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Electric motor-driven compressor

Electric motor-driven compressor description/claims

The present invention relates to an electric motor-driven compressor, and specifically, to an electric motor-driven compressor having an improved connector structure for an external terminal for power supply to an incorporated electric motor for driving a compression mechanism.

In an electric motor-driven compressor in which an electric motor for driving a compression mechanism is incorporated, in particular, in an electric motor-driven compressor used in a refrigeration system for vehicles, etc., because usually a high-voltage motor is used, a connector structure having no fear of leak is required for safety by ensuring a gas tightness in a casing which covers an external terminal portion for power supply to the motor and a terminal connecting portion connected to the external terminal.

A terminal connecting portion of a connector is connected to the above-described external terminal for power supply. As the structure for such a connector, a structure depicted in FIGS. 7 and 8 is known (Patent document 1). Connector 100 has a terminal connecting portion 103 having terminal holes 102 into which external terminals for power supply 101 are inserted. Terminal connecting portion 103 is covered with a casing 104. A cable 105 is connected to terminal connecting portion 103. Cable 105 is fixed by fixing ring 106. Cable 105 comprises a core wire 112 and a covering material 113 for covering the core wire 112, and in order to ensure the insulation performance, the covering material 113 is usually formed from a resin (for example, a thermoplastic resin).

Further, attachment portions 108 are provided to casing 104. An insertion hole 109 is provided to each attachment portion 108 for being inserted with a bolt (not shown). On the other hand, a screw hole 111 screwed with a bolt is provided to a compressor housing 110 of a compressor (not shown). Connector 100 is connected by inserting external terminal 101 into terminal hole 102, inserting bolts into insertion holes 109 of attachment portions 108 and screwing the bolts to screw holes 111.

In the above-described condition where connector 100 is connected to external terminals 101 for power supply, it is required to ensure the gas tightness between the inside of casing 104 and the atmosphere side. Therefore, a sealing material 107 is provided in the insertion portion of cable 105 into casing 104.

However, in a case where the whole of connector 100 becomes a high-temperature condition under an environment such as in an engine compartment of a vehicle, the resin covering material 113 covering core wire 112 may be softened, the contact pressure between cable 105 and sealing material 107 may be decreased, and the sealing performance of the sealing material 107 may be reduced. Further, when the space for installing the compressor is small (for example, an engine compartment of a vehicle, etc.), there is a case where cable 105 must be disposed in a bent fashion, and even in such a case, the contact area between cable 105 and sealing material 107 may be decreased, and the sealing performance of the sealing material 107 may be reduced.

Patent document 1: JP-A-2003-239862

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electric motor-driven compressor excellent in reliability and durability, in which even in a case where a cable becomes high temperature or even in a case where a cable is disposed in a vent fashion, the contact pressure or the contact area between the cable and a sealing material can be prevented from being reduced, thereby ensuring a good sealing performance in a casing.

To achieve the above object, an electric motor-driven compressor according to the present invention has a connector structure comprising a cable for power supply in which a core wire is covered with a covering material, a terminal connecting portion to which the cable is connected and which has a terminal hole, into which an external terminal for power supply to an electric motor for driving a compression mechanism incorporated in a compressor housing is inserted, and which is structured to be attached to and detached from the external terminal, and a casing covering the terminal connecting portion, and the electric motor-driven compressor is characterized in that a collar is provided between the core wire and the covering material of the cable at least a position corresponding to a position of a sealing material provided at a cable inserting portion of the casing. In such a structure, since the collar is provided inside the covering material of the cable at least a position corresponding to the position of the sealing material provided at the cable inserting portion of the casing, even in a case where the cable becomes high temperature in an engine compartment, etc. and the resin covering material of the cable is softened, or even in a case where the cable is disposed in a vent fashion, the contact pressure or the contact area between the cable and the sealing material may be always maintained to be constant. Therefore, a good sealing performance in the casing can be ensured.

It is possible that a flange radially projecting is provided to the collar at an end portion of the collar. By providing such a flange, because the whole of the collar can be fixed to the casing via the flange, a shift in position, etc. can be surely prevented.

The collar may be made from, for example, a metal or a resin. As the resin, both of a thermoplastic resin and a thermosetting resin can be used. Where, the temperature of the core wire of the cable is also affected by a temperature in a place installed with the electric motor-driven compressor and the like. Therefore, it is preferred that the material of the collar is decided also in consideration of the place installed with the electric motor-driven compressor, etc.

The electric motor-driven compressor according to the present invention can be applied to any type of electric motor-driven compressor as long as an electric motor is incorporated thereinto, and can be applied to a so-called hybrid compressor. For example, the present invention can be applied to a hybrid compressor wherein the electric motor-driven compressor is formed by integrally incorporating together a first compression mechanism driven only by a first drive source different from the above-described incorporated electric motor and a second compression mechanism driven only by the above-described incorporated electric motor provided as a second drive source.

In such a hybrid compressor, for example, a structure may be employed wherein the above-described first and second compression mechanisms are formed as scroll type compression mechanisms and the fixed scrolls of both compression mechanisms are disposed back to back. Further, these fixed scrolls of both compression mechanisms disposed back to back may be formed as an integrally formed fixed scroll member. Furthermore, as the above-described first drive source, a drive source for running a vehicle, for example, an engine for running a vehicle or an electric motor different from the above-described incorporated electric motor, can be used.

In the electric motor-driven compressor according to the present invention, since the collar is provided inside the covering material of the cable at least a position corresponding to the position of the sealing material provided at the cable inserting portion of the casing, even in a case where the cable becomes high temperature at the time of power supply, etc. and the resin covering material of the cable is softened, or even in a case where the cable is disposed in a vent fashion, the contact pressure or the contact area between the cable and the sealing material can be always maintained to be constant. Therefore, a good sealing performance in the casing can be ensured, and the reliability and the durability of the electric motor-driven compressor can be improved.

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• Utility Patent

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