Positive displacement scroll apparatus with axially radially compliant scroll member

Claim 2

In a positive fluid displacement apparatus into which a fluid is introduced through an inlet port for circulation therethrough and subsequently withdrawn through a discharge port, and in which first and second scroll members having wraps which make moving line contacts to seal off and define at least one moving pocket of variable volume and zones of different fluid pressure when said first scroll member is driven to perform an orbit with respect to said second scroll member and to a stationary frame to which said apparatUs is mounted while maintaining a fixed angular relationship between said scroll members and said stationary frame, the improvement which comprises compliant attachment means joining said scroll member to said stationary frame in a manner to permit said second scroll member to undergo excursions in the axial direction in response to externally applied axial forces and to undergo excursions in the radial direction solely in response to internally applied radial forces; and means to counterbalance all of that part of the centrifugal force component produced by the orbiting of said scroll members which would otherwise increase the radial sealing force.

Claim 3

A positive fluid displacement apparatus, comprising in combination a. a first orbiting scroll member having first wrap means affixed to a first end plate; b. a second accommodating scroll member having second wrap means affixed to a second end plate and providing for moving line contacts with said first wrap means when said first scroll member is positively driven to orbit said second member, thereby to seal off and define at least one moving fluid pocket of variable volume and zones of different fluid pressures between said scroll members; c. coupling means maintaining said first and second scroll members in a fixed angular relationship; d. stationary housing means defining a chamber in which said scroll members are located; e. axial force applying means for applying an axial force external of said fluid pocket to counteract the internal fluid-generated axial forces thereby to attain axial sealing of said first and second scroll members; f. compliant attachment means joining said second scroll member to said stationary housing means in a manner to permit said second scroll member to undergo excursions in the axial direction in response to said axial force applied by said axial force applying means and to undergo excursions in the radial direction and thereby perform a minor orbit solely in response to internal radial forces, at least a portion of which is applied by fluid pressure within said fluid pocket; g. drive means including a main drive shaft rigidly connected to said first scroll member for orbiting said first scroll member in a full orbit radius rigidly defined with respect to said housing and to said second scroll member; and h. means associated with said drive means for counterbalancing essentially all of that part of the centrifugal force component produced by the orbiting of said first and second scroll members which would otherwise increase the radial sealing force.

Claim 4

A positive fluid displacement apparatus, comprising in combination a. a first orbiting scroll member having first wrap means affixed to a first end plate; b. a second accommodating scroll member having second wrap means affixed to a second end plate and providing for moving line contacts with said first wrap means when said first scroll member is positively driven to orbit said second member, thereby to seal off and define at least one moving fluid pocket of variable volume and zones of different fluid pressures between said scroll members; c. coupling means maintaining said first and second scroll members in a fixed angular relationship; d. stationary housing means defining a chamber in which said scroll members are located; e. axial force applying means for applying an axial force external of said fluid pocket to counteract the internal fluid-generated axial forces thereby to attain axial sealing of said first and second scroll members; f. compliant attachment means joining said second scroll member to said stationary housing means in a manner to permit said second scroll member to undergo excursions in the axial direction in response to said axial force applied by said axial force applying means and to undergo excursions in the radial direction and thereby perform a minor orbit solely in response to internal radial forces, at least a portion of which is applied by fluid pressure within said fluid pocket; g. drive means including a main drive shaft rigidly connected to said first scroll member for orbiting said first scroll member in a full orbit radius rigidly defined with respect to said housing and to said second scroll member; and h. means associated with said drive means for counterbalancing essentially all of that part of the centrifugal force component produced by the orbiting of said first and second scroll members which would otherwise increase the radial sealing force.

Claim 5

A fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said coupling means is positioned within the zone of highest pressure.

Claim 6

A fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said coupling means is external of said fluid pocket and couples said orbiting scroll member to said housing means.

Claim 7

A fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said coupling means is external of said fluid pocket and couples said first and said second scroll members.

Claim 8

A fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said coupling means comprises a first coupling member positioned within the zone of highest pressure and a second coupling member external of said fluid pocket and adapted to couple said orbiting scroll member to said housing means.

Claim 9

A fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said compliant attachment means comprises a spring-loaded stiff but flexible disk joined to said nonorbiting scroll member and said housing means.

Claim 10

A fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said compliant attachment means comprise first sealing ring means positioned to apply an axial force against said second end plate and second sealing ring means positioned between the periphery of said second end plate and the wall of said housing means.

Claim 11

A fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said drive means comprises a main drive shaft and a scroll drive shaft connected thereto, the axes of said main drive shaft and said scroll drive shaft being parallel and displaced from each other by a distance equal to the radius of orbit of said orbit scroll member.

Claim 12

A fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said means for counterbalancing said centrifugal force component and said motion of said second scroll member comprise counterweight means attached to said main drive shaft.

Claim 13

A fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 2 including means external of said fluid pocket to apply a radial force to said second scroll member.

Claim 14

A fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said axial force applying means comprises means to define a fluid-tight high-pressure sealing chamber in force-applying relationship with said second scroll member and fluid passage means between said sealing chamber and the zone of highest pressure.

Claim 15

A fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein said axial force applying means provides a force greater than that required to counteract said internal fluid-generated axial force and includes said compliant attachment means.

Claim 16

A fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 2 including orbiting scroll member coupling means to couple said first scroll member to said housing means thereby to maintain a fixed angular relationship between said first scroll member and said housing means.

Claim 17

A fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 14 wherein said orbiting scroll member coupling means comprises a ring with grooves and key members affixed to said housing engagable with said grooves.