Linear compressor and refrigerator including a linear compressor

Abstract

A linear compressor and a refrigerator including a linear compressor is provided. The linear compressor may include a shell including a suction inlet, a cylinder provided in the shell to define a compression space for a refrigerant, a piston reciprocated in an axial direction within the cylinder, a discharge valve provided at one side of the cylinder to selectively discharge the refrigerant compressed in the compression space, at least one nozzle disposed in the cylinder to introduce at least a portion of the refrigerant discharged through the discharge valve into the cylinder, and at least one filter provided in the shell. The at least one filter may be disposed in a refrigerant passage defined from the suction inlet to the at least one nozzle via the discharge valve. Foreign substances or oil contained in the refrigerant introduced into the at least one nozzle may be filtered while passing through the at least one filter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A linear compressor, comprising:
 a shell comprising a suction inlet;   a cylinder provided in the shell to define a compression space for a refrigerant;   a piston reciprocated in an axial direction within the cylinder;   a discharge valve provided at one end of the cylinder to selectively discharge the refrigerant compressed in the compression space;   at least one nozzle disposed in the cylinder to introduce at least a portion of the refrigerant discharged through the discharge valve into the cylinder; and   at least one filter provided in the shell, wherein the at least one filter is installed in a refrigerant passage that extends from the suction inlet to the at least one nozzle via the discharge valve, and wherein foreign substances or oil contained in the refrigerant to be introduced into the at least one nozzle are filtered while passing through the at least one filter.   
     
     
         2 . The linear compressor according to  claim 1 , further comprising a suction muffler provided in the shell to reduce noise of the refrigerant suctioned in through the suction inlet, wherein the at least one filter comprises a filter installed in the suction muffler. 
     
     
         3 . The linear compressor according to  claim 2 , wherein the suction muffler comprises a first muffler and a second muffler, and wherein the filter is installed between the first muffler and the second muffler. 
     
     
         4 . The linear compressor according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a groove formed in one of the first muffler or the second muffler; and   a protrusion provided at the other one of the first muffler or the second muffler, wherein the protrusion is coupled to the groove, and wherein the filter is interposed between the groove and the protrusion.   
     
     
         5 . The linear compressor according to  claim 2 , wherein the filter comprises a magnetic member. 
     
     
         6 . The linear compressor according to  claim 2 , wherein the filter is formed of a stainless steel material. 
     
     
         7 . The linear compressor according to  claim 1 , further comprising a frame installed to an outside of the cylinder, wherein the at least one filter comprises a filter installed in a space between the cylinder and the frame. 
     
     
         8 . The linear compressor according to  claim 7 , wherein the cylinder comprises a cylinder body and a cylinder flange that extends in a radial direction of the cylinder body, and wherein the frame comprises a recess in which the cylinder flange is inserted, and a seat, on which a surface of the cylinder flange is seated. 
     
     
         9 . The linear compressor according to  claim 8 , wherein the filter is positioned on the seat of the frame. 
     
     
         10 . The linear compressor according to  claim 8 , wherein the filter is positioned between an outer circumferential surface of the cylinder flange and an inner circumferential surface of the recess. 
     
     
         11 . The linear compressor according to  claim 7 , wherein the filter has a ring shape. 
     
     
         12 . The linear compressor according to  claim 7 , wherein the filter comprises a felt formed of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fiber. 
     
     
         13 . The linear compressor according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one gas inflow recessed from an outer circumferential surface of the cylinder to communicate with the at least one nozzle, wherein the at least one filter comprises a filter installed in the at least one gas inflow. 
     
     
         14 . The linear compressor according to  claim 13 , wherein the filter comprises a thread having a predetermined thickness or diameter. 
     
     
         15 . The linear compressor according to  claim 14 , wherein the thread is formed of a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) material. 
     
     
         16 . The linear compressor according to  claim 14 , wherein the thread is wound several times around the at least one gas inflow. 
     
     
         17 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a linear compressor comprising a reciprocating piston and a cylinder that accommodates the piston and having an outer circumferential surface through which a refrigerant is introduced;   at least one filter provided in the linear compressor to filter the refrigerant introduced through the outer circumferential surface of the cylinder;   a condenser that condenses the refrigerant compressed in the linear compressor; and   a dryer to remove foreign substances or oil contained in the refrigerant condensed in the condenser, wherein the dryer comprises an adsorbent to adsorb the oil contained in the refrigerant.   
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator according to  claim 17 , wherein the adsorbent comprises a molecular sieve provided with a plurality of holes to adsorb the oil, the adsorbent having a grain shape. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator according to  claim 17 , wherein the adsorbent comprises an oil adsorbent paper or felt. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator according to  claim 17 , wherein the dryer comprises:
 a first dryer filter disposed within an inlet-side of the dryer;   a second dryer filter supported by the first dryer filter, the second dryer filter comprising the adsorbent; and   a third dryer filter that supports the second dryer, the third dryer filter being disposed within an outlet-side of the dryer.   
     
     
         21 . The refrigerator according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one filter comprises a filter installed at a suction muffler that reduces flow noise of the refrigerant suctioned into the linear compressor. 
     
     
         22 . The refrigerator according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one filter comprises a filter disposed at one end of the cylinder to filter at least a portion of the refrigerant discharged from the cylinder. 
     
     
         23 . The refrigerator according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one filter comprises a filter wound around the outer circumferential surface of the cylinder. 
     
     
         24 . A linear compressor, comprising:
 a shell comprising a suction inlet;   a cylinder provided in the shell to define a compression space for a refrigerant;   a piston reciprocated in an axial direction within the cylinder;   a discharge valve provided at one end of the cylinder to selectively discharge the refrigerant compressed in the compression space;   at least one nozzle disposed in the cylinder to introduce at least a portion of the refrigerant discharged through the discharge valve into the cylinder; and   a plurality of filters installed along a refrigerant passage that extends from the suction inlet to the at least one nozzle via the discharge valve, wherein foreign substances or oil contained in the refrigerant to be introduced into the at least one nozzle are filtered while passing through the plurality of filters.   
     
     
         25 . The linear compressor according to  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of filters comprises a first filter installed in a suction muffler provided in the shell to reduce noise of the refrigerant suctioned in through the suction inlet. 
     
     
         26 . The linear compressor according to  claim 25 , wherein the suction muffler comprises a first muffler and a second muffler, and wherein the filter is installed between the first muffler and the second muffler. 
     
     
         27 . The linear compressor according to  claim 25 , wherein the plurality of filters further comprises a second filter installed between the cylinder and a frame installed at an outside of the cylinder. 
     
     
         28 . The linear compressor according to  claim 27 , wherein the cylinder comprises a cylinder body and a cylinder flange that extends in a radial direction of the cylinder body, and wherein the frame comprises a recess in which the cylinder flange is inserted, and a seat, on which a surface of the cylinder flange is seated, and wherein the second filter is positioned on the seat of the frame. 
     
     
         29 . The linear compressor according to  claim 27 , further comprising at least one gas inflow recessed from an outer circumferential surface of the cylinder to communicate with the at least one nozzle, wherein the plurality of filters further comprises a third filter installed in the at least one gas inflow. 
     
     
         30 . The linear compressor according to  claim 29 , wherein the filter comprises a thread having a predetermined thickness or diameter.