Hermetic compressor assembly including torque reaction leaf spring means

Claim 1

A hermetic compressor assembly comprising a. a shell defining an enclosed, hermetically sealed chamber bounded by an interior wall; b. a compressor disposed within said chamber having a driveshaft extending along a first axis; c. suction and discharge conduit means for providing communication between said compressor and the exterior of said chamber; d. a motor also disposed within said chamber and drivingly connected to said driveshaft, said compressor and motor being united to each other so as to define an integral motor-compressor unit; e. means for supporting said motorcompressor unit within said chamber so as to permit at least limited rotation about a second axis generally parallel to said first axis; wherein the improvement comprises f. leaf spring means comprising at least a first leaf spring member affixed at a first end portion thereof to one of said interior wall and said motorcompressor unit and extending therefrom along a first longitudinal axis generally parallel to and spaced radially from said second axis, terminating in a second end portion free for deflection in a direction generally transverse to the plane defined by said second axis and said first longitudinal axis; and g. abutment means affixed to the other of said interior wall and said motor-compressor unit and disposed adjacent the second end portion of said leaf spring member whereby, upon rotation of said motor-compressor unit about said second axis, engagement between said abutment means and said second end portion results in deflection of said leaf spring member so as to limit said rotation.