Linear compressor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11549498-B2
Application number	US-202016983431-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 3, 2020
Priority date	Dec 20, 2019
Publication date	Jan 10, 2023
Grant date	Jan 10, 2023

Abstract

A linear compressor includes a discharge valve detachably attached to a front end surface of a cylinder to open and close a compression space of the cylinder; and a valve spring elastically supporting a rear surface of the discharge valve to press the discharge valve toward the front end surface of the cylinder. The discharge valve includes reinforced fiber, and the reinforced fiber is arranged parallel to the front end surface of the cylinder. Accordingly, while a rigidity of the discharge valve is improved, a weight of the valve is reduced to enhance responsiveness of the valve, suppress abrasion of the cylinder, and reduce striking sound.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A linear compressor comprising:
a cylinder that defines a compression space;
a discharge valve detachably attached to an end surface of the cylinder and configured to open and close the compression space of the cylinder; and
a valve spring configured to press the discharge valve toward the end surface of the cylinder,
wherein the discharge valve comprises:
a valve body portion having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the first surface facing the end surface of the cylinder; and
a spring coupling portion that is disposed at the second surface of the valve body portion and that connects to the valve spring,
wherein the valve body portion includes reinforced fibers at the first surface, the reinforced fibers being oriented parallel to the end surface of the cylinder,
wherein the valve body portion has a disk shape,
wherein the spring coupling portion is separate from the valve body portion and connected to the second surface of the valve body portion,
wherein the spring coupling portion includes reinforced fibers,
wherein the reinforced fibers of the valve body portion are disposed in a different pattern from the reinforced fibers of the spring coupling portion, and
wherein the reinforced fibers are irregularly disposed in the spring coupling portion,

wherein the discharge valve comprises a composite unit having a plurality of composite sheets that are stacked in multiple layers, each of the plurality of composite sheets including reinforced fibers that are disposed in one direction in each of the multiple layers,
wherein the plurality of composite sheets include a first composite sheet and a second composite sheet that is stacked on the first composite sheet, and
wherein the reinforced fibers of the first composite sheet are disposed in a different direction from the reinforced fibers of the second composite sheet.

2. The linear compressor of claim 1 ,
wherein the spring coupling portion includes a material that is lighter than a material of the valve body portion, and
wherein the material of the spring coupling portion has a greater rigidity than the material of the valve body portion.

3. The linear compressor of claim 1 , wherein the valve body portion is separate from the spring coupling portion and connected to the spring coupling portion, and
wherein the valve body portion is thinner than the spring coupling portion.

4. The linear compressor of claim 1 , wherein the valve body portion includes a fixing protrusion at the second surface,
wherein the spring coupling portion includes a fixing groove or a fixing hole that faces the second surface of the valve body portion and receives the fixing protrusion of the valve body portion.

5. The linear compressor of claim 1 , wherein the spring coupling portion includes a fixing protrusion,
wherein the valve body portion includes a fixing groove or a fixing hole that receives the fixing protrusion of the spring coupling portion.

6. A linear compressor comprising:
a cylinder that defines a compression space;
a discharge valve detachably attached to an end surface of the cylinder and configured to open and close the compression space of the cylinder; and
a valve spring configured to press the discharge valve toward the end surface of the cylinder,
wherein the discharge valve comprises:
a valve body portion having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the first surface facing the end surface of the cylinder; and
a spring coupling portion that is disposed at the second surface of the valve body portion and that connects to the valve spring,
wherein the valve body portion includes reinforced fibers at the first surface, the reinforced fibers being oriented parallel to the end surface of the cylinder,
wherein the valve body portion has an annular shape defining a hollow portion,
wherein the spring coupling portion includes a coupling protrusion that is inserted into the hollow portion,
wherein the valve body portion defines a first opening and closing surface detachable from the end surface of the cylinder,
wherein the spring coupling portion includes a guide protrusion extending toward the cylinder,
wherein the spring coupling portion defines a second opening and closing surface configured to open and close the compression space of the cylinder without contacting the end surface of the cylinder, and
wherein the second opening and closing surface is configured to, based on the discharge valve opening the compression space of the cylinder, be positioned inside the cylinder,

wherein the discharge valve comprises a composite unit having a plurality of composite sheets that are stacked in multiple layers, each of the plurality of composite sheets including reinforced fibers that are disposed in one direction in each of the multiple layers,
wherein the plurality of composite sheets include a first composite sheet and a second composite sheet that is stacked on the first composite sheet, and
wherein the reinforced fibers of the first composite sheet are disposed in a different direction from the reinforced fibers of the second composite sheet.

7. The linear compressor of claim 6 , wherein the hollow portion of the valve body portion includes a fixing protrusion or a first fixed end at an inner circumferential surface of the hollow portion, and
wherein the coupling protrusion of the spring coupling portion includes a fixing groove that receives the fixing protrusion, or a second fixed end that connects the first fixed end.

8. The linear compressor of claim 6 , wherein the coupling protrusion of the spring coupling portion includes a fixing protrusion or a first fixed end at an outer circumferential surface of the coupling protrusion, and
wherein the hollow portion of the valve body portion includes a fixing groove that receives the fixing protrusion, or a second fixed end that connects the first fixed end.

9. A linear compressor comprising:
a cylinder that defines a compression space;
a discharge valve detachably attached to an end surface of the cylinder and configured to open and close the compression space of the cylinder; and
a valve spring configured to press the discharge valve toward the end surface of the cylinder,
wherein the discharge valve comprises:
a valve body portion having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the first surface facing the end surface of the cylinder; and
a spring coupling portion that is disposed at the second surface of the valve body portion and that connects to the valve spring,
wherein the valve body portion includes reinforced fibers at the first surface, the reinforced fibers being oriented parallel to the end surface of the cylinder,
wherein a coupling surface is stepped in an annular shape at an edge portion of a second opening and closing surface of the spring coupling portion, the valve body portion being inserted into the coupling surface to define a first opening and closing surface detachable from the end surface of the cylinder, and
wherein the valve body portion is thinner than the spring coupling portion,

wherein the discharge valve comprises a composite unit having a plurality of composite sheets that are stacked in multiple layers, each of the plurality of composite sheets including reinforced fibers that are disposed in one direction in each of the multiple layers,
wherein the plurality of composite sheets include a first composite sheet and a second composite sheet that is stacked on the first composite sheet, and
wherein the reinforced fibers of the first composite sheet are disposed in a different direction from the reinforced fibers of the second composite sheet.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Kim Donghan
• Lim Youngkyun
• Hwang Kiil

Classifications

• F04B39/1033

  annular disc valves · CPC title

• F04B35/045

  using solenoids · CPC title

• F16K15/148

  the closure elements being fixed in their centre · CPC title

• F05B2210/14

  Refrigerants with particular properties, e.g. HFC-134a · CPC title

• F16K17/04

  spring-loaded · CPC title