Terminal block assembly for a hermetic compressor

Abstract

A hermetic compressor assembly that includes a hermetically sealed housing. A motor and compressor mechanism are disposed within the housing. The housing wall includes an aperture and a terminal block is mounted on the housing wall proximate the aperature. The terminal block forms a hermetic seal with the exterior surface of the housing wall that encircles the aperture. The seal may be formed by welding the terminal block to the exterior housing wall surface and the terminal block may be positioned entirely outwardly of the exterior surface of the housing wall and have a concave surface for engaging the housing wall. A cover may also be provided wherein the cover has a plurality of radially inwardly projecting tabs that are engageable with a latching surface on the terminal body. The latching surface may be formed by an annular groove formed in the terminal body.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An assembly for use with a hermetic compressor, said assembly comprising: 
 a hermetically sealed housing defining an interior space and including a housing wall with an interior surface and an exterior surface, said housing wall defining an aperture extending through said housing wall and communicating with said interior space;    a motor and a compressor mechanism operably coupled with said motor disposed within said interior space;    a terminal block mounted on said housing wall proximate said aperture and forming a hermetic seal with said exterior surface of said housing wall, said hermetic seal encircling said aperture; and    at least one terminal pin mounted in said terminal block and extending through said aperture.    
     
     
         2 . The hermetic compressor assembly of  claim 1  wherein said terminal block includes a mating surface flushly engaged with said exterior surface of said housing wall and encircling said aperture.  
     
     
         3 . The hermetic compressor assembly of  claim 2  wherein said exterior surface is cylindrical and said mating surface is a concave surface.  
     
     
         4 . The hermetic compressor assembly of  claim 1  wherein said at least one terminal pin comprises a terminal pin assembly threadingly engaging a threaded opening defined by said terminal block.  
     
     
         5 . The hermetic compressor assembly of  claim 1  wherein said at least one terminal pin has an outwardly projecting end and said assembly further comprises a cover securable to said terminal block wherein said cover defines an enclosure for said outwardly projecting end of said at least one terminal pin when said cover is secured to said terminal block and wherein said terminal block includes a latching surface securably engageable with said cover.  
     
     
         6 . The hermetic compressor assembly of  claim 5  wherein said latching surface is defined by a groove formed in said terminal block.  
     
     
         7 . The hermetic compressor assembly of  claim 5  wherein said cover includes at least one resilient mounting member engageable with said latching surface to secure said cover to said terminal block.  
     
     
         8 . The hermetic compressor assembly of  claim 7  wherein said at least one mounting member includes a radially inwardly extending tab engageable with said latching surface.  
     
     
         9 . The hermetic compressor assembly of  claim 7  wherein said terminal block includes a guide surface disposed between said latching surface and a distal end of said terminal block, said guide surface tapering radially inwardly as said guide surface projects from said latching surface toward said distal end.  
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said terminal block is disposed entirely outwardly of said exterior surface of said housing wall.  
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said terminal block includes a portion disposed within said aperture.  
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said terminal block is welded to said exterior surface of said housing wall.  
     
     
         13 . A hermetic compressor assembly, said assembly comprising: 
 a hermetically sealed housing defining an interior space and including a housing wall with an interior surface and an exterior surface, said housing wall defining an aperture extending through the wall and in communication with said interior space;    a motor and a compressor mechanism operably coupled with said motor disposed within said interior space;    a terminal block mounted on said housing covering said aperture and forming a hermetic seal with said housing wall, said terminal block defining an annular groove;    at least one terminal pin extending through said terminal block and having an end projecting outwardly from said terminal block; and    a cover having a plurality of radially inwardly projecting tabs engageable with said groove to thereby mount said cover to said terminal block with said cover substantially enclosing said outwardly projecting end of said at least one terminal pin.    
     
     
         14 . The hermetic compressor assembly of  claim 13  wherein said cover includes a plurality of resilient mounting members extending therefrom and said tabs are disposed on respective distal ends of said plurality of resilient mounting members.  
     
     
         15 . The hermetic compressor assembly of  claim 13  wherein said terminal block includes a guide surface disposed between said annular groove and a distal end of said terminal block, said guide surface tapering radially inwardly as said guide surface projects from said latching surface to said distal end.  
     
     
         16 . The hermetic compressor assembly of  claim 15  wherein said guide surface forms a frustroconical shape.  
     
     
         17 . A hermetic compressor assembly, said assembly comprising: 
 a hermetically sealed housing defining an interior space and including a housing wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface, said housing wall defining an aperture in communication with said interior space;    a motor and a compressor mechanism operably coupled with said motor disposed within said interior space;    a terminal block positioned over said aperture and welded to said exterior surface of said housing at a location spaced radially outwardly of said aperture; and    at least one terminal pin mounted in said terminal block and extending through said aperture.    
     
     
         18 . The hermetic compressor assembly of  claim 17  wherein said terminal block is disposed entirely outwardly of said exterior surface of said housing wall.  
     
     
         19 . The hermetic compressor assembly of  claim 17  wherein said terminal block includes a portion disposed within said aperture.  
     
     
         20 . The hermetic compressor assembly of  claim 17  wherein said terminal block forms a hermetic seal with said exterior surface of housing wall, said hermetic seal encircling said aperture.  
     
     
         21 . The hermetic compressor assembly of  claim 17  wherein said exterior surface of said housing wall has a cylindrical shape and said terminal block defines a concave surface flushly engageable with said exterior surface.  
     
     
         22 . A method of assembling a hermetic compressor comprising: 
 providing a housing having a housing wall with an interior surface and an exterior surface;    forming an aperture in the housing wall;    installing at least one terminal pin in a terminal block;    mounting the terminal block on the housing wherein the terminal block covers the aperture; and    forming a hermetic seal between the terminal block and the exterior surface of the housing wall wherein said hermetic seal circumscribes the aperture.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the steps of mounting the terminal block to the housing and forming the hermetic seal between the terminal block and the exterior surface of the housing wall both comprise welding the terminal block to the exterior surface of the housing wall.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the step of installing at least one terminal pin assembly in the terminal block includes threadingly engaging the at least one terminal pin assembly with the terminal block.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the step of installing at least one terminal pin assembly in the terminal block is performed prior to mounting the terminal block on the housing.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the step of installing at least one terminal pin assembly in the terminal block is performed after mounting the terminal block on the housing.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the exterior surface of the housing wall has a cylindrical shape and said method further includes forming a concave mating surface on the terminal block wherein the mating surface is flushly engageable with the cylindrical exterior surface of the housing wall.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising the step of forming a groove in the terminal block whereby a cover may be engaged with the groove to thereby secure the cover to the terminal block.