Scroll compressor with refrigerant injection system

Abstract

A scroll compressor including a refrigerant injection system. The refrigerant injection system includes an injection inlet conduit which is disposed at least partially within the suction pressure chamber of the scroll compressor, and includes one end sealingly fitted into an opening in the non-orbiting scroll member which is disposed within the suction pressure chamber. The non-orbiting scroll member includes a pair of transfer passages at least partially formed in a side thereof which faces the discharge pressure chamber, as well as injection ports for injecting refrigerant from the transfer passages into the working pockets defined between the non-orbiting and orbiting scroll members. A cover plate, disposed in the discharge chamber of the compressor, is secured to the base plate of the non-orbiting scroll via a gasket and a plurality of fasteners to enclose and seal the transfer passages from the discharge pressure chamber. A discharge valve assembly is secured to the cover plate and is operable to selectively open and close the discharge port of the non-orbiting scroll member.

1 . A scroll compressor, comprising:
 a housing including a suction pressure chamber and a discharge pressure chamber;   a motor-compressor unit disposed within said housing, including a crankcase and a stator, rotor, and drive shaft assembly, said drive shaft rotatably supported by said crankcase;   a first scroll member fixed with respect to said housing, said first scroll member comprising:
 a base plate separating an interior of said housing into said suction and discharge pressure chambers; 
 a first wrap extending from said base plate; and 
   a second scroll member coupled to said drive shaft for orbital movement, said second scroll member including a second wrap intermeshed with said first wrap to define a plurality of variable-volume working pockets; and   a refrigerant injection system, comprising:
 an inlet conduit disposed in said suction pressure chamber, said inlet conduit separate from said first scroll member and including a first end connected to an injection inlet fitting in said housing and a second end connected to a fitting in said first scroll member, each said fitting disposed within said suction pressure chamber; 
 at least a pair of passages at least partially formed in said base plate of said first scroll member, said passages in fluid communication with said inlet conduit; 
 at least a pair of injection ports in said base plate of said first scroll member, said injection ports in fluid communication with respective said passages and with said working pockets; and 
   a cover plate secured to said base plate of said first scroll member and enclosing said passages, said cover plate disposed within said discharge pressure chamber.   
   
   
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       5 . The scroll compressor of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of said injection ports are associated with each said passage. 
   
   
       6 . The scroll compressor of  claim 1 , wherein said cover plate further comprises a discharge opening therein, said discharge opening aligned with a discharge port in said first scroll member. 
   
   
       7 . The scroll compressor of  claim 1 , further comprising a discharge valve assembly including a discharge valve and a valve stop each secured to said cover plate, said discharge valve operable to open and close a discharge port of said first scroll member. 
   
   
       8 . The scroll compressor of  claim 1 , further comprising a gasket disposed between said cover plate and said base plate of said first scroll member, and a plurality of fasteners securing said cover plate to said base plate with said gasket captured between said cover plate and said base plate. 
   
   
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