U.S. patent application number 11/507481 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-28 for fixing device and compressor apparatus having the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Hyun Jin Hong, Do Yeon Kim, Je Myung Moon.
Application Number | 20070148013 11/507481 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38193970 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070148013 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hong; Hyun Jin ; et
al. |
June 28, 2007 |
Fixing device and compressor apparatus having the same
Abstract
A fixing device for a compressor includes main fixing units to
prevent internal vibration generated due to the operation of the
compressor and auxiliary fixing units to prevent external vibration
generated due to external environment, such as transportation of
the compressor, and stably maintains the installation state of the
compressor, thus effectively preventing a damage to a refrigerant
pipe due to the vibration of the compressor. The main fixing units
connect the compressor to the casing, and the auxiliary fixing
units cause the compressor to be separated from the casing in a
normal state, and allow the compressor to contact the casing when
an excessive external vibration is generated, thus preventing
unnecessary vibration, generated from the compressor, from being
transferred to the casing.
Inventors: |
Hong; Hyun Jin; (Seoul,
KR) ; Moon; Je Myung; (Suwon-si, KR) ; Kim; Do
Yeon; (Euiwang-si, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STANZIONE & KIM, LLP
919 18TH STREET, N.W., SUITE 440
WASHINGTON
DC
20006
US
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG Electronics Co.,
Ltd.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
38193970 |
Appl. No.: |
11/507481 |
Filed: |
August 22, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/360 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25B 2500/13 20130101;
F25D 2500/02 20130101; F25D 23/006 20130101; F16F 15/067 20130101;
F04B 39/0044 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/360 |
International
Class: |
F04B 35/00 20060101
F04B035/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 28, 2005 |
KR |
2005-132241 |
Claims
1. A fixing device usable with a compressor and a casing in a
compressor apparatus, the fixing device comprising: main fixing
units to prevent internal vibration generated from an operation of
the compressor; and auxiliary fixing units to prevent external
vibration from being transferred to the compressor.
2. The fixing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the main
fixing units connect the compressor to a casing, and the auxiliary
fixing units cause the compressor to be separated from the casing
in a normal state, and allow the compressor to contact the casing
when the external vibration is an excessive external vibration.
3. The fixing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the
main fixing units comprises: a fixing bolt passing through a
bracket extended from a lower surface of the compressor and a
bottom of the casing; a dustproof rubber interposed between the
bracket and the casing; and a nut connected to an end of the
bolt.
4. The fixing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the
auxiliary fixing units comprises: a bolt provided on the compressor
or the casing; and a dustproof cap installed on the end of the
bolt.
5. The fixing device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the auxiliary
fixing units are installed on the casing between the main fixing
units.
6. The fixing device as set forth in claim 5, wherein the bolt is
welded to the bottom of the casing.
7. The fixing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the main
fixing units connect the compressor to the casing; and each of the
auxiliary fixing units comprises a bolt fixed to the casing, a
dustproof cap connected to an upper end of the bolt, and an elastic
member interposed between the bolt and the dustproof cap to
elastically bias the dustproof cap so that the dustproof cap
contacts the compressor.
8. The fixing device as set forth in claim 7, wherein each of the
main fixing units comprises: a fixing bolt passing through a
bracket extended from the lower surface of the compressor and the
bottom of the casing; a dustproof rubber interposed between the
bracket and the casing; and a nut connected to an end of the
bolt.
9. The fixing device as set forth in claim 7, wherein the dustproof
cap is separated from the bolt in a normal state, and contacts the
bolt when excessive external vibration is generated.
10. The fixing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the
compressor apparatus is disposed in an air conditioning apparatus;
and the auxiliary fixing units are spaced apart from the compressor
in a first state and to contact the compressor in a second
state.
11. The fixing device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the
auxiliary fixing units comprise: a bolt; an elastic member provided
on an end of the bolt; and a dustproof cap provided on an end of
the elastic member to bias the dustproof cap to contact the bottom
of the compressor to absorb a normal vibration and the dustproof
cap selectively contacts the bolt during a second vibration.
12. The fixing device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the bolt is
fastened to the bottom of the casing by a flange.
13. The fixing device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the
dustproof cap has a recessed portion formed therein through which
the end of the bolt is inserted.
14. The fixing device as set forth in claim 10, wherein an inner
diameter of the recess portion is larger than an outer diameter of
the bolt.
15. The fixing device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the
dustproof cap is biased away from the bolt by a designated
distance.
16. The fixing device as set forth in claim 10, wherein the
dustproof cap is made of rubber.
17. The fixing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein: the main
fixing units prevent the internal vibration of the compressor
during a normal operation; and the auxiliary fixing units prevent
the external vibration of the compressor during an excessive
vibration.
18. A compressor apparatus, comprising: a compressor unit; a casing
on which the compressor unit is disposed; a main fixing unit
disposed to connect the compressor unit and the casing to absorb an
internal vibration from the compressor unit; and an auxiliary
fixing unit mounted on the casing to selectively contact the
compressor unit to absorb a second vibration from the casing.
19. The compressor apparatus of claim 18, wherein the main fixing
unit is disposed between the casing and a first area of the
compressor unit, and the auxiliary fixing unit is disposed between
the casing and a second area of the compressor unit.
20. The compressor apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first area is
a first circular area and the second area is a second circular area
smaller than the first circular area.
21. The compressor apparatus of claim 18, wherein the auxiliary
fixing unit is spaced apart from the compressor unit without the
second vibration, and contacts the compressor unit with the second
vibration.
22. The compressor apparatus of claim 18, wherein: the compressor
unit comprises a compressor and a bracket to support the
compressor, and the main fixing unit is disposed between the casing
and the bracket, and the auxiliary fixing unit is disposed between
the casing and the compressor.
23. The compressor apparatus of claim 18, the auxiliary fixing unit
comprises a fixing bolt mounted on the casing and a dustproof cap
movable between the fixing bolt and the compressor unit.
24. The compressor apparatus of claim 23, wherein the fixing bolt
has a stepped portion formed thereon to limit the connection of the
dustproof cap with the fixing bolt.
25. The compressor apparatus of claim 24, wherein the dustproof cap
has a recess portion formed therein to receive the fixing bolt.
26. The compressor apparatus of claim 19, wherein the dustproof cap
is formed of a rubber material.
27. The compressor apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second
vibration exceeds a critical stress value of 140 MPa.
28. The compressor apparatus of claim 18, wherein a top of the
auxiliary fixing unit is separated from a bottom of the compressor
unit by a designated distance.
29. A compressor apparatus, comprising: a compressor unit; a casing
to support the compressor unit; and a fixing device, comprising:
main fixing units to fix the compressor unit to the casing and to
prevent internal vibration generated from an operation of the
compressor unit; and auxiliary fixing units to prevent external
vibration from being transferred to the compressor unit.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No. 2005-0132241, filed Dec. 28, 2005, in the Korean
Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present general inventive concept relates to a fixing
device, and more particularly, to a fixing device interposed
between a compressor and a casing to effectively prevent a
vibration of the compressor, and a compressor having the same.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Generally, compressors are used to cool air in a designated
space through a refrigerant cycle in an air conditioner or a
refrigerator.
[0006] In the refrigerant cycle, the refrigerant in a gaseous state
is compressed to a high-temperature and high-pressure state by the
compressor and is liquefied by a condenser. The liquefied
refrigerant is decompressed by an expansion valve and is introduced
into an evaporator so that the refrigerant is evaporated by
absorbing heat from surroundings. Then, the evaporated refrigerant
is in a gaseous state and is absorbed again into the compressor. A
cooling operation is achieved by blowing cooled air to an outside
or a designated space through an air blast fan installed in the
evaporator, and a temperature of the air is gradually lowered by
repeating the above cycle.
[0007] The compressor used in the above refrigerant cycle generates
noise due to a vibration in the cooling operation. FIG. 1 is a
perspective view illustrating a conventional fixing device of
Korean Utility Model Application No. 1992-21131. Referring to FIG.
1, the conventional fixing device for the compressor includes a
bracket 1 having a plurality of fixing pieces and bracket fixing
parts 11 formed therein, and attached to a lower portion of the
compressor. Dustproof rubber members 3 are interposed between the
lower portions of the fixing pieces and a casing and are fixed to
the compressor using bolts 2 and nuts (not shown) through the
bracket fixing part 11.
[0008] The conventional fixing device reduces vibration and noise
generated during the cooling operation, but the conventional fixing
device cannot effectively reduce vibration generated when the
compressor is transported. For example, the conventional fixing
device limits critical stress generated from an inside of the
compressor to 140 MPa, and stress applied to the compressor when
the compressor is transported is 285-333 MPa. Accordingly, the
compressor, which is installed in an outdoor unit of the air
conditioner, is severely vibrated, even though the fixing device is
installed in the compressor. The severe vibration of the compressor
concentrates stress onto a refrigerant pipe of the compressor,
which is susceptible to the vibration generated when the compressor
is carried and may crack or otherwise break, thus eventually
leaking the circulating refrigerant.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The general inventive concept provides a fixing device for a
compressor, which prevents the compressor from shaking due to
external vibration, such as vibration caused during transportation
of the compressor, as well as a vibration generated during a
cooling operation, and a compressor having the same.
[0010] Additional aspects and advantages of the present general
inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description
which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description,
or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept.
[0011] The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the
present general inventive concept may be achieved by providing a
fixing device usable with a compressor and a casing in a compressor
apparatus, the fixing device including main fixing units to prevent
an internal vibration generated from an operation of the
compressor, and auxiliary fixing units to prevent an external
vibration from being transferred to the compressor.
[0012] The main fixing units may connect the compressor to the
casing, and the auxiliary fixing units may cause the compressor to
be separated from the casing in a normal state, and allow the
compressor to contact the casing when the external vibration is an
excessive external vibration.
[0013] Each of the main fixing units may comprise a fixing bolt
passing through a bracket extended from a lower surface of the
compressor and a bottom of the casing, a dustproof rubber
interposed between the bracket and the casing, and a nut connected
to an end of the bolt.
[0014] Each of the auxiliary fixing units may comprise a bolt
provided on the compressor or the casing; and a dustproof cap
installed on the end of the bolt.
[0015] A plurality of main fixing units and a plurality of the
auxiliary fixing units may be installed on the casing between the
main fixing units.
[0016] The bolt may be welded to the bottom of the casing.
[0017] The main fixing units may connect the compressor to the
casing, and each of the auxiliary fixing units may include a bolt
fixed to the casing, a dustproof cap connected to an upper end of
the bolt, and an elastic member interposed between the bolt and the
dustproof cap to elastically bias the dustproof cap so that the
dustproof cap contacts the compressor.
[0018] The dustproof cap may be separated from the bolt in a normal
state, and contact the bolt when excessive external vibration is
generated.
[0019] The compressor apparatus may be disposed in an air
conditioning apparatus and the auxiliary fixing units may be spaced
apart from the compressor in a first state and to contact the
compressor in a second state.
[0020] The main fixing units may fasten the compressor to the base
plate to prevent the internal vibration of the compressor during a
normal operation, and the plurality of auxiliary fixing units to
prevent the external vibration of the compressor during an
excessive vibration.
[0021] The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the
present general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing
a compressor apparatus, including a compressor unit, a casing on
which the compressor unit is disposed, a main fixing unit disposed
to connect the compressor unit and the casing to absorb an internal
vibration, and an auxiliary fixing unit mounted on the casing to
selectively contact the compressor unit to absorb a second
vibration.
[0022] The foregoing and/or other aspects and utilities of the
present general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing
a compressor apparatus, including a compressor unit, a casing to
support the compressor unit, and a fixing device, including main
fixing units to fix the compressor unit to the casing and to
prevent internal vibration generated from an operation of the
compressor and auxiliary fixing units to prevent external vibration
from being transferred to the compressor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] These and/or other aspects and advantages of the present
general inventive concept will become apparent and more readily
appreciated from the following description of the embodiments,
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional
fixing device for a compressor;
[0025] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an outdoor unit of
an air conditioner having a fixing device for a compressor
according to an embodiment of the present general inventive
concept;
[0026] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the
fixing device of FIG. 2;
[0027] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a auxiliary fixing
unit of FIG. 3;
[0028] FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating the fixing device of FIG.
2; and
[0029] FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating an auxiliary fixing
unit according to another embodiment of the present general
inventive concept.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0030] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of
the present general inventive concept, an example of which is
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference
numerals refer to like elements throughout. The embodiments are
described below to explain the present general inventive concept by
referring to the annexed drawings.
[0031] Although the embodiments describe a compressor for an air
conditioner, the present general inventive concept is not limited
thereto and may be applied to other electric equipment that use the
compressor, such as a refrigerator.
[0032] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an outdoor unit of
an air conditioner having a fixing device for a compressor 15
according to an embodiment of the present general inventive
concept. With reference to FIG. 2, the outdoor unit includes a main
body casing 10 providing an external appearance of the outdoor
unit, and a diaphragm 11 installed in the main body casing 10 to
divide the main body casing 10 into a heat exchanger chamber S1 and
a compressor chamber S2. A heat exchanger 12, an air blast fan 13,
and the compressor 15 are effectively divided and disposed in the
heat exchanger and compressor chambers S1 and S2, respectively. The
compressor 15 is fixed on the main body casing 10 using one or more
fixing units 20. A pipe 16 can be connected to an indoor unit of
the air conditioner.
[0033] That is, the heat exchanger 12 having an "L" shape is
installed in a rear portion of the heat exchanger chamber S1, and
the air blast fan 13 to forcefully suck and blow external air is
installed in a front portion of the heat exchanger 12 so that the
heat exchanger 12 exchanges heat with the external air. The air
blast fan 13 is fixed to a base plate of the main body casing 10 by
a support member 14.
[0034] The compressor 15 to compress a refrigerant into a
high-temperature and high-pressure state is installed in a lower
portion of the compressor chamber S2, and a circuit board (not
shown) on which various components are mounted is installed in an
upper portion of the compressor chamber S2.
[0035] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a fixing
device of FIG. 2. With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the fixing
device for the compressor 15 includes the main fixing units 20 and
one or more auxiliary fixing units 30.
[0036] The main fixing units 20 prevent the compressor 15 from
shaking due to internal vibration. Here, the internal vibration
denotes vibration generated from a process in which the compressor
15 used to repeatedly suck in, compress and exhaust the refrigerant
and compresses the refrigerant into the high-temperature and the
high-pressure state. Accordingly, the main fixing units 20 are
interposed between the casing 10 and the compressor 15, and prevent
the refrigerant pipe 16 from being damaged by the shaking of the
compressor 15.
[0037] Each of the main fixing units 20 includes a fixing bolt 24
to pass through a hole 23 to be coupled to a bracket 22 extended
from a lower surface of the compressor 15 and a bottom of the
casing 10, a dustproof rubber 26 interposed between the bracket 22
and the casing 10 so that the bolt 24 passes through the dustproof
rubber 26, and a nut 28 connected to an end of the bolt 24 having
passed through the hole 23 of the bracket 22. The bracket 22 may be
extended from a circumference of the compressor 15 or the
compressor 15 may be installed on the bracket 22. The bracket 22
and the compressor 15 are referred to as a compressor unit.
[0038] The auxiliary fixing units 30 serve to prevent the
compressor 15 from shaking due to external vibration. Here, the
external vibration is a vibration generated by an external
environmental change, such as a transportation of the compressor
15. As described above, the external vibration exceeds the critical
stress value of 140 MPa, set by the main fixing units 20. When
excessive stress exceeding the above stress value is applied to the
compressor 15, the vibration of the compressor 15 is transferred to
the refrigerant pipe 16 and causes cracks in the refrigerant pipe
16, thereby causing a leakage of the refrigerant.
[0039] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the auxiliary
fixing unit 30 of FIG. 3. With reference to FIG. 4, the auxiliary
fixing unit 30 includes a fixing bolt 32 and a dustproof cap 34
installed at an end of the bolt 32. The bolt 32 is fixed to the
bottom of the casing 10 to protrude toward the bracket 22 when the
compressor 15 is mounted on the bracket 22. The bolt 32 may
protrude toward a bottom of the compressor 15 when the bracket 22
is extended from the circumference of the compressor 15. It is
possible that the bolt 32 is coupled to the casing 10 by
welding.
[0040] The dustproof cap 34 may be made of rubber and absorbs
vibration transferred to the bolt 32 when the external vibration is
generated. For this reason, a recess portion 36, into which the end
of the bolt 32 is inserted, is formed in the dustproof cap 34, and
a stepped portion 38 to limit the connection with the dustproof cap
34 is formed on the bolt 32.
[0041] FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating the fixing device of FIG.
2. Referring to FIG. 5, the auxiliary fixing unit 30 is separated
from the compressor 15 by a designated distance (S) in a normal
state, and causes the compressor 15 to contact the bottom of the
casing 10 in a state when excessive external vibration is
generated. Similarly, with the main fixing units 20, when the
compressor 15 always contacts the bottom of the casing 10 by the
auxiliary fixing units 30, the vibration, which are normally
generated from the compressor 15, can be transferred to the casing
10. Accordingly, the auxiliary fixing units 30 are separated from
the compressor 15 or the bracket 22 in the normal state, and cause
the compressor 15 and/or the bracket 22 to contact the bottom of
the casing 10 through the auxiliary fixing units 30 only in the
state when excessive external vibration is generated. When the air
conditioner is placed on a reference plane, the excessive vibration
causes the compressor 15 to contact the auxiliary fixing units 30
as the casing 10 is displaced toward the compressor 15 during the
vibration. When the compressor 15 contacts the auxiliary fixing
units 30, the vibration is dampened by the contact between the
compressor 15 and the auxiliary fixing units 30, thus the force of
the vibration is absorbed.
[0042] In order to support the compressor 15 in any direction, a
plurality of the auxiliary fixing units 30 are prepared. The
plurality of the auxiliary fixing units 30 are disposed between a
plurality of the main fixing units 20, to thereby effectively
prevent the excessive vibration of the compressor 15. That is, the
main fixing units 20 are disposed in an area of the bottom of the
casing 10, and the auxiliary fixing units 30 are disposed in a
second area of the bottom of the casing 10. The second area is a
portion of the first area or disposed in a center portion of the
first area. The main fixing units 20 are disposed between the
casing 10 and the bracket 22, and the auxiliary fixing units 30 are
disposed between the casing 10 and the bottom of the compressor 15.
The first area may be a first circular area and the second area may
be a second circular area that is smaller than the first circular
area.
[0043] FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating an auxiliary fixing
unit 40 in accordance with another embodiment of the present
general inventive concept. With reference to FIG. 6, the auxiliary
fixing unit 40 includes a fixing bolt 42 and a dustproof cap 44
that may be made of rubber.
[0044] The bolt 42 is screwed to a flange 43, and is fixed to a
through hole (not shown) formed through the bottom of the casing
10. A recess portion 46, into which the end of the bolt 42 is
inserted, is formed in the dustproof cap 44 so that the bolt 42 is
connected to the dustproof cap 44 through the recess portion 46. An
inner diameter of the recess portion 46 differs from an outer
diameter of the end of the bolt 42, and an elastic member 49 is
interposed between the inner circumferential surface of the recess
portion 46 and the outer circumferential surface of the end of the
bolt 42.
[0045] That is, the dustproof cap 44 does not completely contact
the bolt 42, but a clearance is formed between the dustproof cap 44
and the bolt 42 due to a difference between an inner diameter of
the dustproof cap 44 and an outer diameter of the bolt 42. The
elastic member 49 is installed in the clearance, and the dustproof
cap 44 and the bolt 42 are vertically separated from each other by
a designated distance (S) by an elastic force of the elastic member
49.
[0046] Since the elastic member 49 of the auxiliary fixing unit 40
elastically biases the dustproof cap 44 towards the compressor 15,
the auxiliary fixing unit 40 contacts the compressor 15.
Accordingly, the elastic member 49 absorbs vibration in the normal
state, and the dustproof cap 44 contacts the end of the bolt 42 in
the state when the excessive external vibration is generated,
thereby allowing the auxiliary fixing unit 40 to support the
compressor 15 without shaking due to the vibration.
[0047] As apparent from the above description, the present general
inventive concept provides a fixing device for a compressor, which
includes main fixing units to prevent internal vibration generated
due to an operation of the compressor and auxiliary fixing units to
prevent external vibration generated due to an external
environment, such as a transportation of the compressor, to thereby
stably maintain an installation state of the compressor.
[0048] As apparent from the above description, the auxiliary fixing
units cause the compressor to be separated from a casing in a
normal state, and allow the compressor to contact the casing only
in a state when excessive external vibration is generated, thus
preventing unnecessary vibration generated from the compressor from
being transferred to the casing.
[0049] Although embodiments of the general inventive concept have
been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled
in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without
departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the
scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *