(19)
(11) EP 0 348 601 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
18.07.1990 Bulletin 1990/29

(43) Date of publication A2:
03.01.1990 Bulletin 1990/01

(21) Application number: 89105199.7

(22) Date of filing: 23.03.1989
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)5: F04C 18/02
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR GB IT

(30) Priority: 01.07.1988 US 214446

(71) Applicant: TECUMSEH PRODUCTS COMPANY
Tecumseh Michigan 49286 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Barito, Thomas R.
    Dewitt New York 13214 (US)
  • Richardson, Hubert, Jr.
    Brooklyn Michigan 49230 (US)
  • Johnson, William C.
    Onsted Michigan 49265 (US)

(74) Representative: Weitzel, Wolfgang, Dr.-Ing. Patentanwalt 
Friedenstrasse 10
89522 Heidenheim
89522 Heidenheim (DE)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) Scroll compressor


    (57) A scroll-type hermetic compressor is disclosed including a hermetically sealed housing (12), fixed and orbiting scroll members (48, 50), a stationary frame member (52) including a thrust surface (55) adjacent the orbiting scroll member bottom surface (51), and a crankshaft (32) drivingly coupled to the orbiting scroll member. A seal (158) extends from a fixed location on the orbiting scroll member bottom surface toward the thrust surface and slidingly seals thereagainst, whereby fixed radially inner and outer portions (154, 156) of the scroll member are defined which are exposed to discharge and suction pressures (110, 98) for axial compliance. The seal consists of an annular groove (152) on the orbiting scroll member bottom surface in which an annular seal element (158) is unattachedly retained. The groove may be supplied with pressurized oil to aid in sealing with the seal element or, alternatively, to provide a hydrostatic seal without a seal element.







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