SCROLL FLUID MACHINE

Abstract

To provide a scroll fluid machine that can improve reliability in abrasion resistance of a power transmission mechanism including a pin member and a ring member. The machine includes a driving scroll member (20), a driven scroll member (22), and a power transmission mechanism (26) that transmits power to synchronously rotate both scroll members (20, 22) and allow the scroll members to revolve and orbit relative to each other. The power transmission mechanism (26) includes a pin (30) attached to the driven scroll member (22), a ring body (34) provided in the driving scroll member (20) and having an inner circumference in contact with an outer circumference of the pin (30), and a circular groove (32) housing the ring body (34) and having an inner circumference in contact with an outer circumference of the ring body (34). Of surface contact pressure in a contact portion between the outer circumference of the pin (30) and the inner circumference of the ring body (34), and surface contact pressure in a contact portion between the outer circumference of the ring body (34) and the inner circumference of the circular groove (32), the contact portion having higher surface contact pressure has a larger frictional torque.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A scroll fluid machine comprising: a first scroll member that has a spiral first wall body; a second scroll member that has a spiral second wall body meshed with the first wall body to form a compression space; and a power transmission mechanism that transmits power to synchronously rotate both of the scroll members and allow the scroll members to revolve and orbit relative to each other, wherein: the power transmission mechanism includes a pin member that is attached to one of the scroll members, a ring member that is provided in the other of the scroll members and has an inner circumference in contact with an outer circumference of the pin member, and a circular groove that is formed in the other of the scroll members to house the ring member, and has an inner circumference in contact with an outer circumference of the ring member; of surface contact pressure in a contact portion between the outer circumference of the pin member and the inner circumference of the ring member, and surface contact pressure in a contact portion between the outer circumference of the ring member and the inner circumference of the circular groove, a larger frictional torque is set in the contact portion having higher surface contact pressure; and when the ring member is fitted into the circular groove, frictional torque is larger in the contact portion between the outer circumference of the pin member and the inner circumference of the ring member, than in the contact portion between the outer circumference of the ring member and the inner circumference of the circular groove.

12. The scroll fluid machine according to claim 11, wherein: the ring member is a rolling bearing; and the contact portion having the higher surface contact pressure has a larger frictional torque than the rolling bearing.

13. The scroll fluid machine according to claim 11, wherein a surface roughness of the contact portion having higher surface contact pressure is set larger than a surface roughness of the contact portion having lower surface contact pressure.

14. The scroll fluid machine according to claim 11, wherein a high friction material that sets a larger frictional force than the contact portion having lower surface contact pressure is provided in the contact portion having higher surface contact pressure, and/or a low friction material that sets a smaller frictional force than the contact portion having higher surface contact pressure is provided in the contact portion having lower surface contact pressure.

15. The scroll fluid machine according to claim 14, wherein the high friction material is provided in a part of the contact portion, and/or the low friction material is provided in a part of the contact portion.

16. A scroll fluid machine comprising: a first scroll member that has a spiral first wall body; a second scroll member that has a spiral second wall body meshed with the first wall body to form a compression space; and a power transmission mechanism that transmits power to synchronously rotate both of the scroll members and allow the scroll members to revolve and orbit relative to each other, wherein: the power transmission mechanism includes a pin member that is attached to one of the scroll members, a ring member that is provided in the other of the scroll members and has an inner circumference in contact with an outer circumference of the pin member, and a circular groove that is formed in the other of the scroll members to house the ring member, and has an inner circumference in contact with an outer circumference of the ring member; of surface contact pressure in a contact portion between the outer circumference of the pin member and the inner circumference of the ring member, and surface contact pressure in a contact portion between the outer circumference of the ring member and the inner circumference of the circular groove, a larger frictional torque is set in the contact portion having higher surface contact pressure; and a surface roughness of the contact portion having higher surface contact pressure is set larger than a surface roughness of the contact portion having lower surface contact pressure.

17. The scroll fluid machine according to claim 16, wherein: the ring member is a rolling bearing; and the contact portion having the higher surface contact pressure has a larger frictional torque than the rolling bearing.

18. The scroll fluid machine according to claim 16, wherein when the pin member is fitted into the ring member, frictional torque is larger in the contact portion between the outer circumference of the ring member and the inner circumference of the circular groove, than in the contact portion between the outer circumference of the pin member and the inner circumference of the ring member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0032] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section of a scroll compressor of a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 2 is a cross section of a scroll member of FIG. 1.

[0034] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section of an enlargement of a power transmission mechanism.

[0035] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section of Modification 1-1.

[0036] FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section of Modification 1-3.

[0037] FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section of Modification 1-4.

[0038] FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section of a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] FIG. 8 is a longitudinal section of Modification 2-1.

[0040] FIG. 9 is a longitudinal section of Modification 2-3.

[0041] FIG. 10 is a longitudinal section of Modification 2-4.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0042] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment

[0043] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section of a scroll compressor (scroll fluid machine) 1 of a first embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the scroll compressor 1 includes a driving portion 3 and a compression mechanism 5 in a housing 9.

[0044] The driving portion 3 includes an electric motor 7 housed in a small diameter portion 9a of the housing 9. Radiator fins are provided on the outer circumference of the small diameter portion 9a of the housing 9. The electric motor 7 includes a stator 11 fixed to the housing 9 side, and a rotor 13 rotating about a driving-side center axis L1 inside the stator 11. The rotor 13 is fixed to the outer circumference of a rotating shaft 15.

[0045] Both ends of the rotating shaft 15 are supported by bearings 17, 19. A shaft portion 20a of a driving scroll member 20 is connected to one end (left end in FIG. 1) of the rotating shaft 15. Accordingly, the rotating shaft 15 and the driving scroll member 20 rotate about the same driving-side center axis L1.

[0046] The compression mechanism 5 is housed inside a large diameter portion 9b of the housing 9, and includes a metal driving scroll member (first scroll member) 20, and a metal driven scroll member (second scroll member) 22.

[0047] The driving scroll member 20 rotates about the driving-side center axis L1, by a rotational driving force from the rotating shaft 15 transmitted through the shaft portion 20a. The driving scroll member 20 includes a disc-shaped end plate 20b, and a spiral wall body (first wall body) 20c erected substantially vertically on the end plate 20b. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the spiral wall body 20c is formed into a spiral shape having a winding start portion 20c1 on the center side, and a winding end portion 20c2 on the outer circumferential side. An inner circumferential face and an outer circumferential face of the spiral wall body 20c are formed of an involute curve, for example. Note, however, that the winding start portion 20c1 is formed of various curves.

[0048] The driven scroll member 22 includes a disc-shaped end plate 22b, a spiral wall body (second wall body) 22c erected substantially vertically on the end plate 22b, and a shaft portion 22a provided at the center of the end plate 22b.

[0049] On the outer circumference of the shaft portion 22a, a bearing 24 is attached between the housing 9 and the shaft portion 22a. Accordingly, the driven scroll member 22 rotates about a driven-side center axis L2. The driving-side center axis L1 is offset from the driven-side center axis L2 by a predetermined distance p, and the predetermined distance p is the turning radius when the driving scroll member 20 and the driven scroll member 22 revolve and orbit relative to each other.

[0050] The shaft portion 22a is formed into a cylindrical shape, and a compressed fluid (e.g., air) is discharged through a through hole 22a1 formed on the center side of the shaft portion 22a.

[0051] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the spiral wall body 22c is formed into a spiral shape having a winding start portion 22c1 on the center side, and a winding end portion 22c2 on the outer circumferential side. An inner circumferential face and an outer circumferential face of the spiral wall body 22c are formed of an involute curve, for example, so as to mesh with the spiral wall body 20c of the driving scroll member 20. Note, however, that the winding start portion 20c1 part is formed of various curves.

[0052] A power transmission mechanism 26 that transmits power to synchronously rotate both scroll members 20, 22 and allow the scroll members 20, 22 to revolve and orbit relative to each other, is provided between the driving scroll member 20 and the driven scroll member 22. Here, synchronous rotation refers to rotation in the same direction at the same angular velocity and the same phase.

[0053] As illustrated in FIG. 1 (in more detail in FIG. 3), the power transmission mechanism 26 includes a pin (pin member) 30 fixed to the driven scroll member 22, a circular groove 32 formed in the end plate 20b of the driving scroll member 20, and a ring body (ring member) 34 fitted into the circular groove 32.

[0054] The pin 30 is made of metal, and is fixed to an outer circumferential wall portion 22d of the driven scroll member 22 facing the end plate 20b of the driving scroll member 20. The pin 30 is provided such that one end is embedded in the outer circumferential wall portion 22d, and the other end protrudes to the inner circumferential side of the ring body 34.

[0055] The circular groove 32 is a circular groove having an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the ring body 34, and is a hole that penetrates the end plate 20b in the embodiment.

[0056] The ring body 34 is made of metal, and is formed into an endless ring shape.

[0057] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a contact portion is formed between the outer circumference of the pin 30 and the inner circumference of the ring body 34, and a contact portion is formed between the outer circumference of the ring body 34 and the inner circumference of the circular groove 32. Power is transmitted through these contact portions.

[0058] As illustrated in FIG. 2, four sets of the pin 30, circular groove 32, and ring body 34 are provided around a center C1 of the driving scroll member 20. Note that although the embodiment includes four sets of the pin 30, circular groove 32, and ring body 34, any number of sets may be provided as long as it is three or more, so six sets may be provided, for example.

[0059] The power transmission mechanism 26 described above transmits rotational driving force input into the driving scroll member 20 to the driven scroll member 22.

[0060] In the embodiment, frictional torque in the contact portion between the outer circumference of the pin 30 and the inner circumference of the ring body 34 is set larger than frictional torque in the contact portion between the outer circumference of the ring body 34 and the inner circumference of the circular groove 32. Specifically, the surface roughness in the contact portion between the outer circumference of the pin 30 and the inner circumference of the ring body 34 is set larger than the surface roughness in the contact portion between the outer circumference of the pin 30 and the inner circumference of the ring body 34. The surface roughness can be increased by roughening the outer circumference of the pin 30 and the inner circumference of the ring body 34 with a file, a blasting treatment, or the like. The surface roughness may be reduced by smoothening the outer circumference of the ring body 34 and the inner circumference of the circular groove 32 by grinding or the like.

[0061] The scroll compressor 1 having the above configuration operates in the following manner.

[0062] The electric motor 7 is driven by electric power supplied from an unillustrated power source, and rotation of the rotor 13 rotates the rotating shaft 15 about the driving-side center axis L1. Rotational driving force of the rotating shaft 15 is transmitted to the driving scroll member 20 via a shaft portion 20a, and rotates the driving scroll member 20 about the driving-side center axis L1. Rotational force of the driving scroll member 20 is transmitted to the driven scroll member 22 by the power transmission mechanism 26. At this time, rotation of the pin 30 of the power transmission mechanism 26 while abutting on the inner circumference of the ring body 34 allows the driving scroll member 20 and the driven scroll member 22 to revolve and orbit relative to each other.

[0063] When the driving scroll member 20 and the driven scroll member 22 revolve and orbit relative to each other, compressed air formed between the spiral wall body 20c of the driving scroll member 20 and the spiral wall body 22c of the driven scroll member 22 is gradually reduced while moving from the outer circumferential side to the center side, and the fluid sucked in from the outer circumferential side of the scroll members 20, 22 is compressed. The compressed fluid is discharged to the outside from the through hole 22a1 formed in the shaft portion 22a of the driven scroll member 22.

[0064] The embodiment has the following effects.

[0065] Frictional torque in the contact portion between the outer circumference of the pin 30 and the inner circumference of the ring body 34 is set larger than frictional force in the contact portion between the outer circumference of the ring body 34 and the inner circumference of the circular groove 32. Hence, power can be transmitted while allowing rolling contact without relative sliding in the interface between the outer circumference of the pin 30 and the inner circumference of the ring body 34, which is the contact portion having higher surface contact pressure, and causing relative sliding between the outer circumference of the ring body 34 and the inner circumference of the circular groove 32, which is the contact portion having lower surface contact pressure. Accordingly, since the contact portion having higher surface contact pressure can be managed to allow rolling contact without causing relative sliding, reliability in abrasion resistance of the power transmission mechanism 26 can be made more secure than when there is risk of relative sliding in the contact portion having higher surface contact pressure.

(Modification 1-1)

[0066] As a modification of the embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 4, a ball bearing (rolling bearing) 35 may be provided instead of the ring body 34. In the case of the ball bearing 35, too, the surface roughness is adjusted such that frictional torque in the contact portion between the outer circumference of a pin 30 and the inner circumference of an inner ring of the ball bearing 35 is set larger than frictional torque in the contact portion between the outer circumference of an outer ring of the ball bearing 35 and the inner circumference of a circular groove 32. Then, frictional torque of the ball bearing 35 is set smaller than frictional torque in the contact portion between the outer circumference of the pin 30 and the inner circumference of the inner ring of the ball bearing 35. This has a similar effect as the above embodiment. In particular, if the fit between the outer ring of the ball bearing 35 and the circular groove 32 is tight and does not allow relative sliding, the ball bearing 35 itself rolls, so that there is no sliding contact between the outer circumference of the outer ring of the ball bearing 35 and the inner circumference of the circular groove 32. Hence, reliability is improved even more. Additionally, even if the fit between the outer ring of the ball bearing 35 and the circular groove 32 is loose and allows relative sliding, sliding contact between the outer circumference of the outer ring of the ball bearing 35 and the inner circumference of the circular groove 32 is reduced. Hence, reliability in abrasion resistance is improved even more.

(Modification 1-2)

[0067] As a modification of the embodiment, instead of adjusting the surface roughness of the contact portions, the contact portion having higher surface contact pressure may adopt a high friction material having a higher frictional force than the contact portion having lower surface contact pressure. This increases frictional torque of the contact portion having higher surface contact pressure. An example of a high friction material is a high polymer material (elastomer) having a slip resistant property and elasticity, and therefore rubber is used, for example.

[0068] Moreover, the contact portion having lower surface contact pressure may adopt a low friction material having a lower frictional force than the contact portion having higher surface contact pressure. This reduces frictional torque of the contact portion having lower surface contact pressure. Examples of a low friction material include materials having slip-increasing property such as DLC (diamond-like carbon) coating, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) coating such as Teflon (registered trademark), molybdenum disulfide coating, and surface microtexture.

[0069] The high friction material and low friction material may be provided by adhering to the base material of the pin member, ring member, and circular groove, or by subjecting the parts to surface treatment.

(Modification 1-3)

[0070] As a modification of the embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5, a high friction material 40 may be provided in a part of the contact portion between the outer circumference of a pin 30 and the inner circumference of a ring body 34. With this, contact force can be received not only by the high friction material 40, but also by the base material of the pin 30. Hence, durability of the high friction material 40 can be improved. It is preferable that the outer diameter of the high friction material 40 is set larger than the outer diameter of the pin 30, to bring the high friction material 40 into contact with the ring body 34 earlier than the base material of the pin 30. This can achieve a damping effect at the time of contact, and can reduce noise and vibration.

[0071] Note that the high friction material may be provided on the side of the inner circumference of the ring body 34 to form a part of the contact portion.

[0072] Additionally, although not shown in the drawings, a low friction material may be provided on the outer circumference of the ring body 34 or the inner circumference of the circular groove 32 to form a part of the contact portion.

(Modification 1-4)

[0073] As a modification of Modification 1-3 described above, as illustrated in FIG. 6, a ball bearing (rolling bearing) 35 may be provided instead of the ring body 34. The effect of providing the ball bearing 35 instead of the ring body 34 is the same as the description of aforementioned Modification 1-1.

Second Embodiment

[0074] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 7. In the following description, only points different from the aforementioned first embodiment and its modifications will be described. Accordingly, descriptions of matters common to the first embodiment and its modifications will be omitted.

[0075] As illustrated in FIG. 7, the tip end of a pin 30 is inserted and fitted into the inner circumference of a ring body 34. In such a configuration, surface contact pressure is higher in the contact portion between the outer circumference of the ring body 34 and the inner circumference of a circular groove 32 than the contact portion between the outer circumference of the pin 30 and the inner circumference of the ring body 34. Accordingly, frictional torque is set larger in the contact portion between the outer circumference of the ring body 34 and the inner circumference of the circular groove 32 than the contact portion between the outer circumference of the pin 30 and the inner circumference of the ring body 34.

[0076] With this, power can be transmitted while allowing rolling contact without relative sliding in the interface between the outer circumference of the ring body 34 and the inner circumference of the circular groove 32, which is the contact portion having higher surface contact pressure, and causing relative sliding between the outer circumference of the pin 30 and the inner circumference of the ring body 34, which is the contact portion having lower surface contact pressure. Accordingly, since the contact portion having higher surface contact pressure can be managed to allow rolling contact without causing relative sliding, reliability in abrasion resistance of the power transmission mechanism 26 can be made more secure than when there is risk of relative sliding in the contact portion having higher surface contact pressure.

(Modification 2-1)

[0077] As a modification of the embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 8, a ball bearing (rolling bearing) 35 may be provided instead of the ring body 34. In the case of the ball bearing 35, too, the surface roughness is adjusted such that frictional torque in the contact portion between the outer circumference of an outer ring of the ball bearing 35 and the inner circumference of a circular groove 32 is set larger than frictional torque in the contact portion between the outer circumference of a pin 30 and the inner circumference of an inner ring of the ball bearing 35. Then, frictional torque of the ball bearing 35 is set smaller than frictional torque in the contact portion between the outer circumference of the outer ring of the ball bearing 35 and the inner circumference of the circular groove 32. This has a similar effect as the above embodiments. In particular, if the fit between the inner ring of the ball bearing 35 and the outer circumference of the pin 30 is tight and does not allow relative sliding, the ball bearing 35 itself rolls, so that there is no sliding contact between the inner circumference of the inner ring of the ball bearing 35 and the outer circumference of the pin 30. Hence, reliability in abrasion resistance is improved even more. Additionally, even if the fit between inner ring of the ball bearing 35 and the outer circumference of the pin 30 is loose and allows relative sliding, sliding contact between the inner ring of the ball bearing 35 and the outer circumference of the pin 30 is reduced. Hence, reliability in abrasion resistance is improved even more.

(Modification 2-2)

[0078] As a modification of the embodiment, instead of adjusting the surface roughness of the contact portions, the contact portion having higher surface contact pressure may adopt a high friction material having a higher frictional force than the contact portion having lower surface contact pressure. This increases frictional torque of the contact portion having higher surface contact pressure. An example of a high friction material is a high polymer material (elastomer) having a slip resistant property and elasticity, and therefore rubber is used, for example.

[0079] Moreover, the contact portion having lower surface contact pressure may adopt a low friction material having a lower frictional force than the contact portion having higher surface contact pressure. This reduces frictional torque of the contact portion having lower surface contact pressure. Examples of a low friction material include materials having slip-increasing property such as DLC (diamond-like carbon) coating, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) coating such as Teflon (registered trademark), molybdenum disulfide coating, and surface microtexture.

[0080] The high friction material and low friction material may be provided by adhering to the base material of the pin member, ring member, and circular groove, or by subjecting the parts to surface treatment.

(Modification 2-3)

[0081] As a modification of the embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 9, a low friction material 42 may be provided in a part of the contact portion between the outer circumference of a pin 30 and the inner circumference of a ring body 34. With this, contact force can be received not only by the low friction material 42, but also by the base material of the pin 30. Hence, durability of the low friction material 42 can be improved. If the low friction material 42 has elasticity, it is preferable that the outer diameter of the low friction material 42 is set larger than the outer diameter of the pin 30, to bring the low friction material 42 into contact with the ring body 34 earlier than the base material of the pin 30. This can achieve a damping effect at the time of contact, and can reduce noise and vibration.

[0082] Note that the low friction material may be provided on the side of the inner circumference of the ring body 34 to form a part of the contact portion.

[0083] Additionally, although not shown in the drawings, a high friction material may be provided on the outer circumference of the ring body 34 or the inner circumference of the circular groove 32 to form a part of the contact portion.

(Modification 2-4)

[0084] As a modification of Modification 2-3 described above, as illustrated in FIG. 10, a ball bearing (rolling bearing) 35 may be provided instead of the ring body 34. The effect of providing the ball bearing 35 instead of the ring body 34 is the same as the description of aforementioned Modification 2-1.

[0085] Note that instead of the low friction material 42 of FIG. 10, a high friction material may be provided on the outer circumference of the outer ring of the ball bearing 35 or the inner circumference of the circular groove 32, to form a part of the contact portion.

[0086] Note that although the above embodiments have been described as a compressor, the present invention is not limited to this, and is also applicable to a supercharger, an air brake (air operated braking system), an air compressor, a vacuum pump, and the like.

[0087] Also, while the above embodiments use surface roughness and high friction materials to increase frictional torque, the contact portions may be formed into gear shapes meshing with each other.

[0088] Moreover, while the pin 30 is attached to the driven scroll member 22 and the ring body 34, 34 or ball bearing 35, 35 is attached to the driving scroll member 20 in the structure of the above embodiments, a reversed relationship may be adopted, that is, the pin 30 may be attached to the driving scroll member 20, and the ring body 34, 34 or the ball bearing 35, 35 may be attached to the driven scroll member 22.

[0089] Moreover, any structure may be adopted as long as the power transmission mechanism 26 such as the pin 30, ring body 34, 34, and ball bearing 35, 35 is provided in a member transmitting power between the driving scroll member 20 and the driven scroll member 22. Hence, the power transmission mechanism 26 does not necessarily have to be provided directly on the driving scroll member 20 and the driven scroll member 22.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0090] 1 scroll compressor [0091] 3 driving portion [0092] 5 compression mechanism [0093] 7 electric motor [0094] 9 housing [0095] 11 stator [0096] 13 rotor [0097] 15 rotating shaft [0098] 17 bearing [0099] 19 bearing [0100] 20 driving scroll member (first scroll member) [0101] 20a shaft portion [0102] 20b end plate [0103] 20c spiral wall body (first wall body) [0104] 20c1 winding start portion [0105] 20c2 winding end portion [0106] 22 driven scroll member (second scroll member) [0107] 22a shaft portion [0108] 22b end plate [0109] 22c spiral wall body (second wall body) [0110] 22c1 winding start portion [0111] 22c2 winding end portion [0112] 24 bearing [0113] 26 power transmission mechanism [0114] 30 pin (pin member) [0115] 32 circular groove [0116] 34 ring body (ring member) [0117] 35 ball bearing (rolling bearing) [0118] 40 high friction material [0119] 42 low friction material [0120] L1 driving-side center axis [0121] L2 driven-side center axis