Linear compressor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016017883-A1
Application number	US-201514804425-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 21, 2015
Priority date	Jul 21, 2014
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A linear compressor is provided that may include a shell in which a discharge port is provided, a cylinder disposed in the shell to define a compression space for a refrigerant, a piston disposed to be reciprocated in an axial direction within the cylinder, a discharge valve disposed on or at one side of the cylinder to selectively discharge the refrigerant compressed in the compression space, the discharge valve including an insertion protrusion, and a valve spring coupled to the discharge valve to provide a restoring force to the discharge valve. The valve spring may include a spring body having a central portion defined at a portion corresponding to a center of the cylinder, and an insertion hole defined in the spring body. The insertion hole may be coupled to the insertion protrusion of the discharge valve. The central portion of the spring body may be spaced apart from a central portion of the insertion hole.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A linear compressor, comprising:
a shell in which a discharge port is provided; a cylinder provided in the shell to define a compression space for a refrigerant; a piston provided to be reciprocated in an axial direction within the cylinder; a discharge valve provided at one side of the cylinder to selectively discharge the refrigerant compressed in the compression space for the refrigerant, wherein the discharge valve includes an insertion protrusion; and a valve spring coupled to the discharge valve to provide a restoring force to the discharge valve, wherein the valve spring includes:
a spring body having a central portion defined at a portion corresponding to a center of the cylinder; and
an insertion hole defined in the spring body, wherein the insertion hole is coupled to the insertion protrusion of the discharge valve, and wherein the central portion of the spring body is spaced apart from a central portion of the insertion hole.

2 . The linear compressor according to claim 1 , wherein the valve spring has an asymmetrical shape with respect to a virtual extension line that passes through the central portion of the insertion hole.

3 . The linear compressor according to claim 1 , wherein a distance between a first point and the central portion of the insertion hole is less than a distance between a second point and the central portion of the insertion hole with respect to the first and second points at which a virtual extension line that passes through the central portion of the spring body and the central portion of the insertion hole meets an outer circumferential surface of the spring body.

4 . The linear compressor according to claim 1 , wherein the valve spring has a spiral shape and includes at least one cutout that extends in an outer radial direction with respect to the central portion of the insertion hole.

5 . The linear compressor according to claim 1 , wherein the discharge valve further includes a valve body configured to be closely attached to the cylinder, and wherein the insertion protrusion protrudes from the valve body.

6 . The linear compressor according to claim 5 , wherein a center of the valve body and a center of the insertion protrusion are spaced apart from each other.

7 . The linear compressor according to claim 6 , wherein a first virtual extension line that passes through the center of the valve body and a second virtual extension line that passes through the center of the insertion protrusion are spaced apart from each other.

8 . The linear compressor according to claim 5 , wherein the insertion protrusion is eccentrically coupled to the valve body such that the discharge valve rotates in one direction when a pressure of the refrigerant is applied to the valve body.

9 . The linear compressor according to claim 8 , wherein, when the valve body is opened by the pressure of the refrigerant, the valve body is disposed at an incline with respect to a radial direction.

10 . The linear compressor according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the insertion protrusion of the discharge valve and the insertion hole of the valve spring has a non-circular shape in section.

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

12 . The linear compressor according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a frame that fixes the cylinder to the shell; and a discharge cover coupled to the frame, wherein the discharge cover has at least one resonance chamber to reduce pulsation of the refrigerant discharged through the discharge valve.

13 . The linear compressor according to claim 12 , further comprising a stopper coupled to the valve spring to restrict deformation of the valve spring.

14 . The linear compressor according to claim 13 , further comprising:
a first spacer disposed between the valve spring and the stopper to space the valve spring from the stopper; and a second spacer disposed on the discharge cover to support the spacer.

15 . The linear compressor according to claim 1 , wherein the cylinder comprises at least one nozzle disposed on an outer circumferential surface thereof to introduce at least a portion of the refrigerant discharged through the discharge valve.

16 . A linear compressor, comprising:
a shell in which a discharge port is provided; a cylinder provided in the shell to define a compression space for a refrigerant; a piston provided to be reciprocated in an axial direction within the cylinder; a discharge valve provided at one side of the cylinder to selectively discharge the refrigerant compressed in the compression space and including a valve body and an insertion protrusion that is eccentrically coupled to the valve body; and a valve spring coupled to the discharge valve to provide a restoring force to the discharge valve and including an insertion hole coupled to the insertion protrusion of the discharge valve, wherein when the refrigerant is discharged from the compression space, the discharge valve is opened at an incline with respect to a radial direction.

17 . The linear compressor according to claim 16 , wherein the valve spring comprises a spring body having the insertion hole, and wherein the insertion hole is defined in a position which is eccentric from a central portion of the spring body.

18 . The linear compressor according to claim 17 , wherein the valve spring includes a plurality of cutouts having an asymmetrical shape with respect to the central portion of the spring body.

19 . The linear compressor according to claim 18 , wherein the plurality of cutouts have a spiral shape.

20 . The linear compressor according to claim 16 , further comprising:
a stopper that restricts the valve spring when the valve spring is deformed to a predetermined level or more; a first spacer disposed at a first side of the stopper; and a second spacer disposed at a second side of the stopper.

21 . A linear compressor, comprising:
a shell in which a discharge port is provided; a cylinder provided in the shell to define a compression space for a refrigerant; a piston provided to be reciprocated in an axial direction within the cylinder; a discharge valve provided at one side of the cylinder to selectively discharge the refrigerant compressed in the compression space; and a valve spring coupled to the discharge valve to provide a restoring force to the discharge valve, wherein the valve spring is coupled to the discharge valve at an offset, such that when the refrigerant is discharged from the compression space, the discharge valve is opened at an incline with respect to a radial direction.

22 . The linear compressor according to claim 21 , wherein the discharge valve includes a valve body and an insertion protrusion that is eccentrically provided on the valve body, wherein the valve spring comprises a spring body having an insertion hole defined at a position which is eccentric from a central portion of the spring body, and wherein the insertion hole of the valve spring is coupled to the insertion protrusion of the discharge valve.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Noh Kiwon
• Lee Kyungmin
• Kim Jeehyun

Classifications

• F04B53/16

  Casings; Cylinders; Cylinder liners or heads; Fluid connections · CPC title

• F04B11/0091

  using a special shape of fluid pass, e.g. throttles, ducts · CPC title

• F04B53/10 Primary

  Valves; Arrangement of valves · CPC title

• F04B7/02

  the valving being fluid-actuated · CPC title

• F04B53/14

  Pistons, piston-rods or piston-rod connections · CPC title