Compressor

Abstract

A compressor includes: a compression space with an annular shape comprising an inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential surface; and a discharge opening formed in a direction parallel to a shaft direction of the compressor, to discharge a refrigerant compressed in the compression space, wherein a first portion of a cross-sectional area of the discharge opening overlaps a portion of a cross-sectional area of the compression space, a second portion of the cross-sectional area of the discharge opening does not overlap the cross-sectional area of the discharge opening, and the ratio of the non-overlapping second portion of the cross-sectional area of the discharge opening to the entire cross-sectional area of the discharge opening is 0.1 or less. With such a configuration, a dead volume generated in the compression space can be reduced, and thus compressor efficiency can be enhanced.

Claims

1. A compressor, comprising: a compression space with an annular shape comprising an inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential surface; and a discharge opening communicated with the compression space, to discharge a refrigerant compressed in the compression space, wherein a first portion of a cross-sectional area of the discharge opening overlaps a portion of a cross-sectional area of the compression space, a second portion of the cross-sectional area of the discharge opening does not overlap the cross-sectional area of the discharge opening, and the ratio of the non-overlapping second portion of the cross-sectional area of the discharge opening to the entire cross-sectional area of the compression space is 0.1 or less, and wherein an annular piston member, which forms the inner circumferential surface of the compression space, and which compresses a refrigerant while performing an orbital motion by contacting the outer circumferential surface of the compression space, is provided at the compression space, and wherein a maximum interval between the outer circumferential surface of the compression space and an inner circumferential surface of the compression space is equal to or less than a sealing thickness of the annular piston member in a radial direction.

2. The compressor of claim 1, wherein the discharge opening is formed in a shape that is a non-perfect circle.

3. The compressor of claim 2, wherein the discharge opening is formed in a shape that is elongated along one direction.

4. The compressor of claim 3, wherein an annular piston member, which forms the inner circumferential surface of the compression space, and which compresses a refrigerant while performing an orbital motion by contacting the outer circumferential surface of the compression space, is provided at the compression space, and wherein a width of the discharge opening in a cross-sectional short-axis direction is 1.1 times or less than a sealing thickness of the annular piston member in a radial direction.

5. The compressor of claim 1, wherein the discharge opening is formed in plurality.

6. A compressor, comprising: a cylinder with a compression space in an annular shape; a rolling piston formed in an annular shape, to compress a refrigerant while performing an orbital motion in the compression space when an outer circumferential surface thereof contacts an inner circumferential surface of the cylinder; a vane slidably inserted into the cylinder, to divide the compression space into a suction chamber and a discharge chamber when the vane contacts the rolling piston; and a plurality of bearings forming the compression space by coupling to upper and lower sides of the cylinder, and having a discharge opening on at least one side thereof, wherein the refrigerant compressed in the compression space is discharged through the discharge opening, wherein a ratio of a width of the discharge opening in a radial direction to a sealing thickness of the rolling piston in a radial direction is 1.1 or less, and wherein a maximum interval between the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder and an inner circumferential surface of the discharge opening is equal to or less than a sealing thickness of the rolling piston in a radial direction.

7. The compressor of claim 6, wherein a cross-sectional area of the discharge opening positioned outwards from the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder and blocked by the cylinder is 10% or less than an entire cross-sectional area of the discharge opening.

8. The compressor of claim 6, wherein the discharge opening is elongated along one cross-sectional direction.

9. The compressor of claim 6, wherein the discharge opening has a circular shape, and wherein a cross-sectional area of an inlet of the discharge opening is smaller than a cross-sectional area of an outlet of the discharge opening.

10. The compressor of claim 6, wherein an edge of the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder contacts the bearing having the discharge opening and has a circular shape.

11. The compressor of claim 10, wherein an edge of the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder contacts the bearing having the discharge opening and has a single inner diameter.

12. A compressor, comprising: a cylinder with a compression space in an annular shape; a rolling piston formed in an annular shape, to compress a refrigerant while performing an orbital motion in the compression space when an outer circumferential surface thereof contacts an inner circumferential surface of the cylinder; a vane slidably inserted into the cylinder, to divide the compression space into a suction chamber and a discharge chamber when the vane contacts the rolling piston; and a plurality of bearings forming the compression space by coupling to upper and lower sides of the cylinder, and having a discharge opening on at least one side thereof, wherein the refrigerant compressed in the compression space is discharged through the discharge opening, wherein an edge of the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder contacts the bearing having the discharge opening and has a circular shape, and wherein a maximum interval between the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder and an inner circumferential surface of the discharge opening is equal to or less than a sealing thickness of the rolling piston in a radial direction.

13. The compressor of claim 12, wherein an edge of the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder contacts the bearings having the discharge opening and has a single inner diameter.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

(2) In the drawings:

(3) FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section view of a rotary compressor in accordance with the conventional art;

(4) FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section view illustrating a position of a discharge opening of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 3 is a planar view illustrating a shape of the discharge opening of FIG. 2;

(6) FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section view illustrating a compression part of a rotary compressor according to the present disclosure;

(7) FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating a position of a discharge opening of FIG. 4;

(8) FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating another embodiment with respect to a position of the discharge opening of FIG. 5;

(9) FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating a compressor efficiency (EER) according to a ratio (N/A) of a cross-sectional area (N) of a discharge opening positioned outward from a compression space, with respect to an entire cross-sectional area (A) of the discharge opening of the present disclosure;

(10) FIG. 8 is a longitudinal section view illustrating another embodiment of a discharge opening of FIG. 4;

(11) FIGS. 9 to 12 are planar views illustrating other embodiments of a discharge opening of FIG. 4;

(12) FIG. 13 is a longitudinal section view illustrating a relation between a rolling piston and a discharge opening in the rotary compressor of FIG. 4; and

(13) FIG. 14 is a graph illustrating a compressor efficiency (EER) according to a ratio (P/t) of a width (P) of a discharge opening in a radial direction to a sealing thickness (t) of a rolling piston in a radial direction according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(14) Description will now be given in detail of preferred configurations of a scroll compressor according to the present disclosure, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(15) FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section view illustrating a compression part of a rotary compressor according to the present disclosure.

(16) Referring to FIG. 4, in the rotary compressor according to the present disclosure, a motor part 2 may be installed in a compressor casing 1, and a compression part 100 may be installed below the motor part 2. The motor part 2 and the compression part 100 may be mechanically connected to each other by a crank shaft 23.

(17) The motor part 2 may include a stator 21 forcibly-fixed to the inside of the compressor casing 1, a rotor 22 rotatably-inserted into the stator 21, and a crank shaft 23 coupled to a central part of the rotor 22 by being forcibly-inserted thereinto.

(18) As shown in FIG. 4, the compression part 100 may include a main bearing 110 and a sub bearing 120 fixedly-coupled to the compressor casing 1 so as to support the crank shaft 23, a cylinder 130 installed between the main bearing 110 and the sub bearing 120 and forming a compression space (S), a rolling piston 140 coupled to an eccentric portion 23a of the crank shaft 23, and configured to compress a refrigerant while performing an orbital motion in the cylinder 130, and a vane (refer to FIG. 9) 150 configured to divide the compression space (S) into a suction chamber and a discharge chamber by contacting an outer circumferential surface of the rolling piston 140.

(19) A discharge opening 111, through which a refrigerant compressed in the compression space (S) is discharged to an inner space of the casing 1, may be formed at the main bearing 110 so as to communicate with the compression space (S). A discharge valve 160 for opening and closing the discharge opening 111 may be installed on an upper surface of the main bearing 110.

(20) The cylinder 130 may be formed in an annular shape having an inner circumferential surface of a perfect circle shape. An inner diameter (D1) of the cylinder 130 is formed to be larger than an outer diameter (D2) of the rolling piston 140, such that the compression space (S) is formed between an inner circumferential surface 130a of the cylinder 130 and an outer circumferential surface 140a of the rolling piston 140. That is, the inner circumferential surface 130a of the cylinder 130 may form an outer wall surface of the compression space (S), and the outer circumferential surface 140a of the rolling piston 140 may form an inner wall surface of the compression space (S). As the rolling piston 140 performs an orbital motion, the outer wall surface of the compression space (S) forms a fixed wall whereas the inner wall surface of the compression space (S) forms a variable wall.

(21) A suction opening 131 may be penetratingly-formed at the cylinder 130 in a radial direction, and a suction pipe 11 may be connected to the suction opening 131 by passing through the compressor casing 1. A vane slot 132 for slidably inserting the vane 150 may be formed at the cylinder 130 at one side of the suction opening 131 in a circumferential direction. A discharge guide groove for guiding a refrigerant to the discharge opening 111 of the main bearing 110 may be formed at one side of the vane slot 132, i.e., a side opposite to the suction opening 131. However, it is preferable not to form a discharge guide groove, since the discharge guide groove generates a dead volume. In the case that a discharge guide groove is formed, it is preferable to form it with a minimal volume so that compressor efficiency can be enhanced by a dead volume. In the case that no discharge guide groove is formed, either of two edges of an inner circumferential surface of the cylinder, i.e., an edge contacting a bearing having the discharge opening, may be formed in a circular shape having a single inner diameter.

(22) In the case that the discharge guide groove is not formed at the cylinder 130 or the discharge guide groove is formed with a minimal volume, the discharge opening 111 for smoothly discharging a refrigerant inside the compression space (S) is preferably formed as follows. In particular, the discharge opening 111 is formed so that an entire portion of the cross-sectional area thereof can overlap with a range of a cross-sectional area of the compression space (S), or so that a maximum portion of the cross-sectional area of the discharge opening among an entire cross-sectional area thereof can overlap with the cross-sectional area of the compression space (S) while a remaining portion of the cross-sectional area of thereof is positioned in a non-overlapping manner with the compression space (S). This can minimize over-compression.

(23) FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating a position of the discharge opening of FIG. 4. As shown, the discharge opening 111 according to this embodiment may be formed such that an inlet 111a thereof is entirely positioned within a cross-sectional area of the compression space (S), i.e., such that an inner circumferential surface 111b of the discharge opening 111, which is farthest from a central part of the cylinder 130, contacts the inner circumferential surface 130a of the cylinder 130, or the inner circumferential surface 111b of the discharge opening 111 is positioned at an inner side than the inner circumferential surface 130a of the cylinder 130. With such a configuration, the conventional discharge guide groove needs not be formed at the cylinder 130. Thus, a dead volume due to the discharge guide groove can be prevented.

(24) In some cases, as shown in FIG. 6, the discharge opening 111 may be formed such that portion (A.sub.C) of an entire cross-sectional area thereof is formed in a non-overlapping manner outside the inner circumferential surface 130a of the cylinder 130, i.e., such that the portion (A.sub.C) is positioned in a state blocked by the cylinder. In such a case, it is preferable that at least 90% of the entire cross-sectional area of the discharge opening 111 overlaps with the compression space (S). That is, it is preferable that portion (A.sub.B) corresponding to about 85%-95% of the entire cross-sectional area of the discharge opening 111 is formed at an inner side than the inner circumferential surface 130a of the cylinder 130, and portion (A.sub.C) corresponding to about 5%-15% of the entire cross-sectional area of the discharge opening 111 is formed at an outer side than the inner circumferential surface 130a of the cylinder 130. With such a configuration, a dead volume can be reduced because no discharge guide groove is formed, and a refrigerant can be smoothly discharged.

(25) FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating compressor efficiency (EER) according to a ratio (N/A) of a cross-sectional area (N) of a discharge opening which is positioned outside of a compression space, with respect to an entire cross-sectional area (A) of the discharge opening of the present disclosure. As shown, under an assumption that compressor efficiency is 100% when the ratio (N/A) is 0.5, the compressor efficiency is significantly decreased when the ratio (N/A) is 0.1 or more. On the other hand, the compressor efficiency is increased when the ratio (N/A) is 0.1 or less. In particular, it can be shown that the compressor efficiency is not significantly increased when the ratio (N/A) is within a range of 0.50.2, whereas the compressor efficiency is significantly increased when the ratio (N/A) is 0.1 or less. Thus, it is preferable to form the discharge opening so that the ratio (N/A) is 0.1 or less.

(26) As shown in FIG. 5, the discharge opening 111 may be formed to have a cross-sectional pillar shape where an inner diameter (D3) of the inlet 111a thereof is the same as an inner diameter (D4) of an outlet 111c. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 8, the discharge opening 111 may be formed to have a tapered cross-sectional shape where the inner diameter (D4) of the outlet 111c is larger than the inner diameter (D3) of the inlet 111a. Thus, the inner circumferential surface 111b of the discharge opening 111 is formed as an inclined surface extending toward the outlet 111c between the inlet 111a and the outlet 111c. With such a configuration, a refrigerant can be rapidly discharged by being guided to the outlet 111c along the inclined inner circumferential surface 111b of the discharge opening 111. When the discharge opening 111 is formed with a width within a range of the compression space (S) (precisely, inside of an inner circumferential surface of the cylinder), the inner diameter (D3) of the inlet of the discharge opening 111 may not be increased due to standards of the compressor. In this case, over-compression may be minimized by increasing a discharge speed of a refrigerant by forming a small inner diameter (D3) of the inlet of the discharge opening 111, and by forming a large inner diameter (D4) of the outlet of the discharge opening 111. Further, as shown in the structure of FIG. 8, as the inner diameter (D4) of the outlet 111c of the discharge opening 111 is increased, a discharge pressure of a refrigerant is evenly distributed to the discharge valve 160. As a result, an opening speed of the discharge valve 160 can be increased, and noise generated from the discharge valve 160 can be minimized by supporting a wide area when the discharge valve 160 is closed.

(27) The discharge opening may have various cross-sectional shapes. For instance, as shown in FIG. 9, the discharge opening 111 may have a cross-sectional shape in the conventional perfect circle shape. Processing of the discharge opening 111 may be most facilitated in such a case. However, if the discharge opening 111 has a cross-sectional surface in the conventional perfect circle shape, it is difficult to form the discharge opening 111 at a position inner then the inner circumferential surface 130a of the cylinder 130, i.e., within the compression space (S) in a radial direction, due to a large inner diameter of the discharge opening 111. That is, since the compression space (S) is composed of the inner circumferential surface 130a of the cylinder 130 and the outer circumferential surface 140a of the rolling piston 140, a width of the compression space (S) in a radial direction is not wide relative of an orbital motion of the rolling piston 140. However, if the inner diameter of the discharge opening 111 is too small, a refrigerant is not rapidly discharged. This may cause a lowering of compressor efficiency due to over-compression.

(28) To solve such a problem, as shown in FIG. 10, the discharge opening 111 may be formed to have a cross-sectional elongated along one direction (slit shape), e.g., an oval cross-sectional shape. Alternatively, the discharge opening 111 may be formed to have a cross-sectional shape of a slit shape shown in FIG. 11, or a circular arc shape (not shown), such that a proper cross-sectional area is obtained while a width of the discharge opening in a radial direction is minimized. In these cases, the discharge opening 111 may be formed such that a cross-sectional short axis (a) thereof is positioned in a radial direction, and a cross-sectional long axis (b) thereof is positioned in a direction perpendicular to the radial direction (approximately, a circumferential direction).

(29) If the discharge opening 111 is formed in an oval shape, a slit shape or a circular arc shape, a width of the discharge opening 111 in a radial direction is narrowed. This can allow the discharge opening to be easily positioned within a range of the compression space (S). The same effect can be anticipated even in a case where a plurality of discharge openings 111 are arranged in a circumferential direction as shown in FIG. 12. That is, if the discharge opening 111 is formed in plurality, each discharge opening 111 can be formed within a range of the compression space (S), because an inner diameter of each discharge opening is reduced.

(30) In a case where the discharge opening 111 has a cross-sectional shape of an oval shape or a slit shape as well as of a perfect circle shape, a width of the discharge opening 111 in a radial direction should be formed in consideration of a thickness of the rolling piston 140. That is, as shown in FIG. 13, if a width (P) of the discharge opening 111 in a radial direction is much greater than a sealing thickness (t) of the rolling piston, all of an outer circumferential surface 140a and an inner circumferential surface 140b of the rolling piston 140 (more specifically, an outer edge and an inner edge) may be disposed within a width range of the discharge opening 111 in a radial direction. This may cause refrigerant leakage, whereby some of a refrigerant discharged from the compression space (S), outside of the rolling piston 140, is introduced into an eccentric portion 23a, inside of the rolling piston 140.

(31) To prevent such a problem, the width (P) of the discharge opening 111 in a radial direction may be restricted into a ratio (P/t) with respect to a sealing thickness (t) of the rolling piston 140 in a radial direction. It is preferable that the ratio (P/t) is about 1.1 or less. FIG. 14 is a graph illustrating a compressor efficiency (EER) according to a ratio (P/t) of a width (P) of a discharge opening in a radial direction, with respect to a sealing thickness (t) of a rolling piston in a radial direction according to the present disclosure.

(32) As shown in FIG. 14, if the ratio (P/t) is 1.1 or more, the compressor efficiency (EER) is gradually lowered. On the other hand, if the ratio (P/t) is 1.1 or less, the compressor efficiency (EER) is almost constantly maintained. Thus, it is preferable that the discharge opening is formed at a position where the ratio (P/t) is 1.1 or less than.

(33) The compressor according to this embodiment has the following effects.

(34) If the rotor 22 of the motor part 2 and the crank shaft 23 are rotated as power is supplied to the motor part 2, a refrigerant is sucked into the compression space (S) of the cylinder 130 as the rolling piston 140 performs an orbital motion. The refrigerant is compressed by the rolling piston 140 and the vane 150, and is discharged to an inner space of the compressor casing 1 through the discharge opening 111 of the main bearing 110, which is repeatedly performed.

(35) Even if the discharge opening 111 is formed within a range of the compression space (S) in a radial direction, or even if part of the discharge opening 111 is formed out of the range of the compression space (S) in a radial direction, most of the discharge opening 111 is positioned within the range of the compression space (S) in a radial direction. Thus, a discharge guide groove needs not be additionally formed at the cylinder 130. As a discharge guide groove which generates a dead volume is removed from the cylinder 130, a dead volume of the compressor is reduced to enhance compressor efficiency.

(36) Further, the discharge opening 111 is formed within a range of the compression space (S) in a radial direction, and the width (P) of the discharge opening 111 in a radial direction is not much greater than the sealing thickness (t) of the rolling piston 140 in a radial direction. This can minimize excessive communication between the inside and the outside of the rolling piston 140, through the discharge opening 111. Thus, a leakage of a refrigerant discharged from the compression space (S) to the inside of the rolling piston 140 can be reduced. This can prevent a reduction in compressor efficiency.

(37) The discharge opening 111 should be formed within the compression space (S). However, the discharge opening 111 may be at an appropriate position in consideration of a sealing thickness of the rolling piston 140. That is, an outer circumferential wall of the compression space (S) is formed by the inner circumferential surface 130a of the cylinder 130, and an inner circumferential wall of the compression space (S) is formed by the outer circumferential surface 140a of the rolling piston 140. The rolling piston 140, which forms the inner circumferential wall of the compression space (S) is not a fixed member, but a member which performs an orbital motion. Thus, if the discharge opening 111 is formed too close to the inner circumferential wall of the compression space (S), some of a discharged refrigerant may backflow to the eccentric portion 23a, the inside of the rolling piston 140, through the discharge opening 111. This may cause compression loss. Accordingly, the discharge opening 111 should be preferably formed at a position where its width (P) in a radial direction (i.e., a maximum interval between an inner circumferential surface of the discharge opening 111 in a radial direction and an inner circumferential surface of the cylinder) is equal to or less than the sealing thickness (t) of the rolling piston 140.

(38) As the present features may be embodied in several forms without departing from the characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalents of such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.