BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[Field of the Invention]
[0001] This invention relates to a scroll-type fluid machine that function as a compressor,
and more particularly to an oilless scroll-type fluid machine wherein a chip seal
is fitted into a seal groove rectangular in cross section formed in a helical wrap
end surface opposed to a slide surface of an associated scroll so that the surrounded
space between said slide surface and the wrap is sealed with the chip seal.
[Description of the Prior Art]
[0002] Scroll-type compressors are known in the art which comprises a stationary scroll
having a first wrap formed in an involute spiral located within a casing enclosed
by circumferential walls, a suction port and a discharge port formed in the circumferential
wall and in the central region respectively and an orbiting scroll having a second
wrap formed in an involute spiral capable of mating with the first wrap, wherein the
orbiting scroll is orbited without spinning to introduce a gas into the casing from
the suction port and to take the gas into a closed space formed between the first
wrap and the second wrap, as the orbiting scroll is orbited, the volume of the gas
is gradually reduced with the gas being moved toward the center, and the thus compressed
high-pressure air can be discharged outside from the discharge port.
[0003] As the above scroll-type fluid machine, a single unit scroll-type machine for expanding,
compressing, or pumping fluid with a stationery scroll and an orbiting scroll interfitting
each other is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 4,192,152 and a twin unit
scroll-type machine for expanding, compressing, or pumping fluid with a pair of stationary
scroll having respectively a wrap inside and with an orbiting scroll having each wrap
on both surfaces which are interfitted with the stationary scrolls mating with the
wraps is suggested in Japanese Patent Publication 63-42081.
[0004] However, in either of the above scroll-type fluid machines, since the wraps of the
scrolls have approximately the same number of turns and are mated with each other
with the phase displaced 180 degrees, problems described below arise at the suction
side as well as the discharge side.
[0005] That is, on the suction side, the wrap starting ends situated on the scroll outer
circumferential side come in contact with the other wrap side wall surface at the
position where the phases are displaced 180 degrees to form a compression chamber,
and therefore it is necessary that a suction port is formed at each wrap starting
end position, or a semicircular detour in communication with the suction port positioned
180 degrees away is formed on the wrap outer circumferential side, resulting in that
the apparatus is made large and the number of steps of producing it increases.
[0006] The arrangement of a number of suction ports as described above means that a number
of compression chambers with the phases displaced 180 degrees carry out simultaneously
the compression step, which makes difficult the high compression, and small the volume
of the gas to be taken into the closed space enclosed by the wraps, so that the suction
efficiency is not improved.
[0007] On the other hand, on the discharge side, since it is necessary to arrange a bearing
section where a main shaft (crank shaft) is inserted so as to orbit the orbiting scroll
at the central part of the scroll, a wrap terminal end and a discharge port must be
disposed on the bearing section outer circumferential side in the involute spiral,
and the arrangement of the wrap starting ends with the phases displaced 180 degrees
makes short the involute spiral that can form a closed space (compression chamber),
which results in that the volume of the final compression chamber remains large to
be opened to the discharge port and therefore the compression ratio becomes small.
[0008] The large volume of the final compression chamber makes the seal line longer and
as a result the sealability lowers and leakage is liable to occur, thereby lowering
the compression efficiency.
[0009] To solve the above problems, in the so-called single unit scroll-type fluid machine,
a main shaft of the orbiting scroll is disposed on the wrap back side so that a discharge
port is arranged at the stationary scroll central section, while in the twin unit
scroll-type fluid machine, as shown in the embodiment below, since an orbiting scroll
is disposed between a pair of stationary scrolls, a main shaft must be extended through
the stationary scroll central section, and therefore a defect inevitably arises that
a wrap terminal end and a discharge port have to be disposed on the bearing section
outer circumferential side in the middle of the involute spiral in the fluid machine
adopting the above constitution.
[0010] Particularly in a compressor out of these fluid machines, in order to obtain a clean
compressed gas, a groove section is formed in a wrap end surface opposed to the associated
scroll specular surface and a self-lubricating seal member (hereinafter referred to
as chip seal) is fitted into said groove section, thereby an oilless compressor is
suggested wherein the wrap end surface is allowed to come slidably in contact with
the associated scroll not directly but through said chip seal so that oilless sealing
becomes possible without using an oil seal (see, for example, German Patent DE No.
3,538,522).
[0011] However, in a twin unit scroll-type fluid machine, since a bearing section wherein
a rotating shaft and others are inserted is situated at the scroll central section,
a wrap terminal end and a discharge port are required to be disposed halfway of the
helical curve on the bearing section outer circumferential side and in this state
the wraps of the scrolls are mated with each other with the numbers of the turns being
the same and with the phases being displaced 180 degrees.
[0012] Therefore, the gas is released to the discharge port while the volume of the final
compressed chamber remains large on the discharge side, so that the compression ratio
becomes small.
[0013] Further, since the large volume of the final compression chamber makes the seal line
longer, the sealability lowers and a backward flow is liable to occur, leading to
lowering of the compression efficiency.
[0014] In the scroll-type fluid machine using said chip seal, as shown in the above-mentioned
German Patent and EPC patent No. 029,8315, a resilient backup member is disposed in
the interior of the groove section on the chip seal back side and an floating effect
is increased through the backup member to increase the sealing effect.
[0015] However, the chip seal groove is not easy to be made deeper, since the machining
tools have a limit and the number of steps of cutting for making the groove deeper
increases.
[0016] Further, if the groove is too deep, when the wraps are orbited, a force is exerted
transversely of the chip by the sliding engagement with the scroll specular surface,
and the collapse will occur, which is unfavorable in view of the strength. If the
width of the wrap is increased to solve this problem, the width of the wrap does not
contribute to the compression efficiency at all, and problems arise that a dead space
increases and that the compression efficiency and the amount of the air decrease.
[0017] Therefore, a backup member is disposed in the interior of the groove section on the
chip seal back side without making the groove of the chip seal deep and the chip seal
upper section is extended out of the groove section, but in that constitution, the
amount of the chip seal in the groove decreases and the chip seal subjects to an energized
force due to the small spring constant of the backup member, resulting in a problem
that the assembling of the chip seal becomes impossible because the chip seal attached
in an involute fashion is disengaged from the seal groove unless the assembling is
carried out very carefully.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[Object of the Invention]
[0019] The present invention dissolves the above various defects of a twin unit scroll-type
compressor and makes the twin unit scroll-type compressor easily possible to be used
in practice.
[0020] Other object of the present invention is to provide a scroll-type fluid machine which
can be made small-sized, can improve the suction/discharge efficiency, and can attain
a high compression ratio.
[0021] Another object of the present invention is to provide a scroll-type fluid machine
which improves the sealability between wraps and compression ratio or expansion ratio.
[0022] Another object of the present invention is to provide a twin unit scroll-type fluid
machine wherein the assembling accuracy and the machining accuracy of the scrolls
are not required to be so high, and if there is a mechanical error, the error can
be absorbed, and the sealability between the wrap end surface and the associated specular
surface can be kept to obtain a desired compression ratio or expansion ratio.
[0023] A still another object of the present invention is to provide a scroll-type fluid
machine having a resilient backup member disposed in the interior of a groove section
on the chip seal back side, wherein the above problems associated with the assembling
described above can be easily dissolved.
[0024] Following in the order of the claims, constitutions to achieve the above objects
of the present invention will be described hereinafter.
[Constitution]
[0025] The present invention relates particularly to an oilless scroll-type fluid machine
out of twin unit scroll compressors having an orbiting scroll and a pair of stationary
scrolls positioned on the opposite sides of the orbiting scroll, wherein a chip seal
is fitted into a seal groove rectangular in cross section formed in a helical wrap
end surface opposed to a slide surface of an associated scroll and a surrounded space
between the slide surface and the wrap is sealed with the chip seal.
[0026] The stationary scroll has a central shaft hole through which a main shaft is inserted
to allow the orbiting scroll to be orbited, a discharge port is formed in a land section
surrounding said central shaft hole, the discharge port is made in communication with
an inner circumferential end in an involute groove region (an involute groove region
between the wrap and the land section outer circumference) positioned on the land
section circumferential side through a through-hole, a seal groove extended from the
wrap inner circumferential end is formed on the upper surface side of the land section
formed with said through-hole, and the discharge port and the involute groove region
inner circumferential end can be sealed with a chip seal fitted in said seal groove.
[0027] That is, where the present invention is to be applied to a compressor, as shown in
Fig. 6, without causing a wrap inner circumferential end 15a of an orbiting scroll
1 to face to a discharge port 7, a discharge port 7 is formed through a through-hole
31 in a land section 4 of a central shaft hole 1a situated in the interior of an inner
circumferential end 21a of the scroll groove 21, so that when the volume of the final
compression chamber becomes the smallest, the discharge is carried out, and therefore
the compression efficiency is improved.
[0028] As described above, the attained small volume of the final compression chamber makes
the seal line short, and as a result the sealability is improved and the backward
flow can be prevented, so that the compression efficiency is further improved.
[0029] In this case, when the discharge port 7 and the involute groove region inner circumferential
end 21a are in communication through the land section 4, if the discharge port 7 is
disposed on the side of the land 4 as described above, the air-tightness will fail
between them and the above-mentioned objects cannot be attained fully.
[0030] Therefore, in the present invention, the discharge port 7 and the involute groove
region 21a are made in communication through the through-hole 31, a seal groove 901
extended from the wrap inner circumferential end is formed on the upper surface side
of the land section 4 where the through-hole 31 is drilled, and the discharge port
7 and the inner circumferential end of the involute groove region 210 are sealed with
the chip seal 96 fitted in the seal groove 901.
[0031] According to the above technique, the gas highly compressed by the involute groove
region inner circumferential end 21a can be prevented from leaking along the upper
surface of the land section 4 to the discharge port 7, and accordingly the discharge
efficiency can be improved and the compression ratio can be increased.
[0032] In this case, if the seal groove 90 is extended to allow all the circumference of
the central shaft hole formed in the land section 4 to be surrounded by the seal groove
90 and the central shaft hole, the discharge port 7, and the involute groove region
inner circumferential end 21a are made sealable with the chip seals 9 to 9d inserted
into the seal groove 90, even when a seal means is used in the bearing 65 fitted in
the central shaft hole 6, the highly compressed gas can be prevented from leaking
along the shaft hole 6 and the above effect can be further enhanced.
[0033] In this case, by opening the through-hole 31 at a position nearer to the inside displaced
from the central involute of the involute groove region 21a (on the land section outer
circumferential side), the discharge port 7 and the involute groove region 21 can
favorably be made in communication at a position where the gas is compressed most
highly.
[0034] As shown in Fig. 7, the through-hole 31 is indeed required to be positioned below
the seal groove 90b with it being out of communication therewith.
[0035] Further, the chip seal 9 used in the present invention is formed by integrating several
different beltlike members one on the other without interposing a backup member therebetween
on the back side and it is recommended that the member positioned in the interior
of the seal groove is formed of a resilient member 91 and the member positioned on
the upper side thereof is formed of a self-lubricating member 92.
[0036] Thus, if the chip seal groove 901 is not made deep, the assembling of the chip seal
9 is made easy and since the backup member and the chip seal are integrated, a fear
is obviated that the ship seal will be displaced if the width of the chip grove is
made narrow, further the fact that the width of the chip can be made narrow, which
does not contribute to the compression efficiency, leads to the lowering of the dead
space, and therefore the compression efficiency and the amount of the air can be further
increased.
[0037] Further, in accordance with a preferred embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5, even on the
discharge side, by extending the wrap inner circumferential end 10a on the side of
the stationary scroll 1 toward the inner circumferential end by half a turn in comparison
with the wrap inner circumferential end 15a on the side of the orbiting scroll 2,
the inner circumferential ends 10a and 15a of the wraps are made approximately to
coincide at a prescribed position of the phases upon the orbiting movement of the
orbiting scroll 1, so that the volume of the final compression chamber can be made
smallest and correspondingly the discharge efficiency can be improved and the compression
ratio can be increased.
[0038] In this case, by forming the involute groove region inner circumferential end 21a
into a semicircle, and allowing the wrap inner circumferential end 15a on the side
of the orbiting scroll 1 to slide along the wall surface of the involute groove inner
circumferential end 21a, the above-mentioned effect as well as the sealability on
the side of the wrap inner circumferential end 15a on the side of the orbiting scroll
1 is improved.
[0039] In this case, it is recommended that the radius X of the semicircle of the circumferential
wall surface is to be set approximately equal to the eccentricity between the the
shaft hole center 1a of the orbiting scroll and the center of the shaft hole 2a of
the stationary scroll 2, in other words, approximately equal to the orbiting radius
x.
[0040] Additionally, although an improvement in the compression efficiency and an increase
in the compression ratio can be attained by taking the above constitution, in the
case of twin unit scroll-type fluid machine, unless the retention of the parallelism
between the opposed scrolls and the adjustment of the thrust are attained precisely
and easily, the practical use thereof is difficult.
[0041] Therefore, in the twin unit scroll-type fluid machine in the present invention, as
shown in Fig. 1, the orbiting scroll 1 is born on the main shaft 6 movably slightly
in the thrust direction in association with the stationary scrolls 2A and 2B, each
of chip seals 9 which are resiliently energized approximately to the same extent is
fitted into at least each of the wrap end surfaces 101 and 151 of the orbiting scroll
1 opposed to the specular surfaces 11a and 21a of the stationary scrolls 2A and 2B
so that the specular surfaces and the wrap end surfaces 101 and 105 can be sealed
with said chip seals, the chip seal is formed by integrating several different beltlike
members one on the other, the member positioned in the interior of the seal groove
is made of a resilient material, preferably a soft resilient material having a small
spring constant, and the member positioned on its upper side is made of a self-lubricating
material.
[0042] According to the present invention, the orbiting scroll can be moved in the thrust
direction, and since the chip seal 9 fitted in each of the wrap surfaces 101 and 151
of the orbiting scroll 1 has an energized resilient force, even if an uneven thrust
force is exerted in the orbiting scroll 1 due to an assembling error or a machining
error, the position of the orbiting scroll 1 can be automatically corrected by the
resilient force and the thrust force can be obviated.
[0043] In other words, if there is an assembling error or a machining error, any particular
thrust adjustment or parallelism adjustment is not required and the correction of
the centering of the orbiting scroll 1 can be automatically effected.
[0044] Since the chip seal 9 is extendible (expandable) within the resilient limit, the
oscillation of the axis of the orbiting scroll 1 can be easily absorbed.
[0045] The orbiting scroll 1 is not supported rigidly in association with the stationary
scrolls 2A and 2B but is supported resiliently through the chip seals, so that the
axial power is not uselessly increased.
[0046] Therefore, according to the present invention, by taking the above constitution,
since the wrap circumferential surfaces on the suction side, the discharge side, and
the intermediate part between them retain high sealability between them and the associated
scrolls highly accurately with a simple constitution and a high compression efficiency
can be secured, the present twin unit scroll-type compressor can be used in practice.
[0047] The use of the chip seal formed by integrating several different beltlike members
one on the other is not restricted to the twin unit type but also can be applied to
a scroll-type fluid machine having one orbiting scroll and one stationary scroll.
[0048] The chip seal can be formed by integrating a resilient member and a self-lubricating
member through an adhesive, bonding agent, adsorption, or chemical bonding or by applying
a viscous member of a self-lubricating material thickly on the resilient member and
solidifying the viscous member to integrate them.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0049] Fig. 1 is an overall sectional view of a scroll-type compressor according to the
present invention, wherein (a) and (b) are enlarged sectional views of chip seals.
[0050] Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the central shaft section.
[0051] Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the vicinity of an eccentric rotating shaft.
[0052] Figs. 4 (a), (b), (c), and (d) are views showing processes of producing chip seals
used in the present invention.
[0053] Fig. 5 is schematic views showing the shape and the arranged state of wraps of an
embodiment of the present invention with the chip seal omitted, wherein (a) shows
the final compression state and (b) shows the intermediate compression state.
[0054] Fig. 6 is an essential view of the central region of wraps, showing the shape of
a chip seal on the side of the stationary scroll.
[0055] Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of Fig. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0056] Preferable embodiments of the present invention will be illustratively described
in detail with reference to the drawings. It is, however, not intended to restrict
the scope of the present invention within the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative
positions, etc. of the constitutional parts in the embodiments, but merely aimed to
an illustrative purpose, unless otherwise specified.
[0057] Figs. 1 through 3 show an oilless scroll-type compressor of an embodiment according
to the present invention which comprises an orbiting scroll 1 provided with a pair
of orbiting wraps 15A and 15B at both surfaces axially parallel to a main shaft 5
of which central crank section 5a supports the orbiting scroll 1, a pair of stationary
scrolls 2A and 2B formed with stationary wraps 10 mated with the orbiting wraps 15A
and 15B, and three slave crank shafts 6 for restriction of a spin disposed in a 120
degree apart at outer circumferential sides 24 in a space enclosing the wraps which
are for connecting said stationary scroll 2A and the orbiting scroll 1.
[0058] The stationary scrolls 2A and 2B are in the shape of circular caps, their circumferential
walls 24 serving as a casing are abutted against each other with a seal member 29
between them so that a closed space may be formed therein and the main shaft 5 is
passed through their central shaft holes 6 and through bearings 25 so that the main
shaft 5 may be rotatably supported at two sections.
[0059] The stationary wraps 15A and 15B helical in shape are arranged around the bearings
25 and are opposed to each other symmetrically and a discharge port 7A and a suction
port 8 are formed in a central region and an outer circumferential edge of the stationary
scroll 2A respectively.
[0060] The orbiting scroll 1 and the stationary scroll 2B are formed respectively with discharge
passages 7B and 7C for leading a compressed gas into the discharge port 7A.
[0061] As described above, the opposite surfaces of the orbiting scroll 1 are formed with
orbiting wraps 15A and 15B axially parallelly, the orbiting wraps 15A and 15B can
be mated with said stationary wraps 10, and support shafts 60a of the three slave
crank shafts 60 are pivotally supported in a circumferential wall 14 on the circumferential
side of the orbiting scroll 1.
[0062] That is, as known in the prior art, the slave crank shafts 60 are pivotally supported
at positions (3 in number) displaced 120 degrees around the main shaft 5, the support
shafts 60a of said crank shafts are born in bearings 63 of the orbiting scroll 1 and
other support shafts 60b are born in bearings 64 of the stationary scroll 2A. As a
result, when the main shaft 5 is rotationally driven, the slave crank shafts 60 follow
that driven rotation to rotate eccentrically in line with the eccentricity X of the
main shaft 5, thereby enabling the orbiting scroll 1 not to rotate on its own axis
but to orbit with the fixed radius X about the center of the wraps of the stationary
scrolls 2A and 2B.
[0063] The slave shafts 60 are born in a cantilever fashion only by the stationary scroll
2, thereby a slight tilting or axial misalignment of the orbiting scroll 1 can be
absorbed to prevent the axial power from a useless increase.
[0064] That is, if the slave crank shafts 60 are supported by the stationary scrolls 2A
and 2B with the orbiting scroll 1 between them, the axial movement of the orbiting
scroll 1 can be allowed, but the occurrence of a tilting or axial misalignment of
the orbiting scroll 1 cannot be allowed and the orbiting scroll 1 is supported rigidly,
unfavorably leading to a problem that results in an increase of the axial power.
[0065] Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the constitution of the above bearing sections are described.
A bearing 65 fitted in the central crank shaft section 5a of the main shaft 5 is made
up of a known needle roller bearing 65a having a number of needle bearings 65a1 supported
in a housing 65a2 and a pair of oil seals 65b disposed on the opposite sides of the
needle roller bearing 65a and the space defined between the oil seals 65b is filled
with a grease. A bearing 63 between the support shaft 60a of each of the slave crank
shafts 60 and the orbiting scroll 1 is made up of a housed needle roller bearing 63a
and oil seals 63b and the space defined between the oil seals 65b is filled with a
grease.
[0066] On the other hand, each of the bearings 66 fitted on the main shaft on the stationary
scroll side is made up of a sealed angular bearing 66b, a housed needle roller bearing
66a, and an oil seal 66c stated from the outside and its closed space is filled with
a grease. A bearing 64 fitted on the support shaft 60b of each of the slave crank
shafts is made up of a pair of sealed angular bearings 64a and 64b and its closed
space is filled with a grease.
[0067] According to the above constitution, the central eccentric shaft 5a of the main shaft
5 and the orbiting scroll 1, and the support shaft 60a of each of the slave crank
shafts 60 and the orbiting scroll 1 are born by the housed needle roller bearings
63a and 65a wherein a number of the needle bearings 65a1 are born in the housing 65a2
(the needle bearing 65a1 itself has a slight clearance axially in the housing 65a2),
so that said orbiting scroll 1 is constructed axially movably to a slight extent.
[0068] As is shown in Fig. 1, a wrap end surface 101 of each of the stationary wraps 10
opposed to each slide surface 11a of the orbiting scroll 1 and an end surface 151
of the slide wrap 15 (15A and 15B) opposed to each slide surface 21 of the stationary
scroll 2 (2A and 2B) is recessed to form seal grooves 90 that extend helically along
the length of the surfaces and have a rectangular cross-section, and a resilient chip
seal 9 of a self-lubricating resin in the shape of a belt is fitted into each of the
seal grooves 90 and thus the chip seals 9 are resiliently retained between the slide
surface 11a of the orbiting scroll 1 and the slide surface 21 of the stationary scroll
(2A and 2B).
[0069] The height H of each of the wraps is set to be slightly shorter than the distance
L between the specular surfaces of the associated scrolls and the distance R1 between
the opposite surfaces of the orbiting scroll and the thickness R2 of the central crank
section 5a of the main shaft are set to be slightly shorter than the distance M between
the wrap end surfaces of the stationary scroll, in other words, the opposite surfaces
of the orbiting scroll and the wrap end surfaces of the stationary scroll are opposed
to have a slight clearance and the wrap end surfaces on the opposite surfaces of the
orbiting scroll and specular surfaces of the stationary scrolls are opposed to have
a slight clearance, and by interposing the chip seals between them, it is made secure
that the orbiting scroll 1 can be slightly moved axially and can be resiliently retained.
[0070] The chip seals 9 used in this embodiment are not independently placed as backup members
as in the above-mentioned prior art, but as is shown in Figs. 7 and 1, a backup member
91 and a self-lubricating seal member 92 are integrated so that the chip seal 9 itself
may be resiliently energized.
[0071] The backup member 91 is made from a soft material which has a small spring constant
and slightly restores the shape of the backup member 91 when the seal member 92 is
forcibly brought in contact with the associated scroll specular surface (slide surface)
such as a porous material of an ethylene tetrafluoride resin.
[0072] The self-lubricating seal member 92 is generally made from a copper containing resin
(available under the trade name of Sunflon from Mitsubishi Densen Co.) or a fluororesin,
but the present invention is not restricted to them.
[0073] The backup member 91 and the seal member 92 are in the shape of a belt and are smaller
that the seal groove and when they are integrated, the top of the seal member extends
out of the seal groove.
[0074] As is shown in Fig. 4 (a), the upper surface of the backup member 91 and the undersurface
of the seal member 92 are integrated by using an adhesive or a bonding agent 93, or
as is shown in Figs. 4 (b) and (c), the seal member 92 which is melted is applied
thickly on the upper surface of the backup member 91 by using a spraying machine 95
or a flow coater 96 and then may be solidified thereafter, or as is shown Fig.4(d),
the upper surface of the backup member 91 and the undersurface of the seal member
92 may be integrated by a deposition method or chemical bonding.
[0075] According to the embodiment, if a nonuniform or unparallel thrust occurs in the orbiting
scroll due to an error of the assembling or the machining of the arrangement, the
position can be automatically corrected by the resilient force of the chip seals 9,
so that such a thrust can be obviated or the parallelism can be adjusted, and since
the backup member 91 and the seal member 92 are integrated, the assembling to the
seal groove 90 is made easy.
[0076] Now, the shape of the wraps used in the embodiment will be described based on Figs.
5 through 7.
[0077] For example, in Figs. 5 (a) and (b), reference numeral 10 indicates a wrap formed
on the stationary scroll 2, the wrap 10 is formed in the shape of an involute starting
from an outer circumferential wall 4a of a land section 4 of a central shaft hole
6 through which the main shaft 5 located at the central section extends and has about
7.5 x π turns (3.75 turns), and a semicircular wall is formed on the side of an involute
groove starting end 21a between a second turn wrap 10c and a wrap starting end 10a
formed to the outer circumferential wall 4a of the land section.
[0078] In this case, the shape of the circumferential wall surface is such that its radius
is set to be approximately equal to the eccentricity x between an orbiting scroll
shaft 1a and a stationary scroll shaft 2a, in other words, approximately equal to
the scroll orbiting radius.
[0079] On the other hand, the wrap 15 on the side of the orbiting scroll 1 is extended in
the shape of an involute whose turns are to be about 5.5 x π turns (2.75 turns) by
making shorter by 180 degrees on the inner circumferential end side and on the outer
circumferential end side than the wrap 10 on the side of the stationary scroll and
its starting end 15a is brought in contact with the involute groove circumferential
surface so that the wrap starting end 15a can be slid along the circumferential surface
of the involute groove starting end 21a in conformity with the orbiting movement of
the orbiting scroll, and the forward end of the wrap starting end 15a is formed into
a semicircle in cross-section.
[0080] The stationary wrap 10 formed on the side of the stationary scroll 2 is formed into
a helix having about 5.5 x π turns (about 2.75 turns) extending from a bearing shore
4 formed into an involute along the central shaft hole 6 through which the main shaft
5 located at the central section extends and an inner circumferential wall surface
21a at the inner circumferential end of a scroll groove 21 between the wrap inner
circumferential end 10a and the wrap 10 c positioned on the outer circumferential
side of the wrap inner circumferential end 10a is formed into a semicircle.
[0081] In this case, the shape of the scroll groove inner circumferential wall surface 21a
is set such that its radius is approximately equal to the eccentricity X between the
orbiting scroll shaft hole center 1a and the stationary scroll shaft hole center 2a,
in other words, approximately equal to the orbiting radius.
[0082] As a result, when the orbiting scroll 1 is orbited about the stationary scroll shaft
hole center 1a, the wrap inner circumferential end 15a on the side of said orbiting
scroll is slid along the scroll groove inner circumferential wall surface 21a, so
that the smooth sliding movement becomes possible.
[0083] As shown in Fig. 7, a discharge port 7 is drilled in the land section 4 on the interior
side of the scroll groove inner circumferential wall 21a and a through-hole 31 extending
through the scroll groove inner circumferential wall surface 21a and the discharge
port 7 is formed along the direction extended from the outer circumferential wall
4a of the land section 4.
[0084] According to the above constitution, since the final compression chamber 30A is not
opened until the wrap inner circumferential end 15a of the orbiting scroll 1 comes
near to the land section outer circumferential wall 4a, the final compression chamber
30A can be easily reduced, so that the compression efficiency can be improved further.
[0085] However, if the chip seal is not interposed on the upper side of the land section
4 between the scroll groove inner circumferential wall surface 21a and the discharge
port 7, there is a fear that the high-pressure gas in the discharge port 7 will flow
back into the final compression chamber 30A that has not yet been fully compressed
along the upper surface of the land section 4.
[0086] Therefore, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the chip seal groove 90b fitted near to the
inner circumferential end 10 a of the stationary wrap is further increased into a
semicircle along the scroll groove inner circumferential wall surface 21a of the land
section 4 and the chip seal 9b is integrated continuously with the chip seal 9 and
is fitted into the seal groove.
[0087] Although the bearing 65 is inserted in the central shaft hole formed in the land
section, if a chip seal is not placed on the upper side of the land section 4 between
the shaft hole and the discharge port 7, there is a fear that the high-pressure gas
in the discharge port 7 leaks into the central shaft hole along the upper surface
of the land section 4.
[0088] Therefore, the seal groove is extended so that it can surround all the central shaft
hole in the land section, and the chip seal 9c is fitted into the seal groove such
that it is integrally continuous with the chip seal 9 and the chip seal 9b.
[0089] In this case, although it is possible that the bearing 66 of the stationary scroll
is provided with a seal means capable of prevention of leakage, the chip seal 9c can
make up the function of the seal means.
[0090] Since the outer circumferential side of the land section 4 functions as a wrap, indeed,
the chip seal 9a is fitted integrally and continuously with the chip seals 9, 9b,
and 9c into the seal groove.
[0091] It is desirable that any of the chip seals 9, 9a, 9b, and 9c are press molded integrally.
[0092] As a result, the circumference of the discharge port is not directly opposed to the
central shaft hole or the involute groove region inner circumferential ends than the
land upper surface, but since it is cut off by the chip seals 9a, 9b, and 9c, it is
easily made air-tight, and the compression efficiency can be improved further.
[0093] Reference symbol 4b indicates a sink to be in communication with the adjacent discharge
port 7 (7A, 7B, and 7C).
[0094] Consequently, according to the embodiment, the inner circumferential wall surface
21a of the scroll groove 21 is made into the shape of a semicircle, the radius of
the semicircle is set to be approximately equal to the eccentricity X between the
orbiting scroll shaft hole center 1a and the stationary scroll shaft hole center 2a,
in other words, approximately equal to the orbiting radius, further, the wrap 15 on
the side of orbiting scroll 1 is extended, and its inner end 15a can be opposed closely
to the scroll groove inner circumferential wall surface 21a or can be slid on it in
response to the orbiting movement, and further according to the embodiment, since
the discharge port 7 is drilled in the shore section 4 in the interior of the scroll
groove inner circumferential wall surface 21a and the through-hole 31 for making the
scroll groove inner circumferential groove wall surface 21a in communication with
the discharge port 7 is formed along the outer circumferential wall 4a of the shore
section 4, the final compression chamber 30A is not opened until the wrap inner terminal
end comes near the shore section outer circumferential wall 4a, so that the compression
efficiency can be improved.
[0095] Further, in this embodiment, since the chip seal 9 is disposed to surround the discharge
port 7 (7A and 7C) on the side of the stationary scroll 2 (2A and 2B), the backward
flow from the discharge port 7 can be prevented completely, and therefore the compression
efficiency can be improved further.
[0096] Although the above technique was described for stopping the leakage from the discharge
port 7 (7A and 7C) on the side of the stationary scroll 2 (2A and 2B), the above technique
can be similarly applied to the discharge port 7B on the side of the orbiting scroll
1.
1. An oilless scroll-type fluid machine comprising an orbiting scroll (1) having an axially
projecting involute wrap (15A, 15B) on each of both sides of the orbiting scroll and
a pair of stationary scrolls (2A, 2B) each having an involute wrap (10) mated with
the former wrap of said orbiting scroll (1), a chip seal (9) being fitted in a seal
groove (90) rectangular in cross section formed in a helical wrap end surface opposed
to a slide surface (11a, 21a) of the associated scroll (1, 2), and the enclosed space
formed between said wrap and said slide surface being sealed with said chip seal (9),
characterized in that a discharge port (7) is formed in a land section (4) surrounding
a central shaft hole (6) in said stationary scroll (2A, 2B), a through-hole (31) is
formed between said discharge port (7) and an inner circumferential end of an involute
groove region (an involute groove region between the wrap and the land outer circumference)
positioned on the land section outer circumferential side so that said discharge port
(7) and said inner circumferential end may be communicated, a seal groove (90b) is
formed on the upper surface side of the land section (4) formed with said through-hole
(31) to extend from the wrap inner circumferential end, and the discharge port and
the involute groove region inner circumferential end can be sealed with a chip seal
(9b) fitted in said seal groove (90b).
2. The machine of claim 1, wherein said seal groove (90b) is extended to allow all the
circumference of said central shaft hole (6) formed in the land section (4) to be
surrounded, and said central shaft hole (6), the discharge port (7), and the involute
groove region inner circumferential end can be sealed with said chip seal (9b) fitted
in said seal groove (90b)
3. The machine of claim 1 or 2, wherein the stationary scroll wrap inner circumferential
end is extended toward the inner circumferential end to be longer by half a turn than
the orbiting scroll wrap circumferential line by using the outer circumferential line
of the land section (4) (the land part) forming its central shaft hole (6) so that
the circumferential ends (10b, 15b) of the wraps (10, 15) may be approximately in
agreement with each other at a prescribed position of the phases upon the orbiting
movement of said orbiting scroll (1).
4. The machine of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said through-hole (31) is opened at a
position inner than the position of the central involute line of the involute groove
region.
5. The machine of any claims 1 to 4, wherein said chip seal member (9) is formed by integrating
several different belt-like members one on the other with the member positioned inside
of the seal groove (90, 90b) being a resilient member (91) and the member (92) positioned
thereon being a self-lubricating member.
6. The machine of claim 1, wherein each of said orbiting scroll wrap (15) and said stationary
scroll wrap (10) has a wrap turn of 720 degrees (two turns) or over and preferably
of 1000 degrees.
7. A scroll-type fluid machine comprising an orbiting scroll (1) born on a main shaft
(5) and having an axially projecting involute wrap (15A, 15B) on each of both sides
of the orbiting scroll (1), a pair of stationary scrolls (2A, 2B) each having an involute
wrap (10) mated with the former wrap, and a plurality of slave cranks (60) for supporting
said stationary scrolls (10) and said orbiting scroll (1) to allow said orbiting scroll
(1) to be orbited by the rotation of said main shaft (5) without spinning, characterized
in that housed needle roller bearings (65a) are each applied to the bearing section
of the main shaft (5) of said orbiting scroll (1) and to the bearing section of each
of the slave cranks (60) so that the stationary scrolls (2A, 2B) are born on the main
shaft (5) and can be moved slightly in the thrust direction, chip seals (9) which
can be resiliently energized approximately to the same extent are fitted respectively
to wrap end surfaces of the orbiting scroll (1) opposed to at least specular surfaces
of the stationary scrolls (2A, 2B) so that said specular surfaces and the wrap end
surfaces can be sealed with said chip seals (9), and said chip seal is formed by integrating
several different beltlike members (91, 92, 93) one on the other with the member positioned
inside of the seal groove being a resilient member (91) and the member positioned
thereon being a self-lubricating member (92).
8. An oilless scroll-type fluid machine having a chip seal fitted in a seal groove (90b)
rectangular in cross section formed in a helical wrap end surface opposed to a slide
surface of an associated scroll to seal the enclosed space formed between said slide
surface and the wrap with said chip seal (9b), wherein said chip seal (9b) is formed
by integrating several different beltlike members one on the other with the member
positioned inside of the seal groove (90b) being a resilient member (91) and the member
positioned thereon being a self-lubricating member (92).
9. The machine of claim 8, wherein said resilient member (91) and said self-lubricating
member (92) are integrated with an adhesive (93) a bonding agent, adsorption, or a
chemical bond.
10. The machine of claim 8 or 9, wherein a viscous member of a self-lubricating material
is applied thickly on said resilient member (91) and then is solidified to integrate
the self-lubricating material (92) and the resilient member (91).