IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,536,492
Granted Patent B2
US 11,536,492 · App. 16/794,902 · Granted Dec 27, 2022

Electric compressor with improved insulation performance

Inventors: Joohyung Kim (Seoul, KR); Ochang Gwon (Seoul, KR); Bumsuk Kim (Seoul, KR); Yicheol Choi (Seoul, KR)
Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
F25B1/005H02K1/20H02K5/08H02K5/225H02K5/24H02K7/14H02K11/33H02K9/227
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,536,492
App. No.
16/794,902
Granted
Dec 27, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure provides an electric compressor comprising a main housing, a motor part disposed in the main housing and comprising a stator comprising a rotor accommodating portion and a rotor rotatably disposed in the rotor accommodating portion, a compression part rotatably connected to the motor part, and an inverter part electrically connected to the motor part. The motor part is disposed in a motor room formed inside the main housing, the stator comprises a plurality of insulating protrusions protruding from an outer circumferential surface of the stator, and the plurality of insulating protrusions is configured to be brought into contact with an inner circumferential surface of the motor room.

Claims (61)

1. An electric compressor, comprising:

a main housing extending in a lengthwise direction;

a motor part disposed in the main housing and comprising:

a stator comprising a rotor accommodating portion; and

a rotor rotatably disposed in the rotor accommodating portion of the stator;

a compression part rotatably connected to the motor part and configured to receive a rotational force from the motor part and compress a refrigerant; and

an inverter part electrically connected to the motor part and configured to apply power to the stator,

wherein the motor part is disposed in a motor room formed inside the main housing,

wherein the stator comprises a plurality of insulating protrusions protruding from an outer circumferential surface of the stator to increase a surface area of the outer circumferential surface,

wherein the plurality of insulating protrusions is configured to be brought into contact with an inner circumferential surface of the motor room,

wherein the outer circumferential surface comprises:

a first region comprising the plurality of insulating protrusions spaced apart from one another by a first predetermined distance; and

a second region comprising adjacent insulating protrusions, among the plurality of insulating protrusions, spaced apart from each other by a second predetermined distance different from the first predetermined distance,

wherein a coupling protrusion is configured to protrude inward from the inner circumferential surface of the motor room, and wherein the coupling protrusion is configured to be inserted into a coupling space formed between the adjacent insulating protrusions located in the second region and spaced apart from each other by the second predetermined distance,

wherein the first region and the second region are asymmetrically formed with respect to an arbitrary straight line passing through a central axis of the stator on a cross-section of the stator,

wherein the first region is formed in an upper semicircle and a part of a lower semicircle of the outer circumferential surface, and wherein the second region is formed in a part of the lower semicircle of the outer circumferential surface, and

wherein the second predetermined distance between the adjacent insulating protrusions defining the coupling space is formed to be greater than the first predetermined distance between adjacent insulating protrusions located in the first region.

2. The electric compressor of claim 1 , wherein the stator has a cylindrical shape extending in a lengthwise direction thereof, and

wherein the plurality of insulating protrusions is configured to extend from the outer circumferential surface of the stator in the lengthwise direction of the stator, so that a refrigerant flows from the motor part toward the compression part through spaces formed by the plurality of insulating protrusions spaced apart from one another.

3. The electric compressor of claim 1 , wherein an insulating unit is coupled to an end portion of the stator in the lengthwise direction of the stator, and

wherein the insulating unit is configured to insulate the stator and comprises a cross-section corresponding to the stator.

4. The electric compressor of claim 3 , wherein the stator comprises a coupling groove recessed by a predetermined distance into one side surface of the stator facing the insulating unit, and wherein the insulating unit comprises a second coupling protrusion protruding by the predetermined distance from one side surface of the insulating unit facing the stator, wherein the second coupling protrusion is configured to be inserted into the coupling groove.

5. The electric compressor of claim 4 , wherein the stator comprises:

an outer circumferential portion defining an outer circumference of the stator; and

a plurality of teeth protruding radially inward from the outer circumferential portion of the stator,

wherein a plurality of coupling grooves is provided on one side surface of each of the plurality of teeth facing the insulating unit, and

wherein a number of the plurality of coupling grooves formed in one of the plurality of teeth is different from a number of the plurality of coupling grooves formed in another one of the plurality of teeth.

6. The electric compressor of claim 5 , wherein the insulating unit comprises: an insulation outer circumferential portion defining an outer circumference of the insulating unit; and a plurality of insulating teeth protruding radially inward from the insulation outer circumferential portion of the insulating unit, wherein a plurality of second coupling protrusions is provided on one side surface of each of the plurality of insulating teeth facing the stator, and a number of the plurality of second coupling protrusions formed on one of the plurality of insulating teeth is different from a number of the plurality of second coupling protrusions formed on another one of the plurality of insulating teeth.

7. The electric compressor of claim 6 , wherein the insulation outer circumferential portion comprises a stepped portion protruding from the insulation outer circumferential portion toward an insulating housing, the stepped portion being configured to be brought into contact with an inner circumferential surface of the insulating housing when the insulating unit is coupled to the insulating housing.

8. The electric compressor of claim 7 , wherein the stepped portion protrudes from the insulation outer circumferential portion by different lengths.

9. The electric compressor of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of insulating teeth are spaced apart from one another, and wherein spaces formed between adjacent insulating teeth are configured to accommodate a plurality of coils wound around the plurality of insulating teeth.

10. The electric compressor of claim 3 , further comprising an insulating housing configured to cover the insulating unit is coupled to an end portion of the stator in the lengthwise direction of the stator, and wherein the end portion of the stator is coupled with the insulating unit.

11. The electric compressor of claim 10 , further comprising:

a coupling key protruding from one side of the insulating housing facing the insulating unit; and

a coupling slot recessed into one side of the insulating unit facing the insulating housing,

wherein the coupling key is configured to be inserted in the coupling slot when the insulating housing covers the insulating unit.

12. The electric compressor of claim 3 , wherein the insulating unit is formed of a material with low thermal conductivity.

13. The electric compressor of claim 3 , wherein the insulating unit comprises:

a first insulating portion coupled to the end portion of the stator facing the inverter part; and

a second insulating portion coupled to another end portion of the stator opposite to the first insulating portion.

14. The electric compressor of claim 1 , further comprising a connector unit configured to electrically connect the inverter part and the motor part,

wherein the connector unit comprises:

a support member defining a body of the connector unit; and

an electric member coupled to the support member in a penetrating manner, and

wherein one side of the electric member is electrically connected to the inverter part, and another side of the electric member is electrically connected to the motor part.

15. The electric compressor of claim 14 , further comprising a terminal unit detachably coupled to the another side of the electric member and configured to electrically connect the connector unit and the motor part,

wherein an insulating unit is coupled to an end portion of the stator in the lengthwise direction of the stator,

wherein the insulating unit is configured to insulate the stator and comprises a cross-section corresponding to the stator,

wherein the insulating unit and an insulating housing configured to cover the insulating unit are sequentially coupled to the end portion of the stator in the lengthwise direction of the stator, and

wherein a terminal accommodating portion is disposed in one side of the insulating housing facing the inverter part, the terminal accommodating portion comprising a space configured to accommodate the terminal unit.

16. The electric compressor of claim 15 , further comprising a connector coupling portion disposed on one side of the inverter part facing the motor part, wherein the connector unit is detachably coupled to the connector coupling portion, and

wherein the connector coupling portion comprises:

a support member insertion groove recessed by a predetermined distance, wherein the support member is configured to be coupled to the support member insertion groove; and

an electric member insertion opening formed in a penetrating manner, wherein one side of the electric member is configured to be inserted in the electric member insertion opening.

17. The electric compressor of claim 16 , wherein one side of the insulating housing facing the inverter part is configured to be brought into contact with one side of the inverter part facing the motor part when the connector unit is detachably coupled to the connector coupling portion.

18. The electric compressor of claim 15 , wherein:

the insulating housing comprises a housing outer circumferential portion formed in a ring shape and defining a body of the insulating housing,

a snap protrusion is configured to protrude radially inward from one end portion of the housing outer circumferential portion facing the stator,

the insulating unit comprises an insulation outer circumferential portion defining an outer circumference of the insulating unit,

a snap coupling portion is recessed radially inward from one end portion of the insulation outer circumferential portion facing the stator, and

the snap protrusion is fitted to the snap coupling portion when the insulating housing is coupled the insulating unit.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 19, 2020
From: KIM, JOOHYUNG; GWON, OCHANG; KIM, BUMSUK; CHOI, YICHEOL
To: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Reel/Frame 051861/0111 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2019-0052426 · May 3, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200348050A1 · Nov 5, 2020
Cited By (3)
US 12,500,468 US 12,573,906 US 12,640,611