Support structure for linear-compressor moving component, linear compressor, and cryogenic refrigerator

Abstract

A linear-compressor moving component support structure includes: a plurality of leaf spring parts each elastically supporting the moving component in the compressor container such as to allow its axially reciprocating movement; a plurality of first auxiliary spring parts, each of which has first axial rigidity and is located adjacent to one of opposite sides of a corresponding leaf spring part; and a plurality of second auxiliary spring parts, each of which has second axial rigidity and is located adjacent to the other of the opposite sides of a corresponding leaf spring part. The second axial rigidity is different from the first axial rigidity such as to correct deviation, arising due to pressure differences between the high- and low-pressure chambers exerted on the moving component, of actual range of axial movement of the moving component from a predetermined range of axial movement of the moving component.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A linear-compressor moving component support structure, comprising:
 a moving component partitioning a compressor container of the linear compressor into a high-pressure chamber and a low-pressure chamber for a working gas, the moving component being configured to reciprocate periodically along axially opposite directions in a predetermined range of axial movement, in one of the opposite directions of which the moving component compresses the working gas in the high-pressure chamber;   a plurality of axially arranged leaf spring parts, each leaf spring part elastically supporting the moving component in the compressor container such as to allow the axially reciprocating movement of the moving component;   a plurality of axially arranged first auxiliary spring parts each having a first axial rigidity, each first auxiliary spring part being located adjacent to one of opposite sides of a corresponding one of the plurality of leaf spring parts; and   a plurality of axially arranged second auxiliary spring parts each having a second axial rigidity, each second auxiliary spring part being located adjacent to the other of the opposite sides of a corresponding leaf spring part; wherein   the second axial rigidity is different from the first axial rigidity such as to correct deviation, arising due to pressure differences between the high- and low-pressure chambers exerted on the moving component, of actual range of axial movement of the moving component from the predetermined range of axial movement of the moving component.   
     
     
         2 . The moving component support structure according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the predetermined range of axial movement is defined such that a central position of periodic axial elastic deformation of the leaf spring parts in the axially reciprocating movement of the moving component is aligned with a neutral position of the leaf spring parts; and   the second axial rigidity is different from the first axial rigidity such as to correct deviation in axial position of the central position from the neutral position of the leaf spring parts.   
     
     
         3 . The moving component support structure according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 each first auxiliary spring part is disposed adjacent to the one of the opposite sides of the corresponding leaf spring part in such a way that elastic deformation of the corresponding leaf spring part toward the one of the opposite sides brings the first auxiliary spring part into contact with the corresponding leaf spring part, whereby the first auxiliary spring part follows the elastic deformation of the corresponding leaf spring part toward the one of the opposite sides, and   each second auxiliary spring part is disposed adjacent to the other of the opposite sides of the corresponding leaf spring part in such a way that elastic deformation of the corresponding leaf spring part toward the other of the opposite sides brings the second auxiliary spring part into contact with the corresponding leaf spring part, whereby the second auxiliary spring part follows the elastic deformation of the corresponding leaf spring part toward the other of the opposite sides.   
     
     
         4 . The moving component support structure according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 each first auxiliary spring part includes one or more first auxiliary springs arranged axially stacked between two axially adjacent leaf spring parts;   each second auxiliary spring part includes one or more second auxiliary springs arranged axially stacked between two axially adjacent leaf spring parts; and   the number of first auxiliary springs is different from the number of second auxiliary springs.   
     
     
         5 . The moving component support structure according to  claim 4 , wherein the first auxiliary springs have the same dimension as, and are made of the same material as, the second auxiliary springs. 
     
     
         6 . The moving component support structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the first auxiliary spring parts have a different dimension from that of the second auxiliary spring parts, and/or the first auxiliary spring parts are made of a material different from that of the second auxiliary spring parts. 
     
     
         7 . The moving component support structure according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fixed body slidably supporting the moving component axially, and between itself and the moving component forming the high pressure chamber;   an intake valve disposed in the moving component so as to supply the working gas from the low pressure chamber to the high pressure chamber; and   an outlet valve disposed in the fixed body so as to discharge the working gas from the high pressure chamber; wherein   the second auxiliary spring parts' second axial rigidity is greater than the first auxiliary spring parts' first axial rigidity.   
     
     
         8 . A linear-compressor moving component support structure, comprising:
 a moving component partitioning a compressor container of the linear compressor into a high-pressure chamber and a low-pressure chamber for a working gas, the moving component being configured to reciprocate periodically along axially opposite directions, in one of the opposite directions of which the moving component compresses the working gas in the high-pressure chamber;   a fixed body slidably supporting the moving component axially, and between itself and the moving component forming the high pressure chamber;   an intake valve disposed in the moving component so as to supply the working gas from the low pressure chamber to the high pressure chamber;   an outlet valve disposed in the fixed body so as to discharge the working gas from the high pressure chamber;   a plurality of axially arranged leaf spring parts, each leaf spring part elastically supporting the moving component in the compressor container such as to allow the axially reciprocating movement of the moving component;   a plurality of axially arranged first auxiliary spring parts each having a first axial rigidity, each first auxiliary spring part being located adjacent to one of opposite sides of a corresponding one of the plurality of leaf spring parts; and   a plurality of axially arranged second auxiliary spring parts each having a second axial rigidity greater than the first axial rigidity, each second auxiliary spring part being located adjacent to the other of the opposite sides of a corresponding leaf spring part.   
     
     
         9 . A linear compressor comprising the moving component support structure according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         10 . A cryogenic refrigerator comprising the linear compressor according to  claim 9 .