Low noise refrigerant compressor having closed shells and sound absorbing spacers

A compressor unit having housing means consisting of a closed steel inner shell and a closed outer shell of strong, substantially rigid material, a compressor comprising a cylinder block, one or more cylinders and associated pistons, cylinder head, suction and discharge valve structure, and an electric motor mounted on and within said inner shell and isolated from said outer shell by said inner shell, said shells each being formed of continuous wall means which are spaced apart from each other over their entire adjacent wall surface areas to provide an attenuation cell means occupying substantially all of the space between said shells, suction gas inlet means and discharge gas outlet means extending through both of said shells and said cell means, and sound absorbing spacer means secured between said shells and maintaining the spacing therebetween for providing said cell means, and wherein all structural elements which communicate from outside of said outer shell to within said inner shell are mounted on said unit by sound absorbing means.