End cap assembly, motor and air conditioner

Abstract

This invention provides an end cap assembly, a motor, and an air conditioner, belonging to the category of energy-saving refrigeration and air conditioning equipment. An end cap assembly includes a first end cap and a first bearing; the first end cap includes a first bearing housing, in which the first bearing is installed, and the outer peripheral surface of the first bearing mates with the spherical surface of the inner wall of the first bearing housing; a first water guide groove is provided on the inner wall of the first bearing to drain water from the inner hole. This invention belongs to the category of energy-saving refrigeration and air conditioning equipment. The spherical mating between the outer peripheral surface of the first bearing and the first bearing housing maintains a low permeation state, and the water guide groove ensures that the drainage capacity is greater than the permeation amount, thereby truly achieving dynamic drying inside the bearing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of air conditioner technology, specifically relating to an end cap assembly, a motor, and an air conditioner, which are energy-saving refrigeration and air conditioning equipment. Background Technology

[0002] The core refrigeration system of portable air conditioners relies on the compressor refrigeration cycle. During operation, the condensate produced by the evaporator needs to be efficiently processed by a dedicated water-pumping motor assembly. This assembly, driven by a motor, rotates a high-speed water-pumping wheel, using centrifugal force to throw the condensate onto the condenser fins. The residual heat at the condenser end accelerates evaporation, thereby expanding the heat exchange area and improving the overall energy efficiency ratio. In existing motor end cover assemblies, the bearing housing and bearing are often rigidly fixed to a cylindrical surface. On one hand, when the motor rotor shaft is subjected to radial loads (such as the dynamic tangential force generated by the water-pumping blades), the shaft will deflect slightly. The rigidly fixed bearing cannot adaptively adjust the angle, leading to localized contact stress concentration and oil film rupture between the bearing and the journal, resulting in abnormal vibration, noise, and premature bearing wear. On the other hand, in humid or water-filled conditions, moisture easily seeps into the bearing through the gap between the shaft and the bearing inner bore. However, existing bearing inner bores are typically smooth cylindrical surfaces, lacking a structure to actively guide moisture out. The seeping moisture cannot be discharged in time, and long-term accumulation can lead to lubrication failure, bearing corrosion, and even electrical short circuits.

[0003] Therefore, existing end cap assemblies suffer from the dual technical defects of being unable to self-align and having no water-conducting capability in the bearing inner hole. There is an urgent need for an end cap assembly structure that can both achieve dynamic bearing deflection compensation and actively drain infiltrated water, which would be an energy-saving refrigeration and air conditioning equipment. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention provides an end cap assembly, a motor, and an air conditioner, which belong to energy-saving refrigeration and air conditioning equipment. It can solve the technical problems that existing bearings cannot dynamically compensate for deflection and cannot drain infiltrated moisture.

[0005] This invention provides an end cap assembly, which includes a first end cap and a first bearing; The first end cap includes a first bearing chamber, the first bearing is installed in the first bearing chamber, and the outer peripheral surface of the first bearing is in contact with the spherical surface of the inner wall of the first bearing chamber; The inner wall of the first bearing is provided with a first water guide groove to drain water from the inner hole.

[0006] In some embodiments, the outer peripheral surface of the first bearing is a spherical convex surface, and the inner wall of the first bearing chamber is a spherical concave surface. The spherical convex surface and the spherical concave surface are adapted to each other so that the first bearing can be deflected relative to each other in the first bearing chamber.

[0007] In some embodiments, a second water guide groove is provided on the inner wall of the first bearing chamber, and a chamfered bevel is provided at the opening end of the first bearing chamber. The end of the second water guide groove extends to the chamfered bevel and connects with the chamfered bevel.

[0008] In some embodiments, the first end cap is further provided with a water-blocking slope, the guiding surface of the water-blocking slope starting from the inner end of the first bearing chamber and extending away from the second water guide groove, and the height of the guiding surface gradually decreases along the extending direction, so that the water flows unidirectionally into the second water guide groove.

[0009] In some embodiments, one end of the first bearing extends toward the outer end face of the first end cover, and the other end of the first bearing extends into the first bearing chamber and is provided with a damping ring.

[0010] In some embodiments, a second bearing is also included, and a second bearing chamber is further provided in the first end cover. The first bearing chamber and the second bearing chamber are coaxially arranged. The first bearing chamber is close to the motor output end, and the second bearing chamber is close to the inside of the motor. The second bearing is installed in the second bearing chamber.

[0011] In some embodiments, the first bearing is made of ceramic material, and the second bearing is an oil-impregnated bearing.

[0012] In some embodiments, an oil reservoir is formed between the inner wall of the second bearing chamber and the second bearing, the oil reservoir being used to store lubricating oil.

[0013] In some embodiments, the inner wall of the second bearing chamber is provided with a plurality of protrusions spaced apart in the circumferential direction. The protrusions extend axially along the second bearing chamber, and the oil reservoir is formed between adjacent protrusions. One end of the protrusion faces the first bearing chamber, and the other end of the protrusion abuts against the end face of the second bearing.

[0014] In some embodiments, the outer end face of the first end cover is provided with a drainage groove and an annular water collection groove. The water collection groove is arranged around the opening end of the second bearing chamber. One end of the drainage groove is connected to the water collection groove, and the other end of the drainage groove extends to the bottom of the first end cover and forms a drainage outlet.

[0015] An electric motor includes an end cap assembly, the electric motor being a water pumping motor, and the end cap assembly being the aforementioned end cap assembly.

[0016] An air conditioner includes a motor, wherein the motor is the motor described above.

[0017] The present invention provides an end cap assembly, a motor, and an air conditioner, which belong to energy-saving refrigeration and air conditioning equipment and have the following beneficial effects: In this embodiment, the bearing is allowed to automatically adjust its angle when the shaft deflects radially, avoiding local line contact between the shaft and the bearing inner hole, maintaining a uniform distribution of the fit clearance. The spherical fit ensures that even if the shaft deflects slightly under the action of the dynamic tangential force of the water-pumping blades, the axis of the bearing inner hole can still automatically follow the axis of the shaft, keeping the gap between the shaft and the inner hole circumferentially uniform. This uniform gap provides stable hydrodynamic boundary conditions for the first water guide channel, ensuring that the spiral channel or straight channel can produce a consistent centrifugal pumping effect at all angles, avoiding local blockage or drainage short circuit. The spherical fit provides a geometric alignment prerequisite for the reliable operation of the water guide channel. Although the spherical fit can reduce local contact stress and oil film rupture caused by deflection, it cannot prevent water from capillary seeping in along the gap between the shaft and the bearing. The spherical fit, through dynamic self-alignment, inhibits abnormal wear and gap expansion between the bearing inner hole and the shaft from the source, keeping the geometric dimensions of the seepage path at the set value for a long time. The first water guide groove acts as an active removal method, timely discharging the trace amount of water that normally seeps in through capillary action. The two form a cycle that can reduce seepage and fully discharge. That is, the spherical fit maintains a low seepage state, and the water guide groove ensures that the discharge capacity is greater than the seepage amount, thereby truly achieving dynamic drying inside the bearing.

[0018] An energy-saving refrigeration and air conditioning device is provided. Alternatively, the air conditioning device achieves energy-saving effects through an end cap assembly. Attached Figure Description

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art can derive other embodiments based on the provided drawings without creative effort.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a motor according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the end cap assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the first end cap according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the second bearing according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of the second bearing according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the force on the second bearing according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a front view of the first end cap according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 This is an isometric view of the first end cap according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the second bearing chamber according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the condensate drainage path according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the forces acting on the motor when connected to the water jet flywheel according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the installation area according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Attached Figures: 1-First end cover; 101-First bearing chamber; 110-Second water guide groove; 112-Chamfered bevel; 102-Water retaining slope; 121-Oil storage chamber; 122-Boss; 103-Drainage groove; 104-Water collection groove; 105-Second bearing chamber; 2-First bearing; 201-First water guide groove; 3-Shock absorber ring; 5-Second bearing; 6-Motor; 7-Shaft; 8-Water pumping plate; 9-Second end cover; 10-Chassis; 11-Water pumping flywheel; 12-Compressor installation area; 13-Condenser installation area; 14-Water pumping working area; 15-Motor mounting platform. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is merely illustrative and is in no way intended to limit the present invention or its application or use. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0023] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by directional terms such as "front, back, up, down, left, right", "horizontal, vertical, horizontal" and "top, bottom" is generally based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and is only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description. Unless otherwise stated, these directional terms do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation on the scope of protection of this invention; the directional terms "inner" and "outer" refer to the inner and outer contours relative to the outline of each component itself.

[0024] For ease of description, spatial relative terms such as "above," "on top of," "on the upper surface of," "above," etc., are used here to describe the spatial positional relationship of a device or feature as shown in the figure with other devices or features. It should be understood that spatial relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations in use or operation in addition to the orientation of the device as described in the figure. For example, if a device in the figure is inverted, a device described as "above" or "on top of" other devices or structures will subsequently be positioned as "below" or "under" other devices or structures.

[0025] See also Figures 1 to 12 As shown, according to an embodiment of the present invention, an end cap assembly is provided, belonging to an energy-saving refrigeration and air conditioning equipment, which includes a first end cap 1 and a first bearing 2; the first end cap 1 includes a first bearing chamber 101, the first bearing 2 is installed in the first bearing chamber 101, and the outer peripheral surface of the first bearing 2 is in spherical fit with the inner wall of the first bearing chamber 101; the inner hole wall of the first bearing 2 is provided with a first water guide groove 201 to drain water from the inner hole, and the first water guide groove 201 is preferably a groove structure extending axially.

[0026] Specifically, when the water pump 6 throws condensed water towards the condenser, some water mist or splashed droplets accumulate along the surface of the rotating shaft 7. A tiny gap exists between the rotating shaft 7 and the inner bore of the bearing. In a traditional structure without a water guide groove, water would enter the bearing interior due to capillary action, gradually damaging the lubricating grease. In this embodiment, a first water guide groove 201 is provided on the inner wall of the first bearing 2. This first water guide groove 201 is preferably a spiral groove or an axial straight groove structure. When the rotating shaft 7 rotates at high speed relative to the first bearing 2, water that seeps into the gap in the inner bore forms a water film or discrete droplets on the surface of the rotating shaft 7. Under the combined action of centrifugal force and surface tension, it enters the opening area of ​​the first water guide groove 201. Since the volume of the first water guide groove 201 is larger than the fit clearance between the bearing inner bore and the rotating shaft 7, the water is preferentially intercepted and contained within the groove. As the rotating shaft 7 continues to rotate, the rotation direction of the rotating shaft 7 and the rotation direction of the first water guide groove 201 together generate a thrust along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 7, which continuously pushes water from the inside of the bearing to the outside of the bearing (near the water-pumping blade side).

[0027] Specifically, during water pumping operation, the bottom of the impeller is continuously subjected to tangential impact forces generated by the water flow. This force has dynamic characteristics of direction and amplitude variation, causing the rotor shaft to deflect periodically and oscillate slightly. Traditional oil-impregnated bearings have low stiffness and no self-aligning capability, making it difficult to maintain a uniform oil film when the shaft deflects. This can easily lead to localized oil film rupture, causing dry friction, metal-to-metal contact, and vibration resonance, which in turn generates abnormal noise and accelerates wear. In this embodiment, a spherical self-aligning setting is introduced into the structure of the first bearing 2, so that the outer ring of the first bearing 2 and the first bearing chamber 101 of the end cover form a spherical fit. This can adaptively compensate for the slight deflection of the rotor shaft caused by the force, and maintain the uniformity of contact between the first bearing 2 and the journal.

[0028] In this embodiment, the bearing is allowed to automatically adjust its angle when the shaft 7 deflects radially, avoiding local line contact between the shaft and the bearing inner hole, maintaining a uniform distribution of the fit clearance. The spherical fit ensures that even if the shaft 7 deflects slightly under the action of the dynamic tangential force of the water-pumping blades, the axis of the bearing inner hole can still automatically follow the axis of the shaft 7, keeping the gap between the shaft and the inner hole circumferentially uniform. This uniform gap provides stable fluid dynamic boundary conditions for the first water guide channel 201, ensuring that the first water guide channel 201 can produce a consistent centrifugal pumping effect at all angles, avoiding local blockage or drainage short circuit. The spherical fit provides a geometric alignment prerequisite for the reliable operation of the water guide channel. Although the spherical fit can reduce local contact stress and oil film rupture caused by deflection, it cannot prevent water from capillary seeping in along the gap between the shaft and the bearing. The spherical fit, through dynamic self-alignment, inhibits abnormal wear and gap expansion between the bearing inner hole and the shaft from the source, keeping the geometric dimensions of the seepage path at the set value for a long time. The first water guide groove 201 acts as an active removal means to promptly discharge the trace amount of water that normally seeps in through capillary action. The two form a cycle that can reduce seepage and fully discharge. That is, the spherical fit maintains a low seepage state, and the water guide groove ensures that the discharge capacity is greater than the seepage amount, thereby truly achieving dynamic drying inside the bearing.

[0029] In one specific implementation, the first water guide groove 201 is a spiral groove, and the spiral direction of the first water guide groove 201 is consistent with the rotation direction of the motor 6. When the motor drives the rotating shaft 7 to rotate, since the spiral direction of the spiral groove is the same as the rotation direction of the rotating shaft 7, the water that has seeped into the inner hole of the bearing generates an axial component force pointing towards the bearing end face along the spiral groove under the centrifugal force and the tangential pushing action of the spiral groove sidewall. This axial component force gives the water additional discharge kinetic energy, forming an active transport effect, thereby significantly accelerating the speed at which water is discharged outward along the water guide groove, and preventing water from accumulating or flowing back inside the bearing.

[0030] See also Figures 1 to 8As shown, the outer peripheral surface of the first bearing 2 is a spherical convex surface, and the inner wall of the first bearing chamber 101 is a spherical concave surface. The spherical convex surface and the spherical concave surface are matched so that the first bearing 2 can be deflected relative to each other in the first bearing chamber 101.

[0031] Specifically, when the portable air conditioner is running, the rotating shaft 7 of the motor 6 is subjected to radial loads such as the dynamic tangential force generated by the water-spraying blades, causing the rotating shaft 7 to deflect or tilt slightly. When the axis of the rotating shaft 7 forms a slight angle with the axis of the first bearing chamber 101, the rotating shaft 7 pushes the inner hole of the first bearing 2, causing the entire first bearing 2 to adaptively slide or roll between the outer spherical surface and the concave surface until the axis of the first bearing 2 itself tends to coincide with the real-time axis of the rotating shaft 7. During this process, the convex and concave surfaces of the spherical surface always maintain close contact, which not only ensures the radial and axial positioning of the bearing, but also eliminates the additional bending moment caused by the shaft deflection. Once the load on the rotating shaft 7 changes or the deflection angle changes, the first bearing 2 can flexibly adjust the deflection angle accordingly to achieve dynamic self-alignment.

[0032] In this embodiment, during the water impact response stage, the vertical upward reaction force generated by the fan blades causes the shaft to move upward due to the impact. The spherical self-aligning structure automatically adjusts the contact angle and offsets, ensuring that the contact point between the outer ring of the first bearing 2 and the end cover is always located in the center area of ​​the spherical surface, avoiding wear caused by point contact at the bearing edge. When the motor shaft 7 is subjected to a slight deflection or tilt due to loads such as the radial tangential force generated by the water-spraying blades, the spherical pair structure allows the first bearing to automatically deflect in any direction within the bearing housing, ensuring that the bearing axis always follows the actual axial direction of the shaft 7. The outer ring of the first bearing 2 is set as a spherical convex surface, which fits with the spherical groove of the first bearing housing 101. When the rotor shaft is subjected to a small-angle deflection due to the tangential force of the fan, the spherical structure automatically adjusts the contact angle to maintain the uniformity of the bearing inner diameter contact surface, avoid local dry friction, reduce contact stress fluctuations, avoid instantaneous vibration peaks, replace the rigid fixed setting of the oil-impregnated bearing, realize adaptive compensation for dynamic deflection, and prevent bearing wear and breakage.

[0033] See also Figures 1 to 8 As shown, a second water guide groove 110 is provided on the inner wall of the first bearing chamber 101. A chamfered bevel 112 is provided at the opening end of the first bearing chamber 101. The end of the second water guide groove 110 extends to and connects with the chamfered bevel 112. The second water guide groove 110 is preferably arranged in an axial or helical direction, with its starting end located inside the bearing chamber near the bottom or middle, and its end extending to the chamfered bevel 112 at the opening end of the first bearing chamber 101.

[0034] Specifically, water accumulates or adheres to the outer ring end face of the first bearing 2, the inner wall of the first bearing chamber 101, and the surface of the rotating shaft 7 in the form of droplets or water films. The condensate on the surface of the rotating shaft 7 is discharged from the first water guide groove 201. Under the influence of gravity and the airflow disturbance generated by the rotation of the rotating shaft 7, some of the condensate adheres to and flows along the inner wall of the first bearing chamber 101. The second water guide groove 110, as a low-resistance channel, actively collects the water flow on the wall surface, preventing water from accumulating disorderly in the bearing chamber or flowing back to the spherical fit gap between the outer ring of the first bearing 2 and the first bearing chamber 101. Since the chamfered inclined surface 112 is located at the opening end of the bearing chamber, close to the rotating shaft 7 and the water jet wheel, under the combined action of the centrifugal force field generated by the high-speed rotation of the shaft 7 and the airflow shear force generated by the water jet wheel, the water is rapidly accelerated outward (radially) along the inclined surface. When the water moves to the outer edge of the inclined surface, it gains sufficient kinetic energy and is thrown out of the external space of the first bearing chamber 101 in the form of small droplets or water mist.

[0035] In this embodiment, the chamfered bevel 112 utilizes centrifugal force and airflow to actively throw water towards the condenser, rather than relying on gravity for natural dripping. This significantly improves water utilization efficiency and evaporation rate, while preventing water from accumulating at the edge of the end cover opening or flowing along the outer wall of the end cover. By promptly guiding and draining the water that has seeped into the first bearing chamber 101, long-term water accumulation can be effectively prevented and the risk of water further seeping into the motor along the shaft 7 and causing an electrical short circuit can be reduced. This significantly improves the reliability and service life of the entire machine under humid or water-related conditions.

[0036] See also Figures 1 to 8 As shown, a water-blocking slope 102 is also provided in the first end cover 1. The guiding surface of the water-blocking slope 102 starts from the inner end of the first bearing chamber 101 and extends in a direction away from the second water guide groove 110. Along the extension direction, the height of the guiding surface gradually decreases so that the water flows into the second water guide groove 110 in one direction.

[0037] Specifically, condensate (or water droplets formed by moisture condensation) discharged through the inner hole of the first bearing 2 or seeping from the outer ring end face of the bearing or the surface of the shaft 7 will, under the influence of gravity and the airflow disturbance generated by the rotation of the shaft 7, adhere to and flow downwards along the inner wall of the first bearing chamber 101. Since the water-blocking slope 102 is located at the inner end of the first bearing chamber 101, and the height of its guiding surface gradually decreases, the water flow automatically flows unidirectionally into the starting end of the second water guide channel 110 under the drive of gravity, without accumulating in the opposite direction or overflowing to other areas of the bearing chamber. The second water guide channel 110 is arranged axially or spirally, with its starting end located inside the bearing chamber near the bottom or middle, and its end extending to and connecting with the chamfered slope 112 at the opening end of the first bearing chamber 101. Water flowing into the second water guide channel 110, under the constraint and guidance of the channel wall, flows directionally towards the chamfered slope 112 along a low-resistance channel.

[0038] In this embodiment, the water-retaining slope 102 extends away from the second water guide channel 110, and the height of the guide surface gradually decreases along the extension direction. This allows the condensate adhering to the inner wall of the first bearing chamber 101 or the end face of the bearing outer ring to flow unidirectionally into the second water guide channel 110 under the influence of gravity, preventing it from flowing back into the depths of the bearing chamber or into the spherical fit gap between the outer ring of the first bearing 2 and the bearing chamber. This effectively prevents moisture from stagnating in the bearing chamber, leading to lubrication failure or corrosion. As a transitional structure for water collection and convergence, the guide surface of the waterproof slope 102 can actively capture and gather discrete water droplets that fall from the rotating shaft 7 or flow out from the end face of the first bearing 2, guiding them to the starting end of the second water guide channel 110 in the form of a continuous water film or directional water flow. This reduces the disorderly accumulation of moisture at the bottom or corners of the bearing chamber and significantly improves the water supply efficiency at the starting point of the drainage path. By setting the waterproof slope 102 between the lower side of the first bearing 2 installation position and the second water guide groove 110, a physical and hydraulic isolation barrier is formed, ensuring that the mating area between the spherical convex surface of the outer ring of the first bearing 2 and the spherical concave surface of the first bearing chamber 101 remains relatively dry, preventing water from entering the interior of the spherical pair and causing grease emulsification, increased friction coefficient, or obstruction of the adaptive deflection function, thereby ensuring the long-term stability of the bearing's self-aligning performance.

[0039] See also Figures 1 to 8 As shown, one end of the first bearing 2 extends towards the outer end face of the first end cover 1, and the other end of the first bearing 2 extends into the first bearing chamber 101 and is provided with a damping ring 3. Specifically, a wedge-shaped groove is provided at the end of the first bearing 2, and the damping ring 3 is fixed by the wedge-shaped groove. The annular damping ring 3 mates with the bottom of the first bearing 2, and its inner diameter i is smaller than its outer diameter b (i.e., b>i) to ensure that the ring does not detach after installation. The first bearing 2, made of ceramic material, adopts a small-angle self-aligning setting (self-aligning angle>3°).

[0040] In this embodiment, the outer ring of the first bearing 2 and the first bearing chamber 101 of the end cover form a spherical fit, which can adaptively compensate for the slight deflection of the rotor shaft caused by force and maintain the uniformity of contact between the first bearing 2 and the journal. At the same time, a damping ring 3 is provided between the outer ring of the first bearing 2 and the end cover to absorb high-frequency vibration energy and suppress vibration transmission. The annular high-damping damping ring 3 is embedded in the first bearing 2. This ring absorbs high-frequency vibration energy within the vibration range and works in conjunction with the spherical self-aligning structure. The self-aligning structure reduces the vibration source, and the damping ring 3 blocks the vibration transmission path, causing the vibration acceleration to decay and reducing the overall vibration and noise of the motor 6.

[0041] See also Figures 1 to 9As shown, it also includes a second bearing 5, and a second bearing chamber 105 is also provided in the first end cover 1. The first bearing chamber 101 and the second bearing chamber 105 are coaxially arranged. The first bearing chamber 101 is close to the output end of the motor 6, and the second bearing chamber 105 is close to the inside of the motor 6. The second bearing 5 is installed in the second bearing chamber 105. Specifically, an axially extending bearing chamber is provided in the center of the first end cover 1, and the two bearing chambers are respectively located at both ends.

[0042] In this embodiment, the rotating shaft 7 of the motor 6 is supported by both the first bearing 2 and the second bearing 5, forming a dual-support structure. Compared to a single-bearing design, this configuration significantly improves the radial stiffness of the rotating shaft 7, effectively resisting the dynamic tangential force and cantilever load generated during the rotation of the water-spraying wheel, reducing the deflection deformation of the rotating shaft 7 under high-speed rotation, thereby reducing vibration and noise. The first bearing 2 is located near the output end and mainly bears the radial load and axial thrust generated by the water-spraying wheel, while its spherical mating structure allows for dynamic self-alignment. The second bearing 5 is located near the inside of the motor and mainly serves as an auxiliary support to bear the radial load and limit the axial movement of the rotating shaft 7. The two work together to make the load distribution more uniform and avoid overloading of a single bearing.

[0043] See also Figures 1 to 10 As shown, the first bearing 2 is made of ceramic material, and the second bearing 5 is an oil-impregnated bearing.

[0044] In this embodiment, existing water-spraying motors 6 often employ an internal and external oil-impregnated bearing structure. The external oil-impregnated bearing is exposed to the working environment. Because the oil-impregnated bearing itself is a porous metal structure, during the operation of the portable air conditioner, condensate from the surrounding air easily seeps into the bearing through capillary action, leading to emulsification and loss of lubricating grease, which in turn causes dry friction, abnormal wear, or even bearing seizure. Furthermore, when the motor 6 operates in an inclined state, external condensate gradually seeps into the bearing along the rotor axial gap, further exacerbating the risk of failure. In this embodiment, the first bearing 2 of the motor 6 replaces the traditional porous oil-impregnated bearing with a ceramic sliding bearing such as zirconia. A dense, non-porous structure is formed through a high-temperature sintering process, completely blocking the capillary penetration path of condensate. The hardness and water corrosion resistance of the ceramic material are significantly improved, preventing corrosion or electrochemical reactions in the high-humidity environment of the portable air conditioner and avoiding grease emulsification failure. By replacing the outer oil-impregnated bearing with a non-porous, water-corrosion-resistant ceramic sliding bearing, the path for moisture to penetrate the bearing through the porous structure is fundamentally blocked. Simultaneously, a spiral-shaped water-guiding groove integrated into the inner bore of the ceramic bearing discharges water, forming an active drainage mechanism that directs the infiltrated water out of the motor 6 along a predetermined path. This design effectively improves the bearing's operational reliability under humid conditions, prevents failure due to water ingress, and increases the service life and safety performance of the motor 6 bearing.

[0045] In one specific implementation, the first bearing 2 is made of materials such as zirconium oxide, silicon oxide, or aluminum oxide, satisfying the requirements of waterproofing, corrosion resistance, robustness, and low resistance. Preferably, the zirconium oxide first bearing 2 has an outer cylindrical structure that is wider in the middle and narrower at both ends, with an axially arranged spiral water guide groove inside. The rotation angle β of the water guide groove is consistent with the rotation direction of the motor 6, preferably 40° to match the maximum centrifugal force requirement. When water seeps into the bearing chamber, centrifugal force drives the water to flow axially along the spiral groove, sequentially passing through the second water guide groove 110, the water collection groove 104, and the drainage groove 103 for directional discharge.

[0046] See also Figures 1 to 12 As shown, an oil reservoir 121 is formed between the inner wall of the second bearing chamber 105 and the second bearing 5. The oil reservoir 121 is used to store lubricating oil.

[0047] In this embodiment, the oil reservoir 121 serves as a storage space for lubricating oil, allowing sufficient lubricating oil to be injected at once during the assembly of the end cap assembly. During the operation of the motor 6, as the second bearing 5 rotates and its temperature rises, the stored lubricating oil is slowly released to the bearing rolling elements and raceway surfaces through capillary action, centrifugal ejection, or thermal expansion, achieving continuous oil film replenishment and significantly extending the maintenance-free life of the bearing. This is particularly suitable for household appliances such as portable air conditioners, which are difficult to disassemble and maintain and require long-term reliable operation. Since the second bearing 5 is located close to the inside of the motor 6 and bears continuous radial loads and axial positioning torques, insufficient lubrication can lead to increased friction, increased temperature, and even sintering. The oil reservoir 121 ensures that the bearing has sufficient lubricating oil to circulate under any operating condition, effectively reducing the coefficient of friction, reducing heat generation, and improving motor efficiency.

[0048] See also Figures 1 to 12 As shown, the inner wall of the second bearing chamber 105 is provided with a plurality of protrusions 122 spaced apart in the circumferential direction. The protrusions 122 extend axially along the second bearing chamber 105, and an oil storage cavity 121 is formed between adjacent protrusions 122. One end of the protrusion 122 faces the first bearing chamber 101, and the other end of the protrusion 122 abuts against the stepped surface of the second bearing 5. The second bearing 5 has a structure with different diameters at both ends, and a step is provided at the end of the second bearing 5 facing the protrusion 122.

[0049] In this embodiment, multiple bosses 122 divide the annular gap between the inner wall of the second bearing chamber 105 and the outer ring of the second bearing 5 into several independent axial groove-like spaces, i.e., oil storage chambers 121, in the circumferential direction. These oil storage chambers are evenly distributed circumferentially, so that lubricating oil (such as grease) can be evenly stored around the outer ring of the bearing, avoiding grease accumulation on one side under gravity; at the same time, since the oil storage chambers are isolated from each other, the grease is not easily lost due to vibration or tilting, ensuring that the bearing can obtain a continuous oil film supply at any rotation angle. The other end of the boss 122, that is, the end closer to the inside of the motor, directly abuts against the stepped surface of the second bearing 5, so that the second bearing 5 is locked by the boss 122, thereby restricting the axial movement of the second bearing 5 in the bearing chamber and playing a positioning role. This setting avoids the use of additional retaining rings or retaining rings, simplifies the structure, and at the same time ensures the axial relative position accuracy between the first bearing 2 and the second bearing 5, which is beneficial to the control of the axial movement of the motor shaft 7. The outer wall of the bearing housing and the outer ring of the second bearing 5 do not have a full cylindrical surface contact. Instead, they form line contact or narrow surface contact through multiple bosses 122. This reduces friction and stress concentration caused by interference fit, facilitating bearing press-fitting. It also prevents deformation of the bearing outer ring due to differences in the thermal expansion coefficients of the end caps, thus protecting the second bearing 5. The height of the bosses 122 is greater than the height of the micro-protrusion structure of the end cap, forming a sealed oil storage space. Lubricating oil automatically flows back to the working area through the oil-impregnated bearing orifice, replenishing the oil film when the motor 6 is short of oil during long-term operation. This completely solves the problems of difficult oil storage and return, easy evaporation and leakage, dry friction wear, and noise in the rear bearing oil-impregnated bearing, significantly improving the stability and lifespan of the motor 6.

[0050] See also Figures 1 to 12 As shown, the outer end face of the first end cover 1 is provided with a drainage groove 103 and a ring-shaped water collection groove 104. The water collection groove 104 is arranged around the opening end of the first bearing chamber 101. One end of the drainage groove 103 is connected to the water collection groove 104, and the other end of the drainage groove 103 extends to the bottom of the first end cover 1 and forms a drainage outlet.

[0051] Specifically, the condensate entering the motor has two main flow directions. Part of the condensate flows into the space between the shaft 7 and the first bearing 2, i.e., into the first water guide groove 201. The other part flows into the space between the first bearing 2 and the first bearing chamber 101, i.e., into the second water guide groove 110. This is the drainage method for the motor. Water seeping from the gap between the shaft 7 and the end cover, water droplets splashed onto the outer surface of the end cover from the external environment, or condensate overflowing from the area of ​​the first bearing 2 and the second bearing 5 along the shaft 7, are thrown to the vicinity of the outer end face of the first end cover 1 under the action of gravity or as the shaft 7 rotates. Because the water collection groove 104 is annular and surrounds the opening end of the first bearing chamber 101, it can actively intercept and collect water flowing out from the opening end of the bearing chamber or spreading along the surface of the end cover, preventing water from directly diffusing along the outer surface of the end cover into the motor or other electrical components. Water collected in the annular water collection tank 104, driven by gravity, naturally flows into the starting end of the drainage trough 103, which is connected to the water collection tank 104. The drainage trough 103 is a low-resistance guiding channel, extending from the water collection tank 104 towards the bottom of the first end cover 1 at an angle or with a bend, guiding the water flow in one direction. Finally, the water continues to flow along the drainage trough 103 until it reaches the drain outlet located at the lowest position of the first end cover 1. Under the action of gravity, the water is discharged from the outside of the end cover assembly through the drain outlet, thereby completely removing the liquid water accumulated on the outer end face of the end cover and preventing water from flowing back into the bearing chamber or seeping into the motor 6.

[0052] In this embodiment, the annular water collection groove 104 is arranged around the open end of the first bearing chamber 101, which can actively intercept and collect water seeping from the gap between the rotating shaft 7 and the end cover, condensate discharged from the bearing chamber, or water droplets splashed from the outside from any circumferential angle, preventing water from spreading randomly along the outer surface of the end cover or flowing directly into the motor 6. One end of the drain groove 103 is connected to the water collection groove 104, and the other end extends to the bottom of the first end cover 1 and forms a drain outlet. With the help of gravity, the water collected in the water collection groove automatically flows into the drain groove and flows downward unidirectionally along the drain groove to the drain outlet for discharge, thereby realizing the rapid and orderly removal of water from the outer end face of the end cover.

[0053] In one specific implementation, the first end cap 1 is an injection molded part, with an annular water guide groove, a vertical water guide groove, and a protrusion formed on the end face. The width and depth of the drainage groove 103 match the surface tension flow requirements of water flow (not less than the minimum size for natural flow of condensate), ensuring that water droplets on the end cap surface are collected along the annular water collection groove 104 under the action of gravity and the water guide system, and then drained through the vertical drainage groove 103. The surfaces of the water guide groove and the bearing protrusion are coated with a hydrophobic nano-silica coating to accelerate water outflow.

[0054] As a specific implementation, the height 'a' of the water collection tank 104 from the plane of the first end cover 1 and the height 'b' of the water collection tank 104 from the bearing protrusion satisfy the relationship: b > a, ensuring that condensate flows directly out after entering the water guide tank from the plane of the end cover and does not flow into the bearing chamber. The installation length 'c' of the first bearing 2 is equal to the distance from the front end face of the ceramic bearing to the rubber ring, allowing the annular shock absorber 3 to fully contact the inclined surface of the bearing chamber to achieve shock absorption; the radius 'd' of the installation position of the first bearing 2 is equal to the radius of the outer end face of the ceramic bearing, allowing the ceramic bearing to be adjusted at a small angle in the first bearing 2. The tilt angle 'a' of the water-blocking slope 102 is greater than the maximum tilt angle of the portable air conditioner during normal use (usually <15°), providing double protection against condensate entering the motor 6.

[0055] An electric motor 6 includes an end cap assembly. The electric motor 6 is a water pumping motor 6, and the end cap assembly is the aforementioned end cap assembly.

[0056] In this embodiment, the chassis 10 has an inclined structure to collect condensate. When the condensate level reaches the position of the water-spraying flywheel 11, the motor 6 drives the flywheel 11 to rotate counterclockwise at high speed, using centrifugal force to splash the condensate onto the surface of the condenser fins. The residual heat at the condenser end accelerates evaporation, significantly increasing the heat exchange area and improving the overall heat exchange efficiency and energy efficiency ratio. The dynamic change in condensate level affects the state of the water droplets. At low water levels, the tangential force is small, the motor 6 speed is high, and the vibration frequency is high, resulting in a mist-like water droplet. At high water levels, the tangential force is large, the motor 6 speed is low, and the vibration frequency is low, resulting in a droplet-like water droplet. Through the matching setting of the ceramic bearing self-aligning structure, the vibration and noise of the motor 6 at various frequencies can be effectively suppressed at both low and high water levels. The waterproof and water-guiding structure of the first end cover 1 (hydrophobic coating, water-blocking slope 102, water-guiding groove) works together to prevent the intrusion of water mist and droplets, while allowing the portable air conditioner to operate normally within a certain tilt angle, greatly improving the waterproof reliability and safety performance of the motor 6.

[0057] An air conditioner includes a motor 6, which is the motor 6 described above. This embodiment specifically relates to a portable air conditioner. The chassis 10 assembly is integrally molded using an injection mold and includes a compressor mounting area 12, a condenser mounting area 13, a water pumping area 14, and a motor mounting platform 15. When installing the motor 6, it is first placed into the motor mounting platform 15 and then fixed with a mounting cover. One side of the mounting cover has a slot that embeds into the mounting platform, and the other side is secured with screws. When the motor 6 is working, it drives the water pumping flywheel 11 to rotate at high speed, using centrifugal force to throw condensed water onto the surface of the condenser fins. The residual heat at the condenser end accelerates water evaporation, thereby expanding the heat exchange area and improving the overall energy efficiency ratio. The motor 6 assembly includes a first end cover 1, a second end cover 9, a stator assembly, a rotor assembly, a first bearing 2, a second bearing 5, a magnet, a water baffle ring, and wear-resistant gaskets. The water baffle ring and wear-resistant gaskets are mounted on the rotating shaft 7 and are close to the end face of the first end cover 1. The installation process is as follows: the stator assembly and control board are pressed into the first end cover 1; the first bearing 2 and the second bearing 5 are pressed into the first bearing chamber 101 of the first end cover 1; the rotor assembly passes through the second bearing 5 and the first bearing 2 in sequence; finally, the wear-resistant gasket, the open retaining ring, the water retaining ring and the second end cover 9 are installed. The front second end cover 9 adopts a snap-on sealing installation, which is simple and reliable to operate.

[0058] It will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the aforementioned advantageous methods can be freely combined and superimposed without conflict.

[0059] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention. The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the technical principles of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An end cap assembly, characterized in that, include: First end cap (1) and first bearing (2); The first end cap (1) includes a first bearing chamber (101), the first bearing (2) is installed in the first bearing chamber (101), and the outer peripheral surface of the first bearing (2) is in spherical contact with the inner wall of the first bearing chamber (101); The inner wall of the first bearing (2) is provided with a first water guide groove (201) to drain the water from the inner hole.

2. The end cap assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer peripheral surface of the first bearing (2) is a spherical convex surface, and the inner wall of the first bearing chamber (101) is a spherical concave surface. The spherical convex surface and the spherical concave surface are adapted to each other so that the first bearing (2) can be deflected relative to each other in the first bearing chamber (101).

3. The end cap assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner wall of the first bearing chamber (101) is provided with a second water guide groove (110), and the opening end of the first bearing chamber (101) is provided with a chamfered slope (112). The end of the second water guide groove (110) extends to the chamfered slope (112) and connects with the chamfered slope (112).

4. The end cap assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first end cap (1) is also provided with a water-blocking slope (102). The guide surface of the water-blocking slope (102) starts from the inner end of the first bearing chamber (101). The guide surface extends away from the second water guide groove (110), and the height of the guide surface gradually decreases along the extension direction so that the water flows into the second water guide groove (110) in one direction.

5. The end cap assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, One end of the first bearing (2) extends toward the outer end face of the first end cover (1), and the other end of the first bearing (2) extends into the first bearing chamber (101) and is provided with a shock-absorbing ring (3).

6. The end cap assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a second bearing (5), and a second bearing chamber (105) is also provided in the first end cover (1). The first bearing chamber (101) and the second bearing chamber (105) are coaxially arranged. The first bearing chamber (101) is close to the motor output end, and the second bearing chamber (105) is close to the inside of the motor. The second bearing (5) is installed in the second bearing chamber (105).

7. The end cap assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first bearing (2) is made of ceramic material, and the second bearing (5) is an oil-impregnated bearing.

8. The end cap assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that, An oil reservoir (121) is formed between the inner wall of the second bearing chamber (105) and the second bearing (5), and the oil reservoir (121) is used to store lubricating oil.

9. The end cap assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that, The inner wall of the second bearing chamber (105) is provided with a plurality of protrusions (122) spaced apart in the circumferential direction. The protrusions (122) extend axially along the second bearing chamber (105), and the oil storage cavity (121) is formed between adjacent protrusions (122). One end of the protrusion (122) faces the first bearing chamber (101), and the other end of the protrusion (122) abuts against the stepped surface of the second bearing (5).

10. The end cap assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer end face of the first end cover (1) is provided with a drainage groove (103) and a ring-shaped water collection groove (104). The water collection groove (104) is arranged around the opening end of the first bearing chamber (101). One end of the drainage groove (103) is connected to the water collection groove (104), and the other end of the drainage groove (103) extends to the bottom of the first end cover (1) and forms a drainage outlet.

11. An electric motor, comprising an end cap assembly, characterized in that, The motor is a water pumping motor, and the end cap assembly is the end cap assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. An air conditioner, comprising a motor, characterized in that... The motor is the motor described in claim 11.

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