Linear compressor

Details Linear compressor Linear compressor

1999-10-12

2001-08-14

Walberg, Teresa (Department: 3742)

Pumps

Motor driven

Electric or magnetic motor

C417S363000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06273688

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a linear compressor in which a cylinder slidably supporting a piston is supported in a hermetic vessel by a coil spring.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
In refrigeration cycle, it is said that HCFC-based refrigerants such as R22 are stable compounds and decompose the ozone layer. In recent years, HFC-based refrigerants begin to be utilize as alternative refrigerants of HCFCs, but these HFC-based refrigerants have the nature for facilitating the global warming. Therefore, people start employing HC-based refrigerants which do not decompose the ozone layer or largely affect the global warming.
However, since this HC-based refrigerant is flammable, it is necessary to prevent explosion or ignition so as to ensure the safety. For this purpose, it is required to reduce the amount of refrigerant to be used. On the other hand, the HC-based refrigerant itself does not have lubricity and is easily melted into lubricant. For these reasons, when the HC-based refrigerant is used, an oilless or oil pure compressor is required, and a linear compressor in which almost no load is applied in a direction perpendicular to an axis of its piston is effective.
In the case of the linear compressor, since a compressing mechanism vibrates, it is necessary to prevent the vibration from being transmitted outside.
Further, the linear compressor is known as a compressor of a type in which oilless can be realized easier as compared with a reciprocating compressor, a rotary compressor and a scroll compressor.
However, even in this linear compressor, there exist sliding surfaces between its cylinder and piston, the sliding performance between the sliding surfaces has a great effect on both efficiency and durability of the linear compressor. Therefore, in order to make the linear compressor into an oilless compressor, very complicated design is required.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thereupon, it is a first object of the present invention to reduce vibration of a linear compressor transmitted to a hermetic vessel without increasing outer dimensions of the hermetic vessel.
It is a second object of the invention to provide a supporting mechanism capable of effectively suppressing not only vibration generated in an axial direction of a piston but also vibration generated in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the piston.
When a cylinder is supported by a plurality of coil springs, it is a third object of the invention to provide a linear compressor capable of using the same coil springs without considering the characteristics of the coil springs corresponding to respective positions to be placed.
It is a fourth object of the invention to effectively utilize a space in a hermetic vessel generated by coil spring-supporting structure, thereby enhancing the resistance to vibration of a discharge tube.
It is a fifth object of the invention to provide a high efficiency and highly reliable linear compressor by reliably supplying lubricant to necessary portions of the linear compressor.
A linear compressor according to the present invention comprises a cylinder supported in a hermetic vessel by a supporting mechanism, a piston slidably supported along an axial direction of the cylinder concentrically with the cylinder, and a linear motor for generating thrust force by forming a magnetic passage by a movable portion secured to the piston and a stationary portion secured to the cylinder. The axial direction of the cylinder is directed in a horizontal direction. The supporting mechanism comprises first and second coil springs supporting the cylinder from its opposite ends in the hermetic vessel, and at least one of the first and second coil springs comprises a plurality of coil springs which are juxtaposed to each other.
The linear compressor of the present invention includes a lubricant supplying apparatus.


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