Linear Compressor Cylinder and Head Construction

Abstract

A cylinder and head assembly for a linear compressor has a cylinder chassis ( 35, 11 ), a cylinder liner ( 12 ) open at both ends and a valve plate ( 5 ) defining a barrier between the compression end ( 37 ) of the cylinder liner ( 12 ) and the head space ( 7 ) defined by the cylinder chassis. The valve ( 5 ) plate is located between an annular shoulder ( 39 ) of the cylinder chassis ( 35 ) and an open end of the cylinder liner ( 37 ).

1 . A cylinder and cylinder head assembly for a linear compressor comprising:
 a cylinder chassis including an inner surface defining a cylinder head space at one end and a cylinder space extending along an axis from said cylinder head space, said cylinder space being at least substantially cylindrical, with an outlet from said cylinder head space through the wall of said cylinder chassis;   a cylindrical cylinder liner, open at both ends and located within said frame, such that the outer surface of said liner is engaged against the cylinder space defining portion of said inner surface of said chassis; and   a valve plate defining a barrier between a compression end of said cylinder liner and said head space, said valve plate engaged between said cylinder chassis and said cylinder liner to locate said valve plate against the open end of said cylinder liner.   
   
   
       2 . A cylinder and cylinder head assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said cylinder chassis extends beyond the other end of said cylinder liner. 
   
   
       3 . A cylinder and cylinder head assembly as claimed  claim 1 , wherein said cylinder chassis ends intermediate the ends of said cylinder liner, to cover only a portion of the outer surface of the cylinder liner. 
   
   
       4 . A cylinder and cylinder head assembly as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein a separate cylinder part frame is fixed over the other end of the cylinder liner. 
   
   
       5 . A cylinder and cylinder head assembly as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said cylinder part frame is fixed over the other end of the cylinder liner with an interference friction fit. 
   
   
       6 . A cylinder and cylinder head assembly as claimed  claim 4 , wherein the cylinder part frame carries the stator parts of a linear motor. 
   
   
       7 . A cylinder and cylinder head assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the valve plate is not fixed to the cylinder liner. 
   
   
       8 . A cylinder and cylinder head assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said cylinder liner is an interference fit within said chassis and is held in place by friction. 
   
   
       9 . A cylinder and cylinder head assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said chassis includes, at a transition between said cylinder defining part of said inner surface and said head defining part of said inner surface, a shoulder or shoulders, and said valve plate is pressed, on opposite sides, between said shoulder or shoulders and the annular end of said cylinder liner. 
   
   
       10 . A cylinder and cylinder head assembly as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the shoulder is annular. 
   
   
       11 . A cylinder and cylinder head assembly as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the shoulder is an annular series of inwardly protruding shoulders. 
   
   
       12 . A cylinder and cylinder head assembly as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the shoulder presses directly against the face of the valve plate. 
   
   
       13 . A cylinder and cylinder head assembly as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the shoulder presses against the face of a valve plate via an intermediate component. 
   
   
       14 . A cylinder and cylinder head assembly as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the intermediate component is a gasket or resilient spring. 
   
   
       15 . A cylinder and cylinder head assembly as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein a gasket is interposed between the annular end of the cylinder liner and the valve plate. 
   
   
       16 . A cylinder and cylinder head assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the valve plate includes one or more valve members assembled to it. 
   
   
       17 . A cylinder and cylinder head assembly as claimed in claim  1 , wherein one or more grooves in either the inner surface of the cylinder chassis or the outer surface of the cylinder liner define supply passages to supply compressed gases to gas bearing ports formed in the cylinder liner. 
   
   
       18 . A cylinder and cylinder head assembly as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein these grooves are provided in the outer surface of the cylinder liner. 
   
   
       19 . A cylinder and cylinder head assembly as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein one or more notches are provided in the periphery of the valve plate to define a flow path between the compressed gases discharge space and the head and the gas bearing supply passages defined between the chassis and the liner. 
   
   
       20 . A linear compressor comprising a refrigeration system compressor comprising a hermetic housing, a linear compressor within said hermetic housing, said compressor including a cylinder part assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , a piston part including a piston for reciprocating within the cylinder defined by said cylinder liner; and a linear electric motor for driving reciprocating movement between the piston part and cylinder part, with the linear compressor suspended for operation within said hermetic housing. 
   
   
       21 . A method of manufacturing a linear compressor, including, for assembling the cylinder and head portion thereof, the steps of:
 by differential temperature, expanding a cylinder chassis relative to a cylinder liner part,   inserting a valve plate defining barrier into said cylinder chassis through an open end thereof,   inserting said cylinder liner part into said cylinder chassis through said open end to engage said valve plate between an end of said cylinder liner and said cylinder chassis to define a barrier between a compression end of said cylinder and a head space enclosed by said cylinder chassis, and   retaining a said cylinder liner in this position until said cylinder chassis and said cylinder liner become engaged as said temperature differential reduces.   
   
   
       22 . (canceled)