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US 9,518,572 B2Granted
Linear compressor
AssigneeHaier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
InventorsThomas R. Barito, Gregory William Hahn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A linear compressor is provided. The linear compressor includes a casing and a machined spring. An inner back iron assembly is fixed to the machined spring at a middle portion of the machined spring. A driving coil is operable to move the inner back iron assembly in order to reciprocate a piston within a chamber of a cylinder assembly.
Claims19
A linear compressor, comprising:
- a driving coil;
- an inner back iron assembly positioned in the driving coil, the driving coil operable to move the inner back iron assembly along an axis during operation of the driving coil, the inner back iron assembly extending between a first end portion and a second end portion, the inner back iron assembly comprising an outer cylinder and a sleeve, the outer cylinder having an outer surface and an inner surface positioned opposite each other, the outer cylinder comprising a plurality of laminations distributed circumferentially about the sleeve, the sleeve mounted to the outer cylinder at the inner surface of the outer cylinder;
- a magnet mounted to the inner back iron assembly at the outer surface of the inner back iron assembly such that the magnet faces the driving coil, the magnet positioned in a recess defined by the laminations of the outer cylinder such that the magnet is inset within the outer cylinder;
- a machined spring comprising
- a first cylindrical portion positioned adjacent the first end portion of the inner back iron assembly,
- a second cylindrical portion positioned within and fixed to the inner back iron assembly, the sleeve extending between the inner surface of the outer cylinder and the second cylindrical portion in order to fix the sleeve to the outer cylinder,
- a first helical portion extending between and coupling the first and second cylindrical portions together,
- a third cylindrical portion positioned adjacent the second end portion of the inner back iron assembly, and
- a second helical portion extending between and coupling the second and third cylindrical portions together;
- a piston head connected to the inner back iron assembly;
- and
- a cylinder assembly defining a chamber, wherein the piston head is slidably received within the chamber.
9 more elements
A linear compressor defining a radial direction, a circumferential direction and an axial direction, the linear compressor comprising:
- a machined spring;
- an inner back iron assembly extending about the machined spring along the circumferential direction, the inner back iron assembly comprising an outer cylinder and a sleeve, the outer cylinder having an outer surface and an inner surface spaced apart from each other along the radial direction, the outer cylinder comprising a plurality of laminations distributed along the circumferential direction about the sleeve, the sleeve positioned at the inner surface of the outer cylinder, the sleeve extending between the inner surface of the outer cylinder and a middle portion of the machined spring along the radial direction;
- a driving coil extending about the inner iron assembly along the circumferential direction, the driving coil operable to move the inner back iron assembly along an axis during operation of the driving coil;
- a magnet mounted to the inner back iron assembly such that the magnet is spaced apart from the driving coil by an air gap along the radial direction, the magnet positioned in a recess defined by the laminations of the outer cylinder such that the magnet is inset within the outer cylinder;
- a piston head connected to the inner back iron assembly;
- and
- a cylinder assembly defining a chamber, wherein the piston head is slidably received within the chamber.
4 more elements
A method for making an inner back iron assembly for a linear compressor comprising:
- forming a plurality of laminations into a cylindrical shape;
- securing the laminations of the plurality of laminations together in order to form an outer cylinder of the inner back iron assembly;
- inserting a sleeve into the outer cylinder such that the sleeve is positioned on an inner surface of the outer cylinder;
- welding the sleeve to the outer cylinder;
- attaching a middle portion of a machined spring to the sleeve;
- and
- mounting at least one magnet onto an outer surface of the outer cylinder such that the at least one magnet is positioned in a recess defined by the laminations of the outer cylinder such that the magnet is inset within the outer cylinder.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.