A SCROLL COMPRESSOR INCLUDING A BASEPLATE HAVING A MOUNTING BASE AND A CYLINDRICAL RIM SECURED BY A DOUBLE-WELDED T-JOINT

Abstract

The scroll compressor (2) including a hermetic enclosure (3), a compression unit (11) configured to compress refrigerant, and an electric motor (16) configured to drive the compression unit (11) via a drive shaft (15), the hermetic enclosure (3) including a midshell (4), an upper cap (5) and a baseplate (6), the baseplate (6) including a mounting base (24) having a plate shape and including a central portion, and a cylindrical rim surrounding the central portion and extending upwardly, the cylindrical rim (28) being secured to the mounting base (24) by a double-welded T-joint (29), the double-welded T-joint (29) including an inner welding seam connecting an inner surface of the cylindrical rim (28) to the mounting base (24), and an outer welding seam connecting an outer surface of the cylindrical rim (28) to the mounting base (24).

Claims

1. A scroll compressor comprising a hermetic enclosure, a compression unit configured to compress refrigerant, and an electric motor configured to drive the compression unit via a drive shaft, the hermetic enclosure comprising a midshell, an upper cap and a baseplate, the baseplate comprising a mounting base having a plate shape and including a central portion, wherein the baseplate further comprises a cylindrical rim surrounding the central portion and extending upwardly, the cylindrical rim being secured to the mounting base by a double-welded T-joint, the double-welded T-joint including an inner welding seam connecting an inner surface of the cylindrical rim to the mounting base, and an outer welding seam connecting an outer surface of the cylindrical rim to the mounting base.

2. The scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical rim extends substantially perpendicularly to an upper surface of the mounting base.

3. The scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein each of the inner welding seam and the outer welding seam is annular.

4. The scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical rim is secured to the midshell by welding.

5. The scroll compressor according to claim 4, wherein a lower end portion of the midshell overlaps and surrounds the outer surface of the cylindrical rim.

6. The scroll compressor according to claim 4, wherein a lower end portion of the midshell overlaps the inner surface of the cylindrical rim and is surrounded by the cylindrical rim.

7. The scroll compressor according to claim 4, wherein the midshell has an outer diameter which corresponds substantially to an outer diameter of the cylindrical rim, the midshell being secured to the cylindrical rim by a welded butt joint.

8. The scroll compressor according to claim 7, wherein the welded butt joint comprises an inner cylindrical support ring arranged within the hermetic casing and overlapping a butt joint area.

9. The scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein the central portion of the mounting base has a concave shape to accommodate an oil sump formed at the bottom of the hermetic compressor volume and/or an oil pump attached to the lower end of the drive shaft.

10. The scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein the mounting base has a generally rectangular shape and includes four lateral outer edges and four downwardly bent flanges each extending from and along a respective one of the four lateral outer edges.

11. The scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein the baseplate is configured to be mounted on two mounting rails extending substantially parallel to each other.

12. The scroll compressor according to claim 11, wherein the mounting base further comprises fastening holes to accommodate fastening elements to secure the mounting base on the mounting rails.

13. The scroll compressor according to claim 1, further comprising at least one bracket secured to an inner surface of the midshell and configured to support a lower bearing member rotatably supporting the drive shaft.

14. The scroll compressor according to claim 13, wherein an upper axial end face of the cylindrical rim abuts against the at least one bracket.

15. The scroll compressor according to claim 2, wherein each of the inner welding seam and the outer welding seam is annular.

16. The scroll compressor according to claim 2, wherein the cylindrical rim is secured to the midshell by welding.

17. The scroll compressor according to claim 3, wherein the cylindrical rim is secured to the midshell by welding.

18. The scroll compressor according to claim 2, wherein the central portion of the mounting base has a concave shape to accommodate an oil sump formed at the bottom of the hermetic compressor volume and/or an oil pump attached to the lower end of the drive shaft.

19. The scroll compressor according to claim 3, wherein the central portion of the mounting base has a concave shape to accommodate an oil sump formed at the bottom of the hermetic compressor volume and/or an oil pump attached to the lower end of the drive shaft.

20. The scroll compressor according to claim 4, wherein the central portion of the mounting base has a concave shape to accommodate an oil sump formed at the bottom of the hermetic compressor volume and/or an oil pump attached to the lower end of the drive shaft.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0052] The following detailed description of several embodiments of the invention is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed.

[0053] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section view of a scroll compressor according to a first embodiment of the invention.

[0054] FIG. 2 is a partial longitudinal section view of the scroll compressor of FIG. 1.

[0055] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a baseplate of the scroll compressor of FIG. 1.

[0056] FIG. 4 is a top view of the baseplate of FIG. 3.

[0057] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the baseplate of FIG. 3 mounted on two mounting rails.

[0058] FIG. 6 is a partial longitudinal section view of a scroll compressor according to a second embodiment of the invention.

[0059] FIG. 7 is a partial longitudinal section view of a scroll compressor according to a third embodiment of the invention.

[0060] FIG. 8 is a partial longitudinal section view of a scroll compressor according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0061] FIG. 1 shows a scroll compressor 2 comprising a hermetic enclosure 3 comprising a midshell 4, an upper cap 5 and a baseplate 6. As shown on FIG. 1, the midshell 4 is cylindrical and includes an upper end closed by the upper cap 5 and a lower end closed by the baseplate 6. According to the embodiment shown on the figures, the midshell 4 has a constant diameter over its entire length, and the upper cap 5 is welded to the midshell 4.

[0062] The scroll compressor 2 further comprises a suction inlet 7 configured to supply the scroll compressor 2 with refrigerant to be compressed, and a discharge outlet 8 configured to discharge compressed refrigerant. For example, the suction inlet 7 may be provided on the midshell 4 and the discharge outlet 4 may be provided on the upper cap 5.

[0063] The scroll compressor 2 also comprises a support frame 9 arranged within the hermetic enclosure 3 and secured to the hermetic enclosure 3, and a compression unit 11 also arranged within the hermetic enclosure 3 and disposed above the support frame 9. The compression unit 11 is configured to compress the refrigerant supplied by the suction inlet 7, and includes a fixed scroll 12, which is fixed in relation to the hermetic enclosure 3, and an orbiting scroll 13 supported by and in slidable contact with a thrust bearing surface 14 provided on the support frame 9.

[0064] Furthermore the scroll compressor 2 includes a drive shaft 15 configured to drive the orbiting scroll 13 in an orbital movement, and an electric motor 16, which may be a variable-speed electric motor, coupled to the drive shaft 15 and configured to drive in rotation the drive shaft 15 about a rotational axis A. According to the embodiment shown on the figures, the electric motor 16 is disposed below the support frame 9.

[0065] The drive shaft 15 comprises, at its upper end portion, an eccentric pin 17 which is eccentrically arranged in relation to the rotational axis A of the drive shaft 15, and which is inserted in a connecting sleeve part 18 provided on the orbiting scroll 13 so as to cause the orbiting scroll 13 to be driven in an orbital movement relative to the fixed scroll 12 when the electric motor 16 is operated.

[0066] The scroll compressor 2 further includes an upper bearing member 19 provided on the support frame 9 and configured to cooperate with an outer circumferential wall surface of the drive shaft 15, and a lower bearing member 21 configured to cooperate with an outer circumferential wall surface of a lower end portion 22 of the drive shaft 15. The lower bearing member 21 and the upper bearing member 19 are particularly configured to rotatably support the drive shaft 15.

[0067] Particularly, the scroll compressor 2 includes a plurality of brackets 23 secured to an inner surface of the midshell 4, e.g. by welding, and configured to support the lower bearing member 21. According to the embodiment shown on the figures, the brackets 23 are angularly arranged around the drive shaft 15, and each bracket 23 is L-shaped.

[0068] As better shown on FIGS. 2 to 4, the baseplate 6 comprises a mounting base 24 having a plate shape and including a central portion 25 which is advantageously concave to accommodate an oil sump formed at the bottom of the hermetic compressor volume and/or an oil pump attached to the lower end of the drive shaft 15.

[0069] The mounting base 24 has a generally rectangular shape, and for example a square shape, and includes four lateral outer edges 26.1, 26.2 and four downwardly bent flanges 27.1, 27.2 each extending from and along a respective one of the four lateral outer edges 26.1, 26.2.

[0070] The baseplate 6 further comprises a cylindrical rim 28 surrounding the central portion 25 and extending upwardly so that the cylindrical rim 28 upwardly protrudes from the mounting base 24. Particularly, the cylindrical rim 28 extends vertically and perpendicularly to an upper surface of the mounting base 24. Advantageously, the cylindrical rim 28 and the central portion 25 are concentrically arranged, and the cylindrical rim 28 and the midshell 4 are also concentrically arranged.

[0071] The cylindrical rim 28 is secured to the mounting base 24 by a double-welded T-joint 29. The double-welded T-joint 29 includes an inner welding seam 29.1 connecting an inner surface 28.1 of the cylindrical rim 28 to the mounting base 24, and an outer welding seam 29.2 connecting an outer surface 28.2 of the cylindrical rim 28 to the mounting base 24. Advantageously, the inner and outer welding seams 29.1, 29.2 are annular and concentrically arranged. Particularly, the diameter of the inner welding seam 29.1 corresponds substantially to the inner diameter of the cylindrical rim 28, and the diameter of the outer welding seam 29.2 corresponds substantially to the outer diameter of the cylindrical rim 28.

[0072] According to the embodiment shown on FIGS. 1 to 5, a lower end portion of the midshell 4 overlaps the inner surface 28.1 of the cylindrical rim 28 and is surrounded by the cylindrical rim. In other words, the inner surface 28.1 of the cylindrical rim 28 faces the outer surface of the lower end portion of the midshell 4.

[0073] Advantageously, the cylindrical rim 28 is secured to the midshell 4 by lap welding, and the scroll compressor 2 includes an annular lap joint welding seam 31 securing the midshell 4 to the cylindrical rim 28. Particularly, the annular lap joint welding seam 31 connects an upper edge of the cylindrical rim 28 to the outer surface of the lower end portion of the midshell 4, and the diameter of the annular lap joint welding seam 31 corresponds substantially to the outer diameter of the midshell 4.

[0074] According to an embodiment of the invention, the baseplate 6 may be configured to be mounted on two mounting rails 32 (see FIG. 5) extending substantially parallely to each other. The two downwardly bent flanges 27.1 are configured to extend substantially parallely to the two mounting rails 32, and the two downwardly bent flanges 27.2 are configured to extend transversally, and particularly perpendicularly, to the two mounting rails 32. Each downwardly bent flange 27.2 may for example only extends along a central part of the respective lateral outer edge 26.2 in order to define enlarged passages for the two mounting rails 32.

[0075] The mounting base 24 further comprises fastening holes 33 configured to accommodate fastening elements, e.g. bolts or screws, to secure the mounting base 24 on the mounting rails 32 or on a flat support surface.

[0076] FIG. 6 represents a scroll compressor according to a second embodiment of the invention which differs from the first embodiment essentially in that the lower end portion of the midshell 4 overlaps and surrounds the outer surface 28.2 of the cylindrical rim 28, and in that the annular lap joint welding seam 31 connects a lower edge of the midshell 4 to the outer surface 28.2 of the cylindrical rim 28. According to said second embodiment, the diameter of the annular lap joint welding seam 31 corresponds substantially to the outer diameter of the cylindrical rim 28.

[0077] According to said second embodiment, an upper axial end face of the cylindrical rim 28 may abut against a lower axial end face of each bracket 23 so that the lower axial end face of each bracket 23 serves as a stop surface for the insertion of the baseplate 6 into the midshell 4. Such a configuration of the baseplate 6 allows mastering the vertical position of the baseplate 6 in the midshell 4 before welding the cylindrical rim 28 to the midshell 4, and thus eases the manufacturing of the scroll compressor 2.

[0078] FIG. 7 represents a scroll compressor according to a third embodiment of the invention which differs from the first embodiment essentially in that the lower end portion of the midshell 4 has an outer diameter which corresponds to the outer diameter of the cylindrical rim 28, and in that the midshell 4 is secured to the cylindrical rim 28 by a welded butt joint 36, i.e. by butt welding.

[0079] The welded butt joint 36 includes an annular butt joint welding seam 37 connecting a lower edge of the midshell 4 to an upper edge of the cylindrical rim 28. The diameter of the annular butt joint welding seam 37 corresponds substantially to the outer diameter of the cylindrical rim 28.

[0080] FIG. 8 represents a scroll compressor according to a fourth embodiment of the invention which differs from the third embodiment essentially in that the welded butt joint 36 further comprises an inner cylindrical support ring 38 arranged within the hermetic casing 3 and overlapping a butt joint area 39. The inner cylindrical support ring 38 particularly overlaps the lower end portion of the midshell 4 and the upper end portion of the cylindrical rim 28.

[0081] According to an embodiment not shown on the drawings, the mounting base 24, and for example the central portion 25 of the mounting base 24, may be provided with two indentations configured to cooperate with and to at least partially receive two mounting rails. Advantageously, the distance between the two indentations substantially corresponds to the distance between the mounting rails, and each indentation has a shape which is at least partially complementary to the outer shape of the respective mounting rail. Hereby, the same baseplate may be used for mounting a compressor on rails or on plain surfaces.

[0082] Of course, the invention is not restricted to the embodiments described above by way of non-limiting examples, but on the contrary it encompasses all embodiments thereof.