The present disclosure relates to a compressor including a thermal protector and an outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus, which includes the compressor.
In the past, it has been known in configuration that compressors include a container that forms an outer shell of the compressor, an electric motor, and a compression mechanism unit that are both housed in the container. For example, in a compressor disclosed in Patent Literature 1, a terminal, a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the compressor, a terminal protection cover that protects the terminal, and a fixation volt that fixes the terminal protection cover are provided on an upper portion of a container. To the terminal, a lead connected to the electric motor is connected via a connectional terminal. The temperature sensor is provided to protect the compressor against an operation at the time at which refrigerant gas leaks from a refrigerant cycle circuit and at the time at which an overload is applied. The temperature sensor is held by a sensor holding portion that extends from the terminal protection cover, and is formed integral with the terminal protection cover. The sensor holding portion is provided opposite to the terminal with reference to the fixation volt.
Patent Literature1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-188570
In the configuration disclosed in Patent Literature 1, since the sensor holding portion extends from the terminal protection cover and is formed integral with the terminal protection cover, the terminal protection cover is shaped to have a large size. Thus, the temperature sensor can be provided on a flat outer surface of an upper portion of the compressor, only in the case where the container is large and the outer surface of the upper portion of the compressor is large. However, for example, a thermistor that detects the temperature of refrigerant discharged from a discharge pipe may be provided at the upper surface of the container. Thus, it may be impossible to secure a place where the temperature sensor is provided. In this case, the temperature sensor cannot be sufficiently brought into surface contact with the flat outer surface of the upper portion of the compressor, and the area of the contact between the temperature sensor and the outer surface is thus small. Consequently, the temperature following capability of the temperature sensor may be worsened, and the accuracy of the temperature detection thereof may vary.
The present disclosure is applied to solve the above problem, and relates to a compressor in which a thermal protector that detects the temperature of the compressor can be reliably brought into contact with a flat outer surface of an upper portion of a container and the accuracy of temperature detection by the thermal protector can be improved, and also to an outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus, which includes the compressor.
A compressor according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a container forming an outer shell of the compressor; a terminal portion projecting from an upper surface of the container, and configured to supply electric power to an inside of the container; a rod projecting from the upper surface of the container; a terminal cover covering the terminal portion to protect the terminal portion, and fixed to the container by the rod; and a thermal protector configured to detect a temperature of the compressor. The thermal protector is brought into contact with and fixed to a flat outer surface of the container that is formed between the terminal portion and the rod.
An outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, includes the above compressor.
In the compressor and the outdoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus, which includes the compressor, according to the present disclosure, a flat outer surface of the container that is formed between the terminal portion and the rod is used. To be more specific, the thermal protector is brought into contact with and fixed to the outer surface of the container. Therefore, regardless of whether another component is provided or not, it is possible to reliably bring the thermal protector into contact with the outer surface of the container, and thus improve the accuracy of temperature detection by the thermal protector.
1 is a perspective view illustrating an outdoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
The embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In each of figures thereof, components that are the same as or equivalent to those in a previous figure or previous figures are denoted by the same reference signs, and their descriptions will thus be omitted or simplified as appropriate. In addition, each of configurations illustrated in the figures can be modified in shape, size, location, etc., as appropriate.
The housing 101 forms an outer shell of the air-conditioning apparatus. For example, the housing 101 includes a front panel 101a, a right side panel 101b, a bottom panel 101c, and a top panel 101d. The front panel 101a is, for example, L-shaped and forms a front surface and a left side of the housing 101. In the front panel 101a, an air outlet is formed, and a fan guard 101e is attached to the front panel 101a in order to cover the air outlet. To a lower surface of the bottom panel 101c, leg portions 101f are attached in order to fix the outdoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus in an installation place.
A illustrated in
In the machine chamber B, the compressor 104, a refrigerant pipe 105, an electric component unit 106, and a power supply unit 107 are provided. The compressor 104 is provided on an upper surface of the bottom panel 101c, and compresses refrigerant sent from the indoor unit. The refrigerant compressed by the compressor 104 is sent to the heat exchanger 102 via the refrigerant pipe 105. The refrigerant pipe 105 extends through an opening portion 101i formed at the right side panel 101b and is connected to an external refrigerant pipe located outward of the right side panel 101b. The electric component unit 106 includes a control board, etc., and is intended to, for example, supply electric power to components provided in the outdoor unit 100. The power supply unit 107 is configured such that a terminal block that connects the outdoor unit 100 and the indoor unit is connected to a power supply plate by, for example, screws. The power supply unit 107 is connected to an external device through an opening portion 101h formed at the right side panel 101b. The opening portions 101h and 101i formed at the right side panel 101b are covered by a protection cover 108 attached to an outer surface of the right side panel 101b such that dust or water does not pass through the opening portion 101h or the opening portion 101i.
Next, features of the compressor 104 according to the embodiment will be specifically described.
The compressor 104 according to the embodiment includes an electric motor (not illustrated), a crank shaft (not illustrated) that transmits a drive force from the electric motor, a compressor mechanism unit (not illustrated) that compresses the refrigerant by the drive force transmitted from the crank shaft, and a container 1 that houses the electric motor, the crank shaft, and the compressor mechanism unit.
The electric motor includes a circular stator that is, for example, fixed to an inner wall of the container 1 by, for example, shrink fitting and a rotor that is provided to face an inner surface of the stator such that the rotor is rotatable. In the rotor, the crank shaft is fit. The electric motor is driven upon reception of an electric power that is supplied from an external power supply via a terminal portion 2 provided at the upper surface of the container 1.
The compressor mechanism unit is driven by the crank shaft, which is driven and rotated by the electric motor, and compresses refrigerant sucked into a compression chamber. In the case where the compressor 104 is a rotary compressor, the compressor mechanism unit includes, for example, a cylinder provided with a compression chamber, a rolling piston, and a vane. It should be noted that the compressor mechanism unit is not limited to a compressor mechanism unit of the rotary compressor, and may be of another type.
The container 1, as illustrated in
Furthermore, as illustrated in
The terminal portion 2 is, for example, a glass terminal. The terminal portion 2 is provided to supply electric power from an external power supply provided outside the container 1 to the stator of the electric motor. The terminal portion 2 is provided at a flat outer surface 13 formed at the upper surface of the container 1. The terminal portion 2 and the external power supply are connected by a power line 20. The external power supply is, for example, an inverter device. The terminal portion 2 and the stator of the electric motor are connected by a lead in the container 1.
The rod 3 is provided in order that the terminal cover 4 be attached to the upper portion of the container 1. The rod 3 is a rod-shaped component that projects upwards from the flat outer surface 13 formed on the upper surface of the container 1. To an upper end portion of the rod 3, a nut 30 is fastened.
The terminal cover 4 is hollow, and has a lower surface having an opening portion. The terminal cover 4 has an upper surface having a through hole 40 that allows a distal end portion of the rod 3 to pass through the through hole 40. The terminal cover 4 accommodates the terminal portion 2 and the rod 3 in such a manner as to cover the terminal portion 2 and the rod 3. In this state, a nut 30 is fastened to a distal end portion of the rod 3 that projects from a through hole 40, whereby the terminal cover 4 is fixed to the container 1.
The thermal protector 5 includes a protector main body 50 and leads 51. In the protector main body 50, for example, a bimetal thermostat is housed in a case. The leads 51 are connected to a controller (not illustrated). The thermal protector 5 is provided such that the protector main body 50 is in direct contact with the upper surface of the container 1. When the thermal protector 5 detects overheating of the compressor 104 and the bimetal thermostat reacts, the controller receives a detection signal indicating the reaction thereof and shuts off a circuit that supplies power to the compressor 104, thereby stopping the operation of the compressor 104. It should be noted that the thermal protector 5 may be provided in contact with, for example, an 5 upper surface of a thin metal plate that has a high thermal conductivity and that is provided at the upper surface of the container 1. Even in this case, it is possible to ensure a temperature following capability for a temperature change of the compressor 104, and accurately measure the temperature of the compressor 104.
It should be noted that detection of the temperature of the compressor 104 by the thermal protector 5 means detection of the temperature of the inside of the compressor 104. The thermal protector 5 detects the temperature of the inside of the compressor 104 based on the temperature of the outer surface 13 of the container 1.
The thermistor 6 is provided to detect the temperature of refrigerant discharged from the discharge pipe 12. The thermistor 6 is provided at the upper surface of the container 1, and is fixed thereto by a thermistor attachment member 7. The thermistor attachment member 7 is formed of, for example, a stainless plate, and is provided at the upper portion of the container 1 such that the thermistor attachment member 7 is pushed and expanded by its elasticity. The thermistor attachment member 7 has an annular engagement portion 70 through which the rod 3 passes and a fixation portion 71 that presses the thermistor 6, by its elastic force, against the flat outer surface 13 formed on the upper surface of the container 1, thereby fixing the thermistor 6 to the outer surface 13. The fixation portion 71 is shaped in such a manner as to cover the upper surface of the thermistor 6, and fixes the thermistor 6 such that the thermistor 6 is held between the fixation portion 71 and the upper surface of the container 1. The thermistor attachment member 7 is attached to the container 1, with the rod 3 located to pass through the engagement portion 70, and in this state, the thermistor attachment member 7 fixes the thermistor 6 such that the fixation portion 71 presses the thermistor 6. It should be noted that the configuration of the thermistor attachment member 7 is not limited to the above configuration, and the thermistor attachment member 7 may be configured in another manner as long as it can fix the thermistor 6 to the upper surface of the container 1.
It should be noted that it is possible to accurately detect the temperature of the compressor 104 by providing the thermal protector 5 such that the thermal protector 5 is in surface contact with the flat outer surface 13 formed on the upper portion of the container 1. However, for example, the thermistor 6 that detects the temperature of refrigerant discharged from the discharge pipe 12 may be provided at the upper surface of the container 1. Thus, it is possible that a sufficient space required to provide the thermal protector 5 cannot be ensured. In the compressor 104, unless the thermal protector 5 is sufficiently in surface contact with the flat outer surface 13, the contact area between the thermal protector 5 and the flat outer surface 13 is small, and the temperature following capability is worsened, and as a result, variations in temperature detection may occur.
Furthermore, when the nut 30 is fastened to the rod 3, the terminal cover 4 is fixed to the upper surface of the container 1. The thermal protector 5 is pressed by the terminal cover 4 and fixed to the flat outer surface 13 of the container 1. When the nut 30 is fastened to the rod 3, the axial force of the terminal cover 4 acts toward the rod 3.
Thus, part of the terminal cover 4 that is located far from the rod 3 may be floated from the outer surface 13 of the container 1. Therefore, for example, in the case where the thermal protector 5 is provided at a position far away from the rod 3, the terminal cover 4 is unable to sufficiently press the thermal protector 5. Accordingly, it is possible that the thermal protector 5 cannot sufficiently brought into surface contact with the outer surface 13 of the container 1.
In view of the above, the compressor 104 according to the embodiment is featured in that as illustrated in
The protector holder 8 is formed of metal material having elasticity. In such a manner, since the protector holder 8 is formed of the metal material, it can be formed to have small thickness. Thus, the protector holder 8 can be provided even in a narrow space between the terminal portion 2 and the rod 3. In addition, since the protector holder 8 is formed of the metal material, it has a good heat conductivity, and can also improve the accuracy of temperature detection by the thermal protector 5.
The protector holder 8, as illustrated in
The accommodation portion 80, as illustrated in
The wail surface portions 80b are located in such a manner as to surround three of four side surfaces of the thermal protector 5 and spaced from each other. Since spaces are provided between adjacent ones of the wall surface portions 80b, when the thermal protector 5 is accommodated, one of the wall surface portions 80b that has a projection 80d is warped outwardly and the thermal protector 5 can thus be easily set. Of the side edges of the placement surface portion 80a, at a side edge at which no wall surface portion 80b is provided, an opening portion 80c is provided. The opening portion 80c allows leads 51 connected to the thermal protector 5 to pass through the opening portion 80c. It should be noted that the configuration of the wall surface portions 80b is limited to that illustrated in related figures, and a single space or three or more spaces may be provided between the wall surface portions 80b.
The wall surface portions 80b are sized such that a contact surface of the thermal protector 5 which is brought into contact with the outer surface 13 of the container 1 can be projected from the accommodation portion 80 toward the outer surface 13 of the container 1. To be more specific, as illustrated in
Furthermore, one of the wall surface portions 80b, as illustrated in Figs, 6, 7, and 9, has the projection 80d which contacts the thermal protector 5 accommodated at the accommodation portion 80. The projection 80d is provided at the above one of the wall surface portions 80b. To be more specific, the number of the wall surface portions 80b is three, and of these three wall surface portions 80b, two wall surface portions 80b face each other. At one of these two wall surface portions 80b, the projection 80d is provided. The thermal protector 5, as illustrated in
The temporary fixation portion 81, as illustrated in
The connection portion 82, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Furthermore, as illustrated in
The terminal cover 4, as illustrated in
A lower surface of the wall body 41 of the terminal cover 4 has a recess portion 41a in order to avoid contact with the thermistor attachment member 7. In the case where the thermistor attachment member 7 is provided close to the thermal protector 5, there is a possibility that the lower surface of the wall body 41 will be brought into contact with the thermistor attachment member 7 before contacting the thermal protector 5, and cannot sufficiently be pressed by the terminal cover 4, In view of this point, the recess portion 41a is formed at the lower surface of the wall body 41 in order to prevent contact between the wall body 41 and the thermistor attachment member 7.
As illustrated in
As described above, the compressor 104 according to the embodiment includes: the container 1 that forms the outer shell of the compressor 104; the terminal portion 2 that projects from the upper surface of the container 1 and supplies electric power to the inside of the container 1; the rod 3 that projects from the upper surface of the container 1; the terminal cover 4 that covers the terminal portion 2 to protect the terminal portion 2, and is fixed to the container 1 by the rod 3; and the thermal protector 5 that detects the temperature of the compressor 104. The thermal protector 5 is brought into contact with the flat outer surface 13 located between the terminal portion 2 and the rod 3 and is fixed to the outer surface 13.
That is, in the compressor 104 according to the embodiment, the flat outer surface 13 located between the terminal portion 2 and the rod 3 is used. To be more specific, the thermal protector 5 is brought into contact with the outer surface 13 and fixed to the outer surface 13. It is therefore possible to reliably bring the thermal protector 5 into contact with the outer surface 13 of the container 1 regardless of whether another component is present or not. Therefore, it is possible to increase the accuracy of the temperature detection by the thermal protector 5 and reduce variations in temperature detection.
The thermal protector 5 is pressed by the terminal cover 4 fixed to the container 1 by the rod 3 and brought into contact with and fixed to the outer surface 13 of the container 1. Thus, in the compressor 104 according to the embodiment, the thermal protector 5 is not carelessly displaced from its fixed position by, for example, vibration or impact. Therefore, it is possible improve the accuracy of the temperature detection by the thermal protector 5.
The compressor 104 according to the embodiment further includes the protector holder 8 that accommodates the thermal protector 5 and is temporarily fixed to the terminal cover 4. The thermal protector 5 is accommodated and held by the protector holder 8. In this state, the thermal protector 5 is brought into contact with and fixed to the outer surface 13 of the container 1, while being accommodated and held by the protector holder 8. Therefore, in the compressor 104 according to the embodiment, 30 the thermal protector 5 is temporarily fixed to the terminal cover 4 via the protector holder 8, whereby it is possible to reduce displacement of the thermal protector 5 from the container 1 that would occur when the thermal protector 5 is fixed to the container 1. The thermal protector 5 is not unexpectedly displaced from its fixed position by, for example, vibration or impact, and it is possible to improve the accuracy of the temperature detection by the thermal protector 5.
The protector holder 8 has: the accommodation portion 80 that is formed in the shape of a recess to accommodate the thermal protector 5; the temporary fixation portion 81 that is temporarily fixed to the terminal cover 4; and the connection portion 82 that connects the accommodation portion 80 and the temporary fixation portion 81.
The accommodation portion 80 has: the placement surface portion 80a on which the thermal protector 5 is placed; and the wall surface portions 80b that raise from the placement surface portion 80a and covers at least part of the periphery of the thermal protector 5. That is, the protector holder 8 has a simple configuration, and can thus be easily set in a narrow space between the terminal portion 2 and the rod 3.
It should be noted that it is conceivable that a structure for fixation of the thermal protector 5 is formed at the terminal cover 4; instead of at the protector holder 8 as illustrated in figures. If the structure that holds the thermal protector 5 is formed at the terminal cover 4, the manufacturing cost can be reduced. However, in the compressor 104, in the case where the terminal portion 2 and the rod 3 are provided at the upper portion of the container 1, it is designed that the terminal portion 2 and the rod 3 are provided close to each other. This is because the terminal cover 4 that protects the terminal portion 2 is attached by the rod 3. In order to provide a configuration in which the thermal protector 5 is fixed by the terminal cover 4, which is formed of resin material, it is necessary to design dimensions of components in consideration of an increase in the thickness that is caused by use of the resin material. That is, it is hard that a structure for fixation of the thermal protector 5 is formed in a narrow space between the terminal portion 2 and the rod 3, while the structure has dimensions that increase because of use of the resin material. Furthermore, the resin material has a bad heat conductivity, and may reduce the accuracy of the temperature detection by the thermal protector 5.
The wall surface portions 80b are sized such that the contact surface of the thermal protector 5 that is to be in contact with the outer surface 13 of the container 1 can be projected from the accommodation portion 80 toward the outer surface 13 of the container 1. Thus, in the compressor 104 according to the embodiment, it is possible to reduce the probability with which the end portions of the wall surface portions 80b will be brought into contact with the outer surface 13 of the container 1 earlier than the contact surface of the thermal protector 5. It is therefore possible to reliably bring the thermal protector 5 into contact with the outer surface 13 of the container 1,
Furthermore, one of the wall surface portions 80b has the projection 80d that is brought into contact with the thermal protector 5 accommodated at the accommodation portion 80, thereby fixing the thermal protector 5 at the given position. Therefore, in the compressor 104 according to the embodiment, it is possible to reduce the probability with which the thermal protector 5 will be removed from the accommodation portion 80 or will be displaced from the given position, when the thermal protector 5 is fixed to the container 1. Furthermore, the thermal protector 5 is not carelessly displaced from the given position by, for example, vibration or impact. It is therefore also possible to improve the accuracy of the temperature detection by the thermal protector 5.
The temporary fixation portion 81 has elasticity. The terminal cover 4 has the engagement portion 42 which is formed in the shape of a recess and into which the temporary fixation portion 81 is inserted. The temporary fixation portion 81 inserted in the engagement portion 42 is temporarily fixed in the engagement portion 42 by its elasticity. That is, in the compressor 104 according to the embodiment, since the structure that temporarily fixes the protector holder 8 to the terminal cover 4 is simple, it is possible to improve the workability of assembly of the compressor 104, and reduce the manufacturing cost.
The groove portion 42a is provided at one of the engagement portion 42 and the temporary fixation portion 81, and the projection 81a is provided at the other of the engagement portion 42 and the temporary fixation portion 81 The projection 81a is fit in the groove portion 42a. Therefore, in the compressor 104 according to the embodiment, it is possible to improve the temporarily fixed state of the protector holder 8 temporarily fixed to the terminal cover 4.
The thermal protector 5 includes the leads 51. The terminal cover 4 includes the holding portion 43 which holds the leads 51 at the given positions, with the thermal protector 5 accommodated in the protector holder 8. Therefore, in the compressor 104 according to the embodiment, it is possible to fix the leads 51 at the given positions, and prevent the leads 51 from being caught between the terminal cover 4 and the upper surface of the container 1.
Although the compressor 104 and the outdoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus which includes the outdoor unit 100 are descried above, those descriptions are not limiting. For example, components included in the compressor 104 and the outdoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus are not limited to the components described above, and the compressor 104 and the outdoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus may include other components. Furthermore, the above descriptions concerning the configurations of the terminal cover 4 and the protector holder 8 are not limiting, and the terminal cover 4 and the protector holder 8 may be modified as appropriate, depending on, for example, the shapes or sizes of the container 1 and the thermal protector 5. That is, a design change and various applications that are ordinarily made by a person with ordinary skill in the art may be made for the compressor 104 and the outdoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus which includes the compressor 104, without departing from the technical concept of the compressor 104 and the outdoor unit 100.
1: container, 2: terminal portion, 3: rod, 4: terminal cover, 4a: terminal protection portion, 4b: rod insertion portion, 5: thermal protector, 6: thermistor, 7: thermistor attachment member, 8: protector holder, 10: suction pipe, 11: suction muffler, 12: discharge pipe, 13: outer surface, 20: power line, 30: nut, 40: through hole, 41: wall body, 42: engagement portion, 42a: groove portion, 43: holding portion, 50: protector main body, 51: lead, 70: engagement portion, 71: fixation portion, 80: accommodation portion, 80a: placement surface portion, 80b: wall surface portion, 80c: opening portion, 80d: projection, 81: temporary fixation portion, 81a: projection, 82: connection portion, 100: outdoor unit, 101: housing, 101a: front panel, 101b: right side panel, 101c: bottom panel, 101d: top panel, 101e: fan guard, 101f: leg portion, 101g: partition plate, 101h, 101i: opening portion, 102: heat exchanger, 103: fan. 104: compressor, 105: refrigerant pipe, 106: electric component unit, 107: power supply unit, 108: protection cover, A: fan chamber, B: machine chamber, S: space
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/JP2020/033779 | 9/7/2020 | WO |