Compressor with an acoustic attenuator device

Abstract

The present invention refers to a compressor with an acoustic attenuator device, preferably those used in refrigeration systems, in general. More specifically, the present invention refers to an acoustic attenuator device comprising technical, structural, and functional features capable of simplifying the method of fabricating these parts and increasing acoustic attenuation levels of hermetic compressors, in general. In this sense, the attenuator device of the present invention comprises a hollow body closed by a cover to form a structure having at least one inlet hole and an outlet hole, wherein there is provided between said hollow body and said cover at least one intermediate body dividing said structure into at least two acoustic chambers (A, A), and is formed by a platform provided with a connecting channel, which is in fluid communication between said acoustic chambers (A, A) and further surrounds an outlet channel, which is interconnected with said outlet hollow disposed on said cover.

Claims

1. Compressor with an acoustic attenuator device, comprising: a hollow body closed by a cover, forming a structure provided with at least one inlet hole and one outlet hole, CHARACTERIZED in that there is provided between said hollow body and said cover at least one intermediate body which divides said structure into at least two acoustic chambers, said at least one intermediate body is formed by a platform provided with at least one connecting channel in fluid communication with said acoustic chambers, said at least one connecting channel further surrounds an outlet channel which is interconnected with said outlet hole; wherein the connecting channel of said intermediate body comprises a configuration which section is 8 shaped; and said connecting channel and said outlet channel are concentrically disposed causing the gases to be conducted to the second acoustic chamber through the space formed between said connecting channel and the outer surface of the outlet channel.

2. Compressor with an acoustic attenuator device, in accordance with claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that said intermediate chamber is directly secured to the edges of the hollow body and the cover.

3. Compressor with an acoustic attenuator device, in accordance with claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that it is made of a low thermal conductivity material.

4. Compressor with an acoustic attenuator device, in accordance with claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that said connecting channel of said intermediate body comprises a configuration which section is circular, squared, rectangular, triangular, oval or in star form.

5. Compressor with an acoustic attenuator device, in accordance with claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that said outlet channel comprises forms equivalent to that of the connecting channel.

6. Compressor with an acoustic attenuator device, in accordance with claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that said outlet channel comprises forms different from the shape of said connecting channel.

7. Compressor with an acoustic attenuator device, in accordance with claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that that the fixation of said hollow body with the edge of said cover, pressing and locking said intermediate body, is carried out by welds, glues, adhesives or mechanical locks.

8. Compressor with an acoustic attenuator device, in accordance with claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises at least one intermediate adapter disposed between said hollow body and said cover.

9. Compressor with an acoustic attenuator device, in accordance with claim 8, CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises two intermediate bodies, positioned and fixed between the edges of said hollow body to the intermediate adapter and between the edge of this adapter to the edge of said cover, respectively.

10. Compressor with an acoustic attenuator device, in accordance with claim 8, CHARACTERIZED in that said intermediate adapter is made by incorporating an intermediate body.

11. Compressor with an acoustic attenuator device, in accordance with claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that its constituting elements are vertically or horizontally structured and said platforms are horizontally or vertically disposed.

12. Compressor with an acoustic attenuator device, in accordance with claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that said cover and said outlet channel are fabricated into one single part.

13. Compressor with an acoustic attenuator device, in accordance with claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that said cover and said outlet channel are independently fabricated.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Features, advantages and technical effects of the present invention, as formerly highlighted, will be better understood by a person skilled in the art by means of the following merely exemplificative detailed and non-limitative description of the preferred embodiments, and with reference to the attached schematic figures, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a partial cut view of a hermetic compressor containing an attenuator device in accordance with the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective exploded view of the attenuator device of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of the attenuator device of the present invention;

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates a cut view of the attenuator device depicted in FIG. 3;

(6) FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D illustrate schematic views of alternative embodiments of the attenuator device of the present invention;

(7) FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the intermediate body of the attenuator device of the present invention; and

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates an upper view of the intermediate body depicted in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(9) In accordance with the schematic figures described above, some examples of preferred and possible embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below. However, it is important to point out that this will be a merely exemplificative and non-limitative description, since the present attenuator device for refrigeration system compressors, in general, can comprise different details and technical structural and dimensional aspects without, however diverting from the scope of protection of the present invention.

(10) FIG. 1 shows a partial cut view of a compressor formed of a hermetic housing (C), within which a compression unit (U) is accommodated, which is conventionally equipped with suction and discharge valves to allow for the appropriate refrigeration system operation. Further, as widely known by those skilled in the art, said hermetic housing also comprises at least one strainer (P) connected to at least one refrigeration system suction line and further an outlet (S) for connection with the discharge line of the same suction system.

(11) The attenuator device (10) of the present invention is connected to both suction or discharge lines, in particular still within the hermetic housing (C), and more preferably connected to the compression unit (U). As mentioned above, said attenuator device 10 can be applied either to suction line or to discharge line, varying in accordance with manufacturers' interests and designs.

(12) By way of example only, FIG. 1 shows a configuration in which said attenuator device 10 is installed near the suction valve of the compression unit (U). However, it is should be reiterated that the attenuator device 10 can be easily applied near the discharge valve of said compression unit (U) provided that the technical and structural features as described below are maintained.

(13) In this sense, it is observed that the attenuator device 10 of the present invention comprises a hollow body 20 closed by a cover 21, forming at least a structure provided with at least one inlet hole 22 and one outlet hole 23, wherein an intermediate body 24 is provided between said hollow body 20 and said cover 21 to divide said structure into at least two acoustic chambers (A, A), and it is formed by a platform 25 containing at least one connecting channel 26 in fluid communication with said acoustic chambers (A, A) and also surrounding the outlet channel 27 that is interconnected with said outlet hole 23 disposed on said cover 21.

(14) In accordance with one of the possible embodiments of the present invention, such as schematically illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, gas entering the structure of said attenuator gas 10 through the inlet hole 22 is conducted to the first acoustic chamber (A), which is fully filled with gas that is sequentially conducted to the second acoustic chamber (A) through said connecting channel 26, particularly through the space formed between this connecting channel 26 and the outer surface of the outlet channel 27. Said second acoustic chamber (A) is then filled with gas, and depending on the compression unit pulsation the gas will be conducted through the outlet channel 27 up to the outlet hole 23.

(15) In accordance with the present invention, one may note that the formation of the acoustic chambers as well as the channels through which the gas flow is conducted do not present sealing means by simple interference as well as there is a substantial reduction in the number of elements to structurally form the attenuator device. More specifically, it is observed that risks of gas leakage either inside or to the outside of the attenuator device of the present invention are considerably reduced, mainly because the intermediate body 24 is directly secured to the edges of the hollow body 20 and to the cover 21, also permitting using more effective means of external fixation once they refer to easily accessed regions after the device is assembled as a whole. This is unlike the state-of-the-art devices, whose partitions and channels are disposed and interconnected within the hollow body and need to be secured between one another before the device is effectively mounted.

(16) According to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, components of the attenuator device 10 are made of a low thermal conductivity material to reduce impact on the gas properties and, consequently, on the efficiency of the refrigeration system in general. In addition, fixation of the edge of the hollow body 20 to the edge of said cover 1, by pressing and locking the intermediate body, can be carried out by any known means, such as, for example, welds, glues, adhesives, mechanical locks, etc.

(17) Moreover, it should be clear that the relationship of the positioning between the connecting channel 26 and the outlet channel 27 can preferably be in a concentric form, i.e., aligned with the same geometric center. Alternatively, said relationship between said channels can be off-centered, that is, off the geometric center, provided that a space between the connecting channel 26 and the outer surface of the outlet channel 27 sufficient for gas passage is maintained.

(18) More particularly, from FIGS. 6 and 7, it is observed that an alternative embodiment of the intermediate body 24 that helps to conduct the gas flow of the first acoustic chamber (A) towards the second acoustic chamber (A), wherein, in this case, said connecting channel 26 comprises a configuration having a 8-shaped section, that is, with two partially overlapped circumferences. In this sense, despite the fact that said figures illustrate embodiments in which the connecting channel section is circular or 8-shaped, alternatively, said section of the connecting channel 26 can also be in other forms, for example, squared, rectangular, triangular, oval, star forms, etc.

(19) Additionally, although not illustrated, it should be clear that the outlet channel 27 can also be in a form equivalent to that of the connecting channel 26 as well as different forms provided that there will exist a space between said connecting channel 26 and the outer surface of the outlet channel 27, as mentioned above.

(20) FIGS. 5A to 5D illustrate two alternative embodiments of the attenuator device of the present invention. More particularly, FIGS. 5A and 5B show embodiments containing an inlet hole 22 and an outlet hole 23 which are very similar to those models depicted in FIGS. 1 to 4. With regard to FIGS. 5C and 5D, they show embodiments in which the structure of the attenuator device 10 is provided with two inlet holes 22 and one outlet hole 23, wherein such kind of embodiment is very useful for refrigeration systems equipped with two suction lines, e.g. the hermetic line and the equalized line.

(21) More specifically, with regard to embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 5C, it is verified that the attenuator device of the present invention comprises three acoustic chambers A, A and A, wherein the acoustic chamber A is formed by disposing an intermediate adapter 28 between said hollow body 20 and cover 21. According to these alternative embodiments of the present invention, two intermediate bodies 24, duly positioned and secured between the edges of said body 20 with the intermediate adapter 28, and between the edge of this adapter 28 with the edge of the cover 12 are respectively disclosed.

(22) Additionally, as can be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, said intermediate adapter 28 can be made by introducing one of the intermediate bodies 29, which would facilitate the production and assembling lines of the two attenuator devices 10 in addition to reducing leakage risk since this would eliminate one of the regions of fixation between the parts.

(23) By this way, as can be seen from FIGS. 5A and 5C gases enter the first chamber (A) through inlet orifices 22, said gases being conducted by the first connecting channel 26, thus filling the intermediate acoustic chamber (A). Sequentially, the gases are conducted through the second connecting channel 26 towards the second acoustic chamber (A) and, subsequently, these gases exit the outlet channel 27 towards the outlet hole 23.

(24) Such as illustrated in the attached figures, it should be emphasized that the structure of the attenuator device 10 can be in a vertical form, as depicted in FIGS. 1 to 4 as well as in a horizontal form, as depicted in FIGS. 5A to 5D. In other words, partitions formed by platforms 25 of the intermediate body 24 can be housed inside the device structure, horizontally or vertically.

(25) In view of these embodiments, it is clear that the attenuator device of the present invention can be designed with a plurality of acoustic chambers, wherein to do so only a combination and disposition of intermediate adapters 28 with the additional intermediate bodies are required provided that the disposition of the outlet channel 27 surrounded by the pluralities of connecting channels 26 formed by each intermediate body is maintained.

(26) Further, said outlet channel 27, according to a possible embodiment of the present invention, can be made in conjunction with said cover 21, that is, said cover 21 and said outlet channel 27 are made into a single part. Alternatively, said components are independently fabricated and subsequently connected during the method of mounting the attenuator device of the present invention.