EP2338014B1 - Housing of a coolant compressor with evaporator shell - Google Patents

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a housing of a refrigerant compressor with a Verdunsterschale, wherein the Verdunsterschale is at least formed by a directly and tightly attached to the housing, a circumferential line of the housing wall of metal and at least one lying within the wall part surface of the housing and at the wall is secured at a distance from the housing at least one damping element for damping the vibrations transmitted from the housing to the wall, according to the preamble of claim 1.

STATE OF THE ART

Small refrigerant compressors are mainly used in the domestic balance area. They are usually located at the back of a refrigerator and connected to these and serve to compress a circulating refrigerant, whereby heat is removed from the refrigerator of the refrigerator and discharged to the environment.

The refrigerant compressor comprising a hermetically sealed compressor housing has an electric motor which drives a piston oscillating in a cylinder for compressing the refrigerant via a crankshaft. The compressor housing consists of a cover part and a Base part, wherein supply and discharge lines are provided, which lead into the compressor housing and out of this, to convey the refrigerant to the cylinder and from there back into the cooling circuit.

During the operation of a refrigerator condensed liquid accumulates, in particular due to locally occurring, low temperatures condensed humidity, which requires a collection in specially designated collection containers. These sumps must either be emptied regularly, or they ensure adequate evaporation performance due to suitable design and arrangement, so that condensed liquid is transferred back into the gaseous state and can escape from the field of small refrigeration machine.

Conveniently, the collecting container is arranged in a vicinity of the compressor housing of the refrigerant compressor, since this represents a heat source and favors the evaporation of the collected liquid. From the prior art collecting container are known, for example from the AT 7,706 U1 , where inter alia metallic boundary walls are provided which tightly surround the compressor housing along a circumferential line of the compressor housing and form an upwardly open container. The boundary walls are either made in one piece with a housing part or fixed by adhesive, screws, welds, flange or the like on the housing. It only has to be ensured that the contact area between the boundary wall and the housing is tight, so that the condensed liquid collected within the boundary wall remains in the evaporator shell formed by the boundary wall and the housing. Such a construction can dissipate the heat that is dissipated through the compressor housing. be used in almost direct manner to evaporate the condensed liquid.

The direct attachment of the metallic boundary wall to the metallic housing (ie in one-piece design with a housing part in screw, welding or flange) has the disadvantage that the vibrations of the compressor are transmitted to the housing and further on the boundary wall, so that the metallic Evaporative shell now in turn reinforced by its open structure and its relatively large surface, the sound radiation of the compressor.

An object of the present invention is therefore to reduce the sound radiation of the compressor via the evaporator shell. This is generally possible by a change in the strength of the structure or by damping.

A possible solution would be to increase the rigidity of the metallic evaporator shell. However, this would require additional stiffeners or ribs that can not be produced in a deep drawing process without much effort or affect the size of the evaporator shell so unfavorable that much space is required for low volume.

Another solution suggests that US 5,699,677 A1 before, in which the wall of the evaporator shell is attached by means of a polyurethane adhesive layer on the compressor housing. The elastic properties of the adhesive layer are chosen so that vibrations transmitted by the compressor are damped. However, in this solution, the direct connection between the compressor housing made of metal and the boundary wall made of metal must be dispensed with.

From the WO 2008/092223 A2 is already a refrigerator compressor known, the Verdunsterschale is provided in order to reduce the vibrations emanating from the compressor housing with damping elements. The damping elements are in this case arranged laterally on the evaporator shell. The walls of the evaporator shell are hollow, so that chambers or tubular damping elements are formed. Compared to this embodiment, a manufacturing technology and vibration damping technically more advantageous embodiment and arrangement of generic damping elements is sought.

Those known from the prior art JP 2003287341 A2 relates to a refrigerator with improved heat radiation from the condenser. The housing of a refrigeration compressor of the refrigerator has a Verdunsterschale, which is attached to the housing, without, however, is received on vibrations of Verdunsterschale or caused thereby noise.

Furthermore, from the prior art the US 6112848 A known, which relates to the noise reduction of plastic components of the interior of an automobile. In contrast to the sound emission through the evaporator shell of refrigerant compressors arises in accordance with the US 6112848 A Noise in that a first plastic part rubs against a second plastic part during operation of the automobile, which in particular leads to squeaking noises. To reduce these squeaking noises, an element of thermoplastic elastomer is provided which is applied to a contact surface of the first plastic part, preferably extruded to act as a buffer between the two plastic parts.

It is a particular object of the invention to further reduce the sound radiation of the compressor via the evaporator shell.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, this object is achieved by the characterizing features of claim 1. In order to dampen the high vibration amplitude at the free upper edge of the wall, it is provided that the at least one damping element surrounds the free upper edge of the wall. In particular, it can be provided that all damping elements are attached to the free edge of the wall.

By attaching one or more damping elements at the top of the wall ensures that the wall itself is damped, which can be well stimulated to vibrate due to the free upper end. The damping elements cause at least a part of the vibration energy to be converted into heat.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one damping element is attached to the free upper edge of the wall.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one damping element has a groove whose width substantially corresponds to the thickness of the wall and the damping element is placed by means of this groove on the upper edge of the wall.

Regarding the material of the damping element are various options to choose from. One embodiment is that one or more damping elements are made of metal. Due to their mass, metallic damping elements help to locally change the resonant frequency of the wall, so that it is no longer possible to resonate the entire wall.

A particular embodiment of the metallic damping element is that the damping element is formed integrally with the wall.

Another embodiment is that one or more damping elements made of plastic. The term plastic includes plastomers (thermoplastics), duromers and elastomers. Due to their elasticity they are deformed by the vibrations, which costs vibration energy, which is therefore no longer available for vibrations of the wall.

Another possibility is the use of composites having a multilayer structure, wherein the individual layers of the composite in particular consist of elastomers and / or plastomers and / or duromers and / or metals and / or woods. For example, elastic layers (elastomer) could be used in conjunction with layers made of heavier materials (metal foil).

At least one damping element may be attached such that it exerts a biasing force on the wall. If then the wall is excited to vibrate, any movement must be made against this biasing force. For example, a damping element can be stretched around the wall.

From the type of attachment, the following options are available: one or more damping elements can be positively and / or positively and / or materially secured to the wall. The positive fastening has the advantage that the damping elements can be fastened to the wall without further fastening means. The frictional attachment ensures a good transfer of the vibration energy from the wall to the damping element.

If it is provided that at least one damping element is releasably secured to the wall, then these damping elements can be exchanged particularly easily, it can also easily additional damping elements attached or unnecessary damping elements are removed.

The alternative, namely that at least one damping element is permanently attached to the wall, has the advantage that these elements remain permanently in place during long periods of operation of the compressor.

Of course, combinations of releasably and permanently attached damping elements are conceivable. Thus, for example, one or more metallic damping elements could be welded to the wall, other rubber damping elements are simply plugged onto the free (upper) edge of the wall in a form-fitting manner.

A substantially linear attachment will be useful if, for example, a heavy metallic damping element is to be fastened in a simple manner. Examples of linear fasteners can be found in Fig. 7-10 ,

A substantially flat attachment of the damping element is useful if the damping element has a flat shape and should be well connected to the wall everywhere. An example of a surface attachment can be found in Fig. 6 which, however, does not represent the invention. Such an element can be glued, for example.

In order to achieve a uniform damping over the entire circumference of the wall, it can be provided that a damping element is arranged along the entire circumference of the wall.

A particularly dense and durable embodiment of the evaporator shell according to the invention is achieved by the fact that the wall of the evaporator shell is welded to the housing.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the cross section of at least one of the damping elements can vary along the circumference of the wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Fig.1

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Gehäuses mit Verdunsterschale für kondensierte Flüssigkeit gemäß Stand der Technik

Fig.2

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Gehäuses mit umlaufendem Dämpfungselement

Fig.3

ein senkrechter Schnitt durch das Gehäuse aus Fig. 2

Fig.4

ein Detail aus Fig. 3 mit Dämpfungselement

Fig.5

ein Detail aus Fig. 3 mit alternativem Dämpfungselement

Fig.6

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines nicht- erfindungsgemäßen Gehäuses mit seitlichen Dämpfungselementen

Fig.7

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Gehäuses mit einem Dämpfungselement am Rand der Wand

Fig.8

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Gehäuses mit zwei Dämpfungselementen am Rand der Wand

Fig. 9

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Gehäuses mit drei Dämpfungselementen am Rand der Wand

Fig. 10

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Gehäuses mit vier Dämpfungselementen am Rand der Wand

Fig. 11

ein Diagramm, welches die abgestrahlte Schallleistung eines erfindungsgemäßen Gehäuses im Vergleich mit Gehäusen gemäß Stand der Technik zeigt

Following is now a detailed description of the invention with reference to drawings. Showing:

Fig.1

a perspective view of a housing with Verdunsterschale condensed liquid according to the prior art

Fig.2

a perspective view of a housing according to the invention with circumferential damping element

Figure 3

a vertical section through the housing Fig. 2

Figure 4

a detail from Fig. 3 with damping element

Figure 5

a detail from Fig. 3 with alternative damping element

Figure 6

a perspective view of a non-inventive housing with lateral damping elements

Figure 7

a perspective view of a housing according to the invention with a damping element at the edge of the wall

Figure 8

a perspective view of a housing according to the invention with two damping elements at the edge of the wall

Fig. 9

a perspective view of a housing according to the invention with three damping elements on the edge of the wall

Fig. 10

a perspective view of a housing according to the invention with four damping elements at the edge of the wall

Fig. 11

a diagram showing the radiated sound power of a housing according to the invention in comparison with housings according to the prior art

WAYS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a housing of a compressor with Verdunsterschale condensed liquid according to the prior art. On the housing 1, which has a supply line 3 and a discharge line 4 for refrigerant for the compressor located in the housing, a wall 2 made of metal, such as sheet steel, welded, which follows a circumferential line of the housing 1. This wall 2 forms the wall of the evaporator shell. The lying within the wall 2 sub-surface la of the housing forms the bottom of the evaporator shell.

In Fig. 2 is the same case as in Fig. 1 illustrated, but now with a possible embodiment of the invention: a fixed to the upper edge of the wall 2, the entire circumference of the edge covering circumferential damping element 5. The damping element 5 is made of an elastomer, for example made of rubber.

In Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the center of the housing 1 from Fig. 2 shown. In order to better recognize the cross section of the circumferential damping element 5, becomes the section marked "B" at the upper right edge in Fig. 4 shown enlarged.

In Fig. 4 is the patch on the wall 2 circumferential damping element 5a shown in cross section. It has a circular cross-section and a radial groove which extends to about 0.7 diameter in the damping element 5. The groove corresponds in width to the thickness of the wall 2, so that a positive contact with the wall 2 is made possible. By means of this groove, the sealing element 5a is placed on the upper edge of the wall 2.

But there are also other cross sections of the circumferential damping element 5 possible, for example, as in Fig. 5 represented, a circumferential damping element with rectangular cross-section 5b. The groove is arranged normal to the side surface of the rectangular cross-section, it also has a depth of about 70% of the cross-sectional height, its width is also adapted to the thickness of the wall 2, so that a positive contact between the damping element 5b and wall 2 is possible. Other cross sections of the damping element 5, such as triangular cross sections, are possible.

According to the Fig. 2-5 the circumferential damping element 5, 5a, 5b is arranged on the free edge of the wall 2. But there are also conceivable embodiments where a circumferential damping element is attached only to the inside or only on the outside of the wall 2, directly on the edge of the wall 2 subsequently or below, or embodiments where both on the inside and on the outside of the Wall 2 circumferential damping elements are arranged. The inner and outer damping element may be mounted at the same or different height.

The circumferential damping element can be fixed under a bias, but it can also be fixed without bias. Is the damping element on the inside or on the Mounted outside the wall 2, the bias may be directed both inwardly and outwardly.

The circumferential damping element on the inner and / or outer side may be formed approximately as a flat rubber band.

Similar effects can also be achieved with a plurality of non-circumferential, but flat damping elements which are distributed around the circumference of the wall 2 and attached to the inside and / or outside of the wall 2. These can, as explained above, be mounted with or without bias.

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of a non-inventive housing 1 with four lateral damping elements 6, which are mounted on the outside of the wall 2 substantially centrally in one of the four wall sections. The four wall sections result from the fact that the cross section of the wall 2 are not circular, but approximate the square shape.

It would also be conceivable to mount the damping elements 6 all on the inside of the wall 2 or alternately on the inside and outside. Of course, more than four damping elements can be used.

In Fig. 7 According to the invention, a single damping element 7 is mounted on the wall 2. The illustrated damping element 7 has the shape of a full cylinder having a groove in the radial direction to the middle of the cylinder. It would also be conceivable, however, to use a profile as in Fig. 3-5 is shown, wherein the attenuation is limited only to the region of the wall 2, on which the damping element is mounted.

The shape of the groove is dimensioned so that the damping element 7 can be positively attached to the upper edge of the wall 2. The damping element 7 may be positively and / or positively and / or materially secured to the wall. When Material for the damping element 7 are metal, plastic or composites in question.

In Fig. 8 the arrangement is off Fig. 7 added another, ie second damping element 8. Also, the second illustrated damping element 8 has the shape of a full cylinder having a groove in the radial direction to the middle of the cylinder. Again, as below Fig. 7 explained, other forms conceivable.

The shape of the groove is again dimensioned so that the damping element 8 can be positively attached to the upper edge of the wall 2.

Likewise, further damping elements 9, 10 can be added, as in Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 is shown.

Dimensions and material of the damping elements 7-10 can vary between the individual damping elements 7-10 and thus be better adapted to the requirements.

The attachment of the damping elements can be done in different ways. (positive, positive and / or cohesive).

Fig. 11 shows a diagram in which the radiated from a compressor housing sound power was measured. Shown is the third octave spectrum.

On the vertical axis, the radiated sound power is plotted in dB (A).

• Gehäuse ohne Dämpfungselement (als leere Dreiecke dargestellte Messwerte),
• Gehäuse mit einem einzelnen Dämpfungselement 7, wie in Fig. 7 (als volle Rauten dargestellte Messwerte),
• Gehäuse mit einem als umlaufenden Ring ausgebildeten Dämpfungselement 5, wie in Fig. 2 (als leere Quadrate dargestellte Messwerte).

On the horizontal axis the frequencies are plotted in Hz, the last value on the right (marked "S") represents the sum level, for three different variants:

• Housing without damping element (measured values shown as empty triangles),
• Housing with a single damping element 7, as in Fig. 7 (readings shown as full diamonds),
• Housing with a designed as a circumferential ring damping element 5, as in Fig. 2 (readings shown as empty squares).

It can be clearly seen that the sum level of the housing with damping elements according to the invention is lower than without damping elements, wherein a solution according to Fig. 2 with circumferential damping element causes greater damping than the solution after Fig. 7 with a single cylindrical damping element. 7

According to a manufacturing technology advantageous method is the at least one damping element 5-10 by means of extrusion of a polymeric. Materials on the free upper edge of the wall 2, embracing this, applied. In principle, all adhesive materials are suitable for being applied directly in the area of the free upper edge of the wall 2.

It is also possible that the free upper edge of the wall 2 is at least partially provided with adhesive whose mass forms one or more damping elements 5-10. The application of adhesive in the region of the free upper edge of the wall 2 can be carried out by means of any application method, e.g. by brushing, spraying, dipping etc.

By embracing the free upper edge of the wall 2, a one-sided encompassing, ie a contacting or overlapping an upwardly facing abutment surface and either an inner side or an outer side of the wall 2 by the damping element 5-10 be meant or a two-sided embrace ie, contacting the overlapping abutting surface and both an inner side and the outer side of the wall 2.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Housing of the compressor

1a

Bottom of the evaporator shell

2

Wall of the evaporator shell

3

supply

4

discharge

5

circumferential sealing element

5a

circumferential sealing element with round cross section

5b

circumferential sealing element with rectangular cross section

6

lateral damping element

7

first damping element on the edge of the wall 2

8th

second damping element on the edge of the wall. 2

9

third damping element on the edge of the wall 2

10

fourth damping element on the edge of the wall 2

Claims (15)

1. Housing of a coolant compressor having an evaporator shell, whereby the evaporator shell is formed at least by means of a wall (2) made of metal, attached directly an the housing (1), in leak-proof manner, following a circumference line of the housing (1), and at least a partial surface (la) of the housing (1) that lies within the wall (2), and whereby at least one damping element (5-10) for damping the vibrations transferred from the housing (1) to the wall (2) is attached to the wall (1), at a distance from the housing (2), characterized in that the at least one damping element (5-10) encloses the free upper edge of the wall (2).
2. Housing with evaporator shell according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one damping element (5-10) is set onto the free upper edge of the wall (2).
3. Housing with evaporator shell according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one damping element (5-10) has a groove whose width essentially corresponds to the thickness of the wall (2), and the damping element (5-10) is set onto the upper edge of the wall (2) by means of this groove
4. Housing with evaporator shell according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that one or more damping elements (6-10) consist of metal.
5. Housing with evaporator shell according to claim 4, characterized in that the damping element is formed in one piece with the wall (2).
6. Housing with evaporator shell according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that one or more damping elements (5, 5a, 5b) consist of plastic (elastomer, plastomer, or duromer).
7. Housing with evaporator shell according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that one or more damping elements consist of composite materials that have a multi-layer structure, whereby the individual layers of the composite material particularly consist of elastomers and/or plastomers and/or duromers and/or metals and/or woods.
8. Housing with evaporator shell according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that at least one damping element (5, 5a, 5b) is attached in such a manner that it exerts a bias force an the wall (2).
9. Housing with evaporator shell according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that one or more damping elements (5-10) is/are attached to the wall (2) with shape fit and/or force fit and/or material fit.
10. Housing with evaporator shell according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least one damping element (5-10) is releasably attached to the wall.
11. Housing with evaporator shell according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that at least one damping element (5-10) is non-releasably attached to the wall.
12. Housing with evaporator shell according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that at least one damping element has an attachment essentially in form of a line.
13. Housing with evaporator shell according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that at least one damping element (5-10) has an essentially planar attachment.
14. Housing with evaporator shell according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that a damping element (5, 5a, 5b) is disposed along the entire circumference of the wall (2).
15. Housing with evaporator shell according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the wall (2) is welded onto the housing (1).

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