Electric compressor

Abstract

An insulating member (50) that insulates a fastening member (43) from a circuit board (26) is disposed between the fastening member (43) and the circuit board (26). Thereby, even if the fastening member (43) protrudes from an end wall (13a) of a motor housing (13) toward the circuit board (26), the fastening member (43) is insulated from the circuit board (26) by the insulating member (50). Therefore, the circuit board (26) can be sufficiently brought close to the end wall (13a) of the motor housing (13).

Description

Electric compressor

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

[0002] The electric compressor includes a compression unit, a motor, an inverter, and a housing. The compression unit compresses a fluid. The motor drives the compression unit. The inverter drives the motor. The housing defines a motor chamber and an inverter chamber. The motor chamber houses the motor and receives fluid. The inverter chamber houses the inverter. The housing has a partition wall separating the motor chamber from the inverter chamber. A through-hole is formed in the partition wall.

[0003] The inverter has a circuit board and a connection terminal. The connection terminal is electrically connected to the circuit board. The electric compressor also has an airtight terminal. The airtight terminal has a conductive member, a support plate, and a fastening member. The conductive member passes through the through hole. The conductive member has a first end electrically connected to the motor and a second end electrically connected to the connection terminal. The support plate supports the conductive member. The fastening member fastens the support plate to the partition wall.

[0004] However, when the connection terminals are disposed between the circuit board and the partition wall, the circuit board needs to be spaced apart from the partition wall to ensure a space for disposing the connection terminals between the circuit board and the partition wall, which results in an increase in the size of the electric compressor.

[0005] Therefore, as disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1, it has been considered to arrange the connection terminals on the opposite side of the circuit board from the partition wall. Here, relatively tall electronic components are mounted on the surface of the circuit board opposite the partition wall. Therefore, even if the connection terminals are arranged on the opposite side of the circuit board from the partition wall, the arrangement space for the connection terminals does not become a factor in increasing the size of the electric compressor. Therefore, since the connection terminals are not arranged between the circuit board and the partition wall, the circuit board can be placed closer to the partition wall, thereby enabling the size of the electric compressor to be reduced.

[0006] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2024-2352

[0007] However, in some cases, the fastening members that fasten the support plate to the partition wall protrude from the partition wall toward the circuit board. In such cases, it is necessary to ensure an insulating distance between the circuit board and the fastening members, making it impossible to position the circuit board sufficiently close to the partition wall. As a result, it becomes difficult to reduce the size of the electric compressor.

[0008] The electric compressor that solves the above problem includes a compression unit that compresses a fluid, a motor that drives the compression unit, an inverter that drives the motor, a housing that partitions a motor chamber that houses the motor and into which the fluid is drawn, and an inverter chamber that houses the inverter, the housing having a partition wall that separates the motor chamber from the inverter chamber, and an airtight terminal that electrically connects the motor and the inverter in a state in which the motor chamber and the inverter chamber are sealed, the partition wall having a through hole, and the inverter is connected to a circuit board and the partition wall is connected to the circuit board. and a connection terminal arranged on the opposite side of the wall and electrically connected to the circuit board, the airtight terminal having a conductive member that passes through the through hole and has a first end electrically connected to the motor and a second end electrically connected to the connection terminal, a support plate that supports the conductive member, and a fastening member that fastens the support plate to the partition wall, the fastening member being an electric compressor that protrudes from the partition wall toward the circuit board, and an insulating member that insulates the fastening member from the circuit board is arranged between the fastening member and the circuit board.

[0009] With this, even if the fastening member protrudes from the partition wall toward the circuit board, the insulating member can insulate the fastening member from the circuit board, and therefore the circuit board can be placed sufficiently close to the partition wall, thereby contributing to the miniaturization of the electric compressor.

[0010] In the electric compressor, the insulating member may be attached to the circuit board. In this case, the insulating member can be easily disposed between the fastening member and the circuit board simply by attaching the insulating member to the circuit board.

[0011] In the electric compressor, the circuit board may have a locking hole, and the insulating member may have a locking portion that is locked into the locking hole. With this, the insulating member can be easily attached to the circuit board by simply locking the locking portion of the insulating member into the locking hole of the circuit board.

[0012] In the above-mentioned electric compressor, the fastening members are provided in plurality, and when viewed from the thickness direction of the support plate, at least one is arranged on each side of the conductive member, and the insulating member has insulating portions respectively arranged between the fastening members and the circuit board, and connecting portions which connect the insulating portions to each other and extend around the conductive member, and the locking portion is preferably provided on the connecting portion.

[0013] According to this, a plurality of fastening members are provided, with at least one fastening member disposed on each side of the conductive member when viewed from the thickness direction of the support plate, thereby stably fastening the support plate to the partition wall. The insulating member has an insulating portion disposed between each fastening member and the circuit board, and a connecting portion connecting the insulating portions and extending around the conductive member. Furthermore, the locking portion is provided on the connecting portion. This insulating member configuration is suitable for insulating each fastening member from the circuit board when at least one fastening member is disposed on each side of the conductive member when viewed from the thickness direction of the support plate.

[0014] In the above electric compressor, a head of the bolt serving as the fastening member may protrude from the partition wall toward the circuit board, and the insulating member may be disposed between the head and the circuit board.

[0015] For example, a nut onto which a bolt is threaded may be located inside the inverter chamber, and the bolt may pass through the partition wall from the motor chamber and thread onto the nut. In this case, to ensure sufficient tightening of the bolt shank with respect to the nut, the bolt shank would protrude relatively far from the partition wall toward the circuit board. Therefore, it is necessary to secure space for the bolt shank between the circuit board and the partition wall, which may make it difficult to position the circuit board sufficiently close to the partition wall. Therefore, the bolt head protrudes from the partition wall toward the circuit board, and an insulating member is positioned between the bolt head and the circuit board. This allows the circuit board to be positioned sufficiently close to the partition wall, thereby contributing to the miniaturization of the electric compressor.

[0016] In the electric compressor, the insulating member may have an accommodating recess for accommodating the fastening member. This allows the circuit board to be positioned closer to the partition wall while ensuring insulation between the fastening member and the circuit board by the amount of the accommodating recess for accommodating the fastening member. This allows the electric compressor to be further miniaturized.

[0017] In the electric compressor, the insulating member may be attached to the circuit board via an adhesive, whereby the insulating member can be stably attached to the circuit board.

[0018] According to this invention, the size of the electric compressor can be reduced.

[0019] Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an electric compressor according to an embodiment. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged portion of the electric compressor. Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a portion of the electric compressor. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing an airtight terminal and an insulating member. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing an airtight terminal and an insulating member. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged portion of the electric compressor. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged portion of the electric compressor according to a modified example.

[0020] An embodiment of an electric compressor will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. The electric compressor of this embodiment is used, for example, in a vehicle air conditioning system. <Overview of the Electric Compressor> As shown in FIG. 1, an 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 periphery of the end wall 13a.

[0021] The electric compressor 10 includes a rotating shaft 14. The rotating shaft 14 is accommodated in a motor housing 13. Therefore, the rotating shaft 14 is accommodated in the housing 11. The rotating shaft 14 is rotatably supported by the motor housing 13. Therefore, the rotating shaft 14 is rotatably supported by the housing 11.

[0022] The electric compressor 10 includes a compression unit 15 and a motor 16. The compression unit 15 and the motor 16 are housed in a motor housing 13. Thus, the housing 11 houses the compression unit 15 and the motor 16. The compression unit 15 and the motor 16 are arranged side by side in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 14, which is the direction in which the rotation axis of the rotating shaft 14 extends. The motor 16 is arranged closer to the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 than the compression unit 15. Within the motor housing 13, a space located closer to the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 than the compression unit 15 forms a motor chamber S1 that houses the motor 16. Thus, the housing 11 defines the motor chamber S1.

[0023] The compression unit 15 is driven by the rotation of the rotary shaft 14. The compression unit 15 compresses a refrigerant fluid. The compression unit 15 is, for example, a scroll type having a fixed scroll (not shown) fixed to the motor housing 13 inside the motor housing 13 and an orbiting scroll (not shown) disposed opposite the fixed scroll. The refrigerant compressed by the compression unit 15 is, for example, a natural refrigerant such as carbon dioxide or propane gas.

[0024] The motor 16 has a cylindrical stator 17 and a cylindrical rotor 18. The rotor 18 is disposed inside the stator 17. The rotor 18 is configured to rotate integrally with the rotating 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 rotating 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. When power is supplied to the motor coil 19, the rotor 18 rotates, and the rotating shaft 14 rotates integrally with the rotor 18. The compression unit 15 is driven in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating shaft 14. In this manner, the motor 16 drives the compression unit 15.

[0025] The electric compressor 10 is equipped with motor wiring 19a. The motor wiring 19a is drawn from the motor coil 19 of the motor 16. Specifically, three motor wirings 19a are drawn from a portion of the motor coil 19 located near the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13, corresponding to the U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase motor coil 19. Each motor wiring 19a is drawn from the motor coil 19 with the winding constituting a part of the motor coil 19 covered with an insulating coating.

[0026] 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 draws refrigerant into the motor chamber S1. Therefore, refrigerant is drawn into the motor chamber S1. A first end of an 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. A second end of the external refrigerant circuit 20 is connected to the discharge port 12h. The electric compressor 10 and the external refrigerant circuit 20 constitute a vehicle air conditioning system 21.

[0027] The electric compressor 10 includes an inverter cover 22. The inverter cover 22 is a part of the housing 11. Therefore, the housing 11 includes the inverter cover 22.

[0028] The inverter cover 22 has a plate-shaped cover end wall 22a and a cylindrical cover peripheral wall 22b. The cover peripheral wall 22b extends from the outer periphery of the cover end wall 22a. The inverter cover 22 is connected to the motor housing 13 by connecting the end of the cover peripheral wall 22b opposite the cover end wall 22a to the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. The thickness direction of the cover end wall 22a coincides with the thickness direction of the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. The end wall 13a of the motor housing 13, the cover end wall 22a, and the cover peripheral wall 22b define an inverter chamber 23. Therefore, the housing 11 defines the inverter chamber 23. The end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 serves as a partition wall separating the motor chamber S1 from the inverter chamber 23.

[0029] A through hole 24 is formed in the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. The through hole 24 penetrates the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 in the thickness direction of the end wall 13a. The through hole 24 is formed in a portion of the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 that is located radially outward of the rotating shaft 14 relative to the center of the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. A first end of the through hole 24 opens to a surface of the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 that is located on the motor chamber S1 side. A second end of the through hole 24 opens to a surface of the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 that is located on the inverter chamber 23 side.

[0030] <Inverter> The electric compressor 10 includes an inverter 25. The inverter 25 is housed in the inverter chamber 23. Therefore, the inverter chamber 23 houses the inverter 25. The inverter 25 drives the motor 16. The compression unit 15, the motor 16, and the inverter 25 are arranged in this order in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 14. In this way, the housing 11 houses the compression unit 15, the motor 16, and the inverter 25.

[0031] The inverter 25 has a circuit board 26. The circuit board 26 is disposed in the inverter chamber 23 with the thickness direction of the circuit board 26 coinciding with the thickness direction of the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 and the thickness direction of the cover end wall 22a.

[0032] 2, the circuit board 26 has a first surface 26a and a second surface 26b. The first surface 26a is the surface of the circuit board 26 that faces the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. The second surface 26b is the surface that faces the opposite side of the first surface 26a. Therefore, the second surface 26b is the surface of the circuit board 26 that faces the opposite side of the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. The second surface 26b faces the cover end wall 22a in the thickness direction of the circuit board 26.

[0033] A relatively tall electronic component 27 is mounted on the second surface 26b of the circuit board 26. An example of the relatively tall electronic component 27 is a transformer. In addition, the circuit board 26 is also mounted with, for example, a switching element that performs a switching operation to drive the motor 16, a filter element that reduces noise, and the like.

[0034] An insertion hole 26h is formed in the circuit board 26. The insertion hole 26h is formed in a portion of the circuit board 26 that overlaps with the through-hole 24 in the thickness direction of the circuit board 26. A first end of the insertion hole 26h opens to a first surface 26a of the circuit board 26. A second end of the insertion hole 26h opens to a second surface 26b of the circuit board 26.

[0035] 3, two locking holes 28 are formed in the circuit board 26. Each locking hole 28 is arranged around the insertion hole 26h in the circuit board 26. Each locking hole 28 penetrates the circuit board 26 in the thickness direction of the circuit board 26. Each locking hole 28 has an elongated rectangular hole shape.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 2 , the inverter 25 has a case 30 and connection terminals 31. The inverter 25 has three connection terminals 31. Each connection terminal 31 is housed in the case 30. The case 30 is made of resin. The case 30 has a rectangular box shape. The case 30 has three insertion openings 32. The case 30 is attached to the second surface 26 b of the circuit board 26 with the three insertion openings 32 positioned inside the insertion holes 26 h.

[0037] Each connection terminal 31 is disposed on the opposite side of the circuit board 26 from the motor housing 13, with the case 30 attached to the second surface 26b of the circuit board 26. Each connection terminal 31 is electrically connected to the circuit board 26 via a lead wire (not shown). A protruding height H1 of the case 30 from the second surface 26b of the circuit board 26 is slightly shorter than a protruding height H2 of the relatively tall electronic component 27 from the second surface 26b of the circuit board 26.

[0038] 2 and 3 , the electric compressor 10 includes a hermetic terminal 40. The hermetic terminal 40 is provided on the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. Therefore, the hermetic terminal 40 is provided on the housing 11. The hermetic terminal 40 electrically connects the motor 16 and the inverter 25 while sealing the motor chamber S1 and the inverter chamber 23.

[0039] The hermetic terminal 40 includes a conductive member 41, a support plate 42, and a fastening member 43. The conductive member 41 is formed of a conductive material. The hermetic terminal 40 includes three conductive members 41 corresponding to the U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase motor coils 19. Each conductive member 41 is a cylindrical metal pin extending linearly. Each conductive member 41 passes through a through hole 24. The conductive members 41 extend parallel to one another. A first end of each conductive member 41 protrudes into the motor chamber S1 through the through hole 24. A second end of each conductive member 41 protrudes into the inverter chamber 23 through the through hole 24.

[0040] 2 , the first end of each conductive member 41 is electrically connected to the motor wiring 19a via the connection terminals 45 in the cluster block 44. Therefore, the first end of each conductive member 41 is electrically connected to the motor 16. The second end of each conductive member 41 is electrically connected to the connection terminals 31 via the insertion openings 32. In this way, the first end of each conductive member 41 is electrically connected to the motor 16, and the second end is electrically connected to the connection terminals 31.

[0041] 3, the support plate 42 has a flat plate shape. The support plate 42 is made of metal. For example, the support plate 42 is formed of steel. When viewed from above, the support plate 42 has a shape of an elongated rectangular plate.

[0042] 2, the support plate 42 has three plate through-holes 42a. Each plate through-hole 42a penetrates the support plate 42 in the thickness direction of the support plate 42. The plate through-holes 42a are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction of the support plate 42. Each conductive member 41 passes through each plate through-hole 42a.

[0043] The hermetic terminal 40 has three glass members 46 corresponding to each conductive member 41. Each glass member 46 is disposed in a corresponding plate through-hole 42a. Each glass member 46 is made of insulating glass. Each glass member 46 is interposed between each conductive member 41 and the support plate 42. Each glass member 46 insulates each conductive member 41 from the support plate 42. The support plate 42 supports each conductive member 41 while insulating each conductive member 41 from the support plate 42 via each glass member 46.

[0044] The airtight terminal 40 has a first insulator 47. The first insulator 47 is made of rubber and is provided on the surface of the support plate 42 opposite the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13.

[0045] The first insulator 47 has a plate-shaped base 47a and three tubular portions 47b. The base 47a is provided on the support plate 42 in a state of being in close contact with the support plate 42. Each tubular portion 47b protrudes cylindrically from the surface of the base 47a opposite the support plate 42. Each conductive member 41 penetrates the inside of each tubular portion 47b and the base 47a. The first insulator 47 provides insulation between the support plate 42 and each conductive member 41.

[0046] The airtight terminal 40 has three second insulators 48. Each second insulator 48 is made of rubber. Each second insulator 48 is cylindrical. A conductive member 41 passes through the inside of each second insulator 48. Each second insulator 48 covers the portion of each conductive member 41 that protrudes from the support plate 42 and is located inside the through hole 24. Each second insulator 48 provides insulation between the conductive member 41 and the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13.

[0047] 3 , the support plate 42 has two plate holes 42h. Each plate hole 42h is circular and penetrates the support plate 42 in the thickness direction of the support plate 42. When viewed from the thickness direction of the support plate 42, the plate holes 42h are located on both sides of the three conductive members 41 and at corners located on a diagonal line connecting two corners of the support plate 42.

[0048] Two female threaded holes 13c are formed in the end surface of the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 facing the inverter chamber 23. Each female threaded hole 13c is arranged around the through hole 24 on the end surface of the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 facing the inverter chamber 23.

[0049] The fastening members 43 are bolts. Each fastening member 43 has a bolt head 43a and a bolt shank 43b that protrudes from the head 43a. The shank 43b is configured to pass through the plate holes 42h and be threaded into the female threaded holes 13c of the motor housing 13. The shank 43b of each fastening member 43 that passes through each plate hole 42h is threaded into the corresponding female threaded hole 13c, thereby fastening the support plate 42 with each fastening member 43. In this manner, the fastening members 43 fasten the support plate 42 to the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13.

[0050] When viewed in the thickness direction of the support plate 42, the fastening members 43 are disposed on both sides of the three conductive members 41, at each corner located on a diagonal line connecting two corners of the support plate 42. Therefore, when viewed in the thickness direction of the support plate 42, one fastening member 43 is disposed on each side of the three conductive members 41. The heads 43a of the bolts serving as the fastening members 43 protrude from the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 toward the circuit board 26. In this way, the fastening members 43 protrude from the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 toward the circuit board 26.

[0051] 2 , the support plate 42 is disposed in the inverter chamber 23 and fixed to the end wall 13 a of the motor housing 13. The support plate 42 is fixed to the end wall 13 a of the motor housing 13 with the through-hole 24 covered. In this manner, the support plate 42 is disposed in the inverter chamber 23.

[0052] <Insulating Member> The insulating member 50 is disposed between the fastening member 43 and the circuit board 26. The insulating member 50 is made of resin. The insulating member 50 insulates between the fastening member 43 and the circuit board 26.

[0053] As shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5, the insulating member 50 has two insulating portions 51 and a connecting portion 52. The connecting portion 52 is flat and thin. The connecting portion 52 is shaped like a rectangular plate when viewed from above. An insertion hole 53 is formed in the connecting portion 52. The insertion hole 53 is shaped like an elongated hole. The longitudinal direction of the insertion hole 53 coincides with the longitudinal direction of the connecting portion 52. Three conductive members 41 can be inserted into the insertion hole 53. Therefore, the connecting portion 52 extends around the three conductive members 41.

[0054] Each insulating portion 51 is cylindrical and protrudes from an end face of the connecting portion 52 located on the opposite side from the circuit board 26, and from each corner located on a diagonal line connecting two corners of the connecting portion 52. The connecting portion 52 connects the insulating portions 51 together.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 6 , the inside of each insulating portion 51 forms an accommodating recess 54 that accommodates the head 43 a of the fastening member 43. Therefore, the insulating member 50 has an accommodating recess 54 that accommodates the fastening member 43. Note that FIG. 6 shows only one insulating portion 51 for convenience of illustration. The accommodating recess 54 accommodates and covers the head 43 a of the fastening member 43. The insulating member 50 is then disposed between the head 43 a of the fastening member 43 and the circuit board 26, with the head 43 a accommodated in the accommodating recess 54. In this manner, each insulating portion 51 is disposed between the fastening member 43 and the circuit board 26.

[0056] 3, 4, and 5, the insulating member 50 has two locking portions 55. Each locking portion 55 is located on the end surface of the connecting portion 52 facing the circuit board 26, and protrudes from a respective corner located on a diagonal line connecting two corners of the connecting portion 52. Thus, the locking portions 55 are provided on the connecting portion 52. Each locking portion 55 does not overlap with each insulating portion 51 in the thickness direction of the connecting portion 52. Therefore, each locking portion 55 protrudes from a surface of the connecting portion 52 facing the circuit board 26, at a position different from the portion overlapping with each insulating portion 51.

[0057] The locking portion 55 has an extending portion 55a and a locking claw portion 55b. The extending portion 55a is shaped like an elongated thin plate. The extending portion 55a extends from the end face of the connecting portion 52 that is located on the circuit board 26 side. The extending direction of the extending portion 55a coincides with the thickness direction of the connecting portion 52. The thickness direction of the extending portion 55a is perpendicular to the thickness direction of the connecting portion 52. The locking claw portion 55b protrudes in the thickness direction of the extending portion 55a from the end of the extending portion 55a on the opposite side from the connecting portion 52.

[0058] 6 , the locking portions 55 are configured so that the locking claw portions 55b can be forcibly inserted into the locking holes 28 while elastically deforming when they are inserted into the locking holes 28. When the locking claw portions 55b are forcibly passed through the locking holes 28, the locking claw portions 55b can be engaged with the periphery of the locking holes 28 on the second surface 26b of the circuit board 26. In this manner, each locking portion 55 is engaged with each locking hole 28. When each locking portion 55 is engaged with each locking hole 28, the insulating member 50 is attached to the circuit board 26.

[0059] [Operation of the Embodiment] Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. In the inverter 25, power from the circuit board 26 is supplied to the motor coil 19 via the connection terminals 31, the conductive members 41, the connection terminals 45, and the motor wiring 19a. This causes the rotating shaft 14 to rotate integrally with the rotor 18. The compression unit 15 is then driven in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating shaft 14.

[0060] The refrigerant drawn into the motor chamber S1 from the first end of the external refrigerant circuit 20 via the suction port 13h is compressed in the compression section 15 by the operation of the compression section 15. The refrigerant compressed in the compression section 15 flows out to the second end of the external refrigerant circuit 20 via the discharge port 12h. The refrigerant that has flowed out to the external refrigerant circuit 20 then passes through the heat exchanger and expansion valve of the external refrigerant circuit 20 and returns to the motor chamber S1 via the suction port 13h.

[0061] Effects of the embodiment The above embodiment can achieve the following effects: (1) An insulating member 50 is disposed between the fastening member 43 and the circuit board 26, insulating the fastening member 43 from the circuit board 26. As a result, even if the fastening member 43 protrudes from the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 toward the circuit board 26, the insulating member 50 can insulate the fastening member 43 from the circuit board 26. Therefore, the circuit board 26 can be positioned sufficiently close to the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13, which allows the electric compressor 10 to be made smaller.

[0062] (2) The insulating member 50 is attached to the circuit board 26. Accordingly, by simply attaching the insulating member 50 to the circuit board 26, the insulating member 50 can be easily disposed between the fastening member 43 and the circuit board 26.

[0063] (3) The insulating member 50 has the locking portion 55 that is locked into the locking hole 28. This allows the insulating member 50 to be easily attached to the circuit board 26 simply by locking the locking portion 55 of the insulating member 50 into the locking hole 28 of the circuit board 26.

[0064] (4) When viewed in the thickness direction of the support plate 42, the fastening members 43 are arranged one on each side of the conductive member 41, thereby stably fastening the support plate 42 to the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. The insulating member 50 includes insulating portions 51 arranged between each fastening member 43 and the circuit board 26, and connecting portions 52 connecting the insulating portions 51 to each other and extending around the conductive member 41. Furthermore, the locking portion 55 is provided on the connecting portions 52. This configuration of the insulating member 50 is suitable for insulating each fastening member 43 from the circuit board 26 when the fastening members 43 are arranged one on each side of the conductive member 41 when viewed in the thickness direction of the support plate 42.

[0065] (5) For example, a nut onto which a bolt is threaded may be disposed in the inverter chamber 23, and the bolt may pass through the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 from the motor chamber S1 to thread onto the nut. In this case, to ensure sufficient tightening of the bolt shank 43b with respect to the nut, the bolt shank 43b would protrude relatively far from the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 toward the circuit board 26. Therefore, it is necessary to secure space for the bolt shank 43b between the circuit board 26 and the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13, which may make it difficult to position the circuit board 26 sufficiently close to the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. Therefore, the bolt head 43a, which is the fastening member 43, protrudes from the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 toward the circuit board 26, and the insulating member 50 is disposed between the head 43a and the circuit board 26. This allows the circuit board 26 to be positioned sufficiently close to the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13, thereby enabling the electric compressor 10 to be miniaturized.

[0066] (6) The insulating member 50 has an accommodating recess 54 that accommodates the fastening member 43. This allows the circuit board 26 to be positioned even closer to the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 while ensuring insulation between the fastening member 43 and the circuit board 26 by the amount of the accommodating recess 54 accommodating the fastening member 43. This allows the electric compressor 10 to be further miniaturized.

[0067] [Modifications] The above embodiment can be modified as follows: The above embodiment and the following modifications can be combined and implemented within the scope of technical compatibility.

[0068] 7 , the insulating member 50 may be attached to the circuit board 26 via an adhesive 60. The adhesive 60 is applied between the periphery of the insertion hole 53 on the surface of the connecting portion 52 facing the circuit board 26 and the periphery of the insertion hole 26h on the first surface 26a of the circuit board 26. The adhesive 60 bonds the connecting portion 52 and the circuit board 26 together. In this manner, the insulating member 50 is attached to the circuit board 26 via the adhesive 60, thereby stably attaching the insulating member 50 to the circuit board 26.

[0069] In the above-described embodiment, the insulating member 50 does not have to have the locking portion 55. In this case, for example, the insulating member 50 may be attached to the circuit board 26 via the adhesive 60.

[0070] In an embodiment, a metal bus bar may be embedded in the insulating member 50 by insert molding or press-fitting, and a portion of the bus bar may be protruded from the insulating member 50 and soldered to the circuit board 26, thereby attaching the insulating member 50 to the circuit board 26.

[0071] In the embodiment, the locking portion 55 has the extension portion 55a and the locking claw portion 55b. However, this is not limited thereto. For example, the locking portion 55 may have a tapered protrusion that fits into the locking hole 28, thereby locking the locking portion 55 into the locking hole 28. In short, the specific configuration of the locking portion 55 is not particularly limited as long as it is capable of being locked into the locking hole 28.

[0072] In the embodiment, one fastening member 43 may be arranged at each of the four corners of the support plate 42. In other words, a plurality of fastening members 43 may be provided, and at least one fastening member 43 may be arranged on each side of the conductive member 41 when viewed in the thickness direction of the support plate 42.

[0073] In the above embodiment, the fastening member 43 may include a bolt and a nut threaded onto the bolt. For example, the nut may be disposed within the inverter chamber 23, and the bolt may pass from the motor chamber S1 through the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 and be threaded onto the nut, thereby fastening the support plate 42 to the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13. In this case, the support plate 42 is disposed within the motor chamber S1. An insulating member 50 is disposed between the nut and the circuit board 26.

[0074] In the embodiment, the connection portion 52 has the insertion hole 53 formed therein. However, this is not limited thereto. For example, the connection portion 52 may have notches formed therein, into which the three conductive members 41 can be inserted. Even in this case, the connection portion 52 only needs to connect the insulating portions 51 to each other and extend around the conductive members 41.

[0075] In the embodiment, the insulating member 50 may not have the accommodating recess 54. In the embodiment, the accommodating recess 54 is configured to accommodate the head 43a of the fastening member 43 so as to surround it, but this is not limited to this. For example, the insulating member 50 may have a standing wall extending from the edge of the insertion hole 53 toward the head 43a of the fastening member 43. The insulating member 50 may further have a standing wall extending from the outer edge of the insulating member 50 toward the head 43a of the fastening member 43, thereby accommodating the head 43a of the fastening member 43.

[0076] In an embodiment, the insulating member 50 may not be attached to the circuit board 26, but may be attached to the head 43 a of the bolt of the fastening member 43. In an embodiment, the protrusion height H1 of the case 30 from the second surface 26 b of the circuit board 26 may be the same as the protrusion height H2 of the relatively tall electronic component 27 from the second surface of the circuit board 26.

[0077] In the above embodiment, the protruding height H1 of the case 30 from the second surface 26b of the circuit board 26 may be slightly greater than the protruding height H2 of the relatively tall electronic component 27 from the second surface of the circuit board 26.

[0078] In the above-described embodiment, the inverter 25 may not have the case 30. In other words, the inverter 25 may have a configuration in which the inverter 25 is disposed on the opposite side of the end wall 13 a of the motor housing 13 with respect to the circuit board 26 and includes the connection terminals 31 electrically connected to the circuit board 26.

[0079] In the embodiment, for example, the inverter chamber 23 may be defined by a cylindrical cover body with a bottom that is separate from the motor housing 13 and attached to the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13, and a lid member that closes the opening of the cover body. In this case, the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 and the bottom wall of the case body function as a partition wall that separates the motor chamber S1 from the inverter chamber 23. A through hole 24 is formed so as to penetrate the end wall 13a of the motor housing 13 and the bottom wall of the case body.

[0080] In the above-described embodiment, the electric compressor 10 may be configured such that the inverter 25 is disposed radially outward of the rotary shaft 14 relative to the housing 11. In other words, the compression unit 15, the motor 16, and the inverter 25 do not have to be disposed side by side in this order in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 14.

[0081] In the above-described embodiments, the compression unit 15 is not limited to a scroll type, and may be, for example, a piston type, a vane type, a rotary type, etc. In the above-described embodiments, the electric compressor 10 constitutes the vehicle air conditioning device 21, but this is not limiting. For example, the electric compressor 10 may be mounted on a fuel cell vehicle, and the compression unit 15 may compress air as a fluid to be supplied to the fuel cell.

[0082] [Notes] The technical ideas that can be understood from the above-described embodiments and modified examples are described below. <Note 1> An electric compressor comprising: a compression unit that compresses fluid; a motor that drives the compression unit; an inverter that drives the motor; a housing that separates a motor chamber that houses the motor and into which fluid is drawn and an inverter chamber that houses the inverter, and has a partition wall that separates the motor chamber from the inverter chamber; and an airtight terminal that electrically connects the motor and the inverter with the motor chamber and the inverter chamber sealed, wherein a through hole is formed in the partition wall, and the inverter has: a circuit board; and a connection terminal that is arranged on the opposite side of the partition wall with respect to the circuit board and is electrically connected to the circuit board, and the airtight terminal has: a conductive member that passes through the through hole, and has a first end electrically connected to the motor and a second end electrically connected to the connection terminal, a support plate that supports the conductive member, and a fastening member that fastens the support plate to the partition wall, and the fastening member protrudes from the partition wall toward the circuit board, an insulating member for insulating the fastening member from the circuit board is disposed between the fastening member and the circuit board;

[0083] <Supplementary Note 2> The electric compressor according to <Supplementary Note 1>, wherein the insulating member is attached to the circuit board.

[0084] <Supplementary Note 3> The electric compressor according to <Supplementary Note 2>, wherein a locking hole is formed in the circuit board, and the insulating member has a locking portion that is locked in the locking hole.

[0085] <Appendix 4> The electric compressor according to <Appendix 3>, characterized in that the fastening members are provided in plurality, at least one on each side of the conductive member when viewed from the thickness direction of the support plate, the insulating member has insulating portions respectively arranged between the fastening members and the circuit board, and connecting portions connecting the insulating portions to each other and extending around the conductive member, and the locking portion is provided on the connecting portion.

[0086] <Appendix 5> The electric compressor according to any one of <Appendix 1> to <Appendix 4>, wherein a head of a bolt serving as the fastening member protrudes from the partition wall toward the circuit board, and the insulating member is disposed between the head and the circuit board.

[0087] <Supplementary Note 6> The electric compressor according to any one of <Supplementary Note 1> to <Supplementary Note 5>, wherein the insulating member has an accommodating recess that accommodates the fastening member.

[0088] <Supplementary Note 7> The electric compressor according to any one of <Supplementary Note 1> to <Supplementary Note 6>, wherein the insulating member is attached to the circuit board via an adhesive.

[0089] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Electric compressor 11 Housing 13a End wall serving as partition wall 15 Compression section 16 Motor 23 Inverter chamber 24 Through hole 25 Inverter 26 Circuit board 28 Locking hole 31 Connection terminal 40 Airtight terminal 41 Conductive member 42 Support plate 43 Fastening member 43a Head 50 Insulating member 51 Insulating section 52 Connection section 54 Recessed portion 55 Locking section 60 Adhesive S1 Motor chamber

Claims

1. An electric compressor comprising: a compression unit that compresses fluid; a motor that drives the compression unit; an inverter that drives the motor; a housing that separates a motor chamber that houses the motor and into which fluid is drawn and an inverter chamber that houses the inverter, and has a partition wall that separates the motor chamber from the inverter chamber; and an airtight terminal that electrically connects the motor and the inverter while sealing the motor chamber and the inverter chamber, wherein a through hole is formed in the partition wall, and the inverter has: a circuit board; and a connection terminal that is arranged on the opposite side of the circuit board from the partition wall and is electrically connected to the circuit board, and the airtight terminal has: a conductive member that passes through the through hole and has a first end electrically connected to the motor and a second end electrically connected to the connection terminal, a support plate that supports the conductive member, and a fastening member that fastens the support plate to the partition wall, wherein the fastening member protrudes from the partition wall toward the circuit board, an insulating member for insulating the fastening member from the circuit board is disposed between the fastening member and the circuit board; 2. The electric compressor according to claim 1, wherein the insulating member is attached to the circuit board.

3. The electric compressor according to claim 2, wherein a locking hole is formed in the circuit board, and the insulating member has a locking portion that is locked into the locking hole.

4. The electric compressor described in claim 3, characterized in that a plurality of the fastening members are provided, at least one on each side of the conductive member when viewed from the thickness direction of the support plate, the insulating member has insulating portions respectively arranged between the fastening members and the circuit board, and connecting portions connecting the insulating portions together and extending around the conductive member, and the locking portion is provided on the connecting portion.

5. An electric compressor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the head of the bolt serving as the fastening member protrudes from the partition wall towards the circuit board, and the insulating member is disposed between the head and the circuit board.

6. An electric compressor according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the insulating member has a receiving recess for receiving the fastening member.

7. The electric compressor according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the insulating member is attached to the circuit board via an adhesive.

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