IP Library Granted Patent US 7,041,019
Granted Patent B2
US 7,041,019 · App. 10/386,448 · Granted May 9, 2006

Automotive compressor having a simple waterproof structure for a bearing supporting a pulley

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,041,019
App. No.
10/386,448
Granted
May 9, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

In an automotive compressor, a pulley ( 6 ) is rotatably supported on a compressor housing ( 1 ) through a bearing ( 5 ) to have an axial gap ( 10 ) left between the compressor housing and the pulley. A waterproof cover ( 13 ) covers the axial gap and serves to suppress water from the outside from reaching the bearing. The waterproof cover is fixed to the compressor housing by a ring-shaped fastener ( 14 ). Instead of use of the waterproof cover, the axial gap may be controlled in size thereof.

Claims (70)

1. An automotive compressor comprising:

a compressor housing;

a pulley mounted on said compressor housing and having an axial gap between said compressor housing and said pulley;

a bearing interposed between said compressor housing and said pulley and rotatably supporting said pulley;

a waterproof cover covering said axial gap to suppress water from the outside from reaching said bearing; and

a ring-shaped fastener fixing said waterproof cover to said compressor housing, wherein said waterproof cover comprises:

a guide portion having a frustoconical cylindrical shape and covering said axial gap; and

a fixing portion extending inwardly from a small-diameter end of the guide portion and fixed to said compressor housing by said ring-shaped fastener.

2. The automotive compressor according to claim 1 , wherein said compressor housing has a cylindrical portion, said pulley being mounted on said cylindrical portion through said bearing, said fixing portion being made of a ring-shape to have a through hole through which said cylindrical portion is inserted.

3. The automotive compressor according to claim 2 , wherein said compressor housing has a radial surface extending outwardly and radially from said cylindrical portion, said fixing portion being put in contact with said radial surface.

4. The automotive compressor according to claim 3 , wherein said cylindrical portion has a groove at an outer peripheral surface thereof, said ring-shaped fastener being engaged with said groove and fixing said fixing portion in cooperation with said radial surface.

5. The automotive compressor according to claim 1 , wherein said ring-shaped fastener comprises a snap ring.

6. The automotive compressor according to claim 1 , wherein said ring-shaped fastener comprises a fastening ring.

7. An automotive compressor comprising:

a compressor housing;

a pulley mounted on said compressor housing and having an axial gap between said compressor housing and said pulley;

a bearing interposed between said compressor housing and said pulley and rotatably supporting said pulley; and

a waterproof cover covering said axial gap to suppress water from the outside from reaching said bearing, said water proof cover being fixed to said compressor housing by the use of a part of said bearing; wherein said waterproof cover comprises:

a guide portion having a frustoconical cylindrical shape and covering said axial gap; and

a fixing portion extending inwardly from a small-diameter end of the guide portion and fixed to said compressor housing by the use of a part of said bearing.

8. The automotive compressor according to claim 7 , wherein said compressor housing has a cylindrical portion, said pulley being mounted on said cylindrical portion through said bearing, said fixing portion being made of a ring-shape to have a through hole through which said cylindrical portion is inserted.

9. The automotive compressor according to claim 8 , wherein said compressor housing has a radial surface extending outwardly and radially from said cylindrical portion, said fixing portion being put in contact with said radial surface.

10. An automotive compressor comprising:

a compressor housing having a radial surface radially extending and a protrusion protruded from said radial surface;

a pulley mounted on said compressor housing and having an axial gap between said compressor housing and said pulley;

a bearing interposed between said compressor housing and said pulley and rotatably supporting said pulley; and

a waterproof cover covering said axial gap to suppress water from the outside from reaching said bearing, said waterproof cover being fixed to said compressor housing by the use of said protrusion, wherein said waterproof cover comprises:

a guide portion having a frustoconical cylindrical shape and covering said axial gap; and

a fixing portion extending inwardly from a small-diameter end of the guide portion and fixed to said compressor housing by the use of said protrusion.

11. The automotive compressor according to claim 10 , wherein said protrusion is subjected to staking.

12. The automotive compressor according to claim 10 , wherein said protrusion is subjected to caulking.

13. The automotive compressor according to claim 10 , wherein said compressor housing has a cylindrical portion extending axially from said radial surface, said pulley being mounted on said cylindrical portion through said bearing, said fixing portion being made of a ring-shape to have a through hole through which said cylindrical portion is inserted.

14. The automotive compressor according to claim 13 , wherein said fixing portion is put in contact with said radial surface.

15. An automotive compressor comprising:

a compressor housing having a cylindrical portion axially extending and a groove at a peripheral surface of said cylindrical portion;

a pulley mounted on said cylindrical portion and having an axial gap between said compressor housing and said pulley, such that said pulley rotates independently from said cylindrical portion;

a bearing interposed between said compressor housing and said pulley and rotatably supporting said pulley; and

a waterproof cover covering said axial gap to suppress water from the outside from reaching said bearing, said waterproof cover being fixed to said cylindrical portion by being engaged with said groove.

16. The automotive compressor according to claim 15 , wherein said waterproof cover comprises:

a guide portion having a frustoconical cylindrical shape and covering said axial gap; and

a fixing portion extending inwardly from a small-diameter end of the guide portion and engaged with said groove.

17. The automotive compressor according to claim 16 , wherein said pulley is mounted on said cylindrical portion through said bearing, said fixing portion being made of a ring-shape to have a through hole through which said cylindrical portion is inserted.

18. The automotive compressor according to claim 16 , wherein said groove extends along said peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion to make a ring shape.

19. An automotive compressor comprising:

a compressor housing;

a pulley mounted on said compressor housing to have an axial gap left between said compressor housing and said pulley;

a bearing interposed between said compressor housing and said pulley and rotatably supporting said pulley; and

a waterproof cover covering said axial gap to suppress water from the outside from reaching said bearing, said waterproof cover having a drain hole formed at its lower part; wherein said waterproof cover comprises:

a guide portion having a frustoconical cylindrical shape and covering said axial gap; and

a fixing portion extending inwardly from a small-diameter end of the guide portion and fixed to said compressor housing by the use of a part of said bearing.

20. The automotive compressor according to claim 19 , wherein said drain hole being formed in said guide portion.

21. An automotive compressor comprising:

a compressor housing;

a pulley mounted on said compressor housing and having an axial gap between said compressor housing and said pulley;

a bearing interposed between said compressor housing and said pulley and rotatably supporting said pulley; and

a seal member having a part placed at said axial gap to suppress water from the outside from reaching said bearing, wherein said compressor housing has a cylindrical portion extending in an axial direction and a cylindrical protrusion around said cylindrical portion, said bearing surrounding said cylindrical portion, said pulley having a cylindrical hub which surrounds said bearing and faces said cylindrical protrusion in said axial direction to define said axial gap between said cylindrical protrusion and said hub, said seal member being fixed to one of said cylindrical protrusion and said hub.

22. The automotive compressor according to claim 21 , wherein said seal member is kept in frictional contact with another of said cylindrical protrusion and said hub.

23. The automotive compressor according to claim 21 , wherein said compressor housing has a radial surface radially extending, said pulley having a cylindrical hub which surrounds said bearing and faces said radial surface in an axial direction to define said axial gap between said radial surface and said hub, said seal member being put in contact with said radial surface and fixed by the use of said bearing.

24. The automotive compressor according to claim 23 , wherein said seal member is kept in frictional contact with said hub.

25. An automotive compressor comprising:

a compressor housing;

a pulley mounted on said compressor housing and having an axial gap between said compressor housing and said pulley;

a bearing interposed between said compressor housing and said pulley and rotatably supporting said pulley; and

a protrusion formed on one of said compressor housing and said pulley to substantially narrow said axial gap and suppressing water from the outside from reaching said bearing, wherein said compressor housing has a cylindrical portion extending in an axial direction and a radial surface extending radially and outwardly from said cylindrical portion, said bearing surrounding said cylindrical portion, said pulley having a cylindrical hub which surrounds said bearing said protrusion being cylindrical and protruded from said cylindrical hub towards said radial surface.

26. An automotive compressor comprising:

a compressor housing;

a pulley mounted on said compressor housing and having an axial gap between said compressor housing and said pulley;

a bearing interposed between said compressor housing and said pulley and rotatably supporting said pulley; and

an additional member added to one of said compressor housing and said pulley to substantially narrow said axial gap and suppressing water from the outside from reaching said bearing, wherein said compressor housing has a cylindrical portion extending in an axial direction and a radial surface extending radially and outwardly from said cylindrical portion, said bearing surrounding said cylindrical portion, said pulley having a cylindrical hub which surrounds said bearing, said additional member being cylindrical and attached to said cylindrical hub.

27. The automotive compressor according to claim 26 , wherein said radial surface has a ring-shaped recess, said additional member having an axial end inserted into said ring-shaped recess with a small gap therebetween.

Assignments (4)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS IN PATENT NOS. 6129293, 7574813, 8238525, 8083454, D545888, D467946, D573242, D487173, AND REMOVE 8750534 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 047208 FRAME 0635. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Apr 27, 2020
From: SANDEN CORPORATION
To: SANDEN HOLDINGS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 053545/0524 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PROPERTY NUMBERS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 038489 FRAME: 0677. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Oct 9, 2018
From: SANDEN CORPORATION
To: SANDEN HOLDINGS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 047208/0635 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 21, 2016
From: SANDEN CORPORATION
To: SANDEN HOLDINGS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 038489/0677 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 3, 2003
From: MATSUBARA, TOMOHIKO; OZAWA, ATSUSHI
To: SANDEN CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 014130/0557 →