Scroll compressor with bypass apparatus

Abstract

A bypass apparatus for a scroll compressor includes multiple bypass holes located at a plurality of locations along a path traced by the compression chambers of the compressor. A dimple portion having a large cross sectional area may be formed at an outlet of the bypass holes to increase the surface area of the compressed gas pushing against the bypass valves. Angled openings of the dimple portions, or angled openings of the bypass holes would also act to further increase the area of the compressed gas pushing on the bypass valves. The increased surface area of the gas pressing on the bypass, by virtue of its greater overall force, enhances an opening speed of the bypass valve. Accordingly, the over-compression of the refrigerant gas is prevented.

1 . A scroll compressor, comprising:
 a housing;   an orbiting scroll mounted in the housing;   a fixed scroll mounted in the housing, wherein at least one moving compression chamber is formed between the fixed and orbiting scrolls as the orbiting scroll orbits;   at least one bypass hole formed in the fixed scroll, wherein a first end of each bypass hole opens onto a path traveled by the at least one moving compression chamber, wherein a second end of each bypass hole opens onto a high pressure discharge space of the compressor, and wherein a dimple portion is formed at the second end of each bypass hole, the dimple portion having a diameter that is greater than a diameter of the bypass hole; and   at least one bypass valve mounted on the fixed scroll, wherein each bypass valve acts to open/close the second end of a bypass hole.   
   
   
       2 . The scroll compressor of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of bypass holes are formed in the fixed scroll, and wherein the bypass holes are formed such that the first ends of the bypass holes open onto different portions of the path traveled by the at least one moving compression chamber. 
   
   
       3 . The scroll compressor of  claim 1 , wherein two bypass holes are paired closely together, and wherein a single bypass valve opens/closes the second ends of both of the paired bypass holes. 
   
   
       4 . The scroll compressor of  claim 3 , wherein a single dimple is formed at the second ends of the paired bypass holes. 
   
   
       5 . The scroll compressor of  claim 4 , wherein a sidewall of the single dimple angles outward as it approaches the exterior surface of the fixed scroll. 
   
   
       6 . The scroll compressor of  claim 3 , wherein the paired bypass holes are arranged such that a line passing from one to the other of the bypass holes is substantially parallel to a travel direction of the at least one compression chamber. 
   
   
       7 . The scroll compressor of  claim 3 , wherein the paired bypass holes are arranged such that a line passing from one to the other of the bypass holes is substantially perpendicular to a travel direction of the at least one compression chamber. 
   
   
       8 . The scroll compressor of  claim 1 , wherein a sidewall of the second end of the at least one bypass hole angles outward as it approaches the exterior surface of the fixed scroll. 
   
   
       9 . The scroll compressor of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of bypass holes are formed in the fixed scroll, wherein the bypass holes are formed such that the First ends of the bypass holes open onto different portions of the path traveled by the at least one moving compression chamber, and wherein diameters of the bypass holes are different depending on the location of the bypass holes. 
   
   
       10 . The scroll compressor of  claim 9 , wherein a diameter of the bypass holes that are positioned towards the end of the path traveled by the at least one compression chamber are larger than a diameter of the bypass holes located towards a beginning of the path traveled by the at least one compression chamber. 
   
   
       11 . The scroll compressor of  claim 9 , wherein each bypass valve opens/closes only a single bypass hole. 
   
   
       12 . The scroll compressor of  claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional shape of the dimple is circle shaped. 
   
   
       13 . The scroll compressor of  claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional shape of the dimple is oval shaped. 
   
   
       14 . The scroll compressor of  claim 1 , wherein a cross-sectional shape of the dimple is polygon shaped. 
   
   
       15 . A scroll compressor, comprising:
 a housing;   an orbiting scroll mounted in the housing;   a fixed scroll mounted in the housing, wherein at least one moving compression chamber is formed between the fixed and orbiting scrolls as the orbiting scroll orbits;   at least one bypass hole formed in the fixed scroll, wherein a first end of each bypass hole opens onto a path traveled by the at least one moving compression chamber, wherein a second end of each bypass hole opens onto a high pressure discharge space of the compressor, and wherein a sidewall of the second end of each bypass hole is angled outward as it approaches the exterior surface of the fixed scroll; and   at least one bypass valve mounted on the fixed scroll, wherein each bypass valve acts to open/close the second end of a bypass hole.   
   
   
       16 . The scroll compressor of  claim 15 , wherein a plurality of bypass holes are formed in the fixed scroll, wherein the bypass holes are formed such that the first ends of the bypass holes open onto different portions of the path traveled by the at least one moving compression chamber 
   
   
       17 . The scroll compressor of  claim 16 , wherein diameters of the bypass holes are different depending on the location of the bypass holes. 
   
   
       18 . The scroll compressor of  claim 17 , wherein a diameter of the bypass holes that are positioned towards the end of the path traveled by the at least one compression chamber are larger than a diameter of the bypass holes located towards a beginning of the path traveled by the at least one compression chamber. 
   
   
       19 . The scroll compressor of  claim 15 , wherein two bypass holes are paired closely together, and wherein a single bypass valve opens/closes the second ends of both of the paired bypass holes. 
   
   
       20 . The scroll compressor of  claim 19 , wherein the paired bypass holes are arranged such that a line passing from one to the other of the bypass holes is substantially parallel to a travel direction of the at least one compression chamber. 
   
   
       21 . The scroll compressor of  claim 19 , wherein the paired bypass holes are arranged such that a line passing from one to the other of the bypass holes is substantially perpendicular to a travel direction of the at least one compression chamber. 
   
   
       22 . A scroll compressor, comprising:
 a housing;   an orbiting scroll mounted in the housing;   a fixed scroll mounted in the housing, wherein at least one moving compression chamber is formed between the fixed and orbiting scrolls as the orbiting scroll orbits;   at least one pair of bypass holes formed in the fixed scroll, wherein first ends of each of the bypass holes opens onto a path traveled by the at least one moving compression chamber, and wherein second ends of each of the bypass holes opens onto a high pressure discharge space of the compressor; and   at least one bypass valve mounted on the fixed scroll, wherein each bypass valve acts to open/close the second ends of one pair of bypass holes.   
   
   
       23 . The scroll compressor of  claim 22 , wherein sidewalls of the second ends of the at least one pair of bypass holes are angled outward as they approach the exterior surface of the fixed scroll. 
   
   
       24 . The scroll compressor of  claim 23 , wherein a dimple is formed at the second ends of each pair of bypass holes, the dimple having a diameter that is greater than a diameter of the bypass holes. 
   
   
       25 . The scroll compressor of  claim 22 , wherein the paired bypass holes are arranged such that a line passing from one to the other of the bypass holes is substantially parallel to a travel direction of the at least one compression chamber. 
   
   
       26 . The scroll compressor of  claim 22 , wherein the paired bypass holes are arranged such that a line passing from one to the other of the bypass holes is substantially perpendicular to a travel direction of the at least one compression chamber. 
   
   
       27 . The scroll compressor of  claim 22 , wherein a plurality of pairs of bypass holes are formed in the fixed scroll, wherein the pairs of bypass holes are formed such that the first ends of the bypass holes or each pair open onto different portions of the path traveled by the at least one moving compression chamber, and wherein each pair of bypass holes have different diameters depending on the location of the pair of bypass holes. 
   
   
       28 . The scroll compressor of  claim 22 , wherein a diameter of a pair of bypass holes that is positioned towards the end of the path traveled by the at least one compression chamber is larger than a diameter of a pair of the bypass holes located towards a beginning of the path traveled by the at least one compression chamber.