Sub-assembly of a refrigerant compressor and a method of assembling an electric motor in a middle shell of a refrigerant compressor

Abstract

The sub-assembly (27) comprises a middle shell (4) having a central longitudinal axis (A); a stator assembly (28) located inside the middle shell (4); a power connector (29) attached to the middle shell (4) and configured to be electrically connected to an external power source; and an intermediate electric wire (31) attached to an inner surface of the middle shell (4) and comprising an upper end portion and a lower end portion which are axially offset from each other, the power connector (29) being releasably connected with a lower end winding (22) of the stator assembly (28) through the intermediate electric wire (31).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TITLE : Sub-assembly of a refrigerant compressor and a method of assembling an electric motor in a middle shell of a refrigerant compressor

[0003] Field of the invention

[0004] The present invention relates to a sub-assembly of a refrigerant compressor and a method of assembling an electric motor in a middle shell of a refrigerant compressor.

[0005] Background art

[0006] Refrigerant compressors, e.g. scroll compressors, having electric motors are well known in the art. An electric motor of a compressor is generally located inside a compressor housing, usually in a middle shell, and is powered by electricity supplied from the outside of the compressor.

[0007] The assembly process of a compressor requires that a stator of an electric motor has to be mounted inside a middle shell of the compressor. Once the stator is placed inside the middle shell, a cluster being a terminal integral part of a stator lead wire needs to be plugged directly into a power connector, which is welded on the middle shell.

[0008] The location of the power connector on the middle shell is predetermined by a location of an electrical box required by the user of a compressor. The electrical box must be e.g. at a certain height in order to allow easy and convenient connection with the external power source.

[0009] Similarly, the location of the stator lead wire is predetermined by the assembly process of a compressor. In the case of a hermetic scroll compressor, the stator lead wire must be easily accessible before welding the middle shell to a baseplate. Therefore, the stator lead wire has to be located at the lower end winding and assembling of the stator in the middle shell is performed upside down.

[0010] The above brings two mutually contrary location requirements for a power connector on a middle shell: on one hand the power connector should be as high as possible (in order to provide easy handling for a user of a compressor), on the other hand the power connector should be as low as possible (in order to provide easy and reliable assembling process).

[0011] One of the designs for scroll compressors is so-called “tube in tube” design, where an electric motor is pre-assembled in a stator tube, and then attached to a compression stage of the compressor. This whole subassembly is then inserted into the middle shell. The “tube in tube” design is particularly useful when a compression stage outer diameter of a compressor is much bigger than a motor diameter.

[0012] Currently, in order to assembly the stator with the middle shell, an operator, at an assembly station, must first place the middle shell above an internal assembly in an upside-down position to have an access to the lower end winding and therefore the stator lead wire with the cluster. Then, the operator connects the cluster with the power connector. Since the power connector is at some distance from the lower end winding, this process is performed at minimum visibility and accessibility, which creates two main problems. The one is related to a very inconvenient manual operation for the operator, which repeated several times a day during a year may produce a risk of musculo-skeletal disorders. The second one is a limited reliability of this assembly process and possible high risk of a misconnection that can only be detected when the assembly is fully completed (i.e. once the compressor is welded).

[0013] Moreover, this process is not suitable for automatization since the available space is very small and it is not possible to ensure a repeatable positioning of the carious parts during this operation. An automatization process would require too expensive solutions not compatible with the compressor value. The current process is also very time consuming.

[0014] This process of manufacturing scroll compressors is used for decades. According to the present knowledge, this process produces a high health risk for elbow, neck and shoulder of an operator. Therefore, there is a significant and long-felt need to improve it.

[0015] JP2006029251 A discloses a hermetic scroll compressor with an electric motor and a power connector located at a certain height on a middle shell. In said document, a stator lead wire is connected to an upper end winding of a stator. However, while this design can be regarded as easier for assembly, it has a smaller potential for reusability of parts and is not so beneficial for large compressors (i.e. compressors with compression stages being dimensionally bigger than electric motors).

[0016] Summary of the invention

[0017] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved sub-assembly of a refrigerant compressor and a method of assembling a stator assembly into a middle shell of a refrigerant compressor which can overcome the drawbacks encountered in conventional compressors.

[0018] Particularly, an object of the present invention is to provide a sub-assembly of a refrigerant compressor which ensures a reliable assembling of a stator inside a middle shell, is convenient for a manual assembly operation and may allow an automatization of at least some steps of the assembly process.

[0019] To this end, the present invention relates to a sub-assembly of a refrigerant compressor, the sub-assembly comprising a middle shell having a central longitudinal axis, a stator assembly located inside the middle shell, and a power connector attached to the middle shell and configured to be electrically connected to an external power source on one side and to the stator assembly on the other side, the sub-assembly further comprising an intermediate electric wire attached to an inner surface of the middle shell (i.e. the surface of the middle shell which is faced towards an inner space of the middle shell where the stator assembly is located), the intermediate electric wire comprising an upper end portion and a lower end portion which are axially offset from each other, and the power connector being releasably connected with a lower end winding of the stator assembly through the intermediate electric wire.

[0020] Such a configuration of the sub-assembly according to the present invention ensures that the assembly process of the stator assembly may be performed in a convenient, repeatable and reliable manner. The manual operation for the operator at an assembly station is simplified and the impact on the health of the operator is significantly reduced comparing to the prior art solution. Furthermore, a connection between the stator assembly and the power connector may be easily controlled for any failures, therefore contributing to the reduce of the risk of assembly defects. Finally, the assembly time and the production cost of a compressor including the present the sub-assembly are significantly reduced.

[0021] The sub-assembly according to the present invention is mainly usable for scroll compressors with so-called “tube in tube” design.

[0022] The sub-assembly may also include one or more of the following features, taken alone or in combination.

[0023] According to an embodiment of the invention, the intermediate electric wire, and particularly the upper end portion of the intermediate electric wire, is electrically connected to the power connector.

[0024] According to an embodiment of the invention, the stator assembly comprises a stator including a stator core, also named stator stack, and stator windings wound on the stator core, the stator windings defining an upper end winding, also named upper winding head, and a lower end winding, also named lower winding head. Particularly, the upper end winding is formed by portions of the stator windings extending outwardly from an upper end face of the stator core, and the lower end winding is formed by portions of the stator windings extending outwardly from a lower end face of the stator core.

[0025] According to an embodiment of the invention, the stator assembly comprises includes a stator tube surrounding the stator and in which the stator is at least partially arranged. The stator may be secured to the stator tube, e.g. by press fitting, shrink fitting, welding, screwing or other suitable methods.

[0026] According to an embodiment of the invention, the stator tube comprises an upper tube portion configured to be secured to a support member belonging to the refrigerant compressor and provided with an upper bearing, and a lower tube portion configured to be secured to a lower bearing belonging to the refrigerant compressor. Particularly, the lower bearing and the upper bearing are configured to rotatably support a drive shaft of the refrigerant compressor.

[0027] According to an embodiment of the invention, the intermediate electric wire extends substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the middle shell.

[0028] According to an embodiment of the invention, the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the intermediate electric wire have the same angular position in relation to the central longitudinal axis of the middle shell. In other words, the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the intermediate electric wire are connected on a surface of the middle shell by a straight line.

[0029] According to an embodiment of the invention, the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the intermediate electric wire have different angular positions in relation to the central longitudinal axis of the middle shell. In other words, the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the intermediate electric wire are connected on a surface of the middle shell by a curved line.

[0030] According to an embodiment of the invention, the intermediate electric wire extends in a spiral direction around the central longitudinal axis of the middle shell.

[0031] According to an embodiment of the invention, the intermediate electric wire is fixed to the inner surface of the middle shell through a fixing device.

[0032] According to an embodiment of the invention, the fixing device includes an upper fixing member and a lower fixing member which are axially offset from each other and which are configured to respectively fix the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the intermediate electric wire to the inner surface of the middle shell.

[0033] According to an embodiment of the invention, the stator assembly has a first electric connector electrically connected to the lower end winding of the stator assembly, and the intermediate electric wire has a second electric connector, wherein the first and second electric connectors are releasably connected to each other.

[0034] According to an embodiment of the invention, the lower end portion of the intermediate electric wire includes the second electric connector. According to an embodiment of the invention, the first electric connector is a male or female electric connector and the second electric connector is respectively a female or a male electric connector.

[0035] According to an embodiment of the invention, the male electric connector has a male connecting portion which extends axially and the female electric connector has a female connecting portion which extends axially. For example, the male connecting portion may extend upwardly and the female connecting portion may extend downwardly, or inversely.

[0036] According to an embodiment of the invention, the male electric connector has a male connecting portion which extends at least partially radially, and advantageously substantially radially and more advantageously fully radially, and the female electric connector has a female connecting portion which extends at least partially radially, and advantageously substantially radially, and more advantageously fully radially. For example, the male connecting portion may be directed inwardly (i.e. towards the stator assembly) or may be directed outwardly (i.e. towards the middle shell).

[0037] According to an embodiment of the invention, the first electric connector is connected directly with the lower end winding of the stator assembly.

[0038] According to an embodiment of the invention, the first electric connector is firmly secured to a stator tube of the stator assembly.

[0039] According to an embodiment of the invention, the first and second electric connectors are configured to be substantially radially plugged into each other.

[0040] According to an embodiment of the invention, the first and second electric connectors are configured to be substantially axially plugged into each other. Such an embodiment of the present invention is particularly preferred for automatization of the assembly process. Indeed, according to such an embodiment, the middle shell can be assembled to an internal subassembly including the stator assembly by lowering the middle shell on said internal subassembly (or by inserting the internal subassembly inside the middle shell), and the connection between the first and second electric connectors can be automatically ensured without requiring any other manual operation.

[0041] According to an embodiment of the invention, the first electric connector is electrically connected to the lower end winding of the stator assembly through a lead wire.

[0042] According to an embodiment of the invention, the lead wire has a first wire end portion electrically connected to the lower end winding of the stator assembly and a second wire end portion electrically connected to first electric connector.

[0043] According to an embodiment of the invention, the first electric connector is located away from and outside the stator tube of the stator assembly. According to an embodiment of the invention, the second electric connector is attached to the middle shell.

[0044] According to an embodiment of the invention, when the sub-assembly is in a use configuration and extends vertically, the power connector is located at a higher position than the lower end winding of the stator assembly. Advantageously, when the sub-assembly is in a use configuration and extends vertically, the power connector is located substantially at a same height than an upper end winding of the stator assembly or at a higher position than the upper end winding of the stator assembly.

[0045] According to an embodiment of the invention, the intermediate electric wire is integrally formed with the power connector.

[0046] According to an embodiment of the invention, the intermediate electric wire is releasably connected with the power connector.

[0047] The present invention also relates to a scroll compressor comprising a subassembly according to the present invention.

[0048] The present invention further relates to a method of assembling a stator assembly into a middle shell of a refrigerant compressor, for example a scroll compressor, the method including the following steps:

[0049] - providing the middle shell to which are attached a power connector and an intermediate electric wire, the intermediate electric wire being attached to an inner surface of the middle shell and being electrically connected to the power connector,

[0050] - placing the stator assembly in the middle shell,

[0051] - connecting a lower end winding of the stator assembly to the intermediate electric wire.

[0052] According to an embodiment of the invention, the step of connecting the lower end winding of the stator assembly to the intermediate electric wire occurs substantially in a radial direction, and for example in a radial direction, with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the middle shell.

[0053] According to an embodiment of the invention, the step of connecting the lower end winding of the stator assembly to the intermediate electric wire occurs substantially in an axial direction, and for example in a radial direction, with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the middle shell.

[0054] According to an embodiment of the invention, the method is at least partially automated. Advantageously, the step of connecting the lower end winding of the stator assembly to the intermediate electric wire is automated. During this step, an operator has a very limited access and therefore this process is difficult to control. Automatization of this step is therefore very beneficial in terms of reducing the scrape rate. More advantageously, the method is fully automated.

[0055] The present invention also relates to a process of assembling a hermetic scroll compressor, the process including the method according to the present invention.

[0056] Brief description of the drawings

[0057] The following detailed description of several embodiments of the invention is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed.

[0058] Figure 1 is a longitudinal section view of a scroll compressor according to a first embodiment of the invention.

[0059] Figure 2 is a diagrammatic longitudinal section view of a sub-assembly of the scroll compressor of figure 1 , showing the sub-assembly before assembly.

[0060] Figure 3 is a diagrammatic longitudinal section view of the sub-assembly of figure 2, showing the sub-assembly after assembly.

[0061] Figure 4 is a diagrammatic longitudinal section view of a sub-assembly of a refrigerant compressor according to a second embodiment of the invention.

[0062] Figure 5 is a diagrammatic longitudinal section view of a sub-assembly of a refrigerant compressor according to a third embodiment of the invention.

[0063] Detailed description of the invention

[0064] Unless otherwise stipulated, the term “substantially” means, in the present document, “exactly or within 10% or 10°”. For example, “substantially parallel” means “parallel” or “inclined at an angle of 10°.

[0065] Figure 1 shows a refrigerant compressor 2, and for example of a hermetic scroll compressor, comprising a hermetic housing 3 including a middle shell 4, an upper cap 5 and a baseplate 6. The middle shell 4 includes an upper end closed by the upper cap 5 and a lower end closed by the baseplate 6. Advantageously, the middle shell 4 is cylindrical and has a central longitudinal axis A.

[0066] The refrigerant compressor 2 further comprises a refrigerant suction inlet 7 provided on the middle shell 4 and configured to supply the refrigerant compressor 2 with refrigerant to be compressed, and a discharge outlet 8 configured to discharge compressed refrigerant. For example, the discharge outlet 8 may be provided on the upper cap 5. The refrigerant compressor 2 also comprises a support member 9 arranged within the hermetic housing 3 and secured to the hermetic housing 3, and a compression unit 11 also arranged within the hermetic housing 3 and disposed above the support frame 9. The compression unit 11 is configured to compress the refrigerant supplied by the refrigerant suction inlet 7, and includes a fixed scroll 12, which is fixed in relation to the hermetic housing 3, and an orbiting scroll 13 supported by and in slidable contact with a thrust bearing surface 14 provided on the support frame 9.

[0067] Furthermore, the refrigerant compressor 2 includes a drive shaft 15 configured to drive the orbiting scroll 13 in an orbital movement, and an electric motor 16, which may be a variable-speed electric motor, coupled to the drive shaft 15 and configured to drive in rotation the drive shaft 15 about a rotational axis collinear with the central longitudinal axis A.

[0068] The electric motor 16 has a rotor 17 fitted on the drive shaft 15, and a stator 18 disposed around the rotor 17. The stator 18 includes a stator stack or stator core 19, and stator windings wound on the stator core 19. The stator windings define an upper end winding 21 which is formed by the portions of the stator windings extending outwardly from an upper end face of the stator core 19 which is oriented towards the compression unit 11 , and a lower end winding

[0069] 22 which is formed by the portions of the stator windings extending outwardly from a lower end face of the stator core 19 which is opposite to the compression unit 1 1 .

[0070] According to the first embodiment of the invention, the refrigerant compressor 2 further includes a stator tube 23 surrounding the stator 18 and in which the electric motor 16 is at least partially, and for example entirely, mounted. However, according to another embodiment of the invention, the refrigerant compressor 2 may be devoid of such a stator tube 23.

[0071] According to the embodiment shown on the figures, an upper end of the stator tube

[0072] 23 is secured to the support member 9, and a lower end of the stator tube 23 is secured to a centering member 24 secured to the middle shell 4. The stator 18 may be secured to the stator tube 23, e.g. by press fitting, shrink fitting, welding, screwing or other suitable methods.

[0073] The refrigerant compressor 2 further includes an upper bearing 25 provided on the support member 9 and configured to cooperate with an outer circumferential wall surface of an upper end portion of the drive shaft 15, and a lower bearing 26 provided on the centering member

[0074] 24 and configured to cooperate with an outer circumferential wall surface of a lower end portion of the drive shaft 15. The lower bearing 26 and the upper bearing 25 are particularly configured to rotatably support the drive shaft 15.

[0075] Figure 2 shows a sub-assembly 27 of the refrigerant compressor 2. The subassembly 27 includes the middle shell 4 and a stator assembly 28 located inside the middle shell 4 and partially forming the electric motor 16. According to the first embodiment of the invention, the stator assembly 28 particularly includes the stator 18 and may include the stator tube 23 if the refrigerant compressor 2 is provided with such a stator tube. Advantageously, the stator assembly 28 is secured to middle shell 4 via the stator tube 23 and the support member 9 (if the refrigerant compressor 2 is provided with such a stator tube 23) or directly via the support member 9.

[0076] The sub-assembly 27 also includes a power connector 29 which is attached to the middle shell 4 and which is configured to be electrically connected to an external power source in order to deliver electric power to the refrigerant compressor 2 in a sealed manner, and an intermediate electric wire 31 which is attached to an inner surface of the middle shell 4 and which is electrically connected to the power connector 29. The power connector 29 may for example be welded to the middle shell 4.

[0077] Advantageously, when the refrigerant compressor 2 is in a use configuration and extends vertically, the power connector 29 is located substantially at a same height than the upper end winding 21 of the stator 18 or at a higher position than the upper end winding 21 of the stator 18. According to an embodiment of the invention, the intermediate electric wire 31 is integrally formed with the power connector 29. However, according to another embodiment of the invention, the intermediate electric wire 31 may be releasably connected to the power connector 29.

[0078] The intermediate electric wire 31 particularity includes an upper end portion electrically connected to the power connector 29 and a lower end portion which is axially offset from the upper end portion. Advantageously, the intermediate electric wire 31 extends substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis A of the middle shell 4, and is fixed to the inner surface of the middle shell 4 through a fixing device. The fixing device may include an upper fixing member 32 and a lower fixing member 33 which are axially offset from each other and which are configured to respectively fix the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the intermediate electric wire 31 to the inner surface of the middle shell 4. The lower fixing member 33 may be in the form of an eyelet, and the upper and lower fixing member 33 could be e.g. welded to the middle shell 4.

[0079] According to the first embodiment of the invention, the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the intermediate electric wire 31 have the same angular position in relation to the central longitudinal axis A of the middle shell 4. However, according to another embodiment of the invention, the intermediate electric wire 31 could extend in a spiral direction around the central longitudinal axis A of the middle shell 4, and the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the intermediate electric wire 31 may thus have different angular positions in relation to the central longitudinal axis A of the middle shell 4.

[0080] As shown on figures 2 and 3, the power connector 29 is releasably connected with the lower end winding 22 of the stator assembly 28 through the intermediate electric wire 31 . To this end, the stator assembly 28 has a first electric connector 34 electrically connected to the lower end winding 22 of the stator assembly 28, and the lower end portion of the intermediate electric wire 31 has a second electric connector 35 which is releasably connected to the first electric connector 34.

[0081] The first electric connector 34 may be a male or female electric connector and the second electric connector 35 may be respectively a female or a male electric connector. According to the first embodiment of the invention, the first electric connector 34 is a male electric connector, and the second electric connector 35 is a female electric connector.

[0082] According to the first embodiment of the invention, the first electric connector 34 is located away from and outside the stator tube 23 of the stator assembly 28, and the stator assembly 28 includes a lead wire 36 electrically connected to the lower end winding 22 of the stator assembly 28, and the first electric connector 34 is electrically connected to the lower end winding 22 of the stator assembly 28 through the lead wire 36. Particularly, the lead wire 36 has a first wire end portion connected to the lower end winding 22 of the stator assembly 28 and a second wire end portion connected to first electric connector 34.

[0083] A method of assembling the stator assembly 28 into the middle shell 4 of the refrigerant compressor 2 according to the first embodiment of the invention may include the following steps:

[0084] - providing the middle shell 4 to which are attached the power connector 29 and the intermediate electric wire 31 ,

[0085] - placing the stator assembly 28 in the middle shell 4, and

[0086] - connecting the lower end winding 22 of the stator assembly 28 to the intermediate electric wire 31 through the first and second electric connectors 34, 35.

[0087] Advantageously, said method may be at least partially automated.

[0088] Figure 4 discloses a sub-assembly 27 of a refrigerant compressor 2 according to a second embodiment of the invention which differs from the first embodiment shown on figures 1 to 3 essentially in that the second electric connector 35 is attached to the middle shell 4 through the lower fixing member 33 and in that the first electric connector 34 is firmly secured to the stator tube 23 of the stator assembly 28.

[0089] According to the second embodiment of the invention, the first and second electric connectors 34, 35 are configured to be radially plugged into each other. To this end, the first electric connector 34 has a female connecting portion 34.1 which extends substantially radially, and advantageously fully radially, and the second electric connector 35 has a male connecting portion 35.1 which extends substantially radially, and advantageously fully radially, and which is directed inwardly (i.e. towards the stator assembly 28). Figure 5 discloses a sub-assembly 27 of a refrigerant compressor 2 according to a third embodiment of the invention which differs from the second embodiment shown on figure 4 essentially in that the first and second electric connectors 34, 35 are configured to be axially plugged into each other. To this end, the first electric connector 34 has a female connecting portion 34.1 which extends axially and downwardly, and the second electric connector 35 has a male connecting portion 35.1 which extends axially and upwardly.

[0090] Such an embodiment of the present invention is particularly preferred for automatization of the assembly process of a refrigerant compressor. Indeed, according to such an embodiment, the middle shell 4 can be assembled to an internal subassembly including the stator assembly 28 by lowering the middle shell 4 on said internal subassembly (or by inserting the internal subassembly inside the middle shell 4), and the connection between the first and second electric connectors 34, 35 can be automatically ensured without requiring any other manual operation.

[0091] According to said third embodiment of the invention, the second electric connector 35 is secured to the middle shell 4 by means of a lower fixing member 33 in form of two eyelets in order to ensure better and more reliable positioning of the second electric connector 35.

[0092] Of course, the invention is not restricted to the embodiments described above by way of non-limiting examples, but on the contrary it encompasses all embodiments thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A sub-assembly (27) of a refrigerant compressor (2), the sub-assembly (27) comprising a middle shell (4) having a central longitudinal axis (A), a stator assembly (28) located inside the middle shell (4), and a power connector (29) attached to the middle shell (4) and configured to be electrically connected to an external power source and to the stator assembly (28), characterized in that the sub-assembly (27) further comprises an intermediate electric wire (31) attached to an inner surface of the middle shell (4), the intermediate electric wire (31) comprising an upper end portion and a lower end portion which are axially offset from each other, and in that the power connector (29) is releasably connected with a lower end winding (22) of the stator assembly (28) through the intermediate electric wire (31).

2. The sub-assembly (27) according to claim 1 , wherein the intermediate electric wire (31) extends substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis (A) of the middle shell (4).

3. The sub-assembly (27) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the intermediate electric wire (31) is fixed to the inner surface of the middle shell (4) through a fixing device.

4. The sub-assembly (27) according to claim 3, wherein the fixing device includes an upper fixing member (32) and a lower fixing member (33) which are axially offset from each other and which are configured to respectively fix the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the intermediate electric wire (31) to the inner surface of the middle shell (4).

5. The sub-assembly (27) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the stator assembly (28) has a first electric connector (34) electrically connected to the lower end winding (22) of the stator assembly (28), and the intermediate electric wire (31) has a second electric connector (35), wherein the first and second electric connectors (34, 35) are releasably connected to each other.

6. The sub-assembly (27) according to claim 5, wherein the first electric connector (34) is a male or female electric connector and the second electric connector (35) is respectively a female or a male electric connector.

7. The sub-assembly (27) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the first electric connector (34) is connected directly with the lower end winding (22) of the stator assembly (28).

8. The sub-assembly (27) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the first electric connector (34) is firmly secured to a stator tube (23) of the stator assembly (28).

9. The sub-assembly (27) according to claim 8, wherein the first and second electric connectors (34, 35) are configured to be substantially radially plugged into each other.

10. The sub-assembly (27) according to claim 8, wherein the first and second electric connectors (34, 35) are configured to be substantially axially plugged into each other.

11. The sub-assembly (27) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the first electric connector (34) is electrically connected to the lower end winding (22) of the stator assembly (28) through a lead wire (36).

12. The sub-assembly (27) according to any one of claims 5 to 11 , wherein the second electric connector (35) is attached to the middle shell (4).

13. A scroll compressor comprising a sub-assembly (27) according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. A method of assembling a stator assembly (28) into a middle shell (4) of a refrigerant compressor (2), the method including the following steps:- providing the middle shell (4) to which are attached a power connector (29) and an intermediate electric wire (31), the intermediate electric wire (31) being attached to an inner surface of the middle shell (4) and being electrically connected to the power connector (29),- placing the stator assembly (28) in the middle shell (4),- connecting a lower end winding (22) of the stator assembly (28) to the intermediate electric wire (31).

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of connecting the lower end winding (22) of the stator assembly (28) to the intermediate electric wire (31) occurs substantially in a radial direction with respect to a central longitudinal axis (A) of the middle shell (4).

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of connecting the lower end winding (22) of the stator assembly (28) to the intermediate electric wire (31) occurssubstantially in an axial direction with respect to a central longitudinal axis (A) of the middle shell (4).

17. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the method is at least partially automated.

18. A process of assembling a hermetic scroll compressor, the process including the method according to any one of claims 14 to 17.

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