Electric compressor with domed inverter cover

Abstract

An electric compressor includes a housing, refrigerant inlet port, a refrigerant outlet port, an inverter section, a motor section, a compression device and a front cover. The housing defines an intake volume and a discharge volume. The refrigerant inlet port is coupled to the housing and is configured to introduce the refrigerant to the intake volume. The compression device is a scroll-type compression device configured to compress the refrigerant. The refrigerant outlet port is coupled to the housing and is configured to allow compressed refrigerant to exit the scroll-type electric compressor from the discharge volume.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A scroll-type electric compressor configured to compress a refrigerant, comprising:
 a housing defining an intake volume and a discharge volume, the housing having a generally cylindrical shape and having a central axis;   a refrigerant inlet port coupled to the housing and configured to introduce the refrigerant to the intake volume;   a refrigerant outlet port coupled to the housing and configured to allow compressed refrigerant to exit the scroll-type electric compressor from the discharge volume;   an inverter module mounted inside the housing and adapted to convert direct current electrical power to alternating current electrical power;   a motor mounted inside the housing;   a drive shaft coupled to the motor;   a compression device coupled to the drive shaft, for receiving the refrigerant from the intake volume and compressing the refrigerant as the drive shaft is rotated by the motor; and,   an inverter cover located at one end of the scroll-type electric compressor, the inverter cover having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being generally perpendicular to the central axis and having an apex and an outer perimeter, wherein the first portion has a relatively domed-shaped such that the inverter cover has a curved profile from the apex towards the outer perimeter.   
     
     
         2 . The scroll-type electric compressor, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the compression device includes:
 a fixed scroll located within, and being fixed relative to, the housing;   an orbiting scroll coupled to the drive shaft, the orbiting scroll and the fixed scroll forming compression chambers for receiving the refrigerant from the intake volume and compressing the refrigerant as the drive shaft is rotated about the center axis;   a swing-link mechanism coupled to the drive shaft; and,   a ball bearing positioned between, and adjacent to each of the orbiting scroll and the swing-link mechanism, the drive shaft, orbiting scroll and swing-link mechanism being arranged to cause the orbiting scroll to orbit the central axis in an eccentric orbit.   
     
     
         3 . The scroll-type electric compressor, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a motor section and a compression section, the motor section having a motor housing defining a motor cavity for housing the motor, the compression section includes the fixed scroll, the fixed scroll forming part of the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The scroll-type electric compressor, as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the fixed scroll is mounted to the motor housing, wherein the orbiting scroll has a lower surface, the lower surface having a plurality of ring-shaped slots, wherein the motor housing includes a plurality of articulating guidance pin apertures, further including a plurality of guidance pins located within the articulating guidance pin apertures and extending towards the compression section and into the ring-shaped slots, the plurality guidance pins being configured to limit articulation of the orbiting scroll as the orbiting scroll orbits about the central axis. 
     
     
         5 . The scroll-type electric compressor, as set forth in  claim 4 , including a plurality of ring inserts located within the ring slots. 
     
     
         6 . The scroll-type electric compressor, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes first drive shaft supporting member and a second drive shaft supporting member and further including:
 a first ball bearing located within the first drive shaft supporting member and configured to receive the first end of the drive shaft; and,   a second ball bearing located within the second drive shaft supporting member and configured to receive the send end of the drive shaft.   
     
     
         7 . The scroll-type electric compressor, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a front cover defining the discharge volume, wherein the scroll-type electric compressor utilizes oil to lubricate components of the motor, drive shaft and compression device, the scroll-type electric compressor further includes an oil separator for separating intermixed oil and refrigerants as the intermixed oil and refrigerant exit the compression device and enters the discharge volume. 
     
     
         8 . A scroll-type electric compressor having a central axis and being configured to compress a refrigerant, comprising:
 a housing defining an intake volume and a discharge volume;   a refrigerant inlet port coupled to the housing and configured to introduce the refrigerant to the intake volume;   a refrigerant outlet port coupled to the housing and configured to allow compressed refrigerant to exit the scroll-type electric compressor from the discharge volume;   an inverter section including:
 an inverter housing, 
 an inverter back cover connected to the inverter housing and forming an inverter cavity, the inverter back cover having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being generally perpendicular to the central axis and having an apex and an outer perimeter, wherein the first portion has a relatively domed-shaped such that the inverter cover has a curved profile from the apex towards the outer perimeter, 
 an inverter module mounted inside the inverter cavity and adapted to convert direct current electrical power to alternating current electrical power; 
   a motor section including:
 a motor housing forming a motor cavity and being mounted to the inverter housing, 
 a drive shaft located within the motor housing, having first and second ends and defining a center axis, and 
 a motor located within the motor housing to controllably rotate the drive shaft about the center axis, and, 
   a compression device including
 a fixed scroll located within, and being fixed relative to, the housing, and 
 an orbiting scroll coupled to the drive shaft, the orbiting scroll and the fixed scroll forming compression chambers for receiving the refrigerant from the intake volume and compressing the refrigerant as the drive shaft is rotated about the center axis, 
 a swing-link mechanism coupled to the drive shaft, and, 
 a ball bearing positioned between, and adjacent to each of the orbiting scroll and the swing-link mechanism, the drive shaft, orbiting scroll and swing-link mechanism being arranged to cause the orbiting scroll to orbit the central axis in an eccentric orbit; and 
   a front cover, wherein the housing is formed by the inverter back cover, the inverter housing, the motor housing, the fixed scroll and the front cover.   
     
     
         9 . The scroll-type electric compressor, as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the fixed scroll is mounted to the motor housing, wherein the orbiting scroll has a lower surface, the lower surface having a plurality of ring-shaped slots, wherein the motor housing includes a plurality of articulating guidance pin apertures, further including a plurality of guidance pins located within the articulating guidance pin apertures and extending towards the compression section and into the ring-shaped slots, the plurality guidance pins being configured to limit articulation of the orbiting scroll as the orbiting scroll orbits about the central axis. 
     
     
         10 . The scroll-type electric compressor, as set forth in  claim 9 , including a plurality of ring inserts located within the ring slots. 
     
     
         11 . The scroll-type electric compressor, as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the housing includes first drive shaft supporting member and a second drive shaft supporting member and further including:
 a first ball bearing located within the first drive shaft supporting member and configured to receive the first end of the drive shaft; and,   a second ball bearing located within the second drive shaft supporting member and configured to receive the send end of the drive shaft.   
     
     
         12 . The scroll-type electric compressor, as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the front cover defines the discharge volume, wherein the scroll-type electric compressor utilizes oil to lubricate components of the motor, drive shaft and compression device, the scroll-type electric compressor further includes an oil separator for separating intermixed oil and refrigerants as the intermixed oil and refrigerant exit the compression device and enters the discharge volume.