Linear Compressor Gas Bearing and Valve Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing linear compressor has a large volume, making it unsuitable for refrigerators with increased inner storage space requirements, and reducing its size to compensate for this results in performance deterioration due to increased friction from oil circulation and discharge valve abrasion issues.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a gas bearing system using refrigerant to reduce friction between the piston and cylinder, eliminates oil usage, and employs a discharge valve assembly with a valve spring and stopper to minimize abrasion, along with multiple filters to remove foreign substances and oil, thereby maintaining performance and reducing compressor size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the linear compressor size is reduced to increase refrigerator inner storage space, then the volume of the compressor is reduced, but friction force due to oil circulation increases and performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the oil supply assembly and oil circulation system from the compressor, eliminating the harmful effect of oil friction entirely. This allows the compressor to be miniaturized without the performance penalty of increased oil friction, as the oil system that caused the friction is completely extracted from the design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the oil-based mechanical lubrication system with a gas bearing system that uses refrigerant gas for lubrication. This substitution eliminates the friction problems associated with oil circulation while enabling smaller compressor dimensions, as the gas bearing provides adequate lubrication without requiring an oil supply infrastructure.
2Volume of moving object
If the linear compressor size is reduced to increase refrigerator inner storage space, then the volume of the compressor is reduced, but friction force due to oil circulating in the compressor increases
Solution Approach 1:
The oil supply assembly is completely removed from the compressor design, eliminating the source of oil circulation and the associated friction forces. This extraction allows for compressor miniaturization without the harmful friction effects that would otherwise increase in smaller designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a gas bearing system that uses refrigerant gas to provide lubrication between moving parts. This pneumatic lubrication approach replaces the hydraulic oil-based system, reducing friction forces while enabling smaller compressor dimensions suitable for modern refrigerator applications.
3Ease of manufacture
If a coil spring is used for the discharge valve spring, then the discharge valve may rotate with respect to the coil spring, but this causes abrasion of the discharge valve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the coil spring mechanism with a plate spring-based discharge valve spring system. This substitution eliminates the rotational movement between the discharge valve and spring that occurs with coil springs, thereby preventing abrasion and extending discharge valve life while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a helical coil spring that allows rotational degrees of freedom, the patent inverts the approach by using a plate spring configuration that constrains the discharge valve to linear motion only. This design reversal eliminates the harmful rotation-induced abrasion while achieving the required spring function.
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 the compressor's volume, maintains performance by minimizing friction and abrasion, and increases inner storage space in refrigerators by using a gas bearing system and advanced filter mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
a gas bearing system using refrigerant to reduce friction between the piston and cylinder
Implementation Method 2
The permanent magnet may be linearly reciprocated by an electromagnetic force between the permanent magnet and the inner (or outer) stator
Data Source
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AI summary
A linear compressor (100) comprising: a shell (101); a cylinder (120) provided in the shell (101) to define a compression space for a refrigerant; a frame (110) to fix the cylinder (120) to the shell (101); a piston (130) reciprocated within the cylinder (120) in an axial direction; a discharge valve (220) disposed at one end of the cylinder (120) to selectively discharge the refrigerant compressed in the compression space (P); a discharge cover (200) coupled to the frame (110), the discharge cover (200) having a chamber (212) to reduce pulsation of the refrigerant discharged through the discharge valve (220); a valve spring (230) installed on the discharge cover (200) to provide an elastic force to the discharge valve (220); and a stopper (240) coupled to the valve spring (230) to restrict deformation of the valve spring (230). The linear compressor further comprises: a first spacer (250) disposed between the valve spring (230) and the stopper (240) to space the valve spring (230) from the stopper (240); and a second spacer (260) installed on the cover body (200a) to support the stopper (240).