Electric compressor for vehicle air conditioner

An electric compressor configured to be mounted on an engine in an engine compartment of a vehicle, comprising:

• a compression mechanism for compressing refrigerant;
• an electric motor for driving the compression mechanism;
• a motor driving circuit for driving the electric motor;
• a housing accommodating therein the compression mechanism, the electric motor and the motor driving circuit, wherein the compression mechanism, the electric motor and the motor driving circuit are arranged in this order along an axial direction of the housing;
• at least three mounting legs projecting from the housing, the at least three mounting legs including:
• a first mounting leg projecting from the housing at a position that is close to the compression mechanism;
• and
• a second mounting leg projecting from the housing at a position that is disposed at a radially outer side of the electric motor and that is closest to the motor driving circuit amongst the at least three mounting legs;
• wherein each of the first mounting leg and the second mounting leg includes a fastening portion configured to be fastened to the engine by a first bolt and a second bolt, respectively, and a connecting portion which connects the fastening portion with the housing;
• wherein the connecting portion of the first mounting leg is configured to be broken more easily than the connecting portion of the second mounting leg so that the connecting portion of the first mounting leg that is close to the compression mechanism suppresses the transmission of the external force to the connecting portion of the second mounting leg when external force applied to the vehicle is transmitted to the housing,
• wherein a dimension of the connecting portion of the first mounting leg as measured in a longitudinal direction of the first bolt is smaller than a dimension of the connecting portion of the second mounting leg as measured in extending longitudinal direction of the second bolt.

An electric compressor configured to be mounted on an engine in an engine compartment of a vehicle, comprising:

• a compression mechanism for compressing refrigerant;
• an electric motor for driving the compression mechanism;
• a motor driving circuit for driving the electric motor;
• a housing accommodating therein the compression mechanism, the electric motor and the motor driving circuit, wherein the compression mechanism, the electric motor and the motor driving circuit are arranged in this order along an axial direction of the housing;
• at least three mounting legs projecting from the housing, the at least three mounting legs including:
• a first mounting leg projecting from the housing at a position that is close to the compression mechanism;
• and
• a second mounting leg projecting from the housing at a position that is disposed at a radially outer side of the electric motor and that is closest to the motor driving circuit amongst the at least three mounting legs,
• wherein each of the first mounting leg and the second mounting leg includes a fastening portion configured to be fastened to the engine, and a connecting portion which connects the fastening portion with the housing;
• wherein the connecting portion of the first mounting leg is configured to be broken more easily than the connecting portion of the second mounting leg so that the connecting portion of the first mounting leg that is close to the compression mechanism suppresses the transmission of the external force to the connecting portion of the second mounting leg when external force applied to the vehicle is transmitted to the housing,
• wherein a dimension of the connecting portion of the first mounting leg as measured in an axial direction of the housing is smaller than a dimension of the connecting portion of the second mounting leg as measured in the axial direction of the housing.