US3292884A

US3292884A - Hermetic compressor mounting system

Info

Publication number: US3292884A
Application number: US459296A
Authority: US
Inventors: Owen H Scheldorf
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1965-05-27
Filing date: 1965-05-27
Publication date: 1966-12-20
Anticipated expiration: 1983-12-20

Description

Dec. 20, 1966 r o. H. SCHELDORF HERMETIC COMPRESSOR MOUNTING SYSTEM Filed May 2'7. 1965 "I," 32 4' liim INVENTOR. OWEN H. SCHELDORF' H\S ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,292,884 HERMETIC COMPRESSOR MOUNTING SYSTEM Owen H. Schelrlorf, Fern Creek, Ky., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed May 27, 1965, Ser. No. 459,296 5 Claims. (Cl. 248-20) The present invention relates to a hermetic compressor and is more particularly concerned with an improved means for laterally supporting and resiliently limiting vibrational movement of a compressor unit within a hermetic casing.

Hermetically sealed compressors such as those used in the refrigerator industry comprise a motor-compressor unit contained within a hermetically sealed casing. For the purpose of protecting the motor-compressor unit against damage during handling or shipment and to absorb the normal operating vibrations of the unit, the unit is usually resiliently supported within and in normally spaced relationship to the casing. In order to limit the space required for the hermetic compressor and decrease the cost thereof, it is desirable to keep the clearances between the casing and the motor-compressor unit, or in other words the size of the casing, as small as possible. For many hermetic compressor applications, as for example in refrigeration systems for household refrigerators, room air conditioners and the like, it is further desirable that the support means be of a construction such that the transmission of the normal motor-compressor unit operating noises to the casing through the support means will be low.

An object of the present invention is to produce a hermetic compressor including improved means for resiliently supporting the motor-compressor unit within a casing designed to minimize the clearance required between a unit and the casing and also to minimize noise transmission from the unit to the casing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a low cost vibration absorbing means for supporting a compressor unit within a casing.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a hermetic compressor including a vibration support means including a single spring for laterally supporting and limiting vibrational movement of the compressor unit within the casing.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this specification.

In accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a casing, a motorcompressor unit vertically supported within the casing by resilient means positioned between the bottom of the compressor unit and the casing and new and improved lateral support means for laterally stabilizing the motorcompressor unit and limiting movement thereof within the casing. The lateral support means comprises a single tension spring and means for securing the spring to the casing under tension and in a horizontal position above the motor-compressor unit. The spring comprises a center section of reduced cross section which has a higher spring rate or constant than the two end sections of the spring and which is connected to these end sections by opposed shoulder sections. The spring is anchored to an upper portion of the motor-compressor unit by means comprising spaced shoulders adapted to engage the shoulder sections on the springs and outwardly flared vertical wall portions on opposite sides of the outer or end sections of the spring. The spacing between the spring shoulder sections and the shoulder portions of the ice anchoring means are such that the center section of the spring is subjected to tension forces greater than the tension forces applied by the support means mounted on the casing whereby during operation of the hermetic compressor unit, the shoulder sections of the spring are at all times maintained in constant engagement with the shoulder portions of the anchoring means. Horizontal and rotational movement of the motor-compressor unit is snubbed and damped by the spring forces and particularly by progressive contact of one or both end sections of the spring with one or more of the vertical wall portions of the anchoring means.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a hermetic compressor embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view of the single spring component of the lateral support means forming part of the hermetic compressor of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view, partly in section, illustrating the manner in which the spring of FIGURE 2 is mounted in an anchoring means secured to the compressor unit; and

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken generally along lines 44 of FIGURE 1.

With particular reference to FIGURE 1 of the drawing, there is shown a hermetically sealed compressor comprising a horizontal motorcompressor unit 1 comprising a motor 2 for driving a compressor 3, the unit being housed within a sealed casing 5. The casing comprises an upper portion 6 and a lower portion 7 secured together in fluid tight relationship by the welding of suitable flanges 8. As the detailed construction of the compressor unit forms no particular part of the present invention, its specific construction features are neither shown nor described in detail.

For the purpose of vertically and resiliently supporting the compressor unit 1 within the casing 5, there is provided a single coil spring 9 disposed between the bottom of the unit and the bottom of the casing. This spring 9 normally supports the entire weight of the compressor unit within the casing and it is preferably positioned at approximately the center of gravity of the unit in order that the unit will be balanced as much aspossible on this vertical support means. The spring is largely confined within a cup 10 having tapered side walls which permit limited lateral or horizontal movement of the upper portion of the spring 9 and hence the lower portion of the compressor unit within the casing. The upper end of the spring 9 encompasses a pin 11 secured to the bottom of the compressor unit 1 and extending into the cup 10 whereby under abnormal or severe shock conditions, contact of the portions of the spring surrounding the pin 11 with the sides of the cup 10 will limit lateral displacement of the unit 1 within the casing 5.

The spring 9 also absorbs or snubs some of the vertical vibrations or movements of the unit. In order to laterally support the upper portion of the unit within the casing and also to snub or resist vibratory movement thereof, primarily in horizontal directions, the present invention provides a new and improved vibration absorbing mount connecting the upper portion of the unit 1 to the upper portion 6 of the casing. The means for accomplishing this result comprises a single tension spring shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 of the drawing and indicated generally by the numeral 14. The illustrated spring is a helical coil spring of an hour glass configuration or shape and includes a reduced center section 15 having a smaller diameter and hence a higher spring rate or constant than the two

end sections

16 and 17. The center section 15 is joined to the

end sections

16 and 17 by means of conical or

tapered shoulder sections

18 and 19.

The spring 14 forms part of a sub-assembly illustrated in FIGURE 3 of the drawing and including means for anchoring the spring to the motor-compressor unit 1. More specifically the anchoring means comprises a bracket 20 adapted to be brazed, welded or otherwise secured to the top surface of the compressor unit 1 and including an inverted channel section generally indicated by the numeral 21 for receiving the spring 14. This channel section includes a center portion 22 for receiving the center section 15 of the spring, the center portion 22 terminating in

shoulder portions

23 and 24 respectively adapted to engage the

shoulder sections

18 and 19 of the spring and to place the center section 22 of the spring under tension forces greater than any that will be applied to the spring during normal operation of the compressor 1 and sufiicient to maintain the spring shoulder sections in contact with the

shoulder portions

23 and 24 at all times. A tab 26 adapted to be folded over the center section 15 of spring after insertion thereof into the recess channel 21 serves to retain the spring within the channel. The channel 21 also includes opposed diverging, and preferably arcuate,

vertical wall portions

28 and 29 extending outwardly from the

shoulders

23 and 24 on opposite sides of the

spring end sections

16 and 17.

The sub-assembly shown in FIGURE 3 of the drawing is adapted to be connected to the upper end of the com pressor unit 1 in the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawing in which position a tab 30 extending downwardly over one end of the housing for the motor 2 and a slot 31 adapted to slip over a pin 32 secured to the top of the compressor unit I serve to position the anchoring bracket on the upper surface of the compressor 1.

For the purpose of connecting the sub-assembly shown in FIGURE 3 of the drawing to the casing, there is provided a casing bracket 33 shown in some detail in FIG- URE 4 of the drawing, which spacing bracket is secured as by welding to the top of the upper casing portion 6. This bracket includes opposed hook portions disposed on opposite sides of the upper casing portion 6 in a position between the casing and the unit. These hooks 35 are adapted to receive the end loops 36 on the spring 14 and are spaced a sufiicient distance apart so that when the spring is mounted on the hooks 35 as illustrated in FIG- URES 1 and 4 of the drawing the spring 14 will be under sufiicient tension so that the loops or coils forming the

end portions

16 and 17 of the spring will be separated or spaced by the tension forces so applied.

The casing bracket 33 also includes an aperture or opening 39 for loosely receiving the pin 32 for limiting abnormal movement of the compressor 1 within the casing in the same manner as the pin 11 and cup 10.

To complete the assembly of the compressor after the unit 1 is secured to the upper casing portion 6 by attaching the spring loops 36 to the hooks 35, the lower casing half 7 is placed in position and the casing sealed by welding of the flanges 8.

From the above description it will be seen that the single spring 14 provides the sole means for resiliently supporting the upper portion of the compressor unit 1 in spaced relationship with the casing 5. The use of a multidiameter spring allows the spring to perform several functions at a relatively low cost. In the attachment of the spring to the anchoring bracket 20, the relative spacing of the

bracket shoulders

23 and 24 as compared with the relative spacing of the tapered or

conical spring sections

18 and 19 subject the reduced center portion 15 of'the spring to a tension which effectively spaces the individual coils thereof and which maintains this center portion, having a higher spring rate than the

end portions

16 and 17, under sufiicient tension to assure continuous contact of the spring shoulders with the bracket shoulders and effectively prevent any slippage or impact of the spring with the supporting bracket 20 during normal operation of the compressor unit. In other words the center portion 15 of the spring is subjected to tension forces by the snubbing action.

rections, of either axial or rotational nature, is obtained.

by means of the diverging

wall portions

28 and 29 on opposite vertical sides of the

end sections

16 and 17 of the spring. To obtain a smooth and progressively increasing snubbing action in these directions, the

wall portions

28 and 29 are preferably of arcuate configuration whereby during either linear or rotational movement of the corn-q pressor in any direction other than the above-mentioned side-to-side direction, successive turns or coils of the

end sections

16 and 17 of the spring will successively come in contact with the

wall portions

28 and 29 or at least some of these wall portions to supply a progressively increasing However, in the normal positioning 6 of the spring within the channel 21 as illustrated in FIG-1 URE 4 of the drawing, a maximum number of the, coil turns are free from restraint for the purpose of effectively isolating the compressor from the case and minimizing noise transmission.

Preferably the entire spring is made of the same diameter wire so that the higher spring rate or constant of the center portion 15 of the spring is obtained resulting solely by its smallerdiameter as compared with the

end sections

16 and 17.

For greater stability as well as maximum noise damp: ing, the usual cylindrical, longitudinal split collapsible spring steel dampers 41 are positioned within each of the 1

end sections

16 and 17 of the spring. In addition to performing their usual noise damping function, these cylindri cal dampers 41, which preferably extend the full length I of the

end sections

16 and 17 in their extended positions I as illustrated in FIGURE 4 of the drawing, laterally stabilize these end sections and thus provide an increased resistance against the bending or curving thereof as these end sections are brought into engagement with one or more of the

wall portions

28 and 29 during horizontal or rotational movement of the compressor 1 within the casing.

From the above description it will be seen that there.

has been provided resilient mounting arrangement for laterally supporting the upper, portion of a compressor within the casing which is of simple and low cost con:

struction and which includes a single tension spring for absorbing or damping all normal vibrations of the compressor horizontal, linear or rotational directions. It comprises only inexpensive components comprising a bracket secured to the case, a single mounting spring sup-,

ported on the bracket and anchoring means for securing 1 the center portion of the spring to the compressor.

While the present invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment thereof, it will be; understood that it is not limited thereto and is intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the invention. What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: m

1. A hermetic compressor comprising a casing, and a motor-compressor unit in said casing;

vibration absorbing means for laterally supporting and limiting vibrational movement of said unit comprisa horizontally disposed, tension spring including a center section separated from the end sections by opposed coned sections and having a higher spring rate than said end sections,

means for connecting the ends of said spring to an upper portion of said casing and for applying thereto a tension force suflicient to deflect the end sections but not the center section of said spring,

anchoring means for anchoring said spring to said unit comprising spaced shoulders engaging said coned sections for subjecting the said center section to a tension force greater than the force applied by said connecting means,

said anchoring means including flared end portions for engagement by said spring end sections to snub horizontal movements of said unit.

2. A hermetic compressor including a casing, a resiliently supported motor-compressor unit in said casing;

and vibration absorbing means for laterally supporting and limiting vibrational movement of said unit comprising;

a horizontally disposed, helically coiled, tension spring including a center section separated from the end sections by opposed coned sections and having a smaller diameter and higher spring rate than said end sections,

means for connecting the ends of said spring to an upper portion of said casing and for applying thereto a tension force suflicient to deflect the end section coils but not the center section coils of said spring,

anchoring means for anchoring said spring to said unit comprising spaced shoulders engaging said coned sections for subjecting said center section to a tension force greater than the force applied by said connecting means and sufficient to separate the center section coils,

said anchoring means including flared end portions of arcuate shape for progressive engagement by said spring end sections to thereby snub horizontal movements of said unit.

3. A hermetic compressor including a casing and a resiliently supported motor-compressor unit in said casing; vibration absorbing means for laterally supporting and limiting vibrational movement of said unit comprisa horizontally disposed, helically coiled tension spring including a center section separated from the end sections by opposed coned sections and having a higher spring rate than said end sections,

means for connecting the ends of said spring to an upper portion of said casing and for applying thereto a tension force sufficient to elongate the end sections but not the center section of said spring,

anchoring means for anchoring said spring to said unit comprising spaced shoulders engaging said coned sections for subjecting said center section to a tension force greater than the force applied by said connecting means and suflicient to elongate said center section,

said anchoring means including flared arcuate end portions for progressive engagement by said spring end sections upon horizontal movement of said unit,

and split cylindrical spring dampers within said end sections for stabilizing said end sections to resist bending thereof.

4. In a hermetic compressor assembly including a casing, a motor-compressor unit in said casing, and a resilient supporting member between the bottom portion of said casing and said unit for vertically supporting said unit;

vibration absorbing means for laterally supporting said unit comprising;

a helical tension spring including a center section having a higher spring constant than the end sections thereof and shoulder sections at each end of said center portion,

means for securing said spring to an upper portion of said unit comprising a horizontally extending recess containing said spring,

said recess including spaced shoulders for engaging said tapered shoulder sections of said spring and maintaining said center section of said spring under tension,

means for securing the opposite ends of said spring to said casing and to apply thereto a tension force less than that applied to said center section by said recess shoulders,

said recess including flared end portions at least partially encompassing the end sections of said spring,

each of said end portions including opposed arcuate vertical Wall areas engaging said spring adjacent the tapered shoulder sections thereof and normally spaced from the remaining parts of said end sections of said spring whereby movement of said unit in a horizontal plane is yieldingly resisted by progressive contact of at least one end section of said spring with a wall portion of said recess.

5. A hermetic compressor assembly comprising;

a. casing,

a motor-compressor unit in said casing,

a resilient supporting member between the bottom portion of said casing and said unit for vertically supporting said unit,

vibration absorbing means for laterally supporting said unit comprising;

a helical tension spring including a center section of smaller cross-section than the end sections thereof and tapered shoulder sections at each end of said center section,

means for securing said spring to an upper portion of said unit including a horizontally extending recess for receiving said spring,

said recess including end portions at least partially encompassing the end sections of said spring,

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS References Cited by the Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1949 Heitchue. 3/ 1961 Scheldorf.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Acting Primary Examiner.

R. P. SEI'IT ER. Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A HERMETIC COMPRESSOR COMPRISING A CASING, AND A MOTOR-COMPRESSOR UNIT IN SAID CASING; VIBRATION ABSORBING MEANS FOR LATERALLY SUPPORTING AND LIMITING VIBRATIONAL MOVEMENT OF SAID UNIT COMPRISING; A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED, TENSION SPRING INCLUDING A CENTER SECTION SEPARATED FROM THE END SECTIONS BY OPPOSED CONED SECTIONS AND HAVING A HIGHER SPRING RATE THAN SAID END SECTIONS, MEANS FOR CONNECTING THE ENDS OF SAID SPRING TO AN UPPER PORTION OF SAID CASING AND FOR APPLYING THERETO A TENSION FORCE SUFFICIENT TO DEFLECT THE END SECTIONS BUT NOT THE CENTER SECTION OF SAID SPRING, ANCHORING MEANS FOR ANCHORING SAIDDPRING TO SAID UNIT COMPRISING SPACED SHOULDERS ENGAGING SAID CONED SECTIONS FOR SUBJECTING THE SAID CENTER SECTION TO A TENSION FORCE GREATER THAN THE FORCE APPLIED BY SAID CONNECTING MEANS, SAID ANCHORING MEANS INCLUDING FLARED END PORTIONS FOR ENGAGEMENT BY SAID SPRING END SECTIONS TO SNUB HORIZONTAL MOVEMENTS OF SAID UNIT.