Linear Compressor Piston Self-Alignment to Prevent Cylinder Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Linear compressors face issues with piston misalignment leading to contact with the cylinder, causing abrasion and potential damage due to mechanical losses and fatigue, particularly when using flexible rods which lose their flexibility over time.
Innovation Solution
A compressor design where the piston is configured to be rotatable and self-aligning within the cylinder using a guide member and mount member system, supported by a magnet frame, allowing for moment compensation by lubricating refrigerant pressure, and featuring a rotatable coupling member to prevent contact and enhance durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a piston is directly coupled to a magnet frame, then the structure is simple, but the piston reciprocates in an eccentric or inclined state causing contact with the cylinder and abrasion
Solution Approach 1:
The piston structure is divided into a piston body and a guide member that can rotate independently relative to the magnet frame. This segmentation allows the guide member to compensate for eccentricity while the piston body maintains sealing function, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and contact prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member is designed to be rotatable relative to the magnet frame, introducing dynamic adjustment capability. When eccentricity occurs, the guide member automatically rotates to realign the piston with the cylinder center, preventing contact while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Reliability
If a flexible rod is inserted into the piston, then misalignment is compensated, but the flexible rod loses flexibility due to fatigue failure from repeated external force
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a flexible rod that degrades over time, the invention employs a rotatable guide member with a ball joint mechanism. This dynamic structure provides continuous misalignment compensation without the fatigue limitations of flexible materials, significantly extending service life while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member acts as an intermediary between the magnet frame and the piston body. It absorbs the misalignment through rotational movement at the ball joint, eliminating the need for flexible rods that are subject to fatigue failure from repeated loading.
3Reliability
If the piston is made rotatable with a guide member and mount member, then self-alignment is enabled and contact is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The piston assembly is segmented into the piston body, mount member, and guide member with ball joint. This segmentation enables self-alignment functionality while keeping each individual component relatively simple in design, balancing reliability improvement with acceptable complexity.
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 prevents piston-cylinder contact, reducing wear and tear, and enhances the durability of both components by allowing for self-alignment and moment compensation through lubricant pressure, thereby improving the compressor's operational efficiency and longevity.
Implementation Method 1
moment acts on the piston by force of a lubricating refrigerant, which is provided from the cylinder, to prevent the piston from contacting an inner wall of the cylinder
Implementation Method 2
force of a lubricating refrigerant, which is provided from the cylinder
Data Source
AI summary
A compressor includes: a cylinder defining a compression space, a piston structure accommodated in the cylinder and including a mount member and a guide member, the guide member being configured to reciprocate inside the compression space of the cylinder in an axial direction to compress a refrigerant gas therein and a magnet frame configured to support a mover, the mover being coupled to the piston structure and configured to move together with the piston structure. The mount member connects the guide member to the magnet frame and the guide member is configured to be rotated with respect to the mount member.