Conduit retaining clip

#This invention relates to a clip for a power supply housing of a compressor canister.

#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.

#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.

#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:

#FIG. 1 shows compressor housing, power supply housing, and cable.

#FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the power supply housing including cable, conduit, clip, nut and terminal connections.

#FIG. 1 illustrates an environmental view of the invention, compressor 20. As known, compressor 20 comprises a compressor pump unit 21 and an electric motor 23 supported and protected by compressor housing 24. The pump unit 21 is preferably a scroll compressor, as shown, but other sealed compressors will benefit from this invention. Power is supplied to compressor 20 and to motor therein by cable 28, which may be connected to a source of electrical power. Power supply housing 32 is mounted to compressor housing 24 and provides protection for the electrical interface between cable 28 and the interior of compressor housing 24. Housing 32 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 25 (shown schematically) connect housing 32 to motor 23. Cable 28 is connected to wires 25 such as shown at 27 within housing 32.

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

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