shock absorber

Abstract

This invention relates to a shock absorber for damping motion in a compressor assembly. The shock absorber includes an annular body comprising an outer peripheral contact and an inner peripheral contact connected by a connector. The connector is flexible, allowing the inner peripheral contact to move radially and axially relative to the outer peripheral contact. The annular body also includes an axial stop extending from either the inner or outer peripheral contact.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a shock absorber for damping motion in a compressor assembly, particularly for damping radial and axial motion in a vehicle compressor assembly. The invention relates to a compressor assembly, particularly an electric compressor, and extends to methods for constructing such a compressor assembly.

[0002] Compressors are used in many different technologies, but the focus of this invention is on compressors for vehicles. Vehicles may include compressors for a variety of purposes, such as for refrigerant cycles in air conditioning or battery cooling, or as compressors for supplying high-pressure air to hydrogen fuel cells.

[0003] Some internal combustion engines can be equipped with turbochargers, superchargers, and / or other devices to force air into the engine's combustion chamber, thereby improving performance.

[0004] The vehicle may include one or more electrically driven compressors or electric superchargers for this purpose.

[0005] The present invention provides a shock absorber (damper) for attenuating (suppressing) motion in a compressor assembly. The shock absorber includes an annular body comprising an outer peripheral contact portion and an inner peripheral contact portion connected by a connector, the connector being flexible such that the inner peripheral contact portion is movable radially and axially relative to the outer peripheral contact portion. The annular body also includes an axial stop portion extending from either the inner or outer peripheral contact portion.

[0006] The shock absorber is equipped with a flexible connector that allows the inner peripheral contact to move radially and axially relative to the outer peripheral contact. This relative movement in the radial and / or axial directions can cause deformation of the flexible connector, and this deformation can be substantially elastic in nature, so that once the inner and outer peripheral contacts return to their original positions, the connector is able to return to a substantially original or initial shape. However, energy loss occurs during the deformation of the connector. Therefore, an annular body can be used to attenuate (suppress) the relative movement between the inner and outer peripheral contacts, and thus attenuate the relative movement between the parts contacted by the inner and outer peripheral contacts.

[0007] During assembly, an axial stop provided on the shock absorber can be clamped between the components of the compressor assembly to prevent axial movement of the peripheral contact from which the axial stop extends, or at least limit axial movement of the peripheral contact from which the axial stop extends. Because the axial stop is clamped between the components, the relative movement of these components may cause at least a portion of the axial stop to deform. This deformation can be substantially elastic, so that once the components return to their original positions, the axial stop can return to a substantially original or initial shape. However, energy loss occurs during the deformation of the axial stop. The deformation of the axial stop can attenuate (suppress) the relative movement between the components clamping the axial stop.

[0008] The flexibility of the connector can reduce the likelihood of sliding contact between the outer peripheral contact and / or the inner peripheral contact and the parts (parts) of the compressor assembly it contacts, and this can reduce wear.

[0009] The relative motion between components can be vibration or other motion. Energy loss in the deformation of the connector and / or axial stop caused by such motion can dissipate the energy of the relative motion and thus attenuate the motion.

[0010] The present invention also proposes a compressor assembly, comprising:

[0011] Rotatable shaft;

[0012] Compressor impeller supported on a shaft;

[0013] An electric motor for rotating shafts and compressor impellers, the electric motor having a rotor associated with the shaft and a stator surrounding the rotor;

[0014] The housing plate between the compressor impeller and the electric motor has an opening through which the shaft passes and a recess around the opening;

[0015] A damped bearing assembly disposed in a recess, the damped bearing assembly supporting a shaft and including a bearing and a damper surrounding the bearing;

[0016] The shock absorber is as described above, and

[0017] The shock absorber is arranged such that the annular body is located between the bearing and the wall of the recess to transmit and attenuate the radial force between the bearing and the housing plate, and the axial stop is held against the housing plate by a clamping member to limit the movement of the axial stop relative to the housing plate.

[0018] During operation of this type of compressor assembly, the rotating components, including the shaft, compressor impeller, and rotor, rotate, and oscillations may occur within these rotating components. These oscillations may occur at one or more natural frequencies of the rotating components, such as a first bending frequency. Providing a damper between the housing and the rotating components can suppress (attenuate) these oscillations, and this can improve the lifespan of the compressor assembly.

[0019] The shaft, rotor, and compressor can be of any suitable shape and construction, and many suitable examples are known in the art. An electric motor includes a rotor and a stator, and can be any suitable motor capable of rotating the rotor and thereby rotating the shaft and compressor impeller.

[0020] A housing plate is disposed between the compressor impeller and the electric motor. The housing plate may form part of the housing containing the electric motor. The housing plate has an opening through which a shaft can pass. The shaft may be supported in the opening by a spacer. The spacer may provide a seal between the compressor impeller and the interior of the housing. The housing plate includes a recess surrounding the opening. The recess may be open on one side of the housing plate, for example, on the side of the housing plate closest to the rotor. The recess may be generally circular in shape or may be stepped, such that the outer portion of the recess is wider than the inner portion. The recess may be defined by one or more generally cylindrical walls.

[0021] Shock absorbers can be used to dampen (suppress) axial and radial motion in compressor assemblies.

[0022] The connector can be of any suitable shape and can be attached to any part of the inner and outer peripheral contacts. The connector can be curved and have a concave or convex shape. The outer peripheral contact may include or be substantially cylindrical walls. The inner peripheral contact may include or be substantially cylindrical walls.

[0023] The connector can be attached to the end of each of the inner and outer peripheral contact portions. The ends of each of the inner and outer peripheral contact portions to which the connector is attached can be the same end. For example, when installed in a compressor assembly, the connector can be attached to the end of each of the inner and outer peripheral contact portions closest to the rotor or closest to the compressor impeller. The annular body can have a generally U-shaped, C-shaped, or V-shaped cross-section.

[0024] The axial stop may include a radial protrusion extending radially inward from the inner peripheral contact portion or radially outward from the outer peripheral contact portion. The axial stop may extend from the end of the inner or outer peripheral contact portion opposite to the end to which the connector is connected.

[0025] The axial stop may include multiple radial protrusions. These radial protrusions may be distributed substantially evenly around the annular body. The thickness of each radial protrusion may be substantially the same.

[0026] Radial protrusions can form an annular wall. The thickness of the annular wall in the axial direction can be non-uniform around the annular body. The annular wall may include one or more irregular portions, such as cut portions, thinned portions, or thickened portions. Irregular portions can be distributed in a generally regular manner around the annular body.

[0027] By altering the characteristics of the axial stop, its mechanical properties can be adjusted to make its damping performance suitable for compressor components. The mechanical properties of the axial stop can be changed by altering its shape and / or the material used to construct it. For example, a different material, such as an elastomer, can be added to the surface of the axial stop.

[0028] Shock absorbers can be formed using any suitable process. They can be molded parts, as this provides a reliable and cost-effective method for forming them. Shock absorbers can be formed from plastic materials. This plastic material can be PEEK and may include glass fiber reinforcement. It has been found that the mechanical properties of PEEK do not change significantly within the temperature range where the compressor is expected to operate, particularly at the lower end of the temperature range. Some suggested shapes for the annular body mentioned above, essentially U-shaped, C-shaped, or V-shaped cross-sections, can facilitate the molding of shock absorbers.

[0029] The damped bearing assembly includes a bearing and a damper. The damper is arranged around the bearing as described above.

[0030] Bearings can be of any type, such as roller bearings. A bearing may include an inner ring, an outer ring, and rolling elements. The inner ring may be disposed within the outer ring, and the rolling elements may be disposed between the inner and outer rings. The inner and outer rings may define a track in which the rolling elements are disposed to support rotation of the inner ring relative to the outer ring. The rolling elements may be substantially spherical, such as in a ball bearing. A bearing may include a bearing cage disposed between the inner and outer rings. The bearing cage can define the position of the rolling elements, for example, it can separate the rolling elements from each other. The bearing cage can hold the rolling elements in an arrangement in which the rolling elements are substantially equidistant from each other around a periphery.

[0031] The damped bearing assembly may include a seal disposed between the bearing and the damper. The seal may serve as a spacer between the bearing and the damper. The bearing may be press-fitted into the seal. The seal may include at least one axial channel through which gas can pass.

[0032] The clamping component can be a sealing ring. The clamping component can be a bearing, such as the outer ring of a bearing. The clamping component can be a stator or a stator spacer.

[0033] The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing a compressor assembly, comprising:

[0034] A housing plate is provided having an opening therethrough and a recess surrounding the opening on one side of the housing plate;

[0035] A damped bearing assembly is arranged in the recess, the damped bearing assembly supporting the shaft and including a bearing and a damper surrounding the bearing;

[0036] The shaft passes through the bearing of the damped bearing assembly and through the opening, and is supported to rotate relative to the housing plate;

[0037] The compressor impeller is connected to the shaft on the side of the casing plate opposite to the recess;

[0038] The rotor of the electric motor is connected to the shaft, allowing the electric motor to rotate the shaft and the compressor impeller. The electric motor and the recess are located on the same side of the housing plate; wherein...

[0039] The shock absorber is as described above, and

[0040] The shock absorber is arranged such that the annular body is located between the bearing and the wall of the recess to transmit and attenuate the radial force between the bearing and the housing plate, and the axial stop is held against the housing plate by a clamping member to limit the movement of the axial stop relative to the housing plate.

[0041] The damped bearing assembly can be assembled before it is placed in the recess of the housing plate, or the damped bearing assembly can be assembled in the recess.

[0042] The damped bearing assembly can be pushed into the recess.

[0043] The compressor assembly manufactured by this method can be the compressor assembly described above.

[0044] The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following figures, in which:

[0045] Figure 1 A compressor assembly with a housing is shown;

[0046] Figure 2 A compressor assembly without a partial housing is shown;

[0047] Figure 3 It shows Figure 2 A detailed view of the compressor assembly shown, including the first shock absorber;

[0048] Figure 4 A view of the first shock absorber is shown;

[0049] Figure 5 Showing a device with a second shock absorber Figure 2 Detailed views of the compressor assembly shown; and

[0050] Figure 6 A view of the second shock absorber is shown.

[0051] Figure 1 A compressor assembly 1 with a housing 2 is shown. The housing 2 includes a rear housing 4, a compressor impeller housing 6, and a housing plate 8, which is a base plate in this example.

[0052] The compressor assembly 1 includes a rotatable shaft 10. The rotatable shaft 10 supports a compressor impeller 12. An electric motor 14 is included to rotate the shaft 10 and the compressor impeller 12. The electric motor 14 has a rotor 16 associated with the shaft 10 to rotate therewith, and a stator 18 surrounding the rotor 10.

[0053] The housing plate 8 between the compressor impeller 12 and the electric motor 14 includes an opening 20 through which the shaft 10 passes and a recess 22 surrounding the opening 20, which in this case is a cylindrical opening. A spacer 24 supports the shaft 10 in the opening 20. The spacer 24 may include peripheral grooves and ridges to provide a seal between the shaft 10 and the opening 20. The grooves of the spacer may include an annular seal, such as a piston seal.

[0054] A damped bearing assembly 26 is disposed in a recess 22. The damped bearing assembly is pushed into and fitted into the recess 22. The damped bearing assembly 26 supports the shaft 20 and includes a bearing 28 and a damper 30 surrounding the bearing 28. In this example, a sealing ring 32 is disposed between the bearing 28 and the damper 30.

[0055] The shock absorber 30 and its arrangement in the assembly will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0056] The compressor assembly 1 also includes a stator spacer 34 between the stator 18 and the housing plate 8.

[0057] In this example, the sealing ring 32 is axially held between the housing plate 8 and the stator spacer 34. The spacer 24 is axially held between the compressor impeller 12 and the ridge 36 on the shaft 10. The bearing 28 is axially held between the ridge 38 on the shaft and the spacer 24.

[0058] The compressor assembly 1 is manufactured by providing a housing plate 8 and arranging a damped bearing assembly 26 in a recess 22 of the housing plate 8 such that the damped bearing assembly 26 supports the shaft 10.

[0059] Shaft 10 can pass through bearing 28 of the damped bearing assembly 26 and spacer 24 in opening 20. Compressor impeller 12 can then be coupled to shaft 10 on the side of housing plate 8 opposite to recess 22. Coupling compressor impeller 12 to shaft provides clamping force to secure spacer 14 and bearing 28 to shaft 10.

[0060] The rotor 16 of the electric motor 14 is connected to the shaft 10, allowing the electric motor 14 to rotate the shaft 10 and the compressor impeller 12. The electric motor 14 and the recess are located on the same side of the housing plate.

[0061] During use, the compressor impeller 12 may generate an axial force away from the housing plate 8. This axial force acts on the shaft 10 and is resisted by the engagement of the damped bearing assembly 26 with the shaft 10 and the housing plate 8. A preload can be applied to the shaft 10. In this example, a spring 64 located in the rear housing 4 acts on the end of the shaft 10 opposite to the end to which the compressor impeller 12 is attached, providing a preload in the same direction as the axial force generated during use of the compressor assembly. The spring 64 can act on the shaft 10 via a bearing 66.

[0062] Figure 2 Show Figure 1 The view of compressor assembly 1 shown Figure 1 For ease of observation, the rear housing 4, stator 18, and compressor impeller housing 6 are not shown.

[0063] The bearing 28 in this example includes an inner ring 40, an outer ring 42, and rolling elements 44. In this example, the inner ring 40 contacts the shaft 10, and the outer ring 44 is pushed into a recess 46 in a seal ring 32. The inner ring 40 may be disposed within the outer ring 42, and the rolling elements 44 may be disposed between the inner ring 40 and the outer ring 42. The inner ring 40 and the outer ring 42 may define a track in which the rolling elements 44 are disposed to support rotation of the inner ring 40 relative to the outer ring 42. The rolling elements 44 may be substantially spherical, such as a ball bearing (ball). The bearing 32 may include a bearing cage 48 disposed between the inner ring 40 and the outer ring 42. The bearing cage 48 may determine the position of each rolling element 44, for example, it may separate the rolling elements 44 from each other. The bearing cage 44 may hold the rolling elements 44 in an arrangement in which the rolling elements 44 are substantially equidistant around their periphery.

[0064] Figure 3 Show Figure 2 A magnified view of a portion of the assembly shows the shock absorber 30. Figure 4 It shows Figure 3 A view of the shock absorber 30 shown.

[0065] A shock absorber 30 is used to dampen motion within the compressor assembly 1. The shock absorber 30 includes an annular body 50 comprising an outer peripheral contact portion 52 and an inner peripheral contact portion 54, wherein the outer peripheral contact portion 52 is, in this case, a generally cylindrical portion, and the inner peripheral contact portion 54 is, in this case, a generally cylindrical portion. The inner peripheral contact portion 54 and the outer peripheral contact portion 52 are connected by a connector 56 such that the cross-section of the annular body 50 is generally "U"-shaped, wherein the connector 56 extends from the ends of the inner peripheral contact portion 54 and the outer peripheral contact portion 52 furthest from the compressor impeller 12. The connector 56 is flexible, allowing the inner peripheral contact portion 54 to move radially and axially relative to the outer peripheral contact portion 52. In this example, the annular body 50 also includes an axial stop portion 58 extending from the inner peripheral contact portion 54.

[0066] The shock absorber 30 is arranged such that the annular body 50 is located between the bearing 32 and the wall of the recess 22 to transmit and attenuate (suppress) the radial force between the bearing 32 and the housing plate 8. An axial stop 58 is held against the housing plate 8 by a clamping member, in this example, a sealing ring 28. This clamping restricts the movement of the axial stop 58 relative to the housing plate 8.

[0067] like Figure 4 As shown, the axial stop portion 58 includes a plurality of radial protrusions 60 that are substantially evenly spaced around the inner periphery of the inner peripheral contact portion 54. The radial protrusions 60 are separated by gaps.

[0068] Figure 5 An enlarged view of a portion of a different embodiment of compressor assembly 101 is shown. Figure 6 It shows Figure 5 A view of the shock absorber 30 shown.

[0069] Compressor assembly 101 and Figure 1 The compressor assembly 1 shown is similar, and similar components are labeled with the same reference numerals increasing by 100. In this example, the damper 130 includes an annular body 150 disposed between the sealing ring 128 and the recess 122. In this example, the inner contact portion 154 and the outer contact portion 152 are rings, and the connector 156 extends from the ends of the inner contact portion 154 and the outer contact portion 152 closest to the compressor impeller 112, such that the annular body 150 is generally “V” or “C” shaped. An axial stop 158 extends axially from the outer contact portion 152 and is held between the stator spacer 134 and the housing plate 108. Figure 6 As shown, the axial stop portion 158 is a substantially continuous wall.

Claims

1. A shock absorber for damping motion in a compressor assembly, the shock absorber comprising an annular body including an outer peripheral contact portion and an inner peripheral contact portion connected by a connector, the connector being flexible such that the inner peripheral contact portion is movable radially and axially relative to the outer peripheral contact portion, the annular body further comprising an axial stop portion extending from the inner peripheral contact portion or the outer peripheral contact portion.

2. The shock absorber according to claim 1, characterized in that, The shock absorber is used to dampen axial and radial motion in the compressor assembly.

3. The shock absorber according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The annular body has a basic "U", "C" or "V" shaped cross-section.

4. The shock absorber according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The outer peripheral contact portion is a basically cylindrical wall, and the inner peripheral contact portion is a basically cylindrical wall.

5. The shock absorber according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The axial stop includes a radial protrusion extending radially inward from the inner peripheral contact portion.

6. The shock absorber according to claim 5, characterized in that, The axial stop includes multiple radial protrusions.

7. The shock absorber according to claim 6, characterized in that, The plurality of radial protrusions are distributed substantially evenly around the annular body.

8. The shock absorber according to claim 5, characterized in that, The radial protrusions form an annular wall.

9. The shock absorber according to claim 8, characterized in that, The thickness of the annular wall is inconsistent around the periphery of the shock absorber body.

10. The shock absorber according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The shock absorber is a molded component.

11. The shock absorber according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The shock absorber is made of plastic material.

12. The shock absorber according to claim 11, characterized in that, The shock absorber is made of PEEK material.

13. A compressor assembly, comprising: Rotatable shaft; Compressor impeller supported on the shaft; An electric motor for rotating the shaft and the compressor impeller, the electric motor having a rotor associated with the shaft and a stator surrounding the rotor; A housing plate, located between the compressor impeller and the electric motor, the housing plate having an opening through which the shaft passes and a recess surrounding the opening; A damped bearing assembly disposed in the recess, the damped bearing assembly supporting the shaft and including a bearing and a damper surrounding the bearing; The shock absorber as described in any of the preceding claims; and The shock absorber is arranged such that the annular body is positioned between the bearing and the wall of the recess to transmit and attenuate the radial force between the bearing and the housing plate, and the axial stop is clamped against the housing plate by a clamping member to restrict the movement of the axial stop relative to the housing plate.

14. The compressor assembly according to claim 13, characterized in that, The damped bearing assembly includes a sealing ring disposed between the bearing and the damper.

15. The compressor assembly according to claim 14, characterized in that, The clamping component is the sealing ring.

16. The compressor assembly according to claim 13 and any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, Spacers are provided to support the shaft in the opening that passes through the housing plate.

17. A method of manufacturing a compressor assembly, comprising: A housing plate is provided having an opening therethrough and a recess surrounding the opening on one side of the housing plate; A damped bearing assembly is arranged in the recess, the damped bearing assembly supporting the shaft and including a bearing and a damper surrounding the bearing; The shaft passes through the bearing of the damped bearing assembly and through the opening, and supports the shaft to rotate relative to the housing plate; The compressor impeller is connected to the shaft on the side of the housing plate opposite to the recess; The rotor of the electric motor is connected to the shaft so that the electric motor can rotate the shaft and the compressor impeller. The electric motor and the recess are located on the same side of the housing plate. in The shock absorber is the shock absorber as described in any one of claims 1 to 12; and The shock absorber is arranged such that the annular body is located between the bearing and the wall of the recess to transmit and attenuate the radial force between the bearing and the housing plate, and the axial stop is held against the housing plate by a clamping member to limit the movement of the axial stop relative to the housing plate.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that, The damped bearing assembly is pushed into the recess.

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