Granted Patent B2

US 12,416,308 · App. 18/394,474 · Granted Sep 16, 2025

Inventors: Daniel J. Striebich (Troy, OH); Lukas Gephart (Sidney, OH); Saurabh Prabhakar (Pune, IN); Yogesh S. Mahure (Pune, IN); Joseph M. Shepherd (Lima, OH)

Assignee: Copeland LP

F04C29/12F04C18/0215F04C18/0261F04C27/005F04C28/26

Abstract

Claims (16)

1. A compressor comprising:

an orbiting scroll;

a non-orbiting scroll meshingly engaged with the orbiting scroll and including a lower scroll piece and an upper scroll piece that is fixedly mounted to the lower scroll piece, wherein the upper scroll piece includes a central hub that defines a valve housing having a valve guide and a plurality of first apertures disposed around the valve guide;

a discharge valve member having a valve stem and a valve head disposed at an axial end of the valve stem, wherein the valve head is disposed in a recess, wherein the recess is formed in a first surface of the upper scroll piece that faces the lower scroll piece, wherein a second surface of the lower scroll piece partially encloses the recess, and wherein the second surface of the lower scroll piece opposes the first surface of the upper scroll piece; and

variable-compression-ratio valves disposed within the recess and spaced apart from the discharge valve member, wherein the variable-compression-ratio valves selectively open and close respective variable-compression-ratio ports disposed in the lower scroll piece,

wherein the valve stem is movably received in a second aperture formed in the valve guide and has a smaller diameter than a diameter of the valve head, wherein the valve member is movable relative to the upper and lower scroll pieces between a closed position in which the valve head blocks a discharge passage in the lower scroll piece to restrict fluid flow therethrough and an open position in which the valve head allows fluid flow through the discharge passage.

2. The compressor of claim 1 , wherein the valve head includes a first side that contacts the second surface of the lower scroll piece when the valve member is in the closed position, wherein the valve head includes a second side opposite the first side, and wherein a chamfer is formed on the second side at an outer periphery of the valve head.

3. The compressor of claim 2 , wherein a raised boss is formed on the second side of the valve head, and wherein the raised boss is disposed radially between the valve stem and the chamfer.

4. The compressor of claim 3 , wherein the first side of the valve head includes a protrusion that extends into the discharge passage when the valve member is in the closed position.

5. The compressor of claim 1 , wherein the valve member includes a groove formed in an outer diametrical surface of the valve stem.

6. The compressor of claim 5 , wherein the groove is an annular groove that encircles a longitudinal axis of the valve stem.

7. The compressor of claim 5 , wherein the groove is an axially extending groove and extends in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the valve stem.

8. The compressor of claim 7 , wherein the valve member includes at least another axially extending groove formed in the outer diametrical surface of the valve stem and extending in the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the valve stem.

9. The compressor of claim 1 , wherein a third aperture extends through at least a portion of the valve stem.

10. The compressor of claim 9 , wherein the third aperture extends through the valve head.

11. The compressor of claim 1 , wherein the variable-compression-ratio valves are mounted to the second surface of the lower scroll piece.

Assignments (5)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (400)