Scroll machine with ported orbiting scroll member

Abstract

A scroll compressor includes a fluid injection system. The fluid injection system includes a fluid passage which extends from a position outside of the shell of the compressor to the fluid pockets created by the wraps of the scroll members. The fluid passage extends through the orbiting scroll member. The fluid injection system can be used to inject gaseous or liquid refrigerant, lubricant or the fluid injection system can be used to vent the moving pocket to the suction area of the compressor for capacity modulation.

1. A scroll-type compressor for handling a working fluid, said compressor comprising:
 a shell having a suction zone and a discharge zone;  
 a first scroll member disposed in said shell and having a first scroll wrap extending from a first end plate;  
 a second scroll member disposed in said shell and having a second scroll wrap extending from a second end plate, said second scroll wrap being intermeshed with said first scroll wrap to define a plurality of closed pockets;  
 a drive mechanism for causing said second scroll member to orbit with respect to said first scroll member, said plurality of pockets moving from a radial outer position in said suction zone to a central position in said discharge zone;  
 a vapor injection system including a fluid circuit in communication with at least one of said plurality of pockets, said fluid circuit including a fluid passage extending from said one pocket to a position outside said shell for injecting vapor into said one pocket and increasing a capacity of the compressor, said fluid passage extending through said second scroll member; and  
 a valve for controlling fluid flow through said fluid passage.  
 
     
     
       2. The scroll-type compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein said valve is disposed within said shell. 
     
     
       3. The scroll-type compressor according to  claim 2 , wherein said valve is controlled by a pressurized fluid from outside said shell. 
     
     
       4. A scroll-type compressor for handling a working fluid; , said compressor comprising:
 a shell;  
 a non-orbiting scroll member disposed within said shell and having a nonorbiting scroll wrap extending from a non-orbiting end plate;  
 an orbiting scroll member disposed within said shell and having an orbiting scroll wrap extending from an orbiting end plate, said orbiting scroll wrap being intermeshed with said non-orbiting scroll member to define a plurality of closed pockets;  
 a drive mechanism for causing said orbiting scroll member to orbit with respect to said non-orbiting scroll member, said plurality of closed pockets moving from a radial outer position where said working fluid is at a suction pressure to a radially inner central position where said working fluid is at a higher discharge pressure during said orbital movement;  
 a vapor injection system including a fluid circuit in communication with at least one of said plurality of moving pockets, said fluid circuit including a fluid passage extending from said one pocket to a position outside of said shell for injecting vapor into said one pocket and increasing a capacity of the compressor, said fluid pocket extending through said orbiting scroll member; and  
 a valve for controlling fluid flow through said fluid passage.  
 
     
     
       5. The scroll-type compressor according to  claim 4 , wherein said valve is disposed within said shell. 
     
     
       6. The scroll-type compressor according to  claim 5 , wherein said valve is controlled by a pressurized fluid from outside said shell. 
     
     
       7. A scroll-type compressor for handling a working fluid, said compressor comprising:
 a shell having a suction zone and a discharge zone;  
 a first scroll member disposed in said shell and having a first scroll wrap extending from a first end plate;  
 a second scroll member disposed in said shell and having a second scroll wrap extending from a second end plate, said second scroll wrap being intermeshed with said first scroll wrap to define a plurality of closed pockets;  
 a drive mechanism for causing said second scroll member to orbit with respect to said first scroll member, said plurality of pockets moving from a radial outer position in said suction zone to a central position in said discharge zone;  
 a fluid circuit in communication with at least one of said plurality of pockets, said fluid circuit including a fluid passage extending from said one pocket to a position outside said shell, said fluid passage extending through said second scroll member;  
 a housing disposed within said shell, said housing supporting said second scroll member, said fluid passage extending through said housing; and  
 a valve disposed within said housing, said valve controlling fluid flow through said fluid passage.  
 
     
     
       8. The scroll-type compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein said valve is controlled by a pressurized fluid from outside said shell. 
     
     
       9. A scroll-type compressor for handling a working fluid; said compressor comprising:
 a shell;  
 a non-orbiting scroll member disposed within said shell and having a nonorbiting scroll wrap extending from a non-orbiting end plate;  
 an orbiting scroll member disposed within said shell and having an orbiting scroll wrap extending from an orbiting end plate, said orbiting scroll wrap being intermeshed with said non-orbiting scroll member to define a plurality of closed pockets;  
 a drive mechanism for causing said orbiting scroll member to orbit with respect to said non-orbiting scroll member, said plurality of closed pockets moving from a radial outer position where said working fluid is at a suction pressure to a radially inner central position where said working fluid is at a higher discharge pressure during said orbital movement;  
 a fluid circuit in communication with at least one of said plurality of moving pockets, said fluid circuit including a fluid passage extending from said one pocket to a position outside of said shell, said fluid pocket extending through said orbiting scroll member;  
 a housing disposed within said shell, said housing supporting said orbiting scroll member, said fluid passage extending through said housing; and  
 a valve disposed within said housing, said valve controlling fluid flow through said fluid passage.  
 
     
     
       10. The scroll-type compressor according to  claim 9 , wherein said valve is controlled by a pressurized fluid from outside said shell. 
     
     
       11. A scroll-type compressor for handling a working fluid, said compressor comprising:
 a shell having a suction zone and a discharge zone;  
 a first scroll member disposed in said shell and having a first scroll wrap extending from a first end plate;  
 a second scroll member disposed in said shell and having a second scroll wrap extending from a second end plate, said second scroll wrap being intermeshed with said first scroll wrap to define a plurality of closed pockets;  
 a drive mechanism for causing said second scroll member to orbit with respect to said first scroll member, said plurality of pockets moving from a radial outer position in said suction zone to a central position in said discharge zone;  
 a fluid circuit in communication with at least one of said plurality of pockets, said fluid circuit including a fluid passage extending from said one pocket to a position outside said shell, said fluid passage extending through said second scroll member; and  
 a housing having a plurality of legs disposed within said shell, said housing supporting said second scroll member, said fluid passage extending through one of said legs of said housing.  
 
     
     
       12. The scroll-type compressor according to  claim 11 , further comprising a valve disposed within said housing, said valve controlling fluid flow through said fluid passage. 
     
     
       13. The scroll-type compressor according to  claim 12 , wherein said valve is controlled by a pressurized fluid from outside said shell. 
     
     
       14. A scroll-type compressor for handling a working fluid; said compressor comprising:
 a shell;  
 a non-orbiting scroll member disposed within said shell and having a nonorbiting scroll wrap extending from a non-orbiting end plate;  
 an orbiting scroll member disposed within said shell and having an orbiting scroll wrap extending from an orbiting end plate, said orbiting scroll wrap being intermeshed with said non-orbiting scroll member to define a plurality of closed pockets;  
 a drive mechanism for causing said orbiting scroll member to orbit with respect to said non-orbiting scroll member, said plurality of closed pockets moving from a radial outer position where said working fluid is at a suction pressure to a radially inner central position where said working fluid is at a higher discharge pressure during said orbital movement;  
 a fluid circuit in communication with at least one of said plurality of moving pockets, said fluid circuit including a fluid passage extending from said one pocket to a position outside of said shell, said fluid pocket extending through said orbiting scroll member; and  
 a housing having a plurality of legs disposed within said shell, said housing supporting said orbiting scroll member, said fluid passage extending through one of said legs of said housing.  
 
     
     
       15. The scroll-type compressor according to  claim 14 , further comprising a valve disposed within said one leg of said housing, said valve controlling fluid flow through said fluid passage. 
     
     
       16. The scroll-type compressor according to  claim 15 , wherein said valve is controlled by a pressurized fluid from outside said shell. 
     
     
       17. A scroll-type compressor for handling a working fluid, said compressor comprising:
 a shell having a suction zone and a discharge zone;  
 a first scroll member disposed in said shell and having a first scroll wrap extending from a first end plate;  
 a second scroll member disposed in said shell and having a second scroll wrap extending from a second end plate, said second scroll wrap being intermeshed with said first scroll wrap to defined a plurality of closed pockets;  
 a drive mechanism for causing said second scroll member to orbit with respect to said first scroll member, said plurality of pockets moving from a radial outer position in said suction zone to a central position in said discharge zone;  
 a first circuit in communication with at least one of said plurality of pockets, said fluid circuit including a fluid passage extending from said one pocket to said suction zone of said compressor, said fluid passage extending through said second scroll member; and  
 a housing disposed within said shell, said housing supporting said second scroll member, said fluid passage extending through said housing; and  
   a valve disposed within said housing, said valve controlling fluid flow through said fluid passage.    
 
     
     
       18. The scroll-type compressor according to  claim 17 , further comprising a valve disposed within said housing, said valve controlling fluid flow through said fluid passage. 
     
     
       19. The scroll-type compressor according to claim  18   17 , wherein said valve is controlled by a pressurized fluid from outside said shell. 
     
     
       20. The scroll-type compressor according to claim  18   17 , wherein said fluid passage is in communication with an injection port extending through said shell and said valve is movable between a first position where said one pocket communicates with said suction zone of said compressor and a second position where said one pocket communicates with said injection port extending through said shell. 
     
     
       21. A scroll-type compressor for handling a working fluid, said compressor comprising:
 a shell having a suction zone and a discharge zone;  
 a first scroll member disposed in said shell and having a first scroll wrap extending from a first end plate;  
 a second scroll member disposed in said shell and having a second scroll wrap extending from a second end plate, said second scroll wrap being intermeshed with said first scroll wrap to define a plurality of closed pockets;  
 a drive mechanism for causing said second scroll member to orbit with respect to said first scroll member, said plurality of pockets moving from a radial outer position in said suction zone to a central position in said discharge zone;  
 a fluid circuit in communication with at least one of said plurality of pockets, said fluid circuit including a fluid passage extending from said one pocket to said suction zone of said compressor, said fluid passage extending through said second scroll member; and  
 a valve for controlling fluid flow through said fluid passage; wherein;  
 said valve is disposed within said shell; and  
 said valve is controlled by a pressurized fluid from outside said shell.  
 
     
     
       22. The scroll-type compressor according to  claim 21 , wherein said fluid passage is in communication with an injection port extending through said shell and said valve is movable between a first position where said one pocket communicates with said suction zone of said compressor and a second position where said one pocket communicates with said injection port extending through said shell. 
     
     
       23. A scroll-type compressor for handling a working fluid, said compressor comprising:
 a shell having a suction zone and a discharge zone;  
 a first scroll member disposed in said shell and having a first scroll wrap extending from a first end plate;  
 a second scroll member disposed in said shell and having a second scroll wrap extending from a second end plate, said second scroll wrap being intermeshed with said first scroll wrap to define a plurality of closed pockets;  
 a drive mechanism for causing said second scroll member to orbit with respect to said first scroll member, said plurality of pockets moving from a radial outer position in said suction zone to a central position in said discharge zone;  
 a fluid circuit in communication with at least one of said plurality of pockets, said fluid circuit including a fluid passage extending from said one pocket to said suction zone of said compressor, said fluid passage extending through said second scroll member; and  
 a housing having a plurality of legs disposed within said shell, said housing supporting said first scroll member, said fluid passage extending through one of said legs of said housing.  
 
     
     
       24. The scroll-type compressor according to  claim 23 , further comprising a valve disposed within said housing, said valve controlling fluid flow through said fluid passage. 
     
     
       25. The scroll-type compressor according to  claim 24 , wherein said valve is controlled by a pressurized fluid from outside said shell.