Scroll compressors and methods for circulating lubrication oil through the same

摘要

An oil storage area (45a) is defined on the bottom of a motor chamber (45) of a scroll compressor (1). An oil transfer route (4a) is defined in the portion of a center housing (4) that corresponds to the storage area (45a). Lubricating oil L is separated from the discharged, compressed refrigerant by an oil separator (80) and the lubricating oil L is supplied to the backside of a movable scroll (20) due to a pressure differential within the compress (1). After lubricating a bearing (10), the lubricating oil L is temporarily stored in the storage area (45a) and then is transferred due to a pressure differential to the suction-side of a compression mechanism (21) via the oil transfer route (4a). The lubricating oil L is then transferred to the oil separator (80) together with the compressed refrigerant that is discharged from a compression chamber (32) of the compression mechanism (21). Thus, the lubricating oil L contained in the discharged, compressed refrigerant can be effectively separated from the compressed refrigerant and circulated to and from the back side of the movable scroll (20) in order to lubricate moving parts within the compressor (1) using the pressure differentials within the compressor (1).