Coolant compressor

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refrigerant compressor connection components, typically using rubber, face challenges in vibration decoupling due to high dynamic rigidity and transverse rigidity, especially at low frequencies, making effective decoupling difficult and costly, particularly in mass-produced appliances like refrigerators.

Innovation Solution

A connecting component design featuring an inner metal element with higher rigidity and an outer elastic element with transverse clearances, reducing dynamic and transverse rigidity through geometric modifications such as slots and further cutouts, allowing better shear deformability for improved vibration decoupling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If rubber is used as the outer element material, then cost is reduced, but vibration decoupling performance deteriorates due to high dynamic rigidity and incompressibility

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecostVSAvoidvibration decoupling performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The outer element is segmented by providing clearances that divide it into multiple sections. These clearances allow the outer element to deform more easily under transverse loads, reducing its dynamic rigidity while maintaining cost-effectiveness by continuing to use rubber material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The geometric parameters of the outer element are modified by introducing clearances with specific dimensions and configurations. This changes the mechanical properties of the outer element, reducing its dynamic rigidity and improving vibration decoupling performance while maintaining material cost efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the outer element is made more compliant for better vibration decoupling, then transverse rigidity decreases, but structural stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration decouplingVSAvoidstructural stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The connecting component uses a composite structure with an inner metal element providing high rigidity and structural stability, while the outer rubber element with clearances provides vibration decoupling. The combination of different materials with complementary properties resolves the contradiction between compliance and stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the connecting component have different local properties: the inner element is made rigid for structural stability, while the outer element is made compliant with clearances for vibration decoupling. This local differentiation allows each element to perform its specific function optimally.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If clearances are added to the outer element, then dynamic rigidity is reduced for better vibration decoupling, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration decouplingVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The outer element is designed with clearances that create a porous-like structure, allowing it to deform more easily for vibration decoupling. This approach achieves the desired mechanical property modification through geometric design rather than material substitution, keeping manufacturing relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

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 design achieves enhanced vibration decoupling between the refrigerant compressor and connected devices, using inexpensive materials while maintaining performance comparable to more expensive materials, with reduced dynamic stiffness and increased free surface area of the outer element for effective load response.

Implementation Method 1

an outer element (6) surrounding the inner element (5), the inner element (5) being more rigid than the outer element (6), provided that in the outer element (6) there are clearances (8) which run in transverse directions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

allowing better shear deformability for improved vibration decoupling

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectShear deformation: Deformation

Implementation Method 3

The design achieves enhanced vibration decoupling between the refrigerant compressor and connected devices

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP3303840B1Coolant compressor
Publication Date: 2019.06.05 NIDEC GLOBAL APPLIANCE GERMANY GMBH
  • EP3303840B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3303840B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3303840B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a coolant compressor (1) comprising a hermetically sealed housing (2) and a drive unit which is arranged inside the housing (2) and has a piston-cylinder unit for the cyclical compression of a coolant, and an electric motor for driving the piston-cylinder unit, wherein the coolant compressor (1) also comprises at least one connection component (4) for attaching the housing (2) to a device in operative connection with the coolant compressor (1), preferably to a mounting plate (28) of a cooling device (3), wherein the connection component (4) comprises an inner element (5) and an outer element (6) surrounding the inner element (5), wherein the inner element (5) has a higher stiffness than the outer element (6). According to the invention, recesses (8) are provided in the outer element (6), which run in transverse directions (27), wherein the transverse directions (27) are directed from an outer surrounding surface (26) of the outer element (6) to the inner element (5).