SCROLL COMPRESSOR

Abstract

A scroll compressor is provided, the scroll compressor comprises two scroll bodies each having a scroll rib and the scroll ribs engage each other to form at least one compression chamber, and the scroll compressor further comprises a drive shaft for driving a moveable scroll body of the two scroll bodies, wherein the moveable scroll body comprises a base plate which has two opposing sides, wherein on a first side of the two opposing sides the scroll rib is arranged and on a second side of the two opposing sides a hub is arranged, the hub comprising a receiving portion for a drive section of the drive shaft, and wherein the moveable scroll body comprises at least one passage from an interior of the receiving portion to a hub environment located around the hub at the second side of the two opposing sides.

Claims

1. A scroll compressor comprising: two scroll bodies each having a scroll rib and the scroll ribs engage each other to form at least one compression chamber, and the scroll compressor further comprises a drive shaft for driving a moveable scroll body of the two scroll bodies, wherein the moveable scroll body comprises a base plate which has two opposing sides, wherein on a first side of the two opposing sides the scroll rib is arranged and on a second side of the two opposing sides a hub is arranged, the hub comprising a receiving portion for a drive section of the drive shaft, and wherein the moveable scroll body comprises at least one passage from an interior of the receiving portion to a hub environment located around the hub at the second side of the two opposing sides.

2. (canceled)

3. Scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein the inlet of a passage is provided in an end region of the interior of the receiving portion opposite in an axial direction of an axis of the receiving portion to an opening of the receiving portion for the drive section.

4. (canceled)

5. Scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein the at least one passage exits the interior of the receiving portion at an inlet of the at least one passage inclined to a radial direction with respect to an axis of the receiving portion or radially with respect to an axis of the receiving portion .

6. Scroll compressor according to claimsclaim 1, wherein an inlet of the at least one passage is arranged at an inner cylindrical surface of the receiving portion.

7. Scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein an inlet of the at least one passage is arranged at an edge where an inner cylindrical surface of the receiving portion and a bottom surface of the interior of the receiving portion intersect.

8. Scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the receiving portion is in axial direction offset to an outer surface of the base plate of the moveable scroll body at its second side and the outer surface surrounds the hub and an inlet of the at least one passage is located within an axial offset section which extends from the axial position of the bottom surface of the receiving portion to the axial position of the outer surface, the axial direction being in particular with respect to the axis of the receiving portion.

9. (canceled)

10. Scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein an outlet of the at least one passage is positioned in an axial direction with respect to an axis of the receiving portion, closer to an opening side of the hub in which an opening of the receiving portion is arranged than an inlet of the at least one passage.

11. Scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein an outlet of the at least one passage is arranged at an outer cylindrical surface of the hub.

12. Scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein an outlet of the at least one passage is arranged in an end region of an outer cylindrical surface of the hub, the end region being in an axial direction of an axis of the receiving portion opposite to the opening side of the hub.

13. Scroll compressor according to claimsclaim 1, wherein an outlet of the at least one passage is arranged adjacent to an outer surface of the base plate of the moveable scroll body at its second side with the outer surface surrounding the hub.

14. Scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein an outlet of the at least one passage is provided at an edge where an outer cylindrical surface of the hub and an outer surface of the base plate of the moveable scroll body at its second side intersect with the outer surface surrounding the hub.

15. (canceled)

16. Scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein an outlet of the at least one passage is provided close to a radially inner end region of an outer surface of the base plate at the second side .

17. (canceled)

18. Scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein an outlet of the at least one passage is provided close to a radially inner end region of a sliding surface at the second side of the base plate of the moveable scroll body for a thrust bearing.

19. (canceled)

20. Scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein the at least one passage is arranged along its entire extension from an inlet to an outlet, oblique to a radial direction and an axial direction, the radial and axial direction being with respect to an axis of the receiving portion.

21. Scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein the at least one passage is arranged with increasing radial distance from an inlet towards an outlet in an axial direction closer to an opening side of the hub.

22. Scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein the at least one passage extends, straight along a direction of extension from an inlet to an outlet.

23. (canceled)

24. (canceled)

25. Scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein the at least one passage is arranged along a shortest way from an inlet to the hub environment surrounding the hub.

26. (canceled)

27. Scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein the at least one passage is provided at least partly in a hub wall of the hub.

28. (canceled)

29. (canceled)

30. (canceled)

31. Scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein an inlet of the at least one passage opens into a receiving chamber for a lubricant in the interior of the receiving portion.

32. Scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein an inlet of the at least one passage is provided between an axial end surface of the drive section, the axial end surface being directed to a bottom surface of the receiving portion .

33. (canceled)

34. (canceled)

35. (canceled)

36. (canceled)

37. (canceled)

38. Scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein an outlet of the at least one passage is provided in radial direction closer to a central axis of the moveable scroll body than a radially inner side of the thrust bearing provided by a support member which supports the moveable scroll body.

39. Scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein an outlet of the at least one passage is provided in a radial direction closer to a central axis of the moveable scroll body than to a radially innermost part of a thrust surface of a support member for the moveable scroll body, wherein the thrust surface is in sliding contact with a surface of the moveable scroll body.

40. Scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein an outlet of the at least one passage is provided with respect to a central axis of the moveable scroll body at an axial position which is at least approximately the same as an axial position of a thrust bearing provided by a support member which supports the moveable scroll body.

41. (canceled)

42. Scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein an outlet of the at least one passage opens into a breakthrough of a support member which supports the moveable scroll body.

43. (canceled)

44. A scroll compressor comprising: two scroll bodies each having a scroll rib and the scroll ribs engage each other to form at least one compression chamber, and the scroll compressor further comprises a drive shaft for driving a moveable scroll body of the two scroll bodies, wherein the moveable scroll body has a hub for a drive section of the drive shaft, the drive section engages in a receiving portion of the hub, the scroll compressor further comprises a support member which provides a thrust bearing that supports the moveable scroll body and the support member has a breakthrough for the hub and/or for the drive shaft and the support member has a slanted edge at its radial inner side of at the axial end of the breakthrough facing towards the moveable scroll body.

45. Scroll compressor according to claim 44, wherein the thrust surface of the support member and a radially inward directed surface of the support member, which limits the breakthrough at least at an axial end region facing towards the moveable scroll body, are connected by a slanted transition surface.

46. Scroll compressor according claim 1, wherein the scroll compressor further comprises a support member which provides a thrust bearing that supports the moveable scroll body and adjacent to the thrust bearing a void space between the outer surface of the base plate of the moveable scroll body at the side with the hub and the support member at is formed which opens into a breakthrough of the support member for the hub and/or for the drive shaft.

47. (canceled)

48. Scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein the scroll compressor further comprises a support member which provides a thrust bearing that supports the moveable scroll body and the support member has a breakthrough for the hub and/or for the drive shaft and the support member has a slanted edge at its radial inner side at an axial end of the breakthrough facing towards the moveable scroll body and an outlet of the at least one passage faces towards the slanted edge .

49. Scroll compressor according to claim 31, wherein the drive shaft provides a lubricant passage way connecting a lubricant sump with the interior of the receiving portion and the lubricant passage way opens into the receiving chamber in the interior .

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0295] In the drawings:

[0296] FIG. 1 shows a cross section through an embodiment of a scroll compressor;

[0297] FIG. 2 shows a partially enlarged view of the scroll compressor shown in FIG. 1 in an area with a compression unit and an engaging drive shaft;

[0298] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of engaging scroll ribs in the compression unit;

[0299] FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of the area designated IV in FIGS. 1 and 2 showing partially a hub of a scroll body arranged in a breakthrough of a support member and a passage in the hub;

[0300] FIG. 5 shows an enlarged view of the hub of the scroll body with and without a drive section engaging in a receiving portion of the hub;

[0301] FIG. 6 shows an even more enlarged view in the area of the fluid passage; and

[0302] FIG. 7 shows a view similar to the one of FIG. 6 of another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0303] An embodiment of a compressor assembly with at least one scroll compressor 110 is exemplarily shown in the FIGS. 1 to 6.

[0304] The scroll compressor 110 comprises a compressor housing 112 with an inlet port 114 and an outlet port 116 for a gaseous medium and in the interior of the compressor housing 112a fluid path for the gaseous medium from the inlet port 114 to the outlet port 116 is defined, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 1.

[0305] In particular, the gaseous medium is a refrigerant and for example the gaseous medium is a working fluid of a cooling circuit and/or a working fluid of a circuit of a heat pump.

[0306] Within the fluid path a compression unit which is designated as a whole with 120 is provided for compressing the refrigerant from a low pressure state as provided to the inlet port 114 to a high pressure state provided to the outlet port 116 and the compression unit 120 is driven by a drive unit 122 of the compressor 110.

[0307] For example, the drive unit 122 is provided in a drive casing 124 within the compressor housing 112.

[0308] The gaseous medium is provided along the fluid path from the inlet port 114, in particular through the drive casing 124 to an intake area 136 at the compression unit 120, in which the gaseous medium is compressed and which supplies the compressed medium in the high pressure state to an discharge chamber 138 which is connected to the outlet port 116.

[0309] The drive unit 122 comprises a shaft 152 for driving the compression unit 120. The shaft 152 is rotatably mounted for rotation around a shaft axis 154 for example in an upper bearing support 156 and a lower bearing support 158 which are fixed in the compressor housing 112.

[0310] In particular, the lower bearing support 158 is positioned with respect to a direction 162 of gravity below the upper bearing support 156 in an operational state of the compressor 110.

[0311] In particular, the upper bearing support 156 is arranged between the compression unit 120 and the drive unit 122 at an end of die drive casing 124 facing towards the compression unit 120.

[0312] Preferably, the lower bearing support 158 is provided between the drive unit 122 and a bottom 174 of the compressor housing 112 at another end of the drive casing 124 which is opposite to the end with the upper bearing support 156.

[0313] Preferably, the drive unit 122 comprises a stator 166 for example with electrical coils and which is fixed to the drive casing 124 and a rotor 168 within the stator 166 and which is fixed, for example press fitted, glued, keyed or shrinked, to the shaft 152.

[0314] During operation the stator 166 and the rotor 168 operably work together to rotate the rotor 168 and together with the rotor 168 the shaft 152 around the shaft axis 154.

[0315] Furthermore, a lubricant sump 172 is provided in the compressor housing 112 in particular at a bottom 174 of housing 112 with the bottom 174 being at a lower end of the housing 112 with respect to the direction 162 of gravitation in an operational state of the compressor 110.

[0316] The shaft 152 extends into the lubricant sump 172 with an input section 176.

[0317] The input section 176 is in some variants an axial end section of shaft 152 and in other variants an impeller tube is attached to an axial end of the shaft 152.

[0318] Within the shaft 152 a lubricant passage way 178 is formed which connects the input section 176 with an output opening 182 at the other axial end of the shaft 152 opposite to the input section 176.

[0319] In particular, the lubricant passage way 178 is inclined with respect to the shaft axis 154.

[0320] The compression unit 120 comprises two compression bodies which are designed as scroll bodies 192, 194, as exemplarily shown in particular in FIG. 2, one of which, here the scroll body 192 is fixed relative to the compressor housing 112 and the other scroll body, here scroll body 194, is moveable relative to the stationary scroll body 192 and accordingly moveable relative to the compressor housing 112.

[0321] The two scroll bodies engage each other and work operably together for compressing the gaseous medium, in particular the refrigerant.

[0322] For movably mounting of the moveable scroll body 194, a support member 196 is provided for supporting the moveable scroll body 194. The support member 196 provides in particular a thrust bearing 198 for the moveable scroll body 194.

[0323] The support member 196 is fixed within the compressor housing 112 and in particular mounted to the upper bearing support 156.

[0324] The stationary scroll body 192 is in particular fixed to the compressor housing 112 with a holding member 193.

[0325] Each of the scroll bodies 192, 194 have a respective base plate 212, 214, which extend mostly in respective geometrical base planes 216, 218, which are arranged at least approximately parallel to each other and at least approximately perpendicular to shaft axis 154.

[0326] In particular, the base plates 212, 214 have an extension within the respective base plane 216, 218 which are much larger, for example at least five times larger, preferably at least ten times larger, as an extension of the respective base plate 212, 214 perpendicular to the respective base plane 216, 218.

[0327] On a side 222 of the stationary scroll body 192 a scroll rib 226 is arranged which projects at least approximately perpendicular away from the base plate 212 of the stationary scroll body 192 and the scroll rib 226 is designed in the form of a spiral.

[0328] On a first side 224 of the moveable scroll body 194 a scroll rib 228 is arranged which projects at least approximately perpendicular away from the base plate 214 of the moveable scroll body 194 and the scroll rib 228 is designed in the form of a spiral.

[0329] Both scroll bodies 192, 194 are arranged such that their scroll sides 222 and 224 face each other and the scroll ribs 226 and 228 engage in one another and form at least one compression chamber 232, preferably several compression chambers 232, between the scroll ribs 226, 228 and the base plates 212, 214 as exemplarily shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4.

[0330] Advantageously, the scroll ribs 226, 228 have at their axial end facing away from the respective base plate 212, 214 sealing elements 236 and 238, respectively, which abut sealingly against the base plate 214, 212 of the other scroll body 194, 192, for sealingly closing the at least one compression chamber 232 or the several compression chambers 232.

[0331] The scroll bodies 192, 194 are arranged to each other, such that the moveable scroll body 194 is mounted moveable with its central axis 244 around a central axis 246 of the stationary scroll body 192 on an orbital path 248.

[0332] Upon orbiting rotation of the moveable scroll body 194 in a rotation direction 252 a compression chamber 232 undergoes a compression circuit.

[0333] At the beginning of the compression circuit the compression chamber 232 is open at a radially outer periphery of the scroll body 194 in fluid contact with the intake area 136 such that the gaseous medium in the low pressure state enters in the compression chamber 232 and upon progressive orbiting rotation the compression chamber 232 moves along the spiral form of the scroll ribs 226, 228 and radially inward and thereby its volume decreases and the contained gaseous medium gets compressed and ultimately at a radially inner region the compression chamber is fluidly connected to the discharge chamber 138 to which the compressed gaseous medium in its high pressure state is discharged.

[0334] For the orbiting movement of the moveable scroll body 194, the moveable scroll body 194 has a hub 256 at a second side 258 which is, in particular in the axial direction of the central axis 244 of the scroll body 194, opposite to its first side 224, and the drive shaft 152 engages in the hub 256 with an eccentric offset drive section 262 which is provided at an axial end of the drive shaft 152 facing towards the moveable scroll body 194, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 5.

[0335] The hub 256 comprises a receiving portion 264 which is concentric with the central axis 244 of the moveable scroll body 194. The receiving portion 264 is in particular formed by a hub wall 266 which projects in axial direction with respect to the central axis 244 of moveable scroll body 194 away from the second side 258 and is arranged circumferential around the central axis 244 such that the hub wall 266 is preferably cylindrical and encloses radially an interior 268 of the receiving portion 264.

[0336] The interior 268 of the receiving portion 264 extends from a bottom 274 with a bottom surface 275 of the receiving portion 264 in an axial direction in particular with respect to the central axis 244 and preferably concentric therewith to an opening 272 of the receiving portion 264 at an opening side 273 of the hub which is, in particular in axial direction of the axis of the receiving portion 264, opposite to the side of hub 256 at which hub 256 is arranged to the base plate 214.

[0337] In particular, the opening 272 is surrounded by the hub wall 266 at its distant end to the base plate 214.

[0338] The eccentric offset drive section 262 is for example an axial eccentric extension of the drive shaft 152 with a smaller diameter than the main part of the drive shaft 152 and being at least approximately cylindrical around an offset axis 276.

[0339] The offset axis 276 is off the axis 154 of shaft 152 and in a mounted state the offset axis 276 is at least approximately concentric with the central axis 244 of the moveable scroll body 194 and the axis of the receiving portion 264.

[0340] In variants of the embodiment the eccentric offset drive section 262 is a bearing pin offset to the shaft axis 154 and in the mounted state at least approximately concentric with the central axis 244 of the moveable scroll body 194.

[0341] The eccentric offset drive section 262 is rotatably engaged in the receiving portion 264 and therefore upon rotation of the drive shaft 152 around its shaft axis 154 the axis 276 of the drive section 262 performs an orbital movement around the shaft axis 154 and drives the moveable scroll body 194 along its orbital movement with the central axis 244 of the moveable scroll body 194 orbiting along the orbital path 248.

[0342] In particular, the moveable scroll body 194 is coupled to a coupling which prevents a rotary motion of the moveable scroll body 194 around its central axis 244 and/or around the axis 276 of the drive section 262.

[0343] Preferably, the coupling restricts the motion of the moveable scroll body 194 to linear motions along to two axes which are perpendicular to each other and the two axes are perpendicular to the axis 276 of the drive section 262.

[0344] Therewith, the orbiting motion of the moveable scroll body 194 is as a superposition of the linear motions along the two axes possible, but a rotary motion around the axis 276 of the drive section 262 is prevented.

[0345] For example, the coupling is an Oldham coupling known in the prior art.

[0346] Advantageously, between the drive section 262 and the hub wall 266 a bushing 277 is arranged, in particular for rotational support.

[0347] In particular the bushing 277 extends between axial ends between the opening 272 and the bottom 274 of the receiving portion 264 and surrounds the drive section 262 circumferentially.

[0348] The bushing 277 is with a radial inner surface in contact with the drive section 262 and contacts with a radial outer surface an inner cylindrical surface 328 of the hub wall 266.

[0349] The axial end of the bushing 277 facing towards the bottom 274 is spaced from the bottom 274 preferably at least approximately with an axial distance with which the axial end 278 of the drive section 262 is spaced from the bottom 274 of the receiving portion 264

[0350] In variants of the embodiment the axial end of the bushing 277 facing towards the bottom 274 is arranged at the bottom surface 275.

[0351] The lubricant passage way 178 extends through the drive section 262 until its very axial end 278 at which the output opening 182 is provided and opens in a receiving chamber 282 formed between the axial end 278 and the bottom surface 275 of the receiving portion 264, as exemplarily shown in particular in FIG. 4.

[0352] Out of the receiving chamber 282 there is provided at least one passage 312, which extends from an inlet 314 at which the passage 312, in particular radially, opens into the receiving chamber 282 to an outlet 316 at which the passage 312 opens to a hub environment 318 which extends around the hub 256 and opposite to the of receiving portion 264 and is defined adjacent to the second side 258 of the base plate 214, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 6.

[0353] In some preferred embodiments there is exactly one passage 312.

[0354] In other advantageous embodiments there are several passages 312.

[0355] In particular, the passage 312 extends straight from the inlet 314 to the outlet 316 and extends along a constant direction 322 of extension, which is directed from the inlet 314 to the outlet 316 and is oblique to the base plane 218 and in particular oblique to the axial direction and radial direction of the central axis 244 of the moveable scroll body 134.

[0356] Advantageously, the passage 312 is arranged along the shortest way from the inlet 314 towards the hub environment 318 to which it opens at the outlet 316.

[0357] Preferably, the inlet 314 is provided in an end region 327, preferably at an end, of the inner cylindrical surface 328 of the receiving portion 264 with the end region 327 and the end facing towards the bottom 274 of the receiving portion 264 and being, in particular in axial direction of the axis of the receiving portion 264, opposite to the opening side 273.

[0358] The hub wall 266 surrounds the interior 268 circumferentially around the axis of the receiving portion 264 and contains the inner cylindrical surface 328 which limits the interior 268 of the receiving portion.

[0359] In particular, the inner cylindrical surface 328 extends axially from the bottom surface 275 to the opening 272 of receiving portion 264.

[0360] Advantageously, the inlet 314 is arranged at an inner edge 326 of the receiving portion 264 where the inner cylindrical surface 328 and the bottom surface 275 of the receiving portion 264 intersect.

[0361] In particular, the inlet 314 opens into the receiving chamber 282 and is arranged between the bottom surface 275 of the receiving portion 264 and the axial end of the bushing 277 which faces towards the bottom 274.

[0362] In the variant, in which the bushing 277 is arranged with its axial end at the bottom surface 275, the passage 312 extends through the bushing 277 and the bushing 277 provides the inlet 314.

[0363] Preferably, the outlet 316 is provided at an outer cylindrical surface 332 of the hub 256.

[0364] The hub wall 266 contains the outer cylindrical surface 332 which faces radially outward towards the hub environment 318 and is arranged axially from the second side 258 of the base plate 214, in particular from the outer surface 336 of the base plate 214 at the second side 258, to the opening side 273 of hub 256 and is arranged circumferentially around the hub 256.

[0365] Advantageously, the outlet 316 is provided in an end region 337, in particular at an end, of the outer cylindrical surface 332 with the end region 337 and the end facing towards the base plate 214 and being, in particular in axial direction of the axis of the receiving portion 264, opposite to the opening side 273.

[0366] Preferably the outlet 316 is arranged at an outer edge 338 of the hub 256 where the outer surface 336 and the outer cylindrical surface 332 intersect.

[0367] In particular, the bottom surface 274 of receiving portion 264 is axially offset to the outer surface 336 of the base plate 214 at the second side 258 and therefore the passage 312, in particular from the inner edge 326 of the receiving portion 264, to the outer edge 338 at the hub environment 318 extends along the shortest way from the receiving chamber 282 to the hub environment 318.

[0368] For example, in the region of the outer surface 336 the base plate 214 is thicker than in the region of the receiving portion 264, with a thickness being measured in a direction which is perpendicular to the base plane 218.

[0369] In particular, the outer surface 336 extends essentially in a geometrical plane and the bottom surface 275 extends in another geometrical plane with both geometrical planes being arranged at least approximately parallel to each other and perpendicular to the axis 244 of the moveable scroll body 194. The geometrical plane of the outer surface 336 is axially positioned between the bottom surface 275 and the opening 272.

[0370] The thrust bearing 198 is formed by a thrust surface 352 of a bearing portion 356 of the support member 196 and a sliding surface 354 of the base plate 214 of the moveable scroll body 194. The sliding surface 254 is a portion of the outer surface 336 of the base plate 214 of the moveable scroll body 194 at its second side 258.

[0371] The moveable scroll body 194 is with its sliding surface 354 slidingly arranged on the thrust surface 352 of the bearing portion 356 of the support member 196.

[0372] The sliding surface 354 circumferentially surrounds the hub 256.

[0373] An inner radial end 355 of the sliding surface 354 is spaced from a radially inner end of the outer surface 336. In particular, the inner radial end 355 of the sliding surface 354 has a radial distance to the radially inner end of the outer surface 336 and in particular the radial distance varies along a circumferential direction of the axis of the receiving portion 264.

[0374] Accordingly, the outer surface 336 of the base plate 214 of the moveable scroll body has a ring portion which is radially arranged between the radially inner end of the outer surface 336 and the inner radial end 355 of the sliding surface 354.

[0375] The sliding surface 354 extends radially front the inner radial end 355 with a radial extension to an outer radial end 357 of the sliding surface 354.

[0376] In particular the outer radial end 357 has a smaller radial distance to the axis of the receiving portion 264 than a radially outer end of the outer surface 336.

[0377] For example, the radially outer end of the outer surface 336 is arranged at a radially outer end of the base plate 214.

[0378] The fluid outlet 316 is arranged close to the radially inner end of the outer surface 336 and close to the inner radial end 355 of the sliding surface 354. In particular, the fluid outlet 316 has a smaller radial distance to the axis of the receiving portion 264 than the radially inner end of the outer surface 336 and than the inner radial end 355 of the sliding surface 354.

[0379] Preferably, in the thrust surface 352 and/or in the sliding surface 354 small channels are formed which advantageously improve the flow of the lubricant between the two surfaces 352, 354, In particular, the channels are at least partly extending in radial direction with respect to the central axis of the moveable scroll body for providing the lubricant to different radial positions.

[0380] An axial position of the outlet 316 along the central axis 244 of the moveable scroll body 212 is at least approximately the same as an axial position of the thrust bearing 198 and of the thrust surface 352 and sliding surface 354.

[0381] The support member 196 is arranged at least with the bearing portion 356 which provides the thrust surface 352 in the hub environment 318 and bearing portion 356 has a breakthrough 362 in which hub 256 is at least partially arranged.

[0382] The breakthrough 362 extends with respect to the shaft axis 154 and the central axis 244 of the moveable scroll body 194 axially through the bearing portion 356.

[0383] In particular, the hub 256 extends from one side into the breakthrough 362 and the shaft 152 extends at least with its drive section 262 from the other side into the breakthrough 362.

[0384] The bearing portion 356 faces axially with its thrust surface 352 towards the base plate 214 and has a radially inner surface 364 facing radially inwards to the breakthrough 362 and limiting the same.

[0385] The radially inner surface 364 faces towards the hub 256 and is opposite to the outer cylindrical surface 332 of the hub 256 with a gap 366 for clearance being provided between the radially inner surface 364 and the outer cylindrical surface 332.

[0386] The gap 366 allows the orbiting motion of the moveable scroll body 194 during which the hub 256 performs an orbiting motion within the breakthrough 362.

[0387] A width W, W' of the gap 366 varies along the circumferential direction around the hub 256 and around the axis 154 of the drive shaft 152 and the axis 244 of the moveable scroll body 194 because the breakthrough 362 is essentially cylindrical with respect to the shaft axis 154 and the hub 256 is orbiting around the shaft axis 154 and is therefore offset to this axis. During the orbiting motion, a position at which the gap has a specific width W, W' moves circumferentially around the shaft axis 154 as the hub 256 orbits around the shaft axis 154 and at a specific circumferential position fixed relative to the bearing portion 356 the width W, W' of the gap 366 varies as the hub 256 orbits around the shaft axis 154.

[0388] Preferably, the bearing portion 356 has a slanted transition surface 368 which connects the thrust surface 352 with the radially inner surface 364 and with the transition surface 368 being arranged oblique to the base plane 218 of the base plate 214 of the moveable scroll body 194, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 6.

[0389] The slanted transition surface 368 is provided at an axial end of the bearing portion 356 facing towards the moveable scroll body 214 and surrounds the breakthrough 362.

[0390] The axial extension of the bearing portion 356 ends at the slanted transition surface 368, thereby creating a pocket with a void space 372 between the bearing portion 356 and the outer surface 336 of the base plate 214 of the moveable scroll body 194.

[0391] In particular, the bearing portion 356 has a slanted edge at its axial end facing towards the moveable scroll body 194 and which surrounds the breakthrough 362 circumferentially. Advantageously, at this slanted edge the slanted transition surface 368 is formed.

[0392] The void space 372 opens radially to the inside into the gap 366 between the hub 256 and the bearing portion 356 and extends radially outward to the contacting thrust and sliding surfaces 352, 354 of the thrust bearing 198.

[0393] In particular, the void space 372 becomes more narrow radially outwards towards the thrust bearing 198 as the slanted transition surface 368 is approaching with outwardly directed radial extension the outer surface 336 and merges into the thrust surface 352 for example at the radial position, at which the thrust surface 352 is in contact with the inner radial end 355 of the sliding surface 354.

[0394] In particular, briefly summarizing, the compressor 110 works as follows and has for example the following advantages.

[0395] Through the inlet port 114 a gaseous medium, in particular a refrigerant, is provided along the fluid path to the compression unit 120 in a low pressure state and the compression unit 120 being driven by the drive unit 122 compresses the gaseous medium and provides it in a high pressure state along the fluid path to the outlet port 116.

[0396] Preferably, the gaseous medium is guided along the fluid path through the drive casing 124 to flow through and around the drive unit 122, in particular the motor, and advantageously the gaseous medium cools thereby the drive unit 122.

[0397] For compressing the gaseous medium, the compression unit 120 has the moveable scroll body 194 which engages with the other scroll body 192 to form at least one compression chamber 232 the volume of which decreases upon orbiting movement of the moveable scroll body 194 and the gaseous medium in the compression chamber 232 is compressed.

[0398] The moveable scroll body 194 has the hub 256 for connecting with the drive shaft 152 which drives the moveable scroll body 194 for compression and the shaft 152 engages with its drive section 262 in the receiving portion 264 of the hub 256.

[0399] For moveable arrangement of the moveable scroll body 194 the support member 196 axially and slidingly supports the moveable scroll body 194 and provides with the bearing portion 356 the thrust bearing 198 at which the bearing portion 356 contacts with the thrust surface 352 the sliding surface 354 of the base plate 214 of the moveable scroll body 194.

[0400] For lubrication of the thrust bearing 198 a lubricant is provided thereto along the lubricant passage way 178 through the shaft 152 into the receiving chamber 282 and from there through the passage 312 to the gap 366 and ultimately to the thrust bearing 198.

[0401] For feeding with lubricant, the shaft 152 extends with the input section 176 into the lubricant sump 172 such that the lubricant passage way 178 opens into the lubricant sump 172 and can receive lubricant from there and upon rotation of the shaft 152 lubricant is transferred through the passage way 178 up to the receiving chamber 282 in particular due to centrifugal forces and because the passage way 178 is inclined with respect to shaft axis 154.

[0402] The lubricant provided to the receiving chamber 282 flows partly, in some embodiments mainly, to the bushing 277 between the drive section 262 and the hub wall 266.

[0403] Another part of the provided lubricant in the receiving chamber 282 flows through the passage 312 and is provided to the gap 366 between the hub 256 and the bearing portion 356.

[0404] In particular, due to the arrangement of the outlet 316 close to the thrust bearing 198 which is formed at least partly by the sliding surface 354 and the thrust surface 352 the provision of the lubricant to the surfaces 354 and 352 of the thrust bearing is improved.

[0405] Advantageously, the flow of the lubricant through the downwardly directed passage 312 is at least assisted by gravity.

[0406] Due to the centrifugal force acting on the lubricant flowing through the passage 312 due to the orbital movement of the moveable scroll body 194 the lubricant at least partly reaches the bearing portion 356 the amount of which also depends on the respective gap width W at the outlet 316 which varies due to the orbital movement of scroll body 194.

[0407] In particular, the provision of the lubricant provided from the passage 312 towards the thrust bearing 198 is enhanced, because the lubricant as flowing downwardly with respect to gravity through the passage 312 and the outlet 316 is positioned axially and radially close to the thrust bearing 198 and in particular faces at least partly towards the void space 372.

[0408] Preferably, the provision of the thrust bearing 198 with lubricant is also enhanced by the slanted edge and/or the slanted transition surface 368 and the void space 372 formed there which opens more widely to the gap 366 and becomes narrower towards the thrust bearing 198. Thereby it is advantageous when the opening of the void space 372 into the gap 366 faces towards the outlet 316.

[0409] In particular, due to the slanted transition surface 368 and/or the chamfer a concentration of lubrication at a contact region between the sliding surface 354 and the thrust surface 352 is enhanced.

[0410] The lubricant reaching the thrust bearing 198 lubricates the bearing and provides improved movement of the moveable scroll body 194 relative to the support member 196 and reduces wear at the thrust bearing 198.

[0411] The other lubricant flows down through the compressor housing 112 in particular along a defined lubricant return path to the lubricant sump 172 and/or for example is provided to the upper bearing support 156 and/or the lower bearing support 158 and/or other parts of the compressor 110 for lubrication there.

[0412] In connection with another embodiment, which is exemplarily and partly shown in FIG. 7, elements and features which are at least essentially the same and/or fulfill at least the same basic function as an element of the above described embodiment are designated with the same reference sign and concerning their description it is fully referred to the specification given above unless in the following an alternative arrangement and/or design of these elements and/or features is provided. In particular, if an alternative arrangement and/or design is to be emphasized, a suffix “a” designating this embodiment will be attached to the respective reference sign.

[0413] The scroll compressor 110 of this embodiment has a stationary scroll body 192 and moveable scroll body 194 with a hub 256 and both scroll bodies 192, 194 have scroll ribs which engage each other to form at least one compression chamber for compression of a gaseous medium.

[0414] The compressor comprises a support member 196 which at least with a bearing portion 356 axially and slidingly supports the moveable scroll body 194 with a thrust bearing 198, and at which the bearing portion 356 has a thrust surface 352 which faces towards the moveable scroll body 194 and is in sliding contact with a sliding surface 354 of the moveable scroll body 194.

[0415] In the moveable scroll body 194 at least one passage 312a is formed which opens with an inlet 314 into an interior 168 of an receiving portion 264 of the hub 256.

[0416] The passage 312a extends from the inlet 314 to an outlet 316a at which the passage 312a opens into a hub environment 318.

[0417] In this embodiment the outlet 316a is arranged within an outer surface 336 of the base plate 214 of the moveable scroll body 194 at its second side 258 and in particular at least partly within the sliding surface 354.

[0418] With the outlet 316a being at least partly arranged within the sliding surface 354, the thrust surface 352 of the bearing portion 356 covers the outlet 316a during the orbiting motion of the moveable scroll body 194 along the orbital path at least temporarily and at least partly.

[0419] In some variations of the embodiment the outlet 316a is arranged such within the sliding surface 354 that during the entire orbital movement of the moveable scroll body 194 the thrust surface 352 covers the outlet 316a completely and/or partly.

[0420] In other variants of the embodiment the outlet 316a is arranged within the sliding surface 354 such that the thrust surface 352 covers the outlet 316a completely and/or partly during a part of the orbital movement of the moveable scroll body 194 and during the other part of the orbiting motion the outlet 316a is not covered by the thrust surface 352.

[0421] In variants of the embodiment, the passage 322a has a diameter which is essentially constant along the extension of the passage 312a from the inlet 314 to the outlet 316a.

[0422] In other variants of this or the above described embodiment, the passage 322a has a diameter which varies along the extension of the passage 312a from the inlet 314 to the outlet 316a.

[0423] In particular, the passage 312a has a first portion 382 which comprises the inlet 314 and extends in a direction 322 of extension of the passage 312a and the passage 312a has a second portion 384 which is closer to the outlet 316a than the first portion 382. For example, the second portion 384 extends to or at least close to the outlet 316a.

[0424] Both, the first portion 382 and the second portion 384, extend only partly along the entire extension of the passage 312a and for example a third portion 386 of the passage 312a is arranged between the first portion 382 and the second portion 384.

[0425] A diameter of the passage 312a is measured perpendicular to the direction 322 of extension of the passage 312a with the direction 322 of extension being directed from the inlet 314 to the outlet 316a.

[0426] The passage 312a has a diameter in the first portion 382 which is equal to or larger than a diameter D1.

[0427] In particular, the diameter of the passage 3 12a within the entire first portion 382 is constant and equals to the diameter D1, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 7.

[0428] In a variant of the embodiment, the diameter of the passage 312a varies along the extension of the first portion 382 and in particular becomes smaller with increasing distance from the inlet 314. For example, at the inlet 314 the diameter is larger than the diameter D1 and the diameter of the passage 3 12a becomes preferably continuously smaller with increasing distance from an inlet 314 and attains the value D1 at the end of the first portion 382 opposite to the inlet 314.

[0429] The passage 312a has a diameter in the second portion 384 which is equal to or smaller to a diameter D2, which is smaller than the diameter D1.

[0430] In particular, the diameter of the passage 112a along the entire extension of the second portion 384 is constant and equals to the diameter D2, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 7.

[0431] In variants of the embodiment the diameter of the passage 312a varies along the extension of the second portion 384 and in particular becomes smaller with decreasing distance to the outlet 116a. For example, the diameter of the passage 312a equals to the diameter D2 at an end of the second portion 384 which is with respect to the direction of extension opposite to the outlet 316a and the diameter becomes preferably continuously smaller with decreasing distance to the outlet 316a.

[0432] In particular, in the third portion 386 the diameter of the passage 312a changes from the diameter D1 to the diameter D2.

[0433] For example in the third portion 386 the passage 312a has a step 388 in its interior at which the diameter sharply changes from the diameter D1 to the diameter D2, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 7.

[0434] In variants of the embodiment, it is provided that in the third portion 386 the diameter of the passage 312a varies continuously from the diameter D1 to the diameter D2.

[0435] In yet another variant of the embodiment, which is not explicitly shown in the drawings, the diameter of the passage 312a in the third portion 386 is smaller than the diameter of the passage 312a in the first portion 382 and in the second portion 384.

[0436] In particular, in order to achieve the different diameters in the passage 312a, the moveable scroll body 194 is provided with a bore 392 which at least partly forms the passage 312a and the bore 392 has a constant diameter, for example a diameter D1, from the outlet 316a to the inlet 314 and at portions of the passage 312a with a diameter smaller than the constant diameter of the bore 392 an insert 394, for example an orifice or a nozzle, is arranged in the bore 392.

[0437] The insert 394 has a breakthrough 396 which has the diameter of the passage 312a and forms a portion of the passage 312a, in particular the second portion 384. In particular, an outer side 398 of the insert 394 is in contact with a wall of the bore 392.

[0438] In all other respects, the compressor of the present embodiment is preferably at least partly, in particular at least essentially the same as the scroll compressor 110 of the first embodiment such that reference is made fully to the explanations provided above, in particular with respect to further advantageous features of the passage and/or of the hub 256 and/or of the receiving portion 264 and in particular of a receiving chamber 282 in its interior 268 and for example of a bushing 277 between the drive section 262 and a hub wall 266 and/or of a compression unit which comprises the two scroll bodies and/or of a shaft 152 for example with a lubricant passage way and/or of a drive unit of the scroll compressor and/or of a fluid path for the gaseous medium through the compressor housing.

TABLE-US-00001 REFERENCE NUMERALS 110 scroll compressor 112 compressor housing 114 inlet port 116 outlet port 120 compression unit 122 drive unit 124 drive casing 136 intake area 138 discharge chamber 152 shaft 154 shaft axis 156 upper bearing support 158 lower bearing support 162 direction of gravitation 166 stator 168 rotor 172 lubricant sump 174 bottom of housing 176 input section 178 lubricant passage way 182 output opening 192 stationary scroll body 193 holding member 194 moveable scroll body 196 support member 198 thrust bearing 212 base plate of stationary scroll body 214 base plate of moveable scroll body 216 base plane 218 base plane 222 side of stationary scroll body 224 first side of moveable scroll body 226 scroll rib of stationary scroll body 228 scroll rib of moveable scroll body 232 compression chamber 236 sealing element 238 sealing element 244 central axis of moveable scroll body 246 central axis of stationary scroll body 248 orbital path 252 rotation direction 256 hub 258 second side of moveable scroll body 262 eccentric offset drive section 264 receiving portion 266 hub wall 268 interior 272 opening 273 opening side 274 bottom of receiving portion 275 bottom surface 276 axis of drive section 277 bushing 278 axial end 282 receiving chamber 312 passage 314 inlet 316 outlet 318 hub environment 322 direction of extension 326 edge in receiving portion 327 end region of inner cylindrical surface 328 inner cylindrical surface 332 outer cylindrical surface 336 outer surface 337 end region of outer cylindrical surface 338 outer edge 352 thrust surface 354 sliding surface 355 inner radial end of sliding surface 356 bearing portion 357 outer radial end of sliding surface 362 breakthrough 364 radially inner surface 366 gap 368 transition surface 372 void space 382 first portion 384 second portion 386 third portion 388 step 392 bore 394 insert 396 breakthrough 398 outer side