WO2014059503A1

WO2014059503A1 - Hermetically sealed pipe for a compressor and hermetically sealed compressor

Info

Publication number: WO2014059503A1
Application number: PCT/BR2013/000432
Authority: WO
Inventors: Carlos Eduardo VENDRAMI; Raul Bosco JUNIOR; Fábio Medeiro DE LIMA; Emerson Moreira
Original assignee: Whirlpool S.A.
Priority date: 2012-10-18
Filing date: 2013-10-18
Publication date: 2014-04-24

Abstract

This invention consists of a hermetically sealed pipe for compressors, which is endowed with innovative technical characteristics that can lessen the transfer of vibrations to the compressor casing, and that can reduce / lower the frequency spectrum of the noises generated by the working conditions of the compression mechanisms.

Description

"HERMETICALLY SEALED PIPE FOR A COMPRESSOR AND HERMETICALLY SEALED COMPRESSOR"

Field of the Invention

This invention consists of a hermetically sealed pipe for compressors and especially a hermetically sealed pipe that may be used as a refrigerant fluid discharge pipe or refrigerant fluid suction pipe in a hermetically sealed compressor intended for air cooling systems and cooling equipment such as refrigerators and freezers.

More particularly, this invention consists of a hermetically sealed pipe that, disposed in the hermetically sealed casing of the hermetically sealed compressor, is endowed with innovative technical characteristics that can that can lessen the transfer of vibrations to the compressor casing and, more particularly, reduce / lower the frequency spectrum of the noises generated by the working conditions of the compression mechanisms.

Grounds for the Invention

As is generally known in the state of the art, compressors are items of equipment that are comprised of a set of devices and mechanisms fitted into a casing that is normally hermetically sealed, which alter the pressure of the working fluid circulating in the refrigeration system where the said compressor is installed.

Especially with regard to alternating compressors, this working fluid pressure is alternated due to controlled cyclic changes in the volume of the compression chamber, within which the working fluid is normally compressed by the alternating movement of a piston.

In these cases, it is noted that almost all the mobile mechanisms and devices in the compressor generate vibrations and consequently noises. Thus, as is known to those skilled in the art, the current state of the art discloses a plurality of materializations intended to minimize and / or eliminate these vibrations and noises that are logically undesirable in refrigeration systems and equipment.

Among the materializations known at the state of the art are some solutions that are applied to compressor discharge lines. This is because the compressor discharge lines, particularly in alternating compressors, encompass a hermetically sealed pipe that is intended to carry the working fluid from the compression cylinder to the refrigeration system or equipment. As may be noted, this hermetically sealed pipe is part of the compression chamber and the compressor casing, whereby the vibrations deriving from the head and the rod-crank mechanism are transmitted to the casing by the hermetically sealed pipe, generating undesirable noise.

In some cases, it is noted that the hermetically sealed pipe (discharge), as an integral part of the discharge muffler, is also assigned the function of muffling the sound waves formed by the refrigerant gas flow. However, these hermetically sealed pipes always serve as structural mufflers, reducing (or increasing) the magnitude of the structural sound waves that spread from the compressor block to the casing. As must be considered by those skilled in the art, these materializations of the state of the art reveal inconvenient aspects related to assembly, maintenance and efficiency, as all of them use supplementary elements designed specifically to lessen the vibrations and their effects.

More particularly, it is noted that hermetically sealed discharge pipes present a configuration consisting of segments, normally straight, between which curved elements a fitted in order to form a path between the head or a soundproofing chamber of the block and the casing, in order to lessen the strains on the pipe when subject to displacements of the compressor kit, such as during the transportation of compressors, for example. An example of this type of materialization of the state of the art may be observed in the US 6537041 document, which discloses a compressor whose hermetically sealed discharge pipe encompasses an elastic element between two segments of the pipe, increasing the strain thereon and thus reducing vibration and noise.

Although possibly resulting in some reduction in vibration levels, it is clear that this type of materialization is relatively more complex, undermining the assembly and reliability of the compressor and, consequently resulting in higher costs for the end product.

Additionally, it is stressed that the state of the art lacks practical, functional solutions that can adequately reduce the levels of vibration transferred to the compressor casing through the hermetically sealed pipe without requiring additional elements and mechanisms over and above those already used in conventional compressors.

Pursuant to the matters set forth above, it is noted that the state of the art really needs a solution that effectively ensures an adequate reduction in the transmission of vibratory energy from the kit to the casing while the compressor is in operation, with the application of such a solution also helping simplify manufacturing and assembly lines through eliminating the need for additional components in order to format the hermetically sealed pipes.

Purposes of the Invention

Thus, as set forth above, one of the purposes of this invention is to provide a hermetically sealed pipe for compressors, especially those used in refrigeration systems and equipment, being endowed with technical and functional characteristics that are totally innovative and that can significantly lessen the levels of vibrations that are transmitted to the compressor casing through the said hermetically sealed pipe. More particularly, one of the purposes of the Invention in question is that such hermetically sealed pipe may be used on the working fluid discharge line as well as on the working fluid suction line, in order to attain the same beneficial outcomes for any of these application possibilities. More particularly, a purpose of this invention is to reveal a hermetically sealed pipe applied to compressors, which comprises an innovative structural configuration that permits the synchronization of the pipe, resulting in a safe and effective reduction in the noise frequency spectrum regions that are critical for the compressor, particularly the 1/3 of an octave bands from 2500Hz onwards.

Furthermore, the purpose of this invention is to reveal a hermetically sealed pipe for compressors that is endowed with at least one segment comprised of a sequence of curved sub-segments with defined radii and angles that ensure a reduction in the transmission of forces to the compressor casing, with this phenomenon derived from the reactive reduction that occurs due to the structural configuration.

One of the purposes of this invention is also to provide a compressor for refrigeration systems and equipment, provided with at least a hermetically sealed pipe with a structural configuration containing at least one segment comprised of a sequence of curved sub-segments with defined radii that ensure a reduction in the transmission of forces to the hermetically sealed casing of the compressor.

Summary of the Invention

These and other purposes of this invention are fully attained through the hermetically sealed pipe running to the compressor described herein, which comprises a pipe disposed in the hermetically sealed casing of the compressor, differing from other conventional hermetically sealed pipes by the fact that it includes at least one segment mounted in at least one section of its length, having at least one sequence of curved parts.

Pursuant to the invention in question, the said segment provided with a sequence of curved parts may be disposed between two expansion chambers, at least one expansion chamber and the final end of the said hermetically sealed pipe, or between the initial end of the said hermetically sealed pipe and at least one expansion chamber, or may also be disposed along said hermetically sealed pipe.

Optionally, the said segment provided with a sequence of curved parts may also be disposed between the initial end and the final end of the said hermetically sealed pipe.

In general terms, the said hermetically sealed pipe may be used as a working fluid discharge pipe, or also as a working fluid suction pipe.

Also pursuant to the basic concepts of the Invention in question, is may be noted that the said curved parts have radii that are defined on the basis of the radius of curvature and the angle formed by the projection of the curved part with the horizontal axis.

Preferably, the radius of curvature is between 9mm and 30mm. Also preferably, the angle of the curved part is defined at between 100° and 300°.

The invention in question also attains its purposes through the hermetically sealed compressor disclosed hereby, which consists of a compressor such as those used in refrigeration systems and which comprises at least one hermetically sealed working fluii circulation line mounted in its hermetically sealed casing. As addressed by this invention, this hermetically sealed working fluid circulation line comprises at least one hermetically sealed pipe consisting of at least one segment mounted in at least one section of its length, having at least one sequence of curved parts.

Along these lines, it is worthwhile stressing that the hermetically sealed working fluid circulation line may comprise a working fluid discharge line, with the hermetically sealed pipe being a working fluid discharge pipe. Optionally, the said hermetically sealed working fluid circulation line may also comprise a working fluid suction line, with the hermetically sealed pipe being a working fluid suction pipe.

Brief Description of the Figures

The characteristics, advantages and technical effects of this invention, as set forth in above, will be better understood by a person skilled in the art through the detailed description presented below on merely exemplificatory and not limiting bases, of the preferred materializations, referenced to the schematic Figures appended hereto, namely:

Figure 1 illustrates a hermetically sealed line of a compressor with a hermetically sealed pipe addressed by this invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a conventional hermetically sealed line of a compressor with a hermetically sealed pipe, also conventional and already known to those skilled in the art;

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate, respectively, an alternative hermetically sealed pipe that uses current concepts and an alternative that uses the said periodic curves, respectively;

Figure 5 illustrates a configuration of the radius of curvature and the angle of the projections that form the segment of the hermetically sealed pipe addressed by this invention; and

Figure 6 illustrates, through a graph, a comparison between the response of a pipe with no periodic discontinuities (state of the art) and hermetically sealed pipes provided with a sequence of curved parts, as addressed by this invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Pursuant to this entire context as mentioned above, the main purpose of this invention is to provide a hermetically sealed working fluid pipe for compressors, especially those used in refrigeration systems and equipment, with the said hermetically sealed pipe comprising a structural configuration developed to solve and surpass the inconvenient aspects and limitations of hermetically sealed lines for compressors at the state of the art.

Initially, it is worthwhile stressing that the said hermetically sealed pipe may comprise a discharge pipe or a suction pipe, with the only requirement for the possible applications thereof being the fact that they can be hermetically sealed.

Along these lines, as shown in Figure 1 , provision is made for a hermetically sealed line (discharge) disposed in a hermetically sealed compressor casing (not illustrated), with the said hermetically sealed line being formed by a hermetically sealed pipe that is fundamentally comprised of two separate segments 1 and 2, with a segment 1 disposed between an expansion chamber 4 (also called a muffler) and the final end 5 of the said hermetically sealed pipe, and with a segment 2 disposed between the initial end 6 of the said hermetically sealed pipe and an expansion chamber 4 (also called a muffler).

As is known to those skilled in the art, the said hermetically sealed pipe, including its segments 1 and 2, comprises piping made from metal material.

Moreover, it is also noted that the expansion chamber 4, the final end 5 of the said hermetically sealed pipe and the initial end 6 of the said hermetically sealed pipe are comprised of elements and / or components whose key aspects are also known to those skilled in the art.

In general terms, the most innovative and main inventive aspect of the invention in question consists of the fact that the hermetically sealed pipe, in at least one of its segments 1 or 2, makes provision for one sequence of curved parts 3 whose radii are defined on the basis of the radius of curvature (R) and the angle (β) formed between the projection of the curved part (on the flat portion of the section of the pipe) and the horizontal axis (h), as illustrated schematically in Figure 5.

Pursuant to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the said radius of curvature (R) is between 9mm and 30mm, and the said angle (β) is defined at between 100° and 300°.

The said curved parts 3, disposed sequentially, allow a reduction in the structural transmittability of the pipe that neutralizes the vibrations and noises caused by the movement the compression mechanisms, as illustrated in the graph in Figure 6, which presents the numerically obtained responses by agitating one end of the pipe with a force of 1 N in three directions that are orthogonal among themselves and along all the frequency spectrums between 0 and 10000Hz, obtaining excitation responses at the other end of the pipe. It is noted that the in the 3, 6 and kHz regions, the periodic curves reduce the pipe response by up to 20dB.

In other words, the sequential array of the curved parts 3 along at least one segment of the hermetically sealed pipe effectively manages to lessen the sound waves that are transmitted along the hermetically sealed line, consequently lessening the amount of acoustic energy that spreads through the compressor casing.

Consequently, as may be noted, the hermetically sealed pipe addressed by this invention has no supplementary elements performing the function of minimizing the vibrations and noises as its simple structural configuration based on mounting one sequence of curved parts following a specific layout established as set forth in the above- mentioned parameters, makes it possible to reduce the magnitude of the sound waves generated by the compression mechanisms mounted in the hermetically sealed casing that spread to the outside environment.

Finally, it must be made quite clear that the sole purpose of the description presented above is merely to present an exemplificatory preferred materialization of the hermetically sealed pipe for compressors, as addressed by this invention. It is thus quite clear that those skilled in the art understand that sundry modifications, variations and combinations in the construction and structures of characteristics performing the same function in substantially the same way in order to attain the same results remain under the aegis of the protection demarcated by the appended Claims.

Claims

1. A hermetically sealed pipe for a compressor, consisting of a pipe disposed in the hermetically sealed casing of the compressor, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that it includes at least one segment (1 , 2), disposed in at least one section of its length, having at least one sequence of curved parts (3).

2. The hermetically sealed pipe for a compressor, as claimed in Claim 1 , CHARACTERIZED by the fact that it includes a working fluid discharge pipe.

3. The hermetically sealed pipe for a compressor, as claimed in Claim 1 , CHARACTERIZED by the fact that it includes a working fluid suction pipe.

4. The hermetically sealed pipe for a compressor, as claimed in Claim 1 ,

CHARACTERIZED by the fact that provision is made for at least one segment (1 ) provided with a sequence of curved parts (3) disposed between at least one expansion chamber (4) and the final end (5) of the said hermetically sealed pipe.

5. The hermetically sealed pipe for a compressor, as claimed in Claim 1 , CHARACTERIZED by the fact that provision is made for at least one segment (2) provided with a sequence of curved parts (3) disposed between the initial end (6) of the said hermetically sealed pipe and at least one expansion chamber (4).

6. The hermetically sealed pipe for a compressor, as claimed in Claim 1 , CHARACTERIZED by the fact that provision is made for at least one segment (2) provided with a sequence of curved parts (3) disposed between two expansion chambers (4) mounted along the said hermetically sealed pipe.

7. The hermetically sealed pipe for a compressor, as claimed in Claim 1 , CHARACTERIZED by the fact that provision is made for at least one segment (2) provided with a sequence of curved parts (3) disposed between the initial end (6) and the final end (5) of the said hermetically sealed pipe.

8. A hermetically sealed pipe for a compressor, in compliance with any one of Claims 1 to 7, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the said curved parts (3) have radius that are defined on the basis of the radius of curvature (R) and the angle (β) that the projection of the curved part forms with the horizontal axis (h).

9. The hermetically sealed pipe for a compressor, as claimed in Claim 8,

CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the said radius of curvature (R) is comprised between 9mm and 30mm.

10. The hermetically sealed pipe for a compressor, as claimed in Claim 8, CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the said angle (β) is defined between 100° and 300°.

11. A hermetically sealed compressor, such as those used in refrigeration systems, comprising at least one hermetically sealed working fluid circulation line mounted within its hermetically sealed casing; said hermetically sealed working fluid circulation line comprising at least a hermetically sealed pipe;

the compressor is CHARACTERIZED by the fact that provision is made for at least a hermetically sealed pipe consisting of at least one segment (1 , 2), disposed on at least one section of its length, having at least one sequence of curved parts (3).

12. The hermetically sealed compressor, as claimed in Claim 11 , CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the hermetically sealed working fluid circulation line comprises a working fluid discharge line; the hermetically sealed pipe comprises a working fluid discharge pipe.

13. The hermetically sealed compressor, as claimed in Claim 11 , CHARACTERIZED by the fact that it hermetically sealed working fluid circulation line comprises a working fluid suction line; the hermetically sealed pipe comprises a working fluid suction pipe.