U.S. patent application number 10/949233 was filed with the patent office on 2005-04-07 for compressor and method of manufacturing the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Ebara, Toshiyuki, Matsumori, Hiroyuki, Matsuura, Dai, Saito, Takayasu, Sato, Takashi.
Application Number | 20050074354 10/949233 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34396849 |
Filed Date | 2005-04-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050074354 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ebara, Toshiyuki ; et
al. |
April 7, 2005 |
Compressor and method of manufacturing the same
Abstract
An object is to provide a compressor capable of surely
preventing leakage of a refrigerant gas from a connection portion
between an airtight container and a pipe to the outside at low
costs. The compressor comprises an airtight container to which a
refrigerant introduction pipe is connected, and a compression
element received in the airtight container to discharge the
refrigerant into the same. The refrigerant introduction pipe has a
cylindrical pipe main body, and a jaw-like flange portion formed in
a tip of the pipe main body. A cylindrical connection sleeve is
disposed between the refrigerant introduction pipe and the airtight
container. A first bolt is disposed to connect the connection
sleeve to the airtight container, and a second bolt is disposed to
connect the connection sleeve to the flange portion of the
refrigerant introduction pipe. The flange portion of the
refrigerant introduction pipe hides the first bolt.
Inventors: |
Ebara, Toshiyuki;
(Gunma-ken, JP) ; Matsumori, Hiroyuki; (Gunma-ken,
JP) ; Sato, Takashi; (Saitama-ken, JP) ;
Matsuura, Dai; (Gunma-ken, JP) ; Saito, Takayasu;
(Saitama-ken, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WESTERMAN, HATTORI, DANIELS & ADRIAN, LLP
1250 CONNECTICUT AVENUE, NW
SUITE 700
WASHINGTON
DC
20036
US
|
Assignee: |
SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
Moriguchi-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
34396849 |
Appl. No.: |
10/949233 |
Filed: |
September 27, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/572 ;
417/902 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04C 18/3564 20130101;
Y10T 29/4924 20150115; Y10S 417/902 20130101; F04C 23/008 20130101;
F04C 2240/806 20130101; F04B 39/123 20130101; Y10T 29/49238
20150115; F25B 1/04 20130101; F05C 2201/021 20130101; Y10T 29/49236
20150115; F04C 23/001 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/572 ;
417/902 |
International
Class: |
F25B 009/00; F04B
039/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 3, 2003 |
JP |
2003-346133 |
Oct 6, 2003 |
JP |
2003-347011 |
Oct 10, 2003 |
JP |
2003-352569 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A compressor comprising an airtight container to which a pipe of
a refrigerant is connected, and a compression element received in
the airtight container to discharge the refrigerant into the same,
wherein: the pipe has a cylindrical pipe main body, and a jaw-like
flange portion formed in a tip of the pipe main body, a connection
sleeve is disposed between the pipe and the airtight container, a
first connection tool is disposed to connect the connection sleeve
to the airtight container, and a second connection tool is disposed
to connect the connection sleeve to the flange portion of the pipe,
and the flange portion of the pipe hides the first connection
tool.
2. The compressor according to claim 1, wherein a gasket is
disposed at least between the airtight container and the connection
sleeve or between the connection sleeve and the pipe.
3. The compressor according to claims 1, wherein the airtight
container and the connection sleeve are made of aluminum.
4. A method of manufacturing a compressor which comprises an
electric element, a compression element connected to the electric
element, and an airtight container to receive the electric element
and the compression element therein, and which drives the
compression element by the electric element to compress and
discharge an introduced refrigerant, the method comprising:
bringing the compression element into contact with the inside of
the airtight container; forming a through-hole which penetrates the
airtight container and reaches a predetermined depth of the
compression element from the outside of the airtight container; and
dropping droplets into the through-hole from a wire of a welder to
weld the airtight container and the compression element
together.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the airtight container
and at least a portion of the compression element brought into
contact with the airtight container are made of aluminum.
6. A compressor which comprises a driving element and a compression
element to be driven by the driving element in an airtight
container, a refrigerant sucked through a refrigerant pipe of a
refrigerant introduction side being compressed by the compression
element and discharged through a refrigerant pipe of a refrigerant
discharge side, wherein: a sleeve is disposed which is mounted
corresponding to a hole formed in a curved surface of the airtight
container and to which the refrigerant pipes are connected, a flat
surface is formed in an outer surface of the airtight container
around the hole, and the sleeve is fixed through a gasket to the
flat surface of the airtight container by a screw, and a collar
communicated with the compression element is brought into contact
with the inside of the sleeve by a sealing material.
7. The compressor according to claim 6, wherein the airtight
container is made of aluminum.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a compressor used for,
e.g., an on-vehicle air conditioner or a water heater.
[0002] The on-vehicle air conditioner or the water heater has
conventionally comprised a refrigerant circuit constituted of a
heat exchanger and a compressor. For example, the compressor
comprises an electric element, and first and second compression
elements connected to the electric element, and an airtight
container which receives the electric element and the compression
elements. The compressor drives the compression elements by the
electric element, thereby compressing an introduced low-pressure
refrigerant at the first compression element and feeing the
refrigerant into the airtight container by intermediate pressure.
Further, the compressor compresses the refrigerant of the
intermediate pressure in the airtight container at the second
compression element, and discharges the refrigerant by high
pressure. A plurality of pipes are connected to the airtight
container. That is, the refrigerant is introduced through the pipe
to the first compression element, and discharged through the pipe
(e.g., see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
2003-120561).
[0003] Each of the pipes comprises, e.g., a cylindrical pipe main
body, and a jaw-like flange portion formed in a tip of the pipe
main body. The pipe is mounted to the airtight container by fixing
the flange portion of the pipe to a surface of the airtight
container through a bolt. As described above, however, the airtight
container is filled with the refrigerant of the intermediate
pressure. Consequently, when a tip of the bolt which connects the
pipe to the airtight container projects therein, i.e., when the
bolt penetrates the airtight container, there occurs a problem of
leakage of the refrigerant of the intermediate pressure from an
engaging portion of the bolt with the airtight container to the
outside.
[0004] To solve the problem, the projection of the bolt in the
airtight container is prevented by forming a portion of the
airtight container connected to the pipe (referred to as pipe
connection portion, hereinafter) thicker than other portions by
cutting or welding.
[0005] However, even when the pipe connection portion is formed by
cutting, a shape of the airtight container becomes complex, and
manufacturing costs of the compressor increase. Furthermore, even
when the pipe connection portion is formed by welding another
member to the airtight container, welding heat causes a drop in
strength of the airtight container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention provides a compressor designed to
surely prevent leakage of a refrigerant gas from a connection
portion between an airtight container and a pipe to the outside at
low costs.
[0007] A first aspect of the present invention is directed to a
compressor comprising an airtight container to which a pipe of a
refrigerant is connected, and a compression element received in the
airtight container to discharge the refrigerant into the same,
wherein the pipe has a cylindrical pipe main body, and a jaw-like
flange portion formed in a tip of the pipe main body, a connection
sleeve is disposed between the pipe and the airtight container, a
first connection tool is disposed to connect the connection sleeve
to the airtight container, and a second connection tool is disposed
to connect the connection sleeve to the flange portion of the pipe,
and the flange portion of the pipe hides the first connection
tool.
[0008] According to the invention, the airtight container and the
connection sleeve are connected to each other by the first
connection tool, and then the connection sleeve and the flange
portion of the pipe are connected to each other by the second
connection tool. At this time, even when a tip of the first
connection tool projects in the airtight container, and a
refrigerant passed through an aperture between the first connection
tool and the airtight container and discharged into the airtight
container leaks to the first connection tool side, since the flange
portion of the pipe hides the first connection tool, it is possible
to surely prevent leakage of the refrigerant from the first
connection tool to the outside. Since no thick portion is necessary
for the airtight container itself, a shape thereof can be
simplified to reduce manufacturing costs. Additionally, since no
unnecessary welding heat is applied to the airtight container, it
is possible to prevent a drop in strength thereof.
[0009] A second aspect of the present invention is directed to the
above compressor, wherein a gasket is disposed at least between the
airtight container and the connection sleeve or between the
connection sleeve and the pipe.
[0010] According to the invention, by disposing the gasket between
the airtight container and the connection sleeve, it is possible to
prevent leakage of the refrigerant of the airtight container
through the aperture between the connection sleeve and the airtight
container to the outside. Additionally, by disposing the gasket
between the connection sleeve and the pipe, it is possible to
prevent leakage of the refrigerant between the connection sleeve
and the pipe to the outside even when the refrigerant of the
airtight container leaks to the first connection tool side.
[0011] A third aspect of the present invention is directed to the
above compressor, wherein the airtight container and the connection
sleeve are made of aluminum.
[0012] According to the invention, since the airtight container and
the connection sleeve are made of aluminum, by pressing the
connection sleeve to the airtight container to crush a part
thereof, and bonding the connection sleeve to the airtight
container, it is possible to prevent leakage of the refrigerant
discharged into the airtight container through the aperture between
the connection sleeve and the airtight container to the outside.
Additionally, by pressing the pipe to the connection sleeve to
crush a part of the latter, and by bonding the connection sleeve to
the pipe, it is possible to prevent leakage of the refrigerant
between the connection sleeve and the pipe to the outside even when
the refrigerant of the airtight container leaks to the first
connection tool side.
[0013] According to the compressor of the invention, the following
effects can be provided. The airtight container and the connection
sleeve are connected to each other by the first connection tool,
and then the connection sleeve and the flange portion of the pipe
are connected to each other by the second connection tool. At this
time, even when the tip of the first connection tool projects in
the airtight container, and the refrigerant passed through the
aperture between the first connection tool and the airtight
container and discharged into the airtight container leaks to the
first connection tool side, since the flange portion of the pipe
hides the first connection tool, it is possible to surely prevent
leakage of the refrigerant from the first connection tool to the
outside. Since no thick portion is necessary for the airtight
container itself, a shape thereof can be simplified to reduce
manufacturing costs. Additionally, since no unnecessary welding
heat is applied to the airtight container, it is possible to
prevent a drop in strength thereof.
[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
method of manufacturing a compressor which can surely fix a
compression element to an airtight container even when the
compression element and the airtight container are made of
low-melting point metals.
[0015] A fourth aspect of the present invention is directed to a
method of manufacturing a compressor which comprises an electric
element, a compression element connected to the electric element,
and an airtight container to receive the electric element and the
compression element therein, and which drives the compression
element by the electric element to compress and discharge an
introduced refrigerant, the method comprising bringing the
compression element into contact with the inside of the airtight
container; forming a through-hole which penetrates the airtight
container and reaches a predetermined depth of the compression
element from the outside of the airtight container; and dropping
droplets into the through-hole from a wire of a welder to weld the
airtight container and the compression element together.
[0016] According to the invention, first, the compression element
is brought into contact with the inside of the airtight container
by, e.g., shrinkage-fitting. Next, the through-hole which
penetrates the airtight container and reaches the predetermined
depth of the compression element is formed from the outside of the
airtight container by, e.g., drilling. Subsequently, an arc is
generated between the wire of the welder and the through-hole in an
atmosphere of an inactive gas such as an argon gas, droplets are
dropped into the through-hole from the wire of the welder to fill
the hole, and the airtight container and the compression element
are welded together. Thus, since the hole of a predetermined depth
is formed beforehand in the compression element, it is not
necessary to sufficiently melt the compression element by the
droplets. Accordingly, it is possible to surly fix the compression
element to the airtight container even when the compression element
or the airtight container is made of a low-melting point metal.
[0017] A fifth aspect of the present invention is directed to the
above method, wherein the airtight container and at least a portion
of the compression element brought into contact with the airtight
container are made of aluminum.
[0018] According to the invention, since the airtight container and
at least the portion of the compression element brought into
contact with the airtight container are made of aluminum, it is
possible to reduce weight while securing the strength and rigidity
of the compressor.
[0019] An outer size of the wire may be set to 1 mm or higher to
2.5 mm or lower, and a diameter of the through-hole may be set
larger by twice or four times than the outer size of the wire.
Accordingly, the compression element can be welded to the airtight
container more surely by surely filling the through-hole with the
droplets from the wire. If the diameter of the through-hole is less
than twice the outer size of the wire, there is a fear that the
droplets from the wire will not reach the hole formed in the
compression element. On the other hand, if the diameter of the
through-hole exceeds a size which is larger by four times than the
outer size of the wire, there is a fear that the through-hole will
not be completely filled with the droplets from the wire.
[0020] Additionally, a depth of the through-hole formed in the
compression element may be 10% or more of a plate thickness of the
airtight container. Accordingly, the droplets that enter the
compression element can be sufficiently secured. Thus, it is
possible to weld the compression element to the airtight container
more surely. If the depth of the compression element is less than
10% of the plate thickness of the airtight container, there is a
fear that sure welding will not be executed because of a small
amount of droplets that fill the hole formed in the compression
element.
[0021] The through-holes may be formed at predetermined intervals
along the contact surface between the airtight container and the
compression element. Accordingly, it is possible to fix the
compression element along the contact surface with the airtight
container by a uniform force.
[0022] That is, according to the compressor manufacturing method of
the present invention, the following effects can be provided.
Regarding the compressor which comprises the electric element, the
compression element connected to the electric element, and the
airtight container to receive the electric element and the
compression element, and which compresses and discharges the
introduced refrigerant by driving the compression element by the
electric element, the following manufacturing process is employed.
The compression element is brought into contact with the inside of
the airtight container, the through-hole which penetrates the
airtight container and reaches the predetermined depth of the
compression element is formed from the outside of the airtight
container, and the droplets are dropped into the through-hole from
the wire of the welder to weld together the airtight container and
the compression element. Specifically, the compression element is
brought into contact with the inside of the airtight container by,
e.g., shrinkage-fitting. Next, the through-hole which penetrates
the airtight container and reaches the predetermined depth of the
compression element is formed from the outside of the airtight
container by, e.g., drilling. Subsequently, the droplets are
dropped into the through-hole from the wire of the welder to fill
the hole, and the airtight container and the compression element
are welded together. Thus, since the hole of a predetermined depth
is formed beforehand in the compression element, it is not
necessary to sufficiently melt the compression element by the
droplets. Accordingly, it is possible to surly fix the compression
element to the airtight container even when the compression element
or the airtight container is made of a low-melting point metal.
[0023] Another object of the present invention is to prevent
deterioration of sealing between the airtight container and a
sleeve when the sleeve is fixed to the airtight container by a
screw. The object of preventing the deterioration of sealing
between the airtight container and the sleeve is realized by a
simple structure in which a gasket only is disposed between the
airtight container and the sleeve.
[0024] A sixth aspect of the present invention is directed to a
compressor which comprises a driving element and a compression
element to be driven by the driving element in an airtight
container, a refrigerant sucked through a refrigerant pipe of a
refrigerant introduction side being compressed by the compression
element and discharged through a refrigerant pipe of a refrigerant
discharge side, wherein a sleeve is disposed which is mounted
corresponding to a hole formed in a curved surface of the airtight
container and to which the refrigerant pipes are connected, a flat
surface is formed in an outer surface of the airtight container
around the hole, and the sleeve is fixed through a gasket to the
flat surface of the airtight container by a screw, and a collar
communicated with the compression element is brought into contact
with the inside of the sleeve by a sealing material.
[0025] A seventh aspect of the present invention is directed to the
above compressor, wherein the airtight container is made of
aluminum.
[0026] According to the present invention, there is provided a
sealed type compressor which comprises a driving element and a
compression element driven by the driving element in an airtight
container, and compresses a refrigerant sucked from a refrigerant
pipe of a refrigerant introduction side by the compression element
and discharges the refrigerant from a refrigerant pipe of a
refrigerant discharge side. A sleeve is disposed which is mounted
corresponding to a hole formed in a curved surface of the airtight
container, and to which the refrigerant pipes are connected, a flat
surface is formed in an outer surface of the airtight container
around the hole, and the sleeve is fixed through a gasket to the
flat surface of the airtight container by a screw, and a collar
communicated with the compression element is brought into contact
with the inside of the sleeve by a sealing material. Thus, for
example, as specified in claim 2, it is possible to easily fix the
sleeve to the airtight container while securing sealing even when
the airtight container is made of an aluminum material.
[0027] Especially, since the sleeve is fixed through the gasket to
the flat surface around the hole formed in the outer surface of the
airtight container by the screw, for example, the gasket portion
can play a role of a relief valve. Accordingly, for example, it is
possible to release high pressure from the gasket portion when the
pressure of the refrigerant gas compressed by the compression
element of the sealed type compressor excessively increases to set
abnormally high pressure in the airtight container. Therefore,
since it is possible to prevent the danger of destruction of the
airtight container caused by the abnormally high pressure therein,
durability of the compressor can be greatly improved, and
reliability can be secured.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing a compressor
according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view showing a second
compression element of the embodiment;
[0030] FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of a connection portion
between an airtight container and a pipe of the embodiment;
[0031] FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the connection
portion between the airtight container and the pipe of the
embodiment;
[0032] FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a connection portion
between an airtight container and a pipe according to a second
embodiment of the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing a compressor
according to another embodiment (third embodiment) of the present
invention;
[0034] FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of an electric element
which constitutes the compressor of the embodiment;
[0035] FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of a second rotary
compression element which constitutes the compressor of the
embodiment;
[0036] FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of an intermediate
partition plate which constitutes the compressor of the
embodiment;
[0037] FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view of the second rotary
compression element which constitutes the compressor of the
embodiment;
[0038] FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a method
of welding together the airtight container and the compression
which constitute the compressor of the embodiment;
[0039] FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a water heat to which the
compressor of the embodiment is applied;
[0040] FIG. 13 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating a method
of welding an airtight container and a compression element together
according to a modified example of the present invention;
[0041] FIG. 14 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the
method of welding the airtight container and the compression
element together according to the modified example of the present
invention;
[0042] FIG. 15 is a vertical sectional view of a rotary compressor
of an internal intermediate pressure type multistage (2 stage)
compression system which comprises first and second rotary
compression elements as a compressor according to yet another
embodiment (fourth embodiment) of the present invention; and
[0043] FIG. 16 is an enlarged view of main sections of the rotary
compressor of FIG. 15.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0044] Next, the preferred embodiments of the present invention
will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In
the embodiments below, similar components are denoted by similar
reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted or
simplified.
First Embodiment
[0045] FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing a rotary
compressor 10 as a compressor of an internal intermediate pressure
type multistage (2 stage) compression system which comprises first
and second rotary compression elements 32, 34 according to an
embodiment.
[0046] The rotary compressor 10 is a rotary compressor of an
internal intermediate pressure type multistage compression system
which is mounted in an engine room of a vehicle such as an electric
car (HEV or PEV), and uses carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) for a
refrigerant. This rotary compressor 10 comprises a cylindrical
airtight container 12 made of aluminum, an electric element 14
received in an upper side of an internal space of the airtight
container 12, and a rotary compression mechanism section 18 as a
compression element received in a lower side of the internal space
of the airtight container 12.
[0047] The electric element 14 comprises a stator 22 annularly
formed along an inner peripheral surface of an upper space of the
airtight container 12, and a rotor 24 rotatably disposed through a
slight aperture inside the stator 22. The rotor 24 has a rotary
shaft 16 extended through its rotational center in an axial
direction.
[0048] The stator 22 has a laminated member 26 in which
doughnut-shaped electromagnetic steel plates are stacked, and a
stator coil 28 wound on a tooth portion of the laminated member 26
by series winding (concentrated winding). The rotor 24 comprises a
laminated member 30 in which electromagnetic steel plates are
stacked as in the case of the stator 22, and a permanent magnet MG
arranged in the laminated member 30.
[0049] On the other hand, the rotary compression mechanism section
18 comprises first and second rotary compression elements 32 (1st
stage) and 34 (2nd stage) as first and second compression elements
driven by the electric element 14, an upper support member 54 and
an upper cover 66 arranged on an upper side of the second rotary
compression element 34, a intermediate partition plate 36 arranged
between the first and second rotary compression elements 32, 34,
and a lower support member 56 and a lower cover 68 arranged on a
lower side of the first rotary compression element 32 to serve also
as bearings of the rotary shaft 16. A displacement volume of the
second rotary compression element 34 is smaller than that of the
first rotary compression element 32.
[0050] As shown in FIG. 2, the second rotary compression element 34
comprises an upper cylinder 38, an upper eccentric portion 42
arranged in the upper cylinder 38 and fixed to the rotary shaft 16,
an upper roller 46 fitted around the upper eccentric portion 42,
and an upper vane 50 (described later) brought into contact with
the upper roller 46 to divide the inside of the upper cylinder 38
into low-pressure and high-pressure chamber sides. In the upper
cylinder 38, a suction port 161 is formed to communicate a suction
passage (described later) of the upper support member 54 with the
low-pressure chamber side. Heat insulating plates 140, 141 are
disposed between the upper cylinder 38 and the upper support member
54 and between the upper cylinder 38 and the intermediate partition
plate 36.
[0051] According to the second rotary compression element 34, a
refrigerant gas is sucked from the low-pressure side of the upper
cylinder 38 into the cylinder. In this state, the rotary shaft 16
is rotated to cause eccentric rotation of the upper eccentric
portion 42 and the upper roller 46, whereby a space in the cylinder
which has sucked the refrigerant gas is reduced. As a result, the
refrigerant gas is compressed to become a high pressure, and
discharged from the high-pressure side of the upper cylinder
38.
[0052] The upper support member 54 comprises the suction passage
connected to the suction port 161 of the upper cylinder 38, and a
discharge muffling chamber 62 formed to be recessed on the upper
side and connected through a discharge port 39 (see FIG. 2) to the
high-pressure chamber side of the upper cylinder 38. Incidentally,
in the upper support member 54, a discharge valve is disposed to
open/close the discharge port 39.
[0053] The upper cover 66 closes the discharge muffling chamber 62
of the upper support member 54. Accordingly, the discharge muffling
chamber 62 is separated from the electric element 14 side in the
airtight container 12. This upper cover 66 is made of a roughly
doughnut-shaped circular steel plate having a hole formed through
which a bearing 54A of the upper support member 54 is put. The
upper cover 66 is brought into contact with the inner peripheral
surface of the airtight container 12, and fixed thereto by
welding.
[0054] The first rotary compression element 32 comprises a lower
cylinder 40, a lower eccentric portion 44 fixed to the rotary shaft
16 by a phase difference of 180.degree. from the upper eccentric
portion 42 in the lower cylinder 40, a lower roller 48 fitted
around the lower eccentric portion 44, and a lower vane brought
into contact with the lower roller 48 to divide the inside of the
lower cylinder 40 into low-pressure and high-pressure chamber
sides. In the lower cylinder 40, a suction port is formed to
communicate a suction passage 60 (described later) of the lower
support member 56 with the low-pressure chamber side.
[0055] According to the first rotary compression element 32, a
refrigerant gas is sucked from the low-pressure side of the lower
cylinder 40 into the cylinder. In this state, the rotary shaft 16
is rotated to cause eccentric rotation of the lower eccentric
portion 44 and the lower roller 48, whereby a space in the cylinder
which has sucked the refrigerant gas is reduced. As a result, the
refrigerant gas is compressed to become a high pressure, and
discharged from the high-pressure side of the lower cylinder
40.
[0056] The lower support member 56 comprises the suction passage 60
connected to the suction port of the lower cylinder 40, and a
discharge muffling chamber 64 formed to be recessed on the lower
side and connected through a discharge port to the high-pressure
chamber side of the lower cylinder 40. Incidentally, in the lower
support member 56, a discharge valve is disposed to open/close the
discharge port.
[0057] The lower cover 68 closes the discharge muffling chamber 64
of the lower support member 56. The lower cover 68 is made of a
doughnut-shaped circular steel plate, and fixed to the lower
support member 56. An inner peripheral edge of the lower cover 68
projects inward from an inner surface of a bearing 56A of the lower
support member 56. Accordingly, a lower end surface of a bush 123
is held by the lower cover 68 to be prevented from falling off.
[0058] The upper and lower cylinders 38, 40, the intermediate
partition plate 36, the upper and lower support members 54, 56, and
the upper and lower covers 66, 68 are fastened from the upper and
lower sides by four main bolts 128 , , , and 129 , , , . That is,
the main bolt 128 is inserted from the upper cover 66 side, and its
tip is engaged with the lower support member 56. The main bolt 129
is inserted from the lower cover 68 side, and its tip is engaged
with the upper support member 54.
[0059] In the upper and lower cylinders 38, 40 and the intermediate
partition plate 36, a communication path is formed to communicate
the discharge muffling chamber 64 of the lower support member 56
with the upper side of the upper cover 66 in the airtight container
12. An intermediate discharge pipe is erected in an upper end of
the communication path. This intermediate discharge pipe is
extended toward an aperture between the adjacent stator coils 28
wound on the stator 22 of the electric element 14. Thus, it is
possible to suppress an increase in temperature of the electric
element 14 by actively supplying a refrigerant gas of a relatively
low temperature thereto.
[0060] In the rotary shaft 16, an oil hole 80 is formed to be
extended in the axial direction, and oil supply holes 82, 84 are
formed to be extended from the oil hole 80 in an axial intersection
direction. The oil supply holes 82, 84 are extended to outer
peripheral surfaces of the upper and lower eccentric portions 42,
44 of the rotary compression elements 32, 34. An inner peripheral
surface side of the intermediate partition plate 36 is communicated
with the outer peripheral surfaces of the upper and lower eccentric
portions 42, 44. In the intermediate partition plate 36, a
through-hole 131 is bored to communicate the outer peripheral
surface with the inner peripheral surface, and a sealing material
is pressed into the outer peripheral surface side of the
through-hole 131 to seal the same. Additionally, a communication
hole is bored to be extended upward in the midway of the
through-hole 131. On the other hand, in the suction port 161 of the
upper cylinder 38, a communication hole is bored to be connected to
the communication hole of the intermediate partition plate 36.
[0061] As described later, since intermediate pressure is set in
the airtight container 12, and pressure therein becomes higher than
that in the upper cylinder 38, supplying of oil into the upper
cylinder 38 becomes difficult. However, according to the
aforementioned oil supply mechanism, the oil is drawn up from an
oil reservoir of the bottom in the airtight container 12 by an oil
pump 99 to rise through the oil hole 80, and supplied through the
oil supply holes 82, 84, the through-hole 131 of the intermediate
partition plate 36, and the communication hole to the suction port
161 of the upper cylinder 38.
[0062] As the refrigerant, the carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) which is a
natural refrigerant friendly to the global environment is used in
consideration of combustibility, toxicity and the like. As the oil
(lubricant oil), existing oil such as mineral oil, alkylbenzene
oil, ether oil, or ester oil is used.
[0063] The airtight container 12 of the aforementioned rotary
compressor 10 is made of aluminum, and comprises a cylindrical
container main body 12A which receives the electric element 14 and
the rotary compression mechanism section 18, a bottom portion which
becomes an oil reservoir to close a bottom opening of the container
main body 12A, and a roughly bowl-shaped end cap (cap member) 12B
which closes an upper opening of the container main body 12A.
[0064] The end cap 12B comprises an annular step portion formed by
buckling extrusion molding and having a predetermined curvature,
and a circular mounting hole 12D formed in the center. A terminal
(wiring is omitted) 20 is mounted to the mounting hole 12D to
supply power to the electric element 14. This terminal 20 comprises
a circular glass portion 20A through which an electric terminal 139
is fixed, and a metal mounting portion 20B formed around the glass
portion 20A and bulged in a jaw shape obliquely outward and
downward.
[0065] A refrigerant introduction pipe 94 and a refrigerant
discharge pipe 96 as pipes are connected to the outer surface of
the container main body 12A of the airtight container 12. The
refrigerant introduction pipe 94 is connected through a connection
sleeve 73 to the container main body 12A, and communicated with the
suction passage 60 of the lower support member 56. The refrigerant
discharge pipe 96 is connected through a connection sleeve 74 to
the container main body 12A, and communicated with the discharge
muffling chamber 62 of the upper support member 54. The connection
sleeve 73 is roughly positioned on a diagonal line of the
connection sleeve 74.
[0066] Additionally, a refrigerant instruction portion 92 is
disposed in the container main body 12A of the airtight container
12. This refrigerant introduction portion 92 is extended up and
down, and positioned above the connection sleeve 73. The
refrigerant introduction portion 92 communicates the suction
passage of the upper support member 54 with the electric element 14
side in the airtight container 12.
[0067] The refrigerant introduction portion 92 has a thick portion
13B integrally formed in the container main body 12A of the
airtight container 12, and a cap member 112 mounted to the outside
of the thick portion 13B. The thick portion 13B has a communication
pipe 93A which communicates the electric element 14 side in the
airtight container 12 with the outside, a communication pipe 93B
which communicates the suction passage of the upper support member
54 with the outside, and a groove semi-arc in section which is
formed between the communication pipes 93A, 93B. On the other hand,
the cap member 112 has a groove semi-arc in section which is formed
on a section opposed to the groove of the thick portion 13B. The
thick portion 13B and the cap member 112 are joined together
through a gasket 114 to form the refrigerant introduction portion
92.
[0068] Now, a connection structure of the refrigerant introduction
pipe 94, the connection sleeve 7, and the container main body 12A
will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. A connection
structure of the refrigerant discharge pipe 96, the connection
sleeve 74, and the container main body 12A is similar to the above.
The airtight container 12 and the connection sleeve 73 are
connected to each other by two first bolts 77 as first connection
tools, and the connection sleeve 73 and the refrigerant
introduction pipe 94 are connected to each other by one second bolt
78 as a second connection tool.
[0069] Specifically, in the container main body 12A of the airtight
container 12, two container female screw portions 121 in which
female screws are formed to be engaged with the first bolts 77 are
formed. The refrigerant introduction pipe 94 has a cylindrical pipe
main body 71, and a roughly triangular flange portion 72 formed in
a tip of the pipe main body 71. In the flange portion 72, a flange
insertion portion 721 is formed to penetrate the front surface and
the backside.
[0070] The connection sleeve 73 is roughly triangular in section as
in the case of the flange portion 72 of the refrigerant
introduction, and disposed between the flange portion 72 of the
refrigerant introduction pipe 94 and the container main body 12A of
the airtight container 12. An inner surface of the connection
sleeve 73 is a through-hole 734 through which the refrigerant
supplied from the pipe of the refrigerant introduction pipe 94
passes. The connection sleeve 73 has two sleeve hole portions 731
formed in an end surface of the refrigerant introduction pipe 94
side, and a sleeve insertion portion 732 which penetrates a bottom
surface of the sleeve hole portion 731 and the end surface of the
airtight container 12 side. Additionally, the connection sleeve 73
has a sleeve female screw portion 733 formed in a position
different from that of the sleeve hole portion 731 of the end
surface of the refrigerant introduction pipe 94 side and engaged
with the second bolt 78.
[0071] The two sleeve hole portions 731 are arranged on opposing
sides sandwiching the through-hole 734, and the sleeve female screw
portion 733 is arranged to form a roughly triangular shape with the
two sleeve hole portions 731.
[0072] Gaskets 75, 76 are disposed between the container main body
12A of the airtight container 12 and the connection sleeve 73 and
between the connection sleeve 73 and the flange portion 72 of the
refrigerant introduction pipe 94. The gasket 75 is in a roughly
triangular shape corresponding to the sectional shape of the
connection sleeve 73, and openings are formed in positions
corresponding to the through-hole 734 and the sleeve insertion
portion 732. The gasket 76 is in a roughly triangular shape
corresponding to the sectional shape of the connection sleeve 73,
and an opening is formed in a position corresponding to the
through-hole 734.
[0073] The refrigerant introduction pipe 94, the connection sleeve
73, and the container main body 12A are connected by the following
process. In a state in which the connection sleeve 73 is in contact
with the airtight container 12, the first bolt 77 is inserted into
the sleeve hole portion 731, and inserted through the sleeve
insertion portion 732 to be engaged with the container female screw
portion 121. Accordingly, the airtight container 12 and the
connection sleeve 73 are connected to each other by the first bolt
77.
[0074] Next, the flange portion 72 of the refrigerant introduction
pipe 94 is brought into contact with the connection sleeve 73 to
cover the sleeve hole portion 731 thereof, thereby hiding the first
bolt 77. In this state, the second bolt 78 is inserted into the
flange insertion portion 721 from the flange portion 72 side of the
refrigerant introduction pipe 94, and engaged with the sleeve
female insertion portion 73 to connect the connection sleeve 73 to
the flange portion 72 of the refrigerant introduction pipe 94.
[0075] Thus, even when the tip of the first bolt 77 projects in the
container main body 12A of the airtight container 12, and the
refrigerant of intermediate pressure leaks through an aperture
between the first bolt 77 and the container main body 12A to the
sleeve hole portion 731, it is possible to surely prevent leakage
of the refrigerant from the sleeve hole portion 731 to the outside
because the flange portion 72 of the refrigerant introduction pipe
94 hides the first bolt 77. Besides, since it is only necessary to
cover the sleeve hole portion 731 with the flange portion 72 of the
refrigerant introduction pipe 94, the rotary compressor 10 can be
structured more simply.
[0076] Since no thick portion is portion is necessary for the
container main body 12A, a shape thereof can be simplified to
reduce manufacturing costs. Since no unnecessary welding heat is
applied to the container main body 12A, it is possible to prevent a
drop in strength of the container main body 12A.
[0077] Furthermore, by disposing the gasket 76 between the
container main body 12A and the connection sleeve 73, it is
possible to prevent leakage of the refrigerant of intermediate
pressure through an aperture between the connection sleeve 73 and
the container main body 12A to the outside. By disposing the gasket
75 between the connection sleeve 73 and the refrigerant
introduction pipe 94, it is possible to prevent leakage of the
refrigerant of intermediate pressure through the aperture between
the connection sleeve 73 and the refrigerant introduction pipe 94
to the outside even when the refrigerant leaks to the sleeve hole
portion 731.
[0078] The rotary compressor 10 is housed in a support device 200
which has a roughly cylindrical soundproof wall 202. This support
device 200 is fixed in the engine room of the vehicle. Leakage of
noise which accompanies running of the electric element 14 to the
outside is prevented by covering the airtight container 12 of the
rotary compressor 10 at a predetermined interval.
[0079] A roughly circular hole 206 is formed in an upper end of the
soundproof wall 202. Inside the hole 206, a terminal cover 100 that
covers the terminal 20 of the airtight container 12, and an annular
upper elastic support member 207 that closes an aperture between
the terminal cover 100 and the hole 206 are disposed.
[0080] The terminal cover 100 is fixed to the end cap 12B of the
airtight container 12 by a bolt 102. The upper elastic support
member 207 is made of an elastic material such as hard rubber, and
curved to be wavy on the entire periphery. The upper elastic
support member 207 is mounted to the terminal cover 100 in the
inside, and mounted to the inside of the hole 206 of the soundproof
wall 202 in the outside. Accordingly, the upper elastic support
member 207 absorbs vibration transmitted from the terminal cover
100 by the curved portion to prevent transmission of the vibration
from the rotary compressor 10 to the soundproof wall 202.
[0081] In a bottom surface of the soundproof wall 202, a support
leg 150 mounted to the lower surface of the airtight container 12
of the rotary compressor 10, and an elastic mounting 204 that
supports the support leg 150 are disposed. The elastic mounting 204
is made of an elastic material such as hard rubber, and a lower
surface thereof is fixed to the soundproof wall 202. The support
leg 150 is made of a thick aluminum plate, formed into a shape
spread outward from the lower surface of the container main body
12A, and fixed to the elastic mounting 204 by a bolt (not
shown).
[0082] Next, an operation of the rotary compressor 10 will be
described. First, when power is supplied to the stator coil 28 of
the electric element 14 through the terminal 20 and the wiring (not
shown), the electric element 14 is started to rotate the rotor 24.
Accordingly, the upper and lower rollers 46, 48 of the rotary
compression elements 32, 34 are eccentrically rotated in the upper
and lower cylinders 38, 40 by the rotary shaft 16 and the upper and
lower eccentric portions 42, 44.
[0083] Then, the low-pressure (1st stage suction pressure LP: 4
MPaG) refrigerant gas in the refrigerant introduction pipe 94 is
sucked into the rotary compressor 10. Specifically, the refrigerant
gas is passed through the suction passage 60 of the lower support
member 56 and sucked from the suction port into the low-pressure
chamber side of the lower cylinder 40. The sucked low-pressure
refrigerant gas is compressed by the operations of the lower roller
48 and the vane of the first rotary compression element 32 to
become a refrigerant gas of intermediate pressure (1st stage
discharge pressure MP1: 8 MPaG). The refrigerant gas of
intermediate pressure is passed from the high-pressure chamber side
of the lower cylinder 40 through the discharge port, the discharge
muffling chamber 64 of the lower support member 56, the
communication path, and the intermediate discharge pipe, and
discharged into the airtight container 12.
[0084] The refrigerant gas of intermediate pressure in the airtight
container 12 is passed through the refrigerant introduction portion
92, the suction passage of the upper support member 54, and the
suction port 161, and sucked into the low-pressure chamber side of
the upper cylinder 38 (2nd stage suction pressure MP2: 8 MPaG). The
sucked refrigerant gas of intermediate pressure is further
compressed by the operations of the upper roller 46 and the upper
vane 50 of the second rotary compression element 34 to become a
refrigerant gas of a high temperature and high pressure (2nd stage
discharge pressure HP: 12 MPaG). The refrigerant gas of high
pressure is passed from the high-pressure chamber side of the upper
cylinder 38 through the discharge port 39, and the discharge
muffling chamber 62 of the upper support member 54, and discharged
into the refrigerant discharge pipe 96.
Second Embodiment
[0085] FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a connection portion
between an airtight container 12A and a refrigerant introduction
pipe 94 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
A connection portion of the airtight container 12A with a
refrigerant discharge pipe 96 is similar in structure to the
above.
[0086] According to the embodiment, a structure between the
container main body 12A and a connection sleeve 73, and a structure
between the connection sleeve 73 and the refrigerant introduction
pipe 94 are different from those of the first embodiment. That is,
according to the embodiment, a connection sleeve 73A is made of
aluminum as in the case of the airtight container 12A. No gasket is
disposed between the container main body 12A and the connection
sleeve 73A. An end surface of the connection sleeve 73A on the
airtight container 12A side is crushed by the airtight container
12A to be bonded thereto. No gasket is disposed between the
connection sleeve 73 and the refrigerant introduction pipe 94. An
end surface of the connection sleeve 73A on the refrigerant
introduction pipe 94 side is crushed by a flange portion of the
refrigerant introduction pipe 94 to be bonded to the airtight
container 12A.
[0087] Thus, since the airtight container 12A and the connection
sleeve 73A are made of aluminum, the connection sleeve 73A is
pressed to the airtight container 12A to crush a part thereof, and
the connection sleeve 73A is bonded to the airtight container 12A.
Accordingly, it is possible to prevent leakage of a refrigerant of
the airtight container 12A through an aperture between the
connection sleeve 73A and the airtight container 12A to the
outside. Additionally, the refrigerant introduction pipe 94 is
pressed to the connection sleeve 73A to crush a part thereof, and
the connection sleeve 73A is bonded to the refrigerant introduction
pipe 94. Accordingly, even when the refrigerant of the airtight
container 12A leaks to a sleeve hole portion 731, it is possible to
prevent leakage of the refrigerant through an aperture between the
connection sleeve 73A and the refrigerant introduction pipe 94 to
the outside.
[0088] The present invention is not limited to the foregoing
embodiments, and modifications, improvements and the like which can
achieve the object of the invention are also within the invention.
For example, according to the first embodiment, the gasket 76 is
disposed between the container main body 12A and the connection
sleeve 73. However, the invention is not limited to this. That is,
no gasket needs be disposed as long as the connection sleeve 73 can
be bonded to the container main body 12A. Similarly, according to
the embodiment, the gasket 75 is disposed between the connection
sleeve 73 and the refrigerant introduction pipe 94. However, the
invention is not limited to this. That is, no gasket needs be
disposed as long as the refrigerant introduction pipe 94 can be
bonded to the connection sleeve 73.
[0089] Furthermore, according to the embodiment, the rotary
compressor 10 is a 2-stage compression system. However, the
invention is not limited to this. That is, the rotary compressor
may be a single state (1 stage) compression system or a compression
system of 3 stages or more. For example, the rotary compressor of
the single stage compression system is constituted in such a manner
that a refrigerant is introduced from the outside, the introduced
refrigerant is compressed by a compression element and discharged
into an airtight container, and the refrigerant is discharged from
the airtight container to the outside.
Third Embodiment
[0090] Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be
described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 6 is a vertical
sectional view showing a rotary compressor 210 as a compressor of
an internal intermediate pressure type multistage (2 stage)
compression system which comprises first and second rotary
compression elements 232, 234 according to an embodiment of the
invention.
[0091] The rotary compressor 210 is a rotary compressor of an
internal intermediate pressure type multistage compression system
which uses carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) for a refrigerant. This rotary
compressor 210 comprises a cylindrical airtight container 212 made
of aluminum, an electric element 214 received in an upper side of
an internal space of the airtight container 212, and a rotary
compression mechanism section 218 as a compression element received
in a lower side of the internal space of the airtight container
212.
[0092] Specifically, a height of the rotary compressor 210 is 220
mm (outer diameter 120 mm), a height of the electric element 214 is
about 80 mm (outer diameter 110 mm), and a height of the rotary
compression mechanism section 218 is about 70 mm (outer diameter
110 mm). A space between the electric element 214 and the rotary
compression mechanism section 218 is about 5 mm.
[0093] As shown in FIG. 7, the electric element 214 comprises a
stator 222 annularly formed along an inner peripheral surface of an
upper space of the airtight container 212, and a rotor 224
rotatably disposed through a slight aperture inside the stator 222.
The rotor 224 has a rotary shaft 216 extended through its
rotational center in an axial direction.
[0094] The stator 222 has a laminated member 226 in which
doughnut-shaped electromagnetic steel plates are stacked, and a
stator coil 228 wound on a tooth portion of the laminated member
226 by series winding (concentrated winding). The rotor 224
comprises a laminated member 230 in which electromagnetic steel
plates are stacked as in the case of the stator 222, and a
permanent magnet MG arranged in the laminated member 230.
[0095] On the other hand, the rotary compression mechanism section
218 comprises first and second rotary compression elements 232 (1st
stage) and 234 (2nd stage) driven by the electric element 214, an
upper support member 254 and an upper cover 266 arranged on an
upper side of the second rotary compression element 234, an
intermediate partition plate 236 arranged between the first and
second rotary compression elements 232, 234, and a lower support
member 256 and a lower cover 268 arranged on a lower side of the
first rotary compression element 232 to serve also as bearings of
the rotary shaft 216. A displacement volume of the second rotary
compression element 234 is smaller than that of the first rotary
compression element 232.
[0096] As shown in FIG. 8, the second rotary compression element
234 comprises an upper cylinder 238, an upper eccentric portion 242
arranged in the upper cylinder 238 and fixed to the rotary shaft
216, an upper roller 246 fitted around the upper eccentric portion
242, and an upper vane 250 (described later) brought into contact
with the upper roller 246 to divide the inside of the upper
cylinder 38 into low-pressure and high-pressure chamber sides. In
the upper cylinder 238, a suction port 361 is formed to communicate
a suction passage 258 (described later) of the upper support member
254 with the low-pressure chamber side.
[0097] According to the second rotary compression element 234, a
refrigerant gas is sucked from the low-pressure side of the upper
cylinder 238 into the cylinder. In this state, the rotary shaft 216
is rotated to cause eccentric rotation of the upper eccentric
portion 242 and the upper roller 246, whereby a space in the
cylinder which has sucked the refrigerant gas is reduced. As a
result, the refrigerant gas is compressed to become a high
pressure, and discharged from the high-pressure side of the upper
cylinder 238.
[0098] The upper support member 254 comprises the suction passage
258 connected to the suction port 361 of the upper cylinder 238,
and a discharge muffling chamber 262 formed to be recessed on the
upper side and connected through a discharge port 239 (see FIG. 8)
to the high-pressure chamber side of the upper cylinder 238.
Incidentally, in the upper support member 254, a discharge valve is
disposed to open/close the discharge port 239.
[0099] A bearing 254A is erected in the center of the upper support
member 254. A cylindrical bush 322 is fixed to an inner surface of
the bearing 254A. The bush 322 is made of a material of good
sliding characteristics.
[0100] The upper cover 266 is made of aluminum, and closes the
discharge muffling chamber 262 of the upper support member 254.
Accordingly, the discharge muffling chamber 262 is separated from
the electric element 214 side in the airtight container 212. This
upper cover 266 is formed into a roughly doughnut shape having a
hole formed through which the bearing 254A of the upper support
member 254 is put. The upper cover 266 is fixed to the upper
support member 254 in a state in which a gasket 324 with a bead is
held with the upper support member 254. The upper cover 266 is
brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the
airtight container 212, and fixed thereto by welding.
[0101] An O ring 326 is disposed between the inner peripheral edge
of the upper cover 266 and the outer surface of the bearing 254A.
Gas leakage from the discharge muffling chamber 262 can be
prevented by this O ring 326 to increase a volume thereof. It is
not necessary to fix the inner peripheral edge side of the upper
cover 266 to the bearing 254A by a C ring.
[0102] A thickness of the upper cover 266 is 2 mm or higher to 10
mm or lower (most preferably 6 mm according to the embodiment). By
setting the upper cover 266 to such a thickness, it is possible to
achieve miniaturization while sufficiently enduring pressure of the
discharge muffling chamber 262 which becomes higher than that in
the airtight container 212, and to secure an insulation distance
from the electric element 214.
[0103] The first rotary compression element 232 comprises a lower
cylinder 240, a lower eccentric portion 244 fixed to the rotary
shaft 216 by a phase difference of 1800 from the upper eccentric
portion 242 in the lower cylinder 240, a lower roller 248 fitted
around the lower eccentric portion 244, and a lower vane (not
shown) brought into contact with the lower roller 248 to divide the
inside of the lower cylinder 240 into low-pressure and
high-pressure chamber sides. In the lower cylinder 240, a suction
port 362 is formed to communicate a suction passage 260 (described
later) of the lower support member 256 with the low-pressure
chamber side.
[0104] According to the first rotary compression element 232, a
refrigerant gas is sucked from the low-pressure side of the lower
cylinder 240 into the cylinder. In this state, the rotary shaft 216
is rotated to cause eccentric rotation of the lower eccentric
portion 244 and the lower roller 248, whereby a space in the
cylinder which has sucked the refrigerant gas is reduced. As a
result, the refrigerant gas is compressed to become a high
pressure, and discharged from the high-pressure side of the lower
cylinder 240.
[0105] The lower support member 256 comprises the suction passage
260 connected to the suction port 362 of the lower cylinder 240,
and a discharge muffling chamber 264 formed to be recessed on the
lower side and connected through a discharge port to the
high-pressure chamber side of the lower cylinder 240. Incidentally,
in the lower support member 256, a discharge valve is disposed to
open/close the discharge port.
[0106] A bearing 256A is formed through the center of the lower
support member 256, and a cylindrical bush 323 is fixed to an inner
surface of the bearing 256A. As in the case of the bush 322, the
bush 323 is made of a material of good sliding characteristics. The
rotary shaft 216 is held by the bearing 254A of the upper support
member 254 and the bearing 256A of the lower support member 256
through the bushes 322, 323.
[0107] The lower support member 256 is made of an iron sintered
material (or cast). A surface (lower surface) to which the lower
cover 268 is mounted is processed to a degree of flatness 0.1 mm or
lower, and then subjected to steam treatment. The surface to which
the lower cover 268 is mounted becomes iron oxide by the steam
treatment, and thus a hole in the sintered material is closed to
improve sealing. Accordingly, no gasket needs be disposed between
the lower cover 268 and the lower support member 256.
[0108] The lower cover 268 closes the discharge muffling chamber
264 of the lower support member 256. The lower cover 268 is made of
a doughnut-shaped circular steel plate, and fixed to the lower
support member 256. An inner peripheral edge of the lower cover 268
projects inward from the inner surface of the bearing 256A of the
lower support member 256. Accordingly, a lower end surface of the
bush 323 is held by the lower cover 268 to be prevented from
falling off.
[0109] The upper and lower cylinders 238, 240, the intermediate
partition plate 236, the upper and lower support members 254, 256,
and the upper and lower covers 266, 268 are fastened from the upper
and lower sides by four main bolts 278 and 329. That is, the main
bolt 278 is inserted from the upper cover 266 side, and its tip is
engaged with the lower support member 256. The main bolt 329 is
inserted from the lower cover 268 side, and its tip is engaged with
the upper support member 254.
[0110] Further, the upper and lower cylinders 238, 240, the
intermediate partition plate 236, and the upper and lower support
members 254, 256 are fastened by auxiliary bolts 336 positioned
outside the main bolts 278, 329. The auxiliary bolt 336 is inserted
from the upper support member 254 side, and its tip is engaged with
the lower support member 256. Additionally, the auxiliary bolt 336
is positioned near a guide groove 270 (described later) of the
upper vane 250.
[0111] Thus, since the rotary compression mechanism section 18 is
integrated by the auxiliary bolts 336, 336 in addition to the main
bolts 278, 329, sealing thereof can be secured, the vicinity of the
guide groove 270 of the upper vane 250 can be fastened, and leakage
of pressure applied to the upper vane 250 can be prevented.
[0112] In the upper and lower cylinders 238, 240 and the
intermediate partition plate 236, a communication path is formed to
communicate the discharge muffling chamber 264 of the lower support
member 256 with the upper side of the upper cover 266 in the
airtight container 212. An intermediate discharge pipe 321 is
erected in an upper end of the communication path. This
intermediate discharge pipe 321 is extended toward an aperture
between the adjacent stator coils 228 wound on the stator 222 of
the electric element 214. Thus, it is possible to suppress an
increase in temperature of the electric element 214 by actively
supplying a refrigerant gas of a relatively low temperature
thereto.
[0113] In the rotary shaft 216, an oil hole 280 is formed to be
extended in the axial direction, and oil supply holes 282, 284 are
formed to be extended from the oil hole 280 in an axial
intersection direction. The oil supply holes 282, 284 are extended
to outer peripheral surfaces of the upper and lower eccentric
portions 242, 244 of the rotary compression elements 232, 234. An
inner peripheral surface side of the intermediate partition plate
236 is communicated with the outer peripheral surfaces of the upper
and lower eccentric portions 242, 244. In the intermediate
partition plate 236, as shown in FIG. 9, a through-hole 331 is
bored to communicate the outer peripheral surface with the inner
peripheral surface, and a sealing material 332 is pressed into the
outer peripheral surface side of the through-hole 331 to seal the
same. Additionally, a communication hole 333 is bored to be
extended upward in the midway of the through-hole 331. On the other
hand, in the suction port 361 of the upper cylinder 238, a
communication hole 334 is bored to be connected to the
communication hole 333 of the intermediate partition plate 236.
[0114] As described later, since intermediate pressure is set in
the airtight container 212, and pressure therein becomes higher
than that in the upper cylinder 238, supplying of oil into the
upper cylinder 238 becomes difficult. However, according to the
aforementioned oil supply mechanism, the oil is drawn up from an
oil reservoir of the bottom in the airtight container 212 to rise
through the oil hole 280, and supplied through the oil supply holes
282, 284, the through-hole 331 of the intermediate partition plate
236, and the communication holes 333, 334 to the suction port 361
of the upper cylinder 238.
[0115] As the refrigerant, the carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) which is a
natural refrigerant friendly to the global environment is used in
consideration of combustibility, toxicity and the like. As the oil
(lubricant oil), existing oil such as mineral oil, alkylbenzene
oil, ether oil, or ester oil is used.
[0116] Now, the second rotary compression element 234 will be
described. A constitution of the first rotary compression element
232 is substantially similar. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, in the
upper cylinder 238 of the second rotary compression element 234, a
guide groove 270 extended from an inner peripheral surface (upper
roller 246 side) to an outer peripheral side, and a housing portion
270A which communicates the outer peripheral side of the guide
groove 270 with the outer peripheral surface (container main body
212A side of the airtight container 212) are formed.
[0117] The upper vane 250 is received in the guide groove 270, and
the housing portion 270A houses a spring 276, and a metal plug 337
which prevents the pulling-out of the spring 276 to the airtight
container 212 side. Accordingly, the spring 276 always presses the
upper vane 250 to the upper roller 246 side. High pressure which is
discharge pressure of the second rotary compression element 234 is
applied as back pressure to the guide groove 270 from a back
pressure chamber (not shown). Thus, the spring 276 side of the plug
337 becomes high pressure, and the airtight container 212 side
becomes intermediate pressure.
[0118] An outer size of the plug 337 is set smaller than an inner
diameter of the housing portion 270A, and the plug 337 is fitted in
the housing portion 270A with an aperture. An O ring 338 is mounted
to an outer peripheral surface of the plug 337, and the aperture
between the plug 337 and the housing portion 270A is sealed. A size
from an inner end of the plug 337 to the O ring 338 is set larger
than a space between an outer end of the plug 337 and the container
main body 212A of the airtight container 212.
[0119] Thus, as in the case of the pressing-in and fixing of the
plug 337 in the housing portion 270A, it is possible to prevent a
problem of performance deterioration caused by a drop in sealing
between the upper cylinder 238 and the upper support member 254 due
to deformation of the upper cylinder 238. Besides, even when the
high pressure of the spring 276 side pushes the plug 337 from the
housing portion 270A to the outside to come into contact with the
airtight container 212, the O ring 338 still seals the aperture
between the plug 337 and the housing portion 270A.
[0120] A portion of the rotary shaft 216 that connects the upper
eccentric portion 242 to the lower eccentric portion 244 is a
connection portion 290. A sectional shape of this connection
portion 290 is elliptical, and a sectional area thereof is larger
compared with the other portions of the rotary shaft 216 circular
in section. That is, the sectional shape of the connection portion
290 is thicker in the eccentric direction of the upper and lower
eccentric portions 242, 244.
[0121] Accordingly, sectional second moment of the connection
portion 290 is set larger than those of the other potions of the
rotary shaft 216 to secure strength (rigidity), whereby durability
and reliability can be improved. As a result, deformation of the
rotary shaft 216 can be prevented even when a refrigerant of a
large difference between high pressure and low pressure is used to
enlarge a load on the rotary shaft 216.
[0122] The airtight container 212 is made of aluminum, and
comprises the cylindrical container main body 212A which receives
the electric element 214 and the rotary compression mechanism
section 218, a bottom portion which is an oil reservoir to close a
bottom opening of the container main body 212A, and a roughly
bowl-shaped end cap (cap member) 212B which closes an upper opening
of the container main body 212A.
[0123] The end cap 212B comprises an annular step portion 212C
formed by buckling extrusion molding and having a predetermined
curvature, and a circular mounting hole 212D formed in the center.
A terminal (wiring is omitted) 220 is mounted to the mounting hole
212D to supply power to the electric element 214. This terminal 220
comprises a circular glass portion 220A through which an electric
terminal 339 is fixed, and a metal mounting portion 220B formed
around the glass portion 220A and bulged in a jaw shape obliquely
outward and downward. A thickness of the mounting portion 220B is
set to 2.4.+-.0.5 mm. The terminal 220 inserts the glass portion
220A into the mounting hole 212D from the lower side to be exposed
to the upper side, and brings the mounting portion 220B into
contact with a peripheral edge of the mounting hole 212D. In this
state, the peripheral edge of the mounting hole 212D of the end cap
212B and the mounting portion 220B are welded together, and thus
the terminal 20 is fixed to the end cap 212B.
[0124] An accumulator that separates a gas from a liquid of a
sucked refrigerant is mounted through a bracket 347 to the airtight
container 212.
[0125] In the outer surface of the container main body 212A of the
airtight container 212, a sleeve 343 through which the refrigerant
introduction pipe 294 is inserted, sleeves 341, 344 through which
the refrigerant introduction pipe 292 is inserted, and a sleeve 343
through which the refrigerant discharge pipe 296 is inserted are
disposed. Specifically, the sleeves 341, 342, 343 and 344 are
cylindrical, and fixed to the container main body 212A by welding.
The sleeves 341 and 342 are adjacent to each other up and down, and
the sleeve 343 is roughly on a diagonal line of the sleeve 341. The
sleeve 344 is in a position shifted from the sleeve 341 by about
90.degree..
[0126] Jaw portions 351 are formed in tip outer peripheries of the
sleeves 341, 343 and 344, and a screw groove (not shown) is formed
in an inner periphery of the sleeve 342. A coupler for airtight
test pipe connection can be detachably engaged with the jaw portion
351, and a connector for airtight test pipe connection can be fixed
in the screw groove by a screw. Thus, since an airtight test pipe
from a compressed air generator (not shown) can be easily connected
by using the coupler or the connector, an airtight test can be
finished within a short time. Especially, in the case of the
sleeves 341 and 342 adjacent to each other up and down, since the
jaw portion 351 is formed in one sleeve 341 while the screw groove
is formed in the other sleeve 342, there is no need to adjacently
mount a coupler relatively large compared with the connector, and a
space between the sleeves 341 and 342 can be narrowed.
[0127] One end of the refrigerant introduction pipe 294 is
connected through the sleeve 342 to the suction passage 260 of the
lower support member 256, and the other end is connect to a lower
end of the accumulator. One end of the refrigerant introduction
pipe 292 is connected through the sleeve 341 to the suction passage
258 of the upper support member 254, and the other end is connected
through the sleeve 344 to the electric element 214 side in the
airtight container 212. The refrigerant discharge pipe 296 is
connected through the sleeve 343 to the discharge muffling chamber
262 of the upper support member 254.
[0128] Next, a process of welding the rotary compression mechanism
section 218 to the airtight container 212 will be described with
reference to FIG. 11. First, by shrinkage-fitting, the upper cover
266 of the rotary compression mechanism section 218 is brought into
contact with the inside of the container main body 212A of the
airtight container 212.
[0129] Next, a through-hole 370 which penetrates the container main
body 212A and reaches a predetermined depth of the upper cover 266
from the outside of the container main body 212A is formed by a
drill whose tip is conical. The through-holes 370 have hole
diameters D, and formed at predetermined intervals along a contract
surface between the container main body 212A and the upper cover
266, specifically in an outer peripheral direction of the container
main body 212A. Accordingly, a through-hole 371 that has a plate
thickness t of the container main body 212A, i.e., a depth t, is
formed in the container main body 212A. In the upper cover 266, a
bowl-shaped hole portion 372 that has a predetermined depth s is
formed.
[0130] Subsequently, an arc is generated between a wire 373 having
an outer diameter dw and the through-hole 370 in an atmosphere of
an inactive gas such as an argon gas, droplets are dropped into the
through-hole 370 from the wire 373, and the container main body
212A and the upper cover 266 are welded together.
[0131] Incidentally, according to the embodiment, the outer
diameter dw of the wire 373 is 1.6 mm, the plate thickness of the
container main body 212A is 5.0 mm, the hole diameter D of the
through-hole 370 is 5.0 mm, the depth s of the hole portion 372 is
2.0 mm, and welding places are 4.
[0132] Thus, since the hole of a predetermined depth is formed
beforehand in the compression element, a metal lump can be easily
formed by the droplets even when the compression element is not
sufficiently melted. As a result, even when the compression element
or the airtight container is made of a low-melting point metal, the
compression element can be surely fixed to the airtight
container.
[0133] Since the container main body 212A and the rotary
compression mechanism section 218 are made of aluminum, it is
possible to reduce weight while securing strength and rigidity of
the rotary compressor 210. The outer diameter dw of the wire 373 is
set to 1.6 mm or lower, and the hole diameter D of the through-hole
370 is set to 5.0 mm. Accordingly, the through-hole 370 can be
surely closed by the droplets from the wire 373, and the rotary
compression mechanism section 218 can be surely welded to the
container main body 212A.
[0134] The depth s of the hole portion 372 formed in the upper
cover 266 is set to 2.0 mm. Thus, enough droplets that enter the
hole portion 372 of the upper cover 266 can be secured. As a
result, the rotary compression mechanism section 218 can be welded
to the container main body 212A more surely. Additionally, since
the through-holes 370 are formed at the predetermined intervals
along the contact surface between the container main body 212A and
the upper cover 266, the rotary compression mechanism section 218
can be fixed along the contact surface with the container main body
212A by a uniform force.
[0135] FIG. 12 shows a water heater 353 to which the aforementioned
rotary compressor 210 is applied. The water heater 353 comprises a
hot water tank (not shown) having a gas cooler 354, an evaporator
357, an accumulator 346, and the rotary compressor 210.
[0136] The refrigerant discharge pipe 296 connected to the rotary
compressor 210 is connected to the gas cooler 354 which heats
water. The gas cooler 354 and the evaporator 357 are connected to
each other through an expansion valve 356 as a pressure reducing
device by a pipe. The evaporator 357 is connected to the
accumulator 346 by a pipe. The accumulator 346 is connected to the
refrigerant introduction pipe 294 connected to the rotary
compressor 210. The refrigerant introduction pipe 292 and the
refrigerant discharge pipe 296 are connected to each other through
a solenoid valve 359 as a flow path control device by a defrosting
pipe 358 which constitutes a defrosting circuit.
[0137] Next, an operation of the water heater 353 will be described
with reference to FIGS. 6 and 11. The solenoid valve 359 is closed
during heating and running.
[0138] First, when power is supplied to the stator coil 228 of the
electric element 214 through the terminal 220 and the wiring (not
shown), the electric element 214 is started to rotate the rotor
224. Accordingly, the upper and lower rollers 246, 248 of the
rotary compression elements 232, 234 are eccentrically rotated in
the upper and lower cylinders 238, 240 by the rotary shaft 216 and
the upper and lower eccentric portions 242, 244.
[0139] Then, the low-pressure (1st stage suction pressure LP: 4
MPaG) refrigerant gas in the refrigerant introduction pipe 294 is
sucked into the rotary compressor 210. Specifically, the
refrigerant gas is passed through the suction passage 260 of the
lower support member 256 and sucked from the suction port 362 into
the low-pressure chamber side of the lower cylinder 240. The sucked
low-pressure refrigerant gas is compressed by the operations of the
lower roller 248 and the vane of the first rotary compression
element 232 to become a refrigerant gas of intermediate pressure
(1st stage discharge pressure MP1: 8 MPaG). The refrigerant gas of
intermediate pressure is passed from the high-pressure chamber side
of the lower cylinder 240 through the discharge port, the discharge
muffling chamber 264 of the lower support member 256, the
communication path, and the intermediate discharge pipe 321, and
discharged into the airtight container 212.
[0140] The refrigerant gas of intermediate pressure in the airtight
container 212 is passed through the refrigerant introduction pipe
292, the suction passage 258 of the upper support member 254, and
the suction port 361, and sucked into the low-pressure chamber side
of the upper cylinder 238 (2nd stage suction pressure MP2: 8 MPaG).
The sucked refrigerant gas of intermediate pressure is further
compressed by the operations of the upper roller 246 and the upper
vane 250 of the second rotary compression element 234 to become a
refrigerant gas of a high temperature and high pressure (2nd stage
discharge pressure HP: 12 MPaG). The refrigerant gas of high
pressure is passed from the high-pressure chamber side of the upper
cylinder 238 through the discharge port 239, and the discharge
muffling chamber 262 of the upper support member 254, and
discharged into the refrigerant discharge pipe 296.
[0141] The refrigerant gas of the refrigerant discharge pipe 296
discharged from the rotary compressor 210 is raised to about
+100.degree. C., and flows into the gas cooler 354. The refrigerant
gas of a high temperature and high pressure radiates heat in the
gas cooler 354, heats water in the hot water tank, and generates
hot water of about +90.degree. C. As a result, the temperature of
the refrigerant gas is lowered, and the pressure thereof is reduced
through the expansion valve 356. Then, the refrigerant gas flows
into the evaporator 357, passes through the accumulator 346, and
flows into the refrigerant introduction pipe 294.
[0142] As described above, the refrigerant gas repeats a cycle of
being sequentially circulated through the rotary compressor 210,
the gas cooler 354, the evaporator 357, and the accumulator
346.
[0143] Incidentally, in an environment of a low outside
temperature, for example, in winter, running of the water heater
353 causes frosting in the evaporator 357. In such a case, the
solenoid valve 359 is opened, and the expansion valve 356 is fully
opened to execute defrosting running of the evaporator 357.
Accordingly, the refrigerant gas of intermediate pressure in the
refrigerant introduction pipe 292 is passed through the defrosting
pipe 358 to flow into the refrigerant discharge pipe 296, and then
merges with a small amount of a refrigerant gas of high pressure in
the refrigerant discharge pipe to flow into the gas cooler 354. A
temperature of this refrigerant is about +50 to 60.degree. C. No
heat is radiated at the gas cooler 354, rather heat is absorbed.
Then, the refrigerant gas that has become relative high in
temperature in the gas cooler 354 is passed through the evaporation
valve 356 to reach the evaporator 357. Thus, the evaporator 357 is
heated to be defrosted since the relatively high-temperature
refrigerant of roughly intermediate pressure flows thereinto.
[0144] Now, since the refrigerant of high pressure has been
supplied to the evaporator 357 without being reduced in pressure to
defrost the same, the suction pressure of the first rotary
compression element 232 of the rotary compressor 210 rises, and the
discharge pressure thereof becomes high. Accordingly, the suction
pressure of the second rotary compression element 234 becomes
roughly equal to its discharge pressure, creating a fear that a
reverse phenomenon of pressure will occur between the suction side
(low-pressure side) and the discharge side (high-pressure side) of
the second rotary compression element 234. However, as described
above, since the evaporator 357 is defrosted by using the
refrigerant gas of intermediate pressure discharged from the first
rotary compression element 232, it is possible to prevent the
reverse phenomenon between the high pressure and the intermediate
pressure.
[0145] The compressor is not limited to the rotary compressor of
the internal intermediate pressure type multistage compression
system of the embodiment. A rotary compressor of a single cylinder
is within the invention. Further, according to the embodiment, the
rotary compressor 210 is used for the refrigerant circuit of the
water heater 353. Not limited to this, however, the rotary
compressor 210 may be used for indoor heating.
[0146] The present invention is not limited to the embodiment, but
modifications, improvements and the like which can achieve the
object are also within the invention. For example, according to the
embodiment, the container main body 212A of the airtight container
212 and the upper cover 266 of the rotary compression mechanism
section 218 are made of aluminum, and the upper cover 266 is welded
to the container main body 212A. However, the invention is not
limited to this.
[0147] For example, the other constituting members of the rotary
compression mechanism section 218, i.e., the first rotary
compression element 232, the second rotary compression element 234,
the upper support member 254, the upper cover 266, the intermediate
partition plate 236, the lower support member 256, the lower cover
268 and the like may be made of aluminum, and welded to the
container main body 212A. That is, the entire rotary compression
mechanism section 2128 may be made of aluminum. Alternatively, the
member of the rotary compression mechanism section 218 that is
welded to the container main body 212A only is made of aluminum,
while the other members may be made of iron. If the entire rotary
compression mechanism section 218 is made of aluminum, weight
reduction can be realized and it is therefore suitably used for an
on-vehicle air conditioner or the like. For example, the upper
cylinder 238 or the lower cylinder 240 may be made of aluminum, and
welded to the container main body 212A.
[0148] Furthermore, according to the embodiment, the bowl-shaped
hole portion 2172 is formed by the drill whose tip is conical.
However, the invention is not limited to this. That is, as shown in
FIG. 13, a hole portion 372A having a flat bottom surface may be
formed. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 14, a hole portion 372B of
a roughly semispherical shape may be formed.
Fourth Embodiment
[0149] Next, yet another embodiment of the present invention will
be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 15 is a
vertical sectional view showing a rotary compressor 410 of an
internal intermediate pressure type multistage (2 stage)
compression system which comprises first and second rotary
compression elements 432, 434 according to this embodiment.
[0150] In the drawing, a reference numeral 410 denotes a rotary
compressor of an internal intermediate pressure type multistage (2
stage) compression system, and carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) is used
for a refrigerant. This rotary compressor 410 comprises a
cylindrical airtight container 412, an electric element 414 as a
driving element received in an upper side of an internal space of
the airtight container 412, and a rotary compression mechanism
section 418 which is arranged below the electric element 414 and
which comprises a first rotary compression element 432 (1st stage)
and a second rotary compression element 434 (2nd stage) as first
and second compression elements driven by a rotary shaft 416 of the
electric element 414.
[0151] The airtight container 412 of the embodiment is made of an
aluminum material, and comprises a container main body 412A which
receives the electric element 414 and the rotary compression
mechanism section 418, and a roughly thin bowl-shaped end cap (cap
member) 412B which closes an upper opening of the container main
body 412A. A circular mounting hole 412D is formed in an upper
surface center of the end cap 412B. A terminal (wiring is omitted)
an entire periphery of which is covered with a metal (iron) metal
cover (not shown) having a plurality of bolt holes 412C formed on a
peripheral portion to supply power to the electric element 414 is
mouthed to the mounting hole 412D. In a state in which the end cap
412B is inserted into an upper end inner wall of the container main
body 412A, the end cap is arc-welded from the outside to be fixed,
thereby forming the airtight container 412.
[0152] The electric element 414 is a DC motor of a so-called polar
concentrated winding system, and comprises a stator 422 annularly
mounted along an inner peripheral surface of an upper space of the
airtight container 412, and a rotor 424 inserted and installed
through a slight aperture inside the stator 422. The rotor 424 is
fixed to the rotary shaft 416 extended through a center in the
airtight container 412 in a vertical direction. The stator 422 has
a laminated member 426 constituted by stacking doughnut-shaped
electromagnetic steel plates and shrinkage-fitted to an inner
surface of the airtight container 412, and a stator coil 428 wound
on a tooth portion of the laminated member 426 by series winding
(concentrated winding). The rotor 424 comprises a laminated member
430 of electromagnetic steel plates as in the case of the stator
422, and a permanent magnet MG inserted into the laminated member
430.
[0153] An oil pump 499 is formed as oil supplying means in a lower
end portion of the rotary shaft 416. By this oil pump 499,
lubricant oil is drawn up from an oil reservoir formed in a bottom
portion of the airtight container 412, passed through an oil hole
(not shown) formed in an axial center of the rotary shaft 416 in a
vertical direction, and supplied from horizontal oil supply holes
482, 484 (also formed in later-described upper and lower eccentric
portions 442, 444) communicated with the oil hole to sliding
portions or the like of the upper and lower eccentric portions 442,
444 and the first and second rotary compression elements 432, 434.
Thus, abrasion prevention and sealing of the first and second
rotary compression elements 432, 434 are implemented.
[0154] An intermediate partition plate 436 is held between the
first and second rotary compression elements 432 and 434. That is,
the first and the second rotary compression elements 432 and 434
comprise the intermediate partition plate 436, upper and lower
cylinders 438, 440 arranged above and below the intermediate
partition plate 436, upper and lower rollers 446, 448 eccentrically
rotated by the lower and upper eccentric portions 442, 444 disposed
in the rotary shaft 416 with a phase difference of 180.degree. in
the upper and lower cylinders 438, 440, vanes (not shown) brought
into contact with the upper and lower rollers 446, 448 to divide
the insides of the upper and lower cylinders 438, 440 into
low-pressure and high-pressure chamber sides, and upper and lower
support members 454 and 456 as support members to close an upper
opening surface of the upper cylinder 438 and a lower opening
surface of the lower cylinder 440, and to serve also as bearings of
the rotary shaft 416.
[0155] The upper and lower support members 454 and 456 comprise
suction passages 458, 460 communicated with the insides of the
upper and lower cylinders 438, 440 through suction ports 561, 562,
and discharge muffling chambers 462, 464 formed by being partially
recessed and covering the recessed portions with upper and lower
covers 466, 468.
[0156] The upper cover 466 is made of an aluminum material, and
formed so that its outer peripheral surface can be brought into
contact with an inner wall of the airtight container 412. The outer
peripheral surface of the upper cover 466 is bent to rise in a
longitudinal direction (axial direction of the rotary shaft, upper
direction in the embodiment) as shown. The upper cover 466 is
mounted to the airtight container 412 by tack-welding its bent and
rising outer peripheral surface to the same.
[0157] The upper cover 466 closes the upper opening of the recess
of the upper support member 454 to define the discharge muffling
chamber 466 communicated with the inside of the upper cylinder 438
of the second rotary compression element 434 through the discharge
port (not shown) in the upper support member 454. The electric
element 414 is disposed at a specified interval from the upper
cover 466 above the same. In this case, a lower end portion of the
stator coil 428 of the electric element 414 is positioned between
the bent and rising upper end portion of the outer peripheral
surface of the upper cover 466 and the surface of the upper cover
466 which covers the discharge muffling chamber 462.
[0158] The upper cover 466 is made of a roughly doughnut-shaped
circular aluminum plate having a circular through-hole (not shown)
formed in the center. The upper support member 454 in which a
bearing 454A of the rotary shaft 416 is disposed is inserted into
the through-hole, and a peripheral portion thereof is fixed to the
upper support member 454 from the upper sides by four main bolts
478. The main bolts 478 penetrate the upper support member 454, and
tips thereof are engaged with the lower support member 456 to
integrate the upper cover 466, the upper support member 454, the
upper cylinder 438, the intermediate partition plate 436, the lower
cylinder 440, and the lower support member 456. Incidentally, the
lower cover 468 is fixed to the lower support member 456 by a bolt
476.
[0159] In the container main body 412A of the airtight container
412, a refrigerant discharge portion 492 and a refrigerant
introduction portion 496 are formed in positions corresponding to
the discharge muffling chambers 462 and 464 of the upper and lower
support members 454, 456. For the refrigerant discharge portion
492, a thick portion 413A is integrally formed with the container
main body 412A of the airtight container 412. For the refrigerant
introduction portion 496, a thick portion 413B is integrally formed
with the container main body 412A of the airtight container
412.
[0160] A hole 502 is formed in the refrigerant discharge portion
492 of the airtight container 412 to communicate the inside thereof
with the outside. In an outer surface of the cylindrical airtight
container 412 which surrounds the hole 502, a flat surface 504 is
formed on a plane of a predetermined range (FIG. 16). To discharge
the refrigerant from the discharge muffling chamber 462 to the
outside of the airtight container 412, a sleeve 470 that connects a
hollow refrigerant pipe (not shown) made of a material such as
copper, aluminum or brass is mounted to the hole 502. Incidentally,
a diameter of the hole 502 is set larger by a predetermined size
than a collar 508 so as to easily fit the collar 508 to a tube
suction 506 (described later).
[0161] The sleeve 470 is made of a material similar to that of the
refrigerant pipe, and the inside thereof exhibits a cylindrical
shape to insert the refrigerant pipe. A connection portion 470A is
disposed on one side of the sleeve 470, and a mounting portion 470B
is disposed on the other side to fix the sleeve 470 to the airtight
container 412 continuously after the connection portion 470A. The
mounting portion 470B is formed larger in diameter than the
connection portion 470A, and an insertion portion 470C through
which the refrigerant pipe is inserted is formed in the sleeve
470.
[0162] A side of the mounting portion 470B opposed to the
connection portion 470A is formed planar, and this planar portion
can be bonded to the flat surface 504 of the airtight container
412. A stopper (not shown) is disposed in the insertion portion
470C formed in the sleeve 470 to disable insertion of the
refrigerant pipe by a predetermined size or more. According to the
embodiment, two screw holes (not shown) are formed in the mounting
portion 470B to fix the sleeve 470. However, one (one screw) is
enough for strength. In the thick portion 413A of the airtight
container 412, a screw hole (not shown) is disposed in a position
corresponding to the screw hole of the sleeve 470. This screw hole
is formed with a depth which does not penetrate the thick portion
413A to prevent leakage of the refrigerant gas from the inside of
the airtight container 412 to the outside.
[0163] The refrigerant pipe is inserted from the connection portion
470A side of the sleeve 470 into the insertion portion 470C until
it comes into contact with the stopper, and the outer peripheral
surface of the refrigerant pipe and the connection portion 470A are
fixed to each other by welding. In a state in which the refrigerant
pipe is welded and fixed to the connection portion 470A of the
sleeve 470, one side of the tube suction 506 is fitted to the
communication path 462A communicated from the hole 502 formed in
the thick portion 413A of the airtight container 412 with the
discharge muffling chamber 462 of the upper support member 454, and
the collar 508 is fitted into the other side of the tube suction
506.
[0164] A groove (not shown) is formed in an inner peripheral
surface (mounting portion 470B side) of the insertion portion 470C
of the sleeve 470. An elastic O ring 516 (equivalent to sealing
material of the invention) made of heat resistant synthetic rubber
is engaged in the groove to prevent gas leakage between the
insertion portion 470C and the collar 508. Additionally, between
the flat surface 504 of the thick portion 413A disposed in the
refrigerant discharge portion 492 of the airtight container 412 and
the mounting portion 470B, a gasket 510 made of a flexible and soft
metal plate is inserted to prevent gas leakage.
[0165] Then, the screw 474 is inserted from the screw hole disposed
in the mounting portion 470B, and fastened into the screw hole
disposed in the thick portion 413A of the airtight container 412.
Accordingly, the sleeve 470 is fixed to the refrigerant discharge
portion 492 of the airtight container 412. At this time, the collar
508 projects from the flat surface 504 of the airtight container
412 by a predetermined size, and is inserted into the insertion
portion 470C of the sleeve 470 by a predetermined size. The collar
508 inserted into the sleeve 470 and the insertion portion 470C are
strongly sealed from each other by an elastic force of the O ring
516. Thus, it is possible to prevent leakage of the gas of the
airtight container 412 between the insertion portion 470C of the
sleeve 470 and the collar 508.
[0166] Since the gasket 510 is disposed between the flat surface
504 of the thick portion 413A of the airtight container 412 and the
mounting portion 470B, the flat surface 504 of the thick portion
413A and the mounting portion 470B can be sealed from each other.
Accordingly, it is possible to prevent leakage of the refrigerant
gas of intermediate pressure of the airtight container 412 from the
hole 502 among the gasket 510, the flat surface 504 of the thick
portion 413A of the airtight container 412 and the mounting portion
470B of the sleeve 470.
[0167] The refrigerant introduction portion 496 is constituted as
in the case of the refrigerant discharge portion 492. That is, a
thick portion 413B similar to the thick portion 413A is disposed in
the curved surface of the airtight container 412, and a hole 522
similar to the hole 502 is disposed in the thick portion 413B.
Additionally, a flat surface 524 similar to the flat surface 504 is
formed in the outer surface of the airtight container around the
hole 522.
[0168] To suck the refrigerant from the outside of the airtight
container 412 into the suction port 562, a sleeve 470 similar to
the above that connects a hollow refrigerant pipe (not shown) made
of a material such as copper, aluminum or brass is mounted to the
hole 522. Incidentally, a screw hole (not shown) is disposed in a
position corresponding to the screw hole of the sleeve 470 in the
thick portion 413B of the airtight container 412. This screw hole
is formed with a depth which does not penetrate the thick portion
413B to prevent leakage of the refrigerant gas from the inside of
the airtight container 412 to the outside.
[0169] The refrigerant pipe is inserted from the connection portion
470A side of the sleeve 470 into the insertion portion 470C until
it comes into contact with the stopper, and the outer peripheral
surface of the refrigerant pipe and the connection portion 470A are
fixed to each other by welding. In a state in which the refrigerant
pipe is welded and fixed to the connection portion 470A of the
sleeve 470, one side of a tube suction 506 similar to the above is
fitted to the suction passage 460 communicated from the hole 522
formed in the thick portion 413B of the airtight container 412 with
the suction port 562 of the lower support member 456, and the
collar 508 is fitted into the other side of the tube suction
506.
[0170] A groove (not shown) similar to the above is formed around
an inner peripheral surface (mounting portion 470B side) of the
insertion portion 470C of the sleeve 470. An elastic O ring 516
(equivalent to sealing material of the invention) made of heat
resistant synthetic rubber is inserted into the groove to prevent
gas leakage between the insertion portion 470C and the collar 508.
Additionally, between a flat surface 524 of the thick portion 413B
disposed in the refrigerant introduction portion 496 of the
airtight container 412 and the mounting portion 470B, a gasket 510
made of a flexible and soft metal plate is inserted to prevent gas
leakage.
[0171] Then, the screw 474 (one side is not shown) is inserted from
the screw hole disposed in the mounting portion 470B, and fastened
into the screw hole disposed in the thick portion 413B of the
airtight container 412. Accordingly, the sleeve 470 is fixed to the
refrigerant introduction portion 496 of the airtight container 412.
At this time, the collar 508 projects from the flat surface 504 of
the airtight container 412 by a predetermined size, and is inserted
into the insertion portion 470C of the sleeve 470 by a
predetermined size. The collar 508 inserted into the sleeve 470 and
the insertion portion 470C are strongly sealed from each other by
an elastic force of the O ring 516. Thus, it is possible to prevent
leakage of the gas of the airtight container 412 between the
insertion portion 470C of the sleeve 470 and the collar 508.
[0172] Since the gasket 510 is disposed between the flat surface
524 of the thick portion 413B of the airtight container 412 and the
mounting portion 470B, the flat surface 524 of the thick portion
413B and the mounting portion 470B can be sealed from each other.
Accordingly, it is possible to prevent leakage of the refrigerant
gas of intermediate pressure of the airtight container 412 from the
hole 502 among the gasket 510, the flat surface 524 of the thick
portion 413B of the airtight container 412 and the mounting portion
470B of the sleeve 470.
[0173] As the refrigerant, the carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) which is a
natural refrigerant friendly to the global environment is used in
consideration of combustibility, toxicity and the like. As the oil
which is lubricant oil, existing oil such as mineral oil,
alkylbenzene oil, ether oil, ester oil or polyalkyl glycol (PAG) is
used. The carbon dioxide is used for the refrigerant according to
the embodiment. However, the invention is not limited to such a
refrigerant. Other existing refrigerants such as a carbohydrate may
be used.
[0174] Next, an operation of the rotary compressor 410 of the
invention constituted in the foregoing manner will be described.
When power is supplied to the stator coil 428 of the electric
element 414 of the rotary compressor 410 through the wiring (not
shown) and the terminal, the electric element 414 is started to
rotate the rotor 424. By this rotation, the upper and lower rollers
446, 448 fitted to the upper and lower eccentric portions 442, 444
integrally disposed with the rotary shaft 416 are eccentrically
rotated in the upper and lower cylinders 438, 440.
[0175] Thus, the low-pressure refrigerant gas passed from the
refrigerant pipe through the suction passage 460 formed in the
lower support member 456, and sucked from the suction port (not
shown) into the low-pressure chamber side of the lower cylinder 440
is compressed by the operations of the roller 448 and the vane (not
shown) to become a refrigerant gas of intermediate pressure, and
discharged from the high-pressure chamber side of the lower
cylinder 440 through the intermediate discharge pipe (not shown)
into the airtight container 412. As a result, intermediate pressure
is set in the airtight container 412. At this time, the refrigerant
gas flows into the holes 502, 522 to set intermediate pressure
therein. However, since the gaskets 510, 510 are inserted between
both thick portions 413A, 413B of the sleeves 470, 470, the
refrigerant gas discharged into the airtight container 412 never
leaks to the outside thereof.
[0176] Then, the refrigerant gas of intermediate pressure in the
airtight container 412 flows into the suction passage 458 formed in
the upper cover 466, and sucked from the suction port 561 into the
low-pressure chamber side of the upper cylinder 438 of the second
rotary compression element 434. The refrigerant gas of intermediate
pressure sucked into the low-pressure chamber side of the upper
cylinder 438 is subjected to compression of a second stage by the
operations of the roller 466 and the vane (not shown) to become a
refrigerant gas of a high temperature and high pressure. The
refrigerant gas of high pressure is passed from the high-pressure
chamber side through the discharge port (not shown), and the
discharge muffling chamber 462 formed in the upper support member
454, and discharged from the refrigerant discharge portion 492 to
the outside.
[0177] Thus, the rotary compressor 410 comprises the electric
element 414 and the first and second compression elements 432, 434
driven by the electric element 414 in the airtight container 412,
and compresses the refrigerant sucked from the refrigerant pipe of
the refrigerant introduction side by the first and second
compression elements 432, 434 and discharges the refrigerant from
the refrigerant pipe of the refrigerant discharge side. The sleeve
470 is disposed which is mounted corresponding to the holes 502,
522 formed in the curved surface of the airtight container 412, and
to which the refrigerant pipes are connected. The flat surfaces
504, 524 are formed in the outer surface of the airtight container
412 around the holes 502, 522, and the sleeve 470 is fixed through
the gasket 510 to the flat surfaces 504, 524 of the airtight
container 412 by the screw 474. The collar 508 communicated with
the first and second compression elements 432, 434 is brought into
contact with the inside of the sleeve 470 through the O ring 516.
Thus, it is possible to easily fix the sleeve 470 to the airtight
container 412 even when the airtight container 412 is made of an
aluminum material.
[0178] Accordingly, the airtight container 412 and the sleeve 470
can be sealed well when the sleeve 470 is fixed to the airtight
container 412 by the screw 474. Moreover, since the leakage of the
refrigerant gas discharged into the airtight container 412 to the
outside can be surely prevented, it is possible to greatly improve
the performance of the sealed type rotary compressor 410.
[0179] Especially, since the sleeve 470 is fixed through the gasket
510 to the flat surfaces 504, 524 around the holes formed in the
outer surface of the airtight container 412 by the screw 474, the
gasket 510 portion can play a role of a relief valve. Accordingly,
it is possible to release high pressure from the gasket 510 portion
to the outside of the airtight container 412 when the pressure of
the refrigerant gas compressed by the first and second compression
elements 432, 434 of the rotary compressor 410 excessively
increases to set abnormally high pressure in the airtight container
412. Moreover, since it is possible to prevent the danger of
destruction of the airtight container 412 caused by the abnormally
high pressure therein, durability of the rotary compressor 410 can
be greatly improved, and reliability thereof can be secured.
[0180] The embodiment has been described by way of case in which
the sealed type compressor is the rotary compressor 410 of the
internal intermediate pressure type multistage compression system.
However, the sealed type compressor is not limited to the rotary
compressor 410 of the internal intermediate pressure type
multistage compression system. It may be a compressor of a
multistage compression system in which intermediate pressure is set
in the airtight container 412. The invention is similarly effective
even when the sealed type compressor is not the compressor 410 of
the multistage compression system but a compressor of a single
compression system.
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