IP Library Granted Patent US 12,486,845
Granted Patent B2
US 12,486,845 · App. 18/438,026 · Granted Dec 2, 2025

Bearing and unloader assembly for compressors

Inventors: Kirill Michailovich Ignatiev (Oakwood, OH); Robert Christopher Stover (Versailles, OH); Mikhail A. Antimonov (Beavercreek, OH)
Assignee: Copeland LP
F04C18/0215F16C23/088F16C35/073F04C2240/50F04C2240/601F04C2240/605
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,486,845
App. No.
18/438,026
Granted
Dec 2, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A bearing system for a compressor including an unloader at least partially received within a recess of a driveshaft. The unloader includes an outer surface that is engaged with a bearing. An inner surface of the unloader is curved such that the unloader is pivotable relative to the driveshaft unload forces on bearing caused by deflection of the driveshaft.

Claims (41)

1 . A compressor comprising:

a shell;

a driveshaft including a driveshaft body, an eccentric body, and a recess defined at least in part by a back surface and a second surface arranged perpendicular to the back surface;

a non-orbiting scroll disposed within the shell;

an orbiting scroll disposed within the shell, the eccentric body drivingly engaged with the orbiting scroll;

a bearing housing fixed within the shell;

a bearing supported by the bearing housing, the bearing axially spaced from the non-orbiting and orbiting scrolls; and

an unloader at least partially received within the recess of the driveshaft, the unloader having inner and outer surfaces, and the unloader is moveable within the recess relative to the back surface of the recess; and

a retention ring configured to be received into a first channel formed on the outer surface of the unloader and a second channel formed on the driveshaft, wherein the retention ring retains the unloader at least partially within the recess of the driveshaft, wherein the retention ring is spaced from the bearing when the retention ring is disposed within the first and second channels.

2 . The compressor of claim 1 , wherein the unloader includes a first surface and an opposing second surface, wherein the inner surface extends between the first surface and the opposing second surface, and wherein the inner surface is convex in a direction parallel to an axis extending between the first surface and the second surface.

3 . The compressor of claim 1 , wherein the unloader includes a first surface and an opposing second surface, wherein the inner surface extends between the first surface and the opposing second surface, and wherein the inner surface is convex in a direction perpendicular to an axis extending between the first surface and the second surface.

4 . The compressor of claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the unloader is dome shaped.

5 . The compressor of claim 1 , wherein the retention ring includes an elastic material, and the bearing is disposed radially outward relative to the unloader.

6 . The compressor of claim 1 , wherein the second surface is at least one of an upper surface and an opposing lower surface, wherein at least one of the back surface and the inner surface is curved.

7 . The compressor of claim 1 , wherein the recess includes a recess depth and the unloader includes a thickness that is greater than the recess depth such that at least a portion of the unloader extends outside of the recess in a radial direction of the driveshaft.

8 . The compressor of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the unloader is curved and has a radius of curvature that is substantially the same as a radius of curvature of the driveshaft.

9 . The compressor of claim 1 , wherein the unloader is constrained in an axial direction of the driveshaft when the unloader is at least partially disposed within the recess.

10 . The compressor of claim 1 , wherein the bearing is disposed radially outward relative to the unloader.

11 . A bearing assembly comprising:

a driveshaft including a driveshaft body, an eccentric body, and a recess defined at least in part by a back surface and a second surface arranged perpendicular to the back surface;

a bearing housing;

a bearing supported by the bearing housing;

an unloader at least partially received within the recess of the driveshaft, the unloader having inner and outer surfaces, and the unloader is moveable within the recess relative to the back surface of the recess; and

a retention ring configured to be received into a first channel formed on the outer surface of the unloader and a second channel formed on the driveshaft, wherein the retention ring retains the unloader at least partially within the recess of the driveshaft, wherein the retention ring is spaced from the bearing when the retention ring is disposed within the first and second channels.

12 . The bearing assembly of claim 11 , wherein the unloader includes a first surface and an opposing second surface, wherein the inner surface extends between the first surface and the opposing second surface, and wherein the inner surface is convex in a direction parallel to an axis extending between the first surface and the second surface.

13 . The bearing assembly of claim 11 , wherein the unloader includes a first surface and an opposing second surface, wherein the inner surface extends between the first surface and the opposing second surface, and wherein the inner surface is convex in a direction perpendicular to an axis extending between the first surface and the second surface.

14 . The bearing assembly of claim 11 , wherein the inner surface of the unloader is dome shaped.

15 . A compressor system comprising:

a compressor operable to compress a refrigerant, the compressor comprising:

a shell;

a driveshaft including a driveshaft body, an eccentric body, and a recess defined at least in part by a back surface and a second surface arranged perpendicular to the back surface;

a non-orbiting scroll disposed within the shell;

an orbiting scroll disposed within the shell, the eccentric body drivingly engaged with the orbiting scroll;

a bearing housing fixed within the shell;

a bearing supported by the bearing housing, the bearing axially spaced from the non-orbiting and orbiting scrolls;

an unloader at least partially received within the recess of the driveshaft, the unloader having inner and outer surfaces, and the unloader is moveable within the recess relative to the back surface of the recess;

a retention ring configured to be received into a first channel formed on the outer surface of the unloader and a second channel formed on the driveshaft, wherein the retention ring retains the unloader at least partially within the recess of the driveshaft, wherein the retention ring is spaced from the bearing when the retention ring is disposed within the first and second channels;

a condenser downstream of the compressor; and

an evaporator downstream of the condenser.

16 . The compressor system of claim 15 , wherein the unloader includes a first surface and an opposing second surface, wherein the inner surface extends between the first surface and the opposing second surface, and wherein the inner surface is convex in a direction parallel to an axis extending between the first surface and the second surface.

17 . The compressor system of claim 15 , wherein the unloader includes a first surface and an opposing second surface, wherein the inner surface extends between the first surface and the opposing second surface, and wherein the inner surface is convex in a direction perpendicular to an axis extending between the first surface and the second surface.

Assignments (6)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 4, 2025
From: COPELAND LP
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 070100/0081 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 4, 2025
From: COPELAND LP
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 070100/0169 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 3, 2025
From: COPELAND LP; COPELAND SCROLL COMPRESSORS LP; COPELAND INDUSTRIAL LP; COPELAND COMFORT CONTROL LP; COPELAND COLD CHAIN LP
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 070568/0920 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 9, 2024
From: COPELAND LP
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 068241/0264 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 12, 2024
From: IGNATIEV, KIRILL MICHAILOVICH; STOVER, ROBERT CHRISTOPHER; ANTIMONOV, MIKHAIL A.
To: EMERSON CLIMATE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 066435/0909 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 12, 2024
From: EMERSON CLIMATE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: COPELAND LP
Reel/Frame 066565/0882 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 17935422 · Sep 26, 2022
Related Publication 20240183356A1 · Jun 6, 2024
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