Compressor Spring Damping via Lubricant Receptacles

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing compressors face high noise emissions due to un-damped vibration transmission from the compressor-motor unit to the housing, which is exacerbated by the limited height of the lubricant sump, restricting the effective damping of spring elements.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a receptacle system that surrounds spring elements with a casing element, allowing a higher lubricant level within the receptacle without increasing the overall lubricant sump height, ensuring a larger section of the spring elements is submerged in lubricant for enhanced damping, and features a radial spacing of spring coils to maximize lubricant coverage and prevent collisions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the lubricant sump height is increased to improve damping of spring elements, then vibration damping is improved, but the rotor of the compressor-motor unit would be immersed in the lubricant

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration transmissionVSAvoidlubricant sump volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the damping function into two separate locations: the main lubricant sump at the bottom of the compressor housing and individual receptacles surrounding each spring element. This segmentation allows the spring elements to be damped by lubricant in the receptacles without requiring the entire compressor housing to have a higher lubricant level that would immerse the rotor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The receptacles act as intermediary structures that contain lubricant specifically around the spring elements. These receptacles mediate between the main lubricant sump and the spring elements, allowing localized damping enhancement without the need to increase the overall lubricant sump height throughout the compressor housing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If special damping elements are added to reduce vibration transmission, then noise emissions are reduced, but the device complexity and wear of damping elements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenoise emissionsVSAvoiddamping element structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention utilizes the existing lubricant system already present in the compressor to provide damping function. Instead of adding separate damping elements, the lubricant in the receptacles performs the damping function automatically through its viscosity, eliminating the need for additional specialized damping components that would require maintenance and replacement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The lubricant serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides damping for the spring elements, lubricates the rotor and other moving parts, and reduces noise emissions. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate damping elements and simplifies the overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 configuration significantly reduces noise emissions by optimizing the damping effect of the lubricant, minimizing vibration transmission and collisions, and extending the lubricant's damping capability beyond the conventional sump height limitations.

Implementation Method 1

The viscosity of the lubricant sump, which is mainly formed from oil and refrigerant, leads to damping of the spring elements surrounded by lubricant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Implementation Method 2

The viscosity of the lubricant sump, which is mainly formed from oil and refrigerant, leads to damping of the spring elements surrounded by lubricant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectViscous damping: Viscous Damping

Data Source

PatentEP3714163B1Compressor
Publication Date: 2021.11.24 SECOP GMBH
  • EP3714163B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3714163B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a compressor for compressing a coolant circulating in a cooling circuit, the compressor comprising at least one receiving element (15,16,17,18) for spring elements (10,11,12,13) carrying a compressor-motor unit (4). With its casing element (20), said receiving element (15,16,17,18) rises above a sump height (14) of a lubricant sump (30) embodied inside (1) the housing in an operating state of the compressor, in the vertical direction (23). As a result of, in the operating state - generated by the movement of the movable parts of the compressor - lubricant (9) being continuously distributed throughout the inside (2) of the housing, lubricant (9) also collects inside a receiving space (32) of the receiving element (15, 16, 17, 18), where it forms a level which is clearly higher than the sump height (14) of the lubricant sump (30), when observed in the vertical direction. As a result, damping of the spring elements (10,11,12,13) is obtained by the lubricant (9) and therefore without adding any additional means.