Radial Oil Feeder for Linear Compressor Axial Length Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oil feeders for linear compressors increase the axial or horizontal length of the compressor, making them larger and more difficult to assemble, with issues related to ball movement, friction, and structural stability.
Innovation Solution
The design includes an oil feeder with an oil cylinder, piston, and elastic member configuration that reduces axial length, improves ball assembly, and enhances vertical movement and structural stability by using specific hole diameters and grooves to minimize friction and interference, allowing stable coupling to a flange portion for space efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the oil feeder is extended in the axial direction to accommodate the oil piston and elastic members, then the lubrication function is improved, but the axial length of the linear compressor increases
Solution Approach 1:
The oil supply hole is configured to extend in a first direction (radial direction) perpendicular to the axial direction (second direction), allowing the oil feeder to supply oil without extending axially. The accommodation groove is formed concavely at a side surface, enabling vertical placement of components rather than axial extension, thus resolving the contradiction between lubrication function and axial length.
2Device complexity
If the oil piston and elastic members are arranged horizontally, then the structure is simplified, but the horizontal length of the compressor increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reorients the oil piston and elastic members from horizontal arrangement to vertical arrangement within the accommodation groove. The oil piston reciprocates in the axial direction while the elastic members are vertically arranged to support it, converting the horizontal layout into a vertical compact layout that reduces horizontal length while maintaining structural simplicity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the balls are made to move freely in the oil supply hole, then the oil supply flexibility is improved, but the ball movement stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The oil supply hole is configured with specific geometric features including a first portion and a second portion with different cross-sectional areas, creating localized quality variations. The communication hole connects to the accommodation groove at a specific location, providing stable positioning for the balls while allowing them to move freely enough to maintain oil supply flexibility. This local structural differentiation resolves the contradiction between flexibility and stability.
4Reliability
If the oil piston is supported by elastic members in a horizontal configuration, then the support function is adequate, but the assembly difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic members are reconfigured from horizontal support to vertical arrangement within the accommodation groove. The outer portions of the elastic members are coupled to the oil cylinder wall while inner portions support the oil piston, creating a vertical stacking arrangement that is easier to assemble than horizontal configuration. This dimensional reorientation maintains adequate support function while significantly improving assembly ease.
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
This configuration reduces the size of the linear compressor, improves assembly ease, and enhances space efficiency by stabilizing ball movement and reducing friction between the oil piston and cylinder, while allowing for stable coupling to a flange portion.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member (1300) comprising an outer portion coupled to the accommodation groove and an inner portion coupled to the oil piston
Implementation Method 2
capable of allowing a first ball to stably move in a vertical direction while stably supporting the first ball. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an oil feeder and a linear compressor including the same capable of enabling a stable vertical movement of a first ball and a second ball according to vibration of an oil piston
Implementation Method 3
The oil lubricated linear compressor supplies the oil of a relatively low temperature between the cylinder and the piston and thus can suppress the cylinder and the piston from being overheated by motor heat or compression heat, etc.
Data Source
AI summary
An oil feeder and a linear compressor including the same are disclosed. The oil feeder includes an oil cylinder defining an oil supply hole configured to extend in a first direction, an accommodation groove formed concavely at a side, and a communication hole configured to communicate the oil supply hole with the accommodation groove, an oil piston accommodated in the accommodation groove and configured to reciprocate in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a first ball accommodated in the oil supply hole and disposed below the communication hole, a second ball accommodated in the oil supply hole and disposed on the communication hole, and an elastic member comprising an outer portion coupled to the accommodation groove and an inner portion coupled to the oil piston.