Linear compressor with oil splash shield

Abstract

A linear compressor includes a housing defining a sump for collecting a lubricant and a suction inlet for receiving a flow of refrigerant into the housing. A pump circulates the lubricant within the housing, e.g., for lubricating a piston that is movable along the axial direction to compress the flow of refrigerant. A flex mount is coupled to the piston and defines a channel inlet for receiving the flow of refrigerant. A splash shield is positioned within the housing between the channel inlet and a pump inlet along the vertical direction, e.g., to prevent oil entrainment into the flow of refrigerant.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A linear compressor defining an axial direction and a vertical direction, the linear compressor comprising:
 a housing defining a sump for collecting a lubricant and a suction inlet for receiving a flow of refrigerant into the housing;   a pump for circulating the lubricant within the housing, the pump comprising a pump inlet positioned within the sump;   a piston being movable along the axial direction within a chamber to compress the flow of refrigerant;   a flex mount coupled to the piston and defining a channel in fluid communication with the chamber and a channel inlet for receiving the flow of refrigerant from the suction inlet and into the channel; and   a splash shield positioned within the housing between the channel inlet and the pump inlet along the vertical direction.   
     
     
         2 . The linear compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the splash shield is mounted on the housing below the suction inlet. 
     
     
         3 . The linear compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the splash shield is positioned above a maximum oil fill line of the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The linear compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the piston reciprocates between a top dead center position and a bottom dead center position along the axial direction, and wherein the channel inlet is positioned over the splash shield when the piston is in the top dead center position. 
     
     
         5 . The linear compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the splash shield defines a depth measured along the axial direction, wherein the depth is greater than a stroke length of the piston. 
     
     
         6 . The linear compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the splash shield is arcuate. 
     
     
         7 . The linear compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the splash shield extends around the entire channel inlet. 
     
     
         8 . The linear compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the splash shield defines a width measured perpendicular to the axial direction within a horizontal plane, the width being greater than an inlet diameter of the channel inlet. 
     
     
         9 . The linear compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the splash shield is formed from metal. 
     
     
         10 . The linear compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the splash shield is formed from a thermoplastic. 
     
     
         11 . The linear compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the suction inlet and the channel inlet are positioned substantially within a single horizontal plane. 
     
     
         12 . The linear compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the suction inlet and the channel inlet are positioned approximately at a midpoint of the housing along the vertical direction. 
     
     
         13 . The linear compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the axial direction and the vertical direction are perpendicular. 
     
     
         14 . The linear compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the splash shield is closer to the channel inlet than the pump inlet. 
     
     
         15 . A linear compressor defining an axial direction and a vertical direction, the linear compressor comprising:
 a casing comprising a cylinder defining a chamber;   a piston being movable along the axial direction within the chamber to compress a flow of refrigerant;   a channel inlet for receiving the flow of refrigerant from a suction inlet;   a pump for circulating the lubricant within the housing, the pump comprising a pump inlet; and   a splash shield positioned within the housing between the channel inlet and the pump inlet along the vertical direction.   
     
     
         16 . The linear compressor of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a housing defining a sump for collecting a lubricant and a suction inlet for receiving a flow of refrigerant into the housing, wherein the splash shield is mounted on the housing below the suction inlet.   
     
     
         17 . The linear compressor of  claim 16 , wherein the suction inlet and the channel inlet are positioned substantially within a single horizontal plane. 
     
     
         18 . The linear compressor of  claim 15 , wherein the splash shield defines a depth measured along the axial direction, wherein the depth is greater than a stroke length of the piston. 
     
     
         19 . The linear compressor of  claim 15 , wherein the splash shield is arcuate. 
     
     
         20 . The linear compressor of  claim 15 , wherein the splash shield defines a width measured perpendicular to the axial direction within a horizontal plane, the width being greater than an inlet diameter of the channel inlet.