Linear compressor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016017876-A1
Application number	US-201514666340-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 24, 2015
Priority date	Jul 21, 2014
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A linear compressor is provided. The linear compressor may include a shell including a discharge outlet, a cylinder provided in the shell to define a compression space for a refrigerant, a frame to fix the cylinder to the shell, a piston reciprocated within the cylinder in an axial direction, a discharge valve disposed on or at one side of the cylinder to selectively discharge the refrigerant compressed in the compression space, a discharge cover coupled to the frame, the discharge cover having at least one chamber to reduce pulsation of the refrigerant discharged through the discharge valve, and a valve spring disposed on the discharge cover to provide a restoring force to the discharge valve. The discharge cover may include a cover body having a discharge hole, through which the refrigerant discharged through the discharge valve may be discharged outside of the discharge cover, and a guide passage defined in the cover body to guide at least a portion of the refrigerant discharged through the discharge valve into the at least one chamber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A linear compressor, comprising:
a shell; a cylinder provided in the shell to define a compression space for a refrigerant; a frame to fix the cylinder to the shell; a piston reciprocated within the cylinder in an axial direction; a discharge valve disposed at one end of the cylinder to selectively discharge the refrigerant compressed in the compression space; a discharge cover coupled to the frame, the discharge cover having at least one chamber to reduce pulsation of the refrigerant discharged through the discharge valve; a valve spring installed on the discharge cover to provide an elastic force to the discharge valve; and a stopper coupled to the valve spring to restrict deformation of the valve spring.

2 . The linear compressor according to claim 1 , wherein the discharge cover comprises:
a cover body having a discharge hole, through which the refrigerant discharged through the discharge valve is discharged outside of the discharge cover; and a guide passage defined in the cover body to guide at least a portion of the refrigerant discharged through the discharge valve into the at least one chamber.

3 . The linear compressor according to claim 2 , wherein the guide passage comprises a first guide groove defined by recessing at least a portion of the cover body.

4 . The linear compressor according to claim 2 , wherein the discharge cover further comprises a frame coupling portion that extends outward from the cover body in a radial direction and is coupled to the frame.

5 . The linear compressor according to claim 4 , wherein the cover body comprises:
a first step recessed from the frame coupling portion and having the discharge hole disposed therein; and a second step further recessed from the first step toward the chamber.

6 . The linear compressor according to claim 5 , wherein the guide passage is defined in the second step.

7 . The linear compressor according to claim 5 , further comprising at least one second guide groove defined in the second step to guide coupling of the stopper to the discharge cover.

8 . The linear compressor according to claim 7 , wherein the stopper comprises:
a stopper body that supports the valve spring; and at least one guide protrusion that protrudes from the stopper body to move along the at least one second guide groove.

9 . The linear compressor according to claim 1 , wherein the valve spring comprises a plate spring.

10 . The linear compressor according to claim 9 , wherein the valve spring comprises:
a spring body comprising a plurality of cutouts; and an insertion hole defined in the spring body and into which an insertion protrusion of the discharge valve is coupled.

11 . The linear compressor according to claim 1 , further comprising a first spacer disposed between the valve spring and the stopper to space the valve spring from the stopper.

12 . The linear compressor according to claim 11 , further comprising a second spacer installed between the supporter and the discharge cover to support the stopper.

13 . The linear compressor according to claim 12 , wherein the discharge cover comprises a seat, on which the second spacer is seated, and wherein the seat partitions the at least one chamber into a plurality of chambers.

14 . A linear compressor, comprising:
a shell comprising a discharge; a cylinder provided in the shell to define a compression space for a refrigerant; a frame to fix the cylinder to the shell; a piston reciprocated within the cylinder in an axial direction; a discharge valve disposed at one side of the cylinder to selectively discharge the refrigerant compressed in the compression space; a discharge cover having at least one chamber to reduce pulsation of the refrigerant discharged through the discharge valve, and a discharge hole to guide the discharged refrigerant to the discharge of the shell; a valve spring installed on the discharge cover to allow the discharge valve to elastically move; and a stopper coupled to the valve spring to restrict an opening degree of the discharge valve, wherein the stopper is installed inside of the discharge cover.

15 . The linear compressor according to claim 14 , further comprising a spacer disposed between the stopper and the discharge cover to support the stopper.

16 . The linear compressor according to claim 15 , wherein at least one guide groove is defined in the discharge cover, and wherein the stopper is press-fitted into the at least one guide groove.

17 . The linear compressor according to claim 14 , wherein the discharge cover comprises:
a seat, on which the stopper is seated; and at least one coupling groove recessed from the seat and into which a coupling protrusion of the stopper is inserted.

18 . The linear compressor according to claim 14 , wherein the stopper comprises an insertion portion, into which a circumferential portion of the valve spring is inserted.

19 . The linear compressor according to claim 14 , wherein the stopper comprises a through hole, and wherein the through hole guides the refrigerant discharged through the discharge valve into the at least one chamber.

20 . The linear compressor according to claim 14 , further comprising at least one coupling member to couple the stopper to the valve spring.

21 . A linear compressor, comprising:
a shell; a cylinder provided in the shell to define a compression space for a refrigerant; a frame to fix the cylinder to the shell; a piston reciprocated within the cylinder in an axial direction; a discharge valve disposed at one end of the cylinder to selectively discharge the refrigerant compressed in the compression space; a discharge cover coupled to the frame, the discharge cover having at least one chamber to reduce pulsation of the refrigerant discharged through the discharge valve; a valve spring installed on the discharge cover to provide an elastic force to the discharge valve; a stopper coupled to the valve spring to restrict deformation of the valve spring; and at least one spacer disposed adjacent to the stopper.

22 . The linear compressor according to claim 21 , wherein the at least one spacer comprises a first spacer disposed between the valve spring and the stopper to space the valve spring from the stopper.

23 . The linear compressor according to claim 22 , wherein the at least one spacer further comprises a second spacer installed between the supporter and the discharge cover to support the stopper.

24 . The linear compressor according to claim 23 , wherein the discharge cover comprises a seat, on which the second spacer is seated, and wherein the seat partitions the at least one chamber into a plurality of chambers.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Kim Junghae
• Lee Kyoungkyu
• Noh Kiwon

Classifications

• F04B39/102 Primary

  the members being disc valves · CPC title

• F04B53/1035

  with means for limiting the opening height · CPC title

• F04B39/125

  Cylinder heads · CPC title

• F04B35/045

  using solenoids · CPC title

• F04B2201/06062

  of the outlet valve · CPC title