Compressor Terminal Plate Hermetic Sealing Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hermetic refrigerant compressors face difficulties in routing electrical conductors through the housing while maintaining hermeticity, convenience, and controlling manufacturing costs, particularly due to challenges in sealing and assembling electrical power terminals.

Innovation Solution

The compressor design features a housing with a motor case and a rotor case, where electrical terminals are mounted in apertures of the rotor case and electrically coupled to the motor, with angling and precise machining to facilitate easy assembly and sealing, including the use of elastomeric O-rings and insulators to maintain a hermetic seal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If electrical terminals are mounted on a machined terminal plate sealed over an opening in the compressor housing, then hermeticity is maintained, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovehermeticityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the terminal mounting function and sealing function into a single integrated terminal plate component. The terminal plate simultaneously provides structural support for electrical terminals and creates hermetic sealing through its engagement with the compressor housing, eliminating the need for separate sealing elements and reducing assembly steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal plate serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical support for electrical terminals, creates hermetic sealing between the terminal housing and compressor housing, and facilitates electrical connection routing. This multi-functional design reduces the overall number of components needed in the system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If electrical terminals are routed through the housing, then electrical connections are established, but hermetic sealing becomes difficult to maintain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connection convenienceVSAvoidhermetic sealing

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal plate acts as an intermediary component that bridges the electrical connection requirement and the hermetic sealing requirement. It provides designated apertures for conductor routing while maintaining the sealed enclosure, allowing electrical signals to pass through without compromising the hermetic barrier.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If traditional terminal mounting methods are used, then electrical terminals can be installed, but sealing effectiveness and assembly efficiency are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveterminal assembly efficiencyVSAvoidsealing effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal plate is pre-configured with integrated sealing features and aperture positions during manufacturing. This preliminary preparation ensures that when terminals are mounted, the sealing function is already in place, eliminating the need for additional sealing operations and ensuring consistent sealing quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8317494B2Compressor terminal plate

Publication Date: 2012.11.27 CARRIER CORP

AI summary

A compressor (20) has a housing (22) having first (52) and second (48) members. A motor (24) within the housing (22) is coupled to one or more working elements (26, 28) to drive the one or more working elements (26, 28) to compress a fluid. A number of electrical terminals (104) are each mounted in an associated aperture (132) in the second housing member (48) and electrically connected to the motor (24).