Electric compressor

Abstract

The present invention addresses the problem of improving electric insulation performance between an insulation member and a cluster block. An electric compressor (10) is provided with a sealed terminal (130). The sealed terminal (130) is provided with a terminal plate (131) fixed to a housing (20), a terminal pin (132) that is inserted into a penetration hole (131a) of the terminal plate (131) and electrically connects a connection terminal (106) to the outside of the housing (20), and an insulation member (140) that seals and insulates between the terminal plate (131) and the terminal pin (132). The terminal pin (132) is liquid-tightly covered with an annular insulation tube (150) having elasticity and electric insulation performance. The insulation tube (150) has low rigidity parts (160, 160) having rigidity lower than that of a central part (470) at both ends thereof in an axial direction, and is held between the cluster block (110) and the insulation member (140).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to technology for improving an electric compressor comprising a compression mechanism for compressing a refrigerant, and an electric motor for driving the compression mechanism.[Background Art]

[0002] Electric compressors include those in which a motor is housed in a sealed housing, and a control unit (a motor drive circuit such as an inverter) for controlling driving of the motor is provided outside the housing. A compression mechanism compresses and discharges a refrigerant taken into the housing.

[0003] In the electric compressor, a stator of the motor is fixed inside the housing, and a control circuit chamber is provided between the inside of the housing and a partition wall, for example. A sealed terminal is disposed on the partition wall. The sealed terminal comprises an insulating member which fills the area between a terminal plate and terminal pins. A cluster block is disposed between the partition wall and the stator. Connection terminals electrically connected to the stator are accommodated in the cluster block. The terminal pins are fitted into the cluster block to electrically connect with the connection terminals.

[0004] The terminal pins between the insulating member and the cluster block will inevitably be exposed to the refrigerant inside the housing. If the terminal pins come into contact with a liquid-form refrigerant (liquid refrigerant) or lubricating oil, this leads to concerns of short-circuiting between the terminal pins and the terminal plate, and also concerns of short-circuiting between the terminal plate and the housing, and measures against this are therefore needed. The technologies in Patent Documents 1 and 2, for example, are known as measures against this.

[0005] According to the technology known from Patent Document 1, annular insulators are fitted onto lead pins (corresponding to the terminal pins) assembled with a hermetic plate (corresponding to the terminal plate), annular sealing members are fitted onto outer circumferential surfaces of the insulators, and mating ports of a connector housing (corresponding to the cluster block) are fitted onto outer circumferential surfaces of the sealing members. That is to say, in the technology of Patent Document 1, a radial seal is formed by the inner circumferential surfaces and outer circumferential surfaces of the sealing members.

[0006] Furthermore, according to the technology known from Patent Document 2, terminal pins (corresponding to the terminal pins) assembled with a glass terminal plate (corresponding to the terminal plate) are fitted into terminals of internal power lines accommodated in a terminal case (corresponding to the cluster block), and cylindrical rubber rings are sandwiched between the glass terminal plate and the terminal case. That is to say, in the technology of Patent Document 2, an axial seal is formed between the glass terminal plate and the terminal case by both end faces of the rubber rings.[Prior Art Documents][Patent Documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-148037 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2014-114795 A [Summary of the Invention][Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

[0008] However, in the electric compressor known from Patent Document 1, the inner circumferential surfaces of the annular sealing members are first of all mated with the outer circumferential surfaces of the insulators (first press-fitting), then the inner circumferential surfaces of the mating ports of the connector housing are mated with the outer circumferential surfaces of the sealing members (second press-fitting). That is to say, it is necessary to ensure sealing properties of both the inner circumferential surfaces and outer circumferential surfaces of the annular sealing members. To that end, it is necessary to set a good balance between both a state of mating on the inner circumferential surface side and a state of mating on the outer circumferential surface side. Taking account of maintaining sealing member quality (e.g., material and dimensional tolerance), and a balance between tolerance on the inner circumferential surface side and tolerance on the outer circumferential side, there still remains the problem of ensuring electrical insulation.

[0009] Furthermore, the electric compressor known from Patent Document 2 has a configuration in which the cylindrical rubber rings are sandwiched between the glass terminal plate and the terminal case (axial sealing), so the sealing properties are affected by the tolerance of the axial separation distance between the glass terminal plate and the terminal case. The tolerance of the axial separation distance is inevitably relatively large because it is a combination of respective tolerances of each of the members. In addition, the technology of Patent Document 2 has a structure for ensuring an insulating distance by means of a contact area of a sealing face of the glass terminal plate and a sealing face of the terminal case, so the contact area becomes narrower if the sealing faces have poor planarity and / or parallelism, and there still remains the problem of ensuring electrical insulation.

[0010] The present invention has been devised in order to solve the issues above, and the problem addressed thereby lies in providing technology capable of improving electrical insulation between an insulating member and a cluster block.[Means for Solving the Problems]

[0011] The reference symbols used in the appended drawings are added in parentheses in the description below in order to make the present invention easier to understand, but this does not limit the present invention to the forms depicted.

[0012] In a first aspect, the present invention provides an electric compressor (10; 200; 300; 400) comprising: a sealed housing (20); a compression mechanism (50) for compressing and discharging a refrigerant taken into the housing (20); an electric motor (100) housed in the housing (20) to drive the compression mechanism (50); a cluster block (110) which accommodates a connection terminal (106) electrically connected to the electric motor (100), and is accommodated in the housing (20); and a sealed terminal (130) provided in the housing (20) and electrically connected to the connection terminal (106), the sealed terminal (130) comprising: a terminal plate (131) fixed to the housing (20); a terminal pin (132) which passes through a through-hole (131a) in the terminal plate (131), and electrically connects the connection terminal (106) to outside of the housing (20); and an insulating member (140) which fills the area between the terminal plate (131) and the terminal pin (132) to provide sealing and insulation, characterized in that the terminal pin (132) is liquid-tightly covered by an elastic and electrically-insulating annular insulating tube (150; 350; 450), and the insulating tube (150; 350; 450) comprises, at both axial ends, low-rigidity portions (160, 160; 360, 360) of lower rigidity than a central portion (170; 470) in the axial direction of the insulating tube (150; 350; 450), and is sandwiched between the cluster block (110) and the insulating member (140).

[0013] In a second aspect, the present invention preferably provides the electric compressor according to the first aspect, wherein each of the low-rigidity portions (160, 160; 360, 360) comprises a contracting portion (161, 161) having a gap (Cr), between an outer circumferential surface (132a) of the terminal pin (132) and an inner circumferential surface (150a) of the insulating tube (150).

[0014] In a third aspect, the present invention preferably provides the electric compressor according to the second aspect, wherein a support portion (170; 470) is provided between each of the low-rigidity portions (160, 160; 360; 360), and a hole diameter (d1) of the support portion (170; 470) is smaller than a diameter (d2) of the terminal pin (132).

[0015] In a fourth aspect, the present invention preferably provides the electric compressor according to the second and third aspects, wherein a tip end (163, 163) of each of the low-rigidity portions (160, 160; 360, 360) comprises an inside corner portion (167, 167) formed by a tip end face (165, 165) and an inner circumferential surface (166, 166), and an outside corner portion (169, 169) formed by the tip end face (165, 165) and an outer circumferential surface (168, 168), the inside corner portions (167, 167) and outside corner portions (169, 169) being formed with curved surface shapes, and curved surfaces (167a, 167a) of the inside corner portions have a greater radius of curvature (r1) than curved surfaces (169a, 169a) of the outside corner portions.

[0016] In a fifth aspect, the present invention preferably provides the electric compressor according to the second to fourth aspects, wherein each of the low-rigidity portions (160, 160; 360, 360) is configured by an enlarged-diameter portion (164, 164) which increases in diameter from a base end (162, 162) toward the tip end (163, 163).

[0017] In a sixth aspect, the present invention preferably provides the electric compressor according to the second to fifth aspects, wherein a wall thickness (t1, t2) of the insulating tube (150) is uniform over the whole length.

[0018] In a seventh aspect, the present invention preferably provides the electric compressor according to the second to sixth aspects, wherein the cluster block (110) comprises a tube contact face (212) which contacts the tip end face (165, 165) of either of the low-rigidity portions (160, 160; 360, 360) provided at both axial ends of the insulating tube (150), and the tube contact face (212) is a spherical surface or a conical surface.

[0019] In an eighth aspect, the present invention preferably provides the electric compressor according to the second to seventh aspects, wherein the insulating member (140) comprises a tube contact face (242c) which contacts the tip end face (165, 165) of either of the low-rigidity portions (160, 160; 360, 360) provided at both axial ends of the insulating tube (150), and the tube contact face (242c) is a spherical surface or a conical surface.

[0020] In a ninth aspect, the present invention preferably provides the electric compressor according to the second to eighth aspects, wherein at least part or all of either one or both of the low-rigidity portions (360, 360) provided at both axial ends of the insulating tube (350) is configured in a bellows shape capable of contracting in the axial direction of the insulating tube (350).

[0021] In a tenth aspect, the present invention preferably provides the electric compressor according to the third to eighth aspects, wherein at least part of the support portion (470) has a gripping portion (471) forming a thickness radially outside the support portion (470).[Effects of the Invention]

[0022] The present invention makes it possible to improve electrical insulation between an insulating member and a cluster block.[Brief Description of the Drawings]

[0023] [Fig. 1] is a view in cross section of an electric compressor according to example 1. [Fig. 2] is an enlargement around the cluster block shown in fig. 1. [Fig. 3] is an exploded oblique view of the cluster block and the sealed terminal shown in fig. 2. [Fig. 4] is an enlargement in cross section of the sealed terminal shown in fig. 2. [Fig. 5] Fig. 5A is an enlargement around the insulating tube of the sealed terminal shown in fig. 2; fig. 5B is an enlargement of a relationship between an insulator and the insulating tube shown in fig. SA; and fig. 5C is an outline diagram in which the insulating tube shown in fig. 5B is elastically deformed radially inward. [Fig. 6] is a view in cross section of the insulating tube shown in fig. 5A as a single element. [Fig. 7] is a view in cross section of an example of deformation of the insulating tube shown in fig. 6. [Fig. 8] Fig. 8A is a first exemplary diagram around the insulating tube of the sealed terminal of an electric compressor according to example 2; and fig. 8B is a second exemplary diagram around the insulating tube of the sealed terminal of the electric compressor according to example 2. [Fig. 9] Fig. 9A is a view in cross section around the insulating tube of the sealed terminal of an electric compressor according to example 3; and fig. 9B is a view in cross section of the insulating tube shown in fig. 9A as a single element. [Fig. 10] Fig. 10A is a view in cross section of the insulating tube of an electric compressor according to example 4; and fig. 10B is a view in cross section along the line 10B-10B in fig. 10A. [Embodiments of the Invention]

[0024] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the appended drawings. It should be noted that the forms depicted in the appended drawings are examples of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to those forms.<Example 1>

[0025] An electric compressor 10 according to example 1 will be described with reference to fig. 1-7.

[0026] As shown in fig. 1, the electric compressor 10 is suitable for use in a refrigeration cycle employing a refrigerant as a working fluid, and is employed in the refrigeration cycle of an automotive air conditioning device, for example. It should be noted that there is no limitation to the purpose of use of the electric compressor 10.

[0027] The electric compressor 10 comprises, for example: a sealed housing 20 which can be installed horizontally; a compression mechanism 50 for compressing and discharging a refrigerant taken into the housing 20; an electric motor 100 housed in the housing 20 to drive the compression mechanism 50; and a control unit 120 for controlling driving of the electric motor 100. The control unit 120 is configured, for example, by an inverter device which receives input of externally supplied power and compressor operation signals for operating the electric compressor 10, and supplies drive power to the electric motor 100.

[0028] The housing 20 is a bottomed cylindrical member comprising a bottom wall 21 and a circumferential wall 22, and is closed at one end by means of the bottom wall 21 and completely open at another end. That is to say, an opening portion 23 is provided at the other end of the housing 20. The opening portion 23 is closed by an openable / closable head member 31. The housing 20 is constructed by a cast piece made of a metallic material such as aluminum (including aluminum alloy).

[0029] An outer wall surface 21a and an inner wall surface 21b of the bottom wall 21 of the housing 20 are flat surfaces. A bottomed cylindrical control housing 32 is assembled with the outer wall surface 21a. That is to say, a bottom wall 32a of the control housing 32 is placed over the outer wall surface 21a of the bottom wall 21 of the housing 20 and is also fastened to the bottom wall 21 by means of a fastening member (not depicted). The control unit 120 is accommodated in the control housing 32. An opening portion 32b of the control housing 32 is closed off by means of an openable / closable lid 33. The control unit 120 will be described in detail later.

[0030] The housing 20 internally comprises a first accommodating chamber 24 on the bottom wall 21 side and a second accommodating chamber 25 on the opening portion 23 side. The first and second accommodating chambers 24, 25 are continuous in a longitudinal direction (axial direction) of the housing 20.

[0031] The compression mechanism 50 is at least partly (e.g., completely) accommodated on the opening portion 23 side inside the housing 20, i.e., in the second accommodating chamber 25. The electric motor 100 is accommodated on the bottom wall 21 side inside the housing 20, i.e., in the first accommodating chamber 24.

[0032] The housing 20 further comprises an intake port 26 for taking the refrigerant into the first accommodating chamber 24 from the outside. The head member 31 comprises: an oil separation chamber 31a for separating oil from the refrigerant compressed by means of the compression mechanism 50; and a discharge port (not depicted) for discharging to the outside the gaseous refrigerant from which the oil has been separated by means of the oil separation chamber 31a.

[0033] A partition is formed between the first accommodating chamber 24 and the second accommodating chamber 25 by means of a disc-shaped partition member 34 (also referred to as a drive shaft support member 34). The partition member 34 restricts both relative rotation and relative movement in the axial direction with respect to the housing 20. Moreover, the drive shaft support member 34 is fixed to the housing 20 after the electric motor 100 has been housed in the housing 20.

[0034] The first accommodating chamber 24 may also be referred to as the "low-pressure chamber 24". The partition member 34 comprises a plurality of intake holes 34a providing communication between the first accommodating chamber 24 and the second accommodating chamber 25. The partition member 34 may be considered as a component of the compression mechanism 50. Even if the partition wall 34 is considered as part of the compression mechanism 50, this does not depart from the essential point of the present invention.

[0035] A drive shaft 41 positioned on the center line CL1 in the longitudinal direction of the housing 20 is provided in the first accommodating chamber 24. The drive shaft 41 also serves as an output shaft 101 (motor shaft 101) of the electric motor 100. The center line CL1 in the longitudinal direction of the housing 20 may also be referred to as the "center line CL1 of the drive shaft 41 (output shaft 101)".

[0036] The drive shaft 41 penetrates the partition member 34 toward the compression mechanism 50 side, and is rotatably supported by means of a first bearing 42 provided in the partition member 34 and a second bearing 43 provided in a bearing holding portion 21c in the bottom wall 21 of the housing 20. The drive shaft 41 further comprises an eccentric shaft 44 on one end face penetrating the partition member 34. The eccentric shaft 44 extends from one end face of the drive shaft 41 toward the compression mechanism 50 and is parallel with the drive shaft 41. A center line CL2 of the eccentric shaft 44 is offset from the center line CL1 of the drive shaft 41. An annular bush 45 is rotatably mated with the eccentric shaft 44. A radially-protruding counterweight 46 is integrally provided with the bush 45. An inner circumferential surface of a third bearing 47 is mated with an outer circumferential surface of the bush 45.

[0037] The compression mechanism 50 will be described next.

[0038] As shown in fig. 1, the compression mechanism 50 is configured, for example, by a "scroll compression mechanism" which compresses a refrigerant by means of a combination of a fixed scroll 60 which is supported between the head member 31 and the partition member 34 in such a way as to be incapable of relative rotation, and an orbiting scroll 70 capable of orbiting in the circumferential direction in relation to the fixed scroll 60.

[0039] The fixed scroll 60 comprises a disc-shaped fixed panel 61, a cylindrical outer circumferential wall 62, and a spiral-shaped fixed spiral wall 63. The fixed panel 61 is orthogonal to the center line CL2 of the eccentric shaft 44. The outer circumferential wall 62 extends from an outer circumferential edge of the fixed panel 61 to the electric motor 100 side. A refrigerant intake port 64 for taking the refrigerant from radially outward to inward is formed in the outer circumferential wall 62. The fixed spiral wall 63 is positioned on the inner side of the outer circumferential wall 62 and stands upright from the bottom surface of the fixed panel 61.

[0040] The orbiting scroll 70 is capable of revolving about the fixed scroll 60. The orbiting scroll 70 comprises a disc-shaped orbiting panel 71 positioned opposite the fixed spiral wall 63, and a spiral-shaped orbiting spiral wall 72.

[0041] The orbiting panel 71 is positioned inside the outer circumferential wall 62 of the fixed scroll 60, and is rotatably supported by means of the eccentric shaft 44 via the third bearing 47 and the bush 45. The orbiting spiral wall 72 stands upright from the orbiting panel 71 toward the fixed spiral wall 63, and a plurality of compression chambers 73 are formed by combining the orbiting spiral wall 72 and the fixed spiral wall 63. Rotation of the drive shaft 41 enables the orbiting scroll 70 to revolve (eccentrically rotate) about the center line CL1 of the drive shaft 41.

[0042] The compression mechanism 50 further comprises a rotation preventing mechanism 80. The rotation preventing mechanism 80 comprises: a plurality of recesses 81 provided in the orbiting panel 71; a plurality of ring members 82 mated with the recesses 81; and a plurality of rotation-stopping pins 83 extending into the plurality of ring members 82 from the partition member 34. Linear contact of each of the ring members 82 with each of the rotation-stopping pins 83 makes it possible to allow the orbiting scroll 70 to orbit while preventing rotation thereof.

[0043] As described above, rotation of the drive shaft 41 causes the orbiting scroll 70 to revolve. As a result, the refrigerant taken in from the intake port 26 passes through the gap in the electric motor 100 inside the low-pressure chamber 24, and is taken into the compression chambers 73 through the refrigerant intake port 64 of the fixed scroll 60 via the intake holes 34a in the partition member 34. As the orbiting scroll 70 revolves, the compression chambers 73 steadily moved toward the center while reducing the internal volume. The refrigerant inside the compression chambers 73 is compressed by this means. When the pressure in the compression chambers 73 increases to above an opening pressure of a discharge valve 91, the discharge valve 91 opens due to a pressure difference. The refrigerant inside the compression chambers 73 flows into a discharge chamber 93 through a discharge hole 92. The refrigerant inside the discharge chamber 93 is discharged to the outside from a discharge port (not depicted) via the oil separation chamber 31a.

[0044] The electric motor 100 will be described next.

[0045] As shown in fig. 1, the electric motor 100 is configured by a three-phase AC brushless motor, for example. The electric motor 100 comprises: the output shaft 101 (drive shaft 41), a rotor 102 fixed to the output shaft 101, and a cylindrical stator 103 surrounding the circumference of the rotor 102.

[0046] The rotor 102 has the longitudinal direction of the housing 20 as its axial center (rotational center), and is capable of rotating about the center line CL1 of the output shaft 101. The stator 103 is disposed radially outside the rotor 102 and is fixed to an inner circumferential surface 20a of the housing 20 (inner circumferential surface 24a of the first accommodating chamber 24).

[0047] An electrical connection structure between the electric motor 100 and the control unit 120 will be described next.

[0048] As shown in fig. 2 and 3, a plurality of lead-out wires 105 (motor wiring 105) leading out from coils 104 of the stator 103 extend to the control unit 120 side and are separately connected to a plurality of connection terminals 106 (receptacle 106). That is to say, the connection terminals 106 are electrically connected to the coils 104 of the electric motor 100, and are arranged on the bottom wall 21 side of the electric motor 100. The connection terminals 106 are incorporated into (accommodated in) the cluster block 110. The cluster block 110 may also be referred to as an electrical connector 110.

[0049] The cluster block 110 is inserted into a space Sp between the bottom wall 21 of the housing 20 and an insulator 107 of the stator 103, in other words the space Sp between the bottom wall 21 and the stator 103, and is positioned with a gap ga (clearance ga) from the bottom wall 21. Movement of the cluster block 110 in a direction parallel to the bottom wall 21 of the housing 20 (a planar direction orthogonal to the center line CL1 of the output shaft 101) is restricted, and movement in a longitudinal direction of the housing 20 is restricted by means of the insulator 107. The cluster block 110 is thus housed in the housing 20.

[0050] The cluster block 110 is configured, for example, by an electrically-insulating resin molded part having a terminal accommodating portion 111 for accommodating the connection terminals 106. To be more specific, the cluster block 110 has a flat opposing face 112 facing the bottom wall 21 of the housing 20. The opposing face 112 is a planar surface orthogonal to the center line CL1 of the output shaft 101. The opposing face 112 (the face 112 facing the terminal plate 131) may also be referred to as the "tube contact face 112 of the cluster block 110".

[0051] A plurality of pin insertion holes 113 penetrating the terminal accommodating portion 111 are formed in the tube contact face 112. The positions of the plurality of pin insertion holes 113 correspond to the positions of connecting portions 106a of the connection terminals 106.

[0052] The connection terminals 106 accommodated in the cluster block 110 are electrically connected to outside of the housing 20 by means of a sealed terminal 130. For example, the control unit 120 is disposed outside of the housing 20 (e.g., inside the control housing 32). The connection terminals 106 are electrically connected to the control unit 120 by means of the sealed terminal 130.

[0053] Configurations are included where the control unit 120 is provided directly or indirectly on the outer wall surface 21a of the bottom wall 21 of the housing 20. According to one example, the control unit 120 is indirectly provided on the outer wall surface 21a of the bottom wall 21 of the housing 20 by removably accommodating the control unit inside the control housing 32. According to another example, the control unit 120 is directly provided on the outer wall surface 21a of the bottom wall 21 of the housing 20 without the intermediary of the bottom wall 32a of the control housing 32. The control unit 120 comprises a board 122 on which control components 121 such as an inverter circuit are mounted, and a board-side connector 123 provided on the board 122. The board-side connector 123 is connectable to the tip end of each terminal pin 132 of the sealed terminal 130.

[0054] The control unit 120 is assembled inside the control housing 32, whereby the board-side connector 123 is connected to each terminal pin 132. As a result, the lead-out wires 105 are electrically connected to the control unit 120. Driving electrical power can be supplied from the control unit 120 to the electric motor 100.

[0055] The sealed terminal 130 will be described next.

[0056] As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the sealed terminal 130 (relay terminal 130) is provided in the housing 20 and is electrically connected to the connection terminals 106.

[0057] The sealed terminal 130 comprises: a terminal plate 131 attachable to the housing 20, and a plurality of terminal pins 132 assembled with the terminal plate 131. The sealed terminal 130 further comprises a plurality of insulating members 140 which fill the areas between the terminal plate 131 and the terminal pins 132 to provide sealing (airtight and liquid-tight) and insulation.

[0058] The terminal plate 131 (base plate 131) is a flat plate-shaped member attachable to the bottom wall 21 from the outer wall surface 21a by means of a fastening member 133. The area between the terminal plate 131 and the outer wall surface 21a of the bottom wall 21 is sealed by means of a sealing member 134.

[0059] The plurality of terminal pins 132 are electrically conductive, round bar-shaped members extending into the housing 20 from inside the control housing 32 along the center line CL1 of the output shaft 101. The bottom wall 21 of the housing 20 comprises through-holes 21d (see fig. 2) enabling insertion of the plurality of terminal pins 132 and a plurality of insulating tubes 150.

[0060] A tip end (one end face) of each terminal pin 132 is detachably inserted into a connection terminal 123a of the board-side connector 123, and is thereby electrically connectable to the board-side connector 123. Furthermore, the terminal pins 132 are detachably inserted into the connecting portions 106a of the connection terminals 106, whereby the sealed terminal 130 can electrically connect the stator 103 and the control unit 120. The terminal pins 132 can thus electrically connect the connection terminals 106 to outside of the housing 20. The terminal pins 132 and the connecting portions 106a of the connection terminals 106 are covered by the cluster block 110.

[0061] As shown in fig. 4, each terminal pin 132 is inserted into a through-hole 131a in the terminal plate 131. The insulating members 140 are configured by a single member or a plurality of members providing separate or overall sealing (airtight and liquid-tight) of the areas between the terminal plate 131 and the terminal pins 132 penetrating the through-holes 131a, and providing electrical insulation. For example, the insulating members 140 are configured by: a filling material 141 which fills the through-holes 131a in the terminal plate 131; and a pair of plugging members 142, 143 for sealing off the filling material 141 from both sides of the through-hole 131a.

[0062] The filling material 141 comprises a material having sealing properties (airtightness and liquid tightness) and electrical insulation properties, and is capable of supporting the terminal pins 132. An electrically-insulating inorganic material such as glass may be cited as an example of the filling material 141.

[0063] The pair of plugging members 142, 143 are configured by an electrically-insulating material such as a ceramic. The plugging members 142, 143 are annular members comprising insertion holes 142a, 143a allowing insertion of the terminal pins 132, and comprise flanges 142b, 143b at one axial end thereof. One of the pair of plugging members 142, 143 will be referred to as the first plugging member 142, while the other will be referred to as the second plugging member 143.

[0064] The first plugging member 142 is positioned on the low-pressure chamber 24 (see fig. 2) side of the terminal plate 131, and has an opposing face 142c facing the opposing face 112 (tube contact face 112) of the cluster block 110. The opposing face 142c is preferably a flat surface parallel to the tube contact face 112 of the cluster block 110. The second plugging member 143 is positioned on the control unit 120 (see fig. 2) side of the terminal plate 131.

[0065] The opposing face 142c of the first plugging member 142 (the face 142c facing the tube contact face 112 of the cluster block 110 shown in fig. 2) may also be referred to as the "tube contact face 142c of the first plugging member 142" or the "tube contact face 142c of the insulating member 140".

[0066] The filling material 141 consolidates the terminal pin 132 and the plugging members 142, 143 with the terminal plate 131 in the following manner, for example. The area between the through-hole 131a in the terminal plate 131 and the terminal pin 132 is filled with glass pellets, both sides of the through-hole 131a are plugged with the plugging members 142, 143, and the entire terminal plate 130 is fired. This causes the glass pellets to fuse, producing close bonding between the inner circumferential surface of the through-hole 131a, the terminal pin 132, and the plugging members 142, 143. The fused glass pellets solidify, thereby forming the filling material 141. As a result, the filling material 141 forms a seal between the inner circumferential surface of the through-hole 131a, the terminal pin 132, and the plugging members 142, 143, while also positioning and immobilizing (consolidating) the terminal pin 132 and the plugging members 142, 143 with respect to the terminal plate 131.

[0067] There is a slight gap inside the through-hole 131a when it has been filled with the glass pellets. This gap disappears after the glass pellets filling the through-hole have fused. In order to address this, the glass pellets filling the through-hole 131a are fused while being compressed by the pair of plugging members 142, 143. A compression margin is therefore needed for compression of the glass pellets. In order to sufficiently maintain this compression margin, minute gaps C1, C2 are provided between plate faces 131b, 131c on both sides of the terminal plate 131, and flange faces 142d, 143d of the flanges 142b, 143b of the pair of plugging members 142, 143. These gaps C1, C2 are not fixed and are set with a tolerance.

[0068] As shown in fig. 5A, L1 is a separation dimension from the tube contact face 112 of the cluster block 110 to the tube contact face 142c of the insulating member 140. This separation dimension L1 may, as appropriate, be referred to as "the separation distance L1 between the cluster block 110 and the insulating member 140", "the separation dimension L1 between the contact faces 112, 142c", or simply "the separation dimension L1".

[0069] As shown in fig. 2 and 5A, the separation dimension L1 has a large tolerance. The reason for this is the accumulation of the following dimensional tolerances, for example. A first tolerance is the tolerance of the position of the contact face of the sealing member 134 in relation to the bottom wall 21 of the housing 20. A second tolerance is the tolerance of a thickness th of the sealing member 134. A third tolerance is an assembly tolerance from the first plate face 131b of the terminal plate 131 to the tube contact face 142c of the insulating member 140. A fourth tolerance is a tolerance in the axial direction of the position of assembly of the stator 103 with the housing 20. A fifth tolerance is a tolerance in the axial direction of the position of assembly of the cluster block 110 with the stator 103.

[0070] As shown in fig. 5A, each of the terminal pins 132 is liquid-tightly covered by an elastic and electrically-insulating annular insulating tube 150.

[0071] One of the plurality of insulating tubes 150 will be representatively described in detail next.

[0072] As shown in fig. 5A, the insulating tube 150 has a hollow configuration with a circular cross section matching the cross-sectional shape of the terminal pin 132. Electrically-insulating rubber may be cited as an example of the material of the insulating tube 150. The overall length L2 (see fig. 6) of the insulating tube 150, i.e., the natural length L2, is greater than the separation dimension L1 between the contact faces 112, 142c. The dimension difference ΔL=L2-L1 (the dimension difference ΔL is not shown in the drawings).

[0073] The insulating tube 150 comprises: low-rigidity portions 160, 160 at both axial ends; and a central portion 170 (support portion 170) between the low-rigidity portions 160, 160. The low-rigidity portions 160, 160 at both axial ends are formed with symmetrical shapes and are also the same size as each other. The rigidity of the low-rigidity portions 160, 160 is lower than the rigidity of the central portion 170 (support portion 170) in the axial direction of the insulating tube 150. Here, the low-rigidity portions 160, 160 having low rigidity are parts which deform more readily (contract more readily) in the axial direction than the central portion 170 when the insulating tube 150 is compressed in the axial direction of the terminal pin 132.

[0074] The support portion 170 is configured as a straight tube with a circular cross section. The hole diameter d1 (see fig. 6) of the hollow support portion 170, i.e., the inner diameter d1, is smaller than the diameter d2 of the terminal pin 132.

[0075] The insulating tube 150 configured in this manner is sandwiched between the cluster block 110 and the insulating member 140, in other words, between the tube contact face 112 of the cluster block 110 and the tube contact face 142c of the insulating member 140. A compressive force in the axial direction of the terminal pin 132 acts on the insulating tube 150 according to the dimensional difference ΔL. By sandwiching the insulating tube 150 between the cluster block 110 and the insulating member 140, the low-rigidity portions 160, 160 closely contact the contact faces 112, 142c while contracting, which can thereby improve liquid tightness.

[0076] To be more specific, as shown in fig. 5A-5C, each of the low-rigidity portions 160, 160 is configured by a contracting portion 161, 161. Each of the low-rigidity portions 160, 160 comprises a contracting portion 161, 161 having a gap Cr, Cr (space Cr, Cr) between the outer circumferential surface 132a of the terminal pin 132 and the inner circumferential surface 150a of the insulating tube 150.

[0077] When a compressive force in the axial direction of the terminal pin 132 acts on the insulating tube 150, the contracting portions 161, 161 readily extend and contract to the radial outer side of the insulating tube 150 (see the imaginary lines in fig. 5B), and readily extend and contract to the radial inner side of the insulating tube 150 (see the imaginary lines in fig. 5C). Tip end faces 165, 165 of the contracting portions 161, 161 (low-rigidity portions 160, 160) can form stable sealing faces.

[0078] As shown in fig. 6, the contracting portions 161, 161 may be configured by enlarged-diameter portions 164, 164, for example. That is to say, each of the low-rigidity portions 160, 160 is configured by an enlarged-diameter portion 164, 164 which increases in diameter from a base end 162, 162 (root 162, 162 of the low-rigidity portions 160, 160 relative to the support portion 170) toward a tip end 163, 163. A tapered shape, bugle shape or bell shape may be cited as an example of the shape of the enlarged-diameter portions 164, 164.

[0079] The tip ends 163, 163 of the low-rigidity portions 160, 160 comprise a tip end face 165, 165 (sealing face 165, 165) capable of closely contacting the contact faces 112, 142c (see fig. 5A).

[0080] The tip ends 163, 163 each comprise an inside corner portion 167, 167 formed by the tip end face 165, 165 and an inner circumferential surface 166, 166, and an outside corner portion 169, 169 formed by the tip end face 165, 165 and an outer circumferential surface 168, 168. The inside corner portions 167, 167 and the outside corner portions 169, 169 are formed with curved surfaces. A radius of curvature of curved surfaces 167a, 167a (inside curved surfaces 167a, 167a) of the inside corner portions 167, 167 is r1. A radius of curvature of curved surfaces 169a, 169a (outside curved surfaces 169a, 169a) of the outside corner portions 169, 169 is r2, which is smaller than the radius of curvature r1 of the inside curve surfaces 167a, 167a. That is to say, the curved surfaces 167a, 167a of the inside corner portions 167, 167 have a greater radius of curvature than the curved surfaces 169a, 169a of the outside corner portions 169, 169 (r1>r2).

[0081] As shown in fig. 6, a wall thickness t1 of the low-rigidity portions 160, 160 and a wall thickness t2 of the support portion 170 are set at the same size in the insulating tube 150. The wall thicknesses t1, t2 of the insulating tube 150 are thus uniform over the whole length L2.

[0082] It should be noted that the wall thickness of the insulating tube 150 may also be set as shown in fig. 7. That is to say, when the low-rigidity portions 160, 160 are viewed over all cross sections orthogonal to a center line ch of the insulating tube 150 (sliced cross sections), wall thicknesses t11, t12 in each cross section are set at the same size as the wall thickness t2 of the support portion 170 ( t11=r12=t2).

[0083] The description of example 1 will be summarized as follows.

[0084] As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the electric compressor 10 comprises: the sealed housing 20; the compression mechanism 50 for compressing and discharging a refrigerant taken into the housing 20; the electric motor 100 housed in the housing 20 to drive the compression mechanism 50; the cluster block 110 which accommodates the connection terminals 106 electrically connected to the electric motor 100, and is accommodated in the housing 20; and the sealed terminal 130 provided in the housing 20 and electrically connected to the connection terminals 106.

[0085] The sealed terminal 130 comprises: the terminal plate 131 fixed to the housing 20; the terminal pins 132 which pass through the through-holes 131a (see fig. 4) in the terminal plate 131, and electrically connect the connection terminals 106 to outside of the housing 20; and the insulating members 140 which fill the areas between the terminal plate 131 and the terminal pins 132 to provide sealing and insulation.

[0086] As shown in fig. 5A, the terminal pins 132 are liquid-tightly covered by an elastic and electrically-insulating annular insulating tube 150. The insulating tube 150 comprises, at both axial ends, the low-rigidity portions 160, 160 of lower rigidity than the central portion 170 (support portion 170) in the axial direction of the insulating tube 150, and is sandwiched between the cluster block 110 and the insulating member 140.

[0087] The separation distance L1 from the insulating member 140 to the cluster block 110 is shorter than the natural length L2 (see fig. 6) of the insulating tube 150.

[0088] At the same time, according to example 1, the insulating tube 150 comprises the axially-flexible low-rigidity portions 160, 160 at both ends in the axial direction of the terminal pin 132, and is sandwiched between the insulating member 140 and the cluster block 110. The tip end face 165, 165 (sealing face 165, 165) of one of the low-rigidity portions 160 (first low-rigidity portion 160) contacts the end face 142c (tube contact face 142c) of the insulating member 140 in the axial direction of the terminal pin 132. The tip end face 165, 165 (sealing face 165, 165) of the other low-rigidity portion 160 (second low-rigidity portion 160) contacts the end face 112 (tube contact face 112) of the cluster block 110 in the axial direction of the terminal pin 132 as a result of the terminal pin 132 being mated with the connection terminal 106.

[0089] Each of the low-rigidity portions 160, 160 is capable of readily extending and contracting in the radial direction in accordance with a compressive force in the axial direction acting on the insulating tube 150. The length of the insulating tube 150 varies according to radial extension and contraction of each of the low-rigidity portions 160, 160. The insulating tube 150 can be sandwiched as a result of a change in the length thereof according to the separation distance L1 from the tube contact face 142c of the insulating member 140 to the tube contact face 112 of the cluster block 110.

[0090] In addition, according to example 1, the separation distance L1 from the insulating member 140 to the cluster block 110 has a large dimensional tolerance. However, the dimensional tolerance can be absorbed by the varying length L2 (see fig. 6) of the insulating tube 150. The insulating tube 150 can thus contract by sufficiently elastically deforming in response to a large amount of change in the axial direction, and can tightly cover the terminal pin 132. As a result, it is possible to improve liquid tightness with respect to liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil, and electrical insulation between the insulating member 140 and the cluster block 110 can be further improved.

[0091] Moreover, according to example 1, when the insulating tube 150 is sandwiched between the insulating member 140 and the cluster block 110, the sealing faces 165, 165 of each of the elastic low-rigidity portions 160, 160 are configured to contact the tube contact face 142c of the insulating member 140 and the tube contact face 112 of the cluster block 110 in the axial direction of the terminal pin 132.

[0092] Consequently, even if the tube contact face 142c of the insulating member 140 and the tube contact face 112 of the cluster block 110 do not have an optimum state of planarity or parallelism, the sealing faces 165, 165 of each of the low-rigidity portions 160, 160 elastically deform along the tube contact faces 112, 142c and are therefore capable of sufficiently ensuring airtightness and liquid tightness between the tube contact faces 112, 142c (including the terminal pin 132). Electrical insulation between the insulating member 140 and the cluster block 110 can be further improved as a result.

[0093] Example 1 thus makes it possible to improve electrical insulation between the insulating member 140 and the cluster block 110.

[0094] In addition, according to example 1, as shown in fig. 5A-5C, each of the low-rigidity portions 160, 160 comprises a contracting portion 161, 161 having a gap Cr, Cr (space Cr, Cr) between the outer circumferential surface 132a of the terminal pin 132 and the inner circumferential surface 150a of the insulating tube 150.

[0095] Since each of the low-rigidity portions 160, 160 comprises the contracting portion 161, 161 having the gap Cr, Cr between the outer circumferential surface 132a of the terminal pin 132 and the inner circumferential surface 150a of the insulating tube 150, the low-rigidity portions are thus capable of readily extending and contracting not only to the outer side but also to the inner side in the radial direction of the insulating tube 150 in accordance with a compressive force in the axial direction of the terminal pin 132 acting on the insulating tube 150, whereby stable sealing faces can be formed, liquid tightness with respect to liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil can be improved, and improved electrical insulation between the insulating member 140 and the cluster block 110 can be achieved.

[0096] In addition, according to example 1, as shown in fig. 5A and 6, the support portion 170 is provided between each of the low-rigidity portions 160, 160. The hole diameter d1 (inner diameter d1) of the support portion 170 is smaller than the diameter d2 of the terminal pin 132.

[0097] Since the hole diameter d1 (inner diameter d1) of the support portion 170 is smaller than the diameter d2 of the terminal pin 132, the mated state of the support portion with the terminal pin 132 can thus be maintained by the elasticity of the support portion itself, and the contracting portions 161, 161 can be assembled with the fixed gap Cr, Cr around the terminal pin 132. Stable sealing faces 165, 165 can therefore be formed between the sealing faces 165, 165 of the contracting portions 161, 161 and each of the tube contact faces 112, 142c, liquid tightness with respect to liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil can be improved, and improved electrical insulation between the insulating member 140 and the cluster block 110 can be achieved. In addition, the insulating tube 150 does not become dislodged from the terminal pin 132, so the terminal pin 132 can be easily assembled with the connection terminal 106.

[0098] In addition, according to example 1, as shown in fig. 6, the tip ends 163, 163 of each of the low-rigidity portions 160, 160 comprise the inside corner portion 167, 167 formed by the tip end face 165, 165 and the inner circumferential surface 166, 166, and the outside corner portion 169, 169 formed by the tip end face 165, 165 and the outer circumferential surface 168, 168, the inside corner portions and the outside corner portions being formed with curved surface shapes. The curved surfaces 167a, 167a of the inside corner portions 167, 167 have a greater radius of curvature r1 than the curved surfaces 169a, 169a of the outside corner portions 169, 169.

[0099] Consequently, when the insulating tube 150 is compressed in the axial direction of the terminal pin 132, then even if the positions of contact of the sealing faces 165, 165 of the contracting portions 161, 161 displace radially inward in relation to the tube contact face 142c of the insulating member 140 and the tube contact face 112 of the cluster block 110, the sealing faces 165, 165 can still be stably formed in a circular shape surrounding the terminal pin 132. The terminal pin 132 can be liquid-tightly covered by the insulating tube 150. Accordingly, it is possible to improve liquid tightness with respect to liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil taken into the housing 20, and improved electrical insulation between the insulating member 140 and the cluster block 110 can be achieved.

[0100] In addition according to example 1, as shown in fig. 6, each of the low-rigidity portions 160, 160 is configured by an enlarged-diameter portion 164, 164 which increases in diameter from the base end 162, 162 toward the tip end 163, 163. By configuring each of the low-rigidity portions 160, 160 by the enlarged-diameter portions 164, 164, deformation in the diameter-enlarging direction is produced during axial compression, whereby deformation occurs more readily than with a straight configuration, and it is possible to follow changes in axial length. Displacement of the insulating tube 150 caused by the dimensional tolerance of the separation distance L1 (see fig. 5A) from the insulating member 140 to the cluster block 110 can thus be absorbed by the low-rigidity portions 160, 160 increasing in diameter and contracting in the axial direction.

[0101] In addition, according to example 1, as shown in fig. 6 and 7, the wall thicknesses t1, t2, t11, t12 of the insulating tube 150 are uniform over the whole length L2. If there there were large variations in wall thickness in different parts of the insulating tube 150, elastic irregularities would be produced in the different parts, impeding formation of stable sealing faces 165, 165 by uniform contraction. However, according to this example 1, the wall thicknesses t1, t2, t11, t12 are uniform over the whole length L2 of the insulating tube 150, thereby enabling broadly uniform contraction overall. The insulating tube 150 as a whole can therefore cope with axial compression, and further material savings can be made.<Example 2>

[0102] An electric compressor 200 according to example 2 will be described with reference to fig. 8A and 8B. Fig. 8A and 8B correspond to fig. 5A above.

[0103] The feature of the electric compressor 200 according to example 2 lies in that the tube contact faces 112, 142c in the electric compressor 10 of example 1 shown in fig. 1-7 have been changed to the tube contact faces 212, 242c shown in fig. 8A and 8B. The other basic components are common to those of the electric compressor 10 according to example 1. The parts in common with the electric compressor 10 according to example 1 bear the same reference symbols and will not be described in detail again.

[0104] The cluster block 110 of example 2 comprises the tube contact face 212 which contacts the tip end face 165 of either of the low-rigidity portions 160, 160 provided at both axial ends of the insulating tube 150. The tube contact face 212 corresponds to the tube contact face 112 shown in fig. 5A, and is configured with the spherical surface shown in fig. 8A or the conical surface shown in fig. 8B.

[0105] When the insulating tube 150 is compressed in the axial direction of the terminal pin 132, the low-rigidity portion 160 comes into contact with the tube contact face 212 comprising a spherical surface (see fig. 8A) or a conical surface (see fig. 8B), and expands radially outward as a result. Consequently, even if the position of contact of the sealing face 165 (tip end face 165) of the low-rigidity portion 160 displaces radially inward in relation to the cluster block 110, the sealing face 165 can still be stably formed in a circular shape surrounding the terminal pin 132. The terminal pin 132 can be liquid-tightly covered by the insulating tube 150. Accordingly, it is possible to improve liquid tightness with respect to liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil taken into the housing 20.

[0106] Moreover, when the tube contact face 212 of the cluster block 110 is formed as a spherical surface or conical surface, then even if the center line ch of the sealing face 165 (tip end face 165) of the low-rigidity portion 160 is tilted in relation to the center line FA of the tube contact face 212, the tip end face 165 of the contracting portion 161 elastically deforms along the spherical surface or the conical surface, and it is possible to follow this tilting (self-alignment).

[0107] In addition, the insulating member 140 (first plugging member 142) comprises the tube contact face 242c which contacts the tip end face 165 of either of the low-rigidity portions 160, 160 provided at both axial ends of the insulating tube 150. The tube contact face 242c corresponds to the tube contact face 142c shown in fig. 5A, and is configured with the spherical surface shown in fig. 8A or the conical surface shown in fig. 8B.

[0108] When the insulating tube 150 is compressed in the axial direction of the terminal pin 132, the low-rigidity portion 160 comes into contact with the tube contact face 242c comprising a spherical surface (see fig. 8A) or a conical surface (see fig. 8B), and expands radially outward as a result. Consequently, even if the position of contact of the sealing face 165 of the low-rigidity portion 160 displaces radially inward in relation to the insulating member 140, the sealing face 165 can still be stably formed in a circular shape surrounding the terminal pin 132. The terminal pin 132 can be liquid-tightly covered by the insulating tube 150. Accordingly, it is possible to improve liquid tightness with respect to liquid refrigerant and lubricating oil taken into the housing 20.

[0109] Moreover, when the tube contact face 242c of the insulating member 140 is formed as a spherical surface or conical surface, then even if the center line ch of the tip end face 165 of the low-rigidity portion 160 is tilted in relation to the center line FB of the tube contact face 142c, the tip end face 165 of the low-rigidity portion 160 elastically deforms along the spherical surface or the conical surface, and it is possible to follow this tilting (self-alignment).

[0110] The electric compressor 200 according to example 2 is capable of demonstrating the same effects as the electric compressor 10 of example 1 above, in addition to the effects of example 2.<Example 3>

[0111] An electric compressor 300 according to example 3 will be described with reference to fig. 9A and 9B. Fig. 9A and 9B correspond to fig. 5A above.

[0112] The feature of the electric compressor 300 according to example 3 lies in that the low-rigidity portions 160, 160 of the insulating tube 150 in the electric compressor 10 of example 1 shown in fig. 1-7 have been changed to the low-rigidity portions 360, 360 of the insulating tube 350 shown in fig. 9A and 9B. The other basic components are common to those of the electric compressor 10 according to example 1. The parts in common with the electric compressor 10 according to example 1 bear the same reference symbols and will not be described in detail again.

[0113] The feature here lies in that at least part or all of either one or both of the low-rigidity portion 360, 360 provided at both axial ends of the insulating tube 350 is configured in a bellows shape capable of contracting in the axial direction of the insulating tube 350.

[0114] Part or all of the low-rigidity portions 360, 360 is configured in a bellows shape, which thereby enhances axial contraction when axial compression is applied. Displacement of the insulating tube 350 caused by the dimensional tolerance of the separation distance L1 from the insulating member 140 to the cluster block 110 can therefore be even more readily absorbed.

[0115] The electric compressor 300 according to example 3 is capable of demonstrating the same effects as the electric compressor 10 of example 1 above, in addition to the effects of example 3.<Example 4>

[0116] An electric compressor 400 according to example 4 will be described with reference to fig. 10A and 10B. Fig. 10A corresponds to fig. 5A above.

[0117] The feature of the electric compressor 400 according to example 4 lies in that the support portion 170 of the insulating tube 150 in the electric compressor 10 of example 1 shown in fig. 1-7 has been changed to the support portion 470 (central portion 470) of the insulating tube 450 shown in fig. 10A and 10B. The other basic components are common to those of the electric compressor 10 according to example 1. The parts in common with the electric compressor 10 according to example 1 bear the same reference symbols and will not be described in detail again.

[0118] At least part of the support portion 470 has a gripping portion 471 forming a thickness radially outside the support portion 470. For example, the gripping portion 471 is formed as a single piece with the outer circumferential surface of the hollow support portion 470, or is configured as a separate member which is fixed thereto. In addition, the shape and size of the gripping portion 471 are set in such a way that the gripping portion can be gripped when the insulating tube 150 is assembled with the terminal pin 132. Examples of shapes enabling gripping of the gripping portion 471 that may be cited include the cross-shaped cross section shown in fig. 10B, a circular cross section, and a thick-walled shape.

[0119] The insulating tube 450 is a small component which can therefore be easily gripped by providing the gripping portion 471 forming a thickness radially outside the support portion 470, and it is also possible to avoid uneven compression of the contracting portions 161, 161 (enlarged-diameter portions 164, 164) caused by uneven wall thickness, and this makes it possible to improve liquid tightness by forming stable sealing faces 165, 165. It is therefore possible to achieve a balance between improving electrical insulation between the insulating member 140 and the cluster block 110, and improving ease of assembly of the insulating tube 150 with the terminal pin 132.

[0120] The electric compressor 400 according to example 4 is capable of demonstrating the same effects as the electric compressor 10 of example 1 above, in addition to the effects of example 4.

[0121] It should be noted that the electric compressors 10; 200; 300; 400 according to the present invention are not limited to the examples, provided that the actions and effects of the present invention are demonstrated.

[0122] For example, any two or more of the electric compressors 10; 200; 300; 400 may be combined.

[0123] The housing 20 may be configured so that only the electric motor 100 is housed therein, without the compression mechanism 50 being housed therein.

[0124] The compression mechanism 50 is not limited to a scroll compression mechanism configuration, provided that the compression mechanism is driven by means of the electric motor 100 in order to compress a refrigerant.[Industrial Applicability]

[0125] The electric compressors 10; 200; 300; 400 according to the present invention are suitable for use in a refrigeration cycle of a vehicle air conditioning device.[Description of Reference Symbols]

[0126] 10; 200; 300; 400... Electric compressor 20... Housing 50... Compression mechanism 100... Electric motor 106... Connection terminal 110... Cluster block 112... Tube contact face of cluster block 130... Sealed terminal 131... Terminal plate 131a... Through-hole 132... Terminal pin 140... Insulating member 150; 350; 450... Insulating tube 150a... Inner circumferential surface of insulating tube 160; 360... Low-rigidity portion 161... Contracting portion 162... Base end 163... Tip end 164... Enlarged-diameter portion 165... Tip end face (sealing face) 166... Inner circumferential surface 167... Inside corner portion 167a... Curved surface of inside corner portion 168... Outer circumferential surface 169... Outside corner portion 169a... Curved surface of outside corner portion 170; 470... Central portion in axial direction (support portion) 212... Tube contact face of cluster block 242c... Tube contact face of insulating member 471... Gripping portion Cr... Gap d1... Hole diameter of insulating tube (hole diameter of support portion) d2... Outer diameter of terminal pin r1... Radius of curvature of curved surface of inside corner portion r2... Radius of curvature of curved surface of outside corner portion t1, t2, t11, t12... Wall thickness of insulating tube

Claims

1. An electric compressor (10; 200; 300; 400) comprising: a sealed housing (20); a compression mechanism (50) for compressing and discharging a refrigerant taken into the housing (20); an electric motor (100) housed in the housing (20) to drive the compression mechanism (50); a cluster block (110) which accommodates a connection terminal (106) electrically connected to the electric motor (100), and is accommodated in the housing (20); and a sealed terminal (130) provided in the housing (20) and electrically connected to the connection terminal (106), the sealed terminal (130) comprising: a terminal plate (131) fixed to the housing (20); a terminal pin (132) which passes through a through-hole (131a) in the terminal plate (131), and electrically connects the connection terminal (106) to outside of the housing (20); and an insulating member (140) which fills the area between the terminal plate (131) and the terminal pin (132) to provide sealing and insulation, characterized in that the terminal pin (132) is liquid-tightly covered by an elastic and electrically-insulating annular insulating tube (150; 350; 450), and the insulating tube (150; 350; 450) comprises, at both axial ends, low-rigidity portions (160, 160; 360, 360) of lower rigidity than a central portion (170; 470) in the axial direction of the insulating tube (150; 350; 450), and is sandwiched between the cluster block (110) and the insulating member (140).

2. The electric compressor as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that each of the low-rigidity portions (160, 160; 360, 360) comprises a contracting portion (161, 161) having a gap (Cr), between an outer circumferential surface (132a) of the terminal pin (132) and an inner circumferential surface (150a) of the insulating tube (150).

3. The electric compressor as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that a support portion (170; 470) is provided between each of the low-rigidity portions (160, 160; 360; 360), and a hole diameter (d1) of the support portion (170; 470) is smaller than a diameter (d2) of the terminal pin (132).

4. The electric compressor as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that a tip end (163, 163) of each of the low-rigidity portions (160, 160; 360, 360) comprises an inside corner portion (167, 167) formed by a tip end face (165, 165) and an inner circumferential surface (166, 166), and an outside corner portion (169, 169) formed by the tip end face (165, 165) and an outer circumferential surface (168, 168), the inside corner portions and outside corner portions being formed with curved surface shapes, and curved surfaces (167a, 167a) of the inside corner portions (167, 167) have a greater radius of curvature (r1) than curved surfaces (169a, 169a) of the outside corner portions (169, 169).

5. The electric compressor as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that each of the low-rigidity portions (160, 160; 360, 360) is configured by an enlarged-diameter portion (164, 164) which increases in diameter from a base end (162, 162) toward the tip end (163, 163).

6. The electric compressor as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that a wall thickness (t1, t2) of the insulating tube (150) is uniform over the whole length.

7. The electric compressor as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the cluster block (110) comprises a tube contact face (212) which contacts the tip end face (165) of either of the low-rigidity portions (160, 160) provided at both axial ends of the insulating tube (150), and the tube contact face (212) is a spherical surface or a conical surface.

8. The electric compressor as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the insulating member (140) comprises a tube contact face (242c) which contacts the tip end face (165) of either of the low-rigidity portions (160, 160) provided at both axial ends of the insulating tube (150), and the tube contact face (242c) is a spherical surface or a conical surface.

9. The electric compressor as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that at least part or all of either one or both of the low-rigidity portions (360, 360) provided at both axial ends of the insulating tube (350) is configured in a bellows shape capable of contracting in the axial direction of the insulating tube (350).

10. The electric compressor as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that at least part of the support portion (470) has a gripping portion (471) forming a thickness radially outside the support portion (470).

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