Conduit retaining clip

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

P-0001[0001] This invention relates to a clip for a power supply housing of a compressor canister.

P-0002[0002] Compressors are typically mounted within a sealed housing structure, such as a shell. The housing structure receives a compressor pump unit and an electric motor for driving the compressor pump unit. Refrigerant flows within the compressor housing for cooling the electric motor. The motor requires a source of current to power its windings. One recent power supply for a sealed compressor communicates power to the electric motor from a removable cable located on the outside of the housing structure. The cable is connected to terminals that act as electrical contacts to carry the power to the electric motor within the housing structure.

P-0003[0003] In this type of compressor, a protective cover, such as a power supply housing, serves to create a barrier between the terminal ends and the environment. This power supply housing is attached to the compressor canister. The power supply housing may comprise two pieces: a terminal fence or wall that attaches to the compressor canister and a cover which connects to the terminal fence. This two-piece assembly permits an installer to make the terminal connections between the cable and the canister and then place the cover over the terminal fence.

P-0004[0004] The terminal fence has a slot to permit the cable to pass through its wall. The slot is generally u-shaped to permit the cable to be quickly laid in the slot of the fence. This feature, however, also allows the cable to slip out of the slot or at least move somewhat after installation. Moreover, a protective tube or conduit comprising a hollow cylinder may receive the cable and serve to seal the slot around the cable. This conduit may be secured axially along the cable's length but may also slip out of the U-shaped opening or move within the spring after installation.

P-0005[0005] A need therefore exists to better secure the cable and protective conduit to their proper location about the slot.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

P-0006[0006] The invention comprises a compressor assembly. As known, the assembly has a compressor pump unit and a motor powering the pump unit. A housing surrounds the compressor pump unit and the motor, providing a protective and sealed environment. A cable communicates electricity to the motor through electrical contacts on the housing. Protecting the contacts from the environment is a power supply housing. The power supply housing has a slot to receive the cable. This slot permits insertion of the cable into the housing along a first axis and also permits removal of the cable along a second axis transverse to the first axis. A clip serves to connect the cable to the housing and limit movement of the cable along the second axis.

P-0007[0007] In addition, the compressor may have a conduit disposed around the cable to provide further protection of the cable and the electrical contacts. The conduit may comprise a threaded portion that mates with a nut. The conduit is inserted into the slot and the nut tightened around the slot and within the housing, thereby preventing the conduit from moving along the first axis outwardly of the slot.

P-0008[0008] A lip may be formed around the slot. In this instance, the clip may connect to this lip. The clip may comprise a ring having one leg that engages the lip and prevents movement of the cable along the second axis. Preferably, more legs may be formed on the clip to better secure the clip to the lip of the slot. The legs of the clip may expand to permit the clip to be snapped onto the lip. A cover may be placed over the fence to provide additional protection for the electrical contacts of the compressor housing.

P-0009[0009] Accordingly, a cable may be set into the slot of the power supply housing of the compressor. The cable is then secured to the power supply housing along a first axis. The cable is clipped to this housing to prevent movement of the cable along a second axis transverse to the first axis. The clip may attach to a conduit disposed around the cable. In this way, the cable is secured to the slot. Once secured in this fashion, an installer is then free to make the necessary terminal connections between the cable and the compressor motor without concern of having the cable slip out of the slot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

P-0010[0010] The various features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the currently preferred embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows:

P-0011[0011]FIG. 1 shows compressor housing, power supply housing, and cable.

P-0012[0012]FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the power supply housing including cable, conduit, clip, nut and terminal connections.

P-0013[0013]FIG. 2A shows a cross sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 2.

P-0014[0014]FIG. 3 illustrates the clip of FIGS. 2 and 3.

P-0015[0015]FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative view of the clip of FIG. 3.

P-0016[0016]FIG. 5 illustrates a cross sectional view of the clip placed over the lip of the fence of the cable housing of FIGS. 2 and 2A.

P-0017[0017]FIG. 6 illustrates the placement of the clip on the lip of the fence of FIG. 5.

P-0018[0018]FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the clip assembled with conduit and nut.

P-0019[0019]FIG. 8 illustrates another view of the embodiment of FIG. 7 with the cover removed.

P-0020[0020]FIG. 9 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 8 with cover snapped to the fence.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

P-0021[0021]FIG. 1 illustrates an environmental view of the invention, compressor <b>20</b>. As known, compressor <b>20</b> comprises a compressor pump unit <b>21</b> and an electric motor <b>23</b> supported and protected by compressor housing <b>24</b>. The pump unit <b>21</b> is preferably a scroll compressor, as shown, but other sealed compressors will benefit from this invention. Power is supplied to compressor <b>20</b> and to motor therein by cable <b>28</b>, which may be connected to a source of electrical power. Power supply housing <b>32</b> is mounted to compressor housing <b>24</b> and provides protection for the electrical interface between cable <b>28</b> and the interior of compressor housing <b>24</b>. Housing <b>32</b> is preferably provided with terminal connections to the motor, and is preferably potted. The power supply housing interior may be generally as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,290,528. As shown, wires <b>25</b> (shown schematically) connect housing <b>32</b> to motor <b>23</b>. Cable <b>28</b> is connected to wires <b>25</b> such as shown at <b>27</b> within housing <b>32</b>.

P-0022[0022]FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded greatly simplified view of power supply housing <b>32</b>. As shown from this view, power supply housing <b>32</b> comprises fence <b>36</b> and cover <b>40</b>. Fence <b>36</b> has slot <b>44</b>, which may be a u-shaped opening in fence <b>36</b>. Fence <b>36</b> comprises a wall with an interior room <b>38</b> where cable <b>28</b> connects to terminal ends <b>48</b>, which are the electrical contacts for supplying power to the motor. Cable <b>28</b> may be inserted along the x-axis or laid onto slot across the y-axis as a consequence of the u-shaped opening of slot <b>44</b>. In addition, cable <b>28</b> is also removable along both the x-axis and y-axis. The x-axis is orthogonal to the y-axis as shown here.

P-0023[0023] Disposed around cable <b>28</b> is conduit <b>56</b>, which comprises a hollow cylinder to permit the insertion of cable <b>28</b> and to seal slot <b>44</b> from the environment. Threaded portion <b>60</b> is insertable through slot <b>44</b>. Nut <b>64</b> mates with threaded portion <b>60</b> inside the housing <b>32</b> to secure conduit <b>56</b> along the x-axis. Clip <b>52</b> provides the inventive aspect of this assembly by securing cable and conduit <b>56</b> along the y-axis.

P-0024[0024]FIG. 2A better illustrates this inventive feature. This figure shows a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 2. As shown, cable <b>28</b> and conduit are inserted through slot <b>44</b>. Surrounding slot <b>44</b> is lip <b>68</b>, a protrusion formed on fence <b>36</b>. Nut <b>64</b> is tightened on threaded portion <b>60</b> of conduit <b>56</b>, preventing conduit <b>56</b> from moving along the x-axis. Clip <b>52</b> is disposed around both conduit <b>56</b> and cable <b>28</b>. In addition, leg <b>72</b>A of clip <b>52</b> contacts lip <b>68</b> of fence <b>36</b>, thereby limiting movement of conduit <b>56</b> and cable <b>28</b> along the y-axis. Clip <b>52</b> accordingly locks conduit <b>56</b> and cable <b>28</b> in place to reduce movement of cable <b>28</b> and protect the connection of terminals <b>48</b>. Accordingly, cable <b>28</b> and conduit <b>56</b> are secured along the y-axis.

P-0025[0025]FIG. 3 illustrates a close up view of the inventive clip <b>52</b>. Clip <b>52</b> comprises ring <b>76</b> having four legs, <b>72</b>A, <b>72</b>B, <b>72</b>C and <b>72</b>D. Clip <b>52</b> is made of a resilient material, such as steel. As shown in FIG. 4, legs <b>72</b>A, <b>72</b>B, <b>72</b>C and <b>72</b>D are spaced radially about equal distance from each other along ring <b>76</b>. Legs <b>72</b>A and <b>72</b>C are also spaced apart an unflexed distance WI. Due to the resilient nature of the material used, legs <b>72</b>A and <b>72</b>C may expand to a distance W2 greater than W1. Leg <b>72</b>B and <b>72</b>D may share a similar relationship.

P-0026[0026] As shown in FIG. 5, clip <b>52</b> maybe snapped onto lip <b>68</b> by positioning clip <b>52</b> over lip <b>68</b> and moving clip <b>52</b> along the direction of arrow F, which is also along the x-axis. As legs <b>72</b>B and <b>72</b>C contact lip <b>68</b>, they flex outward expanding from distance W1 to width W2. While leg <b>72</b>D does not contact lip <b>68</b>, leg <b>72</b>A will contact lip <b>68</b> and thereby be displaced so that distance between leg <b>72</b>A and <b>72</b>D is greater than W1. For example, lip <b>68</b> contacts leg <b>72</b>B pushing leg <b>72</b>B in the direction of arrow H while lip <b>68</b> contacts leg <b>72</b>C and pushes leg <b>72</b>C in the direction of arrow G. Leg <b>72</b>A also operates in the same manner. As can be seen, a ramped outer surface <b>69</b> of lip <b>68</b> facilitates the movement.

P-0027[0027] As shown in FIG. 6, once clip <b>52</b> is placed completely on lip <b>68</b>, legs <b>72</b>A, <b>72</b>B and <b>72</b>D of clip <b>52</b> apply force around lip <b>68</b>. The lip <b>72</b>A is not shown in FIG. 6, but as can be seen in FIG. 2A, it would directly block movement out of the slot. For example, leg <b>72</b>C applies force in the direction of arrow I while leg <b>72</b>B applies force in the direction of arrow J. Clip <b>52</b> is thereby retained on lip <b>68</b>. In both of these figures, it should be noted that leg <b>72</b>D is not in contact with lip <b>68</b> due to its placement over the opening of slot <b>44</b>. While only three legs operate to retain clip <b>52</b> onto lip <b>68</b>, a fourth leg offers the installer of clip <b>52</b> the convenience of an additional leg to align clip <b>52</b> on lip <b>68</b> and to ensure contact of a leg on lip.

P-0028[0028]FIG. 7 illustrates the assembly without a cover. Fence <b>36</b> is connected to conduit <b>56</b> with conduit <b>56</b> secured along two different directions by two connectors. Nut <b>64</b> secures conduit <b>56</b> along the x-axis while clip <b>52</b> secures conduit <b>56</b> along the y-axis.

P-0029[0029]FIG. 8 shows the assembly with cover <b>40</b>. Fence <b>36</b>, clip <b>52</b>, conduit <b>56</b>, and nut <b>64</b> are also shown. Cover <b>40</b> may be snapped into fence <b>36</b> as known by inserting cover <b>40</b> into fence <b>36</b> along arrow K. Once these features have been secured and cable <b>28</b> connected to terminal ends <b>48</b>, cover <b>40</b> may be placed within fence <b>36</b> by moving cover <b>40</b> in the K direction, which is toward compressor pump unit <b>21</b>.

P-0030[0030]FIG. 9 illustrates the final assembly with cover placed within fence <b>36</b>. As shown, conduit <b>56</b> is secured to fence <b>36</b> by clip <b>52</b> and nut <b>64</b>. Clip <b>52</b> connects conduit <b>56</b> to lip <b>68</b> of fence <b>36</b>.

P-0031[0031] The aforementioned description is exemplary rather that limiting. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The preferred embodiments of this invention have been disclosed. However, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. Hence, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. For this reason the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.