Linear Compressor Gasket Vibration Damping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional linear compressors have a large volume, which increases the size of the machine room in refrigerators, leading to reduced inner storage space, and attempts to reduce compressor size result in performance deterioration and increased driving frequency, causing friction and noise issues due to oil circulation.

Innovation Solution

A linear compressor design incorporating a gasket between the discharge cover and the valve spring, and between the discharge cover and the frame, to attenuate vibrations and noise, along with a stepped seating surface on the discharge cover and press-fitted spring support parts, to stabilize the spring assembly and prevent vibration transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the linear compressor size is reduced to increase refrigerator storage space, then the volume of the compressor is reduced, but the driving frequency increases causing friction and noise deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompressor volumeVSAvoidnoise and friction
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A gasket is introduced as an intermediary element between the discharge cover and the spring assembly, and between the discharge cover and the frame. This gasket acts as a vibration-damping mediator that absorbs and attenuates vibrations generated during compressor operation, thereby reducing noise and friction without requiring an increase in compressor size

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the driving frequency of the compressor is increased to compensate for performance deterioration from size reduction, then the compression performance is maintained, but the friction force from oil circulation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompression performanceVSAvoidfriction loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The vibration and friction generated during high-frequency operation are converted into beneficial vibration damping through the gasket. The gasket material absorbs harmful vibrations and converts them into minimal heat energy, transforming the harmful high-frequency oscillations into a benign state that actually stabilizes the spring assembly and reduces overall friction losses

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 design reduces noise levels by approximately 20% in the axial direction and 15% in the radial direction, improving compressor performance and reducing the overall noise generated during operation.

Implementation Method 1

a first gasket seated on the seating surface of the discharge cover to support the spring assembly and attenuate vibration during an operation of the discharge valve

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration attenuation: Damping

Implementation Method 2

The permanent magnet may linearly reciprocate by an electromagnetic force between the permanent magnet and the inner (or outer) stator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic force: Lorentz Force

Data Source

PatentEP3242022B1Linear compressor
Publication Date: 2021.06.23 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3242022B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3242022B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3242022B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A linear compressor includes a cylinder which defines a compression space for a refrigerant and into which a piston reciprocating in an axial direction is inserted, a frame into which the cylinder is accommodated, a discharge valve for selectively discharging the refrigerant compressed in the compression space for the refrigerant, a spring assembly coupled to the discharge valve, a discharge cover on which the spring assembly is seated and which has a discharge space through which the refrigerant discharged through the discharge valve flows, and a first gasket seated inside the discharge cover to support the spring assembly and attenuate vibration during an operation of the discharge valve.