Reciprocating Compressor Damper Reduces Friction Noise

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Solution Overview

Problem

Reciprocating compressors experience significant friction noise and mechanical damage due to vibration, with the discharge hose being prone to collision and damage from the compressor shell, especially during operation and transportation.

Innovation Solution

A reciprocating compressor design featuring a damper with a plastic damper base and rubber damping portions integrated through insert-injection molding, which is coupled to the cylinder block to prevent contact with the shell, reducing friction noise and protecting the discharge hose from heat damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a rigid damper base is used to support the cylinder block, then structural strength is improved, but friction noise and mechanical damage occur due to vibration contact with the shell

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidfriction noise
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The damper base is constructed as a composite structure combining a rigid plastic base material with rubber damping portions. The rigid plastic provides structural strength to support the cylinder block, while the rubber damping portions reduce friction noise by preventing contact between the damper base and compressor shell during vibration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the damper base have different material properties: the main body uses rigid plastic for structural support, while specific contact portions use rubber material for vibration damping and noise reduction. This local differentiation of material quality resolves the contradiction between strength and noise.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Volume of moving object

If the discharge hose is positioned close to the shell for compact design, then space utilization is improved, but the discharge hose collides with or is damaged by the shell during vibration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace utilizationVSAvoiddischarge hose integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The damper base acts as an intermediary component between the cylinder block and the compressor shell. It positions the discharge hose in close proximity to the shell for compact design while simultaneously preventing direct contact and collision between the hose and shell during vibration, thus protecting the hose integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The rubber damping portions are positioned in advance to cushion and prevent contact between vibrating components and the shell. This beforehand cushioning protects the discharge hose from collision and damage during vibration before any contact can occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Strength

If welding is used to assemble the housing shell for structural strength, then joint strength is improved, but the discharge hose is melted by welding heat

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvejoint strengthVSAvoidwelding heat exposure
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The damper base serves as a protective intermediary between the welding process and the discharge hose. It positions the hose away from the welding zone while maintaining compact overall design, preventing the hose from being exposed to melting temperatures during shell assembly welding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The discharge hose is positioned and secured by the damper base before the welding process occurs. This preliminary positioning prevents the hose from being in the path of welding heat, avoiding thermal damage while still allowing welding to proceed for strong joint assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively reduces friction noise by over 10 dB and prevents mechanical damage to the compressor components, ensuring stable operation and reduced wear during vibrations from operation or transportation.

Implementation Method 1

a rubber damping portion provided on the damper base material to prevent contact between the damper base material and the shell

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the rubber damping portion is insert-injection-molded onto the damper base

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP3477109B1Reciprocating compressor and method for manufacturing a reciprocating compressor
Publication Date: 2021.01.13 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3477109B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3477109B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3477109B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A reciprocating compressor and a method for manufacturing a reciprocating compressor are provided. The reciprocating compressor may include a damper provided at a cylinder block. The damper may include a damper base coupled to the cylinder block and formed of plastic, and a rubber damping portion provided on the damper base to prevent contact between the damper base and the shell, so that friction noise between a base and the shell of the compressor may be reduced.