Patent · US Expired

Capacity controllable compressor apparatus

US5094598A · kind A · utility

56Cited by
11References
29Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 12, 1990
Grant dateMar 10, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 12, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02B30/70
  • WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A capacity controllable compressor apparatus has a plurality of high-pressure chamber compressors which are connected in parallel to a common refrigerant suction pipe and a common refrigerant discharge pipe, and oil equalizing pipes through which oil sumps of the plurality of compressors are communicated with each other. One of the plurality of compressors is operated with its chamber kept at a higher internal pressure than other compressors. The compressor apparatus comprises an oil separator disposed to the common discharge pipe; device for returning lubricating oil separated by the oil separator to a suction side of one of the compressors operated with its chamber kept at a higher internal pressure; first control device disposed in the oil equalizing pipes so as to prevent the lubricating oil from flowing into one of the two compressors communicated with each other by the oil equalizing pipe, said one being made inoperative when the capacity of the compressor apparatus is controlled; and valve device disposed in a discharge pipe of the inoperative compressor so as to prevent refrigerant from flowing into the inoperative compressor.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.