U.S. patent application number 11/038419 was filed with the patent office on 2006-07-27 for sealing member of a compressor.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sanden Corporation. Invention is credited to Takashi Fukumuro, Hidenori Hosoi.
Application Number | 20060162546 11/038419 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36695316 |
Filed Date | 2006-07-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060162546 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hosoi; Hidenori ; et
al. |
July 27, 2006 |
Sealing member of a compressor
Abstract
A coat of material impermeable to coolant gas is formed on the
surface of a sealing member of a compressor for absorbing and
compressing the coolant gas.
Inventors: |
Hosoi; Hidenori;
(Isesaki-shi, JP) ; Fukumuro; Takashi;
(Isesaki-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BAKER BOTTS LLP;C/O INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DEPARTMENT
THE WARNER, SUITE 1300
1299 PENNSYLVANIA AVE, NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20004-2400
US
|
Assignee: |
Sanden Corporation
Isesaki-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
36695316 |
Appl. No.: |
11/038419 |
Filed: |
January 21, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
92/71 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04C 2230/91 20130101;
F04B 27/1036 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
092/071 |
International
Class: |
F01B 3/00 20060101
F01B003/00 |
Claims
1. A sealing member of a compressor for absorbing and compressing
coolant gas, wherein a coat of material impermeable to coolant gas
is formed on the surface of the sealing member.
2. A sealing member of claim 1, wherein the material of the coat is
soft metal.
3. A sealing member of claim 1, wherein the material of the coat is
ceramic.
4. A sealing member of claim 1, wherein the material of the coat is
amorphous hard carbon.
5. A sealing member of claim 1, wherein the material of the coat is
high polymer material.
6. A sealing member of claim 5, wherein the high polymer material
is polyethylene.
7. A sealing member of claim 5, wherein the high polymer material
is polytetrafluoroethylene.
8. A compressor for absorbing and compressing coolant gas
comprising a sealing member, wherein a coat of material impermeable
to coolant gas is formed on the surface of the sealing member.
9. A compressor of claim 8, wherein the material of the coat is
soft metal.
10. A compressor of claim 8, wherein the material of the coat is
ceramic.
11. A compressor of claim 8, wherein the material of the coat is
amorphous hard carbon.
12. A compressor of claim 8, wherein the material of the coat is
high polymer material.
13. A compressor of claim 12, wherein the high polymer material is
polyethylene.
14. A compressor of claim 12, wherein the high polymer material is
polytetrafluoroethylene.
15. A compressor of claim 8 further comprising a rotating shaft, a
compressing mechanism driven by the rotating shaft, a housing for
accommodating the rotating shaft and the compressing mechanism, and
a shaft seal member, wherein the sealing member is the shaft seal
member.
16. A compressor of claim 8 further comprising a rotating shaft, a
compressing mechanism driven by the rotating shaft, and a housing
for accommodating the rotating shaft and the compressing mechanism,
wherein the housing is an assembly of a plurality of partial
housings, gaskets are inserted into joints of the partial housings,
and the sealing member is one of the gaskets.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a sealing member of a
compressor for absorbing and compressing coolant gas.
[0002] Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-246976
discloses a sealing member of a carbon dioxide compressor excellent
in impermeability to carbon dioxide.
[0003] The prior art disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open
Publication No. 2003-246976 provides a sealing member of a
compressor suitable for use with a specific coolant gas and does
not provide a sealing member of a compressor suitable for use with
various kinds of coolant gases.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a sealing
member of a compressor suitable for use with various kinds of
coolant gases.
[0005] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided
a sealing member of a compressor for absorbing and compressing
coolant gas, wherein a coat of material impermeable to coolant gas
is formed on the surface of the sealing member.
[0006] A sealing member provided with a coat of material
impermeable to coolant gas formed on the surface thereof, can be
used in compressors for various kinds of coolant gases.
[0007] A coat of soft metal, ceramic, amorphous hard carbon or high
polymer material such as polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, or
the like is highly impermeable to any kind of coolant gas. Each of
the materials has a specific character. Therefore, the most
suitable material is desired to be used for the coat considering
the working environment of the compressor, working environment of
the sealing member, etc.
[0008] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a compressor for absorbing and compressing
coolant gas comprising a sealing member, wherein a coat of material
impermeable to coolant gas is formed on the surface of the sealing
member.
[0009] When a coat of material impermeable to coolant gas is formed
on the surface of the sealing member, impermeability of the sealing
member is enhanced to any kind of coolant gas. Therefore, the
compressor of the present invention can effectively prevent leakage
of coolant gas. The compressor of the present invention can
compress various kinds of coolant gases, while effectively
preventing leakage of coolant gas.
[0010] A coat of soft metal, ceramic, amorphous hard carbon or high
polymer material such as polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, or
the like is highly impermeable to any kind of coolant gas. Each of
the materials has a specific character. Therefore, the most
suitable material is desirably used for the coat considering the
working environment of the compressor, working environment of the
sealing member, etc.
[0011] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the compressor further comprises a rotating shaft, a
compressing mechanism driven by the rotating shaft, a housing for
accommodating the rotating shaft and the compressing mechanism, and
a shaft seal member. The sealing member is the shaft seal
member.
[0012] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the compressor further comprises a rotating shaft, a
compressing mechanism driven by the rotating shaft, and a housing
for accommodating the rotating shaft and the compressing mechanism.
The housing is an assembly of a plurality of partial housings.
Gaskets are inserted into joints of the partial housings, and the
sealing member is one of the gaskets.
[0013] The sealing member is suitably used as a shaft seal member,
a gasket, etc.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] In the drawings:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a variable delivery swash
plate compressor provided with a sealing member in accordance with
a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of a variable
delivery swash plate compressor provided with a sealing member in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] A variable delivery swash plate compressor provided with a
sealing member in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention will be described.
[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, a variable delivery swash plate
compressor A is provided with a rotating shaft 10, a rotor 11 fixed
to the rotating shaft 10 and a swash plate 12 supported by the
rotating shaft 10 to be variable in inclination relative to the
rotating shaft 10. The swash plate 12 is connected to the rotor 11
through a linkage 13 for allowing the swash plate 12 to vary in
inclination relative to the rotating shaft 10 and inhibiting the
swash plate 12 from rotating around the rotating shaft 10. The
swash plate 12 rotates synchronously with the rotor 11 and the
rotating shaft 10.
[0019] A plurality of pistons 15 engage the swash plate 12 through
a plurality of pairs of shoes 14 slidingly engaging the peripheral
portion of the swash plate 12. The pistons 15 are inserted in
cylinder bores 16a formed in a cylinder block 16.
[0020] A front housing 18 of circular cylindrical shape forms a
crank chamber 17 for accommodating the rotating shaft 10, the rotor
11 and the swash plate 12. The front housing 18 is closed at one
end and provided with a boss 18a at the closed end. The rotating
shaft 10 passes through the boss 18a out of the front housing 18 at
the front end. An annular space is formed between the rotating
shaft 10 and the inner circumferential surface of the boss 18a.
[0021] A shaft seal 19 is disposed to seal the annular space
between the rotating shaft 10 and the inner circumferential surface
of the boss 18a. As shown in FIG. 2, the shaft seal 19 is provided
with lip seal members 19a and 19b slidingly contacting the
circumferential side surface of the rotating shaft 10 and clamping
metals 19c and 19d for clamping and fixing the lip seals 19a and
19b. The lip seal 19a disposed close to the crank chamber 17 is a
rubber molding made mainly of hydro-nitrile rubber (HNBR) and is
covered by a coat of soft metal such as tin (Sn), alloy metal
containing copper (Cu) and tin (Sn), alloy metal containing nickel
(Ni) and tin (Sn), alloy metal containing zinc (Zn) and tin (Sn),
or the like. The lip seal 19a is provided with a fixed portion 19a'
clamped by the clamping metals 19c and 19d and a movable portion
19a'' slidingly contacting the circumferential side surface of the
rotating shaft 10. The lip seal 19b disposed close to one end of
the rotating shaft 10 projecting from the front housing 18 is made
of a synthetic resin such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The
lip seal 19b is provided with a fixed portion 19b' clamped by the
clamping metals 19c and 19d and a movable portion 19b'' slidingly
contacting the circumferential side surface of the rotating shaft
10. Before the shaft seal 19 is assembled with the boss 18a, the
movable portions 19a'' and 19b'' extend inwardly in radial
direction as indicated by phantom lines in FIG. 2. After the shaft
seal 19 has been assembled with the boss 18a, the movable portions
19a'' and 19b'' are forced against the circumferential side surface
of the rotating shaft 10 to slidingly contact the circumferential
side surface, thereby sealing the annular space between the
rotating shaft 10 and the inner circumferential surface of the boss
18a.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, an electromagnetic clutch 20 mounted on
the boss 18a of the front housing 18 transfers rotating force from
external power source not shown in the figures to the front end of
the rotating shaft 10.
[0023] A cylinder head 21 forming an inlet chamber 21a and an
outlet chamber 21b is installed.
[0024] A valve plate 22 provided with inlet holes 22a and outlet
holes 22b is disposed between the cylinder block 16 and the
cylinder head 21. The inlet holes 22a and the outlet holes 22b
communicate with the cylinder bores 16a.
[0025] The front housing 18, the cylinder block 16, the valve plate
22 and the cylinder head 21 are assembled in a unit by bolts
23.
[0026] A gasket 24 is inserted into the joint between the front
housing 18 and the cylinder block 16. A gasket 25 is inserted into
the joint between the cylinder block 16 and the valve plate 22. A
gasket 26 is inserted into the joint between the valve plate 22 and
the cylinder head 21. The gaskets 24, 25 and 26 seal the
aforementioned joints.
[0027] The gaskets 24, 25 and 26 are rubber moldings made mainly of
hydro-nitrile rubber (HNBR) or nitrile rubber (NBR). Each of them
is covered by a coat of soft metal such as tin (Sn), alloy metal
containing copper (Cu) and tin (Sn), alloy metal containing nickel
(Ni) and tin (Sn), alloy metal containing zinc (Zn) and tin (Sn),
or the like.
[0028] The rotating shaft 10 is rotatably supported by the front
housing 18 and the cylinder block 16.
[0029] The rotor 11, the linkage 13, the swash plate 12, the shoes
14 and the pistons 15 form a compressing mechanism.
[0030] The operation of the variable delivery swash plate
compressor A in accordance with the present preferred embodiment
will be described.
[0031] Rotating force is transferred to the rotating shaft 10 from
the external power source not shown in the figures through the
electromagnetic clutch 20, and rotation of the rotating shaft 10 is
transferred to the swash plate 12 through the rotor 11 and the
linkage 13. The rotation of the swash plate 12 causes reciprocal
movement of the peripheral portion of the swash plate 12 in the
longitudinal direction of the rotating shaft 10. The reciprocal
movement of the peripheral portion of the swash plate 12 is
transferred to the piston 15 through the shoes 14, and the piston
15 moves reciprocally in the cylinder bore 16a. Coolant gas enters
into the inlet chamber 21a from an external coolant circuit through
an inlet port following the reciprocal movement of the piston 15.
The coolant gas is sucked into the cylinder bores 16a through the
inlet holes 22a and inlet valves not shown in the figures to be
pressurized in the cylinder bores 16a. The pressurized coolant gas
in the cylinder bores 16a discharges into the outlet chamber 21b
through the outlet holes 22b and outlet valves not shown in the
figures, and then discharges from the outlet chamber 21b into the
external coolant circuit through an outlet port.
[0032] The shaft seal 19 and the gaskets 24 to 26 prevent leakage
of the coolant gas from the variable delivery swash plate
compressor A.
[0033] A coat of soft metal is formed on each of the lip seal 19a
and the gaskets 24 to 26. Therefore, they are highly impermeable to
various kinds of coolant gases, such as Freon, carbon hydride,
alternative Freon, carbon dioxide, ammonia, etc. Therefore,
whatever kind of coolant gas is compressed by the variable delivery
swash plate compressor A, leakage of the coolant gas from the
variable delivery swash plate compressor A is reliably prevented.
Hydro-nitrile rubber is easy to obtain because it is used as the
material of sealing members of coolant gas compressors. The soft
metal is suitable for use on sliding contact parts because it
reduces friction resistance.
[0034] A coat of ceramic such as silicon carbide (SiC), alumina
(Al.sub.2O.sub.3), silicon nitride (Si.sub.3N.sub.4), zirconia
(ZrO.sub.2), etc., amorphous hard carbon (DLC), or high polymer
material such as polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, etc. may be
formed on the surface of the lip seal 19a and the gaskets 24 to 26.
The impermeability of the aforementioned seal members to the
various coolant gases is enhanced and the ability of the coolant
gas compressor to prevent leakage of coolant gas is enhanced.
[0035] Ceramic has advantages such as low apparent density, low
thermal expansion coefficient, high hardness, high corrosion
resistance, non-magnetism, high insulation performance, etc.
Especially, silicon nitride has large flexural strength at high
temperature and is suitable for use on bearings. Silicon carbide
has advantages such as high hardness, large thermal conductivity,
high resistance against thermal shock, etc. and is suitable for use
on the shaft seal.
[0036] Amorphous hard carbon has advantages such as high hardness,
low friction coefficient, high ware resistance, high sliding
ability, etc. Film thickness and surface roughness can be easily
controlled when amorphous hard carbon is coated on the surface of a
seal member. Therefore, finishing becomes unnecessary and coating
cost decreases.
[0037] Polyethylene has advantages such as high thermal stability,
high chemical resistance, inexpensiveness, etc.
Polytetrafluoroethylene has an advantage in that it decreases
friction resistance and is suitable for use on sliding contact
parts.
[0038] The most suitable material is desirably used for the coat
formed on the surface of a seal member considering the working
environment of the compressor, working environment of the sealing
member, etc.
[0039] The present invention can be used for sealing members of any
kind of coolant gas compressor.
[0040] While the present invention has been described with
reference to preferred embodiments, one of ordinary skill in the
art will recognize that modifications and improvements may be made
while remaining within the spirit and scope of the present
invention. The scope of the invention is determined solely by the
attached claims.
* * * * *