EP3803119B1

EP3803119B1 - Method of assembly of a control card

Info

Publication number: EP3803119B1
Application number: EP19728610.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Metin Gunaydin; Erkan Ozkan; Yasin BATUR
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2018-06-08
Filing date: 2019-05-28
Publication date: 2023-05-10
Anticipated expiration: 2039-05-28
Also published as: WO2019233820A1; EP3803119A1; PL3803119T3

Description

The present invention relates to a method of assembly of a control card suitable for use in a variable frequency hermetic compressor.
In variable frequency driven compressors, an electronic control card is provided in order to control the revolutions of the compressor. The control card is the most complicated part of a variable frequency hermetic compressor system, making it one of the most costly components of the cooling appliances. The control card is closely positioned to the compressor, making the heat generated by the compressor a major cause for control card malfunctions and failure. In order to stabilize the temperature of the control card, a cooling system is required. A cooling unit in the form of a plate or a block is generally attached underneath the control card so as to dissipate excess heat. The cooling unit in the form of a plate must be in close proximity to the control card but should not contact it. Faulty assembly problems and changes in dimensions of the cooling plates and control cards are causing quality problems in the final product.
A prior art publication in the technical field of the present invention may be referred to as US6041609 among others, the document disclosing a hermetic compressor with an electric motor having a variable speed controlled by a converter cooled by a cooling medium flow. Another prior art with publication no. DE102016107289A1 relates to a control arrangement for regulating or controlling a compressor device, a fastening arrangement. EP2219428A2 relates to an electronic circuit device for a compressor having a configuration of accommodating a printed circuit board for driving a compressor in a storage box.
The present invention therefore proposes an arrangement according to which a control card may be superimposed on to a cooling card with ease and minimum structural damage thus decreasing labour and manufacturing costs.
The aim of the present invention is solved by a method of assembling as defined in claim 1, and by a case as defined in claim 2, and the solution comprises providing a case having a base plate and a first side wall, a second side wall, a rear wall and preferably a front wall protruding perpendicularly from the said base plate and are in contact with each other thus forming the case. The base plate is provided with a protrusion suitable for fitting inside an aperture provided on the cooling plate. The cooling plate is mounted on to the base plate by insertion of the protrusion via the aperture. At least one recess is formed on an edge of the cooling plate which are vertically aligned and coincide with a first connecting tab and a second connecting tab, provided on the side walls, therefore assuring an easy mounting of the cooling plate on to the base plate. The cooling plate, being positioned on the protrusion, is slidably moved towards the rear wall, the protrusion passing along the lenght of aperture. A channel is formed inbetween by the first connecting tab, the second protrusion and base plate and in which first the recess then the edges moves through as the cooling plate is slidably moved towards the rear wall. The edges, being moved in direction of the rear wall are inserted inside the channel, forming a robust structure between the base plate and the cooling plate for the control card to be attached on. The cooling plate is made of a metal with high heat conductivity, therefore it is vital for the cooling plate to be closely positioned to the control card. In order to prevent an electrical short circuit, the cooling plate is positioned so as not to physically contact the control card. Preferably, an electrically insulating material can be used inbetween the cooling plate and the control card to prevent short circuits. A major advantageous effect of the present invention is that any adverse effect caused by faulty assembly is prevented thus eliminating manufacturing defects and prolonging lifetime of the control card and also the hermetic compressor.
In the present invention to achieve the objects, at least a third connecting tab on the rear wall, having a rim pointing downwards towards the base plate is provided. Additionally, a stabilizer is provided on the surface of the cooling plate facing the third connecting tab when the cooling plate is fixed on the protrusion and slided towards the rear wall. The third connecting tab and the stabilizer are vertically aligned and the rim is in physical contact with the stabilizer. The sawtooth pattern surface the stabilizer has, helps the rim to hold on to the stabilizer thus fixing the position of the cooling plate. A major advantage of the present invention is that the channel is fixing the position of the cooling plate in a first axis whereas the third connecting tab is fixing the position of the cooling plate in a second axis perpendicular to the first axis thus fixing the cooling plate on to the base plate unmovable and robustly.
In another embodiment of the present invention to achieve the objects, a rib projecting from the base plate and abutting against the cooling plate as the protrusion is being inserted in to the aperture is provided. Rib is positioned so as to abut against the cooling plate as it sliably moves towards the rear wall. The distance between the rib and the rear wall is almost equal to the lenght of the cooling plate. Therefore, as the cooling plate falls from the tip of the rib, it contacts the rear wall simultaneously. An advantage of the present invention is to immobilize the cooling plate on to the base plate thus preventing vibrations caused by the hermetic compressor to have an adverse effect on the cooling plate and the control card.
In another embodiment of the present invention to achieve the objects, an aperture having longitudinally differentiating width is provided. The aperture is formed in the form of a slit and the end of the aperture closer to the rear wall while sliably moving the cooling plate towards the rear wall is wider than the opposing end. A major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the thickness of the protrusion and the width of the aperture can be adjusted for different models of the cooling plates, constituting flexibility in manufacturing options therefore decreasing manufacturing costs.
The drawings are not meant to delimit the scope of protection as identified in the claims nor should they be referred to alone in an effort to interpret the scope identified in the claims without recourse to the technical disclosure in the description of the present invention.

Figure 1 - is an upper view of the case with protrusion inserted inside the aperture during initial position;
Figure 2 - is an upper view of the case with the cooling plate abutting against the rear wall during final position;
Figure 3 - is the cross sectional side view along the dashed line A-A in Figure 2;
Figure 4 - is the cross sectional side view along the dashed line B-B in Figure 2;
Figure 5 - is a schematic view of the case with the control unit attached;
Figure 6 - is a side view of the attached to the compressor;

The following numerals are assigned to different parts demonstrated in the drawings and referred to in the present detailed description of the invention:

1. Control Card
2. Case
3. Base plate
4. Protrusion
5. First side wall
6. Second side wall
7. First connecting tab
8. Second connecting tab
9. Channel
10. Rear wall
11. Cooling plate
12. Aperture
- 121. First end
- 122. Second end
13. Recess
14. Edge
15. Third connecting tab
16. Rim
17. Stabilizer
18. Rib

The present invention relates to a method of assembling a control card (1) on to a cooling plate (11) of a hermetic compressor comprising: providing a case (2) having a base plate (3); having a first side wall (5) and a second side wall (6) having a first connecting tab (7) and a second connecting tab (8) respectively, extending parallel to the base plate (3) and forming a channel (9) thereinbetween; having a protrusion (4) and a rear wall (10) extending between said side walls (5,6); providing the cooling plate (11) having an aperture (12) and at least one recess (13) provided on an edge (14) of the cooling plate (11); attaching the cooling plate (11) to the base plate (3) via the aperture (12) through which the protrusion (4) is inserted and wherein the recess (13) and connecting tabs (7,8) are vertically aligned; attaching the cooling plate (11) by slidably moving on to the protrusion (4) along the aperture (12) and inside the channel (9) along the edge (14) simultaneously towards the rear wall (10).
The present invention relates to a method of the control card (1) assembly, suitable for being used in a variable frequency compressor. The case (2) is provided with the base plate (3) having the protrusion (4) located close to its center, the first side wall (5) and the second side wall (6) opposing the first side wall (5) and extending parallel to it. Both side walls (5,6) are provided with the connecting tabs (7,8) respectively. The connecting tabs (7,8), are preferably in the form of a rectangular prism, protruding from respective said side walls (5,6) and are parallel to the base plate (3) forming the channel (9) inbetween, the channel (9) being thicker than the cooling plate (11). The rear wall (10) is extending between the first side wall (5) and the second side wall (6). The cooling plate (11) is made of a material with a high heat conductivity such as aluminum, copper, steel or a mixture of at least two different metals, with the aperture (12) is provided. The cooling plate (11) is attached on to the base plate (3) by insertion of the protrusion (4) inside the aperture (12). The protrusion (4) and the aperture (12) have form-fitting shapes, preferably a cylinder and a rectangular or an ellipsoid respectively. The cooling plate (11) is provided with the recess (13) on the edge (14). The recess (13) is provided on the edge (14) so as to coincide with the first connecting tab (7) or the second connecting tab (8) while attaching the cooling plate (11) to the base plate (3) via the aperture (12). Having the cooling plate (11) being located on to the protrusion (4) and the recesses (13) facing the channel (9), by sliding the cooling plate (11), the protrusion (4) moves along the aperture (12) and the edge (14) moves along the respective said side walls (5,6) and enters the channel (9) respectively, thus limiting the movement of the cooling plate (11). The control card (1) is attached on to the cooling plate (11). The control card (1) is electrically insulated from, but is in heat transfer with the cooling plate (11) so as to allow excess heat generated by the neighbouring compressor to be dissipated to the cooling plate (11) while preventing short circuits. As a result, a control card (1) with a longer lifetime is obtained, therefore improving maintenance costs.
The present invention relates to a case (2) comprising; a base plate (3) which comprises; a first side wall (5) and a second side wall (6) with a first connecting tab (7) and a second connecting tab (8) respectively that extend parallel to the base plate (3) so as to form a channel (9) thereinbetween; a protrusion (4); a rear wall (10) that extends between the said side walls (5,6); a cooling plate (11) which comprises; an aperture (12) and at least one recess (13) provided on an edge (14) of the cooling plate (11); The cooling plate (11) having an initial position wherein the cooling plate (11) is located on the base plate (3) by insertion of the protrusion (4) in to the aperture (12) near a first end (121) of the aperture (12) and wherein the recess (13) and the connecting tabs (7,8) are vertically aligned.
The present invention relates to a case (2) comprising a base plate (3) which comprises; a first side wall (5) and a second side wall (6) with a first connecting tab (7) and a second connecting tab (8) respectively that extend parallel to the base plate (3) so as to form a channel (9) thereinbetween; a protrusion (4); a rear wall (10) that extends between the said side walls (5,6); a cooling plate (11) which comprises; an aperture (12) and at least one recess (13) provided on an edge (14) of the cooling plate (11); the cooling plate (11) having an initial position wherein the cooling plate (11) is located on the base plate (3) by insertion of the protrusion (4) in to the aperture (12) near a first end (121) of the aperture (12) and wherein the recess (13) and the connecting tabs (7,8) are vertically aligned.
The present invention relates to a case (2) comprising at least a third connecting tab (15) on the rear wall (10) with a rim (16) pointing downwards towards the base plate (3); a stabilizer (17) on the surface of the cooling plate (11) pointing away from the base plate (3), the cooling plate (11) having a final position wherein the cooling plate is abutting against the rear wall (10) underneath the rim (16) and the protrusion (4) is near a second end (122) opposing the first end (121) along the aperture (12) so as to vertically align and couple the stabilizer (17) with the rim (16).
The third connecting tab (15) with the rim (16) pointing downwards is provided so as to couple with the corresponding stabilizer (17) carved on the surface of the cooling plate (11). Surface of the stabilizer (17) has a sawtooth shaped pattern or an indentation in the shape of a triangle or a rectangle form-fittingly matching with the rim (16) making coupling with the rim (16) easier. The rim (16) prevents the cooling plate (11) to move backwards thus creating a rigid structure for the control card (1) to be attached on. The rim (16) can be lifted up in order to free the cooling plate (11) from its hold.
The present invention relates to a case (2) comprising a rib (18) that is arranged on the base plate to abut against the cooling plate (11) from below and form fittingly hold the cooling plate between itself and the rear wall (10) in the final position. The rib (18) limits the backwards movement of cooling plate (11) by acting as a barrier, creating a frame like structure along with the connecting tabs (7,8,15) and the protrusion (4) and likewise forming a rigid structure for the control card (1) to be attached on. The rib (18) is thicker than the cooling plate (11).
The present invention relates to a case comprising the aperture (12) having a differentiating width, the width expanding in a direction starting from the first end (121) to the second end (122). The aperture (12) has a differentiating width, thus limiting the movement of the protrusion (4) inside the aperture (12). As a result, a rigid structure for attaching control card (1) is obtained by slidingly fitting the protrusion (4) into the aperture (12). Also, the aperture (12) with varying width can be used for different type of protrusions, decreasing the overall cost of manufacturing.
In the method of attaching the control card (1) of the present invention, the cooling plate (11) is fixed on to the base plate (3) by insertion of the protrusion (4) into the aperture (12). By slidably moving the cooling plate (11) towards the rear wall (10), the protrusion (4) is moved longitudinally inside the aperture (12) and the edges (14) inside the respective recesses (13). Therefore, utilization of specialized holders having intricate moving parts is decreased, providing final products with minimum or no manufacturing defects.

Claims

A method of assembling a control card (1) on to a cooling plate (11) of a hermetic compressor, comprising:
• providing a case (2) having a base plate (3);
∘ having a first side wall (5) and a second side wall (6) having a first connecting tab (7) and a second connecting tab (8) respectively, extending parallel to the base plate (3) and forming a channel (9) thereinbetween;

∘ having a protrusion (4) and a rear wall (10) extending between said side walls (5,6);

• providing the cooling plate (11) having an aperture (12) and at least one recess (13) provided on an edge (14) of the cooling plate (11);

• providing at least a third connecting tab (15) on the rear wall (10) with a rim (16) pointing downwards towards the base plate (3);

• providing a stabilizer (17) on the surface of the cooling plate (11) pointing away from the base plate (3),

• attaching the cooling plate (11) to the base plate (3) via the aperture (12) through which the protrusion (4) is inserted and wherein the recess (13) and connecting tabs (7,8) are vertically aligned;

• attaching the cooling plate (11) by slidably moving on to the protrusion (4) along the aperture (12) and inside the channel (9) along the edge (14) simultaneously towards the rear wall (10);

• positioning the cooling plate (11) to have a final position, wherein the cooling plate is abutting against the rear wall (10) underneath the rim (16) and the protrusion (4) is near a second end (122) opposing the first end (121) along the aperture (12) so as to vertically align and couple the stabilizer (17) with the rim (16).
A case (2) comprising;
• a base plate (3) which comprises;
∘ a first side wall (5) and a second side wall (6) with a first connecting tab (7) and a second connecting tab (8) respectively that extend parallel to the base plate (3) so as to form a channel (9) thereinbetween;

∘ a protrusion (4);

∘ a rear wall (10) that extends between the said side walls (5,6);

• a cooling plate (11) which comprises; an aperture (12) and at least one recess (13) provided on an edge (14) of the cooling plate (11);

• the cooling plate (11) having an initial position wherein the cooling plate (11) is located on the base plate (3) by insertion of the protrusion (4) in to the aperture (12) near a first end (121) of the aperture (12) and wherein the recess (13) and the connecting tabs (7,8) are vertically aligned characterized by

• at least a third connecting tab (15) on the rear wall (10) with a rim (16) pointing downwards towards the base plate (3);

• a stabilizer (17) on the surface of the cooling plate (11) pointing away from the base plate (3),

• the cooling plate (11) having a final position wherein the cooling plate is abutting against the rear wall (10) underneath the rim (16) and the protrusion (4) is near a second end (122) opposing the first end (121) along the aperture (12) so as to vertically align and couple the stabilizer (17) with the rim (16).
A case (2) as in claim 2, characterized by a rib (18) that is arranged on the base plate to abut against the cooling plate (11) from below and form fittingly hold the cooling plate between itself and the rear wall (10) in the final position.
A case (2) as in claim 2 or 3, characterized by the aperture (12) having a differentiating width, the width expanding in the direction from the first end (121) to the second end (122).