Plastic Suction Muffler With Nested Resonator Chambers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suction mufflers for encapsulated refrigerant compressors are complex, costly to produce, and difficult to assemble, while also lacking an optimized design for external oil circulation.
Innovation Solution
The suction muffler incorporates an inner housing element that separates the suction muffler volume into two chambers, acting as resonators to reduce noise, and features a simple design that reduces complexity and production costs. The inner housing element includes a top wall and side wall with a protruding tubular section to optimize refrigerant flow and oil drainage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If existing suction muffler designs are used, then noise reduction function is provided, but device complexity and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The suction muffler is divided into two separate chambers (first suction muffler chamber and second suction muffler chamber) that are acoustically coupled. This segmentation allows each chamber to function as an independent resonator with optimized acoustic properties, improving noise reduction effectiveness while maintaining a manageable structural complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The first suction muffler chamber is positioned inside the second suction muffler chamber, creating a nested configuration. This nesting approach enables the two chambers to occupy overlapping spatial volumes, reducing the overall footprint of the muffler assembly while maintaining the required chamber volumes for effective noise reduction
2Object-affected harmful factors
If existing suction muffler designs are used, then noise reduction function is provided, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet tube and outlet tube are integrally formed as a single piece with the partition wall between the two chambers. This merging of components reduces the total number of parts that need to be manufactured and assembled, simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing production costs while maintaining the required acoustic functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The partition wall serves multiple functions simultaneously: it separates the two suction muffler chambers, provides structural support, and incorporates the inlet and outlet tubes as integral features. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying manufacturing and reducing production costs
3Quantity of substance
If existing suction muffler designs are used, then refrigerant flow is managed, but assembly difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet tube and outlet tube are integrally formed with the partition wall as a single component. This merging eliminates the need to separately assemble these tubes into the partition wall, significantly simplifying the assembly process while maintaining proper refrigerant flow paths between the two chambers
4Quantity of substance
If existing suction muffler designs are used, then oil drainage is provided, but oil accumulation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom of the second suction muffler chamber is designed with a specific geometry that creates a local oil collection area. This localized design feature directs oil drainage toward a specific region where the oil drain opening is positioned, ensuring effective oil removal from both chambers and preventing oil accumulation that would compromise reliability
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 design achieves a compact, cost-effective suction muffler with improved noise reduction and optimized refrigerant flow, while also simplifying assembly and reducing oil accumulation issues.
Implementation Method 1
the two muffler chambers, which act as resonators required to reduce the noise level of the suction muffler
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a suction muffler (600) for an encapsulated refrigerant compressor, comprising - a suction muffler housing (602) defining a suction muffler volume, wherein the suction muffler housing (602) is made of plastic material, wherein the suction muffler housing (602) has a lower housing part (610) and an upper housing part (620); wherein the upper housing part (620) includes - an inlet section (605) to allow refrigerant to enter the suction muffler volume, the inlet section (605) comprising an inlet opening and an inlet tube (622) for directing refrigerant to a first suction muffler chamber (603), the inlet opening being connected to the inlet tube (622) and - an outlet section (606) to allow refrigerant to escape from the suction muffler volume (601) of the suction muffler (600) towards the cylinder of the refrigerant compressor. In order to achieve a compact design and to reduce production costs as well as to simplify assembly its it is provided that the suction muffler (600) further comprises an inner housing element (630), which is inserted into the suction muffler housing (602), which inner housing element (630) separates the suction muffler volume into the first suction muffler chamber (603) and a second suction muffler chamber (604).