MOUNTING MECHANISM FOR AN AUTOMOTIVE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR

Abstract: A mounting mechanism for connecting a compressor (10) of an automotive air conditioning system is disclosed. A mounting bracket (70) is affixed to the engine (40). At least one flange portion (11) projects from an outer peripheral surface of the compressor. Bolt-nut mechanisms (30) connects between the mounting bracket and the flange portion of the compressor with a drive shaft of the compressor which is disposed parallel to a drive shaft of the engine. The mounting bracket has at least one first hole. The flange portion has at least one second hole. The second hole faces perpendicular to the first hole in the mounted position of the compressor. An axial vibration absorbing mechanism is disposed adjacent to the first and second holes which has at least one third hole being aligned with the first hole and at least one fourth hole being aligned with the second hole for absorbing axial vibration of the compressor. A respective one of the bolts passes through the third hole to connect the axial vibration absorbing mechanism to the mounting bracket and through the fourth hole to connect the compresser to the axial vibration absorbing mechanism. Therefore, the transmission of vibration produced by the compressor to an automobile engine is reduced, thereby preventing the production of objectional noise.

Description: This invention relates to a mounting mechanism for connecting a compressor of an automotive air conditioning system to an automobile engine according to the precharacterizing portion of claim 1. Such a mounting mechanism including an axial vibration absorbing means is disclosed for example in document EP-A-0 264 833. A further conventional mounting mechanism is shown in figures 1 and 2. This conventional arrangement includes four flange portions 11 extending radially from the housing of compressor 10 and a bracket 20 having a base portion 201 to be fixed on the engine 40, and flange portions 202 extending radially outwardly fom the base portion 201. Base portion 201 has a plurality of holes 22 disposed to be aligned with holes 41 formed on the end surface of engine 40 in the fixing position of bracket 20. Flange portions 202 have a plurality of holes 21 formed on the upper end surface thereof. Holes 21 are disposed to be aligned with holes 9 formed through flange portions 11 of compressor 10 in the mounting position of compressor 10. Bracket 20 is coupled with engine 40 by bolts 31 with washers 23 through holes 22 and 41. Compressor 10 is coupled with bracket 20 by bolts 30 with spring washers 32 and washers 33 through holes 9 and 21. Compressor 10 is thus mounted on engine 40 through bracket 20. In this mounting construction, compressor 10 and mounting bracket 20, both of which are formed of high strength material, are directly connected through a bolt mechanism. Mechanical vibration, more specifically vibration in the axial direction, which is generated by the operation of compressor 10, is thus transmitted directly to engine 40, causing loud noise. The noise is transmitted from the engine compartment to the passenger compartment of the automobile. It is the object of this invention to combine a further reduction of the transmission of vibration produced by the compressor to an automobile engine, thereby preventing the production of objectional noise, with high durability of the mounting mechanism. This object is achieved by a mounting mechanism having features of claim 1. Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional mounting mechanism for a compressor in an automotive air conditioning system. Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of a conventional mounting mechanism for a compressor in an automotive air conditioning system as shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a exploded perspective view of a mounting mechanism for a compressor in an automotive air conditioning system in accordance with one embodiment of this invetion. Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of a mounting mechanism for a compressor in an automotive air conditioning system as shown in Figure 3. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I as shown in Figure 4. Figure 6 is a perspective view of a mounting mechanism for a compressor in an automotive air conditioning system in accordance with another embodiment of this invention. With reference to Figures 3, 4 and 5, the construction of a mounting mechanism for a compressor in an automotive air conditioning system in accordance with one embodiment of this invention is shown. The same reference numerals are accorded on the same construction as in Figures 1 and 2 and repetition of the description for such a construction is omitted to simplify the specification. Automobile engine 40 has pulley 2 on the terminal end of its drive shaft. Compressor 10 also has pulley 3 on the terminal end of its drive shaft. Rotational power from engine 40 is transmitted to compressor 10 through a drive belt(not shown), which is disposed on the outer surface of pulleys 2 and 3 thereby connecting engine 40 to compressor 10. Compressor 10 is mounted on automobile engine 40 through mounting bracket 70. Mounting bracket 70 includes base portion 701 affixed to the engine and a plurality of flange portions 702 projecting radially (radial with respect to the compressor and engine drive shafts) outward from both end portions of base portion 701 and perpendicular to engine 40. Hole 702a is formed through each flange portion 702. Absorbing mechanism 50 is coupled with flange portion 702 by bolt 30. Absorbing mechanism 50 includes bolt receiving portion 51 and absorbing portion 52. Receiving portion 51 has hole 511 including screw thread receiving bolt 30 to connect between absorbing mechanism 50 and compressor 10. Absorbing portion 52 includes radially outer or outside ring spacer 61, radially inner or inside ring spacer 62 and cylindrical elastic member 63 made of elastic, vibration absorbing material, such as a vibroisolating rubber. The length of inside ring spacer 62 is longer than that of outside ring spacer 61. Elastic member 63 is attached on the outer surface of each inside ring spacer 62 by a vulcanizable adhesive, and each outside ring spacer 61 is also affixed on the outer surfce of elastic member 63 by a vulcanizable adhesive. Compressor 10 has a plurality of flanges 11 projecting radially outward from both end portions of the housing of compressor 10. Hole 9 is formed through each flange 11. Bolt 30 passes through hole 9 and secures compressor 10 to receiving portion 51 of absorbing mechanism 50. Absorbing mechanism 50 connected to compressor 10 is coupled with flange portion 702 of mounting bracket 70 by bolts 80 passing through inner ring spacer 62. When engine 40 starts, driving power is transmitted from engine 40 to compressor 10 through a belt, and compressor 10 is thus driven. During operation of compressor 10, although mechanical vibration is produced both axially and radially within compressor 10, the mechanical axial vibration which causes noise in the passenger compartment of the automobile is reduced by elastic member 63 of absorbing unit 52. Therefore, the noise produced in the engine compartment and transmitted to the passenger compartment is reduced, thereby improving the comfort of the automobile. Referring to Figure 6, the construction of a mountng mechanism for a compressor in an automotive air conditioning system in acccordance with another embodiment of this invention is shown. Receiving portions 51 are integrally formed by rib 54 and absorbing portions 52 are also integrally formed by rib 55. Absorbing mechanism 50 is thus integrally connected to each other. Therefore, the mounting time to attach the absorbing means to mounting mechanism 70 can be reduced. This invention has been described in detail in connection with the preferred embodiment but those are examples only and the invention is not restricted thereto. It will be easily understood by those skilled in the art that variations and modifications can be easily made within the scope or the annexed claims.

Claims: A mounting mechanism for connecting a compressor (10) of an automotive air conditioning system to an automobile engine (40) such that a drive shaft of the compressor is disposed parallel to the drive shaft of the engine (40), the mounting mechanism comprising a mounting bracket (20,70) fixed to the engine (40) and having at least one first hole (702a), at least one flange portion (11) projecting form an outer peripheral surface of the compressor (10) and having at least one second hole (9), axial vibration absorbing means (50) having at least one third hole aligned with said first hole (702a) and at least one bolt (80) passing through said third hole to connect said axial vibration absorbing means (50) to said mounting bracket (70), said axial vibration absorbing means (50) being disposed adjacent to said first hole (702a), characterized in that said second hole in said flange portion (11) faces perpendicular to said first hole in the mounted position of the compressor (10), that said axial vibration absorbing means (50) is disposed adjacent to said second hole (9), and has at least one fourth hole (51) aligned with said second hole, and that at least one bolt (30) passes through said second hole (9) to connect said compressor (10) to said axial vibration absorbing means (50). The mounting mechanism of claim 1, wherein said absorbing unit (50) comprises inside and outside spacers (62, 61), the vibration absorbing material (63) being disposed in the annular gap between said spacers (62, 61). The mounting mechanism of claim 2, wherein said vibration absorbing material is a vibroisolating rubber. The mounting mechanism of claim 1, wherein a plurality of said axial vibration absorbing means are integrally connected with each other by ribs (54, 55).

Inventors: IMAI, SOICHIRO, SHIMAZAKI, SEIJI
Applicants: SANDEN CORPORATION
Application year: 1989
Main classification: B60H1
IPC codes: B60H1, F16F15