Abstract:
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.
Abstract:
A horizontal scroll compressor assembly for compressing a working fluid and lubricated with oil includes a housing, an interior surface, and a suction sump for collected oil located in the suction plenum. A compression mechanism has an orbital scroll member having a thrust surface axially superposed with the housing and having an oil distribution channel. Oil from the suction sump is received into the distribution channel and delivered to locations between the superposed surfaces during movement of the orbital scroll member. A method for distributing oil in a scroll compressor assembly includes: receiving oil from a suction sump into an oil distribution channel located in the thrust surface of an orbital scroll member; pumping oil along the oil distribution channel to locations between the thrust surface and a superposed housing surface; and lubricating a thrust surface interface with oil.