Tecumseh Products Company

Austin S Miller

Rick L Bunch

A hermetic compressor assembly including a housing; an electric motor disposed in the housing; a compression mechanism disposed in the housing and operatively coupled to the motor; a terminal assembly comprising a terminal body extending through and sealingly attached to the housing, at least one elongate conductor pin having interior and exterior ends, the interior pin end located inside the housing, the exterior pin end located outside the housing, and an insulator disposed between the pin and the terminal body, whereby the pin is electrically insulated from the terminal body by the insulator; a lead wire extending between the motor and the interior pin end, the lead wire having an electrical connection to the pin, the motor and the pin electrically connected by the lead wire, the lead wire having an insulative jacket; and an insulative covering which extends between the terminal body and the lead wire jacket, the insulative covering covering at least a portion of the terminal body, the insulator, the electrical connection between the lead wire and the pin, and at least a portion of the lead wire jacket.

Protective covering for the terminal assembly of a hermetic compressor assembly

A hermetic electrical terminal construction adapted for connection to the outer housing of a hermetic motor compressor unit so that current may be carried to the compressor motor from an external source. The terminal comprises a body member welded or otherwise secured to the compressor outer housing and a plurality of conductor pins secured to and extending through the body member. Each of the conductor pins, which may be made of stainless steel, copper or other suitable material, comprises a first segment disposed within the housing, a second segment disposed outside the housing, and an intermediate segment connecting the first and second segments, the intermediate segment being disposed primarily within the body member. Electrical insulating and sealing material, such as glass or epoxy potting, surrounds the pin intermediate segment and forms a hermetic seal between the pin intermediate segment and the body member. The intermediate segment has a larger transverse cross-sectional area than the segment disposed outside the compressor housing with a concomitant larger current carrying capacity so that under irreversible overcurrent conditions, the normal diameter external segment will melt thereby interrupting the supply of current. Since the intermediate portion is of a greater current carrying capacity, it will remain intact and the seal between the potting material and pin will not be disturbed so that the pressurized refrigerant within the compressor housing will not be discharged.

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Tecumseh, MI, United States of America

Austin S Miller