Compact Scroll Compressor Housing with Recessed Fastening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional scroll-type electric compressors require further downsizing to meet the demands of mounting them on vehicles, as existing downsizing techniques do not adequately reduce the compressor's dimensions while maintaining performance.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a compression part housing with alternating thin-walled and thick-walled portions, recessed areas on the fixed scroll to avoid interference, and pillar portions on the fixed scroll base plate to securely hold an elastic plate, allowing for reduced radial dimensions and enhanced fastening without increasing the compressor's size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If thick-walled portions are added to the compression part housing for fastening members, then fastening reliability is improved, but the radial dimension of the housing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing the fastening function inside the existing housing structure through recesses. The recesses are formed in the peripheral wall of the compression part housing, allowing fastening members to be inserted without adding external thickness. This nested approach integrates the fastening mechanism within the existing radial boundaries, resolving the contradiction between fastening reliability and housing dimension.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions the fastening solution from the radial dimension to the axial dimension by forming recesses that extend in the axial direction. Instead of increasing radial thickness to accommodate fastening members, the design uses axial-depth recesses that provide fastening capability while maintaining radial compactness. This dimensional shift resolves the contradiction by solving the fastening problem in a different spatial dimension.
2Ease of manufacture
If the fixed scroll is recessed to avoid interference with thick-walled portions, then fastening is enabled, but the fixed scroll structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the fixed scroll's peripheral wall into multiple recesses at different angular positions. Each recess is a discrete, localized feature that provides fastening capability without requiring complex overall redesign of the scroll. This segmented approach enables fastening while keeping the fixed scroll structure relatively simple and manufacturable.
3Reliability
If pillar portions are added to the fixed scroll base plate to hold the elastic plate, then elastic plate positioning is improved, but the fixed scroll base plate complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by adding pillar portions only at specific locations on the fixed scroll base plate where elastic plate support is needed. These pillar portions are localized structural features rather than a complete redesign of the base plate. This localized approach improves elastic plate positioning reliability while minimizing the overall complexity increase of the base plate structure.
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 configuration enables a more compact and lightweight compressor with improved refrigerant intake efficiency and reduced manufacturing complexity, achieving further downsizing while maintaining the compressor's functionality.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic plate having a ring shape and urging the movable scroll toward the fixed scroll
Data Source
AI summary
An electric compressor includes a housing including a compression part housing, a shaft support housing, and a motor housing fastened by a plurality of fastening members. A peripheral wall has a plurality of thick-walled portions that protrudes inwardly in a radial direction and through which their associated fastening members are inserted. The fixed scroll base plate has a plurality of protruded portions each protruding outwardly in the radial direction and disposed between the thick-walled portions in a circumferential direction. The fixed scroll base plate has a plurality of pillar portions each extending from the protruded portions toward the shaft support housing in the axial direction and spaced from each other in the circumferential direction. The elastic plate is held at a plurality of spots by the plurality of pillar portions and the shaft support housing.