Patent Description:
Compressor assemblies, in particular means for fixation of a compressor in a vehicle, are generally well known. <CIT> discloses an electric compressor, in which an electric motor, a compression mechanism driven by the electric motor, and an inverter for driving the electric motor are integrated, and which is attached and secured to a vehicle via a support bracket. The support bracket has a compressor-side bracket secured to the bottom part of the electric compressor, a vehicle-side bracket secured to the vehicle, and three elastic members arranged between the brackets. Two of the three elastic members are arranged toward the electric motor from the centroid position of the electric compressor, and the other one is arranged toward the compression mechanism from the centroid position.

<CIT> discloses a compressor assembly for an air supply unit of a vehicle as mentioned in the introduction as a mounting structure of an electric motor-driven compressor applied to a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a vehicle electric motor for running the vehicle, said mounting structure comprising: a compression mechanism for compressing fluid; and a compressor electric motor integrated with said compression mechanism for driving said compression mechanism, wherein said electric motor-driven compressor is mounted on the internal combustion engine in such a manner that said compressor electric motor is positioned closer to the center of gravity of the internal combustion engine than said compression mechanism. In the structure disclosed in <CIT>, said compression mechanism is driven by only said electric motor; said compressor electric motor includes an approximately cylindrical stator core, a rotor for rotating in said stator core, and said compression mechanism is driven by only said electric motor; said compressor electric motor includes an approximately cylindrical stator core, a rotor for rotating in said stator core, and a motor housing for housing said stator core and said rotor, and a fixing portion including a bolt hole in which a bolt is inserted to fix said motor housing to the internal combustion engine, and said fixing portion is formed on said motor housing at a position deviated from a part corresponding to said stator core.

Despite these generally favorable approaches of mounting compressors in a vehicle, there is still further potential of improving the mounting characteristics, in particular regarding the reduced transmission of vibrations. It is therefore desirable to address at least one of the above problems.

Compressor assemblies should be improved with respect to a reliable mounting which allows in particular a reduced transmission of vibrations.

The document <CIT> relates to the technical field of compressor damping, in particular to a damping device for a compressor. The compressor comprises a damping structure and a compressor support. The damping structure is of a multi-layer damping pad structure, one end of the damping structure is installed above the support, and the other end of the damping structure is installed between the support and a vehicle body and used for damping a to-be-damped compressor. The compressor support is arranged among the multiple shock absorption structures and clamped between pads of the multi-layer shock absorption pad structure through the shock absorption structures, the bottom of the compressor support is suspended under the action of the shock absorption structures, and an installation hole is formed in the compressor support and used for being fixedly connected with a shock absorption compressor. The vehicle body is connected with the bottom of the damping structure and used for supporting the damping structure. The damping device for the compressor aims at overcoming the defects in the prior art, and on the premise that the damping effect on the compressor is guaranteed, the device is simplified.

The document <CIT> provides a connection structure for a compressor of an air conditioner for a vehicle. According to a first aspect of the present invention, a bolt fixing hole is formed to be parallel on both sides of a compressor used in an air conditioner for a vehicle. Also, a bolt is inserted into the first bolt fixing hole, and the compressor is connected to a vehicle body. The connection structure for a compressor of an air conditioner for a vehicle includes: a bolt fixing unit having a second bolt fixing hole in which the bolt is inserted on a central axis, wherein one end of the bolt fixing unit is individually inserted into both ends of the first bolt fixing hole; a pressure supply path supplying a part of pressure supplied from the compressor to an end of the first bolt fixing hole in which the bolt fixing unit is inserted; and a fixing member installed on the outer circumference of the bolt fixing unit inserted into the end of the first bolt fixing hole and maintaining fixing of the bolt fixing unit. According to the present invention, the connection structure for a compressor of an air conditioner for a vehicle can reduce vibration generated in the compressor by supplying the part of the pressure generated in the compressor to a connection part of the compressor on a connection mount.

According to claim <NUM>, a compressor assembly for an air supply unit of a vehicle is proposed, comprising:.

In accordance with the invention, it is proposed that.

The invention is based on the finding that, it is generally advantageous to provide means for absorption and/or damping of vibration when mounting a compressor assembly to a housing structure of an air supply unit. By providing a bearing that comprises a flexible, hollow bellow, adapted to receive a gaseous medium, said bellow acts in the manner of an air spring, significantly absorbing and/or damping vibrations that otherwise would have been transmitted via a conventional bearing from the compressor assembly to the housing structure of the air supply unit and vice versa. Furthermore, in the common case that the air supply unit is part of a vehicle, a transmission of vibrations between the compressor and the vehicle can be reduced advantageously.

According to the invention, it was specifically recognized that - since the bellow is adapted to be pneumatically charged to change from an unpressurized state to a pressurized state, wherein the mounting feature is adapted to fix the bellow to the mounting bracket - a reliable, yet easy way of assembly is achieved and the assembly effort and number of required parts for assembly can advantageously be reduced.

The term 'positive lock' is used to describe - despite the elastic flexibility of the bellow - the mounting feature's property of restraining movement of the mounting bracket relative to the bellow, in particular in an axial and/or radial direction.

Further embodiments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims and show particular advantageous possibilities to realize above described concept in light of the object of the invention and regarding further advantages.

In accordance with a further embodiment, a fixation feature is proposed, adapted to mechanically connect the bellow to the housing structure of the air supply unit. In particular, said fixation feature comprises one or more mechanical components, in particular a screw or the like threaded component, for creating a force, in particular a compression force, for fixing the bellow to the housing structure of the air supply unit. By applying a screw or the like threaded component, a refastenable connection can advantageously be achieved.

Preferably, a mounting assembly is proposed with a mounting screw, in particular with a mounting nut, adapted to exert an axial compression force to the bellow or a bellow skin of the bellow by fastening the mounting screw and/or the mounting nut. In embodiments, a mounting assembly can comprise a mounting screw and a mounting nut which are adapted to engage to each other and exert a compression force in an area between a mounting screw head of the mounting screw and the mounting nut.

It is preferably suggested that the mounting assembly is part of the fixation feature and adapted to charge the bellow from an unpressurized state into a pressurized state. By applying a compression force, the mounting assembly is adapted to increase the pressure acting on a bellow, charging the bellow from an unpressurized stayed to a pressurized state, with the consequence that at least one mounting feature, in particular recess, will form out to hold a mounting bracket of the compressor assembly in a positively locking manner. The charging process can be considered completed once a certain distance between the mounting screw head and the mounting nut, or a certain (decreased) axial extension of the bellow has been reached by fastening the mounting assembly.

It is preferably suggested that the mounting assembly is part of the mounting feature and adapted to clamp the bellow skin by means of a force closure, in particular sealingly clamp, the bellow skin at a clamping orifice located in the mounting feature. By applying a compression force, the mounting assembly is adapted to hold the bellow skin, in particular in between a mounting screw head and the mounting nut, resulting in a force closure, fixing the mounting assembly to the bellow. Also, in particular if the bellow features a clamping orifice, the force closure of the mounting assembly can have a sealing function, preventing air to escape from an inner bellow space of the bellow.

In accordance with a further embodiment, it is proposed that the mounting assembly comprises at least one mounting screw washer adapted to distribute the compression force on the bellow in particular on a bellow end face of the bellow. One or more washers can be inserted on the mounting screw in between the mounting screw head and the mounting nut for a better distribution of the compression force. Such washers are particularly advantageous for bellows of an air tight kind, where a compression force leads to a charging into the pressurized state.

In accordance with a further embodiment, it is proposed that the bellow is air tight. Such air tight bellow has the advantage of requiring relatively little assembly and operation effort, since no pressure supply is required for charging the bellow into a pressurized state.

It is preferably suggested that the bellow comprises a pressure port, adapted to receive the gaseous medium for pneumatically charging the bellow into its pressurized state. In particular, the pressure port is adapted to pneumatically connect the bellow to a charging line, in particular a compressor line of the housing structure. A bellow with such pressure port can advantageously be charged by the application of pressurized air, which in particular is available from the compressor assembly mounted by said bearing. Because of the constant availability of pressurized air, the bellow can be re-charged, for example in case of a pressure loss, for maintaining the damping function of the bellow long-term.

It is preferably suggested that the fixation feature comprises.

Preferably, a valve is proposed, adapted to pneumatically close and open the pressure port and/or the pneumatic connection between the charging line and the bellow. With such a valve, the charging of the bellow can be controlled. Also a de-charging, for example in case of a replacement of the compressor assembly, can be achieved by opening the valve prior to disassembly, allowing the pressurized air to escape the inner bellow space.

It is preferably suggested that the valve is a check valve, adapted to open in a flow direction from the charging line to the bellow, and to close in the opposite direction. With such check valve, it is ensured that pressurized air, when available, is always directed into the inner bellow space, but cannot escape the inner bellow space because of the locking function of the check valve in the opposite flow direction.

Preferably, the bellow is comprised of rubber. Rubber has the advantage of being a widely available construction material with well known properties. In particular, the flexible mechanical properties, i.e. its elastic flexibility, make rubber particularly suitable for an application in an air spring bellow.

It is preferably suggested that the bellow rotationally symmetric.

Preferably, the mounting feature comprises a rotationally symmetric recess, in particular coaxially aligned with the bellow. Such rotationally symmetric recess, and/or a rotationally symmetric bellow, lead to a relatively simple geometry of the bellow and thus make it easy to manufacture. In embodiments where the mounting feature comprises a recess which is coaxially aligned with the bellow, the force resulting from the mounting of the compressor assembly is advantageously introduced into the bellow in a center region, in particular at the center of gravity of the bellow.

In a second aspect, the invention leads to an air supply unit for a vehicle, comprising.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the air supply unit, it is proposed that the housing structure comprises a charging line, in particular a compressor line, adapted to pneumatically connect a pressure outlet, in particular of the compressor assembly, to the pressure port of the bellow bearing. With such charging line, the bellow can be charged by an integrated pressure line, without the need for any further pressure line and/or further installation effort.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the air supply unit, it is proposed that a valve is located in the charging line, wherein the valve is adapted to pneumatically close and open the pressure port and/or the pneumatic connection between the charging line and the bellow. By being integrated into the charging line, such valve function can be realized without further increasing the complexity of the bearing and/or bellow itself. Therefore, the bearing could be exchanged without exchanging the valve. Also, prior to a disassembly of the bearing, the supply of pressurized air can be conveniently blocked through the valve in the charging line.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the air supply unit, it is proposed that the housing structure is a cast structure. A cast structure, due to its manufacturing process, allows for a relatively easy integration of a charging line inside the structure by means of casting, in particular without any drilling.

These and other aspects, features and/or technical effect will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the illustrations described hereinafter which show in:.

<FIG> shows a bearing <NUM> of a compressor assembly <NUM> according to the concept of the invention. The bearing <NUM> comprises a bellow <NUM>, adapted to mechanically connect, in particular to fix in a damping manner, a mounting bracket <NUM> of a compressor housing <NUM> to a (not shown) housing structure <NUM> of an air supply unit <NUM>. The bearing <NUM> comprises a fixation feature <NUM> in the form of a hollow cylindrical body <NUM>. The hollow cylindrical body <NUM> comprises in its center a cylindrical gas passage <NUM>, adapted to pneumatically connect an inner bellow space <NUM> of the bellow <NUM> to a charging line <NUM>, in particular a compressor line <NUM>, of the air supply unit <NUM>. For such pneumatic connection, the bellow <NUM> comprises a pressure port <NUM> on a second, supply unit-side bellow end face <NUM>, which is located at the gas passage <NUM> of the fixation feature <NUM>. A bellow skin <NUM> of the bellow <NUM> is held by the fixation feature <NUM>, here the hollow cylindrical body <NUM>, by means of clamping. For this, a rotationally symmetrical web <NUM> of the hollow cylindrical body <NUM> is bent inwards in order to engage with and/or positively lock and/or force close the bellow skin <NUM>.

The bellow <NUM> is rotationally symmetrical with respect to an axial direction AA. On a compressor-side bellow end face <NUM>, located opposite of the supply unit-side bellow end face <NUM>, the bellow <NUM> comprises a mounting feature <NUM>.

The mounting feature <NUM> is adapted to receive a radially and outwardly extending mounting shoulder <NUM> of the mounting bracket <NUM>. Particularly when the bellow <NUM> is in an unpressurized state SU, the mounting shoulder <NUM> can be inserted into the mounting feature <NUM>, which here comprises a recess <NUM> in the form of a rotationally symmetric recess <NUM>. In the shown embodiment, the rotationally symmetric recess <NUM> has the shape of a negative frustoconical recess <NUM>. By applying a pressure to the inner bellow space <NUM> through the charging line <NUM>, the bellow <NUM> can be charged from its unpressurized state SU to a pressurized state SP. In said pressurized state SP, the flexibility of the bellow <NUM> decreases due to the increased pressure inside and the shape of the bellow <NUM> is stiffened as a consequence. Due to the shape of the negative frustoconical recess <NUM>, in particular the fact that a recess diameter DR increases towards the inside of the bellow <NUM>, and a corresponding shape of the mounting shoulder <NUM>, said mounting shoulder <NUM> will be positively locked in said rotationally symmetric recess <NUM> once the bellow <NUM> is charged to its pressurized state SP.

<FIG> shows a bearing <NUM> similar to the one shown in <FIG>. The bearing <NUM> is shown in a mounted state, mechanically connected to a housing structure <NUM> of an air supply unit <NUM>. The mechanical connection is established via there threaded surface <NUM> of the hollow cylindrical body <NUM> engaging with a bearing thread <NUM> of the housing structure <NUM>, wherein the bearing thread <NUM> is located at a mounting receptacle <NUM> of the housing structure <NUM>. The housing structure <NUM> further comprises a charging line <NUM>, wherein the charging line <NUM> is pneumatically connected to the inner bellow space <NUM> via the mounting receptacle <NUM> for charging the bellow <NUM> from an unpressurized state SU to a pressurized state SP. The charging line <NUM> can particularly be a compressor line <NUM>, pneumatically connecting the inner bellow space <NUM> to a pressure outlet <NUM> of the compressor <NUM>. Via such compressor line <NUM>, the bellow <NUM> can be charged from an unpressurized state SU into its pressurized state SP directly by the compressor <NUM> of the air supply unit <NUM>, mounted by the bearing <NUM>. The inner bellow space <NUM> is filled with a gaseous medium <NUM>, in particular air <NUM>, flowing in a flow direction DF from the charging line <NUM> to the inner bellow space <NUM>. In particular, the air <NUM> can be provided by the compressor <NUM> in form of pressurized air DL. The housing structure <NUM>, in particular a mounting receptacle <NUM>, or the bearing <NUM>, in particular the hollow cylindrical body <NUM> and/or the pressure port <NUM>, can comprise a valve <NUM> for controlling the flow of the gaseous medium <NUM> into the inner bellow space <NUM> or out of it. In particular, the valve <NUM> can be a check valve <NUM>, allowing a flow of the gaseous medium <NUM> in the flow direction DF, and blocking the flow in the opposite direction.

<FIG> shows a second embodiment of a bearing <NUM>' according to the concept of the invention. As a difference to the previously shown embodiment in <FIG>, the mounting feature <NUM>' of a bellow <NUM>' of the bearing <NUM>' comprises a recess <NUM>' in the form of a rotationally symmetric recess <NUM>, in particular a cylindrical recess <NUM>. The mounting feature <NUM>' further comprises a mounting assembly <NUM> with a mounting screw <NUM> and a mounting nut <NUM>. The mounting assembly <NUM> establishes a mechanical connection between the bellow <NUM>' and the mounting assembly <NUM> by means of clamping, by tightening the mounting screw <NUM> to the mounting nut <NUM> and therefore exerting a compression force FC onto the bellow skin <NUM>. For establishing said mechanical connection, the mounting screw <NUM> is first inserted through the pressure port <NUM> of the bearing <NUM>' in an unmounted state, and further through a clamping orifice <NUM> the mounting screw <NUM> comprises a screw head <NUM> and/or a washer <NUM> with a diameter greater than the diameter of the clamping orifice <NUM>. The mounting nut <NUM> comprises a hollow cylindrical shaft <NUM> with an inner thread <NUM> adapted to engage with the mounting screw <NUM> such that, in a fastened state of the mounting assembly <NUM>, the bellow skin <NUM> of the bellow <NUM> is clamped tightly in between the screw had <NUM> or washer <NUM> and the shaft <NUM>.

After mounting of the mounting assembly <NUM> and before charging the bellow <NUM>', the mounting bracket <NUM>' is held loosely between the mounting nut <NUM> and the bellow <NUM>'. The axial dimension of the mounting nut <NUM> along the axial direction AA as well as the axial dimension of the recess <NUM> of the bellow <NUM>' is selected such that the bellow <NUM>, upon being charged in its pressurized state SP, will firmly press the mounting bracket <NUM>' against the mounting nut <NUM>, establishing a positive locking of the mounting bracket <NUM>'. Said charging of the bellow <NUM>' can be achieved via a charging line <NUM>, analogously to the previously shown embodiment.

In alternative embodiments, the hollow cylindrical shaft <NUM> of the mounting nut <NUM> can be separate from the mounting nut <NUM> as a single part or also can be attached to the mounting bracket <NUM>'.

In preferred embodiments, in particular were a mounting assembly <NUM>' is part of the fixation feature <NUM> of an air tight bellow <NUM>", the hollow cylindrical shaft <NUM> of a mounting nut <NUM>' can be of a defined axial length which limits the extent to which the mounting screw <NUM>' can be fastened and thus defines a minimum axial extension of the bellow <NUM>".

<FIG> shows a third embodiment of the bearing <NUM>" according to the concept of the invention. The bearing <NUM>" comprises a bellow <NUM>" which is airtight and therefore does not comprises a pressure port or the like gas passage. An inner bellow space <NUM>' is filled with a gaseous medium <NUM>, in particular an inert gas <NUM>. An inert gas <NUM> has the advantage of reducing temperature influences to the bellow, in particular increasing the resistance to freezing.

The bellow <NUM>" comprises a mounting feature <NUM>", which comprises a recess <NUM> in the form of an outer circumferential recess <NUM> and is adapted to receive a mounting bracket <NUM>" of a compressor assembly <NUM>. The outer circumferential recess <NUM> is adapted to hold the mounting bracket <NUM>" in a positively locking manner when the bellow <NUM>" is in its pressurized state SU. A fixation feature <NUM>' comprises a mounting assembly <NUM>', wherein the mounting assembly <NUM>' comprises a mounting screw <NUM>' and a mounting nut <NUM>'. The fixation feature <NUM>' further comprises a rotationally symmetric recess <NUM> in the form of a cylindrical through hole <NUM>. The cylindrical through hole <NUM> is adapted to receive the mounting assembly <NUM>' in order to mechanically connect, in particular fix, the bellow <NUM>" to a mounting receptacle <NUM> of a housing structure <NUM> of an air supply unit <NUM>. The mounting assembly <NUM>' is further adapted to charge the bellow <NUM>" from an unpressurized state SU to a pressurized state SP by fastening the mounting nut <NUM>' to the mounting screw <NUM>' and thus compressing the bellow <NUM>" by reducing the axial distance between the mounting nut <NUM>', in particular a mounting nut flange <NUM>, and the mounting screw <NUM>', in particular a mounting screw head <NUM>. In this embodiment, the concept of pneumatically charging the bellow <NUM> is realized by a mechanical compression imposed on the bellow <NUM>" in the form of a compression force FC by the mounting assembly <NUM>', achieved by fastening said mounting assembly <NUM>.

In its unpressurized state SU of the bellow <NUM>", an unpressurized outer bellow diameter DBO1 is equal to or smaller than an inner bracket diameter DBI of a bracket orifice <NUM> of the mounting bracket <NUM>", such that the bellow <NUM>" can be inserted into said bracket orifice <NUM>. In some embodiments, the unpressurized outer bellow diameter DBO1 can also be slightly greater than the inner bracket diameter DBI, as long as, due to the flexibility of the bellow <NUM>", it can be inserted into the bracket orifice <NUM>. Upon charging, in its pressurized state SP, the bellow <NUM>", due to the axial compression, increases its diameter to a pressurized outer bellow diameter DBO2, which is greater than the inner bracket diameter DBI. As a consequence of the compression and the diameter increase, the outer circumferential recess <NUM> forms out and the bellow <NUM>" holds the mounting bracket <NUM> in a positively locking manner due to the shape of the outer circumferential recess <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a fourth embodiment of a bearing <NUM>‴ which differs from the third embodiment in particular in that a mounting assembly <NUM>" of a fixation feature <NUM>" comprises a first mounting screw washer <NUM>. 2A and a second mounting screw washer <NUM>.

A mounting screw <NUM>" comprises a mounting screw head <NUM>' and is adapted to directly engage with a thread of a mounting receptacle <NUM>' (not shown) of a housing structure <NUM> of an air supply unit <NUM>.

Both mounting screw washers <NUM>. 1B feature a washer diameter DW which is equal to or greater than a pressurized outer bellow diameter DBO2 of the bellow <NUM>‴. With such washer diameter DW, the first mounting screw washer <NUM>. 2A completely covers a first, upper bellow end face <NUM>' and the second mounting screw washer <NUM>. 2B completely covers a second, supply unit - side bellow end face <NUM>' of the bellow <NUM>‴. With such mounting screw washers <NUM>. 1B, the compression force FC exerted on the bellow <NUM>‴ by the mounting assembly <NUM>" can be equally distributed across the complete bellow end faces <NUM>', <NUM>' when the bellow <NUM>‴ is pneumatically charged by fastening the mounting assembly <NUM>". Such mounting screw washers can also be applied in other embodiments, e.g. the one shown in <FIG>, for achieving a more equal force distribution, and are particularly advantageous for embodiments comprising an air tight bellow.

A mounting feature <NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>" can comprise a feature marking <NUM> as a means of guidance for the assembly process. In the shown embodiment, the feature marking <NUM> of the outer circumferential recess <NUM> comprises a colored circumferential zone which has to be brought into alignment with a bracket orifice (not shown here, see e.g. <FIG>) prior to charging the bellow <NUM>‴ into its pressurized state SP.

Claim 1:
Compressor assembly (<NUM>) for an air supply unit (<NUM>) of a vehicle (<NUM>), comprising:
- a compressor (<NUM>) for providing pressurized air (DL), with a compressor housing (<NUM>),
- at least one mounting bracket (<NUM>), wherein the at least one mounting bracket (<NUM>) is fixed to the compressor housing (<NUM>),
- for each mounting bracket (<NUM>) one bearing (<NUM>), for connecting the compressor assembly (<NUM>) to a housing structure (<NUM>) of the air supply unit (<NUM>),
characterized in that
- the bearing (<NUM>) comprises a flexible, hollow bellow (<NUM>), adapted to receive a gaseous medium (<NUM>), wherein the bellow (<NUM>) comprises
- at least one mounting feature (<NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>"), in particular recess (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), adapted to receive the mounting bracket (<NUM>), and
- the bellow (<NUM>) is adapted to be pneumatically charged from an unpressurized state (SU) into a pressurized state (SP), wherein
- the mounting feature (<NUM>, <NUM>', <NUM>") is adapted to mechanically connect the bellow (<NUM>) to the mounting bracket (<NUM>) in a pressurized state (SP) by means of a positive lock (PL).