Shaft axial compliance mechanism

Abstract

A hermetic compressor assembly including a compressor housing has a motor and a compression mechanism mounted therein, operatively coupled by a drive shaft having a substantially horizontal axis of rotation. A bearing housing is connected to the motor and receives a portion of the drive shaft having a bearing assembly affixed thereto. A retaining element is received in a groove formed in the bearing housing and is in abutting contact with the bearing assembly to prevent relative movement of the drive shaft in both directions along the axis of rotation.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A hermetic compressor assembly, comprising: 
 a compressor housing;    a compression mechanism disposed in said housing;    a motor disposed in said housing;    a drive shaft operatively coupling said compression mechanism and said motor, and an axis of rotation;    a bearing housing connected to said motor;    a bearing assembly affixed to said drive shaft, said bearing assembly and said drive shaft received in said bearing housing; and    a retaining element connected to said bearing housing in abutting contact with said bearing assembly, whereby relative movement of said drive shaft in both directions along said axis of rotation is prevented.    
     
     
         2 . The compressor of  claim 1 , wherein said bearing housing further comprises a circumferential groove, a portion of said retaining element received in said groove.  
     
     
         3 . The compressor of  claim 1 , wherein said bearing assembly is shrink fitted onto an end of said drive shaft.  
     
     
         4 . The compressor of  claim 1 , wherein said bearing assembly further comprises an inner race, an outer race, and at least one ball bearing located between said inner and outer races.  
     
     
         5 . The compressor of  claim 4 , wherein said bearing housing further comprises an annular surface, said bearing assembly seated against said surface.  
     
     
         6 . The compressor of  claim 5 , wherein said outer race further comprises two ends, one of said ends in abutting contact with said annular surface, and one of said ends in abutting contact with said retaining element.  
     
     
         7 . The compressor of  claim 1 , wherein said retaining element is a snap ring.  
     
     
         8 . A hermetic compressor assembly, comprising: 
 a compressor housing;    a compression mechanism disposed in said housing;    a motor disposed in said housing;    a drive shaft operatively coupling said compression mechanism and said motor, and an axis of rotation;    a bearing housing connected to said motor;    a bearing assembly affixed to said drive shaft, said bearing assembly and said drive shaft received in said bearing housing;    a circumferential groove formed in said bearing housing; and    a retaining element received in said circumferential groove, said retaining element in abutting contact with said bearing assembly, whereby relative movement of said drive shaft in both directions along said axis of rotation is prevented.    
     
     
         9 . The compressor of  claim 8 , wherein said bearing assembly is shrink fitted onto an end of said drive shaft.  
     
     
         10 . The compressor of  claim 8 , wherein said bearing assembly further comprises an inner race, an outer race, and at least one ball bearing located between said inner and outer races.  
     
     
         11 . The compressor of  claim 10 , wherein said bearing housing further comprises an annular surface, said bearing assembly seated against said surface.  
     
     
         12 . The compressor of  claim 11 , wherein said outer race further comprises two ends, one of said ends in abutting contact with said annular surface, and one of said ends in abutting contact with said retaining element.  
     
     
         13 . The compressor of  claim 8 , wherein said retaining element is a snap ring.  
     
     
         14 . A hermetic compressor assembly, comprising: 
 a compressor housing;    a compression mechanism disposed in said housing;    a motor disposed in said housing;    a drive shaft operatively coupling said compression mechanism and said motor, and an axis of rotation;    a bearing housing connected to said motor; and    shaft axial compliance means engaging said drive shaft and said bearing housing, whereby relative movement of said drive shaft in both directions along said shaft axis of rotation is prevented.    
     
     
         15 . The compressor of  claim 14 , wherein said shaft axial compliance means includes a bearing assembly affixed to said drive shaft, said bearing assembly and said drive shaft received in said bearing housing.  
     
     
         16 . The compressor of  claim 15 , wherein said shaft axial compliance means includes a circumferential groove formed in said bearing housing, a retaining element received in said groove, said retaining element in abutting contact with said bearing assembly.  
     
     
         17 . The compressor of  claim 15 , wherein said bearing assembly is shrink fitted onto an end of said drive shaft.  
     
     
         18 . The compressor of  claim 16 , wherein said bearing assembly further comprises two ends, one of said ends in abutting contact with said bearing housing, and one of said ends in abutting contact with said retaining element.  
     
     
         19 . The compressor of  claim 16 , wherein said retaining element is a snap ring.  
     
     
         20 . A method of preventing oscillating axial movement of a drive shaft in a hermetic compressor comprising: 
 attaching a bearing housing to a motor of the compressor;    affixing a bearing assembly to one end of a drive shaft;    positioning the bearing assembly and drive shaft in the bearing housing; and    engaging a circumferential groove formed in the bearing housing with a retaining element, the retaining element in abutting contact with the bearing assembly, whereby relative movement of the drive shaft is prevented.