Separator plate with inlet curve

Abstract

A scroll compressor includes a housing comprising a cylindrical shell arranged about a vertically-extending axis, and scroll compressor bodies, including a fixed scroll compressor body and a movable scroll compressor body. The scroll compressor bodies are disposed in the housing and have respective bases and respective scroll ribs that project from the respective bases and which mutually engage for compressing fluid. An electrical motor has a stator and rotor. There is a drive shaft and rotor that acts upon the drive shaft that acts upon the scroll compressor bodies to facilitate relative movement between the scroll compressor bodies. A separator plate is disposed in the housing to separate a high-pressure region from a lower pressure region. The separator plate has a central opening. A perimeter of the central opening is defined by a curved inner wall. The curved inner wall is joined to an outer wall via an annular plate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A scroll compressor comprising:
 a housing comprising a cylindrical shell section arranged about an axis that is vertically extending;   scroll compressor bodies, including a fixed scroll compressor body and a movable scroll compressor body, the scroll compressor bodies being disposed in the housing and having respective bases and respective scroll ribs that project from the respective bases and which mutually engage for compressing fluid;   a drive unit having a rotor and a stator;   a drive shaft for rotation, the rotor acting upon the drive shaft, which, in turn, acts upon the scroll compressor bodies to facilitate relative orbiting movement between the scroll compressor bodies; and   a separator plate disposed in the housing and arranged to separate a high-pressure region from a relatively lower pressure region, the separator plate having a central opening, a perimeter of the central opening defined by a curved inner wall, the curved inner wall joined to an outer wall via an annular plate.   
     
     
         2 . The scroll compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the curved inner wall is configured to receive a central hub of the fixed scroll compressor body. 
     
     
         3 . The scroll compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the curved inner wall curves toward the outer wall at an entrance point where the fixed scroll compressor body enters the separator plate central opening. 
     
     
         4 . The scroll compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the outer wall abuts an inner surface of the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The scroll compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the annular plate is frusto-conical. 
     
     
         6 . A method of manufacturing a scroll compressor comprising the steps of:
 attaching a separator plate into an interior portion of a housing for the scroll compressor; and   inserting a fixed scroll compressor body into a central opening of the separator plate, a perimeter of the central opening defined by a curved inner wall, the curved inner wall joined to an outer wall via an annular plate.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein attaching a separator plate into an interior portion of a housing for the scroll compressor comprises attaching the outer wall of the separator plate to an interior wall of the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein inserting a fixed scroll compressor body into a central opening of the separator plate comprises inserting a central hub of the fixed scroll compressor body into the central opening. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising assembling an O-ring onto the central hub to create a seal between the fixed scroll compressor and the separator plate. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the curved inner wall curves toward the outer wall at an entrance point where the fixed scroll compressor body enters the separator plate central opening.