Compressor unit housing and methods of alignment

Abstract

A hermetic compressor unit housing comprised of a shell having a top section and a bottom section which receives the top section, the shell being formed of sheet metal and having generally cylindrical sidewalls wherein the sidewall taken in a generally axial direction is substantially straight, each shell section having an opening, a substantially cylindrical portion, and a closed end portion, the opening having a substantially circular horizontal cross-sectional geometry defined by a major axis and a minor axis, the horizontal cross-sectional geometry including substantially liner opposing sidewall portions preferably disposed adjacent to the intersection of the horizontal sectional geometry with the minor axis, and methods of aligning the shell sections for installation of fixtures and mating of the shell sections.

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       21 . A method of assembling a compressor housing, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a hermetic compressor housing shell section having substantially straight sidewalls and having a substantially circular horizontal cross-sectional geometry defined by a major axis and a minor axis; and    applying force to at least two points on the surface of the sidewalls in the direction of a desired orientation, such that the shell section becomes aligned along the major axis in the designed orientation.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising the steps of applying force to at least two points on the surface of the sidewalls in the direction of a second desired orientation, such that the shell section becomes aligned along the minor axis in the second designated orientation.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the force is applied to the interior surface of the sidewalls.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the force is applied to the exterior surface of the sidewalls.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing at least one fixture for installation on the shell section;    positioning the at least one fixture based upon the alignment of the shell section; and    installing the at least one fixture to the shell section.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the substantially circular horizontal cross-sectional geometry is substantially oval.  
   
   
       27 . A method of assembling a compressor housing, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing an upper shell section having substantially straight sidewalls and having a substantially circular horizontal cross-sectional geometry defined by a major axis and a minor axis;    aligning the upper shell section to a desired orientation by applying a force to at least two points on the surface of the sidewalls in the direction of a desired orientation, such that the shell section becomes aligned along the major axis in the desired orientation;    providing a lower shell section having substantially straight sidewalls and having a substantially circular horizontal cross-sectional geometry defined by a major axis and a minor axis;    aligning the lower shell section to a desired orientation by applying a force to at least two points on the surface of the sidewalls in the direction of a desired orientation, such that the shell section becomes aligned along the major axis in the desired orientation;    positioning openings provided on each of the aligned upper and lower sections in proximity to each other; and    mating the opening of each section to the opening of the other section.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the force is applied to the interior surface of the sidewalls.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the force is applied to the exterior surface of the sidewalls.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the housing shell section comprises an opening and a closed end portion, the opening having a substantially circular horizontal cross-sectional geometry defined by a major axis and a minor axis, the horizontal cross-sectional geometry having a pair of substantially linear opposing portions, the pair of substantially linear opposing portions being disposed adjacent to the intersection of the horizontal sectional geometry with the minor axis, the pair of substantially linear opposing sections being disposed substantially perpendicular to the minor axis, the pair of substantially linear opposing sections extending from the opening through the sidewall and into at least part of the closed end portion.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the cross-sectional length of each substantially linear opposing sidewall portion is from about 0.250 inches to about 3.0 inches.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the length ratio of the major axis to the minor axis is from greater than 1.0 to about 1.6.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the shell section is comprised of low carbon steel, with sidewall thickness ranging from about 0.090 to about 0.160 inches.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the shell section is generally cylindrical and is outwardly curved.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the upper shell section and lower shell section each comprise an opening and an opposite closed end portion, the opening of each section having a substantially circular horizontal cross-sectional geometry defined by a major axis and a minor axis, the horizontal cross-sectional geometry having a pair of substantially linear opposing portions, the pair of substantially linear opposing portions being disposed adjacent to the intersection of the horizontal sectional geometry with the minor axis, the pair of substantially linear opposing sections being disposed substantially perpendicular to the minor axis, the pair of substantially linear opposing sections extending from the opening through the sidewall and into at least part of the closed end portion.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the cross-sectional length of each substantially linear opposing sidewall portion is from about 0.250 inches to about 3.0 inches.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the length ratio of the major axis to the minor axis is from greater than 1.0 to about 1.6.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the upper and lower shell sections are comprised of low carbon steel, with sidewall thickness ranging from about 0.090 to about 0.160 inches.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the upper shell section is generally cylindrical and is outwardly curved.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the lower shell section is generally cylindrical and is outwardly curved.