U.S. patent application number 13/128130 was filed with the patent office on 2011-09-01 for inverter integrated electric compressor.
Invention is credited to Kei Kurosaki, Kazumi Ohsato, Makoto Shibuya.
Application Number | 20110211980 13/128130 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42152736 |
Filed Date | 2011-09-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110211980 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shibuya; Makoto ; et
al. |
September 1, 2011 |
Inverter Integrated Electric Compressor
Abstract
Provided is a low-cost compressor having excellent operation
stability which enables the improvement of the stability of a
control circuit by shielding electromagnetic noise and the
effective prevention of the vibration of a control substrate while
the design flexibility is maintained at the same high level as that
of conventional ones. An inverter-integrated electric compressor in
which a motor is incorporated and a high-voltage circuit for motor
drive including an inverter and a control substrate provided with a
low-voltage circuit for control are provided in a compressor
housing is characterized in that a shield plate made of a material
capable of shielding an electromagnetic noise emitted from the
high-voltage circuit for motor drive toward the low-voltage circuit
for control is interposed between the high-voltage circuit for
motor drive and the control substrate, and the shield plate and the
control substrate are fixed to each other and both are fixed at a
predetermined position in the compressor housing.
Inventors: |
Shibuya; Makoto; (Gunma,
JP) ; Ohsato; Kazumi; (Gunma, JP) ; Kurosaki;
Kei; (Gunma, JP) |
Family ID: |
42152736 |
Appl. No.: |
13/128130 |
Filed: |
November 6, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
November 6, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2009/005922 |
371 Date: |
May 6, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/410.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04C 2240/30 20130101;
F04C 2240/403 20130101; F04C 2240/40 20130101; H05K 7/1432
20130101; F04C 23/008 20130101; F04C 2270/10 20130101; H02K 11/33
20160101; F04B 39/121 20130101; F04C 2240/803 20130101; F04C
18/0215 20130101; F04C 29/0085 20130101; F04C 2270/07 20130101;
F04C 23/02 20130101; F04C 2240/808 20130101; H02M 7/003
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/410.1 |
International
Class: |
F04B 35/04 20060101
F04B035/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 6, 2008 |
JP |
2008-285616 |
Claims
1. An inverter-integrated electric compressor in which a motor is
incorporated and a high-voltage circuit for motor drive including
an inverter and a control substrate provided with a low-voltage
circuit for control are provided in a compressor housing, wherein a
shield plate made of a material capable of shielding an
electromagnetic noise emitted from said high-voltage circuit for
motor drive toward said low-voltage circuit for control is
interposed between said high-voltage circuit for motor drive and
said control substrate, and said shield plate and said control
substrate are fixed to each other and both are fixed at a
predetermined position in said compressor housing.
2. The inverter-integrated electric compressor according to claim
1, wherein said shield plate is provided with a rib.
3. The inverter-integrated electric compressor according to claim
1, wherein at least a part of a fixing section of said shield plate
to said control substrate is formed in a convex shape which is
protruded toward said control substrate.
4. The inverter-integrated electric compressor according to claim
1, wherein said high-voltage circuit for motor drive is provided
with a noise filter at a power supply side, and said shield plate
is constructed so as to be able to shield also an electromagnetic
noise emitted from said noise filter toward said low-voltage
circuit for control.
5. The inverter-integrated electric compressor according to claim
1, wherein said high-voltage circuit for motor drive is connected
with a power source wire, and said shield plate is constructed so
as to be able to shield also an electromagnetic noise emitted from
said power source wire toward said low-voltage circuit for
control.
6. The inverter-integrated electric compressor according to claim
1, wherein an electric component including said high-voltage
circuit for motor drive and said control substrate is provided in a
housing space surrounded by said compressor housing, a structure is
given where a resin is filled in said housing space after
assembling and where at least a part of said electric component is
sealed with a filled resin having been solidified, and a hole for
venting air is provided in said shield plate to fill said resin
uniformly into said housing space.
7. The inverter-integrated electric compressor according to claim
6, wherein said shield plate is provided with a hole for filling
said resin.
8. The inverter-integrated electric compressor according to claim
1, wherein said compressor is one mounted on a vehicle.
9. The inverter-integrated electric compressor according to claim
8, wherein said compressor is one for an air conditioning system
for vehicles.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an inverter-integrated
electric compressor, and specifically relates to an
inverter-integrated electric compressor in which its design
flexibility is maintained at the same high level as that of
conventional ones. The stability of its control circuit can be
improved by shielding electromagnetic noise and its control
substrate can be effectively prevented from vibrating, so as to
achieve an excellent operational stability and low cost.
BACKGROUND ART OF THE INVENTION
[0002] As for an electric compressor, particularly for an electric
compressor mounted on a vehicle, various vibration countermeasures
to protect electrical components from malfunctions caused by
long-time vibration have been suggested. For example, Patent
document 1 discloses a structure of an electric compressor which
incorporates a motor drive circuit including an inverter, in which
the motor drive circuit is coated with a resin mold material, so as
to be buried into the resin mold material.
[0003] In addition, an inverter-integrated electric compressor
requires a means for shielding electromagnetic noises in case that
electromagnetic noises emitted from a high-voltage circuit cause
troubles such as malfunction of a control circuit consisting of
low-voltage circuits. For example, Patent document 2 discloses a
structure of a switching room of an inverter device, in which
electromagnetic noises emitted from a high-voltage circuit toward a
low-voltage circuit can be shielded by providing a magnetic shield
between a power module as a high-voltage circuit and a power module
drive circuit.
PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS
Patent Documents
[0004] Patent document 1: JP2002-70743-A [0005] Patent document 2:
JP-3729175-B
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0006] In Patent document 2, though the stability of the electric
circuit has been achieved by shielding the electromagnetic noise,
any countermeasures against vibrations are neither referred to nor
suggested.
[0007] Therefore an object of the present invention is to provide a
low-cost compressor having excellent operation stability which can
improve the stability of a control circuit by shielding
electromagnetic noise and can effectively prevent the vibration of
a control substrate while the design flexibility is maintained at
the same high level as that of conventional ones.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0008] To achieve the above described object, an
inverter-integrated electric compressor is an inverter-integrated
electric compressor in which a motor is incorporated and a
high-voltage circuit for motor drive including an inverter and a
control substrate provided with a low-voltage circuit for control
are provided in a compressor housing, characterized in that a
shield plate made of a material capable of shielding an
electromagnetic noise emitted from the high-voltage circuit for
motor drive toward the low-voltage circuit for control is
interposed between the high-voltage circuit for motor drive and the
control substrate, and the shield plate and the control substrate
are fixed to each other and both are fixed at a predetermined
position in the compressor housing.
[0009] In such an inverter-integrated electric compressor, because
the electromagnetic noise emitted from the high-voltage circuit for
motor drive toward the low-voltage circuit for control is shielded
by the shield plate, the low-voltage circuit for control can be
surely prevented from malfunctioning caused by the electromagnetic
noise and the compressor as a whole can be further stably operated.
In addition, because the control substrate is fixed at the
predetermined position in the compressor housing as mutually fixed
to each other with the shield plate, the positional relation
between the control substrate and the shield plate is maintained to
a positional relation suitable for shielding the electromagnetic
noise and the control substrate is prevented from vibrating.
Therefore even in a high speed operation, the compressor
operational stability can be surely maintained so that the
compressor can be long-lived.
[0010] Because the shield plate according to the present invention
can be shaped like a thin plate and does not require a large
mounting space, it can be easily mounted on a conventional
compressor and can be easily formed into a desirable shape
according to a shape of its mounting section. Therefore, the design
flexibility of a compressor can be maintained at a high level as
almost the same level in a conventional case where the shield plate
is not provided. Further, because the present invention can be
realized substantively only by adding the shield plate, the
operational stability of the compressor can be improved with a low
cost, almost without changing the weight of the whole compressor.
Furthermore, though the kind of the shield plate material according
to the present invention is not limited, it is preferable to be
made of a metal or an alloy because they can surely shield the
electromagnetic noise and have excellent workability.
[0011] It is preferable that the shield plate is provided with a
rib, though that is not always necessary. The rib improves the
rigidity of the shield plate and prevents the control substrate
from vibrating more effectively.
[0012] Further, it is preferable that at least a part of a fixing
section of the shield plate to the control substrate is formed in a
convex shape which is protruded toward the control substrate,
though that is not always necessary. The convex-shaped fixing
section can reduce the contact area between the control substrate
and the shield plate in fixing them to each other, and the
transmission of the vibration from the shield plate to the control
substrate can be suppressed so as to suppress the vibration of the
control substrate. As described later, in a case where an electric
component including the high-voltage circuit for motor drive and
the control substrate is provided in a housing space surrounded by
the compressor housing, and a resin is filled in the housing space
after assembling, the resin is filled into a gap formed between the
control substrate and the shield plate by a protrusion of the
fixing section, so that the control substrate can be firmly fixed
to effectively prevent the vibration of the control substrate.
[0013] In the present invention, in a case where the high-voltage
circuit for motor drive is provided with a noise filter at a power
supply side, it is preferable that the shield plate is constructed
so as to be able to shield also an electromagnetic noise emitted
from the noise filter toward the low-voltage circuit for control,
though that is not always necessary. Such a structure makes it
possible that the malfunction of the low-voltage circuit for
control caused by the electromagnetic noise is prevented more
surely, so as to improve the operational stability of the whole
compressor.
[0014] Further, in the present invention, in a case where the
high-voltage circuit for motor drive is connected with a power
source wire, it is preferable that the shield plate is constructed
so as to be able to shield also an electromagnetic noise emitted
from the power source wire toward the low-voltage circuit for
control, though that is not always necessary. Such a structure
makes it possible that the malfunction of the low-voltage circuit
for control caused by the electromagnetic noise is prevented yet
more surely, so as to improve the operational stability of the
whole compressor.
[0015] In order to achieve the circuit insulation and the vibration
prevention of the electric component, the inverter-integrated
electric compressor according to the present invention can be
configured such that an electric component including the
high-voltage circuit for motor drive and the control substrate is
provided in a housing space surrounded by the compressor housing,
and a resin is filled in the housing space after assembling and
where at least a part of the electric component is sealed with a
filled resin having been solidified. In such a configuration it is
preferable that a hole for venting air is provided in the shield
plate to fill the resin uniformly into the housing space, though
that is not always necessary. Such a hole for venting air can
prevent the air from either generating or remaining, and therefore
the electric component, which is sealed with the resin in the
housing space, can be fixed more firmly so as to improve the
operational stability of the whole compressor.
[0016] As described above, in a case where the housing space for
filling the resin is provided in the compressor, it is preferable
that the shield plate is provided with a hole for filling the
resin, though that is not always necessary. Such a hole for filling
the resin makes it possible that the resin can be poured even into
a part covered by the shield plate, so that the resin is surely
filled wholly into a predetermined section in the housing space.
Therefore the electric component, which is sealed with the resin in
the housing space, can be fixed more firmly so as to improve the
operational stability of the whole compressor. Besides, the hole
for filling the resin may have even another purpose for venting
air, and alternatively, they may be different holes.
[0017] Because the inverter-integrated electric compressor
according to the present invention can achieve excellent
operational stability by shielding the electromagnetic noise and
vibration prevention of the control substrate, it is suitable as a
compressor for vehicles, and specifically suitable for a compressor
used in an air conditioning system for vehicles, which tends to be
affected by vibrations, though its application is not limited.
Effect According to the Invention
[0018] Thus the present invention makes it possible, as its design
flexibility is maintained at the same high level as that of
conventional ones, that the stability of its control circuit can be
improved by shielding electromagnetic noise and its control
substrate can be effectively prevented from vibrating, so as to
achieve excellent operational stability and low cost.
BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of an
inverter-integrated electric compressor according to an embodiment
of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a housing space forming
part, a shield plate and a control substrate in the
inverter-integrated electric compressor shown in FIG. 1.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram for exemplifying a part to
provide a shield plate in the inverter-integrated electric
compressor shown in FIG. 1.
EMBODIMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0022] Hereinafter, desirable embodiments of the present invention
will be explained as referring to figures.
[0023] FIG. 1 shows an inverter-integrated electric compressor
according to an embodiment of the present invention, specifically
as an application of the present invention to a scroll-type
electric compressor. In FIG. 1, inverter-integrated electric
compressor 1 is provided with compression mechanism 2 consisting of
fixed scroll 3 and movable scroll 4. Movable scroll 4 can be swung
relative to fixed scroll 3 in a condition where its rotation is
prevented with ball coupling 5. Motor 7 is incorporated in
compressor housing (center housing) 6, and built-in motor 7 drives
main shaft 8 (rotation shaft) to rotate. The rotational movement of
main shaft 8 is converted into the orbital swinging movement of
movable scroll 4, through eccentric pin 9 and eccentric bush 10
which is rotatably engaged therewith. In this embodiment,
compressor housing (front housing) 12 is provided with suction port
11 for sucking refrigerant as fluid to be compressed. Sucked
refrigerant is led to compression mechanism 2 through a placement
part of motor 7. The refrigerant which has been compressed with
compression mechanism 2 is delivered to an external circuit,
through discharge hole 13, discharge chamber 14 and discharge port
16 which is provided in compressor housing (rear housing) 15.
[0024] Housing space 20 is formed by surrounding an extended
section of compressor housing 12 (front housing), and motor drive
circuit is provided in housing space 20. In more detail, motor
drive circuit 21 is provided at the external side of partition wall
22 which is formed in compressor housing 12 against the side of
refrigerant suction passageway. Motor drive circuit 21 supplies
electricity through seal terminal 23 (an output terminal of motor
drive circuit 21), which is attached thereto by penetrating
partition wall 22, and lead wire 24 to motor 7, while the
refrigerant suction passageway side and the side of motor drive
circuit 21 are sealed in the placement part of seal terminal 23. In
this embodiment, because motor drive circuit 21 is provided at the
external side of partition wall 22, at least one part of electric
components including motor drive circuit 21 can be cooled with
sucked refrigerant through partition wall 22 by heat exchange. Such
a configuration can make a structure simple because electric
components, such as high-voltage circuit 25 for motor drive having
inverter function, which tend to generate heat can be automatically
cooled adequately to maintain a predetermined specification of
motor drive circuit 21 without providing another cooling device. In
addition, such a configuration is applicable to all types of
inverter-integrated electric compressor which compresses
refrigerant as a fluid to be compressed, as well as scroll-type
electric compressor.
[0025] Motor drive circuit 21 includes high-voltage circuit 25 for
motor drive which has an inverter function and control substrate 26
which has a low-voltage circuit for control, and electric
components such as capacitor 27 are provided either integrally with
it or separately from it. Because shield plate 31, which can shield
electromagnetic noises, is interposed between high-voltage control
circuit 25 for motor drive and control substrate 26, the
low-voltage circuit for control provided on the control substrate
can be surely protected from the electromagnetic noise emitted from
high-voltage circuit 25 for motor drive, so that troubles such as
malfunction are prevented. In addition, control substrate 26 is
fixed to convex fixing section 32 provided on shield plate 31, so
as to be prevented from vibrating. Therefore shield plate 31 can
improve the electrical stability of the circuit and the physical
stability of the electrical component, so as to achieve an electric
compressor excellent in operational stability. Further, shield
plate 31 is provided with vent hole 33, which can be used even for
filling resin as described later.
[0026] Motor drive circuit 21 is connected to an external power
supply (not shown) with connector 28 as an input terminal. The
aperture side to the outside of compressor housing 12, which mounts
these electric components including motor drive circuit 21, is
covered as sealed with lid member 29, and these electric components
are protected by lid member 29.
[0027] Motor drive circuit 21 and electric components, such as
capacitor 27, are placed in housing space 20 and then, resin 34 is
filled. Solidified resin 34 seals substantively a whole of them. As
shown in the figure, the resin filling is limitedly performed in a
minimum range of housing space 20 in view of lightweight of
compressor 1 as a whole. Shield plate 31 is provided with vent hole
33 which can be used even for filling resin as described above,
therefore generating and remaining of bubbles in filled resin 34
are effectively prevented. Further, vent hole 33 can be even used
for a hole through which resin is filled. Furthermore, a gap is
formed by convex fixing section 32 between shield plate 31 and
control substrate 26. Therefore the resin filling can be surely
achieved even at a portion shielded by control substrate 26 or
shield plate 31, so that electric components, which are sealed in
housing space 20, are fixed surely and the operational stability of
compressor 1 can be improved as a whole.
[0028] FIG. 2 shows a schematic relation among housing space 20,
shield plate 31 and control substrate 26 in the inverter-integrated
electric compressor shown in FIG. 1. Control substrate 26 having a
low-voltage circuit for control is fastened to fixing section 32
formed on shield plate 31 with screw 36. As to shield plate 31, the
rigidity has been improved by forming rib 35, and the vibrational
transmission has been reduced by forming some fixing sections 32
into convex shapes so as to minimize the contact area of control
substrate 26. As described above, vent hole 33, which can be even
used for a hole for the resin filling, prevents bubbles from
generating in filled resin 34, so that electric components which
are sealed in housing space 20 are fixed more surely.
[0029] High-voltage circuit 25 for motor drive placed in housing
space 20 is connected through noise filter 37 to power source wire
38, so as to be protected from conductive noises of the signal wire
emitted from power source wire 38. Because these electric
components are supplied with high-voltage electric power through
power source wire 38 from an external power supply, electromagnetic
noises, which are strong enough to affect other electric
components, may be emitted to the surroundings. Hence shield plate
31 attached to control substrate 26 is configured as being able to
shield electromagnetic noises emitted from noise filter 37 and
power source wire 38, as well as high-voltage circuit 25 for motor
drive. Therefore the low-voltage circuit for control, which is
provided on control substrate 26, can be protected and compressor
is ensured to be operated stably.
[0030] Such a configuration can be described like an electric
circuit as shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, electric compressor 1 is
provided with motor drive circuit 21 as described above, and motor
7 is driven to rotate by supplying the output from motor drive
circuit 21 through seal terminal 23 and lead wire 24 into each
motor wire wrap 41 of built-in motor 7, so that the compression is
performed with compression mechanism 2. Motor drive circuit 21
comprises high-voltage circuit 25 for motor drive and low-voltage
circuit 45 for control, which has motor control circuit 44 to
control each power element 43 (switching element) of inverter 42 in
high-voltage circuit 25 for motor drive, and low-voltage circuit 45
for control is provided on control substrate 26. Electric power is
supplied from external power supply 46, such as a battery, into
high-voltage circuit 25 for motor drive through connector 47 for
high-voltage, and then is supplied through smoothing capacitor 27
into inverter 42. The direct current input from external power
supply 42 is converted into pseudo-triphase current, and then
supplied to motor 7. Low-voltage electric power is supplied through
connector 49 for control signal into motor control circuit 44, for
example, from automotive air conditioning control device 48. In
FIG. 3, connector 49 for control signal and connector 47 for
high-voltage are illustrated at positions apart from each other,
but actually, are mounted in the same connector 28 shown in FIG. 1.
Shield plate 31, which is fixed to control substrate 26, is
interposed between high-voltage circuit 25 for motor drive and
control substrate 26 with low-voltage circuit 45 for control, and
it covers over high-voltage circuit 25 for motor drive as much as
possible so as to block the effect of noise on the side of
low-voltage circuit 45 for control from high-voltage circuit 25 for
motor drive.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS OF THE INVENTION
[0031] The present invention is applicable to all types of
inverter-integrated electric compressor, and specifically suitable
for an inverter-integrated electric compressor for automotive air
conditioning systems which requires excellent operation stability,
excellent vibration durability, high design flexibility and
achievement of downsizing and lightweight.
EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS
[0032] 1: inverter-integrated electric compressor [0033] 2:
compression mechanism [0034] 3: fixed scroll [0035] 4: movable
scroll [0036] 5: ball coupling [0037] 6: compressor housing (center
housing) [0038] 7: motor [0039] 8: main shaft [0040] 9: eccentric
pin [0041] 10: eccentric bush [0042] 11: suction port [0043] 12:
compressor housing (front housing) [0044] 13: discharge hole [0045]
14: discharge chamber [0046] 15: compressor housing (rear housing)
[0047] 16: discharge port [0048] 20: housing space [0049] 21: motor
drive circuit [0050] 22: partition wall [0051] 23: seal terminal
[0052] 24: lead wire [0053] 25: high-voltage circuit for motor
drive [0054] 26: control substrate [0055] 27: capacitor [0056] 28:
connector [0057] 29: lid member [0058] 31: shield plate [0059] 32:
fixing section [0060] 33: vent hole [0061] 34: filled resin [0062]
35: rib [0063] 36: screw [0064] 37: noise filter [0065] 38: power
source wire [0066] 41: motor wire wrap [0067] 42: inverter [0068]
43: power element (switching element) [0069] 44: motor control
circuit [0070] 45: low-voltage circuit for control [0071] 46:
external power supply [0072] 47: connector for high-voltage [0073]
48: air conditioning control device [0074] 49: connector for
control signal
* * * * *