Reciprocating Compressor Valve Assembly With Guided Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional reciprocating compressors face issues with valve assembly misassembly and gasket misalignment, leading to refrigerant leakage and complex assembly processes due to the lack of direction guidance and inconsistent shapes/sizes of components.
Innovation Solution
The compressor incorporates specific coupling portions on the valve plate and cylinder to ensure correct assembly, along with differently shaped/sized fastening protrusions and flow holes in the gasket to prevent misalignment, and uses a clamp for integrated coupling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple fastening members are used to couple the suction/discharge part to the cylinder, then the connection reliability is improved, but the device complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple fastening members into a single integrated clamp structure that couples the suction/discharge part to the cylinder. This clamp has a U-shaped body with two arms that can simultaneously engage with mounting portions on the cylinder, replacing multiple separate fastening members while maintaining connection reliability and simplifying the assembly process
2Ease of manufacture
If the valve assembly is assembled without direction guidance, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the reliability decreases due to misassembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetric coupling portions on the valve plate and corresponding asymmetric mounting portions on the cylinder. These asymmetric features act as direction guidance mechanisms that prevent incorrect assembly orientation. The asymmetric design allows the valve assembly to be manufactured simply while ensuring it can only be assembled in the correct orientation, thereby maintaining both manufacturing ease and assembly reliability
3Adaptability or versatility
If the gasket has flow holes of different shapes for refrigerant inlet and outlet, then the adaptability is improved, but the ease of operation decreases due to misassembly risk
Solution Approach 1:
The gasket is designed with asymmetric flow holes that correspond to the different shapes and positions of the refrigerant inlet and outlet. This asymmetric configuration serves as a built-in direction guide, allowing the gasket to be easily assembled in the correct orientation while maintaining the necessary adaptability for different flow configurations. The asymmetric design eliminates misassembly risk without compromising the gasket's functional versatility
Data Source
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AI summary
A reciprocating compressor (10) according to an aspect includes a driving unit (200); a connecting rod (340); a piston (350); a cylinder (330); and a valve assembly (420), wherein the valve assembly (420) includes a valve plate (421) forming a main body, a suction inlet (422a) and a discharge outlet (423a) disposed at the valve plate (421) and coming in communication with a compression space (C) of the cylinder (330) to guide a refrigerant flow, a suction valve (422) and a discharge valve (423) disposed at the valve plate (421) and selectively opening the suction inlet (422a) and the discharge outlet (423a), and a plurality of coupling portions disposed at the valve plate (421), and a plurality of corresponding coupling portions disposed to correspond to each of the plurality of coupling portions and preventing the valve assembly (420) from being erroneously assembled are disposed at the cylinder (330).