Compressor Sealing Arrangement for Electrical Connections
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production of glass-metal vias for sealing electrical connections in compressors is complex, expensive, and prone to defects, with high manufacturing variability and costly production processes, especially for larger pin-shaped plug connectors required for higher voltage compressors.
Innovation Solution
A sealing arrangement using a non-conductive synthetic material holding element with a conductive connection terminal element, where a sealing element and support element form a fluid-tight seal around the connection terminal, reducing complexity and cost while ensuring electrical insulation and mechanical stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If glass-metal vias are used to seal electrical connections, then electrical insulation and hermetic sealing are guaranteed, but manufacturing complexity and production costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the glass-metal via sealing process from the overall assembly and replaces it with a simpler alternative. Specifically, the complex glass sealing process is removed and substituted with a plastic housing and seal ring arrangement that achieves the same hermetic sealing function without the manufacturing complexity of glass melting and bonding.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the expensive, complex glass-metal via sealing with a more economical plastic-based sealing solution. The plastic housing and seal ring assembly provides equivalent hermetic sealing at lower cost and with simpler manufacturing, effectively using a cheaper alternative to replace the premium glass-metal via technology.
2Reliability
If glass-metal vias are used for sealing, then electrical insulation is achieved, but production costs and manufacturing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal and chemical processes of glass-metal via formation with a mechanical assembly process. The electrical insulation function previously achieved through glass melting and bonding is now provided by a mechanically assembled plastic housing and seal ring, eliminating the need for complex thermal processing equipment and reducing production time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates the sealing function into the housing design itself, with the seal ring pre-positioned in the plastic housing. This preliminary integration of the sealing mechanism into the housing structure eliminates the need for separate sealing operations and allows for more efficient assembly line production compared to post-assembly glass sealing processes.
3Power
If larger pin-shaped plug connectors are used for higher voltage compressors, then electrical current capacity is increased, but glass-metal via production becomes even more complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sealing function from the electrical connection function. The plastic housing provides the sealing environment, while the plug connectors simply pass through pre-formed openings. This segmentation allows larger plug connectors for higher voltage applications without increasing sealing complexity, as the sealing is provided by the housing structure rather than by sealing the connectors themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal sealing solution through the plastic housing and seal ring arrangement that can accommodate various sizes of plug connectors. The same basic sealing structure works for both standard voltage and higher voltage compressors, eliminating the need for different sealing approaches based on connector size and providing a scalable solution for different power requirements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution simplifies the assembly and reduces production costs while maintaining maximum functional safety through radial sealing, addressing the inefficiencies of traditional glass-metal via production methods.
Implementation Method 1
the connection terminal element is fully enclosed by the holding element and at least one sealing element, respectively, in the radial direction
Implementation Method 2
The holding element for receiving the connection terminal element is formed from an electrically non-conductive, in particular of a synthetic material, which serves as an electrical insulator for the electrically conductive connection terminal element
Data Source
AI summary
A sealing arrangement for guiding electrical connections through a wall of a housing for a device for driving a compressor. The sealing arrangement has a connection arrangement with at least one electrically conductive connection element and a holding element as well as at least one connection terminal element for receiving the at least one connection element in an axial direction. The connection terminal element is fully enclosed by the holding element and a sealing element, respectively. In doing so, the holding element for receiving the connection terminal element is formed from an electrically non-conductive material.