TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a compressor used for refrigerating cycle such as
a fridge freezer.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] European Patent Application Laid-open Publication Number
EP 1 408 235 discloses a compressor according to the preamble of claim 1.
[0003] A further conventional example of this kind of compressor includes a mechanism for
supplying oil to the cylinder thereof (see Patent Document 1 (
JP6294380A), for example).
[0004] Hereinafter, the conventional compressor is described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0005] Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the conventional compressor of Patent
Document 1 as seen from a side thereof. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the conventional
compressor. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the conventional compressor
as seen from the front thereof. Fig. 9 is a sectional view of an essential part of
a suction muffler of the conventional compressor.
[0006] With reference to Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9, hermetic container 1 has oil 2 stored at
the bottom thereof, and has refrigerant gas 3 filling the space thereof.
[0007] Electrically-driven element 4 includes stator 5 and rotor 6. Compressing element
7 includes the following components: crankshaft 10 having eccentric shaft 8 and main
shaft 9; cylinder block 13 having cylinder 11 and main bearing 12; piston 14; and
connecting rod 15. Rotor 6 is fitted onto crankshaft 10. Crankshaft 10 includes oil
pump 17, and rotates in main bearing 12. At least the bottom end of oil plump 17 is
immersed in oil 2. Oil pump 17 has opening 16 for splashing oil 2 from the top end
face of eccentric shaft 8 into hermetic container 1.
[0008] Piston 14 is inserted into substantially columnar cylinder 11 so as to be reciprocatingly
slidable therein. Piston 14 is coupled to eccentric shaft 8 via connecting rod 15.
Valve plate 18 that seals the opening end face of cylinder 11 includes suction port
19 to be communicated to cylinder 11 by the opening/closing operation of a suction
valve (not shown).
[0009] Cylinder head 21 forming communication channel 20 is fixed on the opposite side of
cylinder 11 via valve plate 18.
[0010] Suction muffler 25 is made up of a channel for sucking refrigerant gas 3 opened to
hermetic container 1, i.e. tail pipe 26, and sound-absorbing space 27. The suction
muffler is coupled to one end of communication channel 20.
[0011] Oil reservoir 28 is provided at the opening of tail pipe 26 in hermetic container
1 in a concave shape.
[0012] Hereinafter, an operation of the compressor structured as above is described.
[0013] The rotation of crankshaft 10 caused by electrically-driven element 4 is transferred
to connecting rod 15, thereby reciprocating piston 14. The reciprocating movement
releases refrigerant gas 3 flowing from an external cooling circuit (not shown) once
into hermetic container 1, and into sound-absorbing space 27 in suction muffler 25
via tail pipe 26. Thereafter, refrigerant gas 3 is intermittently sucked into cylinder
11 via communication channel 20, and suction port 19 of valve plate 18. Refrigerant
gas 3 sucked into cylinder 11 is compressed by piston 14 and discharged to the external
cooling circuit (not shown) again.
[0014] When crankshaft 10 is rotated by electrically-driven element 4, oil 2 stored at the
inner bottom of hermetic container 1 is pumped up in crankshaft 10 by oil pump 17.
After lubricating the sliding portions of main shaft 9 and eccentric shaft 8, oil
2 splashes from opening 16 of oil pump 17 in eccentric shaft 8 into hermetic container
1 and onto cylinder 11. A part of the oil accumulates in oil reservoir 28. The trajectory
of oil 2 splashing from opening 16 of oil pump 17 into hermetic container 1 is shown
by the arrows in Fig. 6.
[0015] The rotation of eccentric shaft 8 causes connecting rod 15 to reciprocate piston
14 in cylinder 11. Thereby, the suction, compression, and discharge strokes are sequentially
repeated. In the suction stroke of piston 14, refrigerant gas 3 filling the space
of hermetic container 1 is sucked from the tip of tail pipe 26.
[0016] At that time, oil 2 in oil reservoir 28 is sucked from the tip of tail pipe 26 together
with refrigerant gas 3. The oil is supplied into cylinder 11 via suction muffler 25,
communication channel 20, and suction port 19 of valve plate 18, and lubricates the
sliding portions of piston 14 and cylinder 11.
[0017] However, in the conventional structure, the direction in which oil 2 discharged from
opening 16 of oil pump 17 splashes is unstable because the direction varies with the
rotation speed of crankshaft 10, the viscosity of oil 2 or the like. For this reason,
oil 2 does not splash onto cylinder 11 and does not lubricate the sliding portions
of cylinder 11 and piston 14. This phenomenon may cause metallic contact and abrasion
between the portions.
[0018] Because the direction in which oil 2 from opening 16 of oil pump 17 splashes is unstable
depending on the changes in operating conditions, oil 2 splashing in hermetic container
1 sometimes does not accumulate in oil reservoir 28. In such a case, oil 2 is not
supplied from oil reservoir 28 into cylinder 11. This can degrade the sealability
between valve plate 18 and the suction valve, thus freezing capability and efficiency
may be degraded.
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. H06-294380; JP6294380A.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0019] A compressor includes a hermetic container that stores oil therein and accommodates
a compressing element for compressing a refrigerant gas. The compressing element includes
the following components: a crankshaft that has an eccentric shaft and a main shaft,
and an oil pump having an opening on a top end face of the eccentric shaft; a cylinder
block that has a cylinder and a main bearing; a piston that reciprocates in the cylinder;
and a suction muffler that forms a sound-absorbing space in communication with the
cylinder. The eccentric shaft has an acutely angled edge that makes an acute angle
with the top end face, along the outer periphery of the top end of the eccentric shaft.
[0020] The oil sucked by the oil pump and supplied to the opening of the eccentric shaft
flows on the top end face of the eccentric shaft to the outer periphery thereof, and
splashes from the edge having the acute angle at the end of the eccentric shaft in
substantially a radial direction. Thus, the oil splashes linearly onto the sliding
portions of the cylinder and piston, cools the cylinder and piston, and forms oil
film on the sliding portions of the cylinder and piston, under hardly any influence
of the operating conditions of the compressor. As a result, the oil can restrain metallic
contact between the sliding portions and prevent abrasion between the sliding portions
and increasing input into the compressor. Thus, a compressor having high efficiency
and high reliability can be provided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021]
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a compressor in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention as seen from a side thereof.
Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the compressor in accordance with the exemplary
embodiment.
Fig. 3 is a sectional view of an essential part of a crankshaft in accordance with
the exemplary embodiment.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view of an essential part of a suction muffler in accordance
with the exemplary embodiment.
Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the suction muffler taken on line A-A of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional compressor as seen from
a side thereof.
Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the conventional compressor.
Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the conventional compressor as seen from
the front thereof.
Fig. 9 is a sectional view of an essential part of a suction muffler of the conventional
compressor.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0022] Hereinafter, a compressor in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present
invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT
[0023] Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a compressor in accordance with the exemplary
embodiment of the present invention as seen from a side thereof. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional
view of the compressor in accordance with the exemplary embodiment. Fig. 3 is a sectional
view of an essential part of a crankshaft in accordance with the exemplary embodiment.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view of an essential part of a suction muffler in accordance
with the exemplary embodiment. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the suction muffler taken
on line A-A of Fig. 4.
[0024] With reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, hermetic container 101 has oil 102 stored
therein and is filled with refrigerant gas 103.
[0025] Electrically-driven element 110 includes stator 111 and rotor 112. Compressing element
113 includes crankshaft 116 driven by electrically-driven element 110, cylinder block
119 having cylinder 117 and main bearing 118, piston 120, and connecting rod 121,
to form a reciprocating compressor mechanism.
[0026] Piston 120 is inserted into cylinder 117 so as to be reciprocatingly slidable therein.
Piston 120 is coupled to eccentric shaft 124 via connecting rod 121.
[0027] Crankshaft 116 includes eccentric shaft 124 and main shaft 125, and rotates in main
bearing 118 with rotor 112 fitted onto the crankshaft. Oil pump 126 provided through
crankshaft 116 includes oil channel 128 in main shaft 125, and rotates with at least
the bottom end thereof immersed in oil 102.
[0028] Chamfer 132 is provided along opening 131 of oil pump 126 positioned at top end face
133 of eccentric shaft 124.
[0029] Eccentric shaft 124 includes edge 130 that makes an acute angle with top end face
133, along the outer periphery of the top end of the eccentric shaft. External diameter
E of edge 130 is dimensioned smaller than the external diameter of eccentric shaft
124 that slides with connecting rod 121. The acute angle that edge 130 makes with
top end face 133 is shown as angle α in Fig. 3.
[0030] Valve plate 135 that seals the opening end face of cylinder 117 includes suction
port 136 to be communicated to cylinder 117 by the opening/closing operation of a
suction valve (not shown).
[0031] Cylinder head 138 that forms communication channel 137 is fixed on the opposite side
of cylinder 117 via valve plate 135.
[0032] Suction muffler 140 is integrally formed with cylinder block 119. Suction muffler
140 includes top section 142 curving outwardly of suction muffler 140 having a convex
shape with a curvature exceeding 0, oil-suction hole 143 provided at top section 142,
sound-absorbing space 144, and tail pipe 145. Suction muffler 140 communicates with
sound-absorbing space 144 and cylinder 117 via communication channel 137 and suction
port 136. Tail pipe 145 of suction muffler 140 is opened to hermetic container 101
at one end, and to sound-absorbing space 144 at the other end. Thus, the tail pipe
forms a suction channel for introducing refrigerant gas 103 in hermetic container
101 into sound-absorbing space 144.
[0033] Oil-suction hole 143 is a through-hole that is provided at substantially the crest
of top section 142 and allows the space in hermetic container 101 to communicate with
sound-absorbing space 144 in suction muffler 140.
[0034] An operation of the compressor structured as above is described hereinafter.
[0035] The rotation of crankshaft 116 is transferred to connecting rod 121, thereby reciprocating
piston 120. The reciprocating movement of piston 120 releases refrigerant gas 103
introduced from an external cooling circuit (not shown) once into hermetic container
101, and into sound-absorbing space 144 in suction muffler 140 via tail pipe 145.
Thereafter, refrigerant gas 103 is intermittently sucked into cylinder 117 via communication
channel 137 and suction port 136 of valve plate 135. Refrigerant gas 103 sucked into
cylinder 117 is compressed by piston 120 and discharged to the external cooling circuit
(not shown) again.
[0036] When crankshaft 116 is rotated by electrically-driven element 110, oil 102 stored
at the inner bottom of hermetic container 101 is pumped up in crankshaft 116 by oil
pump 126. Oil 102 goes through oil channel 128 and reaches opening 131 formed through
top end face 133 of oil pump 126.
[0037] When oil 102 reaches opening 131, oil 102 is pushed out not directly above but in
an oblique direction along chamfer 132. Substantially entire oil 102 flows to the
outer periphery along top end face 133 of eccentric shaft 124 by centrifugal force.
Thereafter, the oil splashes from edge 130 having the acute angle at the end in substantially
a radial direction. The trajectory of oil 102 splashing from edge 130 into hermetic
container 101 is shown by the arrows in Figs. 1 and 3.
[0038] As a result, substantially entire oil 102 that has reached opening 131 of oil pump
126 splashes linearly onto the sliding portions of cylinder 117 and piston 120, under
hardly any influence of the operating conditions, such as the rotation speed of crankshaft
116 and the viscosity of oil 102. Thus, cylinder 117, piston 120, and other components
can sufficiently be cooled, and oil film can be formed on the sliding portions of
cylinder 117 and piston 120. Thus, the oil can restrain metallic contact between the
sliding portions, and prevent abrasion between the sliding portions and increasing
input into the compressor. Thus, a compressor having high efficiency and high reliability
can be provided.
[0039] In the above structure, eccentric shaft 124 includes edge 130 that makes an acute
angle with top end face 133, along the outer periphery of the eccentric shaft. If
the angle that edge 130 and top end face 133 make with each other is a right angle
or an obtuse angle instead of an acute angle, oil 102 introduced to edge 130 splashes
not in a radial direction but obliquely downward with respect to the horizontal direction.
The reason is inferred as follows. If the angle that edge 130 and top end face 133
make with each other is a right angle or an obtuse angle instead of an acute angle,
the splashing force in a radial direction is inhibited by the surface tension of oil
102 or the like.
[0040] Further, when hermetic container 101 is at a low temperature and oil 102 has a high
viscosity, or when the compressor is operated at a low rotation speed, e.g. 50 Hz,
and oil pump 126 has a small pumping force, upward splash of oil 102 is difficult.
[0041] In contrast, when hermetic container 101 is at a high temperature and oil 102 has
a low viscosity, or when the compressor is operated at a high rotation speed, e.g.
60 Hz, and oil pump 126 has a large pumping force, oil 102 tends to splash high. However,
the following phenomena are confirmed in the above structure. Oil 102 splashes from
edge 130 having an acute angle in substantially a radial direction linearly onto the
sliding portions of cylinder 117 and piston 120, in spite of operating conditions,
such as the viscosity and the rotation speed of crankshaft 116. The position onto
which the oil splashes has substantially no change.
[0042] Further, chamfer 132 is provided along opening 131 of oil pump 126. In this structure,
oil 102 having reached opening 131 is pushed out not directly above but in an oblique
direction, as compared with the case of without chamfer 132. Thus, substantially entire
oil 102 does not splash upwardly, and flows to the outer periphery along top end face
133 of eccentric shaft 124 by centrifugal force. This special advantage is also confirmed.
[0043] However, the following advantage is also confirmed. Even in the structure without
chamfer 132, among oil 102 reached opening 131, oil 102 flowing to the outer periphery
along top end face 133 of eccentric shaft 124 splashes from edge 130 in substantially
a radial direction linearly onto the sliding portions of cylinder 117 and piston 120.
[0044] Top section 142 of suction muffler 140 is disposed at a position where oil 102 splashing
from edge 130 in substantially a radial direction hits directly. The top section also
includes oil-suction hole 143. With this structure, oil 102 continuously splashes
onto top section 142 and forms oil film on the surface of top section 142, during
the operation of the compressor.
[0045] Further, top section 142 of suction muffler 140 forms a convex shape having a curvature
exceeding 0. With this structure, oil 102 splashing onto and adhering to the surface
of top section 142 does not remain on the surface of top section 142. The oil is spread
thin on top section 142 by the surface tension of the oil and can form oil film. Then,
oil-suction hole 143 can suck a fixed amount of oil 102 according to the inner peripheral
length of the hole from the oil film spread thin at substantially a fixed thickness,
using the negative pressure inside of suction muffler 140.
[0046] The suction of oil 102 in the oil film near oil-suction hole 143 into suction muffler
140 through oil-suction hole 143 allows stable lubrication to the inside of cylinder
117 via sound-absorbing space 144, communication channel 137, and suction port 136
through valve plate 135.
[0047] As a result, entry of a large amount of oil 102 into cylinder 117 can be prevented,
and thus piston 120 does not compress refrigerant gas 103 containing a large amount
of oil 102. This structure can prevent unnecessary increase in the load imposed on
piston 120 and increasing input into the compressor and improve the sealability between
valve plate 135 and the suction valve. Thus, efficiency can be improved.
[0048] Further, edge 130 is smaller than the external diameter of eccentric shaft 124 that
slides with connecting rod 121. For this reason, when connecting rod 121 is inserted
into eccentric shaft 124 during assembly of the compressor, contact of the sliding
surface of the inner periphery of connecting rod 121 with edge 130 of eccentric shaft
124 can be prevented. This structure can prevent the sliding surface of connecting
rod 121 from being damaged by edge 130 of eccentric shaft 124, thereby improving the
quality and reliability.
[0049] For these reasons, a compressor having high reliability, efficiency, and quality
can be provided.
[0050] In the description of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, edge 130
is integrally formed with crankshaft 116. However, an edge and a crankshaft separately
formed into the same shape as the integrally-formed component can also give the same
advantage as the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0051] Further, a slight chamfer can be provided along edge 130 to prevent the damage to
the sliding surface of connecting rod 121 in case that edge 130 makes contact with
connecting rod 121 during assembly thereof. Also with this structure, the oil splashing
effect can be maintained.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0052] As described above, a compressor of the present invention has high reliability and
efficiency, and thus can be used in any application using a refrigerating cycle, such
as a domestic refrigerator, a dehumidifier, a showcase, and an automatic vending machine.
REFERENCE MARKS IN THE DRAWINGS
[0053]
- 101
- Hermetic container
- 102
- Oil
- 103
- Refrigerant gas
- 113
- Compressing element
- 116
- Crankshaft
- 117
- Cylinder
- 118
- Main bearing
- 119
- Cylinder block
- 120
- Piston
- 121
- Connecting rod
- 124
- Eccentric shaft
- 125
- Main shaft
- 126
- Oil pump
- 130
- Edge
- 131
- Opening
- 132
- Chamfer
- 133
- Top end face
- 140
- Suction muffler
- 142
- Top section
- 143
- Oil-suction hole
- 144
- Sound-absorbing space
1. Kompressor, der umfasst:
einen hermetischen Behälter (101), in dem Öl (102) aufbewahrt wird und der ein Kompressionselement
(113) zum Komprimieren eines Kühlgases (103) aufnimmt, wobei das Kompressionselement
(113) enthält:
eine Kurbelwelle (116), die eine Exzenterwelle (124) und eine Hauptwelle (125) enthält,
und eine Ölpumpe (126) enthält, die eine Öffnung (131) an einer oberen Abschlussfläche
(133) der Exzenterwelle (124) aufweist;
einen Zylinderblock (119), der einen Zylinder (117) und ein Hauptlager (118) enthält;
einen Kolben (120), der in den Zylinder (117) eingeführt ist und sich hin und her
bewegt; und
einen Ansaugschalldämpfer (140), in dem ein schallabsorbierender Raum (144) ausgebildet
ist, wobei der schallabsorbierende Raum (144) in Verbindung mit dem Zylinder (117)
steht;
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
die Exzenterwelle (124) eine spitz angewinkelte Kante (130), die einen spitzen Winkel
zu der oberen Endfläche (133) bildet, entlang eines Außenumfangs einer oberen Fläche
der Exzenterwelle (124) aufweist.
2. Kompressor nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass eine Fase (132) entlang der Öffnung (131) der oberen Endfläche (133) der Ölpumpe
(126) vorhanden ist.
3. Kompressor nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass er des Weiteren eine Pleuelstange (121) enthält, die die Exzenterwelle (124) mit
dem Kolben (120) koppelt, wobei ein Außendurchmesser der Kante (130) kleiner bemessen
ist als der der Exzenterwelle (124), die mit der Pleuelstange (121) gleitet.
4. Kompressor nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Ansaugschalldämpfer (140) ein Ölansaugloch (143) an einer Position enthält, an
der das Öl (102), das von der Kante (130) spritzt, direkt auftrifft.
5. Kompressor nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass ein oberer Abschnitt (142) des Ansaugschalldämpfers (140) eine Außenwölbung bildet,
die eine Krümmung hat, die 0 übersteigt und die das Ölansaugloch (143) in der Nähe
des Scheitels des oberen Abschnitts (142) einschließt.