초록 ▼

In an electric compressor, in which an electric motor and a compressor driven thereby are integrated, in order to prevent a reduction in the durability of the electric motor and the like due to heat conducted from heat radiating bodies such as drive circuits, a fluid, prior to being taken into the c

In an electric compressor, in which an electric motor and a compressor driven thereby are integrated, in order to prevent a reduction in the durability of the electric motor and the like due to heat conducted from heat radiating bodies such as drive circuits, a fluid, prior to being taken into the compressor portion, is circulated through the electric motor portion as a medium for cooling. In this case, a plurality of cooling medium passages for example are provided parallel to the axis of rotation, and the endothermic capacity of passages formed in the vicinity of heat radiating bodies is made greater than the endothermic capacity of passages formed in other portions.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An electric compressor comprising: a housing; an electric motor portion, wherein the electric motor portion is housed in the housing and includes a stator portion and a rotor portion; a drive circuit portion for operating the electric motor portion, wherein the drive circuit

What is claimed is: 1. An electric compressor comprising: a housing; an electric motor portion, wherein the electric motor portion is housed in the housing and includes a stator portion and a rotor portion; a drive circuit portion for operating the electric motor portion, wherein the drive circuit portion is integrated with part of the periphery of the housing; a compressor portion driven by the electric motor portion for compressing a fluid, wherein the compressor portion is housed in the housing; and a plurality of cooling medium passages provided between the inner surface of the housing and the outer surface of the stator portion to circulate fluid taken in by the compressor portion prior to compression as a cooling medium through the electric motor portion and, among the cooling medium passages, cooling medium passages that are located in proximity to the drive circuit portion have a greater endothermic capacity than others of the cooling medium passages that are not located in proximity to the drive circuit portion. 2. The electric compressor of claim 1, wherein a cross sectional area of the cooling medium passages that are located in proximity to the drive circuit portion is greater than a cross sectional area of the other cooling medium passages. 3. The electric compressor of claim 1, wherein a surface area of the cooling medium passages that are located in proximity to the drive circuit portion is greater than a surface area of the other cooling medium passages. 4. The electric compressor of claim 3, wherein, in order to increase the surface area of the cooling medium passages, the cooling medium passages include an uneven surface. 5. The electric compressor of claim 4, wherein the uneven surface is formed on only one surface of the cooling medium passages. 6. The electric compressor of claim 1, wherein the electric compressor is located in proximity to a relatively hot body other than the drive circuit portion, and cooling medium passages that are located in proximity to the drive circuit portion are first passages, and the other cooling medium passages, which are not located in Proximity to the drive circuit portion are second passages, and the electric compressor includes additional cooling medium passages, which are third passages, and the third passages are located in proximity to the relatively hot body, and the endothermic capacity of the third passages, is greater than the endothermic capacity of the second passages. 7. The electric compressor of claim 6, wherein the cross sectional area of the first passages is greater than the cross sectional area of the second passages, and the cross sectional area of the third passages is greater than the cross sectional area of the second passages. 8. The electric compressor of claim 6, wherein the surface area of the first passages is greater than the surface area of the second passages, and the surface area of the third passages is greater than the surface area of the second passages. 9. The electric compressor of claim 6, wherein, in order to increase the surface area of the cooling medium passages, the cooling medium passages include an uneven surface. 10. The electric compressor of claim 1, wherein the cooling medium passages are disposed parallel to a rotating shaft of the electric motor portion. 11. The electric compressor of claim 1, wherein the electric compressor is used as a refrigerant compressor for an automotive air-conditioning system, and the cooling medium is refrigerant returning from an evaporator. 12. The electric compressor of claim 6, wherein the relatively hot body other than the drive circuit portion is an internal combustion engine. 13. An electric compressor comprising: a housing; an electric motor, wherein the electric motor is housed in the housing and includes a stator and a rotor; a drive circuit for operating the electric motor, wherein the drive circuit is integrated with an outer surface of the housing and produces heat; a compressor driven by the electric motor for compressing a fluid, wherein the compressor is housed in the housing; a plurality of cooling passages provided between the inner surface of the housing and the outer surface of the stator to conduct a coolant fluid, which is to enter the compressor and be compressed, through the electric motor to cool the motor, and wherein the plurality of cooling passages include first cooling passages, which are located generally between the drive circuit and the stator in a relatively more heated portion of the housing, and second passages, which are not located in proximity to the drive circuit and are located in a relatively less heated portion of the housing, and wherein the first cooling passages have a greater endothermic capacity than the second cooling passages.