Retainer for a stator of an electric compressor

Abstract

A compressor including a hollow housing having a compression mechanism and an electric motor disposed therein. The electric motor is coupled to the compression mechanism for facilitating a compression of a fluid received in the compressor. The electric motor including a rotor and a stator, wherein a position of the stator within the housing is maintained by a retainer removeably disposed between the stator and the housing.

1 . A compressor comprising:
 a hollow housing;   a compression mechanism disposed in the housing, the compression mechanism receiving a fluid therein to be compressed;   an electric motor removeably disposed in the housing, the electric motor including a stator and a rotor coupled to the compression mechanism for facilitating a movement of the compression mechanism, wherein the movement of the compression mechanism causes a compression of the fluid therein; and   a retainer removably disposed between the stator and the housing, the retainer configured to maintain a position of the stator within the housing and to dampen a noise and a vibration produced by the electric motor.   
     
     
         2 . The compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotor surrounds the stator. 
     
     
         3 . The compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein the stator surrounds the rotor. 
     
     
         4 . The compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a wall having an annular hub extending outwardly therefrom, the annular hub configured to receive the retainer thereon. 
     
     
         5 . The compressor according to  claim 4 , wherein the retainer is disposed in an interstice formed between the stator and the annular hub of the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein the retainer is disposed adjacent at least one annular shoulder formed in the housing to maintain an axial position thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein the retainer is a strip of material having retaining features formed therein. 
     
     
         8 . The compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein the retainer is tuned to dampen the noise and the vibration produced by the electric motor by adjusting a physical property of the retainer. 
     
     
         9 . The compressor according to  claim 4 , wherein the annular hub is tuned to dampen the noise and the vibration produced by the electric motor by adjusting a physical property of the annular hub of the housing. 
     
     
         10 . A compressor comprising:
 a hollow housing;   a compression mechanism disposed in the housing, the compression mechanism receiving a fluid therein to be compressed;   an electric motor removably disposed in the housing, the electric motor including a stator surrounding a rotor, the rotor coupled to the compression mechanism for facilitating a movement of the compression mechanism, wherein the movement of the compression mechanism causes a compression of the fluid therein; and   an elastic retainer removably disposed between the stator and the housing, the retainer configured to maintain a position of the stator within the housing and to dampen a noise and a vibration produced by the electric motor.   
     
     
         11 . The compressor according to  claim 10 , wherein the retainer is disposed adjacent at least one annular shoulder formed in a wall of the housing to maintain an axial position thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The compressor according to  claim 10 , wherein the retainer is an annular strip of material having retaining features formed therein. 
     
     
         13 . The compressor according to  claim 10 , wherein the retainer is tuned to dampen the noise and the vibration produced by the electric motor by adjusting a physical property of the retainer. 
     
     
         14 . A compressor comprising:
 a hollow housing;   a compression mechanism disposed in the housing, the compression mechanism receiving a fluid therein to be compressed;   an electric motor removably disposed in the housing, the electric motor including a rotor surrounding a stator, the rotor coupled to the compression mechanism for facilitating a movement of the compression mechanism, wherein the movement of the compression mechanism causes a compression of the fluid therein; and   a retainer disposed between the stator and the housing, the retainer configured to maintain a position of the stator within the housing and to dampen a noise and a vibration produced by the electric motor.   
     
     
         15 . The compressor according to  claim 14 , wherein the retainer is disposed in an interstice formed between the stator and an annular hub formed in a wall of the housing. 
     
     
         16 . The compressor according to  claim 14 , wherein the retainer is removably disposed between the stator and the housing. 
     
     
         17 . The compressor according to  claim 14 , wherein the retainer is integrally formed with the housing. 
     
     
         18 . The compressor according to  claim 14 , wherein the retainer is a strip of material having retaining features formed therein. 
     
     
         19 . The compressor according to  claim 14 , wherein the retainer is tuned to dampen the noise and the vibration produced by the electric motor by adjusting a physical property of the retainer. 
     
     
         20 . The compressor according to  claim 15 , wherein the annular hub is tuned to dampen the noise and the vibration produced by the electric motor by adjusting a physical property of the annular hub of the housing.