Molded compressor base

Abstract

A molded compressor base ( 100 ) is provided for mounting a compressor without requiring mechanical fasteners. The molded compressor base ( 100 ) can be used to mount the compressor in any position ranging from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position. The molded compressor base ( 100 ) includes a mounting area that is designed and configured to secure a compressor placed in the mounting area. The mounting area can be configured for a compressor to be mounted in a substantially horizontal position, a substantially vertical position or any position in between. The molded compressor base ( 100 ) can also include one or more isolators to secure the compressor and to isolate vibrations from the compressor from the molded compressor base ( 100 ). The molded compressor base ( 100 ) can damp sound and/or vibrations generated by the compressor or the molded compressor base ( 100 ) can be coated with a sound and/or vibration damping coating.

1 . A mounting arrangement for a compressor, the mounting arrangement comprising: 
 a base; and    a projection ( 104 ) extending from the base, the projection ( 104 ) comprising an outer surface ( 106 ) and an inner surface ( 108 ) disposed opposite the outer surface ( 106 ), the inner surface ( 108 ) being configured to provide a cavity in the projection ( 104 ) to receive and hold a compressor in at least one predetermined mounting position.    
   
   
       2 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the mounting arrangement is of unitary construction.  
   
   
       3 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 1  comprises a plurality of projections ( 104 ) extending from the base, each projection ( 104 ) of the plurality of projections ( 104 ) being configured to provide a cavity to receive at least one component operationally associated with the compressor.  
   
   
       4 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the predetermined mounting position is substantially horizontal.  
   
   
       5 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the predetermined mounting position is substantially vertical.  
   
   
       6 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the predetermined mounting position is any angled position between a substantially horizontal position and a substantially vertical position.  
   
   
       7 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 1  comprises at least one aperture in the inner surface ( 108 ) for drainage of accumulating liquid in the cavity.  
   
   
       8 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the inner surface ( 108 ) is configured to provide a cavity in the projection ( 104 ) to receive and hold a compressor having at least two different sizes in at least one predetermined mounting position.  
   
   
       9 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the base has a substantially planar surface ( 102 ).  
   
   
       10 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 9  comprises a top surface ( 110 ) which connects the outer surface ( 106 ) and the inner surface ( 108 ).  
   
   
       11 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 10  wherein the top surface ( 110 ) is substantially parallel to the base surface ( 102 ).  
   
   
       12 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 11  wherein between about one-quarter and about three-quarters of the compressor is disposed above the top surface (  10 ).  
   
   
       13 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the cavity in the projection ( 104 ) conformally receives and holds a compressor in at least one predetermined mounting position.  
   
   
       14 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 1  wherein at least one aperture ( 124 ) in the base receives a fastener to secure the base to a corresponding structure.  
   
   
       15 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 1  wherein at least one extension ( 126 ) extends downwardly from the base to be received by a corresponding aperture in a corresponding structure to secure the base to the corresponding structure.  
   
   
       16 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the base is a part of a corresponding structure.  
   
   
       17 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 1  comprises at least one mounting structure ( 122 ) disposed on the inner surface ( 108 ).  
   
   
       18 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 17  wherein the at least one mounting structure ( 122 ) frictionally holds the compressor in position.  
   
   
       19 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 18  wherein the at least one mounting structure ( 122 ) provides an amount of damping of at least one of a sound and a vibration emitted by the compressor.  
   
   
       20 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 1  comprises at least one supporting rib ( 112 ) molded into the outer surface ( 106 ) of the projection ( 104 ).  
   
   
       21 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the thickness of the base and projection ( 104 ) are substantially uniform.  
   
   
       22 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 21  wherein adjacent mounting arrangements of a plurality of mounting arrangements can be disposed together in a nested arrangement.  
   
   
       23 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 21  wherein the thickness is between about 0.05 inch and about 0.5 inch.  
   
   
       24 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 23  wherein the spacing between corresponding portions of stacked mounting arrangements can approach zero.  
   
   
       25 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 1  wherein a portion of the projection ( 104 ) disposed between the inner and outer surface ( 106 ) and the base is substantially composed of a material capable of damping at least one of sound and vibration.  
   
   
       26 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 1  wherein a portion of the projection ( 104 ) between the inner and outer surface ( 106 ) and the base is composed of a material substantially identical to the material comprising the mounting arrangement.  
   
   
       27 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the mounting arrangement is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of a plastic, a composite and a thermoplastic.  
   
   
       28 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the base and projection ( 104 ) is at least partially coated with at least one coating material to damp at least one of noise and vibration.  
   
   
       29 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 1  wherein the inner surface ( 108 ) holds the compressor in position using at least one from the group consisting of an adhesive, a frictional contact between the inner surface ( 108 ) and the compressor, and a mechanical attaching device.  
   
   
       30 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 1  comprises: 
 a top surface ( 110 ) which connects the outer surface ( 106 ) and the inner surface ( 108 ); and    a cover ( 400 ) extending over at least a portion of the compressor and the top surface ( 110 ).    
   
   
       31 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 30  wherein the cover ( 400 ) is secured to the projection ( 104 ) by at least one of the group consisting of a frictional connection between the cover ( 400 ) and the projection ( 104 ), at least one mating component to connect the cover ( 400 ) and the projection ( 104 ), and mechanical fasteners.  
   
   
       32 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 30  wherein the cover ( 400 ) is of unitary construction.  
   
   
       33 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 32  wherein the cover ( 400 ) is composed of a substantially identical material as the projection ( 104 ) and base.  
   
   
       34 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 32  wherein the cover ( 400 ) is not composed of a substantially identical material as the projection ( 104 ) and base.  
   
   
       35 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 30  wherein the cover ( 400 ) is at least partially coated with at least one coating material to damp at least one of noise and vibration.  
   
   
       36 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 30  wherein the cover ( 400 ) is configured to permit introduction of at least one material between the compressor and the cover ( 400 ).  
   
   
       37 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 36  wherein the at least one material can damp at least one of sound and vibration.  
   
   
       38 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 30  wherein the cover ( 400 ) has at least one protruding portion ( 402 ).  
   
   
       39 . The mounting arrangement of  claim 38  wherein the at least one protruding portion ( 402 ) is usable for at least one of a substitute to a mounting of a terminal box on the compressor and piping connections to the compressor.  
   
   
       40 . A mounting arrangement for a compressor, the mounting arrangement comprising: 
 a base having a substantially planar surface ( 102 ); and    a projection ( 104 ) extending from the surface ( 102 ) of the base, the projection ( 104 ) comprising an outer surface ( 106 ) and an inner surface ( 108 ) disposed opposite the outer surface ( 106 ), the inner surface ( 108 ) being configured to provide a cavity in the projection ( 104 ) to receive and hold a compressor in at least one predetermined mounting position.