Oil management in a high-side co-rotating scroll compressor

摘要

A high-side co-rotating refrigerant scroll compressor defines a lubricant sump in its discharge pressure portion. Lubricant is directed from that sump, through a passage which is at least partially defined by the shell of the compressor, to the bearings in which the scroll members rotate. Heat carried in the lubricant flowing through the passage is transferred through the compressor shell to the ambient. Subsequent to having lubricated the bearing in which the drive scroll member rotates, lubricant is diverted into a passage defined by the drive scroll member drive shaft and enters the stream of compressed discharge gas flowing therethrough. The lubricant is thereby prevented from entering the suction pressure portion of the compressor where it would otherwise heat compressor suction gas prior to the entry of that gas into the compressor's compression mechanism.