Refrigerant compressor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Refrigerant compressors in mobile applications experience disruptive noise and excessive deflection due to acceleration, retardation, and inclination, which existing damping solutions fail to adequately address, especially in limiting movement in all directional planes.

Innovation Solution

A refrigerant compressor design featuring a hermetically sealed housing with a damping element composed of polymer material or vulcanized rubber, which has multiple contact areas with the housing surface, allowing defined movement limitations in vertical and lateral directions, preventing metallic noise and excessive deflection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If spring elements are used to connect the drive unit to the housing bottom for vibration damping, then the drive unit can deflect to accommodate forces during start and stop procedures, but the drive unit experiences excessive deflection and potential contact with the housing top part

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration dampingVSAvoiddeflection limitation

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The damping element is segmented into multiple contact areas (first contact area, second contact area, third contact area) that can independently contact different inner surface areas of the housing in different deflected states. This segmentation allows the drive unit to deflect in multiple directions while being limited by the housing structure, preventing excessive deflection and contact noise without compromising vibration damping.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The solution transitions from one-dimensional vertical damping (spring elements only) to three-dimensional multi-directional damping by adding lateral contact areas. The first, second, and third contact areas provide damping constraints in vertical, lateral, and diagonal directions respectively, creating comprehensive spatial limitation of drive unit deflection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Manufacturing precision

If the housing wall is deformed to create parallel inner and outer surfaces for damping contact, then the wall thickness basically stays the same while providing defined movement limitation, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparallel surface alignmentVSAvoidhousing fabrication

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The housing wall deformation is applied locally only in specific areas where damping contact is needed, rather than deforming the entire housing structure. The deep drawing or hydroforming process creates localized parallel surface areas (first inner surface area, second inner surface area, third inner surface area) that maintain consistent wall thickness while providing the necessary damping contact surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple contact areas are provided on the damping element for multi-directional deflection limitation, then the drive unit is constrained in vertical and lateral directions, but the damping element structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-directional movement limitationVSAvoiddamping element structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple damping functions are merged into a single integrated damping element. The first contact area, second contact area, and third contact area are all part of one damping element that is connected to the drive unit, eliminating the need for separate damping components for each direction and simplifying the overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

The solution effectively minimizes noise and prevents excessive deflection by providing defined movement limitations in three directions, enhancing the damping properties and ensuring the compressor operates smoothly during vehicle movements.

Implementation Method 1

at least one damping element for damping and limiting a deflection of the drive unit is provided in the interior of the housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a damping element composed of a polymer material or of vulcanized rubber is provided

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectViscoelasticity: Viscoelasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11592220B2Refrigerant compressor

Publication Date: 2023.02.28 SECOP GMBH

AI summary

Refrigerant compressor with a hermetically sealed housing and a drive unit in the interior of the housing. At least one damping element is in the housing is connected to the drive unit. The damping element has three contact areas separated from each other by an edge, in which in a first deflected state of the drive unit a first contact area contacts a first inner surface area of the housing, wherein in a second deflected state a second contact area contacts a second inner surface area of the housing, but the first contact area does not contact the first inner surface area, wherein in a third deflected state of the drive unit a third contact area contacts a third inner surface area, but the first and second contact areas do not contact the first and second inner surface areas, respectively.