Motor compressor

Abstract

To provide a motor compressor for preventing easy drop of dew condensation water down to a power supply connector.SOLUTION: A motor compressor 1 includes a rotary shaft 10 extending in the horizontal direction, an electric motor 20 for rotating the rotary shaft 10, a compression mechanism 30 to be driven by the rotary shaft 10, a housing 50 storing the electric motor 20 and the compression mechanism 30 while rotatably storing the rotary shaft 10, and a cover member 60 covering an area around the housing 50. In the upper part of the housing 50, a suction port 52B for refrigerant is formed, and to the lower part of the housing 50 located right down to the suction port 52B, a power supply connector 42 is mounted. On the outer peripheral face of the cover member 60, a protruded part 67 is formed as one example for a drain passage to guide dew condensation water flowing down from the suction port 52B or a suction pipe connected thereto, to the lower part of the cover member 60 while avoiding the power supply connector 42.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric compressor that compresses a refrigerant with an electric motor.

Background Art

[0002] For the purpose of reducing the noise generated by an electric compressor, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-224824 (Patent Document 1), a technique has been proposed in which the periphery of the electric compressor is covered with a cover member such as a sound insulation material.

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 some electric compressors, a suction port for sucking a refrigerant is provided at the upper part, and a power connector is provided at the lower part located directly below the suction port. In this case, if dew condensation water adheres to and grows on the suction port or the suction pipe connected thereto, the dew condensation water may flow down and flow on the outer peripheral surface of the cover member, or the dew condensation water may flow through the minute gap existing between the housing and the cover member, and may drip from the lower part of the cover member onto the power connector. Then, when the dew condensation water drips onto the power connector and enters the inside, it may cause corrosion or short circuit of the terminals of the power connector.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electric compressor in which it is difficult for dew condensation water to drip onto a power connector.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The electric compressor has a rotating shaft extending in the horizontal direction, an electric motor that rotates the rotating shaft, a compression mechanism driven by the rotating shaft, a housing that rotatably accommodates the rotating shaft and houses the electric motor and the compression mechanism, and a cover member that covers the periphery of the housing. Further, a refrigerant suction port is formed in the upper part of the housing, and a power connector is attached to the lower part of the housing located directly below the suction port. And, a drain passage is formed in the cover member to guide the condensed water flowing down from the suction port or the suction pipe connected thereto to the lower part of the cover member avoiding the power connector.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, in an electric compressor, it is possible to make it difficult for condensed water to drip onto the power connector.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 1 shows an example of a horizontally-mounted electric compressor 1 to which the present invention is applicable. Note that the electric compressor 1 described below is merely an example and should not be construed as being limited to its configuration. Therefore, it should be noted that the present invention can be applied to various electric compressors well-known to those skilled in the art.

[0010] The electric compressor 1 includes a rotating shaft 10 extending in the horizontal direction (front-rear direction), an electric motor 20 that rotates the rotating shaft 10, a compression mechanism 30 driven by the rotating shaft 10, an inverter 40 that drives and controls the electric motor 20, a housing 50 that rotatably supports the rotating shaft 10 and houses the rotating shaft 10, the electric motor 20, the compression mechanism 30, and the inverter 40, and a cover member 60 that covers the periphery of the housing 50.

[0011] The housing 50 includes a cylindrical center housing 51, a bottomed cylindrical front housing 52 whose open end side is joined to the front end (left end in FIG. 1) of the center housing 51, a bottomed cylindrical rear housing 53 whose open end side is joined to the rear end (right end in FIG. 1) of the center housing 51, a bottomed rectangular tubular inverter housing 54 integrated with the front end of the front housing 52, and an inverter cover 55 that closes the open end of the inverter housing 54. Here, although the inverter housing 54 is integrated with the front housing 52, it may be completely separated from the front housing 52. The center housing 51, the front housing 52, and the rear housing 53 are not limited to a configuration having a cylindrical cross section, and may have an arbitrary cross section such as a square or a polygon, for example.

[0012] The electric motor 20 includes a cylindrical stator 21 disposed on the inner peripheral surface of the front end side of the center housing 51, and a cylindrical rotor 22 rotatably disposed inside the stator 21. The compression mechanism 30 is a well-known compression mechanism such as a scroll type compression mechanism, for example, and is disposed on the rear end side of the center housing 51.

[0013] And the middle part of the rotating shaft 10 is integrated with the rotor 22 in a state of passing through the through-hole located at the center of the rotor 22. Also, the front end portion of the rotating shaft 10 is rotatably supported with respect to a bearing 52A formed on the bottom wall of the front housing 52. Further, the rear end portion of the rotating shaft 10 is connected to a drive portion (not shown) of the compression mechanism 30. Therefore, when a drive current is supplied to the stator 21 of the electric motor 20, the rotor 22 and the rotating shaft 10 integrated therewith rotate, and the compression mechanism 30 can be operated. Note that the rotating shaft 10 may be further rotatably supported by other bearings (not shown).

[0014] At a predetermined location of the front housing 52, specifically, at the upper part on the front side of the electric motor 20, an intake port 52B for sucking refrigerant from the low-pressure side of an external refrigerant circuit is formed. Also, at a predetermined location of the rear housing 53, specifically, at the upper part near the bottom wall of the rear housing 53, a discharge port 53A for discharging the high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism 30 to the high-pressure side of the external refrigerant circuit is formed. Here, it should be understood that the "upper part" is not limited to the part located at the uppermost position of the front housing 52 or the rear housing 53, and may also be its periphery.

[0015] And the refrigerant sucked into the interior of the front housing 52 through the intake port 52B passes through the gap between the stator 21 and the rotor 22 to cool the electric motor 20, and then is introduced into the compression chamber from the refrigerant inlet (not shown) of the compression mechanism 30. The refrigerant introduced into the compression chamber is compressed in the compression chamber to become high-pressure refrigerant, discharged from the refrigerant outlet (not shown) of the compression mechanism 30 into the interior of the rear housing 53, and then returned to the high-pressure side of the external refrigerant circuit through the discharge port 53A of the rear housing 53.

[0016] The inverter housing 54 is integrated in front of the front housing 52 while sharing the bottom wall with the front housing 52. The upper part of the inverter housing 54 is located above the front housing 52, and the lower part of the inverter housing 54 is located below the front housing 52. Here, the lower part of the inverter housing 54 protrudes from the front housing 52 more than its upper part.

[0017] And an inverter 40 for driving and controlling the electric motor 20 is arranged inside the inverter housing 54. The inverter 40 is configured to be able to supply a driving current to the stator 21 of the electric motor 20 via a power supply line 41 that penetrates and extends through the bottom wall shared by the front housing 52 and the inverter housing 54. Further, the inverter 40 is configured to be able to be supplied with a direct current from an external direct current power supply via a power connector 42 arranged at a lower part of the inverter housing 54, specifically, at a part located directly below the suction port 52B of the front housing 52. Here, it should be understood that "directly below" is not limited to directly below the suction port 52B, but may also be the periphery thereof.

[0018] The cover member 60 is made of, for example, a resin having sound insulation performance, and is configured to cover at least the outer peripheral surface of the housing 50 excluding the suction port 52B, the discharge port 53A, and the power connector 42 of the electric compressor 1. Therefore, the cover member 60 is configured to have an inner surface that follows the outer surface of the housing 50 of the electric compressor 1.

[0019] Figure 2 shows an example of the appearance of the electric compressor 1 with the cover member 60 removed. The housing 50 of the electric compressor 1 has, for example, a plurality of bosses BS and brackets BK for attachment to a vehicle, and a plurality of ribs for ensuring strength. In the example shown in Figure 2, one boss BS is formed on the upper part of the center housing 51, and a pair of bosses BS are formed on the upper part of the inverter housing 54. However, for example, considering the size of the electric compressor 1, etc., the number and formation position of the bosses BS can be changed. Also, in the example shown in Figure 2, two brackets BK are attached to the inverter housing 54. However, for example, considering the size of the electric compressor 1, etc., the number and attachment position of the brackets BK can be changed. Therefore, the inner peripheral surface of the cover member 60 is formed in a shape following the outer peripheral surface of the housing 50 having such a complex shape.

[0020] Figure 3 shows an example of the appearance of the cover member 60. The cover member 60 includes a bottomed cylindrical first cover member 61 that covers the center housing 51, the front housing 52, and the rear housing 53, and a bottomed rectangular tubular second cover member 62 that covers the inverter housing 54 and the inverter cover 55.

[0021] The first cover member 61 is formed with at least a first notch portion 63 for accessing the discharge port 53A formed in the rear housing 53, and a second notch portion 64 for avoiding interference with the boss BS formed in the center housing 51. Also, the second cover member 62 is formed with at least a third notch portion 65 for accessing the power connector 42 attached to the inverter housing 54 and avoiding interference with the bracket BK. Further, the first cover member 61 and the second cover member 62 are formed with a fourth notch portion 66 for avoiding interference with the pair of bosses BS formed on the upper part of the inverter housing 54 and accessing the suction port 52B formed in the front housing 52.

[0022] Therefore, when the cover member 60 is attached around the housing 50, as shown in FIG. 4, the power connector 42, the suction port 52B, the discharge port 53A, the three bosses BS, and the two brackets BK are exposed to the outside by the first notch 63, the second notch 64, the third notch 65, and the fourth notch 66. For this reason, even when the cover member 60 is attached around the housing 50, the electric compressor 1 can be attached to the vehicle using the three bosses BS and the two brackets BK. Also, even when the cover member 60 is attached around the housing 50, a suction pipe (not shown) can be connected to the suction port 52B, and a discharge pipe (not shown) can be connected to the discharge port 53A. Further, even when the cover member 60 is attached around the housing 50, a harness can be connected to the power connector 42. Incidentally, with the cover member 60 attached around the housing 50, the suction pipe and the discharge pipe can be removed from the suction port 52B and the discharge port 53A, the harness can be removed from the power connector 42, and the electric compressor 1 can be removed from the vehicle.

[0023] To facilitate the attachment of the cover member 60 to the housing 50, as shown in FIG. 5, the cover member 60 desirably has a configuration in which it is divided into two along a vertical plane extending along the central axis of the rotating shaft 10, that is, a configuration in which it is divided into left and right. In this case, each of the divided cover members 60 is connected by a hinge 69, and the cover member 60 is completed by folding it with this as a reference. Also, the first notch 63, the second notch 64, the third notch 65, and the fourth notch 66 of the cover member 60 are formed by folding the divided cover members 60. Incidentally, the hinge 69 may be cut off as necessary after the cover member 60 is attached to the housing 50.

[0024] Incidentally, in the electric compressor 1, when the temperature of the suction port 52B or the suction pipe connected thereto drops below the dew point of the atmosphere, water vapor contained in the atmosphere may turn into water droplets and dew may adhere to the suction port 52B or the suction pipe. When the dew adhering to the suction port 52B or the suction pipe grows, it flows down due to gravity, and the dew flows downward through at least one of the outer peripheral surface of the cover member 60 and the minute gap existing between the housing 50 and the cover member 60. Then, when the dew drips from the lower part of the cover member 60 to the power connector 42 disposed directly below the suction port 52B, the dew may enter the interior from between the power connector 42 and the harness connected thereto, which may cause, for example, corrosion or short circuit of the terminals.

[0025] Therefore, a drain passage is formed in the cover member 60 to guide the dew flowing down from the suction port 52B or the suction pipe connected thereto to the lower part of the cover member 60 avoiding the power connector 42. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the drain passage can be constituted by a pair of convex portions 67 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cover member 60 and, as shown in FIG. 5, a pair of concave portions 68 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cover member 60.

[0026] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each convex portion 67 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cover member 60 is formed to extend obliquely downward from the upper half of the first cover member 61 at the transition portion to the second cover member 62 to a position avoiding the power connector 42. Here, in the illustrated example, the convex portion 67 is further bent downward in the middle, but the convex portion 67 may extend linearly.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 5, each recess 68 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cover member 60 is formed to extend obliquely downward from the lower end of the fourth notch 66 for accessing the suction port 52B to a position avoiding the power connector 42. The tip (lower end) of the recess 68 extends to the lowermost part of the first cover member 61, and a drain port 68A communicating to the outside of the cover member 60 is formed there. Therefore, when the cover member 60 is attached to the housing 50, a drain passage having a substantially semicircular cross section is formed by the outer peripheral surface of the housing 50 and the inner peripheral surface of the recess 68 of the cover member 60.

[0028] Next, the actions and effects of the convex portion 67 and the concave portion 68 formed in the cover member 60 will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, when condensed water CW adheres to and grows on the suction port 52B of the electric compressor 1 or the suction pipe SC connected thereto, the condensed water begins to flow downward due to gravity. Then, the condensed water flowing downward drips between the periphery of the suction port 52B and the inner periphery of the fourth notch 66, and a part of it flows downward along the outer peripheral surface of the cover member 60, while the rest flows downward through the minute gap between the housing 50 and the cover member 60.

[0029] The condensed water flowing downward along the outer peripheral surface of the cover member 60 is received by the convex portion 67 formed in the cover member 60 and guided along the convex portion 67 to a position avoiding the power connector 42 as shown by the broken line in FIG. 6. Then, the condensed water is dripped onto the harness HN connected to the power connector 42 from the tip of the convex portion 67. Since the harness HN is usually covered with a material having water resistance, no problem occurs even if condensed water is dripped here (the same applies hereinafter).

[0030] Also, the condensed water that has flowed downward through the minute gap between the housing 50 and the cover member 60 is received by the recess 68 formed in the cover member 60 as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 7, and is guided along the recess 68 to a position avoiding the power connector 42. Then, the condensed water is discharged from the drain port 68A formed at the tip of the recess 68 and drips onto the harness HN connected to the power connector 42.

[0031] Therefore, even if condensed water adheres to and grows on the suction port 52B or the suction pipe SC connected thereto, the dripping of the condensed water onto the power connector 42 is suppressed. And by suppressing the dripping of the condensed water onto the power connector 42, the intrusion of the condensed water into the interior between the power connector 42 and the harness HN is prevented, thereby preventing corrosion and short - circuit of the terminals.

[0032] Those skilled in the art can easily understand that, on the condition that the required effects can be obtained, new embodiments can be created by omitting a part, appropriately combining a part, or replacing a part with well - known techniques of the technical ideas of the various above - described embodiments.

[0033] For example, the electric compressor 1 may not have the inverter 40, the inverter housing 54, and the inverter cover 55. In this case, the electric compressor 1 may be configured such that the drive current of the electric motor 20 is supplied from an inverter disposed outside via the power connector 42.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0034] 1... Electric compressor, 10... Rotating shaft, 20... Electric motor, 30... Compression mechanism, 40... Inverter, 42... Power connector, 50... Housing, 52B... Suction port, 60... Cover member, 67... Protrusion (drain passage), 68... Recess (drain passage), CW... Condensed water, SC... Suction pipe

Claims

1. An electric compressor having a rotating shaft extending in the horizontal direction, an electric motor for rotating the rotating shaft, a compression mechanism driven by the rotating shaft, a housing for rotatably supporting the rotating shaft and accommodating the electric motor and the compression mechanism, and a cover member for covering the periphery of the housing, wherein a refrigerant suction port is formed in the upper part of the housing, and a power connector is attached to the lower part of the housing located directly below the suction port, wherein a drain passage for guiding condensed water flowing down from the suction port or a suction pipe connected thereto to the lower part of the cover member avoiding the power connector is formed in the cover member, the electric compressor.

2. The drain passage comprises at least one of a convex portion obliquely extending on the outer peripheral surface of the cover member and a concave portion obliquely extending on the inner peripheral surface of the cover member, The electric compressor according to Claim 1.

3. The cover member has a configuration divided into two along a vertical plane extending along the central axis of the rotating shaft, The electric compressor according to Claim 1.

4. further comprising an inverter for driving and controlling the electric motor, wherein the inverter is disposed on the electric motor side of the housing, The electric compressor according to Claim 1.

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