U.S. patent application number 16/402390 was filed with the patent office on 2019-11-28 for cooling compressor comprising protection arrangement for electrical connections.
This patent application is currently assigned to Whirlpool S.A.. The applicant listed for this patent is Whirlpool S.A.. Invention is credited to Emerson MOREIRA, Carlos Alberto SCHAPPO.
Application Number | 20190360481 16/402390 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 66429251 |
Filed Date | 2019-11-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20190360481 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SCHAPPO; Carlos Alberto ; et
al. |
November 28, 2019 |
Cooling Compressor Comprising Protection Arrangement for Electrical
Connections
Abstract
The present invention pertains to the technological field of
cooling compressors and, more specifically, relates to an
anti-flame protection arrangement for the electrical connections of
said cooling compressor. Problem to be solved: Ensure end-user
safety of the compressor through a simple and inexpensive solution
and preventing the maintenance and/or propagation of flames/fire in
the region of the chamber defined by the protective cover of the
electrical connections external to the compressor housing. Problem
resolution: Accordingly, it is provided a cooling compressor
including a protection arrangement for electrical connections
integrated by a protective cover defining an electrical connections
chamber external to the housing, the protective cover being
physically associated with an anti-flame body, which defines a
sealing portion, preferably making the electrical connections
chamber hermetic in relation to an external environment
Inventors: |
SCHAPPO; Carlos Alberto;
(Joinville, BR) ; MOREIRA; Emerson; (Joinville,
BR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Whirlpool S.A. |
Sao Paulo |
|
BR |
|
|
Assignee: |
Whirlpool S.A.
|
Family ID: |
66429251 |
Appl. No.: |
16/402390 |
Filed: |
May 3, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04B 35/04 20130101;
F04B 49/10 20130101; F04B 39/121 20130101; F25B 49/02 20130101;
F04B 39/12 20130101; F25B 2400/077 20130101; H01R 13/52 20130101;
H02B 1/06 20130101; F04B 39/14 20130101; F04C 28/28 20130101; F04C
23/008 20130101; F04B 53/16 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F04B 49/10 20060101
F04B049/10; F25B 49/02 20060101 F25B049/02; H02B 1/06 20060101
H02B001/06; F04B 39/12 20060101 F04B039/12; F04C 23/00 20060101
F04C023/00; F04C 28/28 20060101 F04C028/28; H01R 13/52 20060101
H01R013/52 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 22, 2018 |
BR |
1020180104047 |
Claims
1. Cooling compressor comprising protection arrangement for
electrical connections, said cooling compressor including: a
housing; a compression mechanism disposed within the housing; an
electric engine capable of actuating the compression mechanism; a
set of electrical terminals, said set of electrical terminals being
physically associated with a wall of the housing; a protective
cover defining an electrical connections chamber external to the
housing, being that said electrical connections chamber accommodate
the set of electrical terminals and power supply plugs that connect
electrically to the set of electrical terminals and energize the
electric engine; said cooling compressor characterized by the fact
that: the protective cover is physically associated with an
anti-flame body defining a sealing portion; said anti-flame body
being capable to prevent the exchange of gaseous fluids from the
interior of the electrical connections chamber with the external
environment.
2. Cooling compressor comprising protection arrangement for
electrical connections, according to claim 1, characterized by the
fact that the protective cover is physically associated with an
anti-flame body defining a sealing portion, being capable of
rendering the electrical connections chamber hermetic in relation
to an external environment.
3. Cooling compressor comprising protection arrangement for
electrical connections, according to claim 1, characterized by the
fact that the anti-flame body prevents the entry of oxygen to the
interior of the electrical connections chamber and prevents the
outlet of coolant fluid from said electrical connections
chamber.
4. Cooling compressor comprising protection arrangement for
electrical connections, according to claim 1, characterized by the
fact that the anti-flame body is flexible.
5. Cooling compressor comprising protection arrangement for
electrical connections, according to claim 1, characterized by the
fact that the anti-flame body covers, at least partially, the
protective cover.
6. Cooling compressor comprising protection arrangement for
electrical connections, according to claim 1, characterized by the
fact that the anti-flame body is disposed adjacent to an outer face
of the protective cover, externally to the electrical connections
chamber.
7. Cooling compressor comprising protection arrangement for
electrical connections, according to claim 1, characterized by the
fact that the anti-flame body is disposed adjacent to an inner face
of the protective cover, internally to the electrical connections
chamber.
8. Cooling compressor comprising protection arrangement for
electrical connections, according to claim 1, characterized by the
fact that the anti-flame body is disposed at the interface between
the protective cover and the housing of the compressor, directly or
indirectly.
9. Cooling compressor comprising protection arrangement for
electrical connections, according to claim 1, characterized by the
fact that the anti-flame body is made of a polymer material among
the group of: thermoplastic, elastomer, heat shrinkable.
10. Cooling compressor comprising protection arrangement for
electrical connections, according to claim 1, characterized by the
fact that the anti-flame body is overinjected to the protective
cover.
11. Cooling compressor comprising protection arrangement for
electrical connections, according to claim 1, characterized by the
fact that the anti-flame body is assembled by interference adjacent
to the protective cover.
12. Cooling compressor comprising protection arrangement for
electrical connections, according to claim 1, characterized by the
fact that the anti-flame body comprises a ring, glove or cup
shape.
13. Cooling compressor comprising protection arrangement for
electrical connections, according to claim 1, characterized by the
fact that the anti-flame body comprises a shape and/or contour
analogous to that of the protective cover.
14. Cooling compressor comprising protection arrangement for
electrical connections, according to claim 1, characterized by the
fact that the anti-flame body is capable of preventing the entry of
oxygen existing in the external environment to the interior of the
electrical connections chamber.
15. Cooling compressor comprising protection arrangement for
electrical connections, according to claim 1, characterized by the
fact that the anti-flame body is capable of preventing the exit of
any flames or sparks generated in the interior of the electrical
connections chamber to the external environment.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling compressor and,
more specifically, to an anti-flame protection arrangement for the
electrical connections of said cooling compressor.
FUNDAMENTALS OF THE INVENTION
[0002] As is well known to those skilled in the art, cooling
compressors are machines responsible for raising the pressure of a
working fluid by means of a compression mechanism, so that said
working fluid, flowing along a cooling circuit and changing phase
along said flow, is capable of absorbing and/or releasing heat from
certain environments and/or devices, the so-called heat exchangers,
for example.
[0003] Many types of compression mechanisms are known in the art,
and it is common for such mechanisms to be driven by a crankshaft
associated with an electric engine, which is usually energized by
an electric source external to the compressor housing.
[0004] For said energizing of the electric engine to be effected,
it is also common for electro-electronic and/or electro-mechanical
arrangements comprising electrical terminals to be arranged in the
wall of the compressor housing, so as to be contacted by power
supply plugs. It is also known from the state of the art that the
set of electrical terminals of the compressor and the power plug,
among other possible components, are wrapped by a protective cover,
which, therefore, is also disposed externally to the compressor
housing.
[0005] Different configurations of protective covers for electrical
connections arrangements of cooling compressors are described in
the state of the art, each with its particularity. In general, said
protective covers are intended to prevent impacts and prevent entry
of humidity and/or dirt in the interior of the chamber that they
define next to the compressor housing (or together with a support
of set of electrical terminals), reducing the chances of corrosion
and damaging the electrical terminals and/or said other electrical
components disposed adjacent thereto.
[0006] In particular, it is noted, for example, that WO2007077908
discloses a protection device for arrangements of electrical
connections and electrical components, comprising a protective
cover, made of plastic material, to house said arrangement of
connections and respective electrical components, said protective
cover including, among other features, a kind of channel that
conducts water which, by chance, deposit itself on said cover,
preventing said liquid from coming into contact with the electrical
connections and/or components.
[0007] Document U.S. Pat. No. 6,760,216 also discloses a cover for
the purpose of protecting electrical components disposed on the
outer surface of the housing of a compressor. In turn, the focus of
such US document is the provision of a solution for rapid assembly
and disassembly of said protective cover.
[0008] Other solutions are also described in U.S. Pat. No.
9,480,177 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,665,196, for example.
[0009] In any case, and although the solutions described above
prove to be functional for the purposes for which they were made
feasible, it is noted that there is still a gap in the state of the
art with regard to fire prevention and/or flame propagation in the
region of the electrical connections enveloped by these protective
covers.
[0010] In this regard, it is noted that there may be sparks in the
electrical contacts internal to said protective cover, sparks which
may give rise to small flames fed by the oxygen contained in the
chamber defined by the protective cover, which, if not contained,
could result in considerable fires.
[0011] This is because these small flames, when originated, may end
up damaging the electro-electronic circuit board or the electrical
terminals themselves with the compressor housing, compromising the
tightness of the latter, resulting in a working fluid leakage gap
(coolant fluid) from the inside of the compressor housing into the
protective cover (external environment to the compressor housing),
further increasing the flammability of the combustion mixture.
[0012] Since, at least in some countries, environmental regulations
allow the use of flammable coolant fluids and, due to the need to
increase the quantity of these flammable fluids in a cooling
circuit, in view of the demand for greater cooling capacities,
among other reasons, it is imperative that a solution be developed
that is capable of mitigating such flammability and/or preventing
the spread of flames/fires in the region in question, in order to
ensure perfect end-user safety of the compressor.
[0013] It is from this scenario that the invention in question
arises.
OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION
[0014] In this manner, it is the fundamental goal of the invention
in question to ensure end-user safety of the compressor, through a
simple and inexpensive solution.
[0015] It is also a goal of the present invention to disclose a
solution capable of preventing the maintenance and/or propagation
of flames/fire in the region of the chamber defined by the
protective cover of the electrical connections external to the
compressor housing.
[0016] Another goal is to describe a way of mitigating the
stoichiometric point of the coolant fluid.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The goals summarized above are fully achieved by means of a
cooling compressor comprising a protection arrangement for
electrical connections, said cooling compressor including a
housing, a compression mechanism disposed within the housing, an
electric engine capable of actuating the compression mechanism, a
set of electrical terminals, which is physically associated with a
housing wall, a protective cover defining an electrical connections
chamber external to the housing, said electrical connections
chamber accommodating the set of electrical terminals and power
plugs that connect electrically to the set of electrical terminals
and energize the electric engine.
[0018] Particularly in accordance with the present invention, said
protective cover is physically associated with an anti-flame body
that defines a sealing portion, rendering the electrical
connections chamber hermetic with respect to an external
environment. In this manner, it is emphasized that the anti-flame
body prevents the entry of oxygen to the interior of the electrical
connections chamber and prevents the exit of coolant fluid from
said electrical connections chamber, since, preferably, it is a
flexible body capable to mold itself to the contour of the parts on
which it is mounted.
[0019] Said anti-flame body is capable of preventing the exchange
of gaseous fluids from the interior of the electrical connections
chamber with the external environment.
[0020] Preferably, said anti-flame body at least partially covers
the protective cover and is disposed adjacent to an outer face of
the protective cover, externally to the electrical connections
chamber, providing the interface between the protective cover and
the housing of the compressor, directly or indirectly.
[0021] Alternatively, the anti-flame body is disposed adjacent to
an inner face of the protective cover, internally to the electrical
connections chamber. According to a second alternative, the
anti-flame body is disposed adjacent to the edge of the protective
cover.
[0022] The anti-flame body is made from a polymer material among
the group of: thermoplastic, elastomer, heat shrinkable, the heat
shrinkable material being preferred.
[0023] Also, in a preferred manner, the anti-flame body is
assembled by interference adjacent to the protective cover, but,
alternatively, can be overinjected.
[0024] The anti-flame body may comprise a ring, glove or cup shape,
or even a shape and/or contour analogous to that of the protective
cover.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] The invention in question will be described in detail on the
basis of the illustrative figures listed below, which:
[0026] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the region of the
electrical connections of the cooling compressor, in accordance
with the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the region of the
electrical connections of the cooling compressor, in accordance
with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0028] According to the central goals of the invention in question,
it is disclosed a cooling compressor comprising a housing (10), a
compression mechanism disposed within the housing (10), an electric
engine capable of actuating the compression mechanism, a set of
electrical terminals (20) capable to be connected to power supply
plugs that energize the electric engine and, especially, a
protection arrangement for electrical connections.
[0029] Various arrangements of the set of electrical terminals (20)
are possible according to the state of the art, wherein by set of
electrical terminals (20) one may understand the connector pins
(21) itself, the electro-electronic circuit board, which comprises
or is electrically associated with said connector pins (21), the
possible plurality of electro-electronic components associated with
said elements, the metal support (22) which physically associates
all of said components or the combination between only a few of
these, etc., so that the detailed description of said assembly and
its attachment to the housing (10) of the compressor of the present
invention do not need to be described in detail.
[0030] What needs to be clarified, however, is that the set of
electrical terminals (20) of the present invention is physically
associated with the housing wall (10), in a sealed manner, so as to
prevent the escape of coolant fluid from the interior of the
housing (10) to the exterior, as well as that a protective cover
(30) is provided adjacent to the housing (10) so as to surround and
accommodate the electrical connections existing in that region
external to the housing (10) of the compressor.
[0031] Said protective cover (30) may be attached directly to the
housing (10) of the compressor or to the metal support (22)
previously mentioned, for example, being that such an attachment
may occur by simple engagement, screwing, or any other suitable
attachment means. Some interrelations between the protective cover
(30) and the housing (10) of the compressor are known, so that for
the elucidation of the present invention, it is also not necessary
to describe them in detail.
[0032] Said protective cover (30), when associated with the housing
(10) of the compressor, directly or indirectly, as explained above,
ends up defining a volume here referred to as the electrical
connections chamber (31).
[0033] It is pointed out that said electrical connections chamber
(31) is external to the housing (10) of the compressor, and that
said electrical connections chamber (31) accommodates the set of
electrical terminals (20) and power supply plugs which, as already
described, electrically connect to the set of electrical terminals
(20) and energize the electric engine.
[0034] In this manner, the electrical connections between the set
of electrical terminals (20) and the power supply plugs, among
other possible connections, are substantially protected from
impacts and humidity which may damage said connections.
[0035] Inevitably, the physical association between protective
cover (30) and housing (10) or metal support (22) may define gaps
that provide fluid communication between the external environment
and the electrical connections chamber (31), a feature which the
present invention seeks to eliminate.
[0036] Therefore, in particular in accordance with the present
invention, said protective cover (30) is physically associated with
an anti-flame body (40), which is capable of making, in a preferred
manner, but never in a limiting way, the electrical connections
chamber (31) hermetic in relation to an external environment,
namely, the kitchen environment in which a refrigerator equipped
with the present cooling compressor is located, for example.
[0037] In other words, said anti-flame body (40) eliminates the
fluid communication from the electrical connections chamber (31) to
the external environment, since it defines a sealing portion at the
interface between the protective cover (30) and the compressor
component to which the latter is attached, namely, the housing (10)
or the metal support (22), for example.
[0038] The anti-flame body (40) is, therefore, especially provided
in the protection arrangement for electrical connection of the
present invention, ensuring the sealing of the electrical
connections chamber (31), preventing the entry of oxygen into that
electrical connections chamber (31) and also preventing the outlet
of any coolant fluid unduly contained within said electrical
connections chamber (31), as is described in detail below.
[0039] In this manner, from a first perspective, it is emphasized
that even though there is a certain amount of oxygen within the
electrical connections chamber (31)--which is unpreventable when
assembling said protective cover (30), unless some suction
mechanism is used to withdraw the oxygen from this
environment--when a spark causes a flame spontaneously in the
region of the above-mentioned electrical connections, such a flame
would tend to consume the combustion agent (oxygen) and extinguish
itself, since the available amount of oxygen for the maintenance of
that flame would be extinguished and new portions of oxygen would
not be capable to enter the electrical connections chamber (31) due
to the provision of the anti-flame body (40).
[0040] On the other hand, and in a second perspective, if such
spark causes a flame and the amount of oxygen within the electrical
connections chamber (31) is such that it is capable to maintain
said flame for a period--even if considerably brief--sufficient to
deteriorate the seal between the set of electrical terminals (20)
with the housing (10), even if an leakage gap of coolant fluid is
unduly defined and increases the flammability of the gas mixture in
the interior of the electrical connections chamber (31), such
leakage does not occur through of the anti-flame body (40) due to
the seal provided by it, as well as a larger flame does not
propagate for the same reason, and also because, preferably, said
anti-flame body (40), as its name already points out, comprises
anti-flame properties (or flame retardant).
[0041] Said anti-flame body (40) is thin and flexible--being
capable to mold itself to the contour of the parts on which it is
mounted--and coats the protective cover (30) at least partially,
but preferably throughout its area. Further in accordance with the
preferred embodiment of the present invention, the anti-flame body
(40) is disposed adjacent to an outer face (32) of the protective
cover (30), externally to the electrical connections chamber (31).
The advantage of this arrangement will be pointed out below.
[0042] Alternatively, the anti-flame body (40) is disposed adjacent
to an inner face (33) of the protective cover (30) internally to
the electrical connections chamber (31). The advantage of such a
constructive alternative is the possibility of maintaining the
integrity of the protective cover (30) itself, if said internal
face (33) is entirely coated by the anti-flame body (40), which may
prevent an obvious perception of the defect of the product by the
user while maintaining the reliability image of the user.
[0043] According to a second alternative, the anti-flame body (40)
is disposed adjacent to the edge (34) of the protective cover (30).
The problem with this type of configuration is the difficulty of
mounting the anti-flame body (40) in the correct position, which
could require a quality control more critical and/or impair the
tightness of the electrical connections chamber (31).
[0044] Further in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the anti-flame body (40) is assembled by
interference adjacent to the protective cover (30). Alternatively,
the anti-flame body (40) is overinjected to the protective cover
(30).
[0045] In addition, the anti-flame body (40) is made of a
thermoplastic, elastomeric and/or heat shrinkable polymer material,
wherein, according to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the polymer material chosen is heat shrinkable, due to
the inherent advantages related to that type of material precisely
for sealing applications.
[0046] In this sense, it should be highlighted that products made
from heat shrinkable materials, when subjected to a heat source,
retract and have their dimensions reduced and/or their shape
changed, being that, after cooling, these new dimensions and format
remain. In addition, and when deposited on a second object, after
heating and retraction, said heat shrinkable products are capable
to adhere strongly to said second object, which is why they are
widely used as sealing elements, as mentioned above.
[0047] In this manner, according to the preferred features of the
anti-flame body (40) assembly, it will be appreciated that a simple
polymer body, made of heat shrinkable material, may coat the latter
by interference only by positioning this body on and externally to
the protective cover (30) and increasing its temperature until said
body is molded and secured to the protective cover (30) and/or the
protective cover (30) and the housing (10) of the compressor
simultaneously and/or to the protective cover (30) and the set of
electrical terminals (20) simultaneously.
[0048] In this way, it is possible a manufacture that does not
require too much assembly precision and/or expensive quality
control, and also achieves the objectives of delimiting an airtight
and safe environment in the electrical connections chamber
(31).
[0049] Regardless of the type of assembly and arrangement of said
anti-flame body (40) in relation to the protective cover (30), it
is pointed out that such anti-flame body (40) may assume a ring,
tube, glove, cup shape (i.e., tubular with flanges at one end) or a
shape and/or contour analogous to that of the protective cover
(30), the latter being mainly feasible in the case of
over-injection and/or in the case of the use of heat shrinkable
materials.
[0050] Thus, in summary, it may be stated that the anti-flame body
(40) is capable of preventing the entry of oxygen existing in the
external environment to the interior of the electrical connections
chamber (31) and, on the other hand, the anti-flame body (40) is
capable of preventing the exit of any flames or sparks generated in
the interior of the electrical connections chamber (31) to the
external environment.
[0051] It is important to note that the above description has the
sole goal of describing in an exemplary manner the particular
embodiment of the invention in question. It is, therefore, clear
that modifications, variations and constructive combinations of
elements performing the same function in substantially the same
manner to achieve the same results, remain within the scope of
protection defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *