Suction muffler for hermetic compressor

Abstract

Disclosed is a suction muffler for a hermetic compressor. The suction muffler includes first and second bodies coupled to each other. The first and second bodies have coupling protrusion and recess formed in corresponding positions, respectively. A coupling rib protrudes from the coupling protrusion, and a coupling channel is formed as an indentation on the coupling recess. Coupling guide surfaces are formed on corresponding portions of the coupling rib and recess, respectively, so that the coupling protrusion and recess can be fastened to each other more smoothly. The coupling guide surfaces of the coupling protrusion and recess guide and facilitate the coupling between the first and second bodies. The coupling protrusion and recess are coupled to each other by geometric characteristics so that no separate process is necessary to couple the first and second bodies to each other. This improves the productivity and quality of the suction muffler.

Description

This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-75969 filed on Jul. 27, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a hermetic compressor, and more particularly to a suction muffler for removing noise from a path of a working fluid to a compression chamber in a hermetic compressor.

2. Description of the Prior Art

FIG. 1 shows the internal construction of a hermetic compressor according to the prior art. As shown, the exterior of the compressor is formed by a hermetic container, which is separated into a lower container 1 and an upper container (not shown). The hermetic container houses various components of the compressor. A mounting plate 3 is positioned beneath the lower container 1 to retain the compressor in a specific position.

A frame 5 is installed inside the lower container 1 and is provided with various components of the compressor. A motor unit 7 is positioned beneath the frame 5. Particularly, a stator 8 is fixedly installed on the frame 5, and a rotator 9 is installed to extend through the interior of the stator 8 vertically. The rotator 9 is rotated by its electromagnetic interaction with the stator 8.

A structure for compressing the working fluid by means of driving force from the motor unit 7 is positioned on the frame 5. A crankshaft 10 is installed to extend through the frame 5 so that its center of rotation coincides with that of the rotator 9. A portion of the crankshaft 10, which extends below the frame 5, is press-fitted to the center of the rotator 9 so that the crankshaft 10 and the rotator 9 rotate as an integral unit.

An eccentric pin 11 is positioned on the top of the crankshaft 10 at a distance from the center of rotation of the crankshaft 10. The eccentric pin 11 is connected to one end of a connecting rod 13, the other end of which is connected to a piston 15 so that rotational force of the crankshaft 10 is converted into a linear reciprocating movement of the piston 15.

The piston 15 is positioned inside a compression chamber formed to extend through a cylinder 17 positioned on the frame 5. The piston 15 linearly reciprocates inside the compression chamber to compress the working fluid.

A valve assembly 18 is installed on the leading end of the cylinder 17 to control the working fluid flowing into/out of the compression chamber. A head cover assembly 19 is provided together with the valve assembly 18, and the interior of the head cover assembly 19 is structured so that, after passing through the valve assembly 18, the working fluid can flow therein.

In order to remove the noise of the working fluid flowing into the compression chamber of the cylinder 17 via the valve assembly 18, a suction muffler 20 is provided, the construction of which will now be described with reference to FIG. 2.

The suction muffler 20 consists of upper and lower bodies 21 and 22, which have a predetermined space defined therein. The upper and lower bodies 21 and 22 are coupled to each other by ultrasonic welding so that a space is created inside the suction muffler 20. To this end, the upper and lower bodies 21 and 22 have ultrasonic welding protrusion and recess 21′ and 22′ formed thereon, respectively. It is to be noted that the ultrasonic welding protrusion 21′ is first inserted into the ultrasonic welding recess 22′, and then they are welded to each other by ultrasonic waves.

An emitter 23 protrudes from the upper body 21. The emitter 23 is positioned between the head cover assembly 19 and the valve assembly 18 to selectively communicate with the compression chamber. A passage extends inside the emitter 23 so that the interior of the suction muffler 20 communicates with the compression chamber. The passage leads to an exit duct 24 inside the upper body 21.

A suction unit 25 is formed on one side of the lower portion of the lower body 22. A suction hole 26 is formed on the suction unit 25 so that the outside of the suction muffler 20 communicates with the inside of the lower body 22. The working fluid is delivered into the suction muffler 20 via the suction hole 26.

In the drawing, reference numeral 20′ refers to an emission muffler, and reference numeral 27 refers to an oil discharge hole for discharging oil, which has been delivered into the suction muffler 20, to the outside.

However, the above-mentioned suction muffler according to the prior art has the following problems.

The ultrasonic welding between the upper and lower bodies 21 and 22 according to the prior art requires that the ultrasonic welding protrusion 21′ be inserted into the ultrasonic welding recess 22′. However, the ultrasonic welding protrusion and recess 21′ and 22′ extend throughout the entire portions of the upper and lower bodies 21 and 22, which are coupled to each other, as closed loops. This means that it is very difficult to couple the ultrasonic welding protrusion and recess 21′ and 22′ to each other accurately and simultaneously. The fact that there is no structure for guiding the coupling between the ultrasonic welding protrusion and recess 21′ and 22′ makes the coupling process even more difficult.

After the ultrasonic welding protrusion and recess 21′ and 22′ are coupled to each other anyhow, they must be welded to each other. Particularly, parts of the ultrasonic welding protrusion and recess 21′ and 22′ are melted and integrated to each other. However, this welding process requires heating, which creates welding burrs as parts of the ultrasonic welding protrusion and recess 21′ and 22′ melt and then solidify. The welding burrs may move together with the working fluid inside the compressor and cause it to malfunction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and the present invention provides a suction muffler having structures formed on corresponding portions of bodies, which are to be coupled to each other, to guide the coupling between the bodies.

The present invention also provides a suction muffler having bodies coupled to each other by geometric characteristics of coupling protrusion and recess of the bodies.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a suction muffler for a hermetic compressor, including a first body having an inner space having an opening; a second body having an inner space having an opening, the second body being coupled to the first body to create a space for allowing a working fluid to flow and for removing noise; and a coupling protrusion and a coupling recess having a coupling rib and a coupling channel formed in corresponding positions along rims of the openings of the inner spaces of the first and second bodies, respectively, so that the first and second bodies are coupled to each other by coupling the coupling rib and the coupling channel to each other.

The coupling rib of the coupling protrusion protrudes in a direction perpendicular to a direction of coupling between the first and second bodies, and the coupling channel of the coupling recess is an indentation extending in the direction perpendicular to the direction of coupling between the first and second bodies.

The coupling rib protrudes outward along an outer surface of one of the first and second bodies, and the coupling channel is an indentation formed along an inner surface of the other of the first and second bodies.

The coupling rib is formed along the entire outer surface of one of the first and second bodies.

The coupling rib is formed intermittently along the outer surface of one of the first and second bodies.

A coupling guide surface is formed in at least one of corresponding positions on the coupling rib of the coupling protrusion and on the coupling recess to guide coupling between the coupling protrusion and the coupling recess.

The coupling guide surface is a rounded surface or a chamfer.

A spacer is formed on one of the first and second bodies to force a surface of the coupling rib, the surface lying opposite the coupling guide surface, against a lateral surface of the coupling channel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above objects, and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent after a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the major construction of a hermetic compressor according to the prior art;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the construction of a hermetic compressor according to the prior art, including partial sectional views;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the construction of a suction muffler for a hermetic compressor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded sectional view showing the major construction of a suction muffler for a hermetic compressor according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the major construction of a suction muffler for a hermetic compressor according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is an exploded sectional view showing the major construction of a suction muffler for a hermetic compressor according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a suction muffler for a hermetic compressor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the construction of a suction muffler for a hermetic compressor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is an exploded sectional view showing the major construction of the suction muffler; and FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the major construction of the suction muffler.

As shown in the drawings, the suction muffler includes first and second bodies 31 and 32, which are made of synthetic resin, and each of which has a space defined therein. The first and second bodies 31 and 32 are coupled to each other by coupling protrusion and recess 40 and 50 (described later) so that a space for removing noise is created inside the suction muffler.

It is to be noted that the suction muffler does not necessary consist of two pieces (i.e. first and second bodies 31 and 32), and more than two pieces may constitute the muffler. Those skilled in the art can understand that, although the suction muffler is divided into upper and lower portions, which correspond to the first and second bodies 31 and 32, respectively, according to the present embodiment, it is also possible to divide the suction muffler into left and right portions, which correspond to first and second bodies, respectively, or vice versa.

An emitter 33 protrudes from the first body 31. The emitter 33 is positioned between a head cover assembly and a valve assembly. The inside of the suction muffler selectively communicates with the inside of a compression chamber via the emitter 33 by means of the valve assembly. A passage extends inside the emitter 33 so that the inside of the suction muffler communicates with the compression chamber. The passage leads to an exit duct 34 inside the first body 31.

A suction unit 35 is formed on one side of the lower portion of the second body 32. A suction hole 36 is formed on the suction unit 35 so that the outside of the suction muffler communicates with the inside of the second body 32. The working fluid is delivered into the suction muffler via the suction hole 36.

In order to couple the first and second bodies 31 and 32 to each other, coupling protrusion and recess 40 and 50 are formed in corresponding positions on the first and second bodies 31 and 32, respectively. The coupling protrusion and recess 40 and 50 are coupled to each other by geometric characteristics. According to the illustrated embodiment, the coupling protrusion 40 is formed along the rim of the opening of the inner space of the first body 31, and the coupling recess 50 is formed along the rim of the opening of the inner space of the second body 32. It is also possible to form the coupling protrusion and recess 40 and 50 on the second body 32 and on the first body 31, respectively.

The coupling protrusion 40 has a coupling rib 42 protruding from the outer surface of the first body 31 up to a predetermined length. The coupling rib 42 preferably protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the direction of coupling between the first and second bodies 31 and 32. The coupling rib 42 forms a closed loop along the edge of the first body 31. Those skilled in the art can understand that the coupling rib 42 does not necessary form a closed loop, i.e. the coupling rib 42 may extend intermittently.

A coupling guide surface 43 is formed on the leading end of the coupling rib 42, which faces the coupling recess 50 of the second body 32. The coupling guide surface 43 is a rounded surface according to the present embodiment.

The coupling recess 50 has a coupling channel 52 formed by indenting the inner surface of the second body 32. Particularly, the coupling channel 52 is formed in a predetermined position on the inner surface of the inner space of the second body 32 by indenting the inner surface as much as the coupling rib 42 can be inserted. The direction of indenting the inner surface to form the coupling channel 52 is perpendicular to the direction of coupling between the first and second bodies 31 and 32. The coupling channel 52 forms a closed loop along the inner surface of the second body 32.

A coupling guide surface 53 is formed on a portion of the coupling recess 50, which faces the coupling protrusion 40 of the first body 31. The coupling guide surface 53 is rounded according to the present embodiment. The coupling guide surface 53 cooperates with the coupling guide surface 43 of the coupling protrusion 40 to guide the coupling between the coupling protrusion and recess 40 and 50. Those skilled in the art can understand that, according to design requirements, both coupling protrusion and recess 40 and 50 do not necessarily have coupling guide surfaces 43 and 53. In other words, at least one of the coupling protrusion and recess 40 and 50 has a coupling guide surface.

FIG. 6 shows a suction muffler for a hermetic compressor according to another embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the coupling guide surfaces 43′ and 53′ of the coupling protrusion and recess 40 and 50 are chamfers. In other words, the coupling protrusion and recess 40 and 50 are chamfered to form the coupling guide surfaces 43′ and 53′, respectively.

In the drawing, reference numeral 27 refers to an oil discharge hole for discharging oil, which has been delivered into the suction muffler, to the outside.

The operation of the suction muffler for a hermetic compressor according to the present invention, which has the above-mentioned construction, will now be described in detail.

The first and second bodies 31 and 32 of the suction muffler according to the present invention are molded in a predetermined shape, and are assembled by coupling the coupling protrusion 40 and recess 50 of the first and second bodies 31 and 32 to each other.

Particularly, the coupling rib 42 of the coupling protrusion 40 is inserted into the coupling channel 52 of the coupling recess 50 to couple both bodies. The insertion of the coupling rib 42 into the coupling channel 52 is guided by the coupling guide surfaces 43 and 53 formed on at least one of the coupling protrusion and recess 40 and 50.

This will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 5. The operator applies force F to couple the first and second bodies 31 and 32 to each other. Since the first and second bodies 31 and 32 are made of synthetic resin, the coupling protrusion and recess 40 and 50 are slightly deformed elastically along arrows A and B under the guidance of the coupling guide surfaces 43 and 53. The elastic deformation of the coupling protrusion and recess 40 and 50 causes the first and second bodies 31 and 32 to approach each other in the same direction as the force F is applied, so that the coupling rib 42 is inserted into the coupling channel 52. The coupling protrusion and recess 40 and 50 return to the original position or remain slightly deformed elastically as soon as the coupling rib 42 is inserted into the coupling channel 52.

FIG. 5 shows the coupling rib 42 of the coupling protrusion 40 inserted into the coupling channel 52 of the coupling recess 50. The coupling rib 42 is not necessarily press-fitted to the coupling channel 52. However, in order to prevent leakage through the portion of the coupling rib 42 inserted into the coupling channel 52, the surface of the coupling rib 42 lying opposite the coupling guide surface 43 is preferably fastened against a lateral surface of the coupling channel 52. To this end, one of the first and second bodies 31 and 32 may have a protrusion-type spacer (not shown) for fastening the surface of the coupling rib 42 against the lateral surface of the coupling channel 52.

According to design requirements, it is also possible to place a seal inside the coupling channel 52 to prevent the working fluid from leaking.

As such, the suction muffler is positioned between the valve assembly and the head cover assembly and is installed so that its interior communicates with the compression chamber via the emitter 33. That is, the compression chamber selectively communicates with the inside of the suction muffler by means of the valve assembly so that the working fluid is delivered into the compression chamber. The space inside the suction muffler absorbs and dampens the noise of the working fluid, the noise created in the compression chamber, etc.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A suction muffler for a hermetic compressor, comprising:

a first body having an inner space having an opening;

a second body having an inner space having an opening, the second body being coupled to the first body to create a space for allowing a working fluid to flow and for removing noise; and

a coupling protrusion and a coupling recess having a coupling rib and a coupling channel formed in corresponding positions along rims of the openings of the inner spaces of the first and second bodies, respectively, so that the first and second bodies are coupled to each other by coupling the coupling rib and the coupling channel to each other.

2. The suction muffler as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupling rib of the coupling protrusion protrudes in a direction perpendicular to a direction of coupling between the first and second bodies, and the coupling channel of the coupling recess is an indentation extending in the direction perpendicular to the direction of coupling between the first and second bodies.

3. The suction muffler as claimed in claim 2, wherein the coupling rib protrudes outward along an outer surface of one of the first and second bodies, and the coupling channel is an indentation formed along an inner surface of the other of the first and second bodies.

4. The suction muffler as claimed in claim 3, wherein the coupling rib is formed along the entire outer surface of one of the first and second bodies.

5. The suction muffler as claimed in claim 3, wherein the coupling rib is formed intermittently along the outer surface of one of the first and second bodies.

6. The suction muffler as claimed in claim 1, wherein a coupling guide surface is formed in at least one of corresponding positions on the coupling rib of the coupling protrusion and on the coupling recess to guide coupling between the coupling protrusion and the coupling recess.

7. The suction muffler as claimed in claim 6, wherein the coupling guide surface is a rounded surface.

8. The suction muffler as claimed in claim 6, wherein the coupling guide surface is a chamfer.

9. The suction muffler as claimed in claim 6, wherein a spacer is formed on one of the first and second bodies to force a surface of the coupling rib, the surface lying opposite the coupling guide surface, against a lateral surface of the coupling channel.