Compact rotary compressor

Abstract

A compact rotary compressor having a motor with a stator and a rotor wherein the rotor includes an integrally formed part defining an internal compression chamber and an integrally formed vane extending radially inwardly within the compression chamber. A roller is rotatably mounted and eccentrically disposed within the compression chamber with the vane being engaged with the roller whereby rotation of the rotor also rotates the roller. The rotor and roller may each be mounted on a stationary shaft. End plates located on the opposite axial ends of the rotor seal the compression chamber and one of the ends plates may be rotatably mounted on a stationary support structure. One of the end plates may also include a discharge valve assembly and noise attenuation chamber as part of a discharge fluid line providing communication between the compression chamber and a passageway located within the stationary shaft.

1 . A rotary compressor for compressing a fluid comprising: 
 a motor having a stator and a rotor;    wherein said rotor includes an integrally formed part defining an internal compression chamber and an integrally formed vane extending radially inwardly within said compression chamber; and    a roller rotatably mounted and eccentrically disposed within said compression chamber, said vane engaged with said roller wherein rotation of said rotor rotates said roller and thereby compresses the fluid within said compression chamber.    
   
   
       2 . The rotary compressor of  claim 1  wherein said integrally formed part includes a radially outer surface having a plurality of permanent magnets mounted thereon.  
   
   
       3 . The rotary compressor of  claim 1  wherein said roller defines a recess having a bushing mounted therein, said bushing defining a radially extending slot, said vane being slidably disposed within said slot.  
   
   
       4 . The rotary compressor of  claim 1  further comprising first and second end plates disposed at opposite axial ends of said compression chamber.  
   
   
       5 . The rotary compressor of  claim 1  wherein said roller is mounted on a stationary shaft, said shaft defining an internal passageway in fluid communication with said compression chamber.  
   
   
       6 . The rotary compressor of  claim 5  wherein at least one of said end plates defines a fluid passageway providing fluid communication between said internal passageway of said shaft and said compression chamber.  
   
   
       7 . The rotary compressor of  claim 1  further comprising first and second end plates disposed at opposite ends of said compression chamber and wherein said roller is mounted on a stationary shaft, said shaft extending through at least one of said end plates.  
   
   
       8 . The rotary compressor of  claim 7  wherein said shaft extends through only said first end plate and said second end plate is rotatably mounted on a stationary support structure.  
   
   
       9 . The rotary compressor of  claim 1  further comprising first and second end plates disposed at opposite ends of said compression chamber and wherein said stator circumscribes said rotor, said compression chamber disposed therein and said first and second end plates.  
   
   
       10 . The rotary compressor of  claim 1  further comprising at least one end plate disposed at an end of said compression chamber, said at least one end plate defining a discharge fluid line having a discharge valve cavity in fluid communication with said compression chamber; said at least one end plate including a discharge valve member disposed within said discharge valve cavity and controlling fluid flow from said compression chamber through said discharge valve cavity.  
   
   
       11 . The rotary compressor of  claim 10  wherein said end plate further defines a noise attenuation chamber in fluid communication with said discharge fluid line.  
   
   
       12 . A rotary compressor for compressing a fluid comprising: 
 a housing;    a motor mounted in said housing, said motor having a stator and a rotor, said stator circumscribing said rotor, said rotor defining a rotational axis and including an integrally formed part defining an internal compression chamber and an integrally formed vane extending radially inwardly within said compression chamber, opposite axial ends of said rotor defining first and second rotor faces respectively;    a first end plate secured to said first rotor face;    a second end plate secured to said second rotor face;    a stationary drive shaft mounted in said housing and extending through at least one of said end plates and at least partially disposed within said compression chamber; and    a roller rotatably mounted on said drive shaft wherein said roller is rotatable about an axis spaced from the rotational axis of said rotor, said vane engaged with said roller wherein rotation of said rotor rotates said roller and thereby compresses the fluid within said compression chamber.    
   
   
       13 . The rotary compressor of  claim 12  wherein said integrally formed part includes a radially outer surface having a plurality of permanent magnets mounted thereon.  
   
   
       14 . The rotary compressor of  claim 12  wherein said roller defines a recess having a bushing mounted therein, said bushing defining a radially extending slot, said vane being slidably disposed within said slot.  
   
   
       15 . The rotary compressor of  claim 12  wherein said shaft defines an internal passageway in fluid communication with said compression chamber.  
   
   
       16 . The rotary compressor of  claim 15  wherein at least one of said end plates defines a fluid passageway providing fluid communication between said internal passageway of said shaft and said compression chamber.  
   
   
       17 . The rotary compressor of  claim 12  wherein said shaft extends through only said first end plate and said second end plate is rotatably mounted on a stationary support structure.  
   
   
       18 . The rotary compressor of  claim 12  wherein said stator circumscribes said compression chamber disposed within said rotor and said first and second end plates.  
   
   
       19 . The rotary compressor of  claim 12  wherein said first end plate defines a discharge fluid line having a discharge valve cavity in fluid communication with said compression chamber; said first end plate including a discharge valve member disposed within said discharge valve cavity and controlling fluid flow from said compression chamber through said discharge valve cavity.  
   
   
       20 . The rotary compressor of  claim 19  wherein said first end plate further defines a noise attenuation chamber in fluid communication with said discharge fluid line.