ENCAPSULATED REFRIGERANT COMPRESSOR

Abstract

For a refrigerant compressor, a flexible connection element is provided which connects an end segment of a suction connection piece, which end segment protrudes into the interior of a housing, to a suction sound damper, in particular to a suction opening of the suction sound damper. The end segment itself thereby serves for fastening the flexible connection element onto the end segment and/or the inner wall of the housing.

Claims

1. An encapsulated refrigerant compressor comprising a drive unit, a cylinder block, which comprises at least one cylinder and a piston in operative connection with the drive unit that moves back and forth within the cylinder, a cylinder cover connected to the cylinder block via a valve plate, the valve plate comprising at least one inlet valve and at least one outlet valve in order to enable a flow, caused by movement of the piston, of refrigerant into the cylinder via the inlet valve and out of the cylinder via the outlet valve, a housing which encloses at least the drive unit, the cylinder block, and the cylinder cover, an end segment of a suction connection piece for the refrigerant protrudes into the housing and has an outlet opening via which refrigerant can flow into an interior of the housing, a suction sound damper comprising at least one suction opening facing the end segment, and a flexible connection element which produces a flow connection between the end segment and the suction opening of the suction sound damper to enable a transfer flow of refrigerant from the suction connection piece into the at least one suction sound damper via the end segment, wherein the end segment is embodied in the form of a pipe and comprises an enlargement segment having an outer jacket surface that widens in a direction pointing towards the suction sound damper, wherein the flexible connection element, which is arranged to attach to at least one of the end segment or an inner wall of the housing, comprises a first attachment segment that surrounds the end segment and that is arranged between an end of the enlargement segment and the inner wall of the housing, and wherein the first attachment segment has a first end that bears against the inner wall of the housing and a second end that bears against one of the enlargement segment or an additional retaining element surrounding at least one of the enlargement segment or a spacer segment of the end segment running between the inner wall of the housing and the enlargement segment.

2. The encapsulated refrigerant compressor according to claim 1, wherein the enlargement segment connects directly to the inner wall.

3. The encapsulated refrigerant compressor according to claim 1, the enlargement segment comprises the outlet opening.

4. The encapsulated refrigerant compressor according to claim 1, wherein the widening of the outer jacket surface of the enlargement segment is produced by a bending-open or crimping.

5. The encapsulated refrigerant compressor according to claim 4, wherein the bending-open or crimping produces a continuous widening of the outer jacket of the enlargement segment.

6. The encapsulated refrigerant compressor according to claim 1, wherein the first attachment segment is clamped by the inner wall of the housing and the enlargement segment.

7. The encapsulated refrigerant compressor according to claim 1, wherein the first attachment segment is clamped between the inner wall of the housing and the retaining element.

8. The encapsulated refrigerant compressor according to claim 1, wherein the additional retaining element is manufactured from plastic or steel.

9. The encapsulated refrigerant compressor according to claim 1, wherein the flexible connection element is embodied as a bellows.

10. The encapsulated refrigerant compressor according to claim 1, wherein the flexible connection element comprises a second attachment segment that is fastened to the suction sound damper in a region of the suction opening.

11. The encapsulated refrigerant compressor according to claim 1, wherein the outer jacket of the enlargement segment widens continuously.

12. A method for attaching the flexible connection element to the end segment of the suction connection piece in the encapsulated refrigerant compressor according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises: pulling the first attachment segment of the flexible connection element over the end segment in a direction toward the housing; inserting a mandrel having an increasing diameter in an axial direction into the outlet opening; and driving the mandrel in the direction of the housing to form the widening of the outer jacket surface of the enlargement segment of the end segment, wherein the first end of the first attachment segment bears against the inner wall of the housing and the second end of the first attachment segment bears against one of the enlargement segment or the additional retaining element surrounding the at least one of the enlargement segment or the spacer segment of the end segment running between the inner wall of the housing and the enlargement segment.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the pulling of the first attachment segment over the end segment comprises a sliding forward of the first attachment segment toward the inner wall of the housing.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein, before the inserting of the mandrel, the method further comprises positioning the additional retaining element between the second end of the first attachment segment and the outlet opening.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the driving of the mandrel comprises hammering the mandrel in the direction of the inner wall of the housing forming the enlargement segment.

16. A method for attaching a flexible connection element to an end segment of a suction connection piece, the end segment being spaced inwardly from an inner wall of a housing of an encapsulated refrigerant compressor and forming an outlet opening for the refrigerant, wherein the method comprises: pulling a first attachment segment of the flexible connection element over the end segment in a direction of the housing; inserting a mandrel having an increasing diameter in an axial direction into the outlet opening; and driving the mandrel in the direction of the housing to widen an outer jacket surface of the end segment to form an enlargement segment, wherein a first end of the first attachment segment bears against the inner wall of the housing and a second end of the first attachment segment bears against one of the enlargement segment or an additional retaining element surrounding at least one of the enlargement segment or a spacer segment of the end segment running between the inner wall of the housing and the enlargement segment.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the pulling of the first attachment segment over the end segment comprises a sliding forward of the first attachment segment to bear against the inner wall of the housing.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein, before the inserting of the mandrel, the method further comprises positioning the additional retaining element between the second end of the first attachment segment and the outlet opening.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the driving of the mandrel comprises hammering the mandrel in the direction of the inner wall of the housing forming the enlargement segment.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0085] The invention will now be explained in greater detail with the aid of exemplary embodiments. The drawings are by way of example and are intended to demonstrate, but in no way restrict or exclusively describe, the inventive concept. In this matter:

[0086] FIG. 1 shows a refrigerant compressor in an external view

[0087] FIG. 2 shows the refrigerant compressor from FIG. 1, wherein a section of the compressor housing comprising a suction connection piece is not illustrated

[0088] FIG. 3 shows a flexible connection element which is attached according to the invention to the end segment of a suction connection piece

[0089] FIG. 3a shows the detailed illustration A from FIG. 3

[0090] FIG. 3b shows a detailed view corresponding to FIG. 3a of an alternative embodiment with a longer spacer segment

[0091] FIG. 4 shows a flexible connection element which is attached to the end segment of a suction connection piece with an intermediate positioning of a retaining element

[0092] FIG. 4a shows the detailed illustration B from FIG. 4 (without a suction sound damper)

[0093] FIG. 5a shows a first method step for producing an end segment of a suction connection piece according to the invention

[0094] FIG. 5b shows a second method step for producing an end segment of a suction connection piece according to the invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0095] FIG. 1 shows a refrigerant compressor according to the invention in an external view, wherein the refrigerant compressor comprises an upper section, specifically a cover, of a housing 1, which section comprises a suction connection piece 6. In addition to the suction connection piece 6 welded onto the cover in the specific exemplary embodiment, via which connection piece refrigerant is suctioned into a cylinder of a cylinder block 2 (see FIG. 2) in order to be compressed in said block, the noted housing section also comprises a pressure line, which is not provided with a reference numeral and by means of which compressed refrigerant can be transported in the direction of a condenser arranged in the cooling circuit. Furthermore, an evacuation connection piece can also be seen which is used to create a vacuum within the compressor or the entire cooling circuit, the operational principle of which is not discussed in further detail at this juncture.

[0096] FIG. 2 shows a refrigerant compressor according to the invention, wherein the housing section comprising the suction connection piece 6 is not illustrated.

[0097] Accordingly, a drive unit 5, the cylinder block 2 connecting to the drive unit 5 in a vertical direction, a cylinder cover 3 that is separated from the cylinder block 2 by means of a valve plate 4, and a suction sound damper 8 can be seen.

[0098] FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of a flexible connection element 10 that is attached according to the invention to the end segment 7 of a suction connection piece 6 and, in the specific exemplary embodiment, is embodied as a bellows.

[0099] An end segment 7 of the suction connection piece 6 protrudes into an inner region of the housing 1 from the outside. The end segment 7 is thereby defined as that segment of the suction connection piece 6 which lies in the inner region. The end segment 7 comprises an enlargement segment 13, the outer jacket surface 18 of which widens continuously in a direction facing axially away from the suction connection piece 6. Furthermore, the end segment 7 is also composed of a spacer segment 16 which runs between an inner wall 11 of the housing 1 and the enlargement segment 13.

[0100] The flexible connection element 10 is attached to the end segment 7 in such a way that it, together with a first attachment segment 12, surrounds, at least in individual sections, both the spacer segment 16 and also the enlargement segment 13 on the shared outer jacket surface 18. A first end 20 of the first attachment segment 12 thereby directly abuts on the inner wall 11 of the housing 1, whereas a second end 21 of the first attachment segment 12 directly abuts on the outer jacket surface 18 of the enlargement segment 13.

[0101] The end segment 7 itself, in this case specifically the enlargement segment 13, serves in this exemplary embodiment as a means for attaching the flexible connection element 10 to the end segment 7 and to the housing 1. Because of the shape of the enlargement segment 13, the end segment 7 secures the first attachment segment 12 of the flexible connection element 10 against the inner wall 11 in the specific exemplary embodiment. The first attachment segment 12 is thus clamped in between the enlargement segment 13 and the inner wall 11.

[0102] This situation is illustrated by the detailed view in FIG. 3a. As a result of its specific shape, the enlargement segment 13 of the end segment 7 ensures that the flexible connection element 10 is fixed in position on the end segment 7, namely by means of a clamping of the first attachment segment 12 between the enlargement segment 13 itself and the inner wall 11 of the housing 1.

[0103] FIG. 3b shows in this context an alternative embodiment of the refrigerant compressor according to the invention, in which the flexible connection element 10 is attached to the end segment 7 of the suction connection piece 6 by means of the enlargement segment 13 and is thus secured against a slipping-down from said end segment, but is not fixed in position—as shown, for example, in FIG. 3a—on the inner wall 11 by means of a clamping. Instead, the illustrated type of attachment of the flexible connection element 10 permits a spacing of the first end 20 of the first attachment segment 12 of the flexible connection element 10 from the inner wall 11. The flexible connection element 10 is thus attached to the end segment 7 such that it can be displaced in an axial direction of the suction connecting piece 6. However, the enlargement segment 13 of the end segment 7 still prevents a slipping-down of the flexible connection element 10 from the end segment 7. Especially in the case of alternative embodiments of the refrigerant compressor with longer spacer segments 16, an attachment of this type can be advantageous.

[0104] FIG. 4 and the detailed view FIG. 4a show further specific exemplary embodiments of the flexible connection element 10 which is attached to the end segment 7 and the housing 1 with an intermediate position of a retaining element 14, which is embodied as an annulus in the specific exemplary embodiment. The attachment of the flexible connection element 10, which attachment is not necessarily leak-tight, with the second attachment segment 15 thereof to the suction sound damper 8 can thereby also be seen.

[0105] Refrigerant that flows through the suction connection piece 6 in the direction of the cylinder 2 (see also FIGS. 2 and 4) can first flow into the connection element 10 via the outlet opening 17 of the end segment 7 and then from the connection element 10 into the suction sound damper 8 via a suction opening 9 of the suction sound damper 8.

[0106] The retaining element 14 can, in preferred alternative embodiments of the flexible connection element 10 according to the invention, be provided in order to allow flexible connection elements that would slide down from the end segment 7 because of an excessively large diameter of the opening of the first attachment segment 12 to nevertheless be attached to the end segment and/or to the inner wall. In such cases, the retaining element 14 has an inner radius that is based on the outer pipe diameter of the end segment 7, in particular of the spacer segment 16, and an outer radius that is greater than the radius of the opening of the first attachment segment 12. In this manner, a slipping-down of the retaining element 14 from the end segment 7 is first prevented by the enlargement segment 13 and a slipping-down of the flexible connection element 10 is consequently also prevented by the blocked retaining element 14.

[0107] On the other hand, the clamping of the first attachment segment 12 exerted by the enlargement segment 13 is evenly distributed onto a larger region of the first attachment segment 12, namely essentially onto the entire first end 20 thereof, and the fastening of the flexible connection element 10 on the housing 1 is thus increased overall.

[0108] FIGS. 5a and 5b illustrate the method according to the invention for attaching the flexible connection element 10 to the end segment 7 and the inner wall 11 of the housing 1.

[0109] According to the invention, it is thereby first provided that the flexible connection element 10, with the first attachment segment 12 thereof, is pulled over the end segment 7 of the suction connection piece 6.

[0110] In order to bring the flexible connection element 10, in particular the first attachment segment 12 thereof, into a position that is beneficial for the attachment to the housing 1, it can possibly be provided that the flexible connection element 10 is slid forward in the direction of the housing 1 until the first end 20 of the first attachment segment 12 bears, at least in individual sections or, in the exemplary embodiment shown for the flexible connection element 10, even across the entire surface, against the inner wall 11 of the housing 1 and thus directly connects to said housing 1. Whether a sliding-forward of this type is necessary depends in particular on the length of the end segment 7.

[0111] After the positioning of the flexible connection element 10 on the end segment 7, a mandrel 22 is inserted into the end segment 7 via the outlet opening 17. This mandrel 22 comprises in any case a longitudinal segment that has a diameter which increases in an axial direction.

[0112] According to the invention, it is provided that the mandrel 22 is driven, preferably by means of a hammer, along a driving direction 23 in the direction of the housing 1, so that as a result of the longitudinal segment of the mandrel 22 that increases in diameter, a continuous widening of the outer jacket surface 18 of the end segment 7 is produced. As a result of the enlargement segment 13 of the end segment 7 produced in such a manner, the flexible connection element 10 is attached in a fixed manner to the inner wall 11 of the housing 1 by means of a clamping of the first attachment segment 12.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0113] 1 Housing [0114] 2 Cylinder block [0115] 3 Cylinder cover [0116] 4 Valve plate [0117] 5 Drive unit [0118] 6 Suction connection piece [0119] 7 End segment of the suction connection piece [0120] 8 Suction sound damper [0121] 9 Suction opening of the suction sound damper [0122] 10 Flexible connection element [0123] 11 Inner wall of the housing [0124] 12 First attachment segment [0125] 13 Enlargement segment [0126] 14 Retaining element (annulus) [0127] 15 Second attachment segment [0128] 16 Spacer segment [0129] 17 Outlet opening of the end segment [0130] 18 Outer jacket surface of the enlargement segment [0131] 19 End of the enlargement segment that faces the suction sound damper [0132] 20 First end of the first attachment segment [0133] 21 Second end of the first attachment segment [0134] 22 Mandrel [0135] 23 Driving direction