Tecumseh Products Company

Rick L Bunch

Nelik I Dreiman

Todd W Herrick

Tara C Kandpal, Deceased

Dan M Manole

Robert L Morse

Tara C Kandpal

Sukru Erisgen

Austin S Miller

Jack M Curtiss

A vapor compression system including a closed fluid circuit having operably coupled thereto, in serial order, a compressor, a first heat exchanger, an expansion device, a second heat exchanger and a fluid vessel. The refrigerant is compressed in the compressor and circulated through the fluid circuit. Thermal energy is removed from the refrigerant in the first heat exchanger. The pressure of the refrigerant is reduced in the expansion device, and thermal energy is added to the refrigerant in the second heat exchanger. Upon ceasing operation of the system, refrigerant present in the vessel defines a lower temperature than the refrigerant present in the second heat exchanger. A thermal energy storage medium is operably coupled to the vessel and provides the vessel with thermal inertia wherein the temperature of the refrigerant in the vessel remains cooler than the temperature of the refrigerant in the second heat exchanger.

Refrigerant containment vessel with thermal inertia and method of use

A compressor assembly including a housing, a motor operatively linked to a compressor mechanism, a support structure, and a sheet of closed cell foam material. The motor and compressor mechanism are disposed within the housing. The housing, motor, and compressor mechanism define a compressor assembly weight. The foam material includes a first and an opposite second surface. The first and second surfaces are adhered to the housing and support structure, respectively, and substantially all of the compressor assembly weight is supported by the foam material. A method of mounting a compressor assembly including coupling a motor and a compressor mechanism, mounting the motor and compressor mechanism within a housing, and mounting the housing to a support structure wherein a sheet of closed cell foam material is disposed between the housing and the support structure and substantially all of the compressor assembly weight is supported by the foam material.

Compressor assemblies with improved mounting support and method of mounting such compressor assemblies

A compressor assembly including a compressor mechanism, a compression chamber and a discharge chamber. A discharge port provides fluid communication between the compression chamber and the discharge chamber. A valve seat circumscribes the discharge port. A discharge valve member having a valve head, a biasing section and a valve support is provided and may be formed out of a single integral part. The valve head is engageable with the valve seat. A non-threaded coupling member may mount the valve support to the cylinder block of the compressor mechanism. A guide member engageable with the biasing section of the valve member may also be provided. The valve head may include a second concave surface positioned opposite the surface engageable with the valve seat and have an effective area larger than the discharge port area. The valve head and valve seat may each be partially spherical surfaces having a common radius.

Discharge valve for compressor

A hermetic compressor which uses carbon dioxide as the working fluid. The compressor includes a motor and a compression mechanism operatively coupled by a drive shaft supported by a bearing. The drive shaft includes a radially extending bore in fluid communication with an oil supply passageway in the drive shaft and the outer periphery of the drive shaft. An oil accumulating cavity is located beneath the radially extending bore in which oil is stored during compressor shutdown to provide oil to bearing surfaces upon compressor startup. An oil return system includes a chamber located at one end of the drive shaft and an oil return passageway extending from the chamber to an annulus formed between the bearing and the drive shaft. The oil in the annulus lubricates the bearing and drive shaft interface. A discharge tube is provided having means for aspirating oil from an oil containing sump when the oil in the oil sump reaches a particular level.

Lubrication of a hermetic carbon dioxide compressor

A hermetically sealed compressor assembly including a housing, an electric motor located in the housing, a compression mechanism located in the housing and operatively coupled to the motor, and a terminal assembly comprising a cup-shaped terminal body and having electrically conductive pins extending therethrough. The cup-shaped terminal body extends through and is sealingly attached to the housing. A cluster block assembly is in communication with the terminal assembly and includes a cluster block fitted to the terminal body, the cluster block having free volume therein. The pins are electrically connected to the motor through the cluster block assembly. A cavity is defined between the interior of the cup-shaped terminal body and the cluster block, and a dielectric material substantially fills at least one of the cavity and the cluster block free volume. The cluster block assembly may also include one or more apertures to provide for the introduction of the dielectric material which may be introduced after the mating of the connectors.

Compressor with terminal assembly having dielectric material

A hermetic two stage rotary compressor having a housing with a stationary shaft fixedly mounted in the housing. A motor having a rotor and a stator is mounted in the housing with the rotor being rotatably mounted on the shaft. A pair of compression mechanisms are rotatably mounted on the shaft with one compression mechanism being located adjacent a first end of the rotor, and one compression mechanism being located adjacent a second end of the rotor. The compression mechanisms are operatively associated with the rotor such that rotation of the rotor drives the compression mechanisms. A fluid flow path is defined in the compressor including a plurality of longitudinal bores formed in the stationary shaft. A mounting assembly is attached to the housing so as to mount the compressor in either a substantially horizontal or vertical orientation. The pump is positioned so as to be at least partially immersed in an oil sump in the housing when the compressor in either orientation.

Horizontal two stage rotary compressor

A hermetic rotary compressor including a housing having an oil sump formed therein; a stationary shaft fixedly mounted in the housing, a longitudinal bore formed in the shaft; and a motor mounted in the housing, the motor having a rotor and a stator, the rotor having a first and second end and being rotatably mounted on the shaft. A pair of compression mechanisms is rotatably mounted on the shaft, the compression mechanisms rotatably coupled to the rotor and lubricated with oil conducted through the longitudinal bore. Each of the compression mechanism has an outboard bearing rotatably mounted on the shaft, and an oil pump in fluid communication with the longitudinal bore is also mounted on the stationary shaft, the pump operatively engaged with one of the outboard bearings. The oil pump is actuated by rotation of one of the outboard bearings, and oil is pumped from the sump into the longitudinal bore by the oil pump.

Horizontal two stage rotary compressor with a bearing-driven lubrication structure

A hermetic refrigerant compressor including a compressor mechanism and a motor including a stator surrounded by a rotor attached to a crankshaft drivingly linked to the compressor mechanism. A first gap is formed between the rotor and stator, and a second gap is formed between the stator and the compressor mechanism. During compressor operation discharge gas expelled from the gas compression chamber travels through a discharge passage and a discharge plenum, and then through the first and second gaps. The rotor spinning during compressor operation causing a spinning vortex of refrigerant gas to occur in the discharge plenum, the vortex having an outer flow path of warmer gas and an inner flow path of cooler gas. The outer flow path of warmer gas generally travels through the second gap and the inner flow path of cooler gas generally travels through the first gap for enhanced motor cooling.

Hermetic compressor having improved motor cooling

A two stage hermetic compressor which uses carbon dioxide as the working fluid. A pair of modules individually housing compression mechanisms are located at opposite ends of a module housing an electric motor. The modules are secured to one another when the compressor is assembled. Suction pressure carbon dioxide gas is compressed in the first compression mechanism to an intermediate pressure which is introduced into an electric motor module compartment. The intermediate pressure gas enters the second compression mechanism module through a suction port. A conical baffle is affixed to the upper compression mechanism module to protect the suction port from direct suction of oil and to separate oil entrained in the gas therefrom. The intermediate refrigerant gas is compressed to a discharge pressure and is discharged into a compartment defined in the second compression mechanism module. The discharge pressure gas is then exhausted to the refrigeration system.

Two stage hermetic carbon dioxide compressor

A refrigeration system including a pair of heat exchangers, a hermetic compressor assembly having a compressor housing containing refrigerant fluid, fluid conveying lines and a flow restriction device forming a working refrigerant system, an evacuation volume having one of a first, substantially evacuated state and a second, fluid-containing state, a control valve located between the working refrigeration system and the evacuation volume and having an initial, closed position and an open position, and at least one refrigerant gas detector located externally of the working refrigeration system and in communication with the control valve. The evacuation volume is fluidly isolated from the working refrigeration system in the valve closed position and in fluid communication with the working refrigeration system in the valve open position. The valve is opened in response to refrigerant gas being detected by the detector, and refrigerant fluid in the working refrigeration system is sucked into the evacuation volume with the evacuation volume undergoing a change from its first to its second state and the valve resuming its said closed position when the evacuation volume is in the second state.

Evacuation volume for a refrigeration system

A method of installing a connector assembly relative to a terminal assembly of a hermetic compressor assembly, including: aligning the connector assembly with the terminal assembly; positioning an installation tool on the connector assembly; actuating the installation tool; and seating the connector assembly into the terminal assembly. Also, a method of installing a connector assembly relative to a terminal assembly of a hermetic compressor assembly, including: aligning the connector assembly with the terminal assembly; positioning an installation tool on the connector assembly; pneumatically applying force to the connector assembly through the installation tool until a predetermined pneumatic pressure has been reached; seating the connector assembly into the terminal assembly when or before the predetermined pressure has been reached; and retracting the tool after the connector assembly has been seated into the terminal assembly.

Method of installing a protective connector assembly in a hermetic compressor

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 suction accumulator for a refrigerant compressor which is mounted to the compressor in such a way as to reduce the metal fatigue at the joint between the inlet tube and the suction accumulator, and reduce the potential for rust or oxidation of the metal of the suction accumulator. The suction accumulator includes a cylindrical housing with two domed ends, wherein an inlet tube extends into the inlet of the suction accumulator and is provided with a flared end. The flared end is attached to the inlet of the suction accumulator and the flared end matches the contour of the inlet such that when the two parts are joined they are congruent with each other to thereby reduce the vibration therebetween. The suction accumulator is also provided with an outlet which communicates refrigerant from the suction accumulator back to the compressor. The suction accumulator is secured to the outside wall of the compressor using a mounting bracket. The mounting bracket is provided with a weld projection aperture and a plurality of weld projections which are used in welding the mounting bracket both to the suction accumulator and to the compressor. The mounting bracket is pre-assembled to the suction accumulator so that the accumulator and the mounting bracket can be mounted to a compressor as one integral unit.

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Tecumseh, MI, United States of America

Rick L Bunch