Thrust plate for a horizontal scroll compressor and a horizontal scroll compressor having the same

1. A thrust plate for a compressor comprising:

a first end including a thrust surface;

a second end including a lubricant accumulation feature;

a feed hole extending between the lubricant accumulation feature and the thrust surface to provide communication therebetween, said feed hole being angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the thrust plate such that lubricant flows through said feed hole from said lubricant accumulation feature to said thrust surface.

2. The thrust plate of claim 1 , wherein said lubricant accumulation feature includes a recess formed in said second end.

3. The thrust plate of claim 2 , further comprising a baffle disposed at least partially in said recess and adjacent said feed hole.

4. The thrust plate of claim 1 , wherein said lubricant accumulation feature includes a baffle disposed adjacent said feed hole at said second end.

5. The thrust plate of claim 1 , wherein said thrust surface includes an annular groove in communication with the feed hole.

6. The thrust plate of claim 1 , wherein said feed hole is angled such that lubricant flows through said feed hole via a gravitational force.

7. The thrust plate of claim 6 , wherein a first end of said feed hole disposed adjacent said first end is disposed radially inward relative to a second end of said feed hole disposed adjacent said second end.

8. The thrust plate of claim 1 , wherein said thrust surface is an annular surface and a central aperture extends through said first and second ends.

9. A compressor comprising:

a non-orbiting scroll;

an orbiting scroll;

a drive shaft driving said orbiting scroll for orbital motion relative to said non-orbiting scroll;

a bearing housing rotatably supporting said drive shaft;

a thrust plate mounted to said bearing housing and axially supporting said orbiting scroll, said thrust plate including a thrust surface, a lubricant accumulation feature, and a feed hole extending between the lubricant accumulation feature and the thrust surface to provide communication therebetween, said feed hole being angled relative to a longitudinal axis of said drive shaft such that lubricant flows through said feed hole from said lubricant accumulation feature to said thrust surface.

10. The compressor of claim 9 , wherein said drive shaft includes a counterweight that rotates within a cavity and transfers lubricant from said cavity to said lubricant accumulation feature.

11. The compressor of claim 10 , wherein said drive shaft includes an aperture providing lubricant to said cavity.

12. The compressor of claim 9 , wherein said lubricant accumulation feature includes a recess formed in an end of said thrust plate opposite said thrust surface.

13. The compressor of claim 12 , further comprising a baffle disposed at least partially in said recess and adjacent said feed hole.

14. The compressor of claim 9 , wherein said lubricant accumulation feature includes a baffle disposed adjacent said feed hole.

15. The compressor of claim 9 , wherein said thrust surface includes an annular groove in communication with the feed hole.

16. The compressor of claim 9 , wherein said feed hole is angled such that lubricant flows through said feed hole via a gravitational force.

17. The compressor of claim 16 , wherein a first end of said feed hole disposed adjacent said first end is disposed radially inward relative to a second end of said feed hole disposed adjacent said second end.

18. The compressor of claim 9 , wherein said thrust surface is an annular surface and a central aperture extends through said first and second ends.

19. The compressor of claim 9 , further comprising an oil separator disposed inside of a shell of the compressor and in communication with a passage through said drive shaft via an oil return conduit.

20. The compressor of claim 9 , wherein the compressor is a horizontal compressor.