U.S. patent application number 16/735811 was filed with the patent office on 2020-07-16 for electric compressor.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is LG ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to Yongkyu CHOI, Kyoungjun PARK, Sanghun SEONG, Byungkil YOO.
Application Number | 20200224659 16/735811 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 71517557 |
Filed Date | 2020-07-16 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200224659 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
YOO; Byungkil ; et
al. |
July 16, 2020 |
ELECTRIC COMPRESSOR
Abstract
A compressor includes a main housing having an internal space, a
motor provided in the main housing and comprising a stator and a
rotor, a shaft coupled to the rotor, and a shaft mounting portion
provided at one end of the shaft and having a smaller diameter than
the shaft. A sub-ball bearing is coupled to the shaft mounting
portion, and a fixing latch is coupled to the shaft mounting
portion. The fixing latch includes a latching portion configured to
constrain the sub-ball bearing in the shaft mounting portion.
Inventors: |
YOO; Byungkil; (Seoul,
KR) ; PARK; Kyoungjun; (Seoul, KR) ; CHOI;
Yongkyu; (Seoul, KR) ; SEONG; Sanghun; (Seoul,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LG ELECTRONICS INC. |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
71517557 |
Appl. No.: |
16/735811 |
Filed: |
January 7, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04C 29/023 20130101;
F04C 29/0078 20130101; F04C 23/008 20130101; F04C 18/0215
20130101 |
International
Class: |
F04C 18/02 20060101
F04C018/02; F04C 29/02 20060101 F04C029/02; F04C 23/00 20060101
F04C023/00; F04C 29/00 20060101 F04C029/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 11, 2019 |
KR |
10-2019-0003810 |
Claims
1. A compressor comprising: a main housing defining an internal
space; a motor disposed in the main housing and comprising a stator
and a rotor; a shaft coupled to the rotor; a shaft mounting portion
formed at one end of the shaft and having a smaller diameter than
remaining portions of the shaft; a sub-ball bearing coupled to the
shaft mounting portion; and a fixing latch coupled to the shaft
mounting portion and comprising a latching portion configured to
constrain the sub-ball bearing on the shaft mounting portion.
2. The compressor of claim 1, wherein the fixing latch includes two
or more latching portions and a supporting portion that is
connected to the two or more latching portions.
3. The compressor of claim 2, wherein the supporting portion
comprises a portion that is forwardly extended from the latching
portion toward the shaft mounting portion.
4. The compressor of claim 3, wherein the fixing latch includes a
plurality of latching portions and a plurality of supporting
portions forwardly extended from respective ones of the latching
portions, and the plurality of supporting portions being connected
with each other in front areas of the latching portions.
5. The compressor of claim 2, wherein the supporting portion
comprises a coupling hole configured for receiving a fastener to
couple the supporting portion to the shaft mounting portion.
6. The compressor of claim 2, wherein the shaft mounting portion
comprises a hollow portion, and the fixing latch is inserted into
the hollow portion.
7. The compressor of claim 6, wherein the shaft mounting portion
comprises an opening extending radially outward through the shaft
mounting portion from the hollow portion and configured to couple
with a latching portion of the fixing latch.
8. The compressor of claim 7, wherein the length and the width of
the latching portion are equal to the length and the width of the
opening, and a predetermined area of the latching portion is
configured to project through the opening and extend radially
outward from the shaft mounting portion.
9. The compressor of claim 1, wherein an upper area of the latching
portion is downwardly inclined from a front side of the latching
portion to a rear side of the latching portion.
10. The compressor of claim 8, wherein a front side of the latching
portion is higher than the opening and a rear side of the latching
portion is as high as the opening.
11. The compressor of claim 1, wherein the opposite end of the
shaft is rotatably supported by a journal bearing.
12. The compressor of claim 1, wherein the fixing latch has
elasticity.
13. A compressor comprising: a main housing defining an internal
space; a motor disposed in the main housing and comprising a stator
and a rotor; a shaft coupled to the rotor; a shaft mounting portion
formed at one end of the shaft and having a smaller diameter than
remaining portions of the shaft; a sub-ball bearing coupled to the
shaft mounting portion; a hollow portion defined in the shaft
mounting portion; and a fixing latch comprising a latching portion
and a supporting portion connected to the latching portion, wherein
one side of the latching portion contacts an edge of the sub-ball
bearing and one side of the supporting portion opposite from a side
of the supporting portion connected with the latching portion is
inserted in the hollow portion.
14. The compressor of claim 13, wherein the latching portion is
downwardly inclined from a front side of the latching portion to a
rear side of the latching portion.
15. The compressor of claim 13, wherein the fixing latch includes
two or more latching portions and a supporting portion that is
connected to the two or more latching portions.
16. The compressor of claim 15, wherein the supporting portion
comprises an area that is forwardly extended from the latching
portion.
17. A compressor comprising: a main housing defining an internal
space; a motor disposed in the main housing and comprising a stator
and a rotor; a shaft coupled to the rotor; a shaft mounting portion
formed at one end of the shaft and having a smaller diameter than
remaining portions of the shaft; a sub-ball bearing coupled to the
shaft mounting portion; a hollow portion defined in the shaft
mounting portion; and a fixing latch comprising a latching portion
and a supporting portion connected to the latching portion, wherein
one side of the latching portion contacts an edge of the sub-ball
bearing and one side of the supporting portion opposite from a side
of the supporting portion connected with the latching portion is
coupled to an outer surface of the shaft mounting portion.
18. The compressor of claim 17, wherein the latching portion is
downwardly inclined from a front side of the latching portion to a
rear side of the latching portion.
19. The compressor of claim 17, wherein the fixing latch comprises
two or more latching portions and a supporting portion that is
connected to the two or more latching portions.
20. The compressor of claim 19, wherein the supporting portion
comprises an area that is forwardly extended from the latching
portion.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2019-0003810 filed on Jan. 11, 2019 in Korea,
the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference in
its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
Field of the Disclosure
[0002] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an electric
compressor, more particularly, a scroll compressor.
Background of the Disclosure
[0003] A compressor is a device that is configured to compress a
fluid (e.g., a refrigerant) by means of an electric energy.
Examples of such a scroll compressor include a scroll compressor.
The scroll compressor may gain a relatively high compression ratio,
compared with other types of compressors. In addition, processes of
fluid suction, compression and discharge are performed smoothly and
gently in the scroll compressor so as to gain a stable torque.
Accordingly, the scroll compressor has been used in compressing a
refrigerant for an air conditioner broadly.
[0004] The scroll compressor may include a motor part and a scroll
part as a compression configuration and an inverter part for
controlling the motor part. The motor part may include a stator and
a rotor. The scroll part may include a fixed scroll and an orbiting
scroll.
[0005] A crank shaft (hereinafter, `the shaft`) is coupled to the
rotor of the motor and the orbiting scroll is driven by means of
the shaft. While the orbiting scroll is orbiting while engaging
with the fixed scroll, a fluid (e.g., a refrigerant) is compressed.
The shaft is supported by a bearing to reduce a frictional
resistance, because it is rotary. A ball bearing and/or a journal
bearing may be used as the above-noted bearing.
[0006] Meanwhile, the drive or operation of the compressor is
likely to cause horizontal vibration. Such horizontal vibration
might move the shaft of the compressor in a horizontal direction.
However, if moved in the horizontal direction, the shaft is likely
to collide against other components that are arranged nearby enough
to cause damage. Accordingly, the horizontal-direction movement of
the shaft has to be prevented during the drive or operation of the
compressor. Especially, vibration occurs during the drive in case
of a scroll compressor for a vehicle such that the
horizontal-direction movement of the shaft should be prevented.
[0007] A conventional method for preventing such the
horizontal-direction movement of the shaft in the conventional
compressor is as follows.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 8,202,071 discloses a method in that the shaft
of the compressor is pressed in a main ball bearing to prevent the
horizontal-direction movement of the shaft. Under such a structure,
an outer race of a main ball bearing is insertedly pressed to a
main frame and an inner race of the main ball bearing is insertedly
pressed to a shaft. As the shaft is pressed and inserted in the
main ball bearing, the horizontal-direction movement of the shaft
is constrained by the main ball bearing. Accordingly, even if the
horizontal-direction movement occurs in the compressor, the shaft
will not be moved horizontally.
[0009] Meanwhile, there is another structure configured to use a
journal bearing as the main bearing and a sub-ball bearing that is
arranged opposite to the journal bearing (hereinafter, the sub-ball
bearing structure). Under the sub-ball bearing structure, the
horizontal-direction movement is not constrained. The reason why is
as follows.
[0010] The shaft is not pressedly inserted in the journal bearing.
The shaft is not pressedly inserted in an inner race of the
sub-ball bearing but slidingly coupled thereto based on an
assembling process of the compressor. Accordingly, the shaft is
assembled to the journal bearing and the sub-ball bearing, with a
preset tolerance, so as not to constrain the horizontal-direction
movement of the shaft.
[0011] As mentioned above, the vibration occurring during the drive
or operation of the sub-ball bearing compressor might move in the
horizontal direction enough to collide against the components
arranged nearby and cause damage. Accordingly, there are demands
for preventing the shaft from being horizontally moved by such
vibration.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0012] Accordingly, an object of the present disclosure is to
address the above-noted and other problems.
[0013] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a
compressor that may prevent a shaft from being horizontally moved
in a sub-ball bearing structure.
[0014] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a
compressor that may prevent the shaft from being horizontally
moved, even without pressedly inserting the shaft in a ball
bearing.
[0015] Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a
compressor comprising a main housing having an internal space; a
motor provided in the main housing and comprising a stator and a
rotor; a shaft coupled to the rotor; a shaft mounting portion
provided at one end of the shaft and having a smaller diameter than
the shaft; a sub-ball bearing slidingly coupled to the shaft
mounting portion; and a fixing latch coupled to the shaft mounting
portion and comprising a latching portion configured to constrain
the sub-ball bearing on the shaft mounting portion.
[0016] Two or more latching portions may be provided and the fixing
latch comprises a supporting portion that is connected to the two
or more latching portions.
[0017] The length and the width of the latching portion may be
equal to the length and the width of the opening, and at least a
predetermined area of the latching portion may be projectedly
exposed to the opening.
[0018] The front side of the latching portion may be higher than
the opening and the rear side of the latching portion may be as
high as the opening.
[0019] The supporting portion may comprise an area that is
forwardly extended from the latching portion. A plurality of
latching portions may be provided and a plurality of supporting
portions forwardly extended from the latching portions,
respectively, may be provided, and the plurality of the supporting
portions may be connected with each other in front areas of the
latching portions.
[0020] The supporting portion may comprise a coupling hole provided
to couple the supporting portion to the shaft mounting portion.
[0021] The shaft mounting portion may comprise a hollow portion to
which the fixing latch is coupled.
[0022] The shaft mounting portion may comprise an opening formed to
couple the supporting portion thereto.
[0023] The other end of the shaft may be rotatably supported by a
journal bearing.
[0024] Embodiments of the present disclosure may also provide a
compressor comprising a main housing having an internal space; a
motor provided in the main housing and comprising a stator and a
rotor; a shaft coupled to the rotor; a shaft mounting portion
provided at one end of the shaft and having a smaller diameter than
the shaft; a sub-ball bearing slidingly coupled to the shaft
mounting portion; a hollow portion provided in the shaft mounting
portion; and a fixing latch comprising a latching portion and a
supporting portion connected to the latching portion, wherein one
side of the latching portion contacts with the sub-ball bearing and
further wherein one side of the supporting portion is connected
with the latching portion and the other side is inserted in the
hollow portion.
[0025] The latching portion may be downwardly inclined from a front
side to a rear side.
[0026] Embodiments of the present disclosure may also provide a
compressor comprising a main housing having an internal space; a
motor provided in the main housing and comprising a stator and a
rotor; a shaft coupled to the rotor; a shaft mounting portion
provided at one end of the shaft and having a smaller diameter than
the shaft; a sub-ball bearing slidingly coupled to the shaft
mounting portion; a hollow portion provided in the shaft mounting
portion; and a fixing latch comprising a latching portion and a
supporting portion connected to the latching portion, wherein one
side of the latching portion contacts with the sub-ball bearing and
further wherein one side of the supporting portion is connected
with the latching portion and the other side is coupled to an outer
surface of the shaft mounting portion.
[0027] The latching portion may be downwardly inclined from a front
side to a rear side.
[0028] Further aspects of this disclosure will become apparent from
the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be
understood that the detailed description and specific examples,
while indicating preferred embodiments of the disclosure, are given
by illustration only, since various changes and modifications
within the spirit and scope of the disclosure will become apparent
to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying
drawings, which are given by illustration only, and thus are not
limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
[0030] FIG. 1 is a sectional diagram illustrating an entire
structure of a compressor according to one embodiment of the
present disclosure;
[0031] FIG. 2 is a sectional diagram illustrating the embodiment of
the compressor;
[0032] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective diagram of FIG. 2;
[0033] FIG. 4 is a sectional diagram illustrating an assembly
process of FIG. 2;
[0034] FIG. 5 is a sectional diagram illustrating another
embodiment of the compressor; and
[0035] FIG. 6 is a sectional diagram illustrating a further
embodiment of the compressor.
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
[0036] Hereinafter, referring to the accompanying drawings,
exemplary embodiment of a compressor according to the present
disclosure will be described. Regardless of numeral references, the
same or equivalent components may be provided with the same
reference numbers and description thereof will not be repeated. For
the sake of brief description with reference to the drawings, the
sizes and profiles of the elements illustrated in the accompanying
drawings may be exaggerated or reduced and it should be understood
that the embodiments presented herein are not limited by the
accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are used to help
easily understand various technical features and it should be
understood that the embodiments presented herein are not limited by
the accompanying drawings. As such, the present disclosure should
be construed to extend to any alterations, equivalents and
substitutes in addition to those which are particularly set out in
the accompanying drawings.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 1, an entire structure of the compressor
according to one exemplary embodiment will be described. An arrow L
that is shown in FIG. 1 indicates flow of a refrigerant.
[0038] The compressor 1 may include a main housing 2 having a
sealed space defined therein; and an inverter housing 3 that is
coupled to one side of the main housing 2. In the main housing 2
may be installed diverse components for compressing a fluid (e.g.,
a motor part and a scroll part). In the inverter housing 3 may be
installed an inverter (not shown).
[0039] Each of the components is described as follows.
[0040] The main housing 2 may be formed in a horizontally arranged
cylindrical shape. The main housing 2 may have an inlet hole 222
and an outlet hole 243 for the flow of the refrigerant. A motor 4
may be installed in the main housing 2 and configured to generate a
rotational force. The motor may include a stator 42 and a rotor 44
that is rotatable. A shaft 46 may be coupled to the rotor 44.
[0041] The main housing may also include a fixed scroll 52 and an
orbiting scroll 54 that are configured to compress the refrigerant.
The fixed scroll 52 may be fixed in the main housing 2 and the
orbiting scroll 54 may be eccentrically coupled to the shaft 46.
The motor 4 may provide a rotational force that allows the orbiting
scroll 54 to orbit by means of the shaft 46. In addition, the shaft
46 may include a balance weight 462 that is configured to
counteract the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the
orbiting scroll 54. The balance weight 462 may be arranged in an
opposite direction from the eccentric direction of the shaft
46.
[0042] Meanwhile, an oil sump 7 may be provided in a predetermined
area of the main housing 2 to store oil. An oil separator may be
provided in an upper area of the oil sump 7 to separate oil from
the refrigerant.
[0043] Next, the supporting structure of the shaft 46 is described
as follows.
[0044] Hereinafter, an area where the scroll part 52 and 54 is
arranged may be called a front area of the shaft 46 and the other
opposite area, in other words, a rear area of the motor 4 may be
called a rear area of the shaft 46.
[0045] The shaft may be rotatably supported. As one example, the
front area of the shaft 46 may be supported by a main frame 26. A
main journal bearing 66 may be provided between the shaft 46 and
the main frame 25 to rotatably support the shaft 46. Alternatively,
the journal bearing 64 may be provided between the shaft 46 and the
orbiting scroll 54.
[0046] A bearing housing 200 may be provided in a rear portion of
the shaft 46 to support the rear portion. To rotatably support the
shaft 46, a sub-ball bearing 100 may be provided between the shaft
46 and the bearing housing 200. Accordingly, during the rotation of
the shaft 46, the journal bearings 64 and 65 and the sub-ball
bearing may reduce frictional resistance.
[0047] The coupling structure between the sub-ball bearing 100 and
the shaft 5 will be described.
[0048] One end (or the rear portion) of the shaft 46 has a
predetermined portion where the sub-ball bearing is disposed
(hereinafter, the shaft mounting portion) 46a. A diameter of the
shaft mounting portion 46a may be smaller than a diameter of the
shaft 46. Accordingly, a difference between the diameters of the
shaft 46 and the shaft mounting portion 46a may form a protrusion
46b. An outer race of the sub-ball bearing 46 may be coupled to the
inside of the ball bearing housing 200 and an inner race of the
sub-ball bearing 100 may be slidingly coupled to the shaft mounting
portion 46a.
[0049] Meanwhile, under the above-noted sub-ball bearing, the
horizontal-direction movement to the right is constrained but not
the horizontal-direction movement to the left. That is because the
horizontal-direction movement of the shaft 46 to the right may be
constrained once the protrusion 46b of the shaft 36 is hooked by a
front portion of the sub-ball bearing 100. In contrast, there is no
structure for constraining the horizontal movement to the left.
[0050] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, one embodiment for preventing
the horizontal-direction movement of the shaft 46 to the left will
be described.
[0051] A fixing latch 300 may be provided in one end of the shaft
46 and the horizontal movement of the shaft 46 to the left may be
constrained by the fixing latch 300.
[0052] The fixing latch 300 will be described in detail as
follows.
[0053] The fixing latch 300 may have a structure configured to be
elastically folded or unfolded. As one example, the fixing latch
300 may include a latching portion 330 and a supporting portion 350
connected to the latching portion. The supporting portion 350 may
elastically support the latching portion 330.
[0054] The shaft mounting portion 46a of the shaft 46 may have a
hollow portion 462 to insert the fixing latch 300 therein; and an
opening 464 that is in communication with the hollow portion 462.
The latching portion 330 of the fixing latch 300 may be exposed to
the outside of the shaft mounting portion 46a via the opening 463
of the shaft mounting portion 46a.
[0055] Each of the components will be described in detail.
[0056] First of all, the latching portion 330 of the fixing latch
300 will be described.
[0057] The shape of the latching portion 330 is not limited. The
latching portion 330 may be formed in diverse shapes, only if some
area of the latching portion is exposed outside via the opening
464.
[0058] As one example, the length Lh and the width Wh of the
latching portion 330 may be equal to the length L and the width W
of the opening 464 formed in the shaft mounting portion 46a. The
latching portion 330 may be high enough to expose at least
predetermined area to an outer surface of the shaft mounting
portion 46a.
[0059] An upper area 334 of the latching portion 330 may be
inclined downwardly from a front side towards a rear side. The
tilted surface 334 may be linear or curved (the inclined surface is
for convenient assembling and detailed description thereof will be
made later). As one example, the height H1 of the front area 332 of
the latching portion 330 may be larger than the height H of the
opening 464 and the height H2 of the rear area 336 may be equal to
the height H of the opening 464.
[0060] Next, the supporting portion 350 of the fixing latch 300
will be described.
[0061] The supporting portion 350 may elastically support the
latching portion 330. In other words, the supporting portion 350
may be folded when it is inserted in the hollow 462 of the shaft
mounting portion 46a and elastically unfolded after that. The shape
of the supporting portion 350 may have a flexible structure (e.g.,
a plate spring structure) and the supporting portion 350 may be
made of an elastic material.
[0062] The shapes of the supporting portion 350 are not limited and
any shapes may be applicable, only if facilitating the above-noted
function. As one example, the supporting portion 350 may include an
extended area 352 that is forwardly extended from the latching
portion 330. In addition, when a plurality of latching portions 330
are provided, the supporting portion 350 may include a connecting
portion 354 for connecting each of the supporting portions 350 with
each other (FIG. 2 illustrates two latching portions). In this
instance, the supporting portion 350 may be configured as a kind of
a plate spring that has elasticity.
[0063] Meanwhile, the fixing latch 300 may be made of diverse
materials. Examples of the diverse materials may include an
iron-based material, a non-iron-based material, a polymer material
and the like.
[0064] Hereinafter, the hollow portion 462 and the opening 464 that
are provided in the shaft shaft mounting portion 46a will be
described.
[0065] The shapes of the hollow portion 462 formed in the shaft
mounting portion 46a are not limited and any shapes are applicable,
only if the hollow may accommodate the fixing latch 300,
especially, the supporting portion 350. Also, the shapes of the
opening 464 formed in the shaft mounting portion 46a may not be
limited and the opening may have the length L or width W that are
equal to shape of the latching portion 330, especially, the length
Lh and the width Wh of the latching portion 330. The position of
the opening 464 may not be limited but a front area of the opening
464 may be equal to the rear area of the sub-ball bearing 100.
[0066] Referring to FIG. 4, the assembling structure of the shaft
46, the sub-bearing 100 and the fixing latch 300 will be
described.
[0067] As shown in FIG. 4(a), the fixing latch 300 may be pushed in
the hollow portion 462 of the shaft mounting portion 46a. When the
supporting portion 350 of the fixing latch having elasticity is
narrowed, the fixing latch 300 may be pushed in the hollow portion
462.
[0068] As shown in FIG. 4(b), the latching portion 330 of the
fixing latch inserted in the hollow portion 462 of the shaft
mounting portion 46a may be located in the opening 464 of the shaft
mounting portion 46a. Then, the latching portion 330 may be pushed
in the opening 464 by the elasticity of the supporting portion 350
and projected outside via the opening. That is a state where the
fixing latch 300 is assembled to the shaft mounting portion 46a.
The shaft in that state may slide in the sub-ball bearing 100.
[0069] In this instance, the latching portion 330 may be downwardly
inclined from the front side to the rear side as shown in FIG.
4(c). Hence, the latching portion 330 of the fixing latch may be
naturally pressed and flexed radially inward enough to allow the
shaft mounting portion 46a of the shaft 46 to penetrate the inner
race of the sub-ball bearing 100.
[0070] As shown in FIG. 4(d), the shaft mounting portion 46a of the
shaft may penetrate the inner race of the sub-ball bearing 100 and
the latching portion 330 may be then unfolded or spread such that
the latching portion 330 of the fixing latch may project towards
the sub-ball bearing 100. In other words, the latching portion 330
of the fixing latch may face the rear area of the sub-ball bearing
100, in contact.
[0071] Once such the assembling is complete, the horizontal
movement of the shaft 46 to the right may be constrained by the
protrusion 46b of the shaft 46 and the horizontal movement of the
shaft to the left may be constrained by the latching portion 330 of
the fixing latch 330. According to the illustrated embodiment, the
horizontal-direction movement of the shaft 46 to both the right and
the left may be effectively constrained even if vibration occurs in
the compressor.
[0072] Meanwhile, the above-noted embodiment illustrates and
describes the two openings 464 of the shaft mounting portion 46a
and the two corresponding latching portions 330. However, the
present disclosure may not be limited to that embodiment. One or
two or more openings and corresponding latching portions 330 may be
provided. The plurality of the latching portions 330 may be
arranged in bilateral or top-and-bottom symmetry. Even in case one
latching portion 330 is provided, the supporting portion 350 may
substantially have the same shape. As one example, the supporting
portion 350 may be formed in a shape that is extended from the
front area of the latching portion 330 to a predetermined length
and towards the rear area to a predetermined length again. Also,
the supporting portion 350 may be formed in a shape that is
extended only to the front area of the latching portion 33. In this
instance, the supporting portion 350 may be extended with a
predetermined slope.
[0073] Referring to FIG. 5, another embodiment of the compressor
according to the present disclosure will be described.
[0074] This embodiment has the same basic principle with the
above-noted embodiment, except the structure configured to assemble
the fixing latch to the shaft mounting portion.
[0075] To avoid complex explanation, different features of this
embodiment from the above-noted embodiment will be described in
detail.
[0076] The hollow portion 462 may be provided in the shaft mounting
portion 46a and a coupling hole 468 may be provided in the hollow
portion 462. Here, the opening for exposing the latching portion
may not be formed in the shaft mounting portion 46a in this
embodiment.
[0077] A fixing latch 300a may include a latching portion 330a and
a supporting portion 350a. The supporting portion 350a may include
the coupling hole 358. The shape of the latching portion 330a may
not be limited but one side of the latching portion 330a may
contact a rear area of the sub-ball bearing 100. The shape of the
supporting portion 350a may not be limited but one side of the
supporting portion 350a may be connected with the latching portion
330a and the other side may be extended towards the hollow portion
462 of the shaft mounting portion.
[0078] The process of coupling the fixing latch 300a to the shaft
mounting portion 46a will be described.
[0079] The supporting portion 350a of the fixing latch 300a may be
inserted in the hollow portion 462 of the shaft mounting portion
46a. Only the supporting portion 350a of the fixing latch 300a may
be inserted in the hollow portion 462 in this embodiment, not the
latching portion 300a. In this state, the fixing latch 300a may be
coupled to the shaft mounting portion 46a. As one example, a screw
500 may be fastened to the coupling hole 468 of the shaft mounting
portion 462 and the coupling hole 358 of the supporting portion
350a to couple them to each other. The process of assembling the
shaft 46 having the fixing latch 300a to the sub-ball bearing is
equal to the process of the above-noted embodiment.
[0080] In this embodiment, only the supporting portion 350a of the
fixing latch 300a may be inserted in the hollow portion 462 and the
latching portion 330a may not be inserted therein. Accordingly, it
may be possible in this embodiment to lessen the length of the
shaft mounting portion 46a, compared with the above-noted
embodiment.
[0081] Referring to FIG. 6, a further embodiment of the compressor
will be described.
[0082] This embodiment also has the basic principle that is
substantially equal to the basic principles of the above
embodiments, except a feature that the fixing latch is coupled to
the shaft mounting portion.
[0083] To avoid complex explanation, different features of this
embodiment from the above-noted embodiment will be described in
detail.
[0084] In this embodiment, the shaft mounting portion 46a may
include no hollow portion and no opening for exposing the latching
portion. Here, the shaft mounting portion 46a may include the
coupling hole 469.
[0085] The fixing latch 300b may include a latching portion 330b
and a supporting potion 350b. The supporting portion 350b may
include the coupling hole 468. The shape of the latching portion
330b may not be limited but one side of the supporting portion 350b
may be connected with the latching portion 330b and the other side
may be extended towards an outer surface of the shaft mounting
portion 46a. In this embodiment, one end of the latching portion
330b and the supporting portion 350b may be position on the same
plane.
[0086] The coupling process of the fixing latch 300b to the shaft
mounting portion 46a will be described hereinafter.
[0087] The shaft mounting portion 46a according to this embodiment
may include no hollow portion such that the supporting portion 350b
of the fixing latch 300b may contact with one cross sectional
surface of the shaft mounting portion 46a. In this state, the
fixing latch 300b may be coupled to the shaft mounting portion 46a.
As one example, a screw 500 may be fastened to the coupling hole
468 of the shaft mounting portion 462 and the coupling hole 458 of
the supporting portion 350b to couple them to each other. The
process of assembling the shaft 46 having the fixing latch 300b to
the sub-ball bearing is equal to the process of the above-noted
embodiment.
[0088] In this embodiment, it is unnecessary to manufacture a
hollow portion in the shaft mounting portion 46a. In addition, the
latching portion 330b and the supporting portion 350b that are
provided in the fixing latch 300b may not be inserted in the shaft
mounting portion 46a according to this embodiment. Accordingly, it
may be possible in this embodiment to lessen the length of the
shaft mounting portion 46a, compared with the above-noted
embodiment.
[0089] The exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6 shows the
fixing latch 300b including the plurality of the latching portions
330b that are radially arranged at preset intervals; and the
supporting portion 350b that is approximately circular-shaped.
However, the embodiment may not be limited thereto and one latching
portion 330b or two or more latching portions 330b may be
provided.
[0090] Meanwhile, the elements with no additional description in
the embodiments may be substantially equal to the corresponding
ones in the other embodiments. Even without special comments, the
technical feature described in one embodiment may be equally
applied to the other embodiments, unless opposed to each other.
[0091] As described above, the compressor according to the present
disclosure may effectively prevent the shaft from being moved in
the horizontal direction, even if vibration occurs. Accordingly,
the damage to the other components caused by the collision with the
horizontally moving shaft may be prevented and then the reliability
of the compressor may be enhanced, even if vibration occurs in the
compressor.
[0092] Furthermore, the horizontal-direction movement of the shaft
may be prevented even when the shaft is inserted in the sub-ball
bearing without a press fit. Accordingly, the manufacturing
tolerances for the shaft that is inserted in the sub-ball bearing
may be reduced and it may be possible to simplify the assembly
process of the compressor.
[0093] As the present features may be embodied in several forms
without departing from the characteristics thereof, it should also
be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited
by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless
otherwise specified, but rather should be considered broadly within
its scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all
changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of
the claims, or equivalents of such metes and bounds, are therefore
intended to be embraced by the appended claims.
[0094] As one example, the embodiments disclose the main bearing
and the ball bearing as the sub-bearing are described but the
present disclosure may not be limited thereto. Other diverse types
of bearings may be used.
[0095] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made in the present disclosure
without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosures.
Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure covers the
modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they come
within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *