Electric compressor

Abstract

To improve a corrosion resistance of an electric compressor.SOLUTION: A projection 60 that projects toward a seal member 50 is provided at a portion positioned between the adjacent bolts on a cover outer periphery part 33. The projection 60 presses the seal member 50 toward an end wall 13a of a motor housing 13. This allows an excellent sealability between the portion positioned between the adjacent bolts in the cover outer periphery part 33 and the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. This can suppress an accumulation of water or salt water between the portion positioned between the adjacent bolts in the cover outer periphery part 33 and the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. Thus, corrosion of the cover 30 or the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 due to water or salt water can be suppressed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric compressor.

Background Art

[0002] An electric compressor includes a compression part, a motor, an inverter, and a housing. The compression part compresses a fluid. The motor drives the compression part. The inverter drives the motor. The housing has an inverter chamber that houses the inverter. The housing has a partition wall that partitions the inverter chamber and a cover that forms the inverter chamber together with the partition wall.

[0003] For example, as in Patent Document 1, an outer peripheral part of the cover, which is an outer peripheral part of the cover, is fastened to the partition wall by a plurality of fastening members arranged at intervals. An annular seal member extending along the outer peripheral part of the cover is interposed between the outer peripheral part of the cover and the partition wall. Then, the outer peripheral part of the cover presses the seal member toward the partition wall with the fastening force of the plurality of fastening members, thereby sealing between the outer peripheral part of the cover and the partition wall. According to this, for example, moisture and salt water that try to enter between the outer peripheral part of the cover and the partition wall from the outside are blocked by the seal member.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the portion located between adjacent fastening members on the outer periphery of the cover, the pressing force that presses the seal member on the outer periphery of the cover toward the partition wall due to the fastening force of the fastening members may be relatively small. Then, there is a risk that the sealing performance between the portion located between adjacent fastening members on the outer periphery of the cover and the partition wall deteriorates. As a result, moisture or salt water may accumulate between the portion located between adjacent fastening members on the outer periphery of the cover and the partition wall. Thus, if moisture or salt water accumulates between the outer periphery of the cover and the partition wall, there is a risk that the cover and the partition wall will be corroded by the moisture or salt water. Therefore, it is desired to improve the corrosion resistance of the electric compressor.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] The electric compressor that solves the above problems includes a compression part that compresses a fluid, a motor that drives the compression part, an inverter that drives the motor, and a housing that has an inverter chamber that houses the inverter. The housing has a partition wall that partitions the inverter chamber and a cover that forms the inverter chamber together with the partition wall. The outer periphery of the cover, which is the outer periphery of the cover, is fastened to the partition wall by a plurality of fastening members arranged at intervals. An annular seal member extending along the outer periphery of the cover is interposed between the outer periphery of the cover and the partition wall. The outer periphery of the cover presses the seal member toward the partition wall due to the fastening force of the plurality of fastening members, thereby sealing between the outer periphery of the cover and the partition wall. In the portion located between adjacent fastening members on the outer periphery of the cover, a convex portion that protrudes toward the seal member is provided, and the convex portion presses the seal member toward the partition wall.

[0007] In a portion located between adjacent fastening members on the outer peripheral portion of the cover, there may be a case where the pressing force that presses the seal member on the outer peripheral portion of the cover toward the partition wall along with the fastening force of the fastening member becomes relatively small. Even in such a case, a convex portion that protrudes toward the seal member is provided in a portion located between adjacent fastening members on the outer peripheral portion of the cover, and the convex portion presses the seal member toward the partition wall. Therefore, the sealing performance between the portion located between adjacent fastening members on the outer peripheral portion of the cover and the partition wall can be made good. As a result, it is possible to suppress moisture and salt water from accumulating between the portion located between adjacent fastening members on the outer peripheral portion of the cover and the partition wall. Therefore, since it is possible to suppress the cover and the partition wall from being corroded by moisture and salt water, the corrosion resistance of the electric compressor can be improved.

[0008] In the above electric compressor, the seal member may have an annular bead portion that protrudes toward the outer peripheral portion of the cover, the convex portion may be provided at a position facing the bead portion, and the bead portion may be pressed toward the partition wall.

[0009] According to this, the convex portion can preferably press the bead portion of the seal member toward the partition wall. For this reason, the sealing performance between the portion located between adjacent fastening members on the outer peripheral portion of the cover and the partition wall can be made even better.

[0010] In the above electric compressor, the outer peripheral portion of the cover may preferably have a gap filling portion that approaches the partition wall as it goes toward the outer edge so as to reduce the gap between the outer edge of the outer peripheral portion of the cover and the partition wall.

[0011] According to this, since the gap filling portion reduces the gap between the outer edge of the outer peripheral portion of the cover and the partition wall, it is possible to easily suppress moisture and salt water from accumulating between the outer peripheral portion of the cover and the partition wall. As a result, since it is possible to further easily suppress the cover and the partition wall from being corroded by moisture and salt water, the corrosion resistance of the electric compressor can be further improved.

[0012] In the electric compressor, an outer peripheral portion of the cover has a gap filling portion that approaches the partition wall toward the outer edge so as to reduce a gap between an outer edge of the outer peripheral portion of the cover and the partition wall, and the gap filling portion may be located closer to the outer edge than a position facing the bead portion in the outer peripheral portion of the cover.

[0013] According to this, the gap filling portion is located closer to the outer edge of the outer peripheral portion of the cover than a position facing the bead portion in the outer peripheral portion of the cover. For this reason, while the convex portion preferably presses the bead portion of the seal member toward the partition wall, the gap filling portion can reduce the gap between the outer edge of the outer peripheral portion of the cover and the partition wall. As a result, while making the sealing performance between the portion located between the adjacent fastening members in the outer peripheral portion of the cover and the partition wall good, it is easy to suppress moisture and salt water from accumulating between the outer peripheral portion of the cover and the partition wall.

[0014] In the electric compressor, the outer peripheral portion of the cover has a plurality of hole forming portions that form insertion holes through which the respective fastening members are inserted, and a protruding amount of the convex portion with respect to the hole forming portion is preferably smaller than a protruding amount in an original shape of the bead portion.

[0015] According to this, while maintaining the pressing force for pressing the seal member in the outer peripheral portion of the cover toward the partition wall along with the fastening force of the fastening member, the convex portion can preferably press the bead portion of the seal member toward the partition wall.

[0016] In the electric compressor, a protruding end portion of the convex portion is a flat portion that extends along a mating surface with the outer peripheral portion of the cover in the partition wall, and the convex portion preferably has an inclined portion that is continuous with the flat portion and gradually separates from the mating surface as it separates from the flat portion.

[0017] According to this, since the protruding end portion of the convex portion is a flat portion that extends along the mating surface with the outer peripheral portion of the cover on the partition wall, the sealing member is preferably pressed by the flat portion between the flat portion and the mating surface with the outer peripheral portion of the cover on the partition wall. Therefore, it is easy to ensure the pressing force for pressing the sealing member in the convex portion toward the partition wall. Further, the convex portion has an inclined portion that is continuous with the flat portion and gradually separates from the mating surface with the outer peripheral portion of the cover on the partition wall as it moves away from the flat portion. Therefore, since the inclined portion can gradually press the sealing member toward the partition wall, it becomes difficult to perform local pressing of the sealing member by the convex portion toward the partition wall. As a result, the convex portion can preferably press the sealing member toward the partition wall.

[0018] In the electric compressor, the gap filling portion is preferably a gradient wall that gradually approaches the partition wall as it approaches the outer edge of the outer peripheral portion of the cover. The configuration in which the gap filling portion is a gradient wall that gradually approaches the partition wall as it approaches the outer edge of the outer peripheral portion of the cover is a suitable configuration as a gap filling portion that approaches the partition wall as it approaches the outer edge of the outer peripheral portion of the cover so as to reduce the gap between the outer edge of the outer peripheral portion of the cover and the partition wall.

[0019] In the electric compressor, the cover has a three-layer structure formed by laminating a first metal layer, a resin layer, and a second metal layer in this order in the thickness direction of the cover, and both the front and back surfaces of the first metal layer and both the front and back surfaces of the second metal layer are preferably coated with a plating layer.

[0020] According to this, since four plating layers are provided throughout the cover, the corrosion resistance of the cover itself can be improved. In addition, a cover having a three-layer structure formed by laminating a first metal layer, a resin layer, and a second metal layer in this order in the thickness direction of the cover has excellent vibration damping properties. Therefore, since the vibration of the cover against the partition wall is attenuated, the sealing performance between the outer peripheral portion of the cover and the partition wall via the sealing member can be improved.

Effects of the Invention

[0021] According to the present invention, the corrosion resistance of the electric compressor can be improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0023] Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the electric compressor is embodied will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. The electric compressor of the present embodiment is used in, for example, a vehicle air conditioner. <Overview of the Electric Compressor> As shown in FIG. 1, the electric compressor 10 includes a housing 11. The housing 11 has a discharge housing 12 and a motor housing 13. The discharge housing 12 and the motor housing 13 are cylindrical. The motor housing 13 is connected to the discharge housing 12. The discharge housing 12 and the motor housing 13 are made of a metal material. The discharge housing 12 and the motor housing 13 are made of, for example, aluminum. The motor housing 13 has a plate-shaped end wall 13a and a cylindrical peripheral wall 13b. The peripheral wall 13b extends from the outer peripheral portion of the end wall 13a.

[0024]

[0025] ​The electric compressor 10 includes a compression section 15 and a motor 16. The compression section 15 and the motor 16 are housed within a motor housing 13. Accordingly, the housing 11 houses the compression section 15 and the motor 16. The compression section 15 and the motor 16 are arranged side by side in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 14, which is the direction in which the axis of the rotary shaft 14 extends. The motor 16 is arranged closer to the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 than the compression section 15.

[0026] The compression section 15 is driven by the rotation of the rotary shaft 14. The compression section 15 compresses a refrigerant as a fluid. The compression section 15 is, for example, of a scroll type having a fixed scroll (not shown) fixed to the motor housing 13 within the motor housing 13 and a turning scroll (not shown) arranged to face the fixed scroll.

[0027] The motor 16 has a cylindrical stator 17 and a cylindrical rotor 18. The rotor 18 is arranged inside the stator 17. The rotor 18 is configured to be rotatable integrally with the rotary shaft 14. The rotor 18 has a rotor core 18a and a plurality of permanent magnets 18b. The rotor core 18a is fixed to the rotary shaft 14. The plurality of permanent magnets 18b are provided on the rotor core 18a. The stator 17 surrounds the rotor 18. The stator 17 has a cylindrical stator core 17a and a motor coil 19. The motor coil 19 is wound around the stator core 17a. Then, when electric power is supplied to the motor coil 19, the rotor 18 rotates and the rotary shaft 14 rotates integrally with the rotor 18. The compression section 15 is driven along with the rotation of the rotary shaft 14. Thus, the motor 16 drives the compression section 15.

[0028] The housing 11 has a suction port 13h. The suction port 13h is formed in a portion of the peripheral wall 13b of the motor housing 13 near the end wall 13a. The suction port 13h sucks refrigerant into the motor housing 13. The first end of the external refrigerant circuit 20 is connected to the suction port 13h. The housing 11 has a discharge port 12h. The discharge port 12h is formed in the discharge housing 12. The second end of the external refrigerant circuit 20 is connected to the discharge port 12h.

[0029] The refrigerant sucked into the motor housing 13 through the suction port 13h from the first end of the external refrigerant circuit 20 is compressed by the compression part 15 driven by the compression part 15. The refrigerant compressed by the compression part 15 flows out to the second end of the external refrigerant circuit 20 through the discharge port 12h. Then, the refrigerant flowing out to the external refrigerant circuit 20 returns into the motor housing 13 through the suction port 13h after passing through the heat exchanger and expansion valve of the external refrigerant circuit 20. The electric compressor 10 and the external refrigerant circuit 20 constitute a vehicle air conditioner 21.

[0030] <Cover> As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the electric compressor 10 includes a cover 30. The cover 30 is a part of the housing 11. Therefore, the housing 11 has the cover 30.

[0031] The cover 30 has a cover end wall 31, a cover peripheral wall 32, and a cover outer peripheral part 33. The cover end wall 31 is plate-shaped. The cover peripheral wall 32 is cylindrical. The cover peripheral wall 32 extends from the outer peripheral part of the cover end wall 31. The cover outer peripheral part 33 is the outer peripheral part of the cover 30. The cover outer peripheral part 33 is plate-shaped. The cover outer peripheral part 33 extends outward from the end of the cover peripheral wall 32 opposite to the cover end wall 31. The cover outer peripheral part 33 is annular and extends over the entire circumference of the cover peripheral wall 32.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover has an annular wall 34 and a gradient wall 35. The annular wall 34 is continuous with the peripheral wall 32 of the cover. The annular wall 34 extends over the entire circumference of the peripheral wall 32 of the cover. The annular wall 34 has a plurality of hole forming portions 36. Therefore, the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover has a plurality of hole forming portions 36. The plurality of hole forming portions 36 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction in which the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover extends. Each hole forming portion 36 forms an insertion hole 36a. Each insertion hole 36a penetrates each hole forming portion 36 in the thickness direction of the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover. Each insertion hole 36a is circular.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover is fastened to the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 by bolts 37 as a plurality of fastening members arranged at intervals. The plurality of bolts 37 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction in which the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover extends. In FIG. 2, each bolt 37 is shown by a two-dot chain line.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cover 30 has a three-layer structure formed by laminating a first metal layer 41, a resin layer 42, and a second metal layer 43 in this order in the thickness direction of the cover 30. The first metal layer 41 and the second metal layer 43 are, for example, steel plates. The front and back surfaces of the first metal layer 41 and the front and back surfaces of the second metal layer 43 are coated with plating layers 44. Each plating layer 44 is formed, for example, by applying a plating excellent in high corrosion resistance such as zinc-nickel plating to the front and back surfaces of the first metal layer 41 and the front and back surfaces of the second metal layer 43. Therefore, the steel plates constituting the first metal layer 41 and the second metal layer 43 are, for example, ZAM steel plates coated with zinc-nickel plating. The cover 30 is manufactured by pressing a single plate material formed by laminating the first metal layer 41, the resin layer 42, and the second metal layer 43.

[0035] <Sealing member> As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an annular seal member 50 is interposed between the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover and the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. The seal member 50 extends along the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover. The seal member 50 is a plate-shaped gasket.

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a first surface 51 located on one side in the thickness direction of the seal member 50 faces the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover. A second surface 52 located on the other side in the thickness direction of the seal member 50 faces the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of holes 53 are formed in the seal member 50. The seal member 50 is interposed between the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover and the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 in a state where each hole 53 communicates with each insertion hole 36a. A plurality of female screw holes 13c are formed on the outer surface of the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. Each female screw hole 13c communicates with each insertion hole 36a through each hole 53.

[0038] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the outer surface of the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 is a mating surface 13d of the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 with the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover. The mating surface 13d is in the shape of a flat surface.

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the seal member 50 has an annular bead portion 54. The bead portion 54 protrudes from the first surface 51 of the seal member 50. The bead portion 54 is convex toward the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover.

[0040] <Relationship among the cover, the seal member, and the end wall of the motor housing> As shown in FIG. 1, the cover 30 is attached to the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 by fastening the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover to the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 with a plurality of bolts 37. Specifically, each bolt 37 is screwed into each female screw hole 13c through each insertion hole 36a and each hole 53, whereby the cover 30 is attached to the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. Therefore, each bolt 37 is inserted through each insertion hole 36a. Then, the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover presses the seal member 50 toward the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 with the fastening force of the plurality of bolts 37, so that the space between the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover and the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 is sealed.

[0041] <Inverter chamber> The housing 11 has an inverter chamber 22. The inverter chamber 22 is partitioned by the cover 30 and the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. Therefore, the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 is a partition wall that partitions the inverter chamber 22. And the cover 30 forms the inverter chamber 22 together with the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13.

[0042] <Inverter> The electric compressor 10 includes an inverter 23. The inverter 23 is housed in the inverter chamber 22. Therefore, the inverter chamber 22 houses the inverter 23. The inverter 23 drives the motor 16. The compression section 15, the motor 16, and the inverter 23 are arranged in this order along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 14.

[0043] <Convex portion> As shown in FIG. 4, the annular wall 34 has a connecting portion 38 and a convex portion 60. The convex portion 60 is a portion located between adjacent hole forming portions 36 in the annular wall 34 and is convex toward the seal member 50. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a convex portion 60 that is convex toward the seal member 50 is provided at a portion located between adjacent bolts 37 in the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover. In the present embodiment, the convex portion 60 is provided at all portions located between adjacent bolts 37 in the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover. The connecting portion 38 is a portion of the annular wall 34 that connects the convex portion 60 and the hole forming portion 36. The hole forming portion 36 and the connecting portion 38 are located on the same plane.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 4, the protruding end portion of the convex portion 60 is a flat portion 61. The flat portion 61 extends parallel to the connecting portion 38. Therefore, the flat portion 61 extends parallel to the hole forming portion 36. The flat portion 61 extends along the mating surface 13d with the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover on the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. The convex portion 60 has an inclined portion 62. The inclined portion 62 is continuous with the flat portion 61. The inclined portion 62 gradually separates from the mating surface 13d as it moves away from the flat portion 61. Both sides of the convex portion 60 sandwiching the flat portion 61 are inclined portions 62. Each inclined portion 62 connects the flat portion 61 and the connecting portion 38. Each inclined portion 62 is inclined so as to approach the mating surface 13d as it moves away from the connecting portion 38.

[0045] The convex portion 60 extends along the bead portion 54. The convex portion 60 overlaps the bead portion 54. The convex portion 60 is provided at a position facing the bead portion 54 in the annular wall 34. The convex portion 60 presses the bead portion 54 toward the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. Therefore, the convex portion 60 presses the seal member 50 toward the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. The flat portion 61 and each inclined portion 62 press the seal member 50 toward the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13.

[0046] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the protruding amount of the convex portion 60 with respect to the connecting portion 38 is smaller than the protruding amount T2 in the original shape of the bead portion 54. The protruding amount of the convex portion 60 with respect to the connecting portion 38 is also the protruding amount T1 with respect to the hole forming portion 36 in the convex portion 60. Therefore, the protruding amount T1 of the convex portion 60 with respect to the hole forming portion 36 is smaller than the protruding amount T2 in the original shape of the bead portion 54. In FIG. 3, the original shape of the bead portion 54 before being pressed against the convex portion 60 is shown by a two-dot chain line.

[0047] <Gap filling portion> As shown in FIG. 3, the gradient wall 35 is continuous with the outer edge of the annular wall 34. The gradient wall 35 is annular and extends over the entire circumference of the annular wall 34. The outer edge of the gradient wall 35 is the outer edge 33e of the cover outer peripheral portion 33. The gradient wall 35 extends while inclining so as to gradually approach the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 as it moves away from the outer edge of the annular wall 34. The gradient wall 35 is located closer to the outer edge 33e of the cover outer peripheral portion 33 than the position facing the bead portion 54 in the cover outer peripheral portion 33. And the gradient wall 35 functions as a gap filling portion 65 that approaches the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 as it goes toward the outer edge 33e of the cover outer peripheral portion 33 so as to reduce the gap between the outer edge 33e of the cover outer peripheral portion 33 and the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. Therefore, the gap filling portion 65 is the gradient wall 35 that gradually approaches the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 as it goes toward the outer edge 33e of the cover outer peripheral portion 33. Thus, the cover outer peripheral portion 33 has the gap filling portion 65. The gap filling portion 65 is annular and extends over the entire circumference of the annular wall 34. The gap filling portion 65 is a portion closer to the outer edge 33e of the cover outer peripheral portion 33 than the position facing the bead portion 54 in the cover outer peripheral portion 33. Therefore, the gap filling portion 65 is located closer to the outer edge 33e of the cover outer peripheral portion 33 than the position facing the bead portion 54 in the cover outer peripheral portion 33. The gap filling portion 65 extends over the entire circumference of the cover outer peripheral portion 33.

[0048] The gap filling portion 65 has a tapered shape that gradually approaches the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 as it heads toward the outer edge 33e of the cover outer peripheral portion 33. Thus, the gap filling portion 65 approaches the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 as it heads toward the outer edge 33e of the cover outer peripheral portion 33 so as to reduce the gap between the outer edge 33e of the cover outer peripheral portion 33 and the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13.

[0049] The gap filling portion 65 is a portion that extends from a portion closer to the outer edge 33e of the cover outer peripheral portion 33 than the position facing the bead portion 54 in the cover outer peripheral portion 33 to the outer edge 33e of the cover outer peripheral portion 33. The outer edge 33e of the cover outer peripheral portion 33 is located outward of the outer edge 50e of the seal member 50. Therefore, the gap filling portion 65 protrudes outward beyond the seal member 50.

[0050] [Operation of the Embodiment] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. An annular seal member 50 extending along the cover outer peripheral portion 33 is interposed between the cover outer peripheral portion 33 and the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. Then, by pressing the seal member 50 toward the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 by the fastening force of the plurality of bolts 37 on the cover outer peripheral portion 33, the space between the cover outer peripheral portion 33 and the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 is sealed. Thus, for example, moisture and salt water attempting to enter from the outside between the cover outer peripheral portion 33 and the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 are blocked by the seal member 50.

[0051] Incidentally, in a portion of the cover outer peripheral portion 33 located between adjacent bolts 37, the pressing force for pressing the seal member 50 in the cover outer peripheral portion 33 due to the fastening force of the bolt 37 toward the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 may be relatively small. Even in such a case, a convex portion 60 that protrudes toward the seal member 50 is provided in a portion of the cover outer peripheral portion 33 located between adjacent bolts 37, and the convex portion 60 presses the seal member 50 toward the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. Therefore, the sealing performance between the portion of the cover outer peripheral portion 33 located between adjacent bolts 37 and the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 becomes good. As a result, it is suppressed that moisture and salt water accumulate between the portion of the cover outer peripheral portion 33 located between adjacent bolts 37 and the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. Therefore, it is suppressed that the cover 30 and the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 are corroded by moisture and salt water.

[0052] Further, since the clearance filling portion 65 reduces the clearance between the outer edge 33e of the cover outer peripheral portion 33 and the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13, it is less likely that moisture and salt water accumulate between the cover outer peripheral portion 33 and the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13.

[0053] [Effects of the Embodiment] In the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. (1) In a portion located between adjacent bolts 37 in the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover, there may be a case where the pressing force for pressing the seal member 50 in the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover toward the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 becomes relatively small along with the fastening force of the bolt 37. Even in such a case, a convex portion 60 that protrudes toward the seal member 50 is provided in a portion located between adjacent bolts 37 in the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover, and the convex portion 60 presses the seal member 50 toward the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. Therefore, the sealing performance between the portion located between adjacent bolts 37 in the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover and the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 can be made good. As a result, it is possible to suppress moisture and salt water from accumulating between the portion located between adjacent bolts 37 in the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover and the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the cover 30 and the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 from being corroded by moisture and salt water, so that the corrosion resistance of the electric compressor 10 can be improved.

[0054] (2) The convex portion 60 presses the bead portion 54 toward the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. According to this, the convex portion 60 can preferably press the bead portion 54 of the seal member 50 toward the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. For this reason, the sealing performance between the portion located between adjacent bolts 37 in the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover and the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 can be made even better.

[0055] (3) Since the clearance between the outer edge 33e of the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover and the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 is reduced by the clearance filling portion 65, it is easier to suppress moisture and salt water from accumulating between the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover and the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. As a result, it is further easier to suppress the cover 30 and the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 from being corroded by moisture and salt water, so that the corrosion resistance of the electric compressor 10 can be further improved.

[0056] (4) The gap filling portion 65 is located closer to the outer edge 33e of the cover outer peripheral portion 33 than the position facing the bead portion 54 in the cover outer peripheral portion 33. For this reason, while the convex portion 60 suitably presses the bead portion 54 of the seal member 50 toward the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13, the gap filling portion 65 can reduce the gap between the outer edge 33e of the cover outer peripheral portion 33 and the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. As a result, while making the sealing performance between the portion located between adjacent bolts 37 in the cover outer peripheral portion 33 and the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 good, it is easy to suppress the accumulation of moisture and salt water between the cover outer peripheral portion 33 and the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13.

[0057] (5) The protruding amount T1 of the convex portion 60 with respect to the hole forming portion 36 is smaller than the protruding amount T2 in the original shape of the bead portion 54. According to this, while maintaining the pressing force that presses the seal member 50 in the cover outer peripheral portion 33 toward the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 due to the fastening force of the bolt 37, the convex portion 60 can suitably press the bead portion 54 of the seal member 50 toward the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13.

[0058] (6) The protruding end portion of the convex portion 60 is a flat portion 61 that extends along the mating surface 13d with the cover outer peripheral portion 33 on the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. For this reason, the seal member 50 is preferably pressed by the flat portion 61 between the flat portion 61 and the mating surface 13d with the cover outer peripheral portion 33 on the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. Therefore, it becomes easier to secure the pressing force for pressing the seal member 50 in the convex portion 60 toward the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. Further, the convex portion 60 has an inclined portion 62 that is continuous with the flat portion 61 and gradually separates from the mating surface 13d with the cover outer peripheral portion 33 on the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 as it moves away from the flat portion 61. Therefore, due to the inclined portion 62, the seal member 50 can be gradually pressed toward the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13, making it difficult for the convex portion 60 to locally press the seal member 50 toward the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. As a result, the convex portion 60 can preferably press the seal member 50 toward the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13.

[0059] (7) The gap filling portion 65 gradually approaches the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 as it goes toward the outer edge 33e of the cover outer peripheral portion 33. Such a configuration is a suitable configuration as the gap filling portion 65 that approaches the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 as it goes toward the outer edge 33e of the cover outer peripheral portion 33 so as to reduce the gap between the outer edge 33e of the cover outer peripheral portion 33 and the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13.

[0060] (8) The cover 30 has a three-layer structure formed by laminating a first metal layer 41, a resin layer 42, and a second metal layer 43 in this order in the thickness direction of the cover 30. Both the front and back surfaces of the first metal layer 41 and both the front and back surfaces of the second metal layer 43 are covered by plating layers 44. According to this, since four plating layers 44 are provided throughout the cover 30, the corrosion resistance of the cover 30 itself can be improved. Further, the cover 30 having a three-layer structure formed by laminating the first metal layer 41, the resin layer 42, and the second metal layer 43 in this order in the thickness direction of the cover 30 has excellent vibration damping properties. Therefore, since the vibration of the cover 30 against the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 is attenuated, the sealing performance between the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover and the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 via the seal member 50 can be improved.

[0061] (9) Since the cover 30 is manufactured by pressing a single plate material, for example, the thickness of the cover 30 can be made thinner than when the cover 30 is manufactured by aluminum die-casting. As a result, the size reduction of the electric compressor 10 can be achieved.

[0062] [Modification Example] Note that the above-described embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications. The above-described embodiment and the following modification examples can be implemented in combination with each other as long as there is no technical contradiction.

[0063] ○ In the embodiment, the convex portion 60 may press a portion other than the bead portion 54 of the seal member 50 toward the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. The main point is that the convex portion 60 may press the seal member 50 toward the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13.

[0064] ○ In the embodiment, among all the portions located between adjacent bolts 37 on the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover, there may be a portion where the convex portion 60 is not provided. The key point is that the convex portion 60 is a portion located between adjacent bolts 37 on the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover, and it may be provided at a portion where the pressing force for pressing the seal member 50 on the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover toward the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 due to the fastening force of the bolt 37 becomes relatively small. The portion where the pressing force for pressing the seal member 50 on the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover toward the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 due to the fastening force of the bolt 37 becomes relatively small among the portions located between adjacent bolts 37 on the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover is grasped in advance by experiments or the like.

[0065] ○ In the embodiment, the convex portion 60 may not have the inclined portion 62. For example, the convex portion 60 may have a stepped portion that extends in a stepped shape from the connecting portion 38 toward the flat portion 61.

[0066] ○ In the embodiment, the protruding end portion of the convex portion 60 may be a pointed end portion. The key point is that the protruding end portion of the convex portion 60 does not have to be the flat portion 61 that extends along the mating surface 13d with the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover on the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13.

[0067] ○ In the embodiment, the protruding amount of the convex portion 60 with respect to the hole forming portion 36 may be equal to or greater than the protruding amount in the original shape of the bead portion 54. ○ In the embodiment, the gradient wall 35 may extend outward from a portion closer to the cover peripheral wall 32 than the position facing the bead portion 54 on the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover. The key point is that a part of the gap filling portion 65 may be located closer to the cover peripheral wall 32 than the position facing the bead portion 54 on the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover. And the gap filling portion 65 may press the bead portion 54 toward the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13.

[0068] ○ In the embodiment, the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover does not have the gradient wall 35, and instead of the gradient wall 35, it may have a stepped wall that protrudes in a stepped shape toward the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 with respect to the annular wall 34. And the stepped wall may function as a gap filling portion 65 that approaches the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 as it goes toward the outer edge 33e of the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover so as to reduce the gap between the outer edge 33e of the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover and the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. In short, the gap filling portion 65 does not have to be the gradient wall 35 that gradually approaches the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 as it goes toward the outer edge 33e of the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover.

[0069] ○ In the embodiment, the gradient wall 35 does not have to extend over the entire circumference of the annular wall 34. In short, the gap filling portion 65 does not have to extend over the entire circumference of the annular wall 34. ○ In the embodiment, the outer peripheral portion 33 of the cover may be configured not to have the gap filling portion 65.

[0070] ○ In the embodiment, only one of the front and back surfaces of the first metal layer 41 may be coated with the plating layer 44. ○ In the embodiment, only one of the front and back surfaces of the second metal layer 43 may be coated with the plating layer 44.

[0071] ○ In the embodiment, the front and back surfaces of the first metal layer 41 and the front and back surfaces of the second metal layer 43 do not have to be coated with the plating layer 44. ○ In the embodiment, the cover 30 does not have to have a three-layer structure of the first metal layer 41, the resin layer 42, and the second metal layer 43. For example, the cover 30 may be manufactured by die casting of aluminum.

[0072] ○ In the embodiment, for example, a press-fit pin may be employed as the fastening member. In this case, a press-fit hole into which the press-fit pin is press-fitted is formed on the outer surface of the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. Then, the cover 30 may be attached to the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 by press-fitting the press-fit pin into the press-fit hole through each insertion hole 36a and each hole 53.

[0073] ○ In the embodiment, for example, the inverter chamber 22 may be partitioned by a case body that is a separate member from the motor housing 13 and is attached to the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13, and the cover 30. In this case, the case body is a partition wall that partitions the inverter chamber 22, and the cover 30 forms the inverter chamber 22 together with the case body.

[0074] ○ In the embodiment, the electric compressor 10 may have a configuration in which, for example, the inverter 23 is arranged outside the motor housing 11 in the radial direction of the rotary shaft 14. In short, the compression section 15, the motor 16, and the inverter 23 do not have to be arranged side by side in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 14 in this order.

[0075] ○ In the embodiment, the compression section 15 is not limited to the scroll type, and may be, for example, a piston type, a vane type, or the like. ○ In the embodiment, the electric compressor 10 constitutes the vehicle air conditioner 21, but is not limited thereto. For example, the electric compressor 10 may be mounted on a fuel cell vehicle and compress air as a fluid supplied to the fuel cell by the compression section 15.

[0076] [Appendix] The technical idea that can be grasped from the above embodiment and modification examples is described below. [Appendix 1] A compression section that compresses a fluid, A motor that drives the compression section, An inverter that drives the motor, A housing having an inverter chamber that houses the inverter, and The housing includes a partition wall that partitions the inverter chamber, and a cover that forms the inverter chamber together with the partition wall, and an outer peripheral portion of the cover, i.e., a cover outer peripheral portion, is fastened to the partition wall by a plurality of fastening members arranged at intervals, an annular seal member extending along the cover outer peripheral portion is interposed between the cover outer peripheral portion and the partition wall, in the electric compressor, the cover outer peripheral portion presses the seal member toward the partition wall along with the fastening force of the plurality of fastening members, thereby sealing the space between the cover outer peripheral portion and the partition wall, a convex portion that protrudes toward the seal member is provided at a portion of the cover outer peripheral portion located between adjacent fastening members, the convex portion presses the seal member toward the partition wall, and is characterized by the electric compressor.

[0077] <Appendix 2> the seal member has an annular bead portion that protrudes toward the cover outer peripheral portion, the convex portion is provided at a position facing the bead portion, and presses the bead portion toward the partition wall, and is characterized by the electric compressor according to <Appendix 1>.

[0078] <Appendix 3> the cover outer peripheral portion has a gap filling portion that approaches the partition wall as it approaches the outer edge so as to reduce a gap between the outer edge of the cover outer peripheral portion and the partition wall, and is characterized by the electric compressor according to <Appendix 1> or <Appendix 2>.

[0079] <Appendix 4> the cover outer peripheral portion has a gap filling portion that approaches the partition wall as it approaches the outer edge so as to reduce a gap between the outer edge of the cover outer peripheral portion and the partition wall, the gap filling portion is located closer to the outer edge than a position facing the bead portion in the cover outer peripheral portion, and is characterized by the electric compressor according to <Appendix 2>.

[0080] <Appendix 5> The outer peripheral portion of the cover has a plurality of hole forming portions through which the fastening members are inserted respectively. The protruding amount of the convex portion with respect to the hole forming portion is smaller than the protruding amount in the original shape of the bead portion, and the electric compressor according to <Appendix 2> or <Appendix 4>.

[0081] <Appendix 6> The protruding end portion of the convex portion is a flat portion extending along the mating surface with the outer peripheral portion of the cover in the partition wall. The convex portion has an inclined portion that is continuous with the flat portion and gradually separates from the mating surface as it moves away from the flat portion, and the electric compressor according to any one of <Appendix 1> to <Appendix 5>.

[0082] <Appendix 7> The gap filling portion is a gradient wall that gradually approaches the partition wall as it goes toward the outer edge of the outer peripheral portion of the cover, and the electric compressor according to <Appendix 3> or <Appendix 4>.

[0083] <Appendix 8> The cover has a three-layer structure formed by laminating a first metal layer, a resin layer, and a second metal layer in this order in the thickness direction of the cover. Both the front and back surfaces of the first metal layer and both the front and back surfaces of the second metal layer are coated with a plating layer, and the electric compressor according to any one of <Appendix 1> to <Appendix 7>.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0084] 10…Electric compressor, 11…Housing, 13a…End wall which is a partition wall, 13d…Joint surface, 15…Compression part, 16…Motor, 22…Inverter chamber, 23…Inverter, 30…Cover, 33…Cover outer peripheral part, 33e…Outer edge, 35…Gradient wall, 36…Hole forming part, 36a…Insertion hole, 37…Bolt as a fastening member, 41…First metal layer, 42…Resin layer, 43…Second metal layer, 44…Plating layer, 50…Sealing member, 54…Bead part, 60…Convex part, 61…Flat part, 62…Inclined part, 65…Gap filling part.

Claims

1. a compression section for compressing a fluid; a motor for driving the compression section; an inverter for driving the motor; a housing having an inverter chamber for housing the inverter, and comprising: the housing includes: a partition wall partitioning the inverter chamber; a cover forming the inverter chamber together with the partition wall; an outer peripheral portion of the cover, i.e., a cover outer peripheral portion, is fastened to the partition wall by a plurality of fastening members arranged at intervals; an annular seal member extending along the cover outer peripheral portion is interposed between the cover outer peripheral portion and the partition wall; an electric compressor in which the cover outer peripheral portion presses the seal member toward the partition wall with the fastening force of the plurality of fastening members, thereby sealing the space between the cover outer peripheral portion and the partition wall; a convex portion protruding toward the seal member is provided at a portion of the cover outer peripheral portion located between adjacent fastening members; the convex portion presses the seal member toward the partition wall, characterized by the electric compressor.

2. the seal member has an annular bead portion protruding toward the cover outer peripheral portion; the convex portion is provided at a position facing the bead portion and presses the bead portion toward the partition wall, characterized by the electric compressor according to Claim 1.

3. the cover outer peripheral portion has a gap filling portion approaching the partition wall as it approaches the outer edge so as to reduce a gap between the outer edge of the cover outer peripheral portion and the partition wall, characterized by the electric compressor according to Claim 1 or Claim 2.

4. the cover outer peripheral portion has a gap filling portion approaching the partition wall as it approaches the outer edge so as to reduce a gap between the outer edge of the cover outer peripheral portion and the partition wall; the gap filling portion is located closer to the outer edge than a position facing the bead portion in the cover outer peripheral portion, characterized by the electric compressor according to Claim 2.

5. the cover outer peripheral portion has a plurality of hole forming portions forming insertion holes through which the respective fastening members are inserted; a protruding amount of the convex portion with respect to the hole forming portion is smaller than a protruding amount in an original shape of the bead portion, characterized by the electric compressor according to Claim 2 or Claim 4.

6. a protruding end portion of the convex portion is a flat portion extending along a mating surface of the partition wall with the cover outer peripheral portion; The electric compressor according to claim 1, wherein the convex portion has an inclined portion that is continuous with the flat portion and gradually separates from the mating surface as it moves away from the flat portion.

7. The electric compressor according to claim 3, wherein the gap filling portion is a gradient wall that gradually approaches the partition wall as it moves toward the outer edge of the outer peripheral portion of the cover.

8. The cover has a three-layer structure formed by laminating a first metal layer, a resin layer, and a second metal layer in this order in the thickness direction of the cover. The electric compressor according to claim 1, wherein both the front and back surfaces of the first metal layer and both the front and back surfaces of the second metal layer are coated with a plating layer.

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