Linear compressor and refrigerator including a linear compressor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016017877-A1
Application number	US-201514676935-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 2, 2015
Priority date	Jul 16, 2014
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A linear compressor and a refrigerator including a linear compressor are provided. The linear compressor may include a compressor casing connected to each of a suction inlet, through which a refrigerant may be introduced, and a discharge outlet, through which the refrigerant may be discharged, a compressor body mounted within the compressor casing, within which the refrigerant suctioned in through the suction inlet may be compressed due to a linear reciprocating motion of a piston in an axial direction of the compressor casing and discharged into the discharge outlet, and at least one plate spring disposed on each end of the compressor body in the axial direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A linear compressor, comprising:
a compressor casing connected to each of a suction inlet, through which a refrigerant is introduced into the linear compressor, and a discharge outlet, through which the refrigerant is discharged for the linear compressor; a compressor body mounted within the compressor casing, in which the refrigerant suctioned in through the suction inlet is compressed due to a linear reciprocating motion of a piston in an axial direction of the compressor casing and discharged to the discharge outlet; and a plurality of plate spring disposed, respectively, on each of first and second ends of the compressor body in an axial direction.

2 . The linear compressor according to claim 1 , wherein a first end of a first plate spring of the plurality of plate springs and a second end of the first plate spring are mounted on an inner wall of the first end of the compressor casing, and a first end of a second plate spring of the plurality of plate springs and a second end of the second plate spring are mounted on an inner wall of the second end of the compressor casing.

3 . The linear compressor according to claim 2 , wherein the compressor casing comprises:
a base shell having a cylindrical shape to accommodate the compressor body; a first cover mounted on a first side of the base shell, the first cover being coupled to the suction inlet; and a second cover mounted on a second side of the base shell, the second cover being coupled to the discharge outlet, wherein the first and second plate springs are fixed to an inner wall of the base shell.

4 . The linear compressor according to claim 3 , wherein the first plate spring is fitted between the base shell and the first cover.

5 . The linear compressor according to claim 3 , wherein the second plate spring is fitted between the base shell and the second cover.

6 . The linear compressor according to claim 1 , wherein the compressor body comprises a back cover disposed to face the suction inlet, and wherein the first plate spring is coupled to the back cover.

7 . The linear compressor according to claim 6 , wherein the first plate spring is coupled to the back cover by a rubber press-fit or a screw.

8 . The linear compressor according to claim 1 , wherein the compressor body comprises a discharge cover connected to the discharge outlet, and wherein the second plate spring is coupled to the discharge cover.

9 . The linear compressor according to claim 8 , wherein the second plate spring is coupled to the discharge cover by a rubber press-fit or a screw.

10 . The linear compressor according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of plate springs comprises a body coupling groove defined therein and configured to be coupled to the compressor body, and wherein a rotation preventer to prevent the plate spring from rotating is provided in the body coupling groove.

11 . The linear compressor according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of plate springs comprises at least one elastic slit defined along a circumferential direction thereof.

12 . The linear compressor according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of plate springs comprises at least one interference preventer to prevent various portions of the compressor body from interfering with each other.

13 . The linear compressor according to claim 1 , wherein the compressor body comprises:
the piston; a cylinder, in which the piston is linearly reciprocated; and a motor assembly connected to the piston to drive the piston in the linear reciprocating motion.

14 . A refrigerator comprising the linear compressor according to claim 1 .

15 . A linear compressor, comprising:
a base shell; a compressor body provided within the base shell; and a plurality of plate springs that support first and second lateral ends of the compressor body within the base shell.

16 . The linear compressor according to claim 15 , wherein the plurality of plates springs is mounted on inner walls of the base shell.

17 . The linear compressor according to claim 16 , further comprising:
a first cover mounted on a first side of the base shell, the first cover being coupled to a suction inlet; and a second cover mounted on a second side of the base shell, the second cover being coupled to a discharge outlet, wherein the first and second plate springs are fixed to an inner wall of the base shell.

18 . The linear compressor according to claim 17 , wherein the first plate spring is fitted between the base shell and the first cover.

19 . The linear compressor according to claim 17 , wherein the second plate spring is fitted between the base shell and the second cover.

20 . The linear compressor according to claim 17 , wherein the compressor body comprises a back cover disposed to face the suction inlet, and wherein the first plate spring is coupled to the back cover.

21 . The linear compressor according to claim 17 , wherein the compressor body comprises a discharge cover connected to the discharge outlet, and wherein the second plate spring is coupled to the discharge cover.

22 . The linear compressor according to claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of plate springs comprises at least one elastic slit defined along a circumferential direction thereof.

23 . The linear compressor according to claim 15 , wherein the compressor body comprises:
the piston; a cylinder, in which the piston is linearly reciprocated; and a motor assembly connected to the piston to drive the piston in the linear reciprocating motion.

24 . A refrigerator comprising the linear compressor according to claim 15 .

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Ki Sunghyun
• Jeon Gyeoungjin
• Kim Changkyu

Classifications

• F04B39/121 Primary

  Casings · CPC title

• F04B39/10

  Adaptations or arrangements of distribution members · CPC title

• F04B39/127

  Mounting of a cylinder block in a casing · CPC title

• F04B53/003

  by damping supports · CPC title

• F04B53/22

  Arrangements for enabling ready assembly or disassembly · CPC title