SEALED COMPRESSOR

Abstract

A sealed compressor comprises an electric component; a compression component actuated by the electric component; a sealed container accommodating the electric component and the compression component; a suction pipe provided to suction a refrigerant into the sealed container; and a suction muffler having an inner space communicating with a compression chamber of the compression component and a suction port through which the refrigerant is suctioned into the inner space; a communicating passage for providing communication between the suction port of the suction muffler and the suction pipe, the communicating passage being made of a flexible material; and at least one cut portion provided in an end portion of the communicating passage at the suction pipe side such that the cut portion cuts a portion of the end portion.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a sealed compressor. Particularly, the present invention relates to a structure for suctioning a refrigerant into a compression component.

2. Description of the Related Art

There is known a conventional sealed compressor including a communicating passage made of a flexible material, which provides communication between a suction port of a suction muffler and a suction pipe of the suction muffler, to improve an efficiency (see e.g., Translation of PCT Application Publication No. Sho. 63-500878 and Translation of PCT Application Publication No. 2010-502900).

Hereinafter, this conventional sealed compressor will be described.

The conventional sealed compressor includes a sealed container which accommodates an electric component, and a compression component actuated by the electric component, and a suction pipe which provides communication between inside of the sealed container and outside of the sealed container.

The electric component and the compression component are assembled integrally. The electric component and the compression component are elastically supported in the sealed container by means of a plurality of coils.

The compression component includes a cylinder block in which a cylindrical compression chamber is formed, a piston inserted into the compression chamber such that the piston is reciprocatingly slidable, and a suction muffler having a muffling space communicating with the communication chamber.

The suction muffler includes a suction port through which the muffling space and an inner space of the sealed container communicate with each other. The suction port is attached with a communicating passage which provides communication between the suction port and the suction pipe.

A tip end portion of the communicating passage encloses the suction pipe and is pressed to elastically contact a wall surface of the sealed container.

Hereinafter, an operation of the conventional sealed compressor will be described.

When a current is supplied to the electric component, a rotor rotates, and thereby the piston reciprocates within the compression chamber, and the compression component performs a predetermined compression operation.

Thereupon, the refrigerant which has flowed from a cooling system is suctioned into the suction muffler from the suction pipe, via the communicating passage, and through the suction port. Then, the refrigerant is suctioned into the compression chamber through the muffling space. In the compression chamber, the refrigerant is compressed by the reciprocating motion of the piston. Thereafter, the refrigerant is discharged to the cooling system again.

The refrigerant with a relatively low temperature is suctioned into the suction muffler because the suction pipe and the suction port are communicated with each other via the communicating passage. As a result, a mass of the suctioned refrigerant (an amount of circulated refrigerant) per unit time increases, thereby improving an efficiency of the sealed compressor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, in the conventional configuration, there is a possibility that the tip end portion of the communicating passage is pressed unevenly against a curved surface of an inner wall of the sealed container. In addition, during transportation or stop of running of the sealed compressor, the electric component and the compression component which are elastically supported in the sealed container whirl, and thereby, a prying force is locally generated in the communicating passage. The communicating passage has an annular shape and has a high stiffness. Because of this, the prying force is easily transmitted to a mounting member by which the communicating passage is mounted to the suction muffler. If the prying force is applied to the communicating passage many times, the mounting member of the communicating passage may possibly be disengaged.

To avoid this, the sealed compressor disclosed in Translation of PCT Application Publication No. 2010-502900 includes a clamp for securing the communicating passage to the suction port. Since the clamp secures the mounting member of the communicating passage, the mounting member can be prevented from being disengaged. However, the compression component whirls around a tip end surface of the communicating passage pressed against the sealed container. If the prying force is applied repetitively to the communicating passage, a stress is generated in the vicinity of the mounting member of the communicating passage repetitively, which may probably damage the communicating passage.

The present invention is directed to solving the above described problem associated with the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a highly reliable sealed compressor which suppresses a force from being transmitted to the communicating passage, to prevent the communicating passage from being disengaged or damaged.

In order to solve the above described problem associated with the prior art, a sealed compressor of the present invention is configured such that a suction port of a suction muffler and a suction pipe are communicated with each other via a communicating passage made of a flexible material, and the communicating passage is provided with at least one cut portion on an end portion thereof at the suction pipe side such that the cut portion cuts a portion of the end portion.

In this configuration, the cut portion can reduce a stiffness of the end portion of the communicating passage at the suction pipe side, and mitigate a prying force. Therefore, it becomes possible to prevent the communicating passage from being disengaged or being damaged.

The communicating passage is pressed unevenly against the inner wall surface of the sealed container, due to a variation in accuracy of components, a variation in centering adjustment of the compression component in assembling, etc., or the compression component whirs during transportation or at stop of running of the sealed compressor, and thereby a force is applied to a localized portion of the communicating passage. However, in accordance with the present invention, it becomes possible to suppress the force from being transmitted to the communicating passage, prevent the communicating passage from being disengaged or damaged. Thus, a highly reliable sealed compressor can be provided.

The above and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will more fully be apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments with accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a sealed compressor according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the sealed compressor according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a communicating passage of the sealed compressor according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of major components of the sealed compressor according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, in a state in which the communicating passage is pressed unevenly to the sealed container.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of major components of the sealed compressor according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIGS. 6A to 6C are views schematically showing external appearances of communicating passages according to Modified examples of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a sealed compressor comprises: an electric component; a compression component actuated by the electric component; a sealed container accommodating the electric component and the compression component; a suction pipe provided to suction a refrigerant into the sealed container; and a suction muffler having an inner space communicating with a compression chamber of the compression component and a suction port through which the refrigerant is suctioned into the inner space; a communicating passage for providing communication between the suction port of the suction muffler and the suction pipe, the communicating passage being made of a flexible material; and at least one cut portion provided in an end portion of the communicating passage at the suction pipe side such that the cut portion cuts a portion of the end portion.

The term “cut portion” is defined as a portion which cuts a portion of a peripheral wall of the end portion of the communicating passage at the suction pipe side. The cut portion may have a linear shape or a hollow shape having an area. Hereinafter, the linear-shaped cut portion will be referred to as a “cut-in portion”, while the hollow cut portion having an area will be referred to as “hollow portion.” For example, the cut portion may be formed in such a manner that after a communicating passage having no cut portion is manufactured, its end portion is cut, or that a communicating passage having a cut portion in an end portion thereof is manufactured by resin molding, etc.

The “end portion” is defined as an end surface of the communicating passage at the suction pipe side and a portion in the vicinity of the end surface.

In accordance with this configuration, during transportation or stop of running of the sealed compressor, even when the compression component elastically supported inside of the sealed container whirl, and thereby the communicating passage is pressed unevenly against the sealed container, a prying force can be mitigated by the cut portion, and it becomes possible to prevent a force from being transmitted to the communicating passage. Thus, it becomes possible to prevent the communicating passage from being disengaged and a portion in the vicinity of the communicating passage from being damaged, which would be caused by the prying force. As a result, it is possible to provide a highly reliable sealed compressor.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, one end portion of the communicating passage is secured to the suction muffler, and the other end of the communicating passage is pressed against a portion of an inner peripheral surface of the sealed container which is around an opening end portion of the suction pipe.

In this configuration, the refrigerant which has returned from the cooling system is directly suctioned into the suction muffler. Therefore, a mass of the suctioned refrigerant per unit time increases, and the efficiency of the compressor is improved. Since the communicating passage is pressed against the inner wall surface of the sealed container, the prying force increases. However, this prying force is mitigated by the cut portion. Therefore, damage to the communicating passage can be prevented.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the cut portion may extend inward from an end portion of the communicating passage at the suction pipe side.

In this configuration, since the end portion of the communicating passage at the suction pipe side is cut, stiffness of the end portion of the communicating passage at the suction pipe side can be reduced effectively and easily.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the cut portion may have a linear shape.

In this configuration, since the cut portion has the linear shape, an amount of a warm refrigerant gas which is suctioned from an inner space of the sealed container into the suction muffler can be lessened. Thus, reduction of the efficiency of the sealed compressor can be suppressed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect, the linear-shaped cut portion may extend in the axial direction of the communicating passage.

If the cut portion extends in a circumferential direction of the communicating passage, a tensile strength in an axial direction of the communicating passage is reduced, and the communicating passage is more likely to be damaged. However, since the cut portion extends in the axial direction of the communicating passage, the stiffness of the end portion of the communicating passage at the suction pipe side can be reduced while suppressing reduction of a tensile stress in the axial direction of the communicating passage.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, at least one cut portion is positioned at a lower end side of the communicating passage.

In this configuration, since the communicating passage is closely mounted to the sealed container, liquid refrigerant or oil having a great specific gravity stays in a bottom portion of the communicating passage. The liquid refrigerant or oil is discharged through the cut portion. As a result, it becomes possible to provide a sealed compressor which has a high reliability and a high efficiency.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiment is in no way intended to limit the present invention.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a sealed compressor according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the sealed compressor according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a communicating passage of the sealed compressor according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of major components of the sealed compressor according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, in a state in which the communicating passage is displaced from a proper location. FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of major components of the sealed compressor according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, a sealed container 101 stores oil 102 in a bottom portion thereof, and accommodates an electric component 105 including a stator 103 and a rotor 104, and a compression component 106 actuated by the electric component 105, and a suction pipe 107 which provides communication between inside of the sealed container 101 and outside of the sealed container 101.

The electric component 105 and the compression component 106 are assembled integrally. The electric component 105 and the compression component 106 are elastically supported inside of the sealed container 101, by means of a plurality of coil springs 108. Although the coil springs 108 are used as an elastic support member, it is sufficient that the elastic support member is a member which elastically supports the electric component 105 and the compression component 106.

As the compression component 106, a known compressor may be used. In the present embodiment, as the compression component 106, a reciprocating compressor is used. The compression component 106 includes, for example, a cylinder block 110 in which a cylindrical compression chamber 109 is formed, a piston 111 inserted into the compression chamber 109 such that the piston 111 is reciprocatingly slidable, and a suction muffler 112 having a muffling space (inner space) 120 communicating with the compression chamber 109.

The suction muffler 112 includes a suction port 113 through which the muffling space 120 and an inner space of the sealed container 101 communicate with each other. Through the suction port 113, refrigerant is suctioned into the muffling space 120. The suction port 113 and the suction pipe 107 are communicated with each other via a communicating passage 114. The communicating passage 114 is made of a flexible material.

In the present embodiment, the communicating passage 114 is made of, for example, NBR (nitrile butadiene rubber). One end portion (base end portion) of the communicating passage 114 is secured to the suction muffler 112, while the other end portion (tip end portion) thereof is pressed against a portion of an inner peripheral surface of the sealed container 101 which is around an opening end of the suction pipe 107.

The communicating passage 114 and the suction port 113 of the suction muffler 112 may be secured to each other by means of a clamp and the like.

The communicating passage 114 extends from the suction port 113 of the suction muffler 112 to guide the refrigerant from the suction pipe 107 to the suction port 113 of the suction muffler 112. The communicating passage 114 encloses the opening end of the suction pipe 107 and is pressed against the inner wall surface of the sealed container 101 so as to elastically contact the inner wall surface. The communicating passage 114 has at least one cut-in portion 117 at the sealed container 101 side.

In the present embodiment, the communicating passage 114 has the cut-in portion (linear-shaped cut portion) 117 extending inward in an axial direction of the communicating passage 114 from an end surface of the communication passage 114 at the inner wall surface side of the sealed container 101 (end at the suction pipe 107 side).

The cut-in portion 117 has a circular hollow portion at a tip end thereof. This circular cut portion can prevent the cut-in portion 117 from spreading axially inward with a passage of a use time of the sealed compressor. The hollow portion may have a desired shape, or may be omitted.

An opening of the cut-in portion 117 is formed to have a minimum dimension and designed so that portions at both sides of the cut-in portion 117 are not apart from each other, under no load condition. A portion of the cut-in portion 117 is disposed at a lower end side of the communicating passage 114 and at a lower surface side of the compressor.

In the present embodiment, as the refrigerant, R600a is used. Alternatively, R134a, R410a, or another refrigerant may be used.

Next, an operation and advantages of the sealed compressor configured as described above will be described.

When a current is supplied from an outside power supply to the electric component 105, the rotor 104 rotates. Thereby, the piston 111 reciprocates within the compression chamber 109 and the compression component 106 performs a predetermined compression operation.

During a suction process, a pressure in the combustion chamber 109 is lowered. With this, a pressure in the communicating passage 114 is lowered, so that the refrigerant is guided from an outside refrigeration system (not shown) to the interior of the compressor via the suction pipe 107.

The refrigerant is guided to the communicating passage 114 through the suction pipe 107 and then is suctioned into the compression chamber 109 through the muffling space 120 of the suction muffler 112.

The refrigerant is compressed within the compression chamber 109 by the reciprocating motion of the piston 111, and then discharged to the cooling system again. At this time, a pulsation of the refrigerant which is caused by the compression is damped in the muffling space 120 of the suction muffler 112 and thereby a noise is mitigated.

Since the suction pipe 113 and the suction pipe 107 are communicated with each other via the communicating passage 114, the refrigerant with a relatively low temperature is suctioned into the suction muffler 112, and compressed in the compression chamber 109. As a result, a mass of the suctioned refrigerant (an amount of circulated refrigerant) per unit time increases, and a freezing ability increases, thereby improving an efficiency of the sealed compressor.

Since the compression component 106 is elastically supported in the sealed container 101 by means of the coil springs 108, the compression component 106 is displaced significantly under an influence of the rotor 104 at start-up of the compressor. Or, at stop of the compressor, the piston 111 is pushed back by a pressure within the compression chamber 109, and thereby the compression component 106 is displaced significantly. The coil springs 108 are configured to have low stiffness to damp a vibration generated in the compression component 106 and transmitted to the sealed container 101 so that a vibration of the compressor is reduced. And, it is difficult to prevent the compression component 106 from being displaced. If the stiffness of the communicating passage 114 mounted so as to contact the inner wall surface of the sealed container 101 is high, a communicating passage mounting member 115 will be damaged (disengaged) by an impact generated by a collision between the communicating passage 114 and the sealed container 101, which is caused by the significant displacement of the compression component 106 at start-up and at stop of the compressor.

However, since the communicating passage 114 is provided with the cut-in portion 117, the cut-in portion 117 is deflected even when the compression component 106 is displaced significantly. Thereby, the impact caused by the collision between the communicating passage 114 and the sealed container 101 can be damped, and damage to the communicating passage 114 can be avoided.

During transportation or stop of running of the sealed compressor, even when the compression component 106 elastically supported inside of the sealed container 101 whirl, and thereby the communicating passage 114 is pressed unevenly against the inner wall surface of the sealed container 101, a prying force can be mitigated by the cut-in portion 117, and it becomes possible to prevent a force from being transmitted to the communicating passage 114. Thus, it becomes possible to prevent the communicating passage 114 from being disengaged and a portion in the vicinity of the communicating passage 114 from being damaged, which would be caused by the prying force. As a result, it is possible to provide a highly reliable sealed compressor.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, one end portion of the communicating passage 114 is secured to the suction muffler 112, and the other end portion of the communicating passage 114 is pressed against a portion of the inner peripheral surface of the sealed container 101 which is around the opening end portion of the suction pipe 107. In this configuration, the refrigerant which has returned from the cooling system is directly suctioned into the suction muffler 112. Therefore, a mass of the suctioned refrigerant per unit time increases, and the efficiency of the compressor is improved. Since the communicating passage 114 is pressed against the inner wall surface of the sealed container 101, the prying force increases. However, this prying force is mitigated by the cut-in portion 117. Therefore, damage to the communicating passage 114 can be prevented.

In the present embodiment, the cut-in portion 117 extends inward from the end portion of the communicating passage 114 at the suction pipe 107 side. Since the end portion of the communicating passage 114 at the suction pipe 107 side is cut, stiffness of the end portion of the communicating passage 114 at the suction pipe 107 side can be reduced effectively and easily.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the cut-in portion 117 has a linear shape. Because of this, an amount of the warm refrigerant gas which is suctioned from an inner space of the sealed container 101 into the suction muffler 112 can be lessened. Thus, reduction of the efficiency of the sealed compressor can be suppressed.

In the present embodiment, the linear-shaped cut-in portion 117 extends in the axial direction of the communicating passage 114. If the cut-in portion 117 extends in the circumferential direction of the communicating passage 114, a tensile strength in the axial direction of the communicating passage 114 is reduced, and the communicating passage 114 is more likely to be damaged. However, since the cut-in portion 117 extends in the axial direction of the communicating passage 114 as described above, stiffness of the end portion of the communicating passage 114 at the suction pipe 107 side can be reduced while suppressing reduction of the tensile strength in the axial direction of the communicating passage 114.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, a portion of the cut-in portion 117 is disposed at a lower end side of the communicating passage 114. In a case where the refrigerant guided to the communicating passage 114 through the suction pipe 107 is liquid refrigerant, or contains plenty of oil 102, as shown in FIG. 5, a portion of the liquid refrigerant or oil 102 stays in a lower surface portion of the communicating passage 114, because its specific gravity is great. However, the liquid refrigerant or oil 102 is discharged through the cut-in portion 117. This makes it possible to prevent the liquid refrigerant or oil 102 from being suctioned through the communicating passage 114. As a result, it becomes possible to prevent reduction of a suction efficiency of the refrigerant.

Specifically, the communicating passage 114 is closely mounted to the sealed container 101, the liquid refrigerant or oil 102 having a great specific gravity stays in the bottom portion of the communicating passage 114. The liquid refrigerant or oil 102 is discharged through the cut-in portion 117. As a result, it becomes possible to provide a sealed compressor which has a high reliability and a high efficiency.

Although in the present embodiment, three cut portions 117 are provided at intervals of 120 degrees, at least one cut-in portion 117 may be provided. For example, two, or four or more cut-in portions may be provided.

(Modified example)

Although in the present embodiment, the communicating passage 114 includes the cut-in portion 117 extending in the axial direction of the communicating passage 114 inward from the end surface at the inner wall surface side of the sealed container 101, another configuration may be provided so long as a portion of the cut-in portion 117 is disposed at the lower end side at the communicating passage 114.

FIGS. 6A to 6C are views schematically showing external appearances of communicating passages according to Modified examples of the present invention. FIG. 6A shows first Modified example. FIG. 6B shows second Modified example. FIG. 6C shows third Modified example.

Specifically, FIG. 6A shows a linear-shaped cut portion. FIG. 6B shows an example of a hollow portion in which a cut portion has a hollow shape having an area. FIG. 6C shows another example of a hollow portion in which a cut portion has a hollow shape having an area.

In first Modified example, in a communicating passage 114A, a cut-in portion 117A extends in the axial direction of the communicating passage 114A at the suction pipe 107 side. The cut-in portion 117A may extend in a desired direction.

In second Modified example, in a communicating passage 114B, a hollow portion 117B has a semi-circular shape and is provided on an end surface of the communicating passage 114B at the suction pipe 107 side. The hollow portion 117B may have a desired shape.

In third Modified example, in a communicating passage 114C, a hollow portion 117C has a circular shape and is provided at the suction pipe 107 side. The hollow portion 117C may have a desired shape.

In another Modified example, any of the cut-in portion 117A, the hollow portion 117B, and the hollow portion 117C may be combined suitably. In any case, since it is possible to prevent the communicating passage 114 from being disengaged and a portion in the vicinity of the communicating passage 114 from being damaged, which would be caused by the prying force. As a result, it is possible to provide a highly reliable sealed compressor.

The sealed compressor of the present invention is applicable to sealed compressors for use with air conditioners, refrigerator-freezer devices, automatic dispensers, heat pump hot water supply devices, heat pump laundry machines, etc.

Numeral modifications and alternative embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, the description is to be construed as illustrative only, and is provided for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode of carrying out the invention. The details of the structure and/or function may be varied substantially without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A sealed compressor comprising:

an electric component;

a compression component actuated by the electric component;

a sealed container accommodating the electric component and the compression component;

a suction pipe provided to suction a refrigerant into the sealed container; and

a suction muffler having an inner space communicating with a compression chamber of the compression component and a suction port through which the refrigerant is suctioned into the inner space;

a communicating passage for providing communication between the suction port of the suction muffler and the suction pipe, the communicating passage being made of a flexible material; and

at least one cut portion provided in an end portion of the communicating passage at the suction pipe side such that the cut portion cuts a portion of the end portion.

2. The sealed compressor according to claim 1, wherein one end portion of the communicating passage is secured to the suction muffler, and the other end portion of the communicating passage is pressed against a portion of an inner peripheral surface of the sealed container which is around an opening end portion of the suction pipe.

3. The sealed compressor according to claim 1, wherein the cut portion extends inward from an end portion of the communicating passage at the suction pipe side.

4. The sealed compressor according to claim 1, wherein the cut portion has a linear shape.

5. The sealed container according to claim 4, wherein the linear-shaped cut portion extends in an axial direction of the communicating passage.

6. The sealed compressor according to claim 1, wherein at least one cut portion is positioned at a lower end side of the communicating passage.