U.S. patent application number 15/992323 was filed with the patent office on 2018-12-13 for scroll compressor provided with a fluid deflecting and dividing device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Danfoss Commercial Compressors. Invention is credited to Remi Bou Dargham, Arnaud Daussin, Alain Picavet.
Application Number | 20180355869 15/992323 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59699888 |
Filed Date | 2018-12-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180355869 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Daussin; Arnaud ; et
al. |
December 13, 2018 |
SCROLL COMPRESSOR PROVIDED WITH A FLUID DEFLECTING AND DIVIDING
DEVICE
Abstract
The scroll compressor (2) includes an outer shell (4); a
refrigerant suction inlet (7) formed in the outer shell (4) and
configured to supply the scroll compressor (2) with refrigerant to
be compressed; a compression unit (11) configured to compress
refrigerant; a driving motor (21) configured to drive the
compression unit (11) via a drive shaft (19); a fluid deflecting
and dividing device (35) configured to divide a refrigerant suction
flow entering the scroll compressor (2) through the refrigerant
suction inlet (7) at least into a first flow (F1) and a second flow
(F2). The fluid deflecting and dividing device (35) includes a
first end (37) facing the refrigerant suction inlet (7) and a
second end (38) which is closer to the compression unit (11) than
the first end (37), the fluid deflecting and dividing device (35)
being configured to guide the first flow (F1) towards the
compression unit (11) and to guide the second flow (F2) towards the
driving motor (21).
Inventors: |
Daussin; Arnaud; (Saint
Germain Au Mont D'Or, FR) ; Picavet; Alain;
(Saint-Cyr sur le Rhone, FR) ; Bou Dargham; Remi;
(Villeurbanne, FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Danfoss Commercial Compressors |
Trevoux |
|
FR |
|
|
Family ID: |
59699888 |
Appl. No.: |
15/992323 |
Filed: |
May 30, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04C 18/0215 20130101;
F04C 29/12 20130101; F04C 2210/26 20130101; F04C 2270/20 20130101;
F04C 29/045 20130101; F04C 2240/30 20130101; F04C 23/008
20130101 |
International
Class: |
F04C 29/04 20060101
F04C029/04; F04C 23/00 20060101 F04C023/00; F04C 29/12 20060101
F04C029/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 13, 2017 |
FR |
1755316 |
Claims
1. A scroll compressor including: an outer shell, a refrigerant
suction inlet formed in the outer shell and configured to supply
the scroll compressor with refrigerant to be compressed, a
compression unit configured to compress refrigerant, a driving
motor configured to drive the compression unit via a drive shaft, a
fluid deflecting and dividing device configured to divide a
refrigerant suction flow entering the scroll compressor through the
refrigerant suction inlet at least into a first flow (F1) and a
second flow (F2), wherein the fluid deflecting and dividing device
includes a first end facing the refrigerant suction inlet and a
second end which is closer to the compression unit than the first
end, the fluid deflecting and dividing device being configured to
guide the first flow (F1) towards the compression unit and to guide
the second flow (F2) towards the driving motor.
2. The scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein the fluid
deflecting and dividing device includes an intermediate portion
located between the first and second ends, the intermediate portion
including a bottom plate and a plurality of blades protruding from
the bottom plate.
3. The scroll compressor according to claim 2, wherein each of the
plurality of blades extends substantially up to the second end of
the fluid deflecting and dividing device.
4. The scroll compressor according to claim 2, wherein the
plurality of blades delimits diverging and upwardly extending flow
channels.
5. The scroll compressor according to claim 2, wherein the
plurality of blades include a plurality of main blades and a
plurality of intermediate blades, each intermediate blade extending
between two adjacent main blades and having a length smaller than a
length of each the two adjacent main blades.
6. The scroll compressor according to claim 5, wherein each main
blade extends substantially from the first end of the fluid
deflecting and dividing device, and each intermediate blade is
offset from the first end of the fluid deflecting and dividing
device.
7. The scroll compressor according to claim 5, wherein the
plurality of main blades includes two outer main blades and several
inner main blades located between the two outer main blades, each
of the two outer main blades having a height higher than a height
of each of the inner main blades.
8. The scroll compressor according to claim 2, wherein the bottom
plate includes a curved guiding portion extending substantially
from the first end of the fluid deflecting and dividing device, the
curved guiding portion being configured to guide the first flow
(F1) towards the second end of the fluid deflecting and dividing
device.
9. The scroll compressor according to claim 1, further including an
inner shell surrounding the driving motor, the fluid deflecting and
dividing device being secured to an outer surface of the inner
shell.
10. The scroll compressor according to claim 9, wherein the second
end of the fluid deflecting and dividing device has a shape
substantially complementary to the outer surface of the inner
shell.
11. The scroll compressor according to claim 9, wherein the inner
shell is provided with a refrigerant inlet aperture facing the
refrigerant suction inlet.
12. The scroll compressor according to claim 11, wherein the
refrigerant inlet aperture is partially covered by the fluid
deflecting and dividing device.
13. The scroll compressor according to claim 9, wherein the second
end of the deflecting and dividing device extends over at least 120
degrees of a circumference of the inner shell.
14. The scroll compressor according to claim 1, further including a
support frame which bears at least partially the compression unit
and which includes at least one refrigerant aperture, the fluid
deflecting and dividing device being configured to guide the first
flow (F1) towards the compression unit via the at least one
refrigerant aperture provided on the support frame.
15. The scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein the fluid
deflecting and dividing device is manufactured by 3D-printing.
16. The scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein the first
end of the fluid deflecting and dividing device is substantially
located at a same height than a central portion of the refrigerant
suction inlet.
17. The scroll compressor according to claim 1, wherein a flow
section of the refrigerant suction inlet includes a first flow
section portion facing the fluid deflecting and dividing device,
and a second flow section portion which is offset in an axial
direction of the drive shaft from the fluid deflecting and dividing
device.
18. The scroll compressor according to claim 3, wherein the
plurality of blades delimits diverging and upwardly extending flow
channels.
19. The scroll compressor according to claim 3, wherein the
plurality of blades include a plurality of main blades and a
plurality of intermediate blades, each intermediate blade extending
between two adjacent main blades and having a length smaller than a
length of each the two adjacent main blades.
20. The scroll compressor according to claim 4, wherein the
plurality of blades include a plurality of main blades and a
plurality of intermediate blades, each intermediate blade extending
between two adjacent main blades and having a length smaller than a
length of each the two adjacent main blades.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims foreign priority benefits under
U.S.C. .sctn. 119 to French Patent Application No. 17/55316 filed
on Jun. 13, 2017, the content of which is hereby incorporated by
reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a scroll compressor, and in
particular to a hermetic scroll compressor.
BACKGROUND
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 6,474,964 discloses a scroll compressor
including: [0004] i. an outer shell delimiting a suction chamber,
[0005] ii. a refrigerant suction inlet formed in the outer shell
and configured to supply the scroll compressor with refrigerant to
be compressed, [0006] iii. a compression unit configured to
compress refrigerant, [0007] iv. a driving motor configured to
drive the compression unit via a drive shaft, [0008] v. a fluid
deflecting and dividing device configured to divide a refrigerant
suction flow entering the scroll compressor through the refrigerant
suction inlet at least into a first flow and a second flow, and is
configured to deflect the first flow towards the center of the
suction chamber where the refrigerant becomes laden with oil
particles due to the presence of oil mist generating elements
located in the suction chamber and to deflect the second flow
towards the driving motor in order to cool at least parts of the
driving motor, e.g. stator windings, rotor, magnets, etc., and
where the second flow becomes also laden with oil particles.
[0009] Therefore, the second flow undergoes a certain pressure drop
due to the flow through narrow passages through the driving motor,
and the first flow also undergoes a certain pressure drop due to
the configuration of the fluid deflecting and dividing device.
[0010] Hereby, the total pressure losses in the first and second
flows are high, and the overall efficiency of the scroll compressor
is thus low.
SUMMARY
[0011] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
improved scroll compressor which can overcome the drawbacks
encountered in conventional scroll compressors.
[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
scroll compressor which has an improve efficiency while allowing to
control the motor cooling.
[0013] According to the invention such a scroll compressor
includes: [0014] i. an outer shell, [0015] ii. a refrigerant
suction inlet formed in the outer shell and configured to supply
the scroll compressor with refrigerant to be compressed, [0016]
iii. a compression unit configured to compress refrigerant, [0017]
iv. a driving motor configured to drive the compression unit via a
drive shaft, [0018] v. a fluid deflecting and dividing device
configured to divide a refrigerant suction flow entering the scroll
compressor through the refrigerant suction inlet at least into a
first flow and a second flow, characterized in that the fluid
deflecting and dividing device includes a first end facing the
refrigerant suction inlet, i.e. located in front of the refrigerant
suction inlet, and a second end which is closer to the compression
unit than the first end, the fluid deflecting and dividing device
being configured to guide, i.e. deflect, the first flow towards the
compression unit and to guide, i.e. deflect, the second flow
towards the driving motor.
[0019] Such a configuration of the fluid deflecting and dividing
device allows to directly guide the first flow towards the
compression unit, and thus to substantially increase the efficiency
of the scroll compressor.
[0020] Moreover, the fluid deflecting and dividing device according
to the present invention induces lower frictional losses and less
turbulences, and thus substantially reduces the pressure losses,
which is especially important in scroll compressors using low
density refrigerants (such as R134a) and high volume flow rate.
[0021] Further such a configuration of the fluid deflecting and
dividing device ensures a control of the motor cooling depending on
the positioning of the fluid deflecting and dividing device with
respect to the refrigerant suction inlet and the driving motor.
[0022] Furthermore such a configuration of the fluid deflecting and
dividing device ensures to control the percentage of refrigerant
which is guided directly towards the compression unit and the
percentage of refrigerant which is guided towards the driving motor
depending on the height of the first end of the fluid deflecting
and dividing device relatively to the refrigerant suction
inlet.
[0023] In addition, such a configuration of the fluid deflecting
and dividing device allows controlling the oil circulation rate,
since a part of the refrigerant suction flow entering the scroll
compressor is directly guided towards the scroll compressor.
[0024] The scroll compressor may also include one or more of the
following features, taken alone or in combination.
[0025] According to an embodiment of the invention, the fluid
deflecting and dividing device is configured such that the first
flow is directly guided towards the compression unit.
[0026] According to an embodiment of the invention, the scroll
compressor is a hermetic scroll compressor.
[0027] According to an embodiment of the invention, the refrigerant
suction inlet emerges radially in an inner volume defined by the
outer shell.
[0028] According to an embodiment of the invention, the first end
and the second end are offset with respect to each other in an
axial direction of the drive shaft, and are advantageously
vertically offset with respect to each other.
[0029] According to an embodiment of the invention, the fluid
deflecting and dividing device is stationary relative to the outer
shell.
[0030] According to an embodiment of the invention, the fluid
deflecting and dividing device includes an intermediate portion
located between the first and second ends, the intermediate portion
including a bottom plate and a plurality of blades protruding from
the bottom plate. The presence of said blades improves the guiding
and the spread of the first flow towards the compression unit,
ensures a better repartition of the refrigerant inside the outer
shell, and thus further improves the efficiency of the scroll
compressor.
[0031] According to an embodiment of the invention, the blades of
the plurality of blades diverge from each other towards the second
end of the fluid deflecting and dividing device. Such a
configuration of the blades ensures a circumferential guiding of
the refrigerant inside the inner volume delimited by the outer
shell, and ensures homogeneous velocities of the refrigerant
through refrigerant apertures provided in the support frame which
partially bears the compression unit.
[0032] According to an embodiment of the invention, each of the
plurality of blades extends substantially up to the second end of
the fluid deflecting and dividing device.
[0033] According to an embodiment of the invention, the plurality
of blades include a plurality of main blades and a plurality of
intermediate blades, each intermediate blade extending between two
adjacent main blades and having a length smaller than a length of
each the two adjacent main blades. Such a configuration of the
blades ensures a homogenous repartition of the refrigerant inside
the inner volume delimited by the outer shell, and thus limits the
pressure drop in refrigerant apertures provided in the support
frame.
[0034] According to an embodiment of the invention, each
intermediate blade has an inwardly curved leading edge.
[0035] According to an embodiment of the invention, each main blade
extends substantially from the first end of the fluid deflecting
and dividing device, and each intermediate blade is offset from the
first end of the fluid deflecting and dividing device.
[0036] According to an embodiment of the invention, the plurality
of main blades includes two outer main blades and several inner
main blades located between the two outer main blades, each of the
two outer main blades having a height higher than a height of each
of the inner main blades.
[0037] According to an embodiment of the invention, each of the two
outer main blades protrudes from the first end of the fluid
deflecting and dividing device and towards the refrigerant suction
inlet.
[0038] According to an embodiment of the invention, the two outer
main blades define two lateral edges of the fluid deflecting and
dividing device.
[0039] According to an embodiment of the invention, the plurality
of blades delimits diverging and upwardly extending flow
channels.
[0040] According to an embodiment of the invention, each of the
plurality of blades has a substantially constant thickness.
[0041] According to an embodiment of the invention, the bottom
plate includes a curved guiding portion extending substantially
from the first end of the fluid deflecting and dividing device, the
curved guiding portion being configured to guide the first flow
towards the second end of the fluid deflecting and dividing device.
Such a configuration of the bottom plate ensures a smooth guiding
of the first flow towards the compression unit
[0042] According to an embodiment of the invention, the scroll
compressor further includes an inner shell surrounding the driving
motor, the fluid deflecting and dividing device being secured to an
outer surface of the inner shell. As the fluid deflecting and
dividing device is not secured to the outer shell (which is the
case for conventional scroll compressors) but to the inner shell,
the distance between the refrigerant suction inlet and the fluid
deflecting and dividing device is bigger. Thus securing the fluid
deflecting and dividing device to the inner shell allows setting a
high turning radius, which is lowering the pressure loss and lets
some space to ensure a proper azimuthal distribution of the
refrigerant.
[0043] According to an embodiment of the invention, the driving
motor is entirely mounted inside the inner shell.
[0044] According to an embodiment of the invention, the bottom
plate further includes a mounting portion having a shape
substantially complementary to the outer surface of the inner
shell.
[0045] According to an embodiment of the invention, the second end
of the fluid deflecting and dividing device has a shape
substantially complementary to the outer surface of the inner
shell.
[0046] According to an embodiment of the invention, the inner shell
is provided with a refrigerant inlet aperture facing the
refrigerant suction inlet.
[0047] According to an embodiment of the invention, the refrigerant
inlet aperture is partially covered by the fluid deflecting and
dividing device. In other words, the fluid deflecting and dividing
device is partially overlying the refrigerant inlet aperture.
[0048] In other words, the fluid deflecting and dividing device
extends at least partially between the refrigerant inlet aperture
and the refrigerant suction inlet.
[0049] According to an embodiment of the invention, the refrigerant
inlet aperture is partially covered by the curved guiding portion
of the fluid deflecting and dividing device.
[0050] According to an embodiment of the invention, the inner shell
and the driving motor define a proximal chamber containing a first
winding head of a stator, and a distal chamber containing a second
winding head of the stator, the first winding head being closer to
the compression unit than the second winding head and the second
winding head being opposite to the first winding head.
[0051] According to an embodiment of the invention, the first
winding head is formed by the portions of the stator windings
extending outwardly from a first end face of a stator core, and the
second winding head is formed by the portions of the stator
windings extending outwardly from a second end face of the stator
core opposite to the first end face.
[0052] According to an embodiment of the invention, the refrigerant
inlet aperture emerges in the distal chamber.
[0053] According to an embodiment of the invention, the refrigerant
inlet aperture is configured to fluidly connect the distal chamber
and an annular volume delimited by the inner shell and the outer
shell, the refrigerant suction inlet emerging in the annular
volume.
[0054] According to an embodiment of the invention, the second end
of the deflecting and dividing device extends over at least 120
degrees, and for example on approximately 180 degree, of the
circumference of the inner shell.
[0055] According to an embodiment of the invention, the second end
of the fluid deflecting and dividing device is curved, and
advantageously extends along a circular arc, for example over at
least 120 degrees, and preferably over about 180 degrees.
[0056] According to an embodiment of the invention, the second end
of the fluid deflecting and dividing device has a radius of
curvature substantially equal to a radius of curvature of the outer
surface of the inner shell.
[0057] According to an embodiment of the invention, the scroll
compressor further includes a support frame which bears at least
partially the compression unit and which includes at least one
refrigerant aperture, the fluid deflecting and dividing device
being configured to guide the first flow towards the compression
unit via the at least one refrigerant aperture provided on the
support frame.
[0058] According to an embodiment of the invention, the fluid
deflecting and dividing device is manufactured by 3D-printing.
[0059] According to an embodiment of the invention, the material
used for 3D-printing the fluid deflecting and dividing device is
chosen among ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), PET
(Polyethylene Terephthalate), PLA (Polylactic Acid), SLS Nylon, or
any other suitable material for 3D printing (plastic or
metallic).
[0060] According to an embodiment of the invention, the first end
of the fluid deflecting and dividing device is substantially
located at a same height than a central portion of the refrigerant
suction inlet, and for example at a same height than a central axis
of the refrigerant suction inlet.
[0061] According to an embodiment of the invention, the support
frame includes several refrigerant apertures which are
circumferentially distributed.
[0062] According to an embodiment of the invention, the compression
unit includes a fixed scroll having a fixed base plate and a fixed
spiral wrap, and an orbiting scroll having an orbiting base plate
and an orbiting spiral wrap, the fixed spiral wrap and the orbiting
spiral wrap forming a plurality of compression chambers.
[0063] According to an embodiment of the invention, the support
frame includes a thrust bearing surface on which is slidably
mounted the orbiting scroll.
[0064] According to an embodiment of the invention, the support
frame includes an upper radial bearing for guiding the drive
shaft.
[0065] According to an embodiment of the invention, the drive shaft
includes a driving portion configured to drive the orbiting scroll
in an orbital movement.
[0066] According to an embodiment of the invention, an upper end of
the inner shell is secured to the support frame.
[0067] According to an embodiment of the invention, a lower end of
the inner shell is secured to a centering member secured to the
outer shell, the centering member being provided with a guide
bearing configured to guide a lower end portion of the drive
shaft.
[0068] According to an embodiment of the invention, a flow section
of the refrigerant suction inlet includes a first flow section
portion facing the fluid deflecting and dividing device, and a
second flow section portion which is offset in the axial direction
of the drive shaft, and for example vertically offset, from the
fluid deflecting and dividing device. The second flow section
portion may for example face the refrigerant inlet aperture.
[0069] In other words, the scroll compressor is configured so that
an orthogonal projection of the fluid deflecting and dividing
device on a reference plane which extends perpendicularly to a
central axis of the refrigerant suction inlet is partially covering
an orthogonal projection of the refrigerant suction inlet on said
reference plane.
[0070] According to an embodiment of the invention, the first flow
section portion represents from 20% to 80% of the flow section of
the refrigerant suction inlet.
[0071] According to an embodiment of the invention, the first flow
section portion faces the curved guiding portion of the fluid
deflecting and dividing device.
[0072] According to an embodiment of the invention, the curved
guiding portion of the fluid deflecting and dividing device has a
scoop shape.
[0073] These and other advantages will become apparent upon reading
the following description in view of the drawings attached hereto
representing, as non-limiting example, one embodiment of a scroll
compressor according to the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0074] The following detailed description of one embodiment of the
invention is better understood when read in conjunction with the
appended drawings being understood, however, that the invention is
not limited to the specific embodiment disclosed.
[0075] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section view of a scroll compressor
according to the invention.
[0076] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the scroll
compressor of FIG. 1.
[0077] FIG. 3 is a partial longitudinal section view of the scroll
compressor of FIG. 1.
[0078] FIG. 4 is a front view of a fluid deflecting and dividing
device of the scroll compressor of FIG. 1.
[0079] FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section view of the fluid
deflecting and dividing device of FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0080] FIG. 1 shows a scroll compressor 2, and particularly a
hermetic scroll compressor, comprising a hermetic enclosure 3
comprising an outer shell 4, an upper cap 5 and a baseplate 6. As
shown on FIG. 1, the outer shell 4 is cylindrical and includes an
upper end closed by the upper cap 5 and a lower end closed by the
baseplate 6. According to the embodiment shown on the figures, the
outer shell 4 has a constant diameter over its entire length.
[0081] The hermetic scroll compressor 2 further comprises a
refrigerant suction inlet 7 provided on the outer shell 4 and
configured to supply the hermetic scroll compressor 2 with
refrigerant to be compressed, and a discharge outlet 8 configured
to discharge compressed refrigerant. For example, the discharge
outlet 8 may be provided on the upper cap 5.
[0082] The hermetic scroll compressor 2 also comprises a support
frame 9 arranged within the hermetic enclosure 3 and secured to the
hermetic enclosure 3, and a compression unit 11 also arranged
within the hermetic enclosure 3 and disposed above the support
frame 9. The compression unit 11 is configured to compress the
refrigerant supplied by the refrigerant suction inlet 7, and
includes a fixed scroll 12, which is fixed in relation to the
hermetic enclosure 3, and an orbiting scroll 13 supported by and in
slidable contact with a thrust bearing surface 10 provided on the
support frame 9.
[0083] The fixed scroll 12 includes a fixed scroll base plate 14
having a lower face oriented towards the orbiting scroll 13, and an
upper face opposite to the lower face of the fixed scroll base
plate 14. The fixed scroll 12 also includes a fixed spiral wrap 15
protruding from the lower face of the fixed scroll base plate 14
towards the orbiting scroll 13.
[0084] The orbiting scroll 13 includes an orbiting scroll base
plate 16 having an upper face oriented towards the fixed scroll 12,
and a lower face opposite to the upper face of the orbiting scroll
base plate 16 and slidably mounted on the thrust bearing surface
10. The orbiting scroll 13 also includes an orbiting spiral wrap 17
protruding from the upper face of the orbiting base plate 16
towards the fixed scroll 12. The orbiting spiral wrap 17 meshes
with the fixed spiral wrap 15 to form a plurality of compression
chambers 18 between them. Each of the compression chambers 18 has a
variable volume which decreases from the outside towards the
inside, when the orbiting scroll 13 is driven to orbit relative to
the fixed scroll 12.
[0085] Furthermore the hermetic scroll compressor 2 includes a
drive shaft 19 configured to drive the orbiting scroll 13 in an
orbital movement, and a driving motor 21, which may be a
variable-speed driving motor, coupled to the drive shaft 19 and
configured to drive in rotation the drive shaft 19 about a
rotational axis A.
[0086] The driving motor 21 has a rotor 22 fitted on the drive
shaft 19, and a stator 23 disposed around the rotor 22. The stator
23 includes a stator stack or stator core 24, and stator windings
wound on the stator core 24. The stator windings define a first
winding head 25.1 which is formed by the portions of the stator
windings extending outwardly from a first end face 24.1 of the
stator core 24 which is oriented towards the compression unit 11,
and a second winding head 25.2 which is formed by the portions of
the stator windings extending outwardly from a second end face 24.2
of the stator core 24 which is opposite to the compression unit
11.
[0087] The hermetic scroll compressor 2 further includes an inner
shell 26 surrounding the driving motor 21 and in which the driving
motor 21 is entirely mounted.
[0088] As shown in FIG. 1, the inner shell 26 and the driving motor
21 define a proximal chamber 27 containing the first winding head
25.1 of the stator 23, and a distal chamber 28 containing the
second winding head 25.2 of the stator 23.
[0089] The inner shell 26 is further provided with a refrigerant
inlet aperture 29 facing the refrigerant suction inlet 7 and
emerging in the distal chamber 28. The refrigerant inlet aperture
29 is configured to fluidly connect the distal chamber 28 and an
annular volume 31 delimited by the inner shell 26 and the outer
shell 4.
[0090] According to the embodiment shown on the figures, an upper
end of the inner shell 26 is secured to the support frame 9, and a
lower end of the inner shell 26 is secured to a centering member 32
secured to the outer shell 4.
[0091] The hermetic scroll compressor 2 further includes an upper
bearing member 33 provided on the support frame 9 and configured to
cooperate with an outer circumferential wall surface of an upper
end portion of the drive shaft 19, and a lower bearing member 34
provided on the centering member 32 and configured to cooperate
with an outer circumferential wall surface of a lower end portion
of the drive shaft 19. The lower bearing member 34 and the upper
bearing member 33 are particularly configured to rotatably support
the drive shaft 19.
[0092] The hermetic scroll compressor 2 also includes a fluid
deflecting and dividing device 35 secured to an outer surface of
the inner shell 26. Advantageously, the fluid deflecting and
dividing device 35 extends at least partially between the
refrigerant inlet aperture 29 and the refrigerant suction inlet
7.
[0093] The hermetic scroll compressor 2 is configured so that an
orthogonal projection of the fluid deflecting and dividing device
35 on a reference plane which extends perpendicularly to a central
axis B of the refrigerant suction inlet 7 is partially covering an
orthogonal projection of the refrigerant suction inlet 7 on said
reference plane. In other words, the flow section of the
refrigerant suction inlet 7 includes a first flow section portion
7.1, i.e. an upper flow section portion, facing the fluid
deflecting and dividing device 35, and a second flow section
portion, i.e. a lower flow section portion, which is vertically
offset from the fluid deflecting and dividing device 35 and which
particularly faces a lower portion of the refrigerant inlet
aperture 29. For example, the first flow section portion 7.1
represents from 20% to 80%, advantageously about 50%, of the flow
section of the refrigerant suction inlet 7.
[0094] The fluid deflecting and dividing device 35 is thus
configured to divide a refrigerant suction flow, entering the
hermetic scroll compressor 2 through the refrigerant suction inlet
7, into a first flow F1 and a second flow F2, and is further
configured to guide the first flow F1 directly towards the
compression unit 11, via several refrigerant apertures 36 which are
provided on the support frame 9 and which are circumferentially
distributed, and to guide the second flow F2 towards the
refrigerant inlet aperture 29 in order to cool at least parts of
the driving motor 21.
[0095] As better shown on FIGS. 2 to 5, the fluid deflecting and
dividing device 35 includes a first end 37 facing the refrigerant
suction inlet 7 and a second end 38 which is closer to the
compression unit 11 than the first end 37. Thus, the first end 37
and the second end 38 are vertically offset with respect to each
other, and advantageously respectively form lower and upper edges
of the fluid deflecting and dividing device 35.
[0096] According to the embodiment shown on the figures, the first
end 37 of the fluid deflecting and dividing device 35 is
substantially located at a same height than a central portion of
the refrigerant suction inlet 7, and advantageously substantially
at a same height than the central axis B of the refrigerant suction
inlet 7.
[0097] According to the embodiment shown on the figures, the second
end 38 of the fluid deflecting and dividing device 35 is curved,
and has a radius of curvature substantially equal to a radius of
curvature of the outer surface of the inner shell 26.
Advantageously, the second end 38 of the fluid deflecting and
dividing device 35 extends over at least 120 degrees, and for
example on approximately 180 degree, of the circumference of the
inner shell 26.
[0098] The fluid deflecting and dividing device 35 further includes
an intermediate portion 39 located between the first and second
ends 37, 38. The intermediate portion 39 includes a bottom plate 41
comprising a curved guiding portion 41.1 extending from the first
end 37 of the fluid deflecting and dividing device 35, and a
mounting portion 41.2 extending from the curved guiding portion
41.1 and up to the second end 38. Advantageously, the mounting
portion 41.2 has a shape substantially complementary to the outer
surface of the inner shell 26.
[0099] According to an embodiment of the invention, the curved
guiding portion 41.1 partially covers the refrigerant inlet
aperture 29, and is particularly configured to guide the first flow
F1 towards the second end 38 of the fluid deflecting and dividing
device 35. The curved guiding portion 41.1 of the fluid deflecting
and dividing device 35 may have for example a scoop shape.
Advantageously, the first flow section portion 7.1 of the
refrigerant suction inlet 7 faces the curved guiding portion
41.1.
[0100] The intermediate portion 39 also includes a plurality of
blades 42 respectively formed by wall portions protruding from the
bottom plate 41, and extending along the curved guiding portion
41.1 and the mounting portion 41.2.
[0101] Advantageously, the blades 42 diverge from each other
towards the second end 38 of the fluid deflecting and dividing
device 35, and delimit diverging and upwardly extending flow
channels 43. Particularly, the blades 42 include a plurality of
main blades 44 and a plurality of intermediate blades 45, each
intermediate blade 45 extending between two adjacent main blades 44
and having a length smaller than a length of each the two adjacent
main blades 44.
[0102] According to the embodiment shown on the figures, each main
blade 44 extends from the first end 37 of the fluid deflecting and
dividing device 35 and up to the second end 38 of the fluid
deflecting and dividing device 35, and each intermediate blade 45
is offset from the first end 37 of the fluid deflecting and
dividing device 35 and extends up to the second end 38 of the fluid
deflecting and dividing device 38. Advantageously, each
intermediate blade 45 has an inwardly curved leading edge.
[0103] Such a configuration of the various blades 42 ensures a
circumferential guiding of the refrigerant, from the first flow F1,
inside the annular volume 31, and a homogenous repartition of said
refrigerant inside the annular volume 31, and thus ensures
homogeneous velocities of the refrigerant through the refrigerant
apertures 36 provided on the support frame 9.
[0104] According to the embodiment shown on the figures, the main
blades 44 includes two outer main blades 44.1 defining two lateral
edges of the fluid deflecting and dividing device 35, and several
inner main blades 44.2 located between the two outer main blades
44.1. Advantageously, each of the two outer main blades 44.1 has a
height higher than a height of each of the inner main blades 44.2,
and protrudes from the first end 37 of the fluid deflecting and
dividing device 35 and towards the refrigerant suction inlet 7.
[0105] The fluid deflecting and dividing device 35 may be
manufactured by 3D-printing, and the material used for 3D-printing
the fluid deflecting and dividing device is chosen among ABS
(Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), PET (Polyethylene
Terephthalate), PLA (Polylactic Acid), SLS Nylon, or any other
suitable material for 3D printing (plastic or metallic).
[0106] Of course, the invention is not restricted to the embodiment
described above by way of non-limiting example, but on the contrary
it encompasses all embodiments thereof.
[0107] While the present disclosure has been illustrated and
described with respect to a particular embodiment thereof, it
should be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that
various modifications to this disclosure may be made without
departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
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