Compressor protection module

• US 10,028,399 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2016
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Copeland Corporation LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Trudeau, Edward J., Barnett, Kenneth R., Shelgaonkar, Yogesh, Khairnar, Manoj Pralhad
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Anthony Q
• Application Number:
  US15/099,071
• Publication Number:
  US 20160222956A1
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/06 Control using electricity regulating by means of floats actuating electric switches F04B49/04
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/065 and making use of computers
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/10 Other safety measures
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 51/00 Testing machines, pumps, or pumping installations
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 28/28 Safety arrangements; Monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 27/008 Stop safety or alarm devices, e.g. stop-and-go control; Disposition of check-valves
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/225 Terminal boxes or connection arrangements specially adapted for submersible motors H02K5/132
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/02 Arrangements of circuit components or wiring on supporting structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

A compressor may include a shell, a terminal assembly and an electronics module. The terminal assembly may engage the shell and may include an outwardly extending conductor and a terminal fence at least partially surrounding the conductor. The electronics module may include a back plate having an opening through which the terminal fence may be received. The back plate may include an engagement feature and a spring element. The engagement feature may removably engage the terminal fence. The spring element may contact the shell and bias the back plate away from the shell.

Claims

1. A compressor comprising:

a shell;

a terminal assembly engaging said shell and including an outwardly extending conductor and a terminal fence at least partially surrounding said conductor; and

an electronics module including a back plate having an opening through which said terminal fence is received, said back plate including an engagement feature and a spring element, said engagement feature removably engaging said terminal fence, said spring element contacting said shell and biasing said back plate away from said shell.

2. The compressor of claim 1, wherein said spring element includes a resiliently compressible annular gasket.

3. The compressor of claim 2, wherein said annular gasket seals against said shell and said back plate.

4. The compressor of claim 1, wherein said spring element includes a strip integrally formed with said back plate and bulging outward therefrom toward said shell.

5. The compressor of claim 1, wherein said terminal fence includes a plurality of apertures, and said engagement feature includes a plurality of flexible tabs having barbs engaging said apertures.

6. The compressor of claim 5, wherein said spring element biases said barbs into engagement with edges of said apertures.

7. The compressor of claim 5, wherein said terminal fence is received between said tabs.

8. The compressor of claim 1, wherein said back plate includes a receptacle including guide rails engaging a cluster block that is electrically connected to said conductor.

9. The compressor of claim 8, wherein said receptacle includes an opening through which said cluster block is removably received.

20. The compressor of claim 3, wherein said back plate includes an annular recess at least partially surrounding said opening, and wherein said annular gasket is at least partially received in said annular recess.

21. The compressor of claim 1, further comprising a molded plug engaging said terminal fence and engaging said conductor for electrical communication between said conductor and said molded plug.

22. The compressor of claim 21, wherein said terminal fence includes a plurality of apertures, and said flexible tabs include barbs engaging said apertures, wherein said spring element biases said barbs into engagement with edges of said apertures, wherein said terminal fence is received between said flexible tabs, and wherein said molded plug is received within said terminal fence.

23. The compressor of claim 21, wherein said electronics module includes a cover removably attached to said back plate, and wherein said back plate and said cover cooperate to form an enclosure in which a plurality of electronic components are disposed.

24. The compressor of claim 23, wherein said electronics module includes one or more indicator lights extending through one or more apertures formed in said cover.

25. The compressor of claim 23, wherein said cover includes a plurality of sleeves through which wires connected to said molded plug extend.

26. The compressor of claim 25, wherein said sleeves and said wires extend through current transformers disposed between said cover and said back plate.

27. The compressor of claim 23, wherein said cover includes a recess in which said molded plug is disposed.

28. The compressor of claim 27, wherein said molded plug is disposed outside of said enclosure formed by said back plate and said cover.

10. A compressor comprising:

a shell;

a terminal assembly engaging said shell and including an outwardly extending conductor and a terminal fence at least partially surrounding said conductor; and

an electronics module including a back plate having an opening through which said terminal fence is received, said back plate including a receptacle and an engagement feature, said receptacle receiving said terminal fence and including guide rails removably engaging a cluster block that is electrically connected to said conductor, said engagement feature removably engaging said terminal fence.

11. The compressor of claim 10, wherein said back plate include a spring element contacting said shell and biasing said back plate away from said shell.

12. The compressor of claim 11, wherein said spring element includes a resiliently compressible annular gasket.

13. The compressor of claim 12, wherein said annular gasket seals against said shell and said back plate.

14. The compressor of claim 11, wherein said spring element includes a strip integrally formed with said back plate and bulging outward therefrom toward said shell.

15. The compressor of claim 11, wherein said terminal fence includes a plurality of apertures, and said engagement feature includes a plurality of flexible tabs having barbs engaging said apertures.

16. The compressor of claim 15, wherein said spring element biases said barbs into engagement with edges of said apertures.

17. The compressor of claim 15, wherein said terminal fence is received between said tabs.

18. The compressor of claim 10, wherein said back plate includes a receptacle supporting said guide rails.

19. The compressor of claim 18, wherein said receptacle includes an opening through which said cluster block is removably received.