TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention concerns a valve plate with recesses to create a spacing between the cylinder cover and the block, thereby improving the thermal efficiency of a compressor.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Compressor efficiency is directly affected by the temperature of the coolant to be compressed and pumped. In this way, in order to increase the efficiency of the compressors one should try to isolate the heat transfer from the hot components of the compressor to the components in contact with the coolant to be compressed. Among components that are in more direct contact with the coolant to be compressed, the following are highlighted: the suction muffler, the valve plate, and the compression cylinder.

[0003] The valve plate is a component located between the cylinder cover and the compressor block, being the main heat transfer path between these two components.

[0004] In the state of the art an extra component that has the function of ensuring the spacing between the cylinder cover and the valve plate is used, commonly named as pseudo plate or intermediate plate. In addition to the need of using an additional component in the state of the art, solutions generally introduce additional interfaces between components that have a sealing function. Thus, a constant problem in the solutions identified in the state of the art are additional points of leakage, hence resulting in a loss of cooling capacity.

[0005] U.S. patent application US2013108493 Al, entitled "VALVE PLATE FOR A COMPRESSOR", published on May 2, 2013 , on behal f of PANASONIC CORPORATION, describes a valve plate with the aim of thermally isolating a compressor suction muf f ler from a discharge point on the compressor cylinder head, in which said valve plate comprises three plate elements , the first plate being made of a thermally insulating material and the second and third plates being made of a metallic material . However, the present invention, in addition to renouncing the use of additional intermediate plates , it also presents recesses directly on the valve plate filled by an insulating fluid, enabling it to thermally isolate the cylinder cover and the compressor block .

[ 0006 ] Chinese patent application CN 204941843 U, entitled "A VALVE PLATE FOR REFRIGERATOR COMPRESSOR" , published on January 6 , 2016 , on behal f of DONPER ELECTROMECHANICAL, describes a valve plate for a refrigerator compressor that includes : a valve plate body provided with an exhaust hole , in which the valve plate body consists of a first valve plate body, a second body of the valve plate and a third body of the valve plate that are fully molded by inj ection; The second body of the valve plate is located between the first body of the valve plate and the third body of the valve plate ; and the first valve plate body is an insulating valve plate body . However, the present invention does not require the use of intermediate plates , which reduces the leakage regions for the coolant , as well as reduces the tolerance charting, improving the positioning of the components and avoiding manufacturing problems related to an extra component .

[ 0007 ] Chinese patent application CN112392692A, entitled "COMPRESSOR" , published on February 23 , 2021 , on behal f of HANGZHOU QIANJIANG REFRIGERATION COMPRESSOR GROUP CO LTD, refers to a valve plate , comprising a valve plate body, a gas inlet hole, an exhaustion hole and an assembly hole , in which the gas inlet hole , the exhaustion hole and mounting holes are arranged in the valve plate body, and the side wall surfaces of the gas inlet hole and exhaust hole are each coated with a thermal insulation layer . Unlike the present invention, this Chinese application does not introduce additional thermal resistances into the valve plate without relying on intermediate plates .

SUMMARY

[ 0008 ] The valve plate is a component located between the cylinder cover and the block, being the main heat trans fer path between these two components .

[ 0009 ] In this sense , the present invention comprises the printing of at least one area of recess on the valve plate in the suction face in order to create a spacing between the coolant on the cylinder cover and the compressor block . This spacing will create additional resistance to the passage of the coolant heat , from the cylinder cover to the block, reducing the overheating of the coolant inside the compression cylinder . Thus , the use of an intermediate plate in the compressor assembly process is dismissed, which increases its thermal ef ficiency .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[ 00010 ] The obj ectives and advantages of the present invention will become clearer through the following detailed description of the example and non-limiting drawings presented at the end of this document .

[ 00011 ] Figure 1A shows the discharge side of a valve plate of the state of the art .

[ 00012 ] Figure IB shows the suction side of a valve plate of the state of the art.

[00013] Figure 2 shows the assembly of a compressor using a valve plate of the state of the art.

[00014] Figure 3 shows the assembly of a compressor using the valve plate with recesses of the present invention.

[00015] Figure 4 presents the suction side of the valve plate with recesses of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[00016] Figure 1A and IB, respectively, show the discharge and suction sides (100, 102) of a valve plate of the state of the art, which consists of a valve plate body, one or more gas inlet holes, one or more exhaust holes, in which the gas inlet hole, the exhaust hole and are arranged in the valve plate body.

[00017] Figure 2 is the assembly of a compressor using a valve plate 200 of the state of the art, as well as an intermediate plate 202 between the valve plate 200 and the compression cylinder cover 204. In this assembly, in addition to the need of using an additional component, intermediate plate 202, this assembly introduces additional interfaces between the components that have a sealing function, which generates additional leakage points and a larger tolerance charting, which penalizes part of the efficiency gain obtained by the insulation, thus increasing the variability of compressor efficiency.

[00018] Figure 3 presents the assembly of a compressor that uses the valve plate with recesses 300 of the present invention, dismissing the use of an intermediate plate, as well as reducing the number of interfaces between cylinder cover 302 and block 304. In this case, the freshly compressed coolant is discharged into the cylinder cover. After compression, the coolant temperature reaches high values. Therefore, the coolant at high temperature confined inside the cylinder cover 302 starts losing heat to its surroundings, including the block.

[00019] Figure 4 depicts the suction side ofa valve plate of the present invention, comprising: a valve plate body 402; a gas inlet hole 403; an exhaust hole 404; mounting holes 405, where the gas inlet hole 403, the exhaust hole 404 and the mounting holes 405 are arranged in the body of the valve plate 402; containing a set of recesses (406, 408) , where a coolant is deposited.

[00020] These recesses (406, 408) are created in regions that have no other functions on the valve plate. Examples of areas that cannot be lowered have several other functions such as: suction valve seat, compression cylinder seal, screw seal and bolting support/anchorage .

[00021] Thus, the created recess decreases the direct contact of the hot valve plate with the block, as it is occupied by the coolant, consisting of a good thermal insulator. Thus, thermal insulation is increased, and the efficiency benefit is achieved. Accordingly, while the assembly is simplified, fewer leak points are created and it becomes possible to have a larger volume of fluids inside the cylinder cover, since the use of an intermediate plate in the state of the art removes volume from the cylinder cover due to its thickness.

[00022] Although the present invention has been described in connection with certain preferential embodiments , it should be understood that it is not intended to limit disclosure to such particular achievements . Instead, it is intended to cover all possible alternatives , modi fications and equivalents within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the attached claims .