Compressor electronics housing

• US 6,649,836 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2001
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Carrier Corporation (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Inventors: Hamilton, David W., Branson, Michael W., Brechbill, Dana L., Yang, George C., Collins, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard, Dean A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARRIS, ANTON B
• Application Number:
  US09/848,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20020163785A1
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 174/60, 361/825, 361/827, 439/207, 439/540, 439/540.1, D08/356, 277/55, 277/56
• US Class Current: 174/60
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 39/12 Casings; Cylinders; Cylinder heads; Fluid connections
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/00 Control , e.g. of pump delivery, or pump pressure of, or safety measures for, machines, pumps, or pumping installations, not otherwise provided for, or of interest apart from, groups F04B1/00 - F04B47/00
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2400/077 Compressor control units, e.g. terminal boxes, mounted on the compressor casing wall containing for example starter, protection switches or connector contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0247 Electrical details of casings, e.g. terminals, passages for cables or wiring

Abstract

Housing is provided for electronic circuitry that monitors the operation of a compressor. The housing includes a module containing the electrical circuitry as well as electrical connectors that connected the circuitry to external wiring. The module is mounted to an external housing member. The wiring inserts through an opening in the external housing member before being connect to the electrical connectors associated with the electronic module. Further openings in the housing member receive conduits carrying further wiring. The conduits extend outwardly from the housing member so as to allow the wiring in the conduits to be supported for an appreciable distance from the housing. A removable housing member is connected to the aforementioned housing member so as to cover the wiring connected to the electrical connectors associated with the electronic module. The removable housing member is easily removed from the aforementioned housing member so as to thereby allow access to the various connections of wiring to the electrical connectors associated with the electronic module.

Claims

1. A housing for electronic circuitry which monitors the operation of a compressor, said housing comprising:

an electronic module containing the electronic circuitry and at least one electrical connection device for connecting the electronic circuitry to external wiring;

a first housing member to which the electronic module is mounted;

a second housing member, spaced from a side of the electronic module having the at least one electrical connection device, said second housing member having openings therein for receiving external wiring connected to the at least one connection device; and

a third housing member, removably connected to said second housing member so as to protect a portion of the external wiring and the at least one connection device to the wiring.

2. The housing of claim 1 wherein said third housing member comprises a top portion and two side portions wherein said top portion is removably connected to said second housing member.

3. The housing of claim 2 wherein each of said side portions is removably connected to said first housing member.

4. The housing of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one conduit containing at least a portion of the external wiring, said conduit being secured to said second housing member and extending from the outer side of said second housing member so as to support the wiring for a predefined distance away from said second housing member.

5. The housing of claim 4 wherein said conduit includes a threadable end extending through an opening in said second housing member and engaging a nut on the inner side of said second housing member.

6. The housing of claim 1 wherein said electronic module includes a plurality of electrical connection devices for connecting the electronic circuitry to said external wiring and wherein said external wiring includes wiring having an end connector said wiring extending through one of said holes having a soft peripheral grommet which contacts said wiring and wherein said end connector is removably connected to at least one of said electrical connection devices of said electronic module.

7. The housing of claim 1 further comprising at least one conduit secured to said second housing member and extending from the outer side of said second housing member, and wherein said external wiring includes wiring extending through said conduit to at least one electrical connection device of said electronic module.

8. The housing of claim 7 wherein said third housing member comprises a top portion end two side portions wherein said top portion is removably connected to a bent tab portion of said second housing member.

9. The housing of claim 7 wherein said second housing member is spaced a distance from one side of the electronic module having the plurality of electrical connection devices whereby access can be gained to the wiring and the respective connections to said electrical connection devices of said electronic module when said third housing member is disconnected from said second housing member.

10. The housing of claim 1 wherein said first housing member and said second housing member are integral parts of a single housing piece and wherein said second housing member is bent upwardly from said first housing member.