Elastomeric Evaporation Tray Assembly for Variable Compressor Housings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional compressor-evaporation tray arrangements face challenges in achieving intimate contact and efficient heat transfer due to variable compressor housing dimensions, leading to inefficient evaporation rates, especially when the water level is low, and require specialized trays for different compressor models.

Innovation Solution

A compressor-evaporation tray arrangement utilizing an elastomeric material with a flexible base that conforms to the compressor housing under tension, featuring a circumferential ring with a form-fitting recess for the welding bead and a fixation strap to ensure secure attachment, allowing for efficient heat transfer regardless of the water level.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a flexible base is used to accommodate variable compressor dimensions, then adaptability is improved, but heat transfer efficiency deteriorates due to folding and air gaps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to variable compressor dimensionsVSAvoidheat transfer efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The evaporation tray utilizes a flexible membrane base that can elastically deform to conform to different compressor housing shapes and surface irregularities, ensuring continuous contact without folds or air gaps while maintaining thermal conductivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical parameters of the base material by using an elastomeric compound with specific elasticity and thermal conductivity properties, allowing the base to adapt its shape while maintaining thermal contact efficiency across varying water levels and compressor geometries

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Strength

If a strong bottom with inherent rigidity is used, then structural strength is improved, but contact area with compressor housing deteriorates when water pressure is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strength of evaporation tray bottomVSAvoidcontact area with compressor housing
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The base is designed as a flexible membrane that can deform under minimal pressure to achieve full contact with the compressor housing surface, eliminating the need for rigid structures while maintaining structural integrity through the elastomeric material properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 intimate contact and high evaporation rates across varying compressor dimensions, maintaining effective heat transfer even at low water levels, while preventing leakage and accommodating different compressor models with minimal additional effort.

Implementation Method 1

an elastomeric evaporation tray (5) formed in one piece from a rubber-elastic plastic material... the base (6) is stretched over the upper shell (3) and fits snugly everywhere on the convex curvature thereof

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

evaporate water, which condenses on an evaporator in the interior of the refrigeration device, with the aid of heat loss given off by the compressor during operation... Good heat transfer from the compressor to the water in the evaporation tray is essential for efficient evaporation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP2159520B1Compressor evaporation tray assembly
Publication Date: 2018.12.12 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP2159520B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2159520B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The arrangement has an evaporation shell (5) with a ductile and flexibly thin base (6), where the evaporation shell is mounted on a cylindrical lower shell (2) and a dome-shaped upper shell (3) of a compressor (1). The base sectionally lies on the dome-shaped upper shell of the compressor under prestress. The base is made of elastomeric material, where the evaporation shell is made as a single piece from the elastomeric material. The evaporation shell includes a cylindrical outer wall (8) and an inner wall (10), where the outer wall protrudes from a ring (7).