Pumps – Motor driven – Electric or magnetic motor
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-24
2001-09-04
Freay, Charles G. (Department: 3746)
Pumps
Motor driven
Electric or magnetic motor
C417S410500, C417S360000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283729
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a closed compressor and, in particular but not exclusively, to a closed compressor for use in, for example, an automobile air conditioner. The present invention also relates to a method of assembling such compressor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, open compressors are generally used for air conditioners in engine-driven automobiles, while closed compressors (motor-driven compressors) that are employed in household air conditioners are generally used for air conditioners in electric cars.
FIG. 6
depicts a horizontal scroll compressor for use in a conventional household air conditioner. The compressor shown therein includes a compression mechanism
4
and a motor drive section
6
for driving the compression mechanism
4
, both of which are contained in a closed vessel
2
. The compression mechanism
4
includes a stationary scroll
4
a
fixedly mounted in the closed vessel
2
, and an orbiting scroll
4
b
held in engagement with the stationary scroll
4
a
to undergo an orbiting motion relative thereto. The motor drive section
6
includes a stator
6
a
fixedly mounted in the closed vessel
2
, and a rotor
6
b
for orbiting the orbiting scroll
4
b
relative to the stationary scroll
4
a.
The orbiting scroll
4
b
has a shaft
4
c
integrally formed therewith so as to extend rearwardly therefrom. The shaft
4
c
is loosely inserted into an eccentric bearing
10
mounted on one end of a crankshaft
8
, on an intermediate portion of which the rotor
6
b
is securely mounted. The one end of the crankshaft
8
is rotatably supported by a main bearing
12
, which is held by a bearing support
14
. The other end of the crankshaft
8
is similarly rotatably supported by an auxiliary bearing
18
, which is held by a bearing support
16
. Both the bearing Supports
14
and
16
are fixedly mounted in the closed vessel
2
.
In assembling the scroll compressor of the above-described construction, the stationary scroll
4
a
is first held in engagement with the orbiting scroll
4
b
so as to allow the orbiting motion of the orbiting scroll
4
b
relative to the stationary scroll
4
a
. The stationary scroll
4
a
is then fixed on the bearing support
14
by means of a plurality of bolts, thus constituting the compression mechanism
4
. Furthermore, the rotor
6
b
is shrink-fitted to the crankshaft
8
, while a generally cylindrical shell
2
a
of the closed vessel
2
is shrink-fitted to the stator
6
a.
Thereafter, the bearing support
16
on which the auxiliary bearing
18
is held is welded to the generally cylindrical shell
2
a
, and the crankshaft
8
to which the rotor
6
b
has been shrink-fitted is inserted into the stator
6
a
so that the compression mechanism
4
may be placed at a predetermined position in the proximity of an open end of the generally cylindrical shell
2
a
. The bearing support
14
is then welded to the generally cylindrical shell
2
a
through a plurality of openings (not shown) formed in the generally cylindrical shell
2
a
. Finally, a pair of side shells
2
b
,
2
c
are welded to the generally cylindrical shell
2
a
, thereby completing the assembling work.
In the case of the scroll compressor assembled in the above-described manner, the stationary scroll
4
a
constituting the compression mechanism
4
and the bearing support
14
are both made of iron-based material and, hence, they have a great influence on the weight of the compressor. However, the weight requirement (weight-saving) on the compressors for household air conditioner is not so strong as that on the compressors for automobiles.
Recently, there is an increasing demand for environmental protection or energy saving, and automobiles of lighter weight are also demanded. Particularly, as far as electric cars are concerned, the lighter weight is one of the most important problems, because the electric cars are inferior in driving force to gasoline-driven cars.
In view of the need for lighter weight, it is conceivable that the component parts of the compression mechanism be changed from iron-based material to aluminum or aluminum-based material. In that case, however, if conventional gas welding is employed to fix the compression mechanism to the generally cylindrical shell, there arises a problem in that the aluminum-based material is fused and, hence, joining is not possible.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been developed to overcome the above-described disadvantages.
It is accordingly an objective of the present invention to provide a closed compressor having a reduced weight wherein any optional material can be used for component parts of a compression mechanism.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide the closed compressor of the above-described type which can be assembled with ease and in which the predetermined dimensional accuracy before assemblage can be maintained even after assemblage.
A further objective of the present invention is to provide a method of assembling such closed compressor.
In accomplishing the above and other objectives, the closed compressor according to the present invention includes a closed vessel, a compression mechanism contained in the closed vessel, a motor drive section for driving the compression mechanism, and a compression mechanism holder secured to the closed vessel for holding the compression mechanism within the closed vessel.
This construction makes it possible to use any optional material for component parts of the compression mechanism to reduce the weight of the compressor. Furthermore, unlike the conventional compressors, it is not necessary to weld a portion of the compression mechanism to the closed vessel. Accordingly, no thermal stains are created in the compression mechanism and, hence, the predetermined dimensional accuracy before assemblage can be maintained even after assemblage.
The compression mechanism is fastened to the compression mechanism holder by threading each of a plurality of first bolts into a nut secured to the compression mechanism holder or an internally threaded projection formed with the compression mechanism holder.
With this simple construction, the compression mechanism can be readily securely mounted on the closed vessel.
The compression mechanism holder has a plurality of bolt holes defined therein. Each bolt hole has a diameter greater than the width across the corners of the heads of a plurality of second bolts for use in assembling the compression mechanism so that the heads of the second bolts may be loosely inserted into the bolt holes, respectively.
By so doing, when the compression mechanism is fastened to the compression mechanism holder, the heads of the second bolts do not interfere with the compression mechanism holder, thus facilitating assemblage.
Advantageously, the compression mechanism is made of aluminum or aluminum-based material to considerably reduce the weight of the compressor.
The method of assembling a closed compressor according to the present invention includes the steps of: engaging a stationary scroll with an orbiting scroll so as to allow an orbiting motion of the orbiting scroll relative to the stationary scroll; fastening the stationary scroll to a bearing support by means of a plurality of first bolts, thus constituting the compression mechanism; fastening a compression mechanism holder made of a steel plate to the closed vessel; and fastening the compression mechanism to the compression mechanism holder by means of a plurality of second bolts.
This method makes it possible to use any optional material for component parts of the compression mechanism to reduce the weight of the compressor. Also, because it is not necessary to weld a portion of the compression mechanism to the closed vessel, no thermal stains are created in the compression mechanism and, hence, the predetermined dimensional accuracy before assemblage can be maintained even after assemblage.
The method according to the present invention includes the steps of shri
Abe Yoshifumi
Makino Masahiko
Yoshida Norio
Freay Charles G.
Gray Michael K.
Matsushita Electric - Industrial Co., Ltd.
Wenderoth , Lind & Ponack, L.L.P.
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