Oil feeder and linear compressor including the same

An oil feeder comprising:

• an oil cylinder defining:
• an oil supply hole extending in a first direction,
• an accommodation groove, and
• a communication hole enabling the oil supply hole to be in fluid communication with the accommodation groove;
• an oil piston accommodated at the accommodation groove and configured to reciprocate in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;
• a first ball accommodated at the oil supply hole below the communication hole;
• a second ball accommodated at the oil supply hole above the communication hole;
• and
• an elastic member comprising (i) an outer portion coupled to the accommodation groove and (ii) an inner portion coupled to the oil piston,
• wherein a diameter of the first ball is smaller than a diameter of the second ball.

An oil feeder comprising:

• an oil cylinder defining:
• an oil supply hole extending in a first direction,
• an accommodation groove, and
• a communication hole enabling the oil supply hole to be in fluid communication with the accommodation groove;
• an oil piston accommodated at the accommodation groove and configured to reciprocate in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;
• a first ball accommodated at the oil supply hole below the communication hole;
• a second ball accommodated at the oil supply hole above the communication hole;
• and
• an elastic member comprising (i) an outer portion coupled to the accommodation groove and (ii) an inner portion coupled to the oil piston,
• wherein the first ball and the second ball are configured to, based on the oil feeder not being operated, overlap the oil piston in the second direction.

An oil feeder comprising:

• an oil cylinder defining:
• an oil supply hole extending in a first direction,
• an accommodation groove, and
• a communication hole enabling the oil supply hole to be in fluid communication with the accommodation groove;
• an oil piston accommodated at the accommodation groove and configured to reciprocate in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;
• a first ball accommodated at the oil supply hole below the communication hole;
• a second ball accommodated at the oil supply hole above the communication hole;
• and
• an elastic member comprising (i) an outer portion coupled to the accommodation groove and (ii) an inner portion coupled to the oil piston,
• wherein the oil piston defines a coupling groove at a surface facing the elastic member, and
• wherein a fastening member extends through the inner portion of the elastic member and the coupling groove.

An oil feeder comprising:

• an oil cylinder defining:
• an oil supply hole extending in a first direction,
• an accommodation groove, and
• a communication hole enabling the oil supply hole to be in fluid communication with the accommodation groove;
• an oil piston accommodated at the accommodation groove and configured to reciprocate in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction;
• a first ball accommodated at the oil supply hole below the communication hole;
• a second ball accommodated at the oil supply hole above the communication hole;
• an elastic member comprising (i) an outer portion coupled to the accommodation groove and (ii) an inner portion coupled to the oil piston;
• and
• a fixing member fixing the outer portion of the elastic member to the oil cylinder,
• wherein the fixing member is press-fitted to the accommodation groove.

A linear compressor comprising:

• a shell;
• a frame disposed in the shell, the frame comprising a body portion and a flange portion extending radially from a front area of the body portion;
• a cylinder fixed to the body portion;
• a piston disposed in the cylinder and configured to reciprocate axially;
• a discharge valve coupled to the cylinder and disposed at a front of the piston;
• and
• an oil feeder coupled to the flange portion and configured to supply oil stored in a bottom surface of the shell to a space defined by the cylinder and the piston,
• wherein the oil feeder comprises:
• an oil cylinder defining:
• an oil supply hole extending in a first direction,
• an accommodation groove, and
• a communication hole enabling the oil supply hole to be in fluid communication with the accommodation groove,
• an oil piston accommodated at the accommodation groove and configured to reciprocate in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction,
• a first ball accommodated at the oil supply hole and disposed below the communication hole,
• a second ball accommodated at the oil supply hole and disposed above the communication hole, and
• an elastic member comprising (i) an outer portion coupled to the accommodation groove and (ii) an inner portion coupled to the oil piston, and
• wherein the oil feeder overlaps the discharge valve in the first direction.

A linear compressor comprising:

• a shell;
• a frame disposed in the shell, the frame comprising a body portion and a flange portion extending radially from a front area of the body portion;
• a cylinder fixed to the body portion;
• a piston disposed in the cylinder and configured to reciprocate axially;
• and
• an oil feeder coupled to the flange portion and configured to supply oil stored in a bottom surface of the shell to a space defined by the cylinder and the piston,
• wherein the oil feeder comprises:
• an oil cylinder defining:
• an oil supply hole extending in a first direction,
• an accommodation groove, and
• a communication hole enabling the oil supply hole to be in fluid communication with the accommodation groove,
• an oil piston accommodated at the accommodation groove and configured to reciprocate in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction,
• a first ball accommodated at the oil supply hole and disposed below the communication hole,
• a second ball accommodated at the oil supply hole and disposed above the communication hole, and
• an elastic member comprising (i) an outer portion coupled to the accommodation groove and (ii) an inner portion coupled to the oil piston,
• wherein the flange portion comprises:
• a front portion,
• a rear portion disposed at a rear of the front portion, and
• an oil hole disposed between the front portion and the rear portion and being in fluid communication with the oil supply hole,
• wherein an upper surface of the oil cylinder contacts an outer end of the front portion, and
• wherein a rear surface of the oil cylinder contacts a front surface of the rear portion.