REFRIGERANT COMPRESSOR PROVIDED WITH A SOUND DAMPER FOR AN AIR CONDTIONING UNIT

Abstract

The invention relates to a refrigerant compressor provided with a muffler for an air conditioning unit in a vehicle, wherein the refrigerant compressor includes a swash plate or pivoting ring rotatably supported in a casing of the refrigerant compressor for driving axially moving pistons arranged in cylinders, a suction side provided with an inlet channel and an inlet chamber, and a pressure side provided with an outlet channel and an outlet chamber. The muffler including a partition wall having a plurality of apertures formed therein is disposed in at least one of the suction side and the outlet side of the casing.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the exemplary, not-limiting embodiments here preferred when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings in which is shown by:

FIG. 1 is a schematic of a refrigerant compressor from prior art;

FIG. 2 is a schematic of a refrigerant compressor provided with a muffler including a partition wall having a plurality of apertures disposed in a suction-side of the compressor according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic of a refrigerant compressor provided with a muffler including a partition wall having a plurality of apertures disposed in a pressure-side of the compressor according to another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a refrigerant compressor with an inlet channel and an inlet chamber.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following detailed description and appended drawings describe and illustrate various exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description and drawings serve to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner.

FIG. 1 shows a refrigerant compressor 1 of prior art. The refrigerant compressor 1 includes a casing 2, an inlet channel 3 leading into a inlet chamber 4 having a generally circular cross-sectional shape, an outlet chamber 5 having a generally annular cross-sectional shape surrounding the inlet chamber 4, and an outlet channel 6 which in a direction of a flow of a compressed refrigerant is disposed subsequently to the outlet chamber 5.

As clearly shown in FIG. 1, the inlet channel 3 having a substantially uniform cross-section is formed to extend through the outlet chamber 5. The refrigerant flows into the inlet chamber 4 passing through a face-side opening, or through an unobstructed cross-sectional area of the inlet channel 3. The outlet channel 6 having a substantially uniform cross-section is formed to militate against the acceleration and deceleration of the refrigerant flowing from the outlet chamber 5 into the outlet channel 6, as there is only one face-side opening, or unobstructed cross-section of the outlet channel 6. The refrigerant drawn into and through the inlet chamber 4 flows in direction of the longitudinal axis of the inlet channel 3, and the compressed refrigerant drawn into and through the outlet chamber 5 flows in direction of the longitudinal axis of the outlet channel 6.

FIG. 2 illustrates a refrigerant compressor 1 according to an embodiment of the invention provided with a muffler 8 disposed in a suction side of the compressor 1. The basic structure of the refrigerant compressor 1 is similar to the refrigerant compressor illustrated in FIG. 1. The muffler 8 includes a partition wall 7 having a plurality of apertures 9 formed therein. The partition wall 7 is an integral component of an inlet channel 3 and thus also of a casing 2. An inlet chamber 4 extends from a first distal end passing through an annular outlet chamber 5 to a second distal end, which ends within the inlet chamber 4. In the region of the second distal end, which ends within the inlet chamber 4, the apertures 9 of the partition wall 7 are adapted for the flow of a refrigerant therethrough. In the embodiment shown, the partition wall 7 includes seven apertures 9 disposed in two rows. The second distal end of the inlet channel 3, the distal end ending within the inlet chamber 4, has a face side which is substantially closed tight to mediums. All apertures 9 are substantially equidistant from each other for hydrodynamic reasons such that neighboring apertures 9 of a row and neighboring apertures 9 of column are substantially equidistant from each other.

A direction of flow of the refrigerant follows from the position of the apertures 9, which extend substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the inlet channel 3 and substantially parallel to each other. Therefore, the direction of flow is generally redirected about 90 degrees within the inlet channel 3, resulting in a flow pressure loss. The flow pressure loss is compensated for by a greater number of apertures 9. However, the number and cross-sectional area of the apertures 9 are dependent on the cross-sectional area of the inlet channel 3 such as the sum of the cross-sectional areas of all apertures 9 formed in the partition wall 7 is equal to 0.5-fold of the cross-sectional area of the inlet channel 3. In contrast, the outlet channel 6 has only one aperture 9 formed in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the outlet channel 6. The aperture 9 is formed by the face of the outlet channel 6, the face being open in the direction of the outlet chamber 5.

FIG. 3 shows a refrigerant compressor 1 according to another embodiment of the invention having a muffler 8 for pressure pulsation attenuation disposed in the pressure side of the refrigerant compressor 1. The basic structure of the refrigerant compressor 1 is similar to the refrigerant compressor illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The muffler 8 includes a partition wall 7 and is an integral component of an outlet channel 6 and thus a casing 2. Within the partition wall 7, in the region of an outlet chamber 5, a plurality of apertures 9 is formed therein substantially parallel and equidistant to each other. In the embodiment shown, the partition wall 7 includes five apertures formed therein.

A flow connection between the outlet chamber 5 and the outlet channel 6 for a compressed refrigerant is achieved through the apertures 9. The inlet channel 3 extending through the annular outlet chamber 5 includes at least one aperture 9. In the embodiment shown, the inlet channel 3 includes one aperture 9 which corresponds to the cross-section of the inlet channel 3. The face of the inlet channel 3, which is directed towards the inlet chamber 4, and the face of the outlet channel 6, which is directed towards the outlet chamber 5, are substantially closed tight to mediums.

The apertures 9 of the partition wall 7 of the muffler 8 disposed in the pressure side and the aperture 9 leading into the inlet chamber 4 of the inlet channel 3 are formed substantially orthogonal to the direction of inflow of the refrigerant into the refrigerant compressor 1 and orthogonal to the direction of outflow of the refrigerant out of the refrigerant compressor 1, respectively. Therefore the flow of refrigerant into the inlet chamber 4 and the outlet channel 6 subsequent the pressure increase is redirected.

The path of the inventive idea will not be left even if both the inlet channel 3 and the outlet channel 6 of the refrigerant compressor 1 are provided with a muffler 8 including a partition wall 7 having a plurality of apertures 9.

FIG. 4 illustrates a refrigerant compressor 1 provided with a muffler 8 according to another embodiment of the invention. In the embodiment shown, the muffler 8 includes a partition wall 7 having five apertures 9. The partition wall 7, which limits an inlet chamber 4 against an inlet channel 3, is an integral component of the cylindrical inlet channel 3 and therefore a casing 2. The apertures 9 are disposed in at least one row, each aperture 9 having a generally circular cross-section. A flow connection between an inlet channel 3 and an inlet chamber 4 for a refrigerant drawn into and through the inlet channel 3 into the inlet chamber 4 is achieved through the apertures 9.

From the foregoing description, one ordinarily skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications to the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.

NOMENCLATURE
1 refrigerant compressor
2 casing
3 inlet channel
4 inlet chamber
5 outlet chamber
6 outlet channel
7 partition wall
8 muffler
9 apertures

Claims

1. A muffler comprising: a partition wall disposed in a casing to reflect fluid pressure waves, and thereby minimize fluid pressure pulsations, wherein the casing includes an inlet having an inlet channel and an inlet chamber in fluid communication with an outlet having an outlet channel and an outlet chamber; andat least two apertures formed in the partition wall.

2. The muffler according to claim 1, wherein the partition wall is disposed in at least one of the inlet channel and the outlet channel.

3. The muffler according to claim 1, wherein the partition wall has a generally arcuate cross-sectional shape.

4. The muffler according to claim 1, wherein the apertures are formed substantially orthogonal to a flow of a fluid through at least one of the inlet and the outlet.

5. The muffler according to claim 1, wherein the apertures are equidistant from each other.

6. The muffler according to claim 1, wherein the partition wall and associated apertures facilitate an interchange of hydrodynamic and hydrostatic pressure proportions of a total fluid pressure.

7. The muffler according to claim 1, wherein a sum of cross-sectional areas of the apertures is less than a cross-sectional area of at least one of the inlet channel and the outlet channel.

8. The muffler according to claim 7, wherein the sum of cross-sectional areas of the apertures is in the range of 0.3 to 0.7 of the cross-sectional area of at least one of the inlet channel and the outlet channel.

9. The muffler according to claim 7, wherein the cross-sectional area of the apertures is dependent on a disposition of the partition wall in the casing, whereby the apertures disposed in a longer fluid flow path are formed having a larger cross-sectional area to compensate for a fluid pressure loss.

10. The muffler according to claim 7, wherein a fluid pressure pulsation attenuation is dependent on the cross-sectional area of the apertures, whereby the fluid pressure pulsation attenuation increases as the cross-sectional area of the apertures decreases.

11. The muffler according to claim 1, wherein the partition wall includes five apertures having a circular diameter of 3 mm.

12. The muffler according to claim 1, wherein the partition wall is formed as an integral part of the casing.

13. The muffler according to claim 1, wherein the muffler is disposed in a refrigerant compressor.

14. A muffler assembly comprising: a casing having an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet, wherein the inlet includes an inlet channel and an inlet chamber and the outlet includes an outlet channel and an outlet chamber; anda partition wall having a generally arcuate cross-sectional shape integrally formed with the casing in at least one of the inlet channel and the outlet channel to reflect fluid pressure waves and thereby minimize fluid pressure pulsations, the partition wall having a plurality of apertures formed therein substantially orthogonal to a flow of a fluid through at least one of the inlet and the outlet and substantially equidistant from each other to facilitate an interchange of hydrodynamic and hydrostatic pressure proportions of a total fluid pressure, wherein a sum of cross-sectional areas of the apertures is less than a cross-sectional area of the at least one of the inlet channel and the outlet channel and dependent on a disposition of the partition wall in the casing, whereby the apertures disposed in a longer fluid flow path are formed having a larger cross-sectional area to compensate for a fluid pressure loss, and wherein the minimized fluid pressure pulsation is dependent on the cross-sectional area of the apertures, whereby a fluid pressure pulsation attenuation increases as the cross-sectional area of the apertures decreases.

15. The muffler assembly according to claim 14, wherein the sum of cross-sectional areas of the apertures is in the range of 0.3 to 0.7 of the cross-sectional area of the at least one of the inlet channel and the outlet channel.

16. The muffler assembly according to claim 14, wherein the partition wall includes five apertures having a circular diameter of 3 mm.

17. The muffler assembly according to claim 14, wherein the muffler is disposed in a refrigerant compressor.

18. A compressor comprising: a casing having a swash plate rotatably supported therein for driving a plurality of axially moving pistons disposed in a plurality of cylinders;an inlet including an inlet channel and an inlet chamber formed in the casing,an outlet including an outlet channel and an outlet chamber formed in the casing in fluid communication with the inlet; anda muffler disposed in at least one of the inlet and the outlet, the muffler including a partition wall having a generally arcuate cross-sectional shape integrally formed with the casing in at least one of the inlet channel and the outlet channel to reflect fluid pressure waves and thereby minimize fluid pressure pulsation, the partition wall having a plurality of apertures formed therein substantially orthogonal to a flow of a fluid through at least one of the inlet and the outlet and substantially equidistant from each other to facilitate an interchange of hydrodynamic and hydrostatic pressure proportions of a total fluid pressure, wherein a sum of cross-sectional areas of the apertures is less than a cross-sectional area of the at least one of the inlet channel and the outlet channel and dependent on a disposition of the partition wall in the casing, whereby the apertures disposed in a longer fluid flow path are formed having a larger cross-sectional area to compensate for a fluid pressure loss, and wherein the minimized fluid pressure pulsation is dependent on the cross-sectional area of the apertures, whereby a fluid pressure pulsation attenuation increases as the cross-sectional area of the apertures decreases.

19. The compressor according to claim 18, wherein the sum of cross-sectional areas of the apertures is in the range of 0.3 to 0.7 of the cross-sectional area of the at least one of the inlet channel and the outlet channel.

20. The compressor according to claim 18, wherein the partition wall includes five apertures having a circular diameter of 3 mm.