Linear Compressor Machined Spring Air Gap Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Linear compressors face efficiency issues due to friction between the piston and the chamber wall, and maintaining a uniform air gap between the magnet and the driving coil is challenging, particularly with multiple air gaps disrupting magnetic field transmission.
Innovation Solution
A linear compressor design featuring a machined spring and an inner back iron assembly with a single air gap, where the machined spring supports the inner back iron assembly to reduce friction and maintain a uniform air gap, enhancing the compressor's efficiency by using a machined spring to couple the inner back iron assembly to the casing and a driving coil to move the inner back iron assembly, thereby minimizing side pull forces and friction losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If multiple air gaps are provided between the magnet and the driving coil, then the magnetic field transmission is improved, but the uniformity of the air gap is difficult to maintain and the complexity of the structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple air gaps into a single air gap between the magnet and the driving coil. The inner back iron assembly is positioned such that there is only one air gap, eliminating the need to maintain multiple uniform gaps while still allowing effective magnetic field transmission from the driving coil to the magnet.
Solution Approach 2:
The single air gap design serves multiple functions: it allows magnetic field transmission, provides mechanical clearance, and simplifies the structure. The inner back iron assembly with the single air gap configuration achieves both magnetic coupling and mechanical support without requiring multiple separate gaps.
2Ease of manufacture
If the piston is not suitably aligned within the chamber, then the compressor can be simpler to manufacture, but friction losses due to rubbing of the piston against the wall increase
Solution Approach 1:
The machined spring acts as an intermediary element between the inner back iron assembly and the cylinder chamber. It provides a compliant mounting that automatically centers the piston within the chamber, ensuring suitable alignment without requiring complex alignment mechanisms or precision manufacturing of the piston itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a machined spring with specific mechanical properties (compliance, damping) to change the operational parameters of the piston assembly. The spring's elastic characteristics allow it to absorb misalignment and maintain optimal piston positioning, reducing friction losses while keeping the overall structure simple.
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 friction and maintains a uniform air gap, improving the compressor's efficiency and reliability by minimizing friction losses and ensuring consistent magnetic field transmission, leading to enhanced performance and reduced operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
The driving coil is operable to move the inner back iron assembly in order to reciprocate a piston within a chamber of a cylinder assembly
Implementation Method 2
An inner back iron assembly is fixed to the machined spring at a middle portion of the machined spring
Data Source
AI summary
A linear compressor is provided. The linear compressor includes a casing and a machined spring. An inner back iron assembly is fixed to the machined spring at a middle portion of the machined spring. A driving coil is operable to move the inner back iron assembly in order to reciprocate a piston within a chamber of a cylinder assembly.