US20050226733A1 - Position sensor and a linear compressor - Google Patents

Position sensor and a linear compressor Download PDF

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Publication number
US20050226733A1
US20050226733A1 US10/508,239 US50823905A US2005226733A1 US 20050226733 A1 US20050226733 A1 US 20050226733A1 US 50823905 A US50823905 A US 50823905A US 2005226733 A1 US2005226733 A1 US 2005226733A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
contact
hermetic terminal
actuator
probe
head
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US10/508,239
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English (en)
Inventor
Rinaldo Puff
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Empresa Brasileira de Compressores SA
Original Assignee
Empresa Brasileira de Compressores SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Empresa Brasileira de Compressores SA filed Critical Empresa Brasileira de Compressores SA
Assigned to EMPRESA BRASILEIRA DE COMPRESSORES S.A. - EMBRACO reassignment EMPRESA BRASILEIRA DE COMPRESSORES S.A. - EMBRACO ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: PUFF, RINALDO
Publication of US20050226733A1 publication Critical patent/US20050226733A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
    • F04B35/00—Piston pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids and characterised by the driving means to their working members, or by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors, not otherwise provided for
    • F04B35/04—Piston pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids and characterised by the driving means to their working members, or by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors, not otherwise provided for the means being electric
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
    • F04B35/00—Piston pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids and characterised by the driving means to their working members, or by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors, not otherwise provided for
    • F04B35/04—Piston pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids and characterised by the driving means to their working members, or by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors, not otherwise provided for the means being electric
    • F04B35/045—Piston pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids and characterised by the driving means to their working members, or by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors, not otherwise provided for the means being electric using solenoids
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
    • F04B17/00—Pumps characterised by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors
    • F04B17/03—Pumps characterised by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors driven by electric motors
    • F04B17/04—Pumps characterised by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors driven by electric motors using solenoids
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
    • F04B2201/00—Pump parameters
    • F04B2201/02—Piston parameters
    • F04B2201/0201—Position of the piston

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a position sensor applicable to a linear compressor and used for detecting the position of the compressor actuator, as well as to a linear compressor provided with a position sensor.
  • a linear compressor basically comprises an actuator or piston that is axially displaced inside a cylinder bore and that has the function of compressing the gas during the cooling cycle.
  • the compressor is further provided with a head comprising a suction valve and a discharge valve. This head is located at the end of the actuator stroke.
  • the actuator together with a magnetic component and a resonant spring, forms a resonant assembly that is driven by a linear motor.
  • This resonant assembly develops a linear movement, and the axial displacement of the actuator provides the necessary compression of the gas.
  • the resonant assembly comes out of its normal course of movement and is displaced beyond the permitted limit, causing the actuator to collide with the compressor head. This abnormality causes noises and damage to the compressor, especially to the valve head.
  • This control over the displacement of the actuator may also be effected by positioning the sensor on the head, so that it will signal or interrupt the energy supply upon detection of the beginning of collisions of the actuator against the head.
  • Another solution foreseen for controlling the course of displacement of the actuator inside the cylinder bore consists in using a position sensor, usually inductive transducers that detect the passage of the actuator by a determined control point.
  • the disadvantage of this solution lies in the high cost of the device used and the difficulty in installing and maintaining it, which causes the final cost of the compressor to rise.
  • PI 0001404-4 relates to a position sensor placed close to the compressor head and capable of signaling the passage of the actuator by a maximum recommendable point, in order to prevent it from bumping against the head at the moments of variations in its operation.
  • This sensor is made of an electrically conductor material, which upon receiving contact of the actuator emits an electric signal to a control circuit, which prevents the actuator from continuing its advance towards the valve head.
  • the senor has to be insulated from the rest of the compressor, as for instance, from the cylinder bore and from the head, so that the circuit can remain open until the actuator leans against the sensor.
  • this insulation may be effected by means of joints made of a sealing material and electrically inert, placed at the portion in which the sensor is in contact with the compressor or all over the head.
  • the sensor is manufactured from a blade that constitutes the valve and that is positioned on the head.
  • sealing joints requires an adequate adjustment in the positioning of the valve blade that has the sensor, of the head and of the cylinder bore.
  • the objective of the present invention is to provide a sensor capable of detecting and controlling the position of the actuator close to the head and to the compressor valves, in order to prevent the actuator from bumping against the head during a failure in its functioning, without this raising the costs of manufacturing the compressor.
  • the objective of this invention is achieved by means of a sensor, particularly useable in detecting the position of an actuator of a compressor in which the actuator is axially displaceable inside a cylinder bore, the sensor comprising a probe and a hermetic terminal to be arranged in a head of the cylinder, the probe being positioned inside the cylinder bore, the probe and the hermetic terminal being associable with each other by means of the contact of the actuator with the probe, the hermetic terminal being connected to a control circuit.
  • a linear compressor provided with an actuator, a cylinder bore and a head, the actuator being axially displaceable inside the cylinder bore, the linear compressor comprising a position sensor comprising a probe and a hermetic terminal, the hermetic terminal being arranged in the head and the probe being positioned inside the cylinder bore, tho probe and the hermetic terminal being associable with each other by means of the contact of the actuator with the probe, the hermetic terminal being connected to a control circuit.
  • FIG. 1 Is a schematic cross-section view of the linear compressor and of the sensor of the present invention.
  • the linear compressor comprises an actuator 2 , which is displaceable inside a cylinder bore 3 , and a head 5 positioned at the end of the course of displacement of the actuator 2 and comprising the suction valve 17 and discharge valve 17 ′.
  • the position sensor comprises a probe 4 , positioned inside the cylinder bore 3 , and a hermetic terminal 7 , connected to a control circuit 8 .
  • the probe 4 is thin and flexible and may be constituted by a metallic blade, which may be replaced by a cylindrical, massive or hollow piece, or else may have another appropriate shape.
  • This probe 4 comprises a first end 11 , a contact projection 10 , a contact region 9 and a second end 12 .
  • the first end 11 is fixed between the aid 5 and the cylinder bore 3 , while the second end 12 is free from engagement.
  • this probe 4 In a variation of fixation of this probe 4 , it is fixed on the actuator 2 itself, the first end 11 being fixed on the face of the actuator 2 , while the second end 12 remains free from fixation or engagement.
  • the contact projection 10 is formed from a bending of the body of the probe 4 . This projection 10 is arranged between the first end 11 and the second end 12 , so as to remain aligned with the hermetic terminal 7 .
  • the contact region 9 is arranged at the second end 12 and has a substantially curved profile reducing the friction during the contact of the actuator 2 with this region 9 .
  • the contact projection 10 and the contact region 9 are arranged on different planes.
  • the contact projection 10 has a null spacing since it is permanently in contact with the head 5 , as shown in detail A, while the contact region 9 has a spacing h, as can be seen in detail B of FIG. 1 .
  • the hermetic terminal 7 will be positioned in an insulated cavity 15 , filled with an insulating material 16 and arranged on the head 5 of the compressor.
  • the hermetic terminal 7 is mounted in the cavity 15 at a backset distance d with respect to the surface of the head 5 facing the interior of the cylinder bore 3 .
  • the positioning of the hermetic terminal 7 on the head 5 should be carried out in such a way that the terminal 7 will be aligned to the contact projection 10 , since the probe 4 and the hermetic terminal 7 are associable with each other by means of the contact of the contact projection 10 with the hermetic terminal 7 .
  • the end of the terminal 7 that should contact the contact projection 10 is preferably plane and parallel to the face of the head 5 in order for the curvature of the contact position 10 to obtain satisfactory contact with this end of the terminal 7 .
  • other variations in shape of this end of the terminal 7 are foreseen, as for example, the shape of an inclined plane or chamfer with an angle of inclination coinciding with that of the probe 4 , among others.
  • the hermetic terminal 7 is connected to the control circuit 8 , formed by an electric circuit comprising a source of electric voltage 21 , preferably of direct current, and a resistor 22 , both connected in series with the hermetic terminal 7 and the head 5 , as illustrated in detail C of FIG. 1 .
  • a source of electric voltage 21 preferably of direct current
  • a resistor 22 both connected in series with the hermetic terminal 7 and the head 5 , as illustrated in detail C of FIG. 1 .
  • an association of the source 21 and the resistor 22 in series with the terminal 7 and with the actuator 2 is foreseen.
  • the actuator 22 in its axial displacement, reaches a determined distance from the head 6 , that is to say, a first control point 6 , the actuator 2 contacts the contact region 9 of the probe 4 , displacing it as far as the second control point 6 ′ arranged at a displacement distance H from the first control point 6 .
  • the contact projection 10 is physically in contact with the hermetic terminal 7 , forming an electric contact with the control circuit 8 .
  • the Contact of the actuator 2 with the contact region 9 is substantially simultaneous with the contact of the contact projection 10 with the hermetic terminal 7 .
  • Said electric contact formed with the control circuit 8 that is, the indication that the actuator 2 has reached the first control point 6 and the second control point 6 ′ causes, the voltage level measured at the terminals. (not shown) close to the resistor 22 to pass from the logical level “0” to the logical level “1”.
  • This variation is read by the control circuit 8 , which may further include an electronic circuit capable of interpreting this signaling, which corrects the path of the actuator 2 , thus preventing it from bumping against the head 5 , that is to say, it causes the maximum displacement of the actuator 2 toward the head 5 to return to below the first control point 6 .
  • the contact region 9 is again positioned at the same level as the first control point 6 .
  • the probe 4 should preferably be made from a material having an elastic deformation zone that embraces the amplitude of this deformation which the probe 4 undergoes during this displacement of the region 9 from the first control point 6 to the second control point 6 ′. This is because, after the efforts have ceased, the region 9 should necessarily return to its initial position, that is to say, coinciding with the first control point 6 .
  • the material employed in constructing this probe 4 should be little susceptible to hysteresis, that is to say, to the residual deformations along the time of use of the sensor.
  • the present invention has the advantage of meeting the need for painting the sensor plate in an attempt to insulate it from the rest of the components of the compressor, thus increasing the reliability of the insulation of the probe 4 and providing a more precise control over the position of the actuator 2 .
  • Another advantage of the present invention lies in the low cost of the hermetic terminal 7 and in its great availability on the market. For this reason, the applied modifications do not render the final compressor assembly expensive.
US10/508,239 2002-03-21 2002-12-13 Position sensor and a linear compressor Abandoned US20050226733A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
BRPI0200898-0A BR0200898B1 (pt) 2002-03-21 2002-03-21 sensor de posição e compressor linear.
BRPI0200898-0 2002-03-21
PCT/BR2002/000184 WO2003081040A1 (en) 2002-03-21 2002-12-13 A position sensor and a linear compressor

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20050226733A1 true US20050226733A1 (en) 2005-10-13

Family

ID=39183053

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/508,239 Abandoned US20050226733A1 (en) 2002-03-21 2002-12-13 Position sensor and a linear compressor

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US20050226733A1 (pt)
EP (1) EP1485612A1 (pt)
JP (1) JP4292085B2 (pt)
KR (1) KR100891784B1 (pt)
CN (1) CN100374719C (pt)
AU (1) AU2002350295A1 (pt)
BR (1) BR0200898B1 (pt)
WO (1) WO2003081040A1 (pt)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070139165A1 (en) * 2005-12-19 2007-06-21 Honeywell International, Inc. Acoustic wave device used as RFID and as sensor
US20140301874A1 (en) * 2011-08-31 2014-10-09 Whirlpool S.A. Linear compressor based on resonant oscillating mechanism

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102006009259A1 (de) 2006-02-28 2007-08-30 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Verfahren zum prädiktiven Regeln eines Linearantriebs bzw. eines Linearverdichters sowie prädiktiv geregelter Linearantrieb bzw. Linearverdichter
CN105864052B (zh) * 2016-03-28 2018-06-26 珠海格力节能环保制冷技术研究中心有限公司 一种用于空调器压缩机的排气阀片组件和压缩机
CN110552861B (zh) * 2018-05-30 2021-11-26 青岛海尔智能技术研发有限公司 用于压缩机控制的方法及压缩机

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2960977A (en) * 1959-04-21 1960-11-22 Jr Seth B Moorhead Variable velocity pneumatic gun system
US4140045A (en) * 1975-11-19 1979-02-20 Fenix & Scisson, Inc. Piston positioning indicator
US4725157A (en) * 1985-07-29 1988-02-16 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Printing device with a pair of housings combined for relative rocking motion
US4744739A (en) * 1987-02-02 1988-05-17 Nrm Corporation Tire curing press
US5816778A (en) * 1996-01-16 1998-10-06 Micron Technology, Inc. System for controlling the stroke length of a double-diaphragm pump
US20030118460A1 (en) * 2000-03-23 2003-06-26 Lilie Dietmar E.B. Position sensor and compressor
US6855897B1 (en) * 1998-07-17 2005-02-15 Aquaplus Technologies Pty., Ltd. Water treatment apparatus and components

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2086970A5 (pt) * 1970-04-15 1971-12-31 Jeumont Schneider
JPH04311685A (ja) * 1991-04-10 1992-11-04 Sanden Corp 圧縮機
CA2084119C (en) * 1992-06-18 1995-12-12 David W. Keck Hermetically sealed snap switch arrangement
US5342176A (en) * 1993-04-05 1994-08-30 Sunpower, Inc. Method and apparatus for measuring piston position in a free piston compressor
GB9310786D0 (en) * 1993-05-25 1993-07-14 Walker Ian R Circulation pump for high purity gases at high pressures
BR0101976A (pt) 2001-05-16 2003-02-04 Brasil Compressores Sa Conjunto sensor de posição de pistão e compressor

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2960977A (en) * 1959-04-21 1960-11-22 Jr Seth B Moorhead Variable velocity pneumatic gun system
US4140045A (en) * 1975-11-19 1979-02-20 Fenix & Scisson, Inc. Piston positioning indicator
US4725157A (en) * 1985-07-29 1988-02-16 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Printing device with a pair of housings combined for relative rocking motion
US4744739A (en) * 1987-02-02 1988-05-17 Nrm Corporation Tire curing press
US5816778A (en) * 1996-01-16 1998-10-06 Micron Technology, Inc. System for controlling the stroke length of a double-diaphragm pump
US6855897B1 (en) * 1998-07-17 2005-02-15 Aquaplus Technologies Pty., Ltd. Water treatment apparatus and components
US20030118460A1 (en) * 2000-03-23 2003-06-26 Lilie Dietmar E.B. Position sensor and compressor

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070139165A1 (en) * 2005-12-19 2007-06-21 Honeywell International, Inc. Acoustic wave device used as RFID and as sensor
US20140301874A1 (en) * 2011-08-31 2014-10-09 Whirlpool S.A. Linear compressor based on resonant oscillating mechanism
US9534591B2 (en) * 2011-08-31 2017-01-03 Whirlpool S.A. Linear compressor based on resonant oscillating mechanism

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2002350295A1 (en) 2003-10-08
CN1639463A (zh) 2005-07-13
CN100374719C (zh) 2008-03-12
BR0200898B1 (pt) 2011-01-25
WO2003081040A1 (en) 2003-10-02
KR100891784B1 (ko) 2009-04-07
EP1485612A1 (en) 2004-12-15
JP4292085B2 (ja) 2009-07-08
BR0200898A (pt) 2003-11-18
KR20040094828A (ko) 2004-11-10
JP2005520986A (ja) 2005-07-14

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: EMPRESA BRASILEIRA DE COMPRESSORES S.A. - EMBRACO,

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:PUFF, RINALDO;REEL/FRAME:016581/0461

Effective date: 20041111

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION