Compressor including discharge plenum

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11808256-B2
Application number	US-202117222638-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 5, 2021
Priority date	Apr 3, 2020
Publication date	Nov 7, 2023
Grant date	Nov 7, 2023

Abstract

Provided are a discharge plenum integrated with a valve stopper and a linear compressor including the discharge plenum. The valve stopper includes a radial member that extends radially and an axial member that extends axially from a radial inner end of the radial member. The axial member may have a tubular shape. The axial member may define a slot flow path that extends axially. The radial member may include a peripheral hole that extends axially. The radial inner side of the radial member may define a central hole of the axial member. The slot flow path and the peripheral hole may minimize a pressure drop and energy loss of a high-pressure fluid flowing from a compression portion to a discharge portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A compressor, comprising:
a cylinder that extends axially and defines an inlet at a first axial end and an outlet at a second axial end;
a piston disposed in the cylinder and configured to reciprocate in the cylinder;
a discharge valve assembly disposed at the outlet of the cylinder and configured to open and close the outlet of the cylinder; and
a valve stopper configured to limit a degree of opening of the discharge valve assembly, the valve stopper comprising:
a radial member that extends radially and defines a central hole, the radial member having a radial inner end that surrounds the central hole,
an axial member that extends in a first axial direction from the radial inner end of the radial member, the axial member defining a hollow space that is in fluid communication with the central hole, and
an interference surface disposed at a first axial end of the axial member and configured to, based on the discharge valve assembly opening the outlet of the cylinder, interfere with the discharge valve assembly to thereby limit the degree of opening of the discharge valve assembly,

wherein the compressor further comprises:
a first pipe that is connected to a radial outer end of the radial member and extends from the radial outer end of the radial member in the first axial direction, and
a valve mounter that is disposed at an axial end of the first pipe and couples the discharge valve assembly to the cylinder,

wherein the axial member further defines a slot flow path that passes through a circumference of the axial member in a radial direction such that the hollow space of the axial member is in fluid communication with an outer space outside the circumference of the axial member.

2. The compressor of claim 1 , wherein the discharge valve assembly comprises:
a valve member configured to open and close the outlet of the cylinder;
a valve spring configured to apply force to the valve member in a direction of closing the outlet of the cylinder; and
a spring holder configured to support the valve spring.

3. The compressor of claim 1 , further comprising a frame that accommodates at least a portion of each of the cylinder and the discharge valve assembly, the frame comprising:
a first inner diameter portion disposed at a first axial side of the frame;
a second inner diameter portion that is concentric with the first inner diameter portion and disposed at a second axial side of the frame; and
an inward step that is disposed axially between the first inner diameter portion and the second inner diameter portion, the inward step protruding radially inward relative to the first inner diameter portion and the second inner diameter portion,
wherein the cylinder is inserted into and coupled to the first inner diameter portion of the frame, the cylinder having a discharge side end that is disposed at the second inner diameter portion and defines the outlet, and
wherein the discharge valve assembly is accommodated in the second inner diameter portion and disposed axially between the outlet of the cylinder and the valve mounter.

4. The compressor of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second pipe that is connected to the radial outer end of the radial member and extends from the radial outer end of the radial member in a second axial direction opposite to the first axial direction; and
a discharge cover connected to an axial end of the second pipe,
wherein the second pipe and the discharge cover define a discharge portion configured to receive a high-pressure fluid discharged from the cylinder through the discharge valve assembly.

5. The compressor of claim 1 , wherein the hollow space is in fluid communication with a space defined at a first axial side of the valve stopper facing the discharge valve assembly.

6. The compressor of claim 1 , wherein the interference surface has a closed loop ring shape.

7. The compressor of claim 1 , wherein the axial member has a truncated cone shape, and a diameter of the axial member decreases along the first axial direction.

8. The compressor of claim 1 , wherein the slot flow path has a straight shape that extends in the first axial direction, and an axial length of the slot flow path is greater than a circumferential length of the slot flow path.

9. The compressor of claim 8 , wherein an axial end of the slot flow path in the first axial direction is closed.

10. The compressor of claim 8 , wherein the slot flow path is one of a plurality of slot flow paths that are defined at the circumference of the axial member, the plurality of slot flow paths being spaced apart from one another by an equal circumferential distance.

11. The compressor of claim 8 , wherein an axial end of the slot flow path in the first axial direction is open.

12. The compressor of claim 1 , wherein the radial member defines peripheral holes that pass through the radial member in the first axial direction such that a first space defined at a first axial side of the valve stopper is in fluid communication with a second space defined at a second axial side of the valve stopper through the peripheral holes.

13. The compressor of claim 12 , wherein the peripheral holes include an arc-shaped elongated hole, wherein a circumferential length of the arc-shaped elongated hole is greater than a radial length of the arc-shaped elongated hole.

14. The compressor of claim 12 , wherein the peripheral holes are spaced apart from one another by an equal circumferential distance.

15. A compressor, comprising:
a cylinder that extends axially and defines an inlet at a first axial end and an outlet at a second axial end;
a piston that is disposed in the cylinder and configured to reciprocate in the cylinder;
a linear motor configured to drive the piston;
a discharge valve assembly disposed at the outlet of the cylinder and configured to open and close the outlet of the cylinder; and
a valve stopper configured to limit a degree of opening of the discharge valve assembly, the valve stopper comprising:
a radial member that extends radially and defines a central hole, the radial member having a radial inner end that surrounds the central hole,
an axial member that extends from the radial inner end of the radial member in a first axial direction, the axial member defining a hollow space that is in fluid communication with the central hole, and
an interference surface disposed at an axial end of the axial member and configured to, based on the discharge valve assembly opening the outlet of the cylinder, interfere with the discharge valve assembly to thereby limit the degree of opening of the discharge valve assembly,

wherein the compressor further comprises:
a first pipe that is connected to a radial outer end of the radial member and extends from the radial outer end of the radial member in the first axial direction, and
a valve mounter that is disposed at an axial end of the first pipe and couples the discharge valve assembly to the cylinder,

wherein the radial member defines a peripheral hole that passes through the radial member in the first axial direction such that a first space defined at a first axial side of the valve stopper is in fluid communication with a second space defined at a second axial side of the valve stopper through the peripheral hole, and
wherein the axial member further defines a slot flow path that passes through a circumference of the axial member in a radial direction such that the hollow space of the axial member is in fluid communication with an outer space outside the circumference of the axial member.

16. The compressor of claim 15 ,

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Lee Youngmun
• Lee Kyunyoung
• Noh Kiwon

Classifications

• F04B39/10 Primary

  Adaptations or arrangements of distribution members · CPC title

• F04B35/045

  using solenoids · CPC title

• F04B39/0005

  adaptations of pistons · CPC title

• F04B53/10

  Valves; Arrangement of valves · CPC title

• F04B39/102 Primary

  the members being disc valves · CPC title