Compressor assembly having oil separation feature
View Patent ↗A compressor assembly for compressing a working fluid and lubricated with an oil, including a housing having a suction plenum and a discharge plenum that defines a discharge chamber and an exhaust chamber in fluid communication through a discharge chamber outlet, and a compression mechanism disposed in the housing. A baffle member proximate the discharge chamber outlet and against which a compressed admixture of working fluid and oil expelled from the discharge chamber is impactable for separating oil from the impacting admixture. The baffle member has an oil-impingement surface for collecting oil separated from the impacting admixture and directing the flow of oil separated from the impacting admixture. Working fluid substantially at a discharge pressure and devoid of the oil collected on the oil-impingement surface is exhaustible from the exhaust chamber through the discharge port.
1. A compressor assembly for compressing a working fluid and lubricated with an oil, said compressor assembly comprising:
a housing having an interior surface, a suction port, a discharge port, a suction plenum for receiving working fluid at a suction pressure through said suction port, and a discharge plenum defining a discharge chamber having an outlet and an exhaust chamber in fluid communication with said discharge chamber through said discharge chamber outlet;
a compression mechanism disposed in said housing for compressing an admixture of working fluid and oil, said compression mechanism having a discharge aperture for passing a compressed admixture of working fluid and oil to said discharge chamber;
a baffle member proximate said discharge chamber outlet and against which a compressed admixture of working fluid and oil expelled from said discharge chamber is impactable for separating oil from the impacting admixture, said baffle member having an oil-impingement surface for collecting oil separated from the impacting admixture and directing the flow of oil separated from the impacting admixture, said oil-impingement surface extending away from said discharge chamber outlet and toward said housing interior surface in said exhaust chamber;
wherein working fluid at a discharge pressure and devoid of the oil collected on said oil-impingement surface is exhaustible from said exhaust chamber through said discharge port;
wherein said discharge chamber outlet and said baffle member are aligned with each other;
wherein said discharge and exhaust chambers are separated by a wall extending between said housing and said compression mechanism and having spaced ends, said discharge chamber outlet located between said spaced wall ends.
2. The compressor assembly of claim 1 , wherein said compressor assembly defines a plane located between said spaced wall ends.