Whirlpool Corporation
Refrigerator vibration isolating compressor mount

Abstract:

A mounting arrangement secures a refrigerator compressor to a support base member through a plurality of elastomeric mounts secured on pin elements with retainers. The mounts include head portions which extend through openings provided in an elongated plate fixed to the compressor. The mounts are specifically formed with a rounded bottom to pre-load the mounting arrangement and prevent vibration transmission through cores of the mounts. In addition, each mount includes a plurality of vertically spaced rings which provide shock protection against a large impact force by deflecting and potentially contacting each other, while normal vertical isolation occurs by deflection of an uppermost one of the rings. The mounts are formed with various undercuts which allow the mounts to be optimized for the mass and operational frequency of the compressor.