Linear Compressor

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a linear compressor in which a piston reciprocally moves in a cylinder upon receiving a reciprocating drive force of a linear motor to compress working-fluid, for example, refrigerant, received in the cylinder. The linear compressor comprises a piston adapted to reciprocally move in a cylinder, the piston being internally formed with a suction path, and a suction valve inserted in the suction path of the piston to move relative to the suction path, the suction valve performing opening / closing operations as it moves relative to the piston when the piston reciprocally moves. With this configuration, the suction valve always exhibits an even stroke, achieving an improvement in response and durability and minimizing vibration and noise due to the opening / closing operations thereof.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a linear compressor, and more particularly, to a linear compressor in which a suction valve performs opening / closing operations as it moves relative to a piston by an inertial force when the piston reciprocally moves. [0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a linear compressor is an apparatus configured in such a fashion that a piston reciprocally moves in a cylinder upon receiving a reciprocating drive force of a linear motor, to compress working-fluid received in the cylinder, for example, refrigerant. The linear compressor is mainly used in refrigerators, etc. [0003]FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a conventional linear compressor. FIG. 2 is a view of important parts of the conventional linear compressor, illustrating the advance movement of a piston. FIG. 3 is a view of important parts of the conventional linear compressor, illustrating the retraction movement of the ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0022] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a linear compressor in which a suction valve performs opening / closing operations as it moves relative to a piston by an inertial force, rather than an elastic force, when the piston reciprocally moves, whereby the suction valve can always exhibit an even opening / closing stroke, achieving several advantageous effects, for example, improved constant compression efficiency, little risk of deformation or damage, high response and durability, and minimized vibration and noise.

[0023] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a linear compressor comprising: a piston adapted to reciprocally move in a cylinder, the piston being internally formed with a suction path; and a suction valve inserted in the suction path of the piston to move relative to the suction path, the suction valve performing opening / closing operations as it moves relative to the piston when the piston reciprocally moves.

[0024] Preferably, a suction valve may be adapted to open or close the suction path of the piston as it moves relative to the suction path when the piston reciprocally moves, the suction valve including: a suction valve body formed with an elongated slot extending in a reciprocating movement direction of the piston; and a suction valve guide pin fitted through the piston and the slot of the suction valve body to move relative to the suction valve body while being fixed to the piston.

[0025] Preferably, the suction valve body may have: a head portion disposed to protrude out of the suction path of the piston; and a body portion configured to move into or out of the suction path of the piston, the body portion having a partially cut-away cross sectional shape to allow the passage of working-fluid.

[0026] Preferably, the body portion may have a D-cut shape for the passage of the working-fluid.

[0027] Preferably, the suction valve body may have: a head portion disposed to protrude out of the suction path of the piston; and a body portion configured to have a diameter smaller than a diameter of the suction path of the piston to move into or out of the suction path of the piston.

Problems solved by technology

A problem of the above-described conventional linear compressor is that the suction valve 22 of the linear compressor is adapted to use an elastic force thereof, and therefore, may exhibit different elastic strains in accordance with a pressure difference between the suction path 21 of the piston 20 and the interior of the cylinder 10.

This makes it impossible for the linear compressor to achieve improved constant compression efficiency, and results in deterioration of reliability.

Accordingly, there is a high risk in that the suction valve 22 may be plastically deformed or damaged due to an increased stress.

Furthermore, the suction valve 22 suffers from deterioration of durability with the lapse of time, and consequently has a poor response property.

This is due to an increase of stress as well as inordinate vibration and noise.

Another problem of the conventional linear compressor is that, when the bolt B is used to fasten the suction valve 22 to the piston 20, a bolt head inevitably protrudes into the compression chamber 11 of the cylinder 10, increasing the dead volume of the compression chamber 11 of the cylinder 10.

This results in deterioration of compression efficiency.

Also, if the bolt head directly collides with the discharge valve assembly 12, the bolt head may be severely damaged, and excessive vibration and noise may be generated.

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