Abstract
A system for use in a scroll compressor is described. The system comprises a crankshaft with a first end portion, wherein the crankshaft defines an axis of rotation, and slider block having a recess, wherein the first end portion of the crankshaft and the recess in the slider block are configured for connecting the slider block to the first end portion. The first end portion of the crankshaft comprises a first flat contact surface portion and the recess of the slider block comprises a second flat contact surface portion, the first and second contact surface portions facing each other when the first end portion is connected to the slider block. The system is characterized in that at least one of the flat contact surface portions comprises a slit beneath the at least one flat contact surface portion. Further, a corresponding slider block and a corresponding crankshaft are described.
Claims
1. A system for use in a scroll compressor, the system comprising: a crankshaft with a first end portion, wherein the crankshaft defines an axis of rotation; a slider block having a recess, wherein the first end portion of the crankshaft and the recess in the slider block are configured for connecting the slider block to the first end portion; wherein the first end portion of the crankshaft comprises a first flat contact surface portion and the recess of the slider block comprises a second flat contact surface portion, wherein the first and second contact surface portions face each other when the first end portion of the crankshaft is connected to the slider block, wherein at least one of the flat contact surface portions comprises a slit beneath the at least one flat contact surface portion, wherein the slit is configured to reduce a stiffness of the at least one of the flat contact surface portions, wherein the slit is oriented perpendicular to the axis of rotation defined by the crankshaft, and wherein the other flat contact surface portion is curved in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation defined by the crankshaft.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the flat contact surface portions are defined by a portion of the surface being flat in a plane of a cross-section oriented perpendicular to the axis of rotation defined by the crankshaft.
3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the other flat contact surface portion, which is curved, has a convex surface portion.
4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the slider block is a cylindrical shell surface.
5. A crankshaft for use in a scroll compressor, the crankshaft comprising: a body, which defines an axis of rotation; and a first end portion, wherein the crankshaft is configured for applying force from a motor to a slider block, which is located in a recess of a scroll plate of the compressor, wherein the first end portion comprises a flat contact surface portion and a slit beneath the flat contact surface portion, wherein the slit is configured to reduce a stiffness of the flat contact surface portion, and wherein the slit is oriented perpendicular to the axis of rotation defined by the crankshaft.
6. The crankshaft according to claim 5, wherein the first end portion comprises a protruding element, which extends longitudinally to the axis of rotation from the first end portion of the crankshaft, and an insert, which is attached to the first end portion, and wherein the slit is formed between the first end portion and the insert.
7. The crankshaft according to claim 6, wherein at least the protruding element or the insert comprises a recess for forming the slit, when the insert is attached to the protruding element.
8. A slider block for use in a scroll compressor, the slider block comprising: a body, which defines an axis of rotation; and a recess, wherein the recess is configured for being connected to a first end portion of a crankshaft; wherein the slider block comprises a flat contact surface portion and a slit beneath the flat contact surface portion, the slit is configured to reduce a stiffness of the flat contact surface portion, and wherein the slit is oriented perpendicular to the axis of rotation.
Description
DRAWINGS
(1) In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different drawings. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.
(2) In the following description, various embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the following drawings, in which:
(3) FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a scroll compressor according to the current invention.
(4) FIG. 2a, 2b show detail images of a crankshaft and slider block according to the current invention (a) in an assembled state with an orbiting scroll plate and (b) in an exploded view.
(5) FIG. 3a, 3b show detail images of (a) a first end portion of a crankshaft and a slider block according to the state of the art and (b) the engagement of the flat contact surface portion of the first end portion of the crankshaft and a flat contact surface portion of the slider block, which is curved in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation defined by the crankshaft.
(6) FIG. 4a, 4b show detail images of (a) a first end portion of a crankshaft and a slider block according to the current invention and (b) the engagement of the flat contact surface portion of the first end portion of the crankshaft and a flat contact surface portion of the slider block, which is curved in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation defined by the crankshaft.
(7) FIGS. 5a to 5f show embodiment examples of first end portions of a crankshaft according to the current invention, wherein the first end portion comprises a flat contact surface portion and a slit, which is oriented perpendicular to the axis of rotation defined by the body of the crankshaft.
(8) FIG. 6 shows an embodiment example of a first end portion of a crankshaft according to the current invention, wherein the first end portion comprises a flat contact surface portion and a slit, which is oriented parallel to the axis of rotation defined by the body of the crankshaft.
(9) FIG. 7a, 7b show embodiment examples of slider blocks according to the current invention, wherein the slider block comprises a flat contact surface portion and a slit, which is (a) perpendicular to the axis of rotation defined by a crankshaft and (b) longitudinal to said axis.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(10) The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings that show, by way of illustration, specific details and embodiments in which the invention may be practiced.
(11) The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration”. Any embodiment or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs.
(12) FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a scroll compressor according to the current invention. The compressor 100 comprises a case 190 and a suction port 160 for receiving refrigerant. The compressor 100 compresses the refrigerant in a compression chamber. Since compressor 100 is a scroll compressor, the compression chamber is formed by a scroll set comprising a stationary scroll plate 155 and an orbiting scroll plate 150. After compression, the refrigerant will be discharged from a discharge port 170. Moving parts inside the compressor 100 are lubricated by a lubricant, which is provided by a lubricant sump 180.
(13) The compressor 100 comprises a motor 105. The motor 105 is used to drive the compressor by agitating the compression chamber, in particular by causing an orbiting motion of the orbiting scroll plate 150. In order to achieve this, the compressor comprises a crankshaft 110. A portion of the crankshaft 110 is connected to the motor 105.
(14) During operation, the motor 105 causes a rotational motion of the crankshaft 110 around an axis of rotation. The rotational motion is transferred from the crankshaft 110 to an orbiting motion of the orbiting scroll plate 150. The crankshaft 110 comprises a first end portion with a pin 115, which extends longitudinally to the axis of rotation from an end portion of the crankshaft 110. A center of the pin 115 may be offset to the axis of rotation.
(15) The pin 115 engages a slider block 130. The slider block 130 has a cylindrical body and comprises a recess in form of a bore, wherein a center of the bore is offset to the axis of rotation. The pin 115 at least partially extends into the bore. The slider block 130 rotates around the axis of rotation of the crankshaft and because of the offset, the slider block 130 also orbits around the axis of rotation at the same time. The slider block 130 is located in a recess of the orbiting scroll plate 150. Said recess comprises boundaries. The boundaries form an approximately cylindrical recess, which has a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the cylindrical slider block. Because of the cylindrical body, the slider block 130 can freely rotate inside the recess of the orbiting scroll plate 150, without locking with the boundaries and therefore without transferring any rotational motion to the orbiting scroll plate 150. However, the orbiting motion of the slider block 130 causes a force against the boundaries of the recess and thereby cause an orbiting motion of the orbiting scroll plate 150, but without any rotation.
(16) The pin 115, which engages the slider block 130, comprises a slit 125, which reduces the stiffness of a surface portion of the pin 115, wherein the surface portion is in contact with the slider block 130. This will be shown in more detail further below with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.
(17) FIGS. 2a and 2b show detail images of a crankshaft and slider block according to the current invention (a) in an assembled state with an orbiting scroll plate and (b) in an exploded view.
(18) FIG. 2a shows the pin 115 of the first end portion of the crankshaft 110, the slider block 130 and the orbiting scroll plate 150 in more detail in an assembled state. In a recess on the backside of the orbiting scroll plate 150, the slider block 130 is located and the pin 115 of the first end portion of the crankshaft 110 is located in a recess or opening 135 of the slider block 130. When the crankshaft 110 rotates, the pin 115 rotates as well and the motion is transferred to the slider block 130. Since the slider block 130 usually has a cylindrical outer surface, as can be seen in the exploded view in FIG. 2b, the slider block 130 can rotate within the recess of the orbiting scroll plate 150, without transferring the rotational motion to the orbiting scroll plate 150. Since the center of the bore of the slider block 130 is offset to the rotational axis of the crankshaft 110 when the slider block 130 and the pin 115 are assembled, the slider block 130 also performs an orbiting motion around the rotation axis, which is transferred to the orbiting scroll plate.
(19) FIGS. 3a and 3b are detail images of (a) a first end portion of a crankshaft and a slider block according to the current invention and (b) the engagement of the flat contact surface portions of the first end portion of the crankshaft and a flat contact surface portion of the slider block, which is curved in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation defined by the crankshaft.
(20) In FIG. 3a, a crankshaft 210 and a slider block 230 according to the state of art are shown. The crankshaft 210 comprises a first end portion with a pin 215 with a flat contact surface portion 215a. Also, the crankshaft 210 comprises a lubricant supply passage 220, which is used for providing lubricant from a lubricant sump to the upper crankshaft portion, the slider block 230, and the orbiting scroll plate. The lubricant supply passage 220 is an optional element, but it improves the lubricant supply and reduces the wear between the moving elements.
(21) The slider block 230 comprises a recess in form of a bore and a flat contact surface portion 230a, which is curved in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation defined by the crankshaft, at an inner portion of the bore. As has been described earlier, the surface portion 230a is still flat in the sense that the surface portion is flat when viewed in a cross-section perpendicular to the axis of rotation defined by the crankshaft 210. When the pin 215 is placed at least partially within the bore of the slider block 230, the flat contact surface portion 215a of the pin 215 and the surface portion 230a of the slider block 230 engage each other and form contacting surfaces. Preferably, the surface 230a may be curved in a convex manner as shown in FIG. 3a.
(22) When the crankshaft 210 is rotating, the pin 215 is pushed against the surface portion 230a of the slider block 230 as shown in FIG. 3b. Thereby, curving the surface 230a is used to compensate manufacturing imperfections and create a fitting contact with the flat contact surface portion 215a of the pin 215.
(23) However, curving the surface portion 230a reduces the contact area between the contacting surfaces, as can be seen in FIG. 3b, which shows a detail image of the flat contact surface portion 215a and the surface portion 230a of slider block 230. This small contact area between the contacting surfaces increases the wear between the crankshaft 210 and the slider block 230, thereby reducing the durability and the lifetime of the compressor.
(24) FIGS. 4a and 4b show detail images of (a) a first end portion of a crankshaft and a slider block according to the current invention and (b) the engagement of the flat contact surface portion of the first end portion of the crankshaft and a flat contact surface portion of the slider block, which is curved in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation defined by the crankshaft.
(25) In FIG. 4a, crankshaft 310 comprises a first end portion with a pin 315 with a flat contact surface portion 315a. Further, the crankshaft comprises a lubricant supply passage 320, which is again optional. According to the current invention, the pin 315 comprises a slit 325 beneath the flat contact surface portion 315a. The slit 325 reduces the stiffness of the material locally, in particular the stiffness of the material of the crankshaft pin between the flat contact surface portion 315a and the slit 325, because the material can be bend into the slit 325 upon pressure against the flat contact surface portion 315a.
(26) FIG. 4b shows a detail image of the contact between the flat contact surface portion 315a and the surface portion 330a of the slider block 330, which is curved in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation defined by the crankshaft. Upon pressure, the flat contact surface portion 315a of the pin 315 is pushed against the surface portion 330a of the slider block 330. The pressure at the contacting area and the reduced stiffness of the material between the flat contact surface portion 315a and the slit 325 cause a bending of the flat contact surface portion 315a into the slit 325. This increases the contacting area between the bended flat contact surface portion 315a and the surface portion 330a of the slider block 330a. An increased contact area reduces the wear and increases the durability and lifetime of the compressor.
(27) FIGS. 5a to 5f show embodiment examples of first end portions of a crankshaft according to the current invention, wherein the first end portion comprises a slit, which is oriented perpendicular to an axis of rotation defined by the body of the crankshaft.
(28) In the embodiment example depicted in FIG. 5a, a crankshaft 410 with a first end portion and a pin 415 is shown. The crankshaft 410 comprises an optional lubricant supply passage 420. The pin 415 comprises a flat contact surface portion 415a. A slit 425 is created by cutting a recess into the pin 415 from the top of the crankshaft pin 415. Afterwards, the recess is closed at the top with an insert 430.
(29) In the embodiment example depicted in FIG. 5b, a crankshaft 510 with a pin 515 is shown. The crankshaft 510 comprises an optional lubricant supply passage 520. The pin 515 comprises a flat contact surface portion 515a. A slit 525 is created by forming a recess in the pin at the location of the slit 525 and placing an insert 530 on top of the slit 525. The insert 530 comprises the flat contact surface portion 515a.
(30) In the embodiment example depicted in FIG. 5c, a crankshaft 610 with a first end portion and a pin 615 is shown. The crankshaft 610 comprises an optional lubricant supply passage 620. The pin 615 comprises a flat contact surface portion 615a. A slit 625 is created by placing an insert 630 on a side of the pin 615, wherein the insert comprises a recess on its backside, which forms the slit 625 and a flat contact surface portion 615a on its frontside.
(31) The person skilled in the art will appreciate that the slit may also be formed by a recess in the pin of the crankshaft in combination with a recess on the backside of an insert, which is placed above the recess of the pin.
(32) In the embodiment example depicted in FIG. 5d, a crankshaft 710 with a first end portion and a pin 715 is shown on the left hand side in a perspective view and on the right hand side in a top view. The crankshaft 710 comprises an optional lubricant supply passage 720. The pin 715 comprises a flat contact surface portion 715a. The slit portion 725 is formed by two slits 725a, 725b, which do not extend through the entire thickness of the pin. Instead, a bar 725c separate the two slits 725a, 725b. Such a configuration avoids that the slit reduces the stiffness too much and provides more stability than, for example, the embodiment depicted in FIG. 5a.
(33) The embodiment example depicted in FIG. 5e is similar to the embodiment example depicted in FIG. 5d, however, the bar does not separate the two slits over the entire height of the slit, wherein the height refers to the extend of the slit in the direction parallel to the rotation axis of the crankshaft. For example, as is depicted in FIG. 5d, the bar separates the slits in the areas 825a and 825c, but not in area 825b. Such a configuration may be used in a situation where a bar would create too much stiffness, but a slit extending through the entire thickness of the pin would create too much instability.
(34) In the embodiment example depicted in FIG. 5f, a crankshaft 910 with a first end portion and a pin 915 is shown on the left hand side in a perspective view and on the right hand side in a top view. The crankshaft 910 comprises an optional lubricant supply passage 920. The pin 915 comprises a flat contact surface portion 915a. The slit portion 925 is formed by two slits 925a, 925b, which do not extend through the entire thickness of the pin. In contrast to the embodiment example depicted in FIG. 5d, the two slits 925a, 925b are offset from one another.
(35) In the embodiment examples of FIGS. 5a to 5f, the slits 425, 525, 625, 725, 825, 925 are oriented perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the respective crankshaft.
(36) FIG. 6 shows an embodiment example of a first end portion of a crankshaft according to the current invention, wherein the first end portion comprises a slit, which is oriented parallel to an axis of rotation defined by the body of the crankshaft.
(37) In the embodiment example depicted in FIG. 6, a crankshaft 1010 with a first end portion and a pin 1015 is shown. The crankshaft 1010 comprises an optional lubricant supply passage 1020. The pin 1015 comprises a flat contact surface portion 1015a. A slit 1025 is created by cutting the slit into the pin from the top of the pin 1015.
(38) In the embodiment example of FIG. 6, the slit 1025 extends parallel to the axis of rotation of the crankshaft 1010.
(39) FIGS. 7a and 7b show embodiment examples of slider blocks according to the current invention, wherein the slider block comprises a slit, which is (a) perpendicular to the axis of rotation defined by a crankshaft and (b) longitudinal to said axis.
(40) FIG. 7a shows an embodiment example of a slider block 1130. The slider block 1130 has a cylindrical body with a recess in form of a bore 1135. The bore 1135 extends from the top of the cylindrical body to the bottom. In some examples, the bore does not need to extend along the entire height of the cylindrical body. The bore 1130 comprises a flat contact surface portion 1135a for locking with a corresponding surface of a crankshaft pin, when the pin is placed at least partially inside the bore 1135. Beneath the flat contact surface portion 1135a, the slider block 1130 comprises a slit 1140. The slit 1140 is oriented perpendicular to the cylinder axis of the cylindrical body of the slider block 1130.
(41) FIG. 7b shows an embodiment example of a slider block 1230. The slider block 1230 has a cylindrical body with a bore 1235. The bore 1235 extends from the top of the cylindrical body to the bottom. In some examples, the bore does not need to extend along the entire height of the cylindrical body. The bore 1230 comprises a flat contact surface portion 1235a for locking with a corresponding surface of a crankshaft pin, when the pin is placed at least partially inside the bore 1235. Beneath the flat contact surface portion 1235a, the slider block 1230 comprises a slit 1240. The slit 1240 is oriented parallel to the cylinder axis of the cylindrical body of the slider block 1230.
(42) What has been described above includes examples of one or more embodiments. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the aforementioned embodiments, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of various embodiments are possible. Accordingly, the described embodiments are intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims.
