Motor-Driven Compressor Vibration and Heat Management

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Motor-driven compressors used in heat pumps face challenges in suppressing vibration and noise transmission while maintaining sufficient heating performance, as existing designs often lead to inefficient heat dissipation and reduced heating efficiency due to the transmission of heat from high-temperature refrigerant.

Innovation Solution

The motor-driven compressor incorporates first intermediate members with anti-vibration properties, such as rubber O-rings, and second intermediate members with thermal insulation properties, like glass wool, arranged between the inner and outer housings to attenuate vibration, noise, and heat transfer, ensuring that the heat of the high-pressure refrigerant is retained within the system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If thixotropic fluid is filled between the outer housing and inner housing to suppress vibration and noise transmission, then vibration and noise transmission is reduced, but heat dissipation becomes excessive causing insufficient heating performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration and noise transmissionVSAvoidheating performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the void space between the outer housing and inner housing into two distinct functional zones: a first void filled with thixotropic fluid for vibration and noise suppression, and a second void filled with thermal insulation material for heat retention. This segmentation allows each zone to independently perform its specific function without interfering with the other, resolving the contradiction between vibration suppression and heat retention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different material properties to different spatial locations: the thixotropic fluid is placed in the first void where vibration and noise suppression is needed, while thermal insulation material is placed in the second void where heat retention is critical. This local differentiation of material qualities enables simultaneous achievement of both vibration suppression and heating performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a spring supports the inner housing to reduce vibration transmission, then vibration transmission is suppressed, but heat from the refrigerant is transmitted to the outer housing reducing heating efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration transmissionVSAvoidheat energy loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces thermal insulation material as an intermediary substance in the second void between the inner housing and outer housing. This intermediary layer blocks the heat transmission path from the high-temperature refrigerant in the inner housing to the outer housing, preventing energy loss while allowing the spring in the first void to continue its vibration suppression function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 effectively suppresses the transmission of vibration and noise while maintaining sufficient heating performance by preventing heat dissipation, thereby enhancing the heating efficiency of the heat pump system.

Implementation Method 1

Thixotropic fluid is filled in a void formed between the outer housing and the inner housing... The spring and thixotropic fluid function to suppress the transmission of vibration and noise

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Implementation Method 2

second intermediate members with thermal insulation properties, like glass wool, arranged between the inner and outer housings to attenuate vibration, noise, and heat transfer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP2505777B1Motor-driven compressor
Publication Date: 2019.12.04 TOYOTA INDUSTRIES CORP
  • EP2505777B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2505777B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2505777B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A motor-driven compressor that suppresses the transmission of vibration and noise to the exterior, while obtaining heating performance that is sufficient for use in a heat pump. The motor-driven compressor includes a compressor mechanism, which compresses a refrigerant, and a motor mechanism, which actuates the compressor mechanism. The motor-driven compressor further includes an inner housing, which accommodates the compressor mechanism and the motor mechanism in a sealed state, and an outer housing, which accommodates the inner housing. The outer housing includes a mounting portion that can be mounted to another member. A first intermediate member is arranged between the inner housing and the outer housing. The first intermediate member includes anti-vibration and thermal insulation properties.