SCROLL COMPRESSOR PROVIDED WITH A FLUID DEFLECTING AND DIVIDING DEVICE

Abstract

The scroll compressor (2) includes an outer shell (4); a refrigerant suction inlet (7) formed in the outer shell (4) and configured to supply the scroll compressor (2) with refrigerant to be compressed; a compression unit (11) configured to compress refrigerant; a driving motor (21) configured to drive the compression unit (11) via a drive shaft (19); a fluid deflecting and dividing device (35) configured to divide a refrigerant suction flow entering the scroll compressor (2) through the refrigerant suction inlet (7) at least into a first flow (F1) and a second flow (F2). The fluid deflecting and dividing device (35) includes a first end (37) facing the refrigerant suction inlet (7) and a second end (38) which is closer to the compression unit (11) than the first end (37), the fluid deflecting and dividing device (35) being configured to guide the first flow (F1) towards the compression unit (11) and to guide the second flow (F2) towards the driving motor (21).

Claims

1. A scroll compressor including: an outer shell, a refrigerant suction inlet formed in the outer shell and configured to supply the scroll compressor with refrigerant to be compressed, a compression unit configured to compress refrigerant, a driving motor configured to drive the compression unit via a drive shaft, a fluid deflecting and dividing device configured to divide a refrigerant suction flow entering the scroll compressor through the refrigerant suction inlet at least into a first flow (F1) and a second flow (F2), wherein the fluid deflecting and dividing device includes a first end facing the refrigerant suction inlet and a second end which is closer to the compression unit than the first end, the fluid deflecting and dividing device being configured to guide the first flow (F1) towards the compression unit and to guide the second flow (F2) towards the driving motor.

2. The scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein the fluid deflecting and dividing device includes an intermediate portion located between the first and second ends, the intermediate portion including a bottom plate and a plurality of blades protruding from the bottom plate.

3. The scroll compressor according to claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of blades extends substantially up to the second end of the fluid deflecting and dividing device.

4. The scroll compressor according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of blades delimits diverging and upwardly extending flow channels.

5. The scroll compressor according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of blades include a plurality of main blades and a plurality of intermediate blades, each intermediate blade extending between two adjacent main blades and having a length smaller than a length of each the two adjacent main blades.

6. The scroll compressor according to claim 5, wherein each main blade extends substantially from the first end of the fluid deflecting and dividing device, and each intermediate blade is offset from the first end of the fluid deflecting and dividing device.

7. The scroll compressor according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of main blades includes two outer main blades and several inner main blades located between the two outer main blades, each of the two outer main blades having a height higher than a height of each of the inner main blades.

8. The scroll compressor according to claim 2, wherein the bottom plate includes a curved guiding portion extending substantially from the first end of the fluid deflecting and dividing device, the curved guiding portion being configured to guide the first flow (F1) towards the second end of the fluid deflecting and dividing device.

9. The scroll compressor according to claim 1, further including an inner shell surrounding the driving motor, the fluid deflecting and dividing device being secured to an outer surface of the inner shell.

10. The scroll compressor according to claim 9, wherein the second end of the fluid deflecting and dividing device has a shape substantially complementary to the outer surface of the inner shell.

11. The scroll compressor according to claim 9, wherein the inner shell is provided with a refrigerant inlet aperture facing the refrigerant suction inlet.

12. The scroll compressor according to claim 11, wherein the refrigerant inlet aperture is partially covered by the fluid deflecting and dividing device.

13. The scroll compressor according to claim 9, wherein the second end of the deflecting and dividing device extends over at least 120 degrees of a circumference of the inner shell.

14. The scroll compressor according to claim 1, further including a support frame which bears at least partially the compression unit and which includes at least one refrigerant aperture, the fluid deflecting and dividing device being configured to guide the first flow (F1) towards the compression unit via the at least one refrigerant aperture provided on the support frame.

15. The scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein the fluid deflecting and dividing device is manufactured by 3D-printing.

16. The scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein the first end of the fluid deflecting and dividing device is substantially located at a same height than a central portion of the refrigerant suction inlet.

17. The scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein a flow section of the refrigerant suction inlet includes a first flow section portion facing the fluid deflecting and dividing device, and a second flow section portion which is offset in an axial direction of the drive shaft from the fluid deflecting and dividing device.

18. The scroll compressor according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of blades delimits diverging and upwardly extending flow channels.

19. The scroll compressor according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of blades include a plurality of main blades and a plurality of intermediate blades, each intermediate blade extending between two adjacent main blades and having a length smaller than a length of each the two adjacent main blades.

20. The scroll compressor according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of blades include a plurality of main blades and a plurality of intermediate blades, each intermediate blade extending between two adjacent main blades and having a length smaller than a length of each the two adjacent main blades.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0074] The following detailed description of one embodiment 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 embodiment disclosed.

[0075] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section view of a scroll compressor according to the invention.

[0076] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the scroll compressor of FIG. 1.

[0077] FIG. 3 is a partial longitudinal section view of the scroll compressor of FIG. 1.

[0078] FIG. 4 is a front view of a fluid deflecting and dividing device of the scroll compressor of FIG. 1.

[0079] FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section view of the fluid deflecting and dividing device of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0080] FIG. 1 shows a scroll compressor 2, and particularly a hermetic scroll compressor, comprising a hermetic enclosure 3 comprising an outer shell 4, an upper cap 5 and a baseplate 6. As shown on FIG. 1, the outer shell 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 outer shell 4 has a constant diameter over its entire length.

[0081] The hermetic scroll compressor 2 further comprises a refrigerant suction inlet 7 provided on the outer shell 4 and configured to supply the hermetic scroll compressor 2 with refrigerant to be compressed, and a discharge outlet 8 configured to discharge compressed refrigerant. For example, the discharge outlet 8 may be provided on the upper cap 5.

[0082] The hermetic 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 refrigerant 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 10 provided on the support frame 9.

[0083] The fixed scroll 12 includes a fixed scroll base plate 14 having a lower face oriented towards the orbiting scroll 13, and an upper face opposite to the lower face of the fixed scroll base plate 14. The fixed scroll 12 also includes a fixed spiral wrap 15 protruding from the lower face of the fixed scroll base plate 14 towards the orbiting scroll 13.

[0084] The orbiting scroll 13 includes an orbiting scroll base plate 16 having an upper face oriented towards the fixed scroll 12, and a lower face opposite to the upper face of the orbiting scroll base plate 16 and slidably mounted on the thrust bearing surface 10. The orbiting scroll 13 also includes an orbiting spiral wrap 17 protruding from the upper face of the orbiting base plate 16 towards the fixed scroll 12. The orbiting spiral wrap 17 meshes with the fixed spiral wrap 15 to form a plurality of compression chambers 18 between them. Each of the compression chambers 18 has a variable volume which decreases from the outside towards the inside, when the orbiting scroll 13 is driven to orbit relative to the fixed scroll 12.

[0085] Furthermore the hermetic scroll compressor 2 includes a drive shaft 19 configured to drive the orbiting scroll 13 in an orbital movement, and a driving motor 21, which may be a variable-speed driving motor, coupled to the drive shaft 19 and configured to drive in rotation the drive shaft 19 about a rotational axis A.

[0086] The driving motor 21 has a rotor 22 fitted on the drive shaft 19, and a stator 23 disposed around the rotor 22. The stator 23 includes a stator stack or stator core 24, and stator windings wound on the stator core 24. The stator windings define a first winding head 25.1 which is formed by the portions of the stator windings extending outwardly from a first end face 24.1 of the stator core 24 which is oriented towards the compression unit 11, and a second winding head 25.2 which is formed by the portions of the stator windings extending outwardly from a second end face 24.2 of the stator core 24 which is opposite to the compression unit 11.

[0087] The hermetic scroll compressor 2 further includes an inner shell 26 surrounding the driving motor 21 and in which the driving motor 21 is entirely mounted.

[0088] As shown in FIG. 1, the inner shell 26 and the driving motor 21 define a proximal chamber 27 containing the first winding head 25.1 of the stator 23, and a distal chamber 28 containing the second winding head 25.2 of the stator 23.

[0089] The inner shell 26 is further provided with a refrigerant inlet aperture 29 facing the refrigerant suction inlet 7 and emerging in the distal chamber 28. The refrigerant inlet aperture 29 is configured to fluidly connect the distal chamber 28 and an annular volume 31 delimited by the inner shell 26 and the outer shell 4.

[0090] According to the embodiment shown on the figures, an upper end of the inner shell 26 is secured to the support frame 9, and a lower end of the inner shell 26 is secured to a centering member 32 secured to the outer shell 4.

[0091] The hermetic scroll compressor 2 further includes an upper bearing member 33 provided on the support frame 9 and configured to cooperate with an outer circumferential wall surface of an upper end portion of the drive shaft 19, and a lower bearing member 34 provided on the centering member 32 and configured to cooperate with an outer circumferential wall surface of a lower end portion of the drive shaft 19. The lower bearing member 34 and the upper bearing member 33 are particularly configured to rotatably support the drive shaft 19.

[0092] The hermetic scroll compressor 2 also includes a fluid deflecting and dividing device 35 secured to an outer surface of the inner shell 26. Advantageously, the fluid deflecting and dividing device 35 extends at least partially between the refrigerant inlet aperture 29 and the refrigerant suction inlet 7.

[0093] The hermetic scroll compressor 2 is configured so that an orthogonal projection of the fluid deflecting and dividing device 35 on a reference plane which extends perpendicularly to a central axis B of the refrigerant suction inlet 7 is partially covering an orthogonal projection of the refrigerant suction inlet 7 on said reference plane. In other words, the flow section of the refrigerant suction inlet 7 includes a first flow section portion 7.1, i.e. an upper flow section portion, facing the fluid deflecting and dividing device 35, and a second flow section portion, i.e. a lower flow section portion, which is vertically offset from the fluid deflecting and dividing device 35 and which particularly faces a lower portion of the refrigerant inlet aperture 29. For example, the first flow section portion 7.1 represents from 20% to 80%, advantageously about 50%, of the flow section of the refrigerant suction inlet 7.

[0094] The fluid deflecting and dividing device 35 is thus configured to divide a refrigerant suction flow, entering the hermetic scroll compressor 2 through the refrigerant suction inlet 7, into a first flow F1 and a second flow F2, and is further configured to guide the first flow F1 directly towards the compression unit 11, via several refrigerant apertures 36 which are provided on the support frame 9 and which are circumferentially distributed, and to guide the second flow F2 towards the refrigerant inlet aperture 29 in order to cool at least parts of the driving motor 21.

[0095] As better shown on FIGS. 2 to 5, the fluid deflecting and dividing device 35 includes a first end 37 facing the refrigerant suction inlet 7 and a second end 38 which is closer to the compression unit 11 than the first end 37. Thus, the first end 37 and the second end 38 are vertically offset with respect to each other, and advantageously respectively form lower and upper edges of the fluid deflecting and dividing device 35.

[0096] According to the embodiment shown on the figures, the first end 37 of the fluid deflecting and dividing device 35 is substantially located at a same height than a central portion of the refrigerant suction inlet 7, and advantageously substantially at a same height than the central axis B of the refrigerant suction inlet 7.

[0097] According to the embodiment shown on the figures, the second end 38 of the fluid deflecting and dividing device 35 is curved, and has a radius of curvature substantially equal to a radius of curvature of the outer surface of the inner shell 26. Advantageously, the second end 38 of the fluid deflecting and dividing device 35 extends over at least 120 degrees, and for example on approximately 180 degree, of the circumference of the inner shell 26.

[0098] The fluid deflecting and dividing device 35 further includes an intermediate portion 39 located between the first and second ends 37, 38. The intermediate portion 39 includes a bottom plate 41 comprising a curved guiding portion 41.1 extending from the first end 37 of the fluid deflecting and dividing device 35, and a mounting portion 41.2 extending from the curved guiding portion 41.1 and up to the second end 38. Advantageously, the mounting portion 41.2 has a shape substantially complementary to the outer surface of the inner shell 26.

[0099] According to an embodiment of the invention, the curved guiding portion 41.1 partially covers the refrigerant inlet aperture 29, and is particularly configured to guide the first flow F1 towards the second end 38 of the fluid deflecting and dividing device 35. The curved guiding portion 41.1 of the fluid deflecting and dividing device 35 may have for example a scoop shape. Advantageously, the first flow section portion 7.1 of the refrigerant suction inlet 7 faces the curved guiding portion 41.1.

[0100] The intermediate portion 39 also includes a plurality of blades 42 respectively formed by wall portions protruding from the bottom plate 41, and extending along the curved guiding portion 41.1 and the mounting portion 41.2.

[0101] Advantageously, the blades 42 diverge from each other towards the second end 38 of the fluid deflecting and dividing device 35, and delimit diverging and upwardly extending flow channels 43. Particularly, the blades 42 include a plurality of main blades 44 and a plurality of intermediate blades 45, each intermediate blade 45 extending between two adjacent main blades 44 and having a length smaller than a length of each the two adjacent main blades 44.

[0102] According to the embodiment shown on the figures, each main blade 44 extends from the first end 37 of the fluid deflecting and dividing device 35 and up to the second end 38 of the fluid deflecting and dividing device 35, and each intermediate blade 45 is offset from the first end 37 of the fluid deflecting and dividing device 35 and extends up to the second end 38 of the fluid deflecting and dividing device 38. Advantageously, each intermediate blade 45 has an inwardly curved leading edge.

[0103] Such a configuration of the various blades 42 ensures a circumferential guiding of the refrigerant, from the first flow F1, inside the annular volume 31, and a homogenous repartition of said refrigerant inside the annular volume 31, and thus ensures homogeneous velocities of the refrigerant through the refrigerant apertures 36 provided on the support frame 9.

[0104] According to the embodiment shown on the figures, the main blades 44 includes two outer main blades 44.1 defining two lateral edges of the fluid deflecting and dividing device 35, and several inner main blades 44.2 located between the two outer main blades 44.1. Advantageously, each of the two outer main blades 44.1 has a height higher than a height of each of the inner main blades 44.2, and protrudes from the first end 37 of the fluid deflecting and dividing device 35 and towards the refrigerant suction inlet 7.

[0105] The fluid deflecting and dividing device 35 may be manufactured by 3D-printing, and the material used for 3D-printing the fluid deflecting and dividing device is chosen among ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate), PLA (Polylactic Acid), SLS Nylon, or any other suitable material for 3D printing (plastic or metallic).

[0106] Of course, the invention is not restricted to the embodiment described above by way of non-limiting example, but on the contrary it encompasses all embodiments thereof.

[0107] 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.