Housing for a side channel compressor

The invention relates to a housing consisting of two housing halves for a side channel compressor. The strength of such a housing can be appreciably increased in that the front wall (3) of each housing half (1) and (2) has formed on it at least two rings (4) and (5), spaced radially from one another and projecting axially relative to the front wall (3), and rib walls (7) extending in a spoke-like manner between these rings (4) and (5).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to a housing consisting of two housing halves for a 
side channel compressor. 
Such a housing is known from DE-U-92 15 231. In that housing, the housing 
halves consist of metal, for example aluminum, and therefore have 
sufficient strength. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The object on which the invention is based is to design the housing of a 
side channel compressor in such a way that, when it is produced from a 
material, for example plastic, having lower strength than metal, it can 
withstand the loads which occur during operation. 
This object is achieved, according to the invention, by forming in the 
front wall of each housing half at least two rings, spaced radially from 
one another and projecting axially relative to the front wall, and rib 
walls extending in a spoke-like manner between these rings. Such a 
housing, even when produced from plastic, has sufficient strength. 
Since the radius of the rings corresponds approximately to the outer and 
the inner radius of the side channel formed in the housing halves, the rib 
walls come to rest on the outside of the wall part forming the side 
channel. Since it is precisely these wall parts which are subjected to the 
compression pressure, it is beneficial that these wall parts are supported 
correspondingly by the rib walls. 
One of the rings can advantageously be designed as the centering ring. 
A further increase in the strength of the housing can be achieved by 
forming in the front wall, in addition to the two rings, an axially 
extended centering ring located radially further inward, and by providing 
further rib walls extending in a spoke-like manner on the front wall 
between the centering ring and the ring adjacent to the centering ring. 
Since the further rib walls are arranged in a manner staggered relative to 
the rib walls, the ring located between the further rib walls and the rib 
walls contributes to increasing the strength of the housing, since at 
least some of the load forces are conducted via this ring. 
Furthermore, radially extended reinforcing ribs can additionally be formed 
on the front wall between the centering ring and a hub extension located 
radially further inward relative to the centering ring. With this 
arrangement, virtually the entire front wall of each housing half is 
appropriately reinforced. 
Producing the housing halves from plastic affords the possibility, 
furthermore, of providing on each housing half, at the end circumferential 
edge lying in the parting plane of the housing halves, a sealing lip 
extending over one half of the circumference and a sealing groove 
extending over the other half of the circumference. By means of these 
sealing lips and sealing grooves which engage one in the other when the 
housing halves are assembled, a sufficient sealing of the parting gap 
between the two housing halves is achieved. 
If the sealing lip and sealing groove extend in each case on one side and 
another in relation to a symmetrical dividing line of the housing halves, 
then an identical design of the two housing halves is possible.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
The two housing halves of a side channel compressor housing are designated 
by reference numerals 1 and 2. A first and second ring 4 and 5 are formed 
on the front wall 3 of each housing half. The rings 4 and 5 project 
axially relative to the front wall 3 and are spaced radially from one 
another. The radius of the first ring 4 corresponds approximately to the 
outer radius of the side channel 6 formed in each housing half 1 and 2 and 
the radius of the second ring corresponds approximately to the inner 
radius of the side channel 6. 
Between the first and second ring 4 and 5, rib walls 7 extending in a 
spoke-like manner are formed on the outside of the wall part 8 
constituting the side channel 6. These rib walls 7 appreciably increase, 
in particular, the strength of this wall part 8 which is subjected 
particularly severely to the compression pressure. 
A centering ring 9 is provided on the front wall 3 of each housing half 1 
and 2 located concentrically relative to the two rings 4 and 5 and 
radially further inward. Formed in the region between this centering ring 
9 and the adjacent second ring 5 are further rib walls 10 which are 
arranged in a manner staggered relative to the rib walls 7 extending 
between the first and second ring 4 and 5. The load forces are thereby 
also introduced into the second ring 5 which thus contributes to an 
increase in strength. 
Radially extended reinforcing ribs 12 are additionally formed on the front 
wall 3 between the centering ring 9 and a hub extension 11 of the housing 
halves 1 and 2, the hub extension 11 being located radially even further 
inward. The number of these reinforcing ribs 12 is reduced to one third in 
relation to the number of rib walls 7 and of further rib walls 10 on 
account of the considerably smaller circumference of the hub extension 11 
in comparison with the circumference of the centering ring 9. The 
reinforcing ribs 12 are once again arranged in a manner staggered relative 
to the further rib walls 10. 
As can be seen from the top view of FIG. 1, lugs 13, which are provided 
with insertion orifices 14 for connecting screws, are formed in one piece 
on the circumference of the housing halves 1 and 2. By means of such 
screws, the two housing halves 1 and 2 can be connected to form a side 
channel compressor housing. 
Moreover, three tubular foot parts 15 are provided in a manner distributed 
uniformly over the circumference of the housing halves 1 and 2. Formed in 
the cavity 16 of the foot parts 15 is a stop shoulder 17 which projects 
radially inward and on which can rest the screw head of fastening screws 
which are introduced into the foot parts 15 when the side channel 
compressor is erected with a vertical axis. 
Furthermore, prestampings 18 for an inlet and an outlet orifice are 
provided on the housing halves 1 and 2. These prestampings 18 are then 
removed on the corresponding housing half. There are likewise prestampings 
19 for a shaft introduction orifice and prestampings 20 for fastening 
holes on the housing halves. These prestampings 19 and 20 are then 
likewise removed on the corresponding housing halves. 
The housing halves 1 and 2 can therefore be designed in the same form, that 
is to say identically. For this purpose, it is merely necessary to arrange 
the foot parts 15 and prestampings 18 to 20 symmetrically in relation to a 
bisecting line which runs in the middle between the prestampings 18 for 
the inlet and outlet orifices. 
Provided in each case at the end circumferential edge 22 located in the 
parting plane 21 of the housing halves 1 and 2 are a sealing lip 23 
extending on one side of the bisecting line over one half of the 
circumference and a sealing groove 24 extending on the other side of the 
bisecting line over the other half of the circumference. When the housing 
halves 1 and 2 are assembled, the sealing lips 23 and the sealing grooves 
24 engage one in the other and ensure good sealing of the parting gap 
between the two interconnected housing halves 1 and 2.