharge-pressure region. The bypass valve member is movable between a first position restricting fluid flow through at least one of the first and second bypass passages and the opening and a second position in allowing fluid flow through the at least one of the first and second bypass passages and the opening.