Compressor for and method of simultaneously cooling and cleaning gas

Abstract

A scroll type compressor includes a fixed scroll member and a movable scroll member to define compression chambers. The movable scroll member orbits relative to the fixed scroll member to compress gas in the compression chambers. The compressed gas is discharged to a discharge port. The compressor also includes a filter chamber and a cooling chamber. The filter chamber communicates with the discharge port for accommodating a first filter to at least partially filter the compressed gas. The cooling chamber is located adjacent to the filter chamber for containing coolant fluid that cools the compressed gas in the filter chamber.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A scroll type compressor including a fixed scroll member and a movable scroll member to define compression chambers, the movable scroll member orbiting relative to the fixed scroll member to compress gas in the compression chambers, the compressed gas being discharged to a discharge port, comprising: 
 a filter chamber communicating with the discharge port for accommodating a first filter to at least partially filter the compressed gas; and    a cooling chamber located adjacent to the filter chamber for containing coolant fluid that cools the compressed gas in the filter chamber.    
     
     
         2 . The scroll type compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein the cooling chamber is located between the compression chambers and the filter chamber.  
     
     
         3 . The scroll type compressor according to  claim 1 , further comprising an inner casing and an outer casing that define the filter chamber, the inner casing being fixed to the fixed scroll member, the outer casing being detachably fixed to the inner casing.  
     
     
         4 . The scroll type compressor according to  claim 3 , wherein the first filter is supported in such a manner that the first filter is sandwiched by the inner and outer casings.  
     
     
         5 . The scroll type compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein the first filter is located so as to be perpendicular to a first flow direction in which the compressed gas flows in the filter chamber, the first flow direction being substantially the same as a second flow direction in which the compressed gas flows in the discharge port.  
     
     
         6 . The scroll type compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein the filter chamber further accommodates a second filter, the first and second filters being located along a first flow direction in which the compressed gas flows in the filter chamber, an escape passage being formed in such a manner that the compressed gas bypasses at least one of the first and second filters.  
     
     
         7 . The scroll type compressor according to  claim 6 , wherein the compressed gas flows in the discharge port in a second flow direction that is substantially the same as the first flow direction.  
     
     
         8 . The scroll type compressor according to  claim 7 , wherein the first and second filters are located so as to be perpendicular to the first flow direction.  
     
     
         9 . The scroll type compressor according to  claim 6 , wherein the first filter is located on an upstream side with respect to the second filter, each of the first and second filters having a mesh, a mesh size of the second filter being equal to or larger than that of the first filter.  
     
     
         10 . The scroll type compressor according to  claim 6 , wherein the first filter is located on an upstream side with respect to the second filter, the first filter having a first predetermined receiving area, the second filter having a second predetermined receiving area that is equal to or larger than the first predetermined receiving area.  
     
     
         11 . The scroll type compressor according to  claim 6 , further comprising an open-close means for closing the escape passage when a pressure of the compressed gas on an upstream side of the escape passage is lower than a predetermined pressure, the open-close means opening the escape passage when the pressure of the compressed gas on the upstream side of the escape passage is equal to or larger than the predetermined pressure.  
     
     
         12 . The scroll type compressor according to  claim 11 , wherein the open-close means further comprises a fixed support portion that is fixed to the inner casing and a movable support portion for movably supporting the first filter, the first filter contacting the fixed support portion so as to close the escape passage, the first filter moving away from the fixed support portion so as to open the escape passage.  
     
     
         13 . The scroll type compressor according to  claim 12 , wherein the open-close means further comprises an elastic member for urging the first filter to close the escape passage.  
     
     
         14 . The scroll type compressor according to  claim 6 , wherein the second filter is located on a downstream side with respect to the first filter, the escape passage being formed in such a manner that the compressed gas bypasses the first filter.  
     
     
         15 . The scroll type compressor according to  claim 6 , wherein the second filter is located on a downstream side with respect to the first filter, the compressed gas passing through the second filter without bypassing the second filter.  
     
     
         16 . The scroll type compressor according to  claim 6 , wherein the first and second filters are supported in such a manner that the first and second filters are sandwiched between the inner and outer casings.  
     
     
         17 . The scroll type compressor according to  claim 6 , further comprising a first filter mounting portion for placing the first filter adjacent to the second filter at a predetermined distance from the second filter.  
     
     
         18 . The scroll type compressor according to  claim 17 , wherein the first filter mounting portion is connected to the inner casing.  
     
     
         19 . The scroll type compressor according to  claim 17 , wherein the second filter has a frame, the first filter mounting portion being connected to the frame of the second filter.  
     
     
         20 . The scroll type compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein the first filter further comprises a filter portion and a frame.  
     
     
         21 . The scroll type compressor according to  claim 20 , wherein a shape of the filter portion is different from that of the frame.  
     
     
         22 . The scroll type compressor according to  claim 20 , wherein the first filter has a circular shape.  
     
     
         23 . The scroll type compressor according to  claim 20 , wherein the first filter has a rectangular shape.  
     
     
         24 . The scroll type compressor according to  claim 20 , wherein the first filter has a semicircular shape.  
     
     
         25 . The scroll type compressor according to  claim 20 , wherein the first filter has a planar shape.  
     
     
         26 . The scroll type compressor according to  claim 20 , wherein the first filter has a hemispherical shape.  
     
     
         27 . The scroll type compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein flow-dividing fins are provided in the cooling chamber for dividing flow of the coolant fluid.  
     
     
         28 . The scroll type compressor according to  claim 1 , further comprising a suction port for introducing the compressed gas into the compression chambers.  
     
     
         29 . The scroll type compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein an inlet is formed at the filter chamber for communicating with the discharge port, an outlet being formed at the filter chamber for leading the compressed gas to an external circuit.  
     
     
         30 . A method of processing compressed gas in a compressor that forms a compression chambers for compressing the gas, a filter chamber having a filter and a cooling chamber that is located adjacent to the filter chamber for containing coolant fluid, the method comprising the steps of: 
 transmitting cooling temperature of the coolant fluid to the filter chamber;    cooling the compressed gas in the filter chamber; and    removing foreign substances in the compressed gas through the filter in the filter chamber simultaneously with said cooling.    
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 30 , further comprising the steps of: 
 transmitting the cooling temperature of the coolant fluid to the compression chambers; and    cooling the compressed gas in the compression chambers simultaneously with said cooling the compressed gas in the filter chamber.    
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 30 , wherein the compressor is a scroll type compressor.  
     
     
         33 . A compressor for compressing gas, comprising: 
 a filter chamber for accommodating a filter so as to at least partially filter the compressed gas; and    a cooling chamber located adjacent to the filter chamber for containing coolant fluid so that cooling temperature of the coolant fluid is transmitted to the filter chamber.    
     
     
         34 . The compressor according to  claim 33 , further comprising compression chambers located adjacent to the cooling chamber for compressing the gas so that the cooling temperature of the coolant fluid is transmitted to the compression chambers.  
     
     
         35 . A cooling circuit for cooling gas in a compressor that compresses the gas, comprising: 
 a filter chamber located in the compressor and accommodating a filter to filter at least partially the compressed gas;    a cooling chamber located in the compressor adjacent to the filter chamber for passing coolant fluid;    a heat exchanger connected to the cooling chamber for cooling the coolant fluid from the cooling chamber; and    a pump connected to the heat exchanger for supplying the coolant fluid to the cooling chamber.