Electrical connectors – With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in... – Retaining means
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-14
2001-09-18
Vu, Hien (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
With coupling movement-actuating means or retaining means in...
Retaining means
C439S271000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06290528
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a sealed power supply connection for a sealed compressor canister.
Compressors are typically mounted within a sealed housing structure. The sealed housing structure receives a compressor pump unit and an electric motor for driving the compressor pump unit. Refrigerant and oil are allowed to flow within the compressor housing to perform various functions such as cooling the motor, etc. Due to this refrigerant fluid and vapor flow within the compressor housing, the housings must be fully fluid-tight.
There have been some challenges in connecting power supply connections to the compressor housing while still achieving a fluid-tight structure for the compressor housing. Typically, a series of terminal pins are mounted within a side wall of the connector. A cable has been connected to those terminal pins to supply power to the electric motor.
These connections have been deficient in several regards. First, there has not always been a fully fluid-tight connection at the connection of the connector housing.
In addition, the mount of the cable has typically been directly to the terminal pins. In this way, when the cable is removed from the connector, there has been damage to the terminal pin connections, since it is a single connector with fragile ceramic connectors.
Further, this type of connection has not been adaptable to applications where the compressor may sometimes be submerged in water.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a disclosed embodiment of this invention, a separate connector housing is attached to a compressor housing wall. The cable is connected to a connection at one end of the housing, and the terminal pins from the connector housing are received within mating pin structure within the connector block. The connector block has appropriate circuitry for communicating the pins in the housing wall to the connectors for the cable at the other end of the connector. The connector housing is preferably attached to the connector wall with some mechanical attachment structure. In one embodiment, bolts are utilized. Preferably, bolt bosses are welded to the outer surface of the connector housing to receive the mechanical attachment bolts. The cable is separately connected to the connector housing such that when the cable is removed, there is no force on the terminal pins in the connector housing.
Structurally, the connector housing preferably includes an internal wall which receives a connector block to receive the terminal pins. This housing provides proper positioning for the terminal block such that the terminal block is properly received. A strap secures the terminal block within the housing wall. The terminal block is preferably formed with openings to receive the terminal pins from the compressor housing, and has appropriate circuitry connected to the terminal pins for the cable.
Further, sealing elements are preferably placed on the connector housing to surround the connection of the terminal pins within the compressor housing. Further sealing elements are placed in the housing at appropriate locations to define a fluid-tight seal. Also, the entire interior of the housing is preferably encased in a filler material such as a potting material, further enhancing the fluid-tight seal.
These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4059325 (1977-11-01), Diminnie et al.
patent: 4109992 (1978-08-01), Hughes et al.
patent: 4227764 (1980-10-01), Fiske
patent: 4252394 (1981-02-01), Miller
patent: 4523798 (1985-06-01), Barrows et al.
patent: 4584433 (1986-04-01), Bowsky et al.
patent: 4654470 (1987-03-01), Feldman et al.
patent: 4712157 (1987-12-01), Simonson et al.
patent: 4827502 (1989-05-01), Suffi et al.
patent: 4840547 (1989-06-01), Fry
patent: 4915638 (1990-04-01), Domian
patent: 4921454 (1990-05-01), Atherton et al.
patent: 4984973 (1991-01-01), Itameri-Kinter et al.
patent: 4998891 (1991-03-01), Bresko
patent: 5007854 (1991-04-01), Crespiatico et al.
patent: 5035653 (1991-07-01), Honkomp et al.
patent: 5084596 (1992-01-01), Borsh et al.
patent: 5091821 (1992-02-01), Peyton
patent: 5120237 (1992-06-01), Fussell
patent: 5126608 (1992-06-01), Sogabe et al.
patent: 5129843 (1992-07-01), Bowsky et al.
patent: 5145388 (1992-09-01), Brownlie et al.
patent: 5145417 (1992-09-01), Honkomp et al.
patent: 5173057 (1992-12-01), Bunch et al.
patent: 5194012 (1993-03-01), Cairns
patent: 5199898 (1993-04-01), Wisner
patent: 5239129 (1993-08-01), Ehrenfels
patent: 5244408 (1993-09-01), Muller et al.
patent: 5252083 (1993-10-01), Correnti
patent: 5256072 (1993-10-01), Hatagishi
patent: 5272297 (1993-12-01), Reichow et al.
patent: 5336105 (1994-08-01), Wisner
patent: 5391061 (1995-02-01), Iizuka et al.
patent: 5430619 (1995-07-01), Lindenbaum
patent: 5769659 (1998-06-01), Ceylan
Moore, Jr. Billy W.
Westberg Scott E.
Carlson & Gaskey & Olds
Carrier Corporation
Vu Hien
LandOfFree
Electric power supply connector for sealed compressor does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Electric power supply connector for sealed compressor, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Electric power supply connector for sealed compressor will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2511254