Reed retainer mechanism and electric compressor with reed retainer mechanism

An electric compressor configured to compress a refrigerant, comprising:

• a housing defining an intake volume and a discharge volume, the housing having a generally cylindrical shape and having a central axis;
• an inverter module mounted inside the housing and adapted to convert direct current electrical power to alternating current electrical power;
• a motor mounted inside the housing;
• a compression device, coupled to the motor, for receiving the refrigerant from the intake volume and compressing the refrigerant as the motor is rotated, the compression device having a compression device outlet port to allow compressed refrigerant to pass into the discharge volume, the compression device including a fixed scroll located within, and being fixed relative to, the housing, and an orbiting scroll coupled to the motor, the orbiting scroll and the fixed scroll forming compression chambers for receiving the refrigerant from the intake volume and compressing the refrigerant as the motor is rotated, wherein the fixed scroll forms part of the housing, and the housing further includes a discharge head, the fixed scroll and the discharge head forming the discharge volume;
• and,
• a reed mechanism positioned adjacent the compression device outlet port for controllably releasing compressed refrigerant into the discharge volume, the reed mechanism having a retention portion, the retention portion being retained via an interference fit within the housing, the reed mechanism including:
• a discharge reed composed from a flexible material, and,
• a reed retainer composed from an inflexible material, the reed retainer having an assembled state and a pre-assembly state, the reed retainer being in the assembled state when the scroll electric compressor is in a compressor assembled state, the discharge reed being positioned between the reed retainer and the compression device when the electric compressor is in a compressor assembled state, the reed retainer having a reed retainer retention portion and a reed retainer valve portion extending from the reed retainer retention portion, wherein at least a portion of the reed retainer retention portion and at least a portion of the reed retainer valve portion being located on a common plane and a junction between the reed retainer retention portion and the reed retainer valve portion being spaced from the common plane when the reed retainer is in the pre-assembly state, the reed retainer retention portion having a first retention end and a second retention end, the reed retainer valve portion having a first valve end and a second valve end, the reed retainer valve portion extending away from the second retention end of the reed retainer retention portion, wherein the reed retainer includes a heel portion, the heel portion extending away from the first retention end and being spaced away from the common plane, wherein the reed retainer retention portion, the reed retainer valve portion and the junction therebetween act as a linear spring to retain the reed mechanism in position when the electric compressor is in the compressor assembled state, further including a heel portion, the heel portion extending away from the reed retainer retention portion and away from the common plane when the reed retainer is in the pre-assembly state, a second junction between the reed retainer retention portion and the heel portion forming a second linear spring.

A reed mechanism for use in an electric compressor configured to compress a refrigerant, the electric compressor having a housing, an inverter module, a motor and a compression device, the housing defining an intake volume and a discharge volume and having a generally cylindrical shape and a central axis, the inverter module mounted inside the housing and adapted to convert direct current electrical power to alternating current electrical power, the motor being mounted inside the housing, the compression device is coupled to the motor and receives the refrigerant from the intake volume and compresses the refrigerant as the motor is rotated, the compression device having a compression device outlet port to allow compressed refrigerant to pass into the discharge volume, the reed mechanism positioned adjacent the compression device outlet port for controllably releasing compressed refrigerant into the discharge volume, the reed mechanism having a retention portion, the retention portion being retained via an interference fit within the housing, the reed mechanism comprising:

• a discharge reed, and,
• a reed retainer, the reed retainer having an assembled state and a pre-assembly state, the reed retainer being in the assembled state when the electric compressor is in a compressor assembled state, the discharge reed being positioned between the reed retainer and the compression device when the electric compressor is in a compressor assembled state, the reed retainer having a reed retainer retention portion and a reed retainer valve portion extending from the reed retainer retention portion, wherein at least a portion of the reed retainer retention portion and at least a portion of the reed retainer valve portion being located on a common plane and a junction between the reed retainer retention portion and the reed retainer valve portion being spaced from the common plane when the reed retainer is in the pre-assembly state, wherein the reed retainer retention portion, the reed retainer valve portion and the junction therebetween act as a linear spring to retain the reed mechanism in position when the electric compressor is in the compressor assembled state, further including a heel portion, the heel portion extending away from the reed retainer retention portion and away from the common plane when the reed retainer is in the pre-assembly state, a second junction between the reed retainer retention portion and the heel portion forming a second linear spring.