FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a compressor, and more particularly, to a co-rotating scroll compressor.

BACKGROUND

This section provides background information related to the present disclosure and is not necessarily prior art.

A climate-control system (e.g., a heat-pump system, an air-conditioning system, a refrigeration system, etc.) may include a fluid circuit having an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger, an expansion device disposed between the indoor and outdoor heat exchangers, and a compressor circulating a working fluid between the indoor and outdoor heat exchangers. Efficient and reliable operation of the compressor is desirable to ensure that the climate-control system in which the compressor is installed is capable of effectively and efficiently providing a cooling and/or heating effect on demand.

SUMMARY

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

The present disclosure provides a compressor that may include a shell assembly, a compression mechanism, a driveshaft, a first bearing, a second bearing, a third bearing, and a surface supporting the third bearing. The compression mechanism is disposed within the shell assembly and may include a first compression member and a second compression member that cooperate to form one or more compression pockets therebetween. The driveshaft may be coupled to the first compression member and configured to rotate the first compression member and the second compression member. The first bearing may support the driveshaft for rotation about a first axis. The second bearing may be spaced apart from the first bearing and may support the driveshaft for rotation about the first axis. The third bearing may be spaced apart from the first and second bearings and may define a second axis. The third bearing may support the second compression member for rotation about the second axis. The surface may support the third bearing relative to the shell assembly such that the entire third bearing (i.e., both the inner and outer rings of the third bearing) is able to roll along the surface to move the second compression member and the second axis in a radial direction (i.e., a direction from the first axis to the second axis) relative to the first compression member.

In some configurations of the compressor of the above paragraph, the surface is fixed relative to the shell assembly.

In some configurations of the compressor of either of the above paragraphs, the surface is integrally formed with the shell assembly.

In some configurations of the compressor of any of the above paragraphs, the surface is a flat surface.

In some configurations of the compressor of any of the above paragraphs, the surface supports an outer periphery (i.e., an outer diametrical surface) of the third bearing such that the outer periphery is in rolling contact with the surface.

In some configurations of the compressor of any of the above paragraphs, the surface is a round surface (e.g., a cylindrical surface).

In some configurations of the compressor of any of the above paragraphs, the surface supports an inner periphery (i.e., an inner diametrical surface) of the third bearing such that the inner periphery is in rolling contact with the surface.

In some configurations of the compressor of any of the above paragraphs, the surface defines a third axis that is parallel to and spaced apart from the second axis.

In some configurations of the compressor of any of the above paragraphs, the first compression member includes an outer hub that surrounds the second compression member.

In some configurations of the compressor of any of the above paragraphs, the outer hub is attached to the driveshaft (e.g., by a coupling).

In some configurations of the compressor of any of the above paragraphs, the driveshaft includes a discharge passage through which compressed working fluid is transmitted from the compression mechanism to a discharge chamber defined by the shell assembly.

In some configurations of the compressor of any of the above paragraphs, the first and second compression members are scroll members having intermeshing spiral wraps.

The present disclosure also provides a compressor that may include a shell assembly, a first scroll member, a second scroll member, a driveshaft, a first bearing, a scroll bearing, and a surface supporting the scroll bearing. The first scroll member may be disposed within the shell assembly and may be rotatable relative to the shell assembly about a first axis. The second scroll member may be disposed within the shell assembly and may be rotatable relative to the shell assembly about a second axis that is parallel to and spaced apart from the first axis. The first and second scroll members cooperate to form one or more compression pockets therebetween. The driveshaft may be coupled to the first scroll member and may be configured to rotate the first scroll member about the first axis. The first bearing may support the driveshaft for rotation about the first axis. The scroll bearing may be spaced apart from the first bearing and may define the second axis. The scroll bearing may support the second scroll member for rotation relative to the first scroll member about the second axis. The surface may support the scroll bearing relative to the shell assembly such that the entire scroll bearing (i.e., both the inner and outer rings of the scroll bearing) is able to roll along the surface to move the second scroll member and the second axis in a radial direction (i.e., a direction perpendicular to the first and second axes) relative to the first scroll member.

In some configurations of the compressor of the above paragraph, the surface is fixed relative to the shell assembly.

In some configurations of the compressor of either of the above paragraphs, the surface is integrally formed with the shell assembly.

In some configurations of the compressor of any of the above paragraphs, the surface is a flat surface.

In some configurations of the compressor of any of the above paragraphs, the surface supports an outer periphery (i.e., an outer diametrical surface) of the scroll bearing such that the outer periphery is in rolling contact with the surface.

In some configurations of the compressor of any of the above paragraphs, the surface is a round surface (e.g., a cylindrical surface).

In some configurations of the compressor of any of the above paragraphs, the surface supports an inner periphery (i.e., an inner diametrical surface) of the scroll bearing such that the inner periphery is in rolling contact with the surface.

In some configurations of the compressor of any of the above paragraphs, the surface defines a third axis that is parallel to and spaced apart from the second axis.

In some configurations of the compressor of any of the above paragraphs, the first scroll member includes an outer hub that surrounds the second scroll member.

In some configurations of the compressor of any of the above paragraphs, the outer hub is attached to the driveshaft (e.g., by a coupling).

In some configurations of the compressor of any of the above paragraphs, the driveshaft includes a discharge passage through which compressed working fluid is transmitted to a discharge chamber defined by the shell assembly.

In some configurations, the compressor of any of the above paragraphs may include another bearing spaced apart from the first bearing and supporting the driveshaft for rotation about the first axis.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

