Compressor Crank Weight Snap-Fit Mounting for Vibration Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing compressor designs face issues with noise and vibration due to unbalanced masses, which are often addressed by adding additional weights using rivets or screws, leading to increased labor and risk of improper mounting and subsequent failures.

Innovation Solution

A snap-fit connection using claws on the additional weight to securely attach it to the crank weight without any screws or rivets, ensuring a stable and balanced mounting without additional components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If additional weight is mounted to the crank weight by means of rivets or screws, then the additional weight can be securely attached to balance the crank weight, but this leads to additional labor, use of additional components, and risk of improper mounting causing breaking or noise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting securityVSAvoidmounting structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connection member is integrated into the additional weight as a unitary structure, merging the additional weight and connection member into a single component. This eliminates the need for separate mounting components like rivets or screws, reducing device complexity while maintaining secure attachment through the integrated connection member that engages with the crank weight's mounting surface

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The connection member is designed with self-aligning features including a flat edge that engages with a corresponding flat surface on the crank weight, and a C-shaped gripping area that automatically positions itself during mounting. This self-service design eliminates the need for precise manual alignment and additional fastening operations, reducing labor while ensuring reliable mounting

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If additional weight is mounted using rivets or screws, then the mounting can be secured, but erroneous mounting by operators may occur leading to breaking, noise, and other unwanted results

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting securityVSAvoidmounting ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The connection member features a C-shaped gripping area with an extension that automatically engages with the crank weight's flat surface during mounting. This self-service mechanism guides the operator through proper positioning and secures the additional weight without requiring precise torque control or specialized skills, eliminating erroneous mounting while maintaining ease of operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using fasteners that require threading or riveting operations, the design inverts the approach by using a negative-space C-shaped gripping area that captures and holds the crank weight's flat surface. This inverted fastening mechanism is inherently foolproof, preventing improper mounting while remaining simple to operate

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If traditional mounting methods with mounting holes and connection members are used, then the additional weight can be attached, but this requires additional components and increases labor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting securityVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The connection member is merged with the additional weight as a unitary component, eliminating the need for separate mounting holes, rivets, screws, or other fastening elements. This single integrated component achieves secure attachment while reducing the total quantity of parts from multiple discrete components to one unified structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The design extracts and eliminates unnecessary mounting components from the traditional assembly. By removing mounting holes, separate fasteners, and complex joining mechanisms, the invention achieves secure attachment with minimal components, reducing both part quantity and assembly complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3995695B1A compressor with improved connection of crank weight and additional weight
Publication Date: 2023.11.08 ARCELIK AS
  • EP3995695B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3995695B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3995695B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present invention relates to a compressor (1), which is suitable for use in cooling devices, comprising a casing (3); a motor (2) having a stator and a rotor; a cylinder (4) which is provided in the casing (3) and which sucks and pumps the refrigerant; a piston (5) which moves inside the cylinder (4); a crank (6) which transfers the movement of the motor (2) to the piston (5); a crank weight (7) which prevents vibrations caused by the unbalanced masses during the reciprocating movement of the piston (5), and an additional weight (8) which is placed onto the crank weight (7).