Elastic Stator Support in Refrigerant Compressors for Gap Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerant compressors face challenges in arranging the stator simply and maintaining a minimal gap between the stator and rotor, especially during dimensional changes due to thermal and pressure-induced variations in the motor housing portion.
Innovation Solution
The stator is mounted in the motor housing portion using spring-elastic supporting elements that abut against a stator-receiving surface and surround the stator, providing elastic support to maintain centering and compensate for diameter changes, allowing the stator to remain centered and minimizing the gap between the stator and rotor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the stator is rigidly mounted in the motor housing portion, then the assembly is simple and stable, but the gap between the stator and rotor increases during thermal and pressure-induced dimensional changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing the rigid mounting structure with elastic supporting elements that can dynamically adapt to dimensional changes in the motor housing portion. These elastic elements allow the stator to maintain a consistent gap with the rotor despite thermal expansion or pressure-induced deformations of the housing, transforming a static mounting system into a dynamic one that compensates for dimensional variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes by utilizing the elastic properties of the supporting elements, which change their physical state between deformed and restored configurations. This allows the mounting structure to adapt its parameters (position, force) in response to dimensional changes in the motor housing, maintaining optimal stator-rotor gap conditions across varying operating temperatures and pressures.
2Productivity
If the stator is mounted with elastic supporting elements, then the gap between stator and rotor is minimized, but the assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing elastic supporting elements only at specific critical locations where the stator contacts the motor housing portion, rather than making the entire mounting structure elastic. This localized application of elasticity maintains motor efficiency through improved gap consistency while limiting the overall complexity increase to only the necessary support points.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic characteristic of the elastic supporting elements enables automatic adaptation to dimensional changes, improving motor productivity by maintaining optimal electromagnetic coupling between stator and rotor. The dynamic system self-adjusts to thermal and pressure variations without requiring complex control mechanisms.
3Reliability
If the supporting elements are highly elastic, then dimensional changes are compensated effectively, but the supporting elements may enter plastic deformation range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by designing the elastic supporting elements with moderate elasticity that provides sufficient dimensional compensation within the normal operating range of thermal and pressure variations. The elements are dimensioned to handle expected dimensional changes without requiring extreme elastic properties that would risk plastic deformation, achieving adequate compensation through optimized geometry and material selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic supporting elements serve as a cushioning mechanism that anticipates and absorbs dimensional changes before they can cause harmful effects. By providing this beforehand cushioning through controlled elastic deformation, the system protects against both excessive gap formation and potential plastic deformation of the support elements themselves.
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 ensures high efficiency of the electric motor by maintaining a minimal gap between the stator and rotor, compensating for thermal and pressure-induced changes, and allows for easy assembly and disassembly without material removal, enhancing the compressor's operational stability and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the supporting elements surrounding the stator and supporting it spring-elastically relative to the stator-receiving surface act on opposite sides of the stator between the latter and the motor housing portion and thus keep the stator centered relative to the motor housing portion both in the event of thermally induced and pressure-induced diameter changes
Implementation Method 2
this solution also enables cooling of the electric motor by allowing refrigerant to flow between the stator-receiving surface and the outer side of the stator and through the supporting elements parallel to the rotor axis
Data Source
AI summary
In a refrigerant compressor comprising an overall housing with a motor housing portion, in which there is arranged a motor chamber having, provided therein, an electric motor comprising a stator and a rotor, and with a compressor housing portion which has a compressor unit, in order to be able to mount the stator as easily as possible it is proposed that the stator is mounted in the motor housing portion by means of supporting elements inserted into the motor housing portion, which supporting elements on the one hand abut against a stator-receiving surface of the motor housing portion and on the other hand surround the stator inserted into the supporting elements on its outer side and support it spring-elastically relative to the stator-receiving surface.