Scroll compressor having overheating prevention device

Abstract

A scroll compressor including a casing divided into a low pressure portion and a high pressure portion, a fixed scroll in the low pressure portion, an orbiting scroll, a motor to transmit driving force to the orbiting scroll, and an overheating prevention device that includes a body having a refrigerant discharge hole allowing the high pressure portion to communicate with the low pressure portion, and a bimetal valve between the high pressure portion and the low pressure portion to selectively open and close the refrigerant discharge hole to discharge a high temperature refrigerant of the high pressure portion through the refrigerant discharge hole to the low pressure portion based on the temperature of the high pressure portion being equal to or greater than a certain temperature. An overload breaker is operated by the high temperature refrigerant discharged through the refrigerant discharge hole to turn the motor off.

1 . A scroll compressor comprising:
 a casing;   a high/low pressure separation cover dividing an inside of the casing into a low pressure portion and a high pressure portion;   a fixed scroll disposed at the low pressure portion;   an orbiting scroll which engages with the fixed scroll and orbits and which forms a compression chamber with the fixed scroll;   a motor to transmit a driving force to the orbiting scroll;   an overheating prevention device including:
 a body having a refrigerant discharge hole allowing the high pressure portion to communicate with the low pressure portion, 
 a bimetal valve positioned at a boundary portion between the high pressure portion and the low pressure portion, and 
 a housing coupled to the body to restrict the bimetal valve to movement in an axial direction, 
 so that the bimetal valve selectively opens and closes the refrigerant discharge hole according to a temperature of the high pressure portion and so that a high temperature refrigerant of the high pressure portion is discharged through the refrigerant discharge hole to the low pressure portion based on the temperature of the high pressure portion being equal to or greater than a certain temperature; and 
   an overload breaker which is disposed at the low pressure portion, and which is operated by the high temperature refrigerant discharged through the refrigerant discharge hole and then from the overheating prevention device to turn the motor off.   
     
     
         2 . The scroll compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the body is around the refrigerant discharge hole and includes a valve seat disposed at a position lower than an upper surface of the high/low pressure separation cover. 
     
     
         3 . The scroll compressor of  claim 2 , wherein the valve seat is disposed to be further away from the high pressure portion than the upper surface of the high/low pressure separation cover. 
     
     
         4 . The scroll compressor of  claim 2 , wherein the bimetal valve is seated on the valve seat and includes a protrusion configured to close the refrigerant discharge hole. 
     
     
         5 . The scroll compressor of  claim 4 , wherein the valve seat is disposed at the position lower than the upper surface of the high/low pressure separation cover. 
     
     
         6 . The scroll compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the body of the overheating prevention device is coupled in a direction from an inside of the high/low pressure separation cover to an outside of the high/low pressure separation cover. 
     
     
         7 . The scroll compressor of  claim 6 , wherein the body of the overheating prevention device is thread-fastened to the high/low pressure separation cover. 
     
     
         8 . The scroll compressor of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 an internal pressure relief (IPR) valve coupled to the high/low pressure separation cover,   wherein a direction coupling the IPR valve to the high/low pressure separation cover is the same direction as a direction coupling the body of the overheating prevention device to the high/low pressure separation cover.   
     
     
         9 . The scroll compressor of  claim 8 , wherein
 a lower portion of the body of the overheating prevention device is provided with a first grip surface to which a wrench is coupled, and   a lower part of the IPR valve is provided with a second grip surface in the same size as that of the first grip surface.   
     
     
         10 . The scroll compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the body of the overheating prevention device is made of an insulation material. 
     
     
         11 . The scroll compressor of  claim 4 , wherein the bimetal valve includes a refrigerant passage hole disposed around the protrusion. 
     
     
         12 . An overheating prevention device coupled to a high/low pressure separation cover dividing an inside of a casing of a scroll compressor into a low pressure portion and a high pressure portion, the overheating prevention device comprising:
 a body including a refrigerant discharge hole allowing the high pressure portion to communicate with the low pressure portion and a valve seat provided on a side of the refrigerant discharge hole;   a bimetal valve including a protrusion which selectively opens and closes the refrigerant discharge hole according to a temperature of the high pressure portion, and a refrigerant passage hole positioned around the protrusion; and   a housing coupled to the body to restrict the bimetal valve to movement in an axial direction,   wherein the valve seat is disposed at a position lower than an upper surface of the high/low pressure separation cover.   
     
     
         13 . The overheating prevention device of  claim 12 , wherein the bimetal valve is positioned at a boundary portion between the high pressure portion and the low pressure portion. 
     
     
         14 . The overheating prevention device of  claim 12 , wherein the bimetal valve is disposed to be further away from the high pressure portion than the upper surface of the high/low pressure separation cover. 
     
     
         15 . The overheating prevention device of  claim 12 , wherein the body of the overheating prevention device is coupled in a direction from an inside of the high/low pressure separation cover to an outside of the high/low pressure separation cover.