Motor cap for a compressor

Abstract

A motor cap has a plurality of holes in the top of the cap for the entry of refrigerant into the suction plenum. The holes are sized and located to create a tortuous path for a stream of refrigerant to enter the compression chamber. The refrigerant stream is broken into multiple streams and any liquid refrigerant is encouraged to flash to vapor. Any oil that is brought from the sump at startup by boiling liquid refrigerant is likewise encouraged to remain on the motor cap and drain back to the sump while the liquid refrigerant flashes to vapor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A compressor comprising:
 a shell having an enclosed space;   a compression mechanism positioned within the enclosed space of the shell;   a motor positioned within the enclosed space of the shell and connected to the compression mechanism by a shaft to power the compression mechanism;   a motor cap positioned on the motor opposite the compression mechanism, the motor cap comprising a top surface and a sidewall extending from the top surface toward the motor, the top surface and sidewall defining a plenum between the motor and the motor cap to store refrigerant; and   the top surface of the motor cap comprising a plurality of holes, the plurality of holes permitting passage of refrigerant between the enclosed space and the plenum.