Positive fluid displacement apparatus

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apparatus into which a fluid is introduced through an inlet port for circulation therethrough and subsequently withdrawn through a discharge port, in which two scroll members being maintained at a desired angular relationship and having wraps which make a plurality of moving line contacts to seal off and define at least one moving pocket of variable volume and zones of different fluid pressure when one of said scroll members is driven by driving means to orbit within said other of said scroll members while maintaining a fixed angular relationship therewith, and wherein said driving means associated with said one of said scroll members includes means to provide a centripetal radial force adapted to oppose a fracTion of the centrifugal force acting upon said one of said scroll members, the improvement comprising radially compliant mechanical linking means between said driving means and said one of said scroll members, said radially compliant mechanical linking means including said means to provide said centripetal radial force of a magnitude to control the radial sealing force between said scroll members at a level to minimize both wear and internal fluid leakage.

Claim 3

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said radially compliant mechanical linking means includes means to provide a centripetal radial force less than said centrifugal force and the difference of said forces comprises said radial sealing force.

Claim 4

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said radially compliant mechanical linking means comprises swing-like means.

Claim 5

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said swing-link means includes compression spring means to provide said centripetal radial force.

Claim 6

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said radially compliant mechanical linking means comprises sliding-block linking means.

Claim 7

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said sliding-block linking means includes compression spring means to provide said centripetal radial force.

Claim 8

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said radially compliant mechanical linking means includes means to provide a centripetal radial force essentially equal to said centrifugal force and means to provide a separate adjustable radial sealing force.

Claim 9

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said radially compliant mechanical linking means comprises swing-link means having compression spring means to provide said centripetal force and counterweight means as said means to provide a separate controllable radial sealing force.

Claim 10

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said radially compliant mechanical linking means comprises sliding-block linkage means having compression spring means to provide said centripetal force and counterweight means as said means to provide a separate controllable radial sealing force.

Claim 11

A positive fluid displacement apparatus into which fluid is introduced through an inlet port for circulation therethrough and subsequently withdrawn through a discharge port, comprising in combination a. an orbiting scroll member and a fixed scroll member each having end plate means to which are affixed wrap means which, when said orbiting scroll member is orbited with respect to said fixed scroll member, make moving line contacts to seal off and define at least one moving fluid pocket of variable volume and zones of different fluid pressure and develop radial constraints; b. drive means to effect orbital motion of said orbiting scroll member; c. radially compliant mechanical linking means between said orbiting scroll member and said drive means; d. centrifugal force counterbalancing means associated with said mechanical linking means and adapted to counterbalance at least a fraction of the centrifugal force acting upon said orbiting scroll member; and e. coupling means adapted to prevent relative angular motion of said scroll members, said coupling means being separate and distinct from said scroll drive means whereby said radial constraints within said apparatus are limited to said moving line contacts between said wraps and are controlled through said radially compliant mechanical linking means.

Claim 12

A positive fluid displacement apparatus into which fluid is introduced through an inlet port for circulation therethrough and subsequently withdrawn through a discharge port, comprising in combination a. an orbiting scroll member and a fixed scroll member each having end plate means to which are affixed wrap means which, when said orbiting scroll member is orbited with respect to said fixed scroll member, make moving line contacts to seal off and define at least one moving fluid pocket of variable volume and zones of different fluid pressure and develop radial constraints; b. drive means to effect orbital motion of said orbiting scroll member; c. radially compliant mechanical linking means between said orbiting scroll member and said drive means; d. centrifugal force counterbalancing means associated with said mechanical linking means and adapted to counterbalance at least a fraction of the centrifugal force acting upon said orbiting scroll member; and e. coupling means adapted to prevent relative angular motion of said scroll members, said coupling means being separate and distinct from said scroll drive means whereby said radial constraints within said apparatus are limited to said moving line contacts between said wraps and are controlled through said radially compliant mechanical linking means.

Claim 13

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein said centrifugal force counterbalancing means counterbalances less than all of said centrifugal force and that fraction of said centrifugal force which is not counterbalanced constitutes the radial sealing force betweEn said wraps.

Claim 14

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said radially compliant mechanical linking means is a swing-link and said centrifugal force counterbalancing means are compression spring means.

Claim 15

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said radial compliant mechanical linking means is a swing-link and said centrifugal force counterbalancing means is a counterweight.

Claim 16

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said radial compliant mechanical linking means is a sliding-block link and said centrifugal force counterbalancing means are compression spring means.

Claim 17

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said radial compliant mechanical linking means is a sliding-block link and said centrifugal force counterbalancing means is a counterweight.

Claim 18

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein said centrifugal force counterbalancing means counterbalances essentially all of said centrifugal force and includes radial sealing force means to provide a separate controllable radial sealing force.

Claim 19

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein said radially compliant mechanical linking means is a swing-link and said centrifugal force counterbalancing means and said radial sealing force means are compression spring means.

Claim 20

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein said radial compliant mechanical linking means is a swing-link, said centrifugal force counterbalancing means is a counterweight and said radial sealing force means are compression spring means.

Claim 21

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein said radial compliant mechanical linking means is a sliding-block link and said centrifugal force counterbalancing means and said radial sealing force means are compression spring means.

Claim 22

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 16 wherein said radial compliant mechanical linking means is a sliding-block link, said centrifugal force counterbalancing means is a counterweight and said radial sealing force means are compression spring means.

Claim 23

A positive fluid displacement apparatus into which fluid is introduced through an inlet port for circulation therethrough and subsequently withdrawn through a discharge port, comprising in combination a. an orbiting scroll member and a fixed scroll member each having end plates affixed to wrap means which, when said orbiting scroll member is orbited with respect to said fixed scroll member, make moving line contacts through a radial sealing force to seal off and define at least one moving fluid pocket of variable volume and zones of different fluid pressure and develop radial constraints; b. axial sealing means adapted to force said wrap means into sealing contact with said end plates; c. main drive shaft means, the axis of which is the axis of said fixed scroll member and is parallel to and spaced from the axis of said orbiting scroll member, the distance between said axes being the operational orbit radius of said orbiting scroll member; d. radially compliant mechanical linking means joining said orbiting scroll member and said main drive shaft means; e. centrifugal force counterbalancing means associated with said mechanical linking means adapted to counterbalance at least a fraction of the centrifugal force acting upon said orbiting scroll member; f. coupling means adapted to prevent relative angular motion of said scroll members, said coupling means being separate and distinct from said orbiting scroll member driving means whereby said radial constraints comprising said radial sealing force within said apparatus are limited to said moving line contacts between said wraps and are controlled solely through said radially compliant mechanical linking means and its associated centrifuGal force counterbalancing means; and (g) housing means, including frame support means, defining a fluid chamber within which said scroll members are located.

Claim 24

A positive fluid displacement apparatus into which fluid is introduced through an inlet port for circulation therethrough and subsequently withdrawn through a discharge port, comprising in combination a. an orbiting scroll member and a fixed scroll member each having end plates affixed to wrap means which, when said orbiting scroll member is orbited with respect to said fixed scroll member, make moving line contacts through a radial sealing force to seal off and define at least one moving fluid pocket of variable volume and zones of different fluid pressure and develop radial constraints; b. axial sealing means adapted to force said wrap means into sealing contact with said end plates; c. main drive shaft means, the axis of which is the axis of said fixed scroll member and is parallel to and spaced from the axis of said orbiting scroll member, the distance between said axes being the operational orbit radius of said orbiting scroll member; d. radially compliant mechanical linking means joining said orbiting scroll member and said main drive shaft means; e. centrifugal force counterbalancing means associated with said mechanical linking means adapted to counterbalance at least a fraction of the centrifugal force acting upon said orbiting scroll member; f. coupling means adapted to prevent relative angular motion of said scroll members, said coupling means being separate and distinct from said orbiting scroll member driving means whereby said radial constraints comprising said radial sealing force within said apparatus are limited to said moving line contacts between said wraps and are controlled solely through said radially compliant mechanical linking means and its associated centrifuGal force counterbalancing means; and (g) housing means, including frame support means, defining a fluid chamber within which said scroll members are located.

Claim 25

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 21 wherein said radial compliant mechanical linking means is a swing-link and the axis of said swing-link is oriented perpendicular to said eccentricity radius of said orbiting scroll member.

Claim 26

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 21 wherein said radial compliant mechanical linking means is a swing-link and the axis of said swing-link is oriented to make an angle of less than 90* with the eccentricity radius of said orbiting scroll member.

Claim 27

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 21 including crank means joining said main drive shaft means to said radially compliant mechanical linking means.

Claim 28

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 21 including counterweight means attached to said crank means to minimize or eliminate vibration in said apparatus.

Claim 29

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 21 including means to circulate a coolant within the end plate of said fixed scroll member.

Claim 30

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 21 wherein the contacting surface of the wrap means of said fixed scroll member has shallow lubricant channel means therein, and said apparatus includes means to introduce a lubricant into said channel means.

Claim 31

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 21 including locking means to lock said fixed scroll member to said housing means, said locking means being adjustable whereby the angular orientation of said scroll member may be adjusted within said housing.

Claim 32

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 21 having fluid inlet port means associated with the zone of lowest pressure and fluid discharge port means associated with the zone of highest pressure and means to rotate said main drive shaft means, whereby said apparatus is a compressor.

Claim 33

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 21 having fluid inlet port means associated with the zone of highest pressure and fluid discharge port means associated with the zone of lowest pressure and work absorbing means connected to said main drive shaft means, whereby said apparatus in an expansion engine.

Claim 34

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 21 wherein said coupling member is an annular ring, positioned between the endplate of said orbiting scroll member and said frame support means, having oppositely disposed keyways on each surface thereof and wherein said endplate of said orbiting scroll member and said frame support means have keys slidably engageable with said keyways of said coupling means.

Claim 35

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 31 wherein said coupling means is further characterized by having shallow lubricant channels on each of its surfaces and passage means providing fluid communication between said channels.

Claim 36

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 31 including sets of roller means, each comprising a plurality of rollers, interposed between one surface of said coupling means and said end plate of said orbiting scroll member and between the other surface of said coupling means and said frame support means, said roller means being so oriented that the axes of said rollers contacting any one surface of said coupling means are normal to the axis of said keyways on that surface.

Claim 37

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 21 wherein said centrifugal force counterbalancing means counterbalances less than all of said centrifugal force and that fraction of said centrifugal force which is not counterbalanced constitutes said radial sealing force.

Claim 38

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 34 wherein said radially compliant mechanical linking means is a swing-link and said centrifugal force counterbalancing means are compression spring means.

Claim 39

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 34 wherein said radial compliant mechanical linking means is a swing-link and said centrifugal force counterbalancing means is a counterweight.

Claim 40

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 34 wherein said radial compliant mechanical linking means is a sliding-block link and said centrifugal force counterbalancing means are compression spring means.

Claim 41

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 34 wherein said radial compliant mechanical linking means is a sliding block link and said centrifugal force counterbalancing means is a counterweight.

Claim 42

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 21 wherein said centrifugal force counterbalancing means counterbalances essentially all of said centrifugal force and includes radial sealing force means to provide a separate controllable radial sealing force.

Claim 43

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 39 wherein said radially compliant mechanical linking means is a swing link and said centrifugal force counterbalancing means and said radial sealing force means are compression spring means.

Claim 44

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 39 wherein said radial compliant mechanical linking means is a swing-link, said centrifugal force counterbalancing means is a counterweight and said radial sealing force means are compression spring means.

Claim 45

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 39 wherein said radial compliant mechanical linking means is a sliding-block link and said centrifugal force counterbalancing means and said radial sealing force means are compression spring means.

Claim 46

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 39 wherein said radial compliant mechanical linking means is a sliding-block link, said centrifugal force counterbalancing means is a counterweight and said radial sealing force means are compression spring means.

Claim 47

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 21 wherein said axial sealing means comprise in combination (1) mechanical and fluid force applying means providing a first axial force acting on said fixed scroll member and (2) said coupling means positioned between said orbiting scroll member and said frame support means adapted to oppose said first axial force with a second axial force.

Claim 48

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 44 wherein said mechanical force applying means comprises a wave spring washer.

Claim 49

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 44 wherein said fluid force applying means comprises a fluid chamber positioned to exert fluid pressure upon the end plate of said fluid scroll member and means to deliver high-pressure fluid to said fluid chamber.

Claim 50

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 46 wherein said means to deliver high-pressure fluid to said fluid chamber comprises conduit means providing fluid communication between an external source of a high-pressure fluid and said fluid chamber.

Claim 51

A positive fluid displacement apparatus in accordance with claim 46 wherein said means to deliver high-pressure fluid to said fluid chamber comprises conduit means providing fluid communication between the zone of highest pressure and said fluid chamber.