Motor-driven compressor

Abstract

A motor-driven compressor includes a housing, an inverter assembly and an elastic member. The inverter assembly has a base member, a circuit board and an electronic component. The base member has a base portion and a sidewall portion that extends from the base portion toward the housing and is mounted on the housing. The circuit board is disposed in a space of the base member. The electronic component is mounted on a surface of the circuit board adjacent to the housing. The sidewall portion extends beyond an imaginary plane including the surface of the circuit board. The elastic member having heat conductivity is located between the circuit board and the base portion, between the circuit board and the sidewall portion, and over the surface of the circuit board so that the circuit board is embedded in the elastic member. A space is formed between the elastic member and the housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A motor-driven compressor comprising:
 a compression mechanism compressing a refrigerant;   an electric motor driving the compression mechanism;   a housing accommodating the compression mechanism and the electric motor;   an inverter assembly controlling rotation of the electric motor, the inverter assembly having a base member, a circuit board and an electronic component, the base member having a base portion and a sidewall portion that extends from the base portion toward the housing and is mounted on the housing, the base member having therein a space, the circuit board being disposed in the space of the base member, the electronic component being mounted on a surface of the circuit board adjacent to the housing, the sidewall portion of the base member extending beyond an imaginary plane that includes the surface of the circuit board; and   an elastic member having heat conductivity located between the circuit board and the base portion of the base member, between the circuit board and the sidewall portion, and also over the surface of the circuit board so that the circuit board is embedded in the elastic member, a space being formed between the elastic member and the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The motor-driven compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronic component is partly embedded in the elastic member. 
     
     
         3 . The motor-driven compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic member is made of a gel material. 
     
     
         4 . The motor-driven compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic member has a first layer located between the circuit board and the base portion of the base member, and a second layer located between the circuit board and the sidewall portion and also over the surface of the circuit board. 
     
     
         5 . The motor-driven compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronic component is in indirect contact with the housing through a heat conductive member. 
     
     
         6 . The motor-driven compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronic component is in contact with the housing.