US20240301881A1

US20240301881A1 - Electric compressor

Info

Publication number: US20240301881A1
Application number: US18/550,331
Authority: US
Inventors: Masanori Taguchi; Keita Iibuchi; Takafumi Akutsu
Original assignee: Sanden Corp
Current assignee: Sanden Corp
Priority date: 2021-03-23
Filing date: 2022-03-22
Publication date: 2024-09-12
Also published as: WO2022202803A1; CN116997717A; DE112022001638T5; JP7743194B2; JP2022147520A

Abstract

An electric compressor (1) includes an electric motor (2), a drive circuit (inverter (3)) that drives the electric motor (2), a compression mechanism (4) driven by the electric motor (2) to compress a refrigerant, a conductive member (lead pin (15)) connected to the drive circuit (inverter (3)), a conducting wire (7) drawn from the electric motor (2), a connector terminal (11) that connects the conducting wire (7) and the conductive member (lead pin (15)), a connector housing (12) that includes an opening (13) through which the conducting wire (7) is passed and that houses the connector terminal (11), a seal member (20) interposed between an inner wall of the opening (13) and the conducting wire (7), and a press member (30) that presses the seal member (20) toward the conducting wire (7).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an electric compressor having an electric motor driven and controlled by a drive circuit such as an inverter.

BACKGROUND ART

Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a conventional electric compressor. In the electric compressor disclosed in Patent Document 1, an electric motor driven and controlled by a drive circuit actuates a compression mechanism to compress a refrigerant. The electric compressor disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a lead pin connected to an electric current output section of the drive circuit and a connector capable of electrically connecting the electric current output section of the drive circuit with an electric current input section of the electric motor. The connector includes a connector terminal that contacts the lead pin, a connector housing that houses the connector terminal, a flow path (vacuum flow path) through which the inside and outside of the connector housing communicate, and a sealing member that seals between the flow path and the connector housing. The flow path is formed with a gap of a conducting wire bundle through which the connector terminal and the electric current input section of the electric motor electrically communicate.

REFERENCE DOCUMENT LIST

Patent Document

- Patent Document 1: JP 2013-148037 A

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

However, conducting wires may be damaged (e.g., disconnected) due to stress concentration caused by vibrations at a portion where the sealing member is provided.
The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to prevent damage to conducting wires due to vibrations.

Means for Solving the Problem

An aspect of the present invention provides an electric compressor. The electric compressor includes an electric motor, a drive circuit that drives the electric motor, a compression mechanism driven by the electric motor to compress a refrigerant, a conductive member connected to the drive circuit, a conducting wire drawn from the electric motor, a connector terminal that connects the conducting wire and the conductive member, a connector housing that has an opening through which the conducting wire is passed and that houses the connector terminal, a seal member interposed between an inner wall of the opening and the conducting wire, and a press member that presses the seal member toward the conducting wire.

Effects of the Invention

According to the present invention, the press member presses the seal member toward the conducting wire. This enables the press member to tightly hold the conducting wire via the seal member, thereby preventing damage to the conducting wire at the portion where the seal member is provided. In other words, vibration resistance of the conducting wire at the portion where the seal member is provided can be enhanced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an electric compressor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a vicinity of a connector terminal.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an assembly of a connector housing, a seal member, and a press member (a first clamp member and a second clamp member).

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the connector housing, the seal member, and the press member.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the connector housing.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the first clamp member.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the second clamp member.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the seal member.

FIG. 9A is a diagram showing a method for inserting a connector terminal provided on a tip of a conducting wire into the connector housing.

FIG. 9B is a diagram showing a method for inserting a connector terminal provided on a tip of a conducting wire into the connector housing.

FIG. 10A is a diagram showing a method for attaching the connector housing.

FIG. 10B is a diagram showing a method for attaching the connector housing.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an electric compressor 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a vicinity of a connector terminal 11. In FIG. 1 , for simplicity, a press member 30 is not illustrated.
The electric compressor 1 includes an electric motor 2, an inverter 3 as a drive circuit that drives the electric motor 2, and a compression mechanism 4 that is driven by the electric motor 2 to compress a refrigerant. The electric compressor 1 is applied, for example, to an air conditioner for a vehicle and forms a refrigeration-cycle device by being incorporated, together with a condenser, a decompressor (an expansion valve, etc.), and an evaporator, into a refrigerant circulation passage through which the refrigerant circulates. In the present embodiment, refrigerating machine oil (lubricant oil) circulates through the refrigerant circulation passage, together with the refrigerant.
In the electric compressor 1, a main shaft 5 is driven to rotate by the electric motor 2 to cause a movable scroll 4 a to orbit, thereby causing the compression mechanism 4 consisting of the movable scroll 4 a and a fixed scroll 4 b to compress the refrigerant. A current input through a conducting wire 7 to the electric motor 2 generates a magnetic field, which causes a rotor 8 to rotate with respect to a stator 9. As a result, the main shaft 5 is driven to rotate.
The conducting wire 7 is drawn from (a coil portion of) the stator 9 of the electric motor 2. The conducting wire 7 is mostly covered while being exposed at a tip end portion thereof. In the present embodiment, a plurality of (e.g., four) conducting wires 7 forms a conducting wire bundle 70, and a connector terminal 11 is provided at a tip end portion (exposed portion described above) of the conducting wire bundle 70.
The connector terminal 11 is housed in the connector housing 12. The connector housing 12 is made, for example, of resin. The connector housing 12 includes an opening 13 through which an interior and an exterior of the connector housing 12 communicate. The conducting wire bundle 70 passes through the opening 13.
The connector terminal 11 electrically connects to a lead pin 15 on a hermetic plate 14 provided at the electric current output section of the inverter 3. The lead pin 15 corresponds to the “conductive member” of the present invention.
The connector housing 12 is formed so as to be attachable to an annular insulator 16 disposed around the lead pin 15 in the vicinity of hermetic plate 14. The attaching part is sealed with a sealing member 17 that is made of rubber serving as an electric insulator and is interposed between the connector housing 12 and the lead pin 15 (see FIGS. 10A and 10B, described later).
A seal member 20 is interposed between an inner wall of the opening 13 of the connector housing 12 and the conducting wire bundle 70. The seal member 20 realizes a function of blocking up (sealing) a gap between the opening 13 of the connector housing 12 and the conducting wire bundle 70.
The electric compressor 1 includes the press member 30 that presses the seal member 20 toward the conducting wire bundle 70 (conducting wires 7). The press member 30 includes a pair of clamp members (a first clamp member 31 and a second clamp member 32).
In the present embodiment, the connector housing 12 has a so-called cluster housing shape and includes a plurality of (three in the present embodiment) housing sections to house a plurality of (three in the present embodiment) connector terminals 11.
Next, the seal member 20 and the press member 30 (first clamp member 31 and second clamp member 32) according to the present embodiment will be described in detail referring to FIGS. 3 to 8 .
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an assembly of the connector housing 12, the seal member 20, and the press member 30. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the connector housing 12, the seal member 20, and the press member 30. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the connector housing 12. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the first clamp member 31. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the second clamp member 32. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the seal member 20.
The seal member 20 is formed of a rubber material having an electrical insulation property (insulating rubber material). The seal member 20 includes a main body portion 21, a first tubular portion (first cylindrical portion) 22, and a second tubular portion (second cylindrical portion) 23. The main body portion 21 is fitted to the inner wall of the opening 13 of the connector housing 12 and has a through-hole 24 through which the conducting wire bundle 70 (conducting wires 7) is passed.
The first tubular portion 22 extends from the main body portion 21 outwardly of the connector housing 12. An internal space 22 a of the first tubular portion 22 communicates with the through-hole 24 of the main body portion 21. The conducting wire bundle 70 (conducting wires 7) passes through the internal space 22 a of the first tubular portion 22.
The second tubular portion 23 extends from the main body portion 21 inwardly of the connector housing 12. An internal space of the second tubular portion 23 communicates with the through-hole 24 of the main body portion 21. The conducting wire bundle 70 (conducting wires 7) passes through the internal space of the second tubular portion 23.
The first clamp member 31 and the second clamp member 32 that constitute the press member 30 are made, for example, of resin and each has a plate shape. In the present embodiment, the first clamp member 31 and the second clamp member 32 sandwich the outer peripheral portion of the first tubular portion 22 of the seal member 20, thereby pressing (in other words, tightening) the first tubular portion 22 of the seal member 20 toward the conducting wire bundle 70 (conducting wires 7). In particular, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 , the first clamp member 31 has a protruding portion 31 t formed on its surface facing the first tubular portion 22, and the second clamp member 32 has a protruding portion 32 t formed on its surface facing the first tubular portion 22. The protruding portions 31 t, 32 t intensively sandwich the outer peripheral portion of the first tubular portion 22, thereby pressing (in other words, tightening) the first tubular portion 22 toward the conducting wire bundle 70 (conducting wires 7). Furthermore, the protruding portions 31 t, 32 t press hard the outer peripheral portion of the first tubular portion 22.
In the present embodiment, pawls 33 are erected on the second clamp member 32. Each pawl 33 of the second clamp member 32 catches on the first clamp member 31 in a state in which the first clamp member 31 and the second clamp member 32 sandwich the outer peripheral portion of the first tubular portion 22 of the seal member 20. This enables the first tubular portion 22 of the seal member 20 to be kept well pressed (in other words, tightened) toward the conducting wire bundle 70 (conducting wires 7). In the present embodiment, the pawls 33 are provided at the second clamp member 32; however, in addition to this, or alternatively, the pawls 33 may be provided at the first clamp member 31. Furthermore, through-holes 34 may be provided in the first clamp member 31 and the second clamp member 32, at parts on which the corresponding pawls 33 catch, such that the pawls 33 are inserted into and be caught on the corresponding through-holes 34.
The second clamp member 32 includes an extension portion 35 that extends toward the connector housing 12. The extension portion 35 abuts an outer surface of the connector housing 12. In addition, the extension portion 35 includes a pawl 33′ and a through-hole 36 those function as an “engaging portion” of the present invention. A convex portion 37 provided on the outer surface of the connector housing 12 is fitted into the through-hole 36. The pawl 33′ is erected on the extension portion 35 and catches on a projection 38 provided on the outer surface of the connector housing 12. The press member 30 thus includes the pawl 33′ and the through-hole 36 as the engaging portion that engages with the connector housing 12.
FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams that each show a method for inserting the connector terminal 11 provided on the tip end of the corresponding conducting wire bundle 70 (conducting wires 7) into the connector housing 12. FIG. 9A is a plan view and FIG. 9B is a front view.
As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, a plurality of (three in the present embodiment) connector terminals 11 are each inserted through the corresponding one of a plurality of (three in the present embodiment) openings 13 of the connector housing 12. After this step, the press member 30 is attached.
FIGS. 10A and 10B show an operation for attaching the connector housing 12. FIG. 10A shows a sealing member attaching step for attaching the sealing member 17 onto the hermetic plate 14. FIG. 10B shows a connector housing attaching step for attaching the connector housing 12 onto the hermetic plate 14.
Due to such attaching operation of the connector housing 12 as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the attaching part of the connector housing 12 can be hermetically sealed using only an electric insulator, resulting in ensuring electrical insulation.
In addition, technically, a slight gap may be formed between the seal member 20 and the conducting wire bundle 70 passing therethrough. Furthermore, technically, a slight gap may be formed also between each of the plurality of conducting wires 7 that forms the conductive fire bundle 70. These gaps may be capable of functioning as a flow passage which allows a refrigerant or lubricant oil introduced into the system of the electric compressor 1 to flow into the connector housing 12. In the present embodiment, the press member 30 presses (in other words, tightens) the first tubular portion 22 of the seal member 20 toward the conducting wire bundle 70 (conducting wires 7), and thus, a cross-sectional area of such flow passage is reduced (in other words, the gaps are reduced) accordingly. This prevents the refrigerant or the lubricant oil from flowing into the connector housing 12, resulting in preventing leakage of electricity through the lubricant oil, etc. That is, electrical insulation of the connector housing 12 can be enhanced.
According to the present embodiment, the electric compressor 1 includes the electric motor 2, the drive circuit (inverter 3) that drives the electric motor 2, the compression mechanism 4 driven by the electric motor 2 to compress a refrigerant, the conductive member (lead pin 15) connected to the drive circuit (inverter 3), the conducting wire 7 drawn from the electric motor 2, the connector terminal 11 that connects the conducting wire 7 and the conductive member (lead pin 15), the connector housing 12 that has the opening 13 through which the conducting wire 7 is passed and that houses the connector terminal 11, the seal member 20 interposed between the inner wall of the opening 13 and the conducting wire 7, and the press member 30 that presses the seal member 20 toward the conducting wire 7. This enables the press member 30 to tightly hold the conducting wire 7 via the seal member 20, thereby preventing damage to the conducting wire 7 at the portion where the seal member 20 is provided. In other words, vibration resistance of the conducting wire 7 at the portion where the seal member 20 is provided can be enhanced.
Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the seal member 20 includes the main body portion 21 that has the through-hole 24 through which the conducting wire 7 is passed and that is fitted to the inner wall of the opening 13 and the tubular portion (first tubular portion 22) that extends from the main body portion 21 outwardly of the connector housing 12 and that has the internal space 22 a that communicates with the through-hole 24 of the main body portion 21 and through which the conducting wire 7 is passed. The press member 30 presses the tubular portion (first tubular portion 22) toward the conducting wire 7. This enables the press member 30 to intensively press the tubular portion (first tubular portion 22) of the seal member 20 toward the conducting wire 7.
Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the press member 30 includes a pair of clamp members (first clamp member 31 and second clamp member 32) that sandwich the outer peripheral portion of the tubular portion (first tubular portion 22). This makes it possible to intensively press the tubular portion (first tubular portion 22) of the seal member 20 toward the conducting wire 7 with simple configuration.
Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the press member 30 includes the engaging portion (pawl 33′ and though-hole 36 of the extension portion 35) that engages with the connector housing 12. This makes it possible to reduce displacement of the pressing member 30 relative to the connector housing 12.
The seal member 20 may preferably be formed of an insulating rubber material. In addition, it is preferable that the conducting wire bundle 70 composed of a plurality of conducting wires 7 pass through the opening 13 and that the seal member 20 be interposed between the inner wall of the opening 13 and the conducting wire bundle 70. Furthermore, the connector housing 12 may preferably house a plurality of connector terminals 11.
It is understood that the electric compressor 1 may be a horizontally placed electric compressor in which the electric motor 2 and the compression mechanism 4 are arranged in series in the horizontal direction, or, may be a vertically placed electric compressor in which the electric motor 2 and the compression mechanism 4 are arranged in series in the vertical direction.
Hereinabove, the embodiment of the present invention has been described; however, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and can be variously modified and changed based on the technical concept of the present invention.

REFERENCE SYMBOL LIST

- 1 Electric compressor
- 2 Electric motor
- 3 Inverter (drive circuit)
- 4 Compression mechanism
- 4 a Movable scroll
- 4 b Fixed scroll
- 5 Main shaft
- 7 Conducting wire
- 8 Rotor
- 9 Stator
- 11 Connector terminal
- 12 Connector housing
- 13 Opening
- 14 Hermetic plate
- 15 Lead pin (conductive member)
- 16 Insulator
- 17 Sealing member
- 20 Seal member
- 21 Main body portion
- 22 First tubular portion
- 22 a Internal space
- 23 Second tubular portion
- 24 Through-hole
- 30 Press member
- 31 First clamp member
- 31 t Protruding portion
- 32 Second clamp member
- 32 t Protruding portion
- 33, 33′ Pawl
- 34 Through-hole
- 35 Extension portion
- 36 Through-hole
- 37 Convex portion
- 38 Projection
- 70 Conducting wire bundle

Claims

1. An electric compressor comprising:

an electric motor;

a drive circuit that drives the electric motor;

a compression mechanism driven by the electric motor to compress a refrigerant;

a conductive member connected to the drive circuit;

a conducting wire drawn from the electric motor;

a connector terminal that connects the conducting wire and the conductive member;

a connector housing that has an opening through which the conducting wire is passed and that houses the connector terminal;

a seal member interposed between an inner wall of the opening and the conducting wire; and

a press member that presses the seal member toward the conducting wire.

2. The electric compressor according to claim 1,

wherein the seal member comprises:

a main body portion that has a through-hole through which the conducting wire is passed and that is fitted to the inner wall of the opening; and

a tubular portion that extends from the main body portion outwardly of the connector housing and that has an internal space that communicates with the through-hole of the main body portion and through which the conducting wire is passed, and

wherein the press member presses the tubular portion toward the conducting wire.

3. The electric compressor according to claim 2, wherein the press member comprises a pair of clamp members that sandwich an outer peripheral portion of the tubular portion.

4. The electric compressor according to claim 1, wherein the press member comprises an engaging portion that engages with the connector housing.

5. The electric compressor according to claim 1, wherein the seal member is formed of an insulating rubber material.

6. The electric compressor according to claim 1,

wherein a conducting wire bundle composed of a plurality of the conducting wires passes through the opening, and

wherein the seal member is interposed between the inner wall of the opening and the conducting wire bundle.

7. The electric compressor according to claim 1, wherein the connector housing houses a plurality of the connector terminals.