Reciprocating compressor

Abstract

A reciprocating compressor comprises a cylinder having a cylinder side gas flow path for guiding refrigerant discharged to the discharge space to an inner circumferential surface of the cylinder and a piston having a piston side gas flow path communicating with the cylinder side gas flow path to distribute and supply the refrigerant guided through the cylinder side gas flow path between the cylinder and the piston. Also, an outlet of the gas flow path is formed in the piston and an inlet of the gas flow path is formed in the cylinder.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in priority Korean Application No. 10-2011-0090322, filed on Sep. 6, 2011, which is herein expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present disclosure relates to a reciprocating compressor, and more particularly, to a reciprocating compressor with a gas bearing.[0004]2. Background of the Invention[0005]Generally, a reciprocating compressor serves to intake, compress, and discharge a refrigerant as a piston linearly reciprocates within a cylinder. The reciprocating compressor may be classified into a connection type reciprocating compressor or a vibration type reciprocating compressor according to the method employed to drive the piston.[0006]In the connection type reciprocating compressor, the piston is connected to a rotating shaft associated with a rotation motor by a connection rod, which causes the p...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a reciprocating compressor with a gas flow path that guides compressed gas to a gas bearing. The compressor has an invention that forms an outlet and an inlet of the gas flow path in a way that prevents them from communicating with the compression gas during the piston's suction stroke, which improves performance.

Problems solved by technology

However, the supplying of the lubricant requires an oil supply apparatus, and an oil shortage may occur depending on operation conditions, thereby degrading compressor performance.

Also, the compressor size needs to be increased because a space for receiving a certain amount of oil is required, and the installation direction of the compressor is limited because the entrance of the oil supply apparatus should always be kept immersed in oil.

In the conventional reciprocating compressor, however, in the case of forming gas flow paths with a small diameter in the cylinder, it is difficult to form the gas flow paths as fine pores, and impurities such as iron powder produced during the operation of the compressor may block the fine gas flow paths.

Then, some of the gas flow paths are blocked and a gas force cannot be uniformly applied in a circumferential direction of the piston, and hence a partial friction may occur between the cylinder and the piston.

Due to this, the performance and the reliability of the compressor may be degraded, thus requiring very high cleanness.

Moreover, in the case that the exits of the gas flow paths are formed in the cylinder, suction loss occurs as the outlets of the gas flow paths are exposed to the compression space during a suction stroke to thus cause a high-pressure refrigerant to enter the compression space.

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