Electric Compressor Inverter Assembly Detachable Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electric compressors face difficulties in maintaining and replacing the inverter due to its fixed position within the housing, making it hard or impossible to dismount, leading to the need for replacing the entire compressor when only the inverter fails.

Innovation Solution

A detachable mounting structure for the inverter assembly, using screws for fixation, allowing easy disassembly and assembly, eliminating the need for gel encapsulation, which enhances maintenance flexibility and reduces the overall size of the compressor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the inverter is fixed to the housing using gel encapsulation, then the inverter is securely fixed and sealed, but the inverter becomes hard or impossible to dismount for maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixation reliabilityVSAvoidinverter dismountability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The inverter assembly is segmented from the housing through the use of a removable cover. The cover can be detached to access and replace the inverter, while the inverter itself remains secured within the housing during operation. This segmentation allows the system to simultaneously achieve secure fixation and ease of maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If gel encapsulation is used to fix the inverter, then the inverter is sealed and protected, but the overall structure becomes more complex and larger

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing protectionVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gel encapsulation is extracted and replaced with a simpler mechanical fastening system using a cover and fastening members. This extraction eliminates the need for complex gel-based sealing while maintaining protection through the cover structure, thereby reducing overall structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Device complexity

If the inverter is permanently fixed in the housing, then the structure is simplified, but maintenance requires replacing the entire compressor when only the inverter fails

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting structure simplicityVSAvoidmaintenance cost efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting structure transitions from a static permanent fixation to a dynamic removable configuration. The cover can be opened and closed to allow inverter replacement, providing the flexibility needed for cost-effective maintenance while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP1840378B1Electric compressor
Publication Date: 2016.08.17 TOYOTA INDUSTRIES CORP
  • EP1840378B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1840378B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1840378B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An inverter assembly (100) includes a substrate (110), a capacitor assembly (120) and a coil (130), a varistor (140) and a base (150). The base (150) fixes and supports thereto the substrate (110), the capacitor assembly (120), the coil (130), and the varistor (140), and is detachably fixed together to a first housing (24) with screws.