Linear compressor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9726164-B2
Application number	US-201414317172-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 27, 2014
Priority date	Jun 28, 2013
Publication date	Aug 8, 2017
Grant date	Aug 8, 2017

Abstract

A linear compressor is provided that may include a shell including a refrigerant inlet, a cylinder provided within the shell, a piston reciprocated within the cylinder, the piston having a flow space in which a refrigerant may flow, a motor assembly that provides a drive force, the motor assembly including a permanent magnet, a flange that extends from an end of the piston in a radial direction, the flange having an opening that communicates with the flow space of the piston and a coupling hole defined outside of the opening, a support coupled to the coupling surface of the flange to support a plurality of springs, and at least one reinforcing rib that protrudes from the coupling surface to guide deformation of the flange while the flange and the support are coupled to each other.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A linear compressor, comprising:
a shell;
a cylinder provided within the shell;
a piston reciprocated within the cylinder;
a motor assembly that provides a drive force to the piston, the motor assembly including a permanent magnet;
a flange that extends from an end of the piston in a radial direction, the flange having a coupling surface;
a supporter coupled to the coupling surface of the flange;
at least one spring supported by the supporter;
a connection member coupled to the permanent magnet and the supporter;
a piston guide provided between an inner surface of the connection member and the flange; and
at least one reinforcing rib interposed between the coupling surface of the flange and the supporter, wherein the at least one reinforcing rib protrudes from the coupling surface towards the piston guide, to guide deformation due to coupling of the flange with the supporter, and wherein the at least one reinforcing rib includes a plurality of reinforcing ribs.

2. The linear compressor according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of reinforcing ribs is provided at a position to guide deformation of the flange in a first direction when the flange and the supporter are coupled to each other.

3. The linear compressor according to claim 1 , further including an opening defined in the coupling surface to communicate with a flow space of the piston, wherein the plurality of reinforcing ribs is spaced apart from a center of the opening and provided outside of the opening.

4. The linear compressor according to claim 3 , wherein the plurality of reinforcing ribs is symmetrically provided with respect to the center of the opening.

5. The linear compressor according to claim 3 , wherein a first virtual extension line that extends through the center of the opening and a second virtual extension line that extends through the center of the opening in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first virtual extension line are defined, and wherein a shortest distance from the first virtual extension line to one of the plurality of reinforcing ribs at a predetermined distance from the second virtual extension line is less than a shortest distance from the center of the opening to the one of the plurality of reinforcing ribs along the second virtual extension line.

6. The linear compressor according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of coupling holes configured to be coupled to a plurality of coupling holes of the supporter by a plurality of coupling members is provided in the flange, and wherein the plurality of reinforcing ribs is located in an area in which the plurality of coupling holes is provided.

7. The linear compressor according to claim 1 , wherein a supporter communication hole to guide a flow of a refrigerant gas in the shell is provided in the supporter, wherein a flange communication hole coupled to the supporter communication hole is provided in the flange, and wherein the plurality of reinforcing ribs is located in an area in which the flange communication hole is provided.

8. The linear compressor according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one spring includes:
a plurality of first springs provided on upper and lower portions of the supporter; and
a plurality of second springs provided on left and right portions of the supporter.

9. The linear compressor according to claim 8 , further including:
a stator cover provided on a first side of the supporter, the stator cover being coupled to the plurality of first springs; and
a back cover provided on a second side of the supporter, the back cover being coupled to the plurality of second springs.

10. The linear compressor according to claim 9 , wherein the plurality of reinforcing ribs is provided on an upper portion of the coupling surface corresponding to an upper portion of the supporter and a lower portion of the coupling surface corresponding to a lower portion of the supporter.

11. The linear compressor according to claim 8 , wherein a direction of a force acting from the stator cover by the plurality of first springs and a direction of a force acting from the back cover by the plurality of second springs are opposite to each other.

12. The linear compressor according to claim 1 , wherein the flange, the supporter, the connection member, and the piston guide are coupled to each other by at least one coupling member.

13. The linear compressor according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of reinforcing ribs is provided to contact the piston guide.

14. The linear compressor according to claim 1 , wherein each of the piston and the cylinder is formed of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

15. The linear compressor according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of reinforcing ribs is integrated with the flange.

16. The linear compressor according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of reinforcing ribs is in the form of a reinforcing plate.

17. A linear compressor, comprising:
a shell;
a cylinder provided within the shell;
a piston reciprocated within the cylinder;
a motor assembly that provides a drive force to the piston, the motor assembly including a permanent magnet;
a flange that extends from an end of the piston in a radial direction, the flange having a coupling surface; and
a supporter coupled to the coupling surface of the flange to support at least one spring;
at least one reinforcing provided on the coupling surface of the flange, the at least one reinforcing rib being provided at a position to guide a deformation of the flange in a first direction when the flange and the supporter are coupled to each other, wherein, when the flange and the supporter are coupled to each other, the flange is temporarily deformed in the first direction, and when the supporter and the at least one spring are thereafter coupled to each other, the flange is temporarily deformed in a second direction to return it to its original shape.

18. The linear compressor according to claim 17 , wherein the at least one reinforcing rib is in the form of a reinforcing plate.

19. The linear compressor according to claim 17 , wherein the first direction and the second direction are substantially perpendicular to each other.

20. A linear compressor, comprising:
a shell;
a cylinder provided within the shell;
a piston reciprocated within the cylinder, the piston having a flow space in which a refrigerant flows;
a motor assembly that provides a drive force to the piston, the motor assembly including a permanent magnet;
a flange that extends from an end of the piston in a radial direction, the flange having at least one first coupling hole;
a supporter coupled to the flange, the support having at least one second coupling hole;
at least one spring coupled to the supporter;
at least one reinforcing rib that projects from a coupling surface of the flange to extend to the supporter and including a third coupling hole; and
a coupling member coupled to the first coupling hole of the flange, the second coupling hole of the supporter and the third coupling hole of the at least one reinforcing rib, wherein the at least one reinforcing rib is in the form of a reinforcing plate.

21. The linear compressor according to claim 20 , wherein the at least one reinforcing rib is provided on only a first portion of a whole area of the coupling surface.

22. The linear compressor according to claim 21 , wherein when the coupling member is coupled to the first and second coupling holes, the at least one reinforcing rib guides a f

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Kang Kyoungseok
• Jung Wonhyun
• Roh Chulgi
• Jeong Sangsub
• Song Kiwook
• Kim Jookon

Classifications

• F04B39/0005

  adaptations of pistons · CPC title

• F04B39/0044 Primary

  with vibration damping supports · CPC title

• F04B35/045 Primary

  using solenoids · CPC title

• F04B39/14

  Provisions for readily assembling or disassembling · CPC title