Expander and air refrigeration device with the same

An expander comprising:

• a piston provided reciprocatively in a first direction in a cylinder;
• a crankshaft extending to intersect perpendicularly a reference plane including a moving axis in the first direction of the piston;
• an XY-separation crank mechanism provided between the piston and the crankshaft, which converts a reciprocating motion of the piston and a rotary motion of the crankshaft into one another, the XY-separation crank mechanism comprising a support member reciprocative in the first direction, and a crank connection member provided reciprocatively on the support member in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, to which a crank of the crankshaft is rotatably engaged, and a coupling member which couples the piston and the support member so as to reciprocate together with the piston and the support member in the first direction;
• a cylinder head provided on the cylinder to define a first expansion/compression chamber between the cylinder head and the piston, and including an intake port and an outlet port which communicate to the first expansion/compression chamber;
• a suction valve supported, reciprocatively in a third direction, by the cylinder head, and configured to open/close the intake port;
• a discharge valve supported, reciprocatively in a fourth direction, by the cylinder head, and configured to open/close the outlet port;
• an intake-side valve mechanism which opens/closes the suction valve;
• an outlet-side valve mechanism which opens/closes the discharge valve,
• wherein
• at least one of the intake-side valve mechanism and the outlet-side valve mechanism comprises an XY separation drive mechanism,
• the cylinder includes a partition opposing the cylinder head with a gap therebetween, and defining a second expansion/compression chamber between the partition and the piston, and a second intake and a second outlet which communicate to the second expansion/compression chamber, and
• wherein the partition further comprises:
• a second intake-side valve mechanism including a second suction valve which opens/closes the second intake;
• and
• a second outlet-side valve mechanism including a second discharge valve which opens/closes the second outlet, and
• wherein
• the coupling member which couples the piston and the support member with each other extends to be airtightly put through the partition.

An air refrigerating device comprising:

• a compressor which pressurizes and cools air;
• an expander, which takes in pressurized air discharged from the compressor and cools and discharges the pressurized air;
• and
• a refrigerating unit which applies the cold air discharged from the expander to an item to be frozen, and freezes the item, wherein the expander comprises:
• a piston provided reciprocatively in a first direction in a cylinder;
• a crankshaft extending to intersect perpendicularly a reference plane including a Moving axis in the first direction of the piston;
• an XY-separation crank mechanism provided between the piston and the crankshaft, which converts a reciprocating motion of the piston and a rotary motion of the crankshaft into one another, the XY-separation crank mechanism comprising a support member reciprocative in the first direction, and a crank connection member provided reciprocatively on the support member in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, to which a crank of the crankshaft is rotatably engaged, and a coupling member which couples the piston and the support member so as to reciprocate together with the piston and the support member in the first direction;
• a cylinder head provided on the cylinder to define a first expansion/compression chamber between the cylinder head and the piston, and including an intake port and an outlet port which communicate to the first expansion/compression chamber;
• a suction valve supported, reciprocatively in a third direction, by the cylinder head, and configured to open/close the intake port;
• a discharge valve supported, reciprocatively in a fourth direction, by the cylinder head, and configured to open/close the outlet port;
• an intake-side valve mechanism which opens/closes the suction valve;
• and
• an outlet-side valve mechanism which opens/closes the discharge valve,
• wherein
• at least one of the intake-side valve mechanism and the outlet-side valve mechanism comprises an XY separation drive mechanism.