Patent ID: 6540485
Filing Date: 2003-04-01
Classification: F04B

Abstract:
A linear compressor, comprising:a fixed member formed with a hermetically sealed compression chamber to receive a working fluid therein; a movable member axially movably received in said compression chamber of said fixed member, said movable member axially movably supported by said fixed member to have said movable member axially move in said compression chamber of said fixed member; a plurality of resilient members each intervening between said fixed member and said movable member to have said fixed member and said movable member resiliently connected with each other; said movable member being axially movable with respect to said fixed member under a reciprocally linear motion to assume three different positions consisting of a compression position in which said working fluid is compressed by said movable member, a decompression position in which said working fluid is decompressed by said movable member, and a neutral position in which said movable member is resiliently retained by said resilient members with respect to said fixed member under no influence of said working fluid in said compression chamber of said fixed member; driving means for driving said movable member at a predetermined driving frequency to have said movable member per-form said reciprocally linear motion; damping means for damping vibrations of said fixed member caused by said reciprocally linear motion of said movable member, said damping means including a retaining member fixedly connected to said fixed member, a weight member axially movably supported by said retaining member to resonate out of phase with said vibrations of said fixed member, and a resilient member intervening between said retaining member and said weight member to have said retaining member and said weight member resiliently connected with each other; first detecting means for detecting a displacement of said movable member with respect to said fixed member, said first detecting means being operative to produce a first displacement signal indicative of said displacement of said movable member; second detecting means for detecting a displacement of said weight member with respect to said retaining member, said second detecting means being operative to produce a second displacement signal indicative of said displacement of said weight member; and controlling means for controlling said predetermined driving frequency of said driving means to have said movable member perform said reciprocally linear motion at a predetermined phase difference between said first displacement signal produced by said first detecting means and said second displacement signal produced by said second detecting means to ensure that said vibrations of said fixed member are damped by said damping means when said movable member is driven by said driving means.