Lubricant holder for a coolant compressor

Abstract

Lubricant holder for vertical conveying of lubricant using a crankshaft of a coolant compressor includes a sleeve element having a clear cross-section, an inner element having a mantle surface extending along a longitudinal axis of the inner element from a lower to an upper end, and on which a spiral is arranged that projects away from the mantle surface, runs spirally from the lower end region to the upper end region of the mantle surface, and delimits a channel, at least in certain areas. In an operating state of the lubricant holder the inner element is arranged within the clear cross-section with its mantle surface, at least in certain areas. In the region of the upper end of the mantle surface, at least one contact section is arranged, which projects away radially beyond the mantle surface, and the progression of which deviates from the spiral-shaped progression of the spiral.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lubricant holder for vertical conveying of lubricant by a crankshaft of a coolant compressor comprising:
 a sleeve element having a sleeve element longitudinal axis, a sleeve element upper end, a sleeve element lower end, and a clear cross-section delimited by an inner wall and extending along the sleeve element longitudinal axis from the sleeve element upper end to the sleeve element lower end; and   an inner element having an inner element longitudinal axis, an inner element upper end, an inner element lower end, a mantle surface extending along the inner element lower end to the inner element upper end, and a spiral arranged on the mantle surface;   wherein the spiral projects away from the mantle surface and extends in a spiral shape from a region of the inner element lower end to a region of the inner element upper end, and delimits a channel, at least in certain areas;   wherein in an operating state of the lubricant holder:   (a) the inner element is arranged within the clear cross-section of the sleeve element with its mantle surface, at least in certain areas, in such a manner that a gap is disposed between an outer surface of the spiral and the inner wall;   (b) viewed in a direction from the sleeve element lower end to the sleeve element upper end, the inner element lower end is disposed in front of its upper end; and   (c) the inner element and the sleeve element are rotatable relative to one another about at least one of the sleeve element longitudinal axis and the inner element longitudinal axis; and   wherein in the region of the inner element upper end, at least one contact section is provided and projects radically beyond the mantle surface; and   wherein the at least one contact section has a progression deviating from a spiral-shaped progression of the spiral.   
     
     
         2 . The lubricant holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one contact section, viewed along the inner element longitudinal axis, is delimited by a first boundary surface and a second boundary surface arranged one behind the other; and wherein at least one of the first boundary surface and the second boundary surface stands normal to the inner element longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         3 . The lubricant holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the channel has a reduced channel cross-section in a region of the at least one contact section. 
     
     
         4 . The lubricant holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the spiral directly follows the at least one contact section. 
     
     
         5 . The lubricant holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one contact section covers an angle range around the inner element longitudinal axis and amounts to at least 15°. 
     
     
         6 . The lubricant holder according to  claim 5 , wherein the angle range is at least 45°. 
     
     
         7 . The lubricant holder according to  claim 5 , wherein the angle range is at least 90°. 
     
     
         8 . The lubricant holder ( 1 ) according to  claim 5 , wherein the angle range is 360°. 
     
     
         9 . The lubricant holder according to  claim 8 , wherein the at least one contact section comprises at least one closed contact section entirely covering the angle range. 
     
     
         10 . The lubricant holder according to  claim 1 , wherein precisely one contact section is provided. 
     
     
         11 . The lubricant holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner element has a cavity that is open, viewed in a direction toward the inner element upper end, along the inner element longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         12 . The lubricant holder according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one passage opening is provided in the region of the inner element upper end, and wherein the at least one passage opening connects the channel with the cavity. 
     
     
         13 . A coolant compressor comprising:
 (a) a compressor housing configured to be hermetically encapsulated and comprising a housing interior;   (b) an electrical drive unit arranged in the housing interior and comprising a rotor and a stator;   (c) a crankshaft connected with the rotor in a torque-proof manner;   (d) a piston/cylinder unit arranged in the housing interior and comprising a cylinder and a piston mounted in a cylinder and driven by the crankshaft for compression of coolant; and   (e) the lubricant holder according to  claim 1 ;   wherein the lubricant holder is in the operating state so as to convey lubricant out of a lubricant sump formed in a bottom region of the compressor housing by way of the crankshaft; and   wherein the crankshaft has at least one of a bore that runs at a slant to an axis of rotation of the crankshaft and at least one groove that stands in a fluidic connection with the clear cross-section of the sleeve element.   
     
     
         14 . The coolant compressor according to  claim 13 , wherein the sleeve element of the lubricant holder is connected with the crankshaft in a torque-proof manner.