Compressor motor with center stator

Abstract

A compressor is provided and may include a shell, a compression mechanism, a driveshaft, and a motor assembly. The compression mechanism may be disposed within the shell. The driveshaft is drivingly engaged with the compression mechanism. The motor assembly may be disposed within the shell and drivingly engaged with the driveshaft. The motor assembly may include a rotor, a stator, and a rotor support subassembly. The rotor may be disposed radially outwardly relative to the stator and fixed for rotation with the driveshaft. The rotor support subassembly may include a first support member coupled to the driveshaft and coupled to the rotor such that the driveshaft is operable to rotate with the rotor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A compressor comprising:
 a shell;   a compression mechanism disposed within said shell;   a driveshaft rotatably supported by a first bearing and a second bearing and drivingly engaged with said compression mechanism;   a bearing housing including a tubular portion in which said first and second bearings are disposed; and   a motor assembly disposed within said shell and drivingly engaged with said driveshaft, said motor assembly including a rotor and a stator, said stator engaging an outer diametrical surface of said tubular portion, said rotor disposed radially outwardly relative to said stator and fixed for rotation with said driveshaft.   
     
     
         2 . The compressor of  claim 1 , further comprising a support housing having a first side supporting said compression mechanism, wherein said bearing housing is removably mounted to a second side of said support housing. 
     
     
         3 . The compressor of  claim 2 , wherein said bearing housing includes a flange portion integrally formed with said tubular portion, and wherein said flange portion is coupled to said support housing. 
     
     
         4 . The compressor of  claim 3 , further comprising a counterweight fixed to said driveshaft between said compression mechanism and said flange portion of said bearing housing, wherein said flange portion axially supports said counterweight, said driveshaft and said motor assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The compressor of  claim 1 , wherein said driveshaft includes a first outer surface and a second outer surface, said second outer surface extending radially beyond said first outer surface. 
     
     
         6 . The compressor of  claim 5 , wherein said motor assembly includes a rotor support subassembly having a first support member coupled to said second outer surface and to a radially inwardly extending flange of said rotor such that said driveshaft is fixed to said rotor for rotation therewith. 
     
     
         7 . The compressor of  claim 6 , wherein said stator is disposed axially between said first support member and said compression mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . The compressor of  claim 7 , further comprising a second support member extending around said driveshaft and coupled to at least one of said driveshaft and said first support member. 
     
     
         9 . The compressor of  claim 8 , wherein said second support member is threadably engaged with said driveshaft. 
     
     
         10 . The compressor of  claim 8 , wherein said second outer surface includes a conically shaped outer surface, and said first support member includes an aperture having a conically shaped inner surface engaged with said conically shaped outer surface. 
     
     
         11 . The compressor of  claim 1 , further comprising a magnet fixed to a radially inner surface of said rotor. 
     
     
         12 . A compressor comprising:
 a shell;   a bearing housing assembly disposed within said shell, said bearing housing assembly including a first housing and a second housing, said second housing including a tubular portion and a flange portion, said flange portion mounted to said first housing and integrally formed with said tubular portion;   a compression mechanism axially supported by said first housing;   a driveshaft drivingly engaged with said compression mechanism; and   a motor assembly drivingly engaged with said driveshaft, said motor assembly including a rotor and a stator, said stator extending circumferentially around said tubular portion and including a radially inner surface coupled to the tubular portion, said flange portion disposed axially between said stator and said compression mechanism, said rotor disposed radially outwardly relative to said stator and fixed for rotation with said driveshaft.   
     
     
         13 . The compressor of  claim 12 , further comprising a counterweight fixed to said driveshaft between said compression mechanism and said flange portion of said bearing housing, wherein said flange portion axially supports said counterweight, said driveshaft and said motor assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The compressor of  claim 13 , wherein said first housing includes a first side supporting said compression mechanism, and wherein said second housing is removably mounted to a second side of said first housing. 
     
     
         15 . The compressor of  claim 14 , wherein said tubular portion extends around said driveshaft and houses first and second bearings that are spaced apart from each other and rotatably support said driveshaft. 
     
     
         16 . The compressor of  claim 15 , wherein said driveshaft includes a first outer surface and a second outer surface, said second outer surface extending radially beyond said first outer surface. 
     
     
         17 . The compressor of  claim 16 , wherein said motor assembly includes a rotor support subassembly having a first support member coupled to said second outer surface and to said rotor such that said driveshaft is fixed to said rotor for rotation therewith. 
     
     
         18 . The compressor of  claim 17 , wherein said rotor includes a radially inwardly extending flange, and said first support member is coupled to said flange. 
     
     
         19 . The compressor of  claim 18 , further comprising a second support member extending around said driveshaft and coupled to at least one of said driveshaft and said first support member. 
     
     
         20 . The compressor of  claim 19 , wherein said second support member is threadably engaged with said driveshaft. 
     
     
         21 . The compressor of  claim 20 , wherein said second outer surface includes a conically shaped outer surface, and said first support member includes an aperture having a conically shaped inner surface engaged with said conically shaped outer surface. 
     
     
         22 . The compressor of  claim 12 , wherein said stator is disposed axially between a first support member and said compression mechanism, and wherein said first support member is coupled to said driveshaft and to said rotor, thereby fixing said rotor to said driveshaft for rotation therewith.