Sealed structure, compressor comprising sealed structure, refrigeration cycle device comprising compressor, and terminal cover

Abstract

To suppress entry of foreign matter such as gas or liquid into a cover, in a sealed structure in which a sealed terminal provided in a sealed container is covered with a cover.SOLUTION: A sealed structure has: a sealed container 40; a sealed terminal 48 provided in the sealed container 40; a terminal cover 54 fixed to the sealed container 40 while covering the sealed terminal 48, and comprising an inner peripheral surface 54c that surrounds the sealed terminal 48 with a gap therebetween; and an annular sealing member 60 that compressively deforms in contact with an outer peripheral surface 48e of an opposing sealed terminal 48 and an inner peripheral surface 54c of the terminal cover 54, to seal a gap between the outer peripheral surface 48e of the opposing sealed terminal 48 and the inner peripheral surface 54c of the terminal cover 54.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a hermetic structure, a compressor including the hermetic structure, a refrigeration cycle device including the compressor, and a terminal cover used for the hermetic structure.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a compressor of a refrigeration cycle device in which a sealed terminal provided in a hermetic container and electrically connecting devices inside and outside the hermetic container is covered and protected by a cover.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in the case of the compressor described in Patent Document 1, a flat gasket is disposed between the opening edge of the cover and the flat pedestal of the housing on which the opening edge seats. This gasket suppresses the intrusion of foreign matters such as gas and liquid into the cover.

[0005] However, in the case of the compressor described in Patent Document 1, the cover is fixed to the hermetic container by one stud bolt and nut provided in the hermetic container. When viewed from above, the stud bolt is located outside the opening edge of the cover. Therefore, when the cover is fixed to the hermetic container, the portion of the pedestal facing the portion of the opening edge of the cover far from the stud bolt may be separated, and a gap may be formed between each of these portions and the gasket. As a result, there is a risk that foreign matters such as gas and liquid may enter the cover through this gap.

[0006] Therefore, in the sealed structure in which the sealed terminal provided in the sealed container is covered with a cover, an object of the present disclosure is to suppress the intrusion of foreign matters such as gas and liquid into the cover.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, a sealed container, a sealed terminal provided on the sealed container, a terminal cover that covers the sealed terminal and is fixed to the sealed container, and has an inner peripheral surface that surrounds the sealed terminal with a gap therebetween, and an annular seal member that contacts and is compressed and deformed between the outer peripheral surface of the opposed sealed terminal and the inner peripheral surface of the terminal cover, and seals a gap between the outer peripheral surface of the opposed sealed terminal and the inner peripheral surface of the terminal cover, are provided.

[0008] Further, according to another aspect of the present disclosure, a compressor that includes the sealed structure and discharges a refrigerant is provided.

[0009] Furthermore, according to still another aspect of the present disclosure, a refrigeration cycle device including the compressor is provided.

[0010] In addition, according to different aspects of the present disclosure, a terminal cover that covers a sealed terminal provided in a sealed container, which has an inner peripheral surface that surrounds the sealed terminal with a gap therebetween when fixed to the sealed container while covering the sealed terminal, and forms a gap in which an annular seal member in a compressed and deformed state is disposed between the outer peripheral surface of the sealed terminal facing the inner peripheral surface when fixed to the sealed container while covering the sealed terminal, is provided.

Advantages of the Invention

[0011] According to the present disclosure, in a sealed structure in which a sealed terminal provided in a sealed container is covered with a cover, it is possible to suppress the intrusion of foreign matters such as gas and liquid into the cover.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] The sealed structure according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a sealed container, a sealed terminal provided in the sealed container, a terminal cover that covers the sealed terminal and is fixed to the sealed container, and has an inner peripheral surface that surrounds the sealed terminal with a gap therebetween, and an annular seal member that contacts and is compressed and deformed between the outer peripheral surface of the opposed sealed terminal and the inner peripheral surface of the terminal cover to seal the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the opposed sealed terminal and the inner peripheral surface of the terminal cover.

[0014] According to such an aspect, in a sealed structure in which a sealed terminal provided in a sealed container is covered with a cover, it is possible to suppress the intrusion of foreign matters such as gas and liquid into the cover.

[0015] For example, the annular seal member may be an O-ring.

[0016] For example, an annular recess for partially accommodating the annular seal member may be formed on the inner peripheral surface of the terminal cover.

[0017] For example, the annular recess may be a circumferential groove.

[0018] For example, the terminal cover includes a through hole, and the sealing structure is connected to the sealed terminal and further includes a cable passing through the through hole of the terminal cover and a cable sealing member for sealing a gap between the through hole and the cable.

[0019] For example, the cable sealing member may be a cable ground.

[0020] For example, the terminal cover and the cable sealing member may be made of a flame-retardant material.

[0021] A compressor according to another aspect of the present disclosure includes the sealing structure and discharges a refrigerant.

[0022] A refrigeration cycle device according to still another aspect of the present disclosure includes the compressor.

[0023] A terminal cover according to a different aspect of the present disclosure is a terminal cover that covers a sealed terminal provided in a sealed container, and includes an inner peripheral surface that surrounds the sealed terminal with a gap therebetween when fixed to the sealed container while covering the sealed terminal. A gap is formed between the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the sealed terminal that faces the inner peripheral surface when the terminal cover is fixed to the sealed container while covering the sealed terminal, and an annular seal member in a compression-deformed state is disposed in the gap.

[0024] According to such an aspect, in a sealing structure that covers a sealed terminal provided in a sealed container, it is possible to suppress the intrusion of foreign matter such as gas and liquid into the cover.

[0025] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0026] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a refrigeration cycle device including a compressor according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present embodiment is a so-called air conditioner 10, and the air conditioner 10 includes an indoor unit 12 disposed indoors and an outdoor unit 14 disposed outdoors.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, the indoor unit 12 includes a housing 16 installed indoors, a heat exchanger 18 disposed in the housing 16 and exchanging heat with indoor air, and a cross-flow fan 20 that generates a flow of indoor air so that the indoor air passes through the heat exchanger 18. When the cross-flow fan 20 rotates, indoor air flows into the housing 16 and passes through the heat exchanger 18. The air that has passed through the heat exchanger 18 is blown out from the housing 16 into the room.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 1, the outdoor unit 14 includes a housing 22 installed outdoors, a heat exchanger 24 disposed in the housing 22 and exchanging heat with outdoor air, an axial-flow fan 26 that generates a flow of outdoor air so that the outdoor air passes through the heat exchanger 24, and a compressor 28 that sends out refrigerant passing through the heat exchangers 18 and 24. The heat exchanger 18, the heat exchanger 24, and the compressor 28 are connected via a refrigerant pipe 30. An expansion valve 32 for decompressing the refrigerant and a four-way valve 34 for changing the flow direction of the refrigerant are disposed on the refrigerant pipe 30.

[0030] During the cooling operation, the refrigerant is sent out from the compressor 28, passes through the four-way valve 34, the heat exchanger 24 of the outdoor unit 14, the expansion valve 32, and the heat exchanger 18 of the indoor unit 12 in sequence, and returns to the compressor 28. During the heating operation, the refrigerant is sent out from the compressor 28, passes through the four-way valve 34, the heat exchanger 18 of the indoor unit 12, the expansion valve 32, and the heat exchanger 24 of the outdoor unit 14 in sequence, and returns to the compressor 28. The flow of the refrigerant during the cooling operation and the flow of the refrigerant during the heating operation are switched by the four-way valve 34.

[0031] Hereinafter, the details of the compressor 28 will be described.

[0032] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a part of the compressor. FIG. 3 is a top view of the compressor. Further, FIG. 4 is a top view of the compressor with the terminal cover removed. Furthermore, FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a part of the compressor. And FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 3. Note that the X-Y-Z orthogonal coordinate system shown in the figures is for facilitating the understanding of the present disclosure and does not limit the embodiments of the present disclosure. The X-axis direction indicates the depth direction, the Y-axis direction indicates the width direction, and the Z-axis direction indicates the height direction.

[0033] The compressor 28 shown in FIGS. 2 to 6 is, for example, a rotary electric compressor. Inside the housing 40 of the compressor 28, a pump mechanism (not shown) having a compression chamber for compressing the refrigerant and a motor (not shown) for driving a rotor rotating in the compression chamber of the pump mechanism are stored.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 4, the housing 40 of the compressor 28 is a sealed container and is composed of a cylindrical main body portion 42 in which the pump mechanism, the motor, etc. are stored, and end plates 44 closing both ends of the main body portion 42 (only one end plate 44 is shown in FIGS. 2 to 6).

[0035] On one end plate 44, a refrigerant discharge pipe 46 for discharging the refrigerant and a sealed terminal 48 electrically connected to the motor are provided. As shown in FIG. 6, the sealed terminal 48 includes a bottomed cylindrical main body portion 48a and a plurality of electrode terminals 48b to 48d that penetrate the main body portion 48a and are electrically connected to the motor.

[0036] The main body portion 48a of the sealed terminal 48 is integrally provided on the end plate 44, for example, by welding, such that a part of the outer peripheral surface 48e is exposed outside the housing 40.

[0037] The portions of the electrode terminals 48b to 48d of the sealed terminal 48 that are located inside the housing 40 are electrically connected to the motor mounted in the housing 40. Also, cables 50A to 50C are connected to the portions of the electrode terminals 48b to 48d of the sealed terminal 48 that are located outside the housing 40 via connection terminals 52A to 52C. These cables 50A to 50C extend outside the housing 40 and are electrically connected to a control board provided in the indoor unit 12 for controlling the motor of the compressor 28.

[0038] In the case of the present embodiment, the portion of the sealed terminal 48, strictly speaking, the portion of the sealed terminal 48 that is located outside the housing 40 is hermetically protected by the terminal cover 54. That is, the compressor 28 includes the terminal cover 54 and has a sealing structure for sealing the sealed terminal 48.

[0039] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the terminal cover 54 is generally cap-shaped, covers the sealed terminal 48 provided on the end plate 44 of the housing 40 from above, and seats on the flat top surface 44a of the end plate 44 via its opening edge 54a.

[0040] Also, in the case of the present embodiment, the terminal cover 54 is fixed to the end plate 44 via a single stud bolt 56 provided on the end plate 44. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the stud bolt 56 passes through a through hole 54b formed in the terminal cover 54, and a nut 58 is attached to the tip portion thereof that has passed through. As a result, the terminal cover 54 is fixed to the top surface 44a of the end plate 44.

[0041] Note that, as shown in FIG. 4, in a top view (view from the Z-axis direction), the stud bolt 56 is located outside the internal space R defined by the terminal cover 54 and in which the sealed terminal 48 is accommodated.

[0042] Also, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, when the terminal cover 54 covers the sealed terminal 48 and is fixed to the bedplate 44, it has an inner peripheral surface 54c that surrounds the sealed terminal 48 with a gap therebetween. In the gap between the portion of the inner peripheral surface 54c near the opening edge 54a of the terminal cover 54 and the portion of the outer peripheral surface 48e of the main body portion 48a of the sealed terminal 48 facing it, a compressible annular seal member 60 is disposed. In the case of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the annular seal member 60 is an O-ring.

[0043] The annular seal member 60 is made of an elastic material. Further, the annular seal member 60 contacts the outer peripheral surface 48e of the sealed terminal 48 and the inner peripheral surface 54c of the terminal cover 54 and is compressed and deformed. Due to this compression deformation, the annular seal member 60 seals the gap between the outer peripheral surface 48e of the sealed terminal 48 and the inner peripheral surface 54c of the terminal cover 54.

[0044] In the case of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, an annular recess 54d for partially accommodating the annular seal member 60 is formed in the inner peripheral surface 54c of the terminal cover 54. Due to this annular recess 54d, the annular seal member 60 is positioned within the gap between the outer peripheral surface 48e of the sealed terminal 48 and the inner peripheral surface 54c of the terminal cover 54.

[0045] The reason for sealing the gap between the outer peripheral surface 48e of the sealed terminal 48 and the inner peripheral surface 54c in the annular recess 54d of the terminal cover 54 with the annular seal member 60 will be described.

[0046] In the case of the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the terminal cover 54 is fixed to the bedplate 44 via a single stud bolt 56 that is located outside the internal space R of the terminal cover 54 when viewed from above (in the Z-axis direction). Therefore, when the terminal cover 54 is fixed to the bedplate 44, a gap may occur between the portion of the top surface 44a of the bedplate 44 facing the portion of the opening edge 54a of the terminal cover 54 that is far from the stud bolt 56.

[0047] However, even if such a gap occurs, the contact between the annular seal member 60 and the outer peripheral surface 48e of the sealed terminal 48 and the contact between the annular seal member 60 and the inner peripheral surface 54c of the terminal cover 54 are maintained. As a result, even if a gap occurs between the top surface 44a of the end plate 44 facing the opening edge 54a of the terminal cover 54, foreign matter such as gas or liquid does not enter the internal space R of the terminal cover 54. That is, the foreign matter cannot reach the electrode terminals 48b to 48d of the sealed terminal 48.

[0048] Note that the generation of a gap between the top surface 44a of the end plate 44 facing the opening edge 54a of the terminal cover 54 may also be caused by variations in the flatness of the opening edge 54a and the top surface 44a.

[0049] Also, as shown in FIG. 5, in the case of this embodiment, the terminal cover 54 includes through holes 54e through which the cables 50A to 50C pass. Further, the compressor 28 (its sealing structure) has a cable seal member 62 that seals the gap between the through holes 54e of the terminal cover 54 and the cables 50A to 50C.

[0050] In the case of this embodiment, the cable seal member 62 is a so-called cable gland. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the cable seal member 62 which is a cable gland has a cylindrical main body 64 formed with male screw portions 64a and 64b at both ends, and a cylindrical seal member 66 through which cables 50A to 50C pass and are accommodated in the main body 64. Further, the cable seal member 62 includes a cylindrical clamp member 68 having a plurality of clamp claws 68a inserted between the main body 64 and the seal member 66 and clamping the seal member 66, a seal nut 70 engaged with the male screw portion 64a of the main body 64 and biasing the plurality of clamp claws 68a of the clamp member 68 toward the seal member 66, and a washer-shaped gasket 72 attached to the male screw portion 64b of the main body 64. In order to engage with the male screw portion 64b of the main body 64, the through hole 54e of the terminal cover 54 is a tapped hole. With such a cable seal member 62, the gap between the through hole 54e of the terminal cover 54 and the cables 50A to 50C is sealed, and the internal space R of the terminal cover 54 is made into a sealed space.

[0051] According to the above-described embodiment, in the sealed structure in which the sealed terminal provided in the sealed container is covered with a cover, it is possible to suppress the intrusion of foreign matters such as gas and liquid into the cover.

[0052] The present disclosure has been described above by way of the above-described embodiments, but the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments.

[0053] For example, in the case of the above-described embodiment, after the annular seal member 60 is attached to the outer peripheral surface 48e of the sealed terminal 48, the terminal cover 54 is fixed to the platen 44. Therefore, the recess 54d formed in the inner peripheral surface 54c of the terminal cover 54 for accommodating the annular seal member 60 is shaped to open at both the opening edge 54a and the inner peripheral surface 54c. However, the embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, as the recess 54d, a circumferential groove may be formed in the inner peripheral surface 54c of the terminal cover 54. In this case, the terminal cover 54 in a state where the annular seal member 60 is fitted in the circumferential groove in advance is fixed to the platen 44 so as to cover the sealed terminal 48.

[0054] Furthermore, when the air conditioner 10 uses a flammable refrigerant such as propane, isobutane, or ethane, i.e., when the compressor 28 discharges a flammable refrigerant, the terminal cover 54 and the cable seal member 62 are preferably made of a flame-retardant material, for example, a grade of V-0 or higher based on UL94. When the cable seal member 62 is a cable gland, the seal member 66 and the clamp member 68, which are made of a material other than a metal material, are made of a flame-retardant material. This allows the flame to be contained within the terminal cover 54, even if a flammable refrigerant enters the internal space of the terminal cover 54 and ignites due to the electrode terminals 48b to 48d of the sealed terminal 48 that is energized.

[0055] Furthermore, in the case of the above-described embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5, the annular seal member 60 that seals the gap between the outer peripheral surface 48e of the sealed terminal 48 and the inner peripheral surface 54c of the terminal cover 54 is an O-ring. However, the annular seal member 60 is not limited to an O-ring. The annular seal member 60 may be any member that is annular and compressively deformable.

[0056] Furthermore, in the case of the above-mentioned embodiment, the cable seal member 62 that seals the gap between the through hole 54e of the terminal cover 54 and the cables 50A to 50C is a cable gland, as shown in Fig. 5. However, the cable seal member 62 is not limited to a cable gland. The cable seal member 62 may be a sealing resin (e.g., a rubber-based adhesive) that seals the gap between the through hole 54e of the terminal cover 54 and the cables 50A to 50C.

[0057] Furthermore, the compressor 28 according to the embodiment described above is used in the air conditioner 10. However, the embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited to this. The compressor 28 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may be used in a refrigeration cycle device other than an air conditioner.

[0058] The sealing structure according to the above-described embodiment is a sealing structure for the compressor 28. However, the embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited to this.

[0059] That is, the sealed structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure broadly comprises a sealed container, a sealed terminal provided in the sealed container, a terminal cover fixed to the sealed container while covering the sealed terminal and having an inner circumferential surface surrounding the sealed terminal with a gap therebetween, and an annular sealing member that comes into contact with and compresses and deforms against the opposing outer circumferential surfaces of the sealed terminal and the inner circumferential surface of the terminal cover, and seals the gap between the opposing outer circumferential surfaces of the sealed terminal and the inner circumferential surface of the terminal cover. [Industrial Applicability]

[0060] The present disclosure is not limited to compressors for air conditioners, but can also be applied to sealed structures including sealed terminals that electrically connect devices inside and outside a sealed container. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 40 Sealed container (enclosure) 48 Sealed terminal 48e Outer surface 54 Terminal cover 54c Inner surface 60 Annular seal member

Claims

1. A sealed container, a sealed terminal provided in the sealed container, a terminal cover that is fixed to the sealed container while covering the sealed terminal and has an inner peripheral surface that surrounds the sealed terminal with a gap therebetween, an annular seal member that contacts and is compressed and deformed between the outer peripheral surface of the opposed sealed terminals and the inner peripheral surface of the terminal cover to seal the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the opposed sealed terminals and the inner peripheral surface of the terminal cover. A sealed structure having.

2. The sealed structure according to claim 1, wherein the annular seal member is an O-ring.

3. The sealed structure according to claim 1, wherein an annular recess for partially accommodating the annular seal member is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the terminal cover.

4. The sealed structure according to claim 3, wherein the annular recess is a circumferential groove.

5. The terminal cover has a through hole, a cable connected to the sealed terminal and passing through the through hole of the terminal cover, The sealed structure according to claim 1, further comprising a cable seal member that seals a gap between the through hole and the cable.

6. The sealed structure according to claim 5, wherein the cable seal member is a cable gland.

7. The sealed structure according to claim 5, wherein the terminal cover and the cable seal member are made of a flame-retardant material.

8. A compressor that includes the sealed structure according to any one of claims 1 to 7 and discharges a refrigerant.

9. A refrigeration cycle device including the compressor according to claim 8.

10. A terminal cover that covers a sealed terminal provided in a sealed container, having an inner peripheral surface that surrounds the sealed terminal with a gap therebetween when fixed to the sealed container while covering the sealed terminal, A terminal cover that forms a gap in which an annular seal member in a compressed and deformed state is disposed between the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the sealed terminal that faces the inner peripheral surface when fixed to the sealed container while covering the sealed terminal.

Images