Reciprocating compressor

Abstract

A reciprocating compressor is provided with a seal casing and includes a motor and a uni-body member which is mounted to the motor and provides a cylinder and head portion formed as a unitary member in order to reduce the number of machining operations and the number of parts required for assembly of the reciprocating compressor.

1 . A compressor, comprising: 
 a motor including a crankshaft;    a piston drivingly connected to said crankshaft; and    a uni-body member including a body portion defining a cylinder for receiving said piston for reciprocating movement therein and a head portion defining a discharge passage in communication with said cylinder, said body portion and said head portion being formed as a unitary member.    
     
     
         2 . The compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein said uni-body member includes a suction passage therein.  
     
     
         3 . The compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein said uni-body member includes a discharge chamber in communication with said discharge passage.  
     
     
         4 . The compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein said uni-body member includes a journal portion for receiving an end portion of said crankshaft.  
     
     
         5 . The compressor according to  claim 1 , further comprising a discharge valve assembly disposed in said head portion of said uni-body member.  
     
     
         6 . The compressor according to  claim 5 , wherein said discharge valve assembly is interference fit within said head portion.  
     
     
         7 . The compressor according to  claim 5 , wherein said discharge valve assembly includes a valve plate disposed at a top portion of said cylinder, a valve member disposed against said valve plate and a retainer disposed against said valve member.  
     
     
         8 . The compressor according to  claim 7 , wherein said valve member is a flexible reed valve.  
     
     
         9 . The compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein said crankshaft extends through an opening in said uni-body member and includes an isolation seal disposed between said crankshaft and said opening.  
     
     
         10 . The compressor according to  claim 9 , wherein said body portion of said uni-body member includes a hollow section that receives a portion of said motor therein, said uni-body member defining a suction passage therein that communicates with a space between said hollow section and said motor.  
     
     
         11 . The compressor according to  claim 1 , further comprising a compressor shell having a first end portion and a second end portion each connected by a middle portion, said compressor shell being configured to receive said motor and said uni-body member arranged with said uni-body member being disposed at either one of said first end portion or said second end portion of said compressor shell.  
     
     
         12 . The compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein said body portion of said uni-body member includes a hollow section that receives a stator of said motor.  
     
     
         13 . The compressor according to  claim 12 , wherein said body portion of said uni-body member is press-fit on said stator of said motor.  
     
     
         14 . The compressor according to  claim 12 , wherein said body portion of said uni-body member is secured on said stator of said motor by an adhesive.  
     
     
         15 . The compressor according to  claim 12 , wherein said body portion of said uni-body member is bolted on said stator of said motor.  
     
     
         16 . The compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein said motor includes a motor cover connected to a stator of said motor.  
     
     
         17 . The compressor according to  claim 16 , wherein said motor cover is press-fit on said stator.  
     
     
         18 . The compressor according to  claim 16 , wherein said motor cover is secured to said stator by an adhesive.  
     
     
         19 . The compressor according to  claim 16 , wherein said motor cover includes a cover body connected to said stator and a lower bearing housing for supporting a lower motor bearing and being mounted to said cover body.  
     
     
         20 . The compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein said piston includes at least one post on a top surface thereof, said post being received in a discharge port in communication with said discharge passage.  
     
     
         21 . A method of assembling a valve plate in an open end of a cylinder, the cylinder including a piston disposed therein, comprising the steps of: 
 holding the piston at a predetermined position within said cylinder;    thermally shrinking the valve plate and inserting the valve plate in the open end of the cylinder so as to rest on said piston, and    allowing the valve plate to warm so as to expand into a press fit engagement with said cylinder.    
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising the step of fastening a valve retainer to said valve plate and providing a discharge valve between said valve plate and said valve retainer.  
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 21 , further comprising the step of thermally shrinking a valve retainer mounted to said valve plate and inserting said valve retainer with said valve plate into said cylinder and allowing said valve retainer to warm so as to expand into a press fit engagement with said cylinder.  
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein said step of holding the piston at a predetermined position within said cylinder includes reverse loading bearings of a connecting rod connected to the piston.  
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein said piston includes at least one post on a top surface thereof, said post being received in a discharge port in said valve plate.  
     
     
         26 . A method of assembling a valve plate in an open end of a cylinder, the cylinder including a piston disposed therein, comprising the steps of: 
 holding the piston at a predetermined position within said cylinder;    thermally expanding the cylinder and inserting the valve plate in the open end of the cylinder so as to rest on said piston, and    allowing the cylinder to cool so as to contract into a press fit engagement with said valve plate.    
     
     
         27 . A compressor, comprising: 
 a motor including a crankshaft;    a piston drivingly connected to said crankshaft;    a cylinder for receiving said piston for reciprocating movement therein and a head portion defining a discharge passage in communication with said cylinder; and    further comprising a discharge valve assembly interference fit in said cylinder.    
     
     
         28 . The compressor according to  claim 27 , wherein said discharge valve assembly includes a valve plate disposed at a top portion of said cylinder, a valve member disposed against said valve plate and a retainer disposed against said valve member.  
     
     
         29 . The compressor according to  claim 28 , wherein said valve member is a flexible reed valve.  
     
     
         30 . A compressor, comprising: 
 a motor including a crankshaft;    a piston drivingly connected to said crankshaft;    a body member defining a cylinder for receiving said piston for reciprocating movement therein and a head portion defining a discharge passage in communication with said cylinder; and    wherein said crankshaft extends through an opening in said body member and includes an isolation seal disposed between said crankshaft and said opening.    
     
     
         31 . The compressor according to  claim 30 , wherein said body portion of said body member includes a hollow section that receives a portion of said motor therein, said body member defining a suction passage therein that communicates with a space between said hollow section and said motor.  
     
     
         32 . A compressor, comprising: 
 a motor including a crankshaft;    a piston drivingly connected to said crankshaft;    a body member defining a cylinder for receiving said piston for reciprocating movement therein and a head portion defining a discharge passage in communication with said cylinder; and    wherein said motor includes a motor cover connected to a stator of said motor, said motor cover and stator defining a suction gas passage therebetween.    
     
     
         33 . The compressor according to  claim 32 , wherein said motor cover is press-fit on said stator.  
     
     
         34 . The compressor according to  claim 32 , wherein said motor cover is secured to said stator by an adhesive.  
     
     
         35 . The compressor according to  claim 32 , wherein said motor cover includes a cover body connected to a stator of said motor and a lower bearing housing for supporting a lower motor bearing and being mounted to said cover body.  
     
     
         36 . A compressor, comprising: 
 a motor including a crankshaft;    a piston drivingly connected to said crankshaft;    a body member defining a cylinder for receiving said piston for reciprocating movement therein and a head portion defining a discharge passage in communication with said cylinder; and    further comprising a discharge valve assembly disposed in said cylinder and including at least one discharge port therein, wherein said piston includes at least one post on a top surface thereof, said post being received in said discharge port.    
     
     
         37 . A compressor, comprising: 
 a drive shaft;    a piston drivingly connected to said drive shaft; and    a uni-body member including a body portion defining a cylinder for receiving said piston for reciprocating movement therein and a head portion defining a discharge passage in communication with said cylinder, said body portion and said head portion being formed as a unitary member.