A compressor may include a non-orbiting scroll, an orbiting scroll, a driveshaft and an Oldham coupling. The orbiting scroll meshingly engages the non-orbiting scroll. The driveshaft includes a crankpin engaging the orbiting scroll and driving the orbiting scroll in an orbital path relative to the non-orbiting scroll. The Oldham coupling may include an annular body and a plurality of first keys extending from the annular body and slidably received in slots formed in the orbiting scroll. Each of the first keys may include a first post and a first cap covering at least a portion of the first post. The first posts may be integrally formed with the annular body from a first material. The first caps may be attached to the first posts and formed from a second material.

A rotary compressor 1 comprises a cylindrical housing 8, a cylindrical roller 10 accommodated in the housing 8, a motor shaft 13 leading through the roller 10 having a cam 14 for rolling the roller 10 along a side wall 15 of the housing 8, and a discharge port 18 leading through a bottom cover 12, wherein a height-to-radius ratio hr/rr of the roller 10 is between 0.6 and 1.2, a radius rs of the motor shaft 13 is 8.0 mm or less, a cam height he of 14 mm or less, an area Q of the discharge port 18 of 17 mm.sup.2 or more, and a thickness d of the discharge port 18 of 2.5 mm or less. For operation of the compressor 1, a top cover 19 may be put onto the top open side of the housing 8. The top cover 19 may have a bushing for the shaft 13. A heat pump P comprises the compressor 1. A household appliance H, in particular laundry care apparatus H, comprises the heat pump P.

The subject invention pertains to a method and apparatus for an orientation independent compressor. The subject compressor can be part of a vapor compression cycle system, and can use one or more of a variety of working fluids, including, but not limited to, refrigerants such as r-134a, r-22, CO.sub.2, and NH.sub.3. Embodiments of the compressor can utilize positive displacement apparatus to compress the vapor. In a specific embodiment, the compressor can incorporate an oil-lubricated rotary lobed type positive displacement compressor. In a further specific embodiment, the working fluid vapor can be a refrigerant, such as r-134a, incorporating entrained oil, such as miscible lubricating oils. An example of such a miscible lubricating oil that can be used is polyester (POE) oil.

A compressor may include a non-orbiting scroll, an orbiting scroll, a driveshaft and an Oldham coupling. The orbiting scroll meshingly engages the non-orbiting scroll. The driveshaft includes a crankpin engaging the orbiting scroll and driving the orbiting scroll in an orbital path relative to the non-orbiting scroll. The Oldham coupling may include an annular body and a plurality of first keys extending from the annular body and slidably received in slots formed in the orbiting scroll. Each of the first keys may include a first post and a first cap attached to the first post. The first posts may be integrally formed with the annular body from a first material. The first caps may be formed from a second material.

A compressor may include a non-orbiting scroll, an orbiting scroll, a driveshaft and an Oldham coupling. The orbiting scroll meshingly engages the non-orbiting scroll. The driveshaft includes a crankpin engaging the orbiting scroll and driving the orbiting scroll in an orbital path relative to the non-orbiting scroll. The Oldham coupling may include an annular body and a plurality of first keys extending from the annular body and slidably received in slots formed in the orbiting scroll. Each of the first keys may include a first post and a first cap attached to the first post. The first posts may be integrally formed with the annular body from a first material. The first caps may be formed from a second material.

A rotary compressor includes a cylindrical housing, a cylindrical roller accommodated in the housing, a motor shaft leading through the roller having a cam for rolling the roller along a side wall of the housing, and a discharge port leading through a bottom cover, wherein a height-to-radius ratio of the roller is between 6 and 1.2, a radius of the motor shaft is 8.0 mm or less, a cam height of 14 mm or less, an area of the discharge port of 17 mm.sup.2 or more, and a thickness of the discharge port of 2.5 mm or less. For operation of the compressor, a top cover may be put onto the top open side of the housing. The top cover may have a bushing for the shaft. A heat pump includes the compressor. A household appliance, in particular laundry care apparatus, includes the heat pump.

A compressor may include a non-orbiting scroll, an orbiting scroll, a driveshaft and an Oldham coupling. The orbiting scroll meshingly engages the non-orbiting scroll. The driveshaft includes a crankpin engaging the orbiting scroll and driving the orbiting scroll in an orbital path relative to the non-orbiting scroll. The Oldham coupling may include an annular body and a plurality of first keys extending from the annular body and slidably received in slots formed in the orbiting scroll. Each of the first keys may include a first post and a first cap covering at least a portion of the first post. The first posts may be integrally formed with the annular body from a first material. The first caps may be attached to the first posts and formed from a second material.

Carbon dioxide compressors having one or more coatings with wear surfaces having electroless surface coatings are provided. Alternatively, propane compressors are contemplated having wear surface coatings. The coating is electrolessly applied and may comprise nickel and wear resistant particles, such as boron nitride. The electroless surface coatings for use with compressor machines improve corrosion and wear resistance, as well as anti-friction properties for compressors processing CO.sub.2 or C.sub.3H.sub.8 containing refrigerants. In certain aspects, a scroll machine has an Oldham coupling and/or lower bearing comprising aluminum and has an electroless surface coating comprising nickel boron nitride particles disposed on one or more wear surfaces. In other aspects, a reciprocating compressor has a wear surface, such as on a connecting rod and/or piston coated with an electrolessly applied nickel and boron nitride particle layer. Methods for making the electroless surface coatings are also provided.

Hydrocarbon-type refrigerants tend to dissolve in refrigerating machine oils, which may result in a decrease in the viscosity of the refrigerating machine oils and cause excessive wear of the sliding portions inside the compressors. An air conditioning apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and an indoor heat exchanger are sequentially connected and a refrigerant is circulated. The compressor includes a sliding portion including a first bearing metal or an Oldham ring. At least one of two members slidable with each other in the sliding portion is formed of aluminum or aluminum alloy. The refrigerant circulating through the refrigerant circuit is a hydrocarbon-type refrigerant. A refrigerating machine oil used in the compressor has a refrigerant solubility of 30% or less at a pressure of 1.9 MPa and at a temperature of 60 C.

Hydrocarbon-type refrigerants tend to dissolve in refrigerating machine oils, which may result in a decrease in the viscosity of the refrigerating machine oils and cause excessive wear of the sliding portions inside the compressors. An air conditioning apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and an indoor heat exchanger are sequentially connected and a refrigerant is circulated. The compressor includes a sliding portion including a first bearing metal or an Oldham ring. At least one of two members slidable with each other in the sliding portion is formed of aluminum or aluminum alloy. The refrigerant circulating through the refrigerant circuit is a hydrocarbon-type refrigerant. A refrigerating machine oil used in the compressor has a refrigerant solubility of 30% or less at a pressure of 1.9 MPa and at a temperature of 60 C.