Electric compressor

Abstract

To restrain damage of a lead wire caused by vibration.SOLUTION: An electric compressor 1 comprises: an electric motor 2; a drive circuit (inverter 3) for driving the electric motor 2; a compression mechanism 4 for compressing a refrigerant by being driven by the electric motor 2; a conductive member (lead pin 15) connected to the drive circuit (inverter 3); a lead wire 7 drawn out of the electric motor 2; a connector terminal 11 connecting the lead wire 7 and the conductive member (lead pin 15); a connector housing 12 comprising an opening part 13 through which the lead wire 7 is passed, and housing the connector terminal 11; a seal member 20 interposed between an inner wall of the opening part 13 and the lead wire 7; and a pressing member 30 for pressing the seal member 20 against the side of the lead wire 7.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric compressor having an electric motor that is driven and controlled by a drive circuit such as an inverter. [Background technology]

[0002] An example of a conventional electric compressor is described in Patent Document 1. The electric compressor described in Patent Document 1 compresses a refrigerant by driving a compression mechanism using an electric motor driven and controlled by a drive circuit. The electric compressor described in Patent Document 1 has lead pins connected to a current output section of the drive circuit and a connector that can electrically connect the current output section of the drive circuit to a current input section of the electric motor. The connector includes connector terminals that contact the lead pins, a connector housing that accommodates the connector terminals, a flow path (vacuum flow path) that connects the inside and outside of the connector housing, and a sealing member that seals the gap between this flow path and the connector housing. Here, the aforementioned flow path is formed by a gap in a conductor bundle that electrically connects the connector terminal to the current input section of the electric motor. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-148037 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, there is a concern that the conductive wires may be damaged (for example, broken) due to stress concentration caused by vibration at the location where the sealing member is installed.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to suppress damage to conductors due to vibration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric compressor including: an electric motor, a drive circuit for driving the electric motor, a compression mechanism driven by the electric motor to compress a refrigerant, a conductive member connected to the drive circuit, conductors extending from the electric motor, connector terminals for connecting the conductors to the conductive member, a connector housing having an opening through which the conductors pass and accommodating the connector terminals, a seal member interposed between an inner wall of the opening and the conductors, and a pressing member for pressing the seal member toward the conductors. The sealing member has a main body having a through hole through which the conductor passes and is attached to the inner wall of the opening, and a cylindrical part extending from the main body outward from the connector housing, the internal space of which communicates with the through hole of the main body, and the internal space through which the conductor passes. The pressing member presses the cylindrical part toward the conductor. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, the pressing member presses the sealing member toward the conductor. This allows the pressing member to firmly hold the conductor via the sealing member, thereby suppressing damage to the conductor at the location where the sealing member is installed. In other words, the vibration resistance of the conductor at the location where the sealing member is installed is improved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an electric compressor according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of a connector terminal. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an assembled connector housing, a seal member, and a pressing member (a first clamp member and a second clamp member). [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a connector housing, a seal member, and a pressing member. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a connector housing. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a first clamp member. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second clamp member. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] 10A to 10C are diagrams showing a method of inserting a connector terminal provided at the tip of a conductor wire into a connector housing. [Figure 10]10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a method for attaching the connector housing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0010] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an electric compressor 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of a connector terminal 11. Note that in Fig. 1, a pressing member 30 is omitted for simplicity of illustration.

[0011] The electric compressor 1 includes an electric motor 2, an inverter 3 as a drive circuit that drives the electric motor 2, and a compression mechanism 4 that is driven by the electric motor 2 to compress a refrigerant. The electric compressor 1 is applied to, for example, a vehicle air conditioning system, and is incorporated into a refrigerant circuit through which the refrigerant circulates, together with a condenser, a pressure reducer (such as an expansion valve), and an evaporator, to form a refrigeration cycle device. In this embodiment, refrigeration oil (lubricating oil) circulates through the refrigerant circuit together with the refrigerant.

[0012] In the electric compressor 1, a main shaft 5, which is rotationally driven by an electric motor 2, orbits a movable scroll 4a, thereby compressing a refrigerant in a compression mechanism 4, which is made up of the movable scroll 4a and the fixed scroll 4b. An electric current is input to the electric motor 2 through a conductor 7, and the input current generates a magnetic field that causes a rotor 8 to rotate relative to a stator 9, thereby driving the main shaft 5 to rotate.

[0013] The conductor wires 7 are drawn out from (the coil portion of) the stator 9 of the electric motor 2, and most of them are covered with their tip portions exposed. In this embodiment, a connector terminal 11 is provided at the tip portion (the exposed portion) of a conductor wire bundle 70 consisting of multiple (for example, four) conductor wires 7.

[0014] The connector terminals 11 are accommodated in a connector housing 12. The connector housing 12 is made of, for example, resin. The connector housing 12 has an opening 13 that connects the inside to the outside of the connector housing 12. A conductor bundle 70 passes through this opening 13.

[0015] The connector terminal 11 is electrically connected to a lead pin 15 of a hermetic plate 14 provided in a current output portion of the inverter 3. Here, the lead pin 15 corresponds to the "conductive member" of the present invention.

[0016] The connector housing 12 is formed so that it can be attached to an annular insulator 16 arranged around the lead pin 15 near the hermetic plate 14, and in order to seal this attachment area, a sealing member 17 made of rubber as an electrical insulator is interposed between the connector housing 12 and the lead pin 15 (see Figure 10 described below).

[0017] A seal member 20 is interposed between the inner wall of the opening 13 of the connector housing 12 and the conductor bundle 70. The seal member 20 functions to close (seal) the gap between the inner wall of the opening 13 of the connector housing 12 and the conductor bundle 70.

[0018] The electric compressor 1 has a pressing member 30 that presses the seal member 20 toward the conductor bundle 70 (the conductor 7). The pressing member 30 includes a pair of clamp members (a first clamp member 31 and a second clamp member 32).

[0019] In this embodiment, the connector housing 12 has a so-called cluster housing shape, and includes a plurality of (three in this embodiment) accommodating portions for accommodating a plurality of (three in this embodiment) connector terminals 11.

[0020] Next, details of the sealing member 20 and the pressing member 30 (first clamping member 31 and second clamping member 32) in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0021] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the assembled connector housing 12, seal member 20, and pressing member 30. Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the connector housing 12, seal member 20, and pressing member 30. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the connector housing 12. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the first clamp member 31. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the second clamp member 32. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the seal member 20.

[0022] The seal member 20 is made of an electrically insulating rubber material (insulating rubber material). The seal member 20 has a main body 21, a first cylindrical portion 22, and a second cylindrical portion 23. The main body 21 is attached to the inner wall of the opening 13 of the connector housing 12, and has a through hole 24 through which the conductor wire bundle 70 (conductor wires 7) passes.

[0023] The first cylindrical portion 22 extends outward from the main body portion 21 to the outside of the connector housing 12. The internal space 22a of the first cylindrical portion 22 communicates with the through-hole 24 of the main body portion 21. A conductor bundle 70 (conductors 7) passes through the internal space 22a of the first cylindrical portion 22.

[0024] The second cylindrical portion 23 extends inward from the main body portion 21 into the connector housing 12. The internal space of the second cylindrical portion 23 communicates with the through-hole 24 of the main body portion 21. The conductor bundle 70 (conductors 7) passes through the internal space of the second cylindrical portion 23.

[0025] The first clamping member 31 and the second clamping member 32 constituting the pressing member 30 are made of, for example, resin and each have a plate shape. In this embodiment, the first clamping member 31 and the second clamping member 32 sandwich the outer periphery of the first cylindrical portion 22 of the sealing member 20, thereby pressing (in other words, tightening) the first cylindrical portion 22 of the sealing member 20 toward the conductor wire bundle 70 (the conductor wires 7). In particular, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 , protrusions 31t and 32t are formed on the surface of the first clamping member 31 facing the first cylindrical portion 22 and on the surface of the second clamping member 32 facing the first cylindrical portion 22, respectively. The protrusions 31t and 32t concentrate on and squeeze the outer periphery of the first cylindrical portion 22, thereby pressing (in other words, tightening) the first cylindrical portion 22 toward the conductor wire bundle 70 (the conductor wires 7). Furthermore, the outer periphery of the first cylindrical portion 22 is crushed by the protrusions 31t and 32t.

[0026] In this embodiment, a plurality of claws 33 are erected on the second clamp member 32. When the first clamp member 31 and the second clamp member 32 clamp the outer periphery of the first tubular portion 22 of the seal member 20, the claws 33 of the second clamp member 32 are hooked onto the first clamp member 31, thereby favorably maintaining the first tubular portion 22 of the seal member 20 pressed against the conductor bundle 70 (the conductor 7) (in other words, a fastened state). Note that in this embodiment, the claws 33 are provided on the second clamp member 32. However, in addition to this, or instead of this, the claws 33 may be provided on the first clamp member 31. Furthermore, through holes 34 may be formed in the first clamp member 31 and the second clamp member 32 at the locations where the claws 33 are to be hooked, and the claws 33 may be inserted into the through holes 34 to be hooked.

[0027] The second clamp member 32 has an extension 35 extending toward the connector housing 12. This extension 35 abuts against the outer surface of the connector housing 12. The extension 35 is also formed with a claw 33' and a through hole 36, which function as the "engagement portion" of the present invention. A protrusion 37 provided on the outer surface of the connector housing 12 fits into the through hole 36. The claw 33' stands on the extension 35 and hooks onto a protrusion 38 provided on the outer surface of the connector housing 12. Therefore, the pressing member 30 has the claw 33' and the through hole 36 of the extension 35 as an engagement portion that engages with the connector housing 12.

[0028] 9A and 9B are diagrams showing a method for inserting connector terminals 11 provided at the ends of conductor bundles 70 (conductors 7) into connector housing 12. Here, Fig. 9A is a plan view, and Fig. 9B is a front view.

[0029] 9, a plurality of (three in this embodiment) connector terminals 11 are inserted through a plurality of (three in this embodiment) openings 13 of the connector housing 12. After this, the pressing member 30 is attached.

[0030] Figure 10 shows the mounting operation of the connector housing 12. Here, Figure 10(A) shows the sealing member mounting step of mounting the sealing member 17 to the hermetic plate 14. Figure 10(B) shows the connector housing mounting step of mounting the connector housing 12 to the hermetic plate 14.

[0031] By the mounting operation of the connector housing 12 shown in FIG. 10, the mounting portion of the connector housing 12 is sealed without any gaps using only an electrical insulator, thereby ensuring electrical insulation.

[0032] Strictly speaking, a small gap may exist between the seal member 20 and the conductor bundle 70 that penetrates the seal member 20. Strictly speaking, a small gap may also exist between the multiple conductors 7 that make up the conductor bundle 70. These gaps could potentially function as inflow passages through which refrigerant and lubricating oil introduced into the system of the electric compressor 1 flow into the connector housing 12. In this embodiment, the pressing member 30 presses (i.e., tightens) the first cylindrical portion 22 of the seal member 20 toward the conductor bundle 70 (i.e., toward the conductors 7). This reduces the cross-sectional area of ​​the inflow passage (i.e., reduces the aforementioned gap), thereby suppressing the inflow of refrigerant and lubricating oil into the connector housing 12. As a result, electrical leakage through the lubricating oil or the like is suppressed. In other words, the electrical insulation of the connector housing 12 is improved.

[0033] According to this embodiment, the electric compressor 1 includes an electric motor 2, a drive circuit (inverter 3) that drives the electric motor 2, a compression mechanism 4 that is driven by the electric motor 2 and compresses a refrigerant, conductive members (lead pins 15) connected to the drive circuit (inverter 3), conductors 7 drawn from the electric motor 2, connector terminals 11 that connect the conductors 7 to the conductive members (lead pins 15), a connector housing 12 that has an opening 13 through which the conductors 7 pass and that accommodates the connector terminals 11, a seal member 20 interposed between the inner wall of the opening 13 and the conductors 7, and a pressing member 30 that presses the seal member 20 toward the conductors 7. Therefore, the pressing member 30 can firmly hold the conductors 7 via the seal member 20, thereby reducing damage to the conductors 7 where the seal member 20 is installed. In other words, the vibration resistance of the conductors 7 where the seal member 20 is installed is improved.

[0034] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the seal member 20 has a main body 21 that has a through hole 24 through which the conductor 7 passes and is attached to the inner wall of the opening 13, and a cylindrical portion (first cylindrical portion 22) that extends from the main body 21 outward from the connector housing 12, has an internal space 22a that communicates with the through hole 24 of the main body 21, and through which the conductor 7 passes through the internal space 22a. The pressing member 30 presses the cylindrical portion (first cylindrical portion 22) toward the conductor 7. Therefore, the pressing member 30 can press the cylindrical portion (first cylindrical portion 22) of the seal member 20 toward the conductor 7 in a concentrated manner.

[0035] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the pressing member 30 includes a pair of clamping members (first clamping member 31 and second clamping member 32) that sandwich the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion (first cylindrical portion 22). Therefore, with a simple configuration, the cylindrical portion (first cylindrical portion 22) of the seal member 20 can be pressed intensively toward the conductor 7.

[0036] According to this embodiment, the pressing member 30 has an engaging portion (the claw portion 33′ of the extension portion 35 and the through hole 36) that engages with the connector housing 12. This makes it possible to suppress displacement of the pressing member 30 relative to the connector housing 12.

[0037] It is preferable that the sealing member 20 is made of an insulating rubber material. It is also preferable that a conductor bundle 70 consisting of a plurality of conductor wires 7 passes through the opening 13, and that the sealing member 20 is interposed between the inner wall of the opening 13 and the conductor bundle 70. It is also preferable that the connector housing 12 accommodates a plurality of connector terminals 11.

[0038] It goes without saying that the above-mentioned electric compressor 1 may be a horizontally-mounted electric compressor in which the electric motor 2 and the compression mechanism 4 are arranged in series in the horizontal direction, or a vertically-mounted electric compressor in which the electric motor 2 and the compression mechanism 4 are arranged in series in the vertical direction.

[0039] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and it goes without saying that modifications and changes can be made based on the technical concept of the present invention. The claims at the time of filing were as follows: [Claim 1] An electric motor; a drive circuit that drives the electric motor; a compression mechanism driven by the electric motor to compress a refrigerant; a conductive member connected to the drive circuit; a conductor drawn from the electric motor; a connector terminal for connecting the conductor and the conductive member; a connector housing having an opening through which the conductor passes and accommodating the connector terminal; a sealing member interposed between an inner wall of the opening and the conducting wire; a pressing member that presses the sealing member toward the conductor; An electric compressor having [Claim 2] The sealing member is a main body portion having a through hole through which the conducting wire passes and attached to an inner wall of the opening portion; a cylindrical portion extending from the main body portion to the outside of the connector housing, the internal space of which communicates with the through hole of the main body portion, and the conducting wire passing through the internal space; and 2. The electric compressor according to claim 1, wherein the pressing member presses the cylindrical portion toward the conductor. [Claim 3] 3. The electric compressor according to claim 2, wherein the pressing member includes a pair of clamp members that sandwich an outer periphery of the cylindrical portion. [Claim 4] 4. The electric compressor according to claim 1, wherein the pressing member has an engaging portion that engages with the connector housing. [Claim 5] 5. The electric compressor according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member is made of an insulating rubber material. [Claim 6] a conductor bundle consisting of a plurality of the conductor wires passes through the opening, 6. The electric compressor according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member is interposed between an inner wall of the opening and the conductor bundle. [Claim 7] 7. The electric compressor according to claim 1, wherein the connector housing accommodates a plurality of the connector terminals. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1...electric compressor, 2...electric motor, 3...inverter (drive circuit), 4...compression mechanism, 4a...moving scroll, 4b...fixed scroll, 5...main shaft, 7...conductor, 8...rotor, 9...stator, 11...connector terminal, 12...connector housing, 13...opening, 14...hermetic plate, 15...lead pin (conductive member), 16...insulator, 17...sealing member, 20...sealing member, 21...main body, 22...first cylindrical portion, 22a...internal space, 23...second cylindrical portion, 24...through hole, 30...pressure member, 31...first clamping member, 31t...projection portion, 32...second clamping member, 32t...projection portion, 33, 33'...claw portion, 34...through hole, 35...extension portion, 36...through hole, 37...convex portion, 38...protrusion portion, 70...conductor wire bundle

Claims

1. An electric motor; a drive circuit for driving the electric motor; a compression mechanism driven by the electric motor to compress a refrigerant; a conductive member connected to the drive circuit; a conductor drawn from the electric motor; a connector terminal for connecting the conductor and the conductive member; a connector housing having an opening through which the conductor passes and accommodating the connector terminal; a sealing member interposed between an inner wall of the opening and the conducting wire; a pressing member that presses the sealing member toward the conductor; An electric compressor having The sealing member is a main body portion having a through hole through which the conducting wire passes and attached to an inner wall of the opening portion; a cylindrical portion extending from the main body portion to the outside of the connector housing, the internal space of which communicates with the through hole of the main body portion, and the conducting wire passing through the internal space; and The pressing member presses the cylindrical portion toward the conductor.

2. The electric compressor according to claim 1 , wherein the pressing member includes a pair of clamp members that sandwich an outer periphery of the cylindrical portion.

3. 3. The electric compressor according to claim 1, wherein the pressing member has an engaging portion that engages with the connector housing.

4. 4. The electric compressor according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member is made of an insulating rubber material.

5. a conductor bundle consisting of a plurality of the conductor wires passes through the opening, 5. The electric compressor according to claim 1, wherein the sealing member is interposed between an inner wall of the opening and the conductor bundle.

6. 6. The electric compressor according to claim 1, wherein the connector housing accommodates a plurality of the connector terminals.

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