抄録
This study presents a theoretical development of excellent lubrication at the thrust slide-bearing of scroll compressors, caused by a wedge formation due to elastic deformation of the thrust plate at its periphery. In theoretical calculations, the average Reynolds equation by Patir & Cheng for rough sliding surfaces of the thrust slide-bearing was applied to analyze the fluid lubrication, while the solid contact theory by Greenwood & Williamson was applied to analyze the plastic and elastic contacts between the orbiting and fixed thrust plates. With the FEM-calculated wedge angle between the sliding surfaces, the oil film pressure, the solid contact force, the fluid frictional force and the solid shearing drag force were calculated to determine the resultant friction coefficient at the thrust slide-bearing. As a result, it was shown that the theoretical results have a good agreement with the lubrication test results, thus unveiling the essential contents of excellent fluid lubrication at the thrust slide-bearing, caused by the wedge formation due to large thrust loads.
