Horizontal Compressor Leg Design for Improved Brazing Accessibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional horizontal compressors face productivity issues due to the limited space around the joint port, which is hindered by the support piece of the second leg during brazing of the refrigerant return pipe, increasing labor and reducing efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The compressor design includes a second leg with a first support portion facing the installation surface and a second support portion that extends away from the joint port, creating sufficient space for brazing the refrigerant return pipe and reducing the number of components and assembly labor hours.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the support piece of the second leg is positioned to support the hermetic container in a horizontal attitude, then the structural stability is improved, but the space around the joint port is reduced making brazing difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The second leg is divided into two separate components: the leg body and the support piece. The support piece is detachably coupled to the leg body, allowing it to be positioned for structural stability during operation while being movable out of the way during brazing operations. This segmentation enables the support piece to serve its structural function without permanently obstructing access to the joint port.
Solution Approach 2:
The support piece is designed with dynamic positioning capability through detachable coupling mechanisms. It can be in a first position during brazing operations to provide wide access to the joint port, and then moved to a second position to provide structural support for the hermetic container in horizontal attitude. This dynamic repositioning resolves the contradiction between stability and manufacturability.
2Device complexity
If the second leg is designed with both supporting functions (horizontal attitude and standing), then the number of components is reduced, but the support piece interferes with joint port access
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the second leg into a leg body and a detachable support piece, the invention maintains the reduced component count benefit while adding the capability to move the support piece out of the way during brazing. The detachable coupling allows the support piece to be temporarily removed or repositioned without requiring separate support structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic repositioning of the support piece between a first position (clear of joint port) and a second position (providing horizontal support) allows the single integrated second leg structure to fulfill multiple functions at different stages of manufacturing and operation, resolving the contradiction between component reduction and brazing accessibility.
3Volume of moving object
If the support piece is positioned close to the joint port for compact structure, then the compactness is improved, but the productivity is reduced due to hindered brazing operations
Solution Approach 1:
The support piece's ability to dynamically reposition between a compact first position (away from joint port during brazing) and a compact second position (close to joint port for structural efficiency) allows the structure to maintain compactness while enabling efficient brazing operations. This resolves the contradiction between compactness and productivity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A horizontal compressor comprises a cylindrical hermetic container accommodating a compression mechanism unit and an electric motor unit, a first leg that is fixed to the hermetic container at a position near the electric motor unit, a second leg that is fixed to an end of the hermetic container located on the side of the compression mechanism unit, an accumulator that is attached to the hermetic container, between the first leg and the second leg, and a joint port that is provided in the hermetic container to join a refrigerant return pipe, the refrigerant return pipe guiding a refrigerant in the accumulator to the compression mechanism unit. The second leg includes a first support portion of plate shape that faces the installation surface to support the hermetic container in a horizontal attitude, and a second support portion of plate shape that supports the hermetic container standing in a vertical attitude. The first support portion extends in a direction away from the joint port relative to the second support portion.