Scroll compressor with vapor injection

Abstract

A fitting is secured to a shell of an apparatus. A tube is fixedly and sealingly attached to the fitting by either forming the fitting into engagement with the tube or forming the tube into engagement with the fitting. In both embodiments, engagement between the tube and a contoured surface defined by the fitting creates the fixed and sealed attachment.

1 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a shell;    a fitting secured to said shell, said fitting defining an inner diameter and a contoured surface disposed radially outward from said inner diameter;    a tube extending through said inner diameter, one of said tube and said fitting defining a deformation which fixedly secures said tube to said fitting.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said contoured surface forms a groove extending into said fitting, said tube being disposed within said groove.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said inner diameter of said fitting defines said deformation such that said fitting engages an inside diameter of said tube.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said tube defines said deformation such that an outside diameter of said tube engages said fitting.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a compressor disposed within said shell, said tube extending between said fitting and said compressor.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said contoured surface forms a groove extending into said fitting, said tube being disposed within said groove.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein said inner diameter of said fitting defines said deformation such that said fitting engages an inside diameter of said tube.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said tube defines said deformation such that an outside diameter of said tube engages said fitting.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said tube is in communication with a compression chamber defined by said compressor.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising a fluid injection system communicating with said compressor, said tube forming a part of said fluid injection system.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a first scroll member disposed within said shell, said first scroll member having a first spiral wrap extending from a first end plate;    a second scroll member disposed within said shell, said second scroll member having a second spiral wrap extending from a second end plate, said second scroll member being intermeshed with said first scroll wrap, said first spiral wrap engaging said second spiral wrap to define at least one compression chamber; wherein    said tube extends between said fitting and one of said first and second scroll members.    
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said contoured surface forms a groove extending into said fitting, said tube being disposed within said groove.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein said inner diameter of said fitting defines said deformation such that said fitting engages an inside diameter of said tube.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said tube defines said deformation such that an outside diameter of said tube engages said fitting.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising a fluid injection system communicating with said one of said first and second scroll members, said tube forming a part of said fluid injection system.  
     
     
         17 . A method for fixedly attaching a tube to a shell, the method comprising: 
 attaching a fitting to said shell;    positioning a tube adjacent a contoured surface defined by said fitting;    forming a deformation in one of said tube and said fitting to fixedly attaching said tube to said fitting by having engagement between said tube and said contoured surface.    
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein said attaching step includes brazing, soldering or welding said fitting to said shell.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein said forming step includes forming said fitting into engagement with an inside diameter of said tube.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein said forming step includes forming said tube to engage an outside diameter of said tube with said contoured surface.