Valve system for hermetic reciprocating compressor

The present invention relates to a valve system for the hermetic reciprocating compressor, and more particularly, to reduce the gap volume of the spouting hole so as to help smoothly spout out the refrigerant through the spouting hole formed at the valve plate, to increase the amount of the refrigerant to be sucked into the cylinder, to increase the density of the sucked refrigerant, and finally to improve the efficiency of the hermetic reciprocating compressor. This invention comprises refrigerant leakage preventive part formed on the upper side of the valve plate to prevent the leakage of the refrigerant being sucked into the cylinder placed in front of the suction valve; the spouting part to open and close the spouting hole formed within the refrigerant leakage preventive part; the elastic part on the spouting part to open and close the spouting hole by the gap of small pressure while maintaining the small interval with the spouting part; the movement height limiting part to restrict the movement height of the spouting part by inserting and connecting the limiting part with the refrigerant leakage preventive part; and the spouting valve breakaway preventive part to prevent the breakaway of the spouting valve which is opening and closing the spouting of the refrigerant at the lower part of the movement height limiting part.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a valve system for a hermetic 
reciprocating compressor, and more particularly, to a valve system for 
improving the efficiency of the hermetic reciprocating compressor by 
reducing the formation of a gap volume at the spouting hole established at 
the valve plate so as to smoothly spout out the refrigerant through the 
spouting hole. 
Generally, the hermetic reciprocating compressor comprises a compressing 
part placed within a closed container and a motor part for driving the 
compressing part as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. 
The compressing part described above comprises the following: 
A slider 6 functioning to shift the rotary motion of the crankshaft 5 into 
reciprocating motion; a piston 8 making a reciprocating motion within a 
cylinder 7 in which the slider is inserted; a suction valve limiter 9 
established at the upper side of the cylinder 7; a suction valve 10 
functioning to open and close the refrigerant at the cylinder 7. A suction 
valve spouting hole 10a is formed at the suction valve. A valve plate 11 
restricting the movement of suction and spouting valves 10 and 12 is 
placed in front of the suction valve 10. The compressing part further 
comprises: a suction hole 11a established at the valve plate 11 to suck 
the refrigerant; a spouting hole 11b established at the valve plate 11 to 
spout out the refrigerant; a spouting valve 12 established between the 
valve plate 11 and the headcover 14 to open and close the spouting of the 
refrigerant; a spouting valve suction hole 12a established at the spouting 
valve 12; a packing cover 13 preventing the leaking of the refrigerant 
being spouted in front of the spouting valve 12; a packing cover suction 
hole 13a established at the packing cover 13; a headcover 14 covering the 
cylinder 7 in front of the packing cover 13; and a suction resonance tube 
15 established at the headcover 14 to enable the suction of the 
refrigerant in the closed container into the headcover 14. 
In addition, the motor part comprises a stator 3 connected to a frame 2 by 
bolts for generating magnetic force when power is supplied. The motor part 
further comprises: a rotor 4 to be rotated by the magnetic force of the 
stator 3, and a crankshaft 5 to be rotated by a shaft connected to the 
rotor 4. 
Reference numeral 16 denotes the supporting spring for sustaining the 
compressing section and the motor part. 
The following explains the motion of the original hermetic reciprocating 
compressor comprising the above-mentioned elements. 
When the hermetic reciprocating compressor is supplied with the power, 
induction current is generated between the stator 3 and the rotor 4, thus 
rotate the rotor 4. With the rotation of the rotor 4, the crankshaft 5 
connected to the rotor 4 starts to rotate. The slider 6 established at the 
upper side of the crankshaft 5 shifts the rotating motion of the 
crankshaft 5 into a reciprocating motion and subsequently inserts the 
crankshaft into the piston 8. The piston 8 then makes its reciprocating 
movement inside the cylinder 7. 
When the piston 8 makes its reverse movement (suction stroke) inside the 
cylinder, the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant is sucked into 
the closed container 1 through the suction pipe installed at the closed 
container 1. The low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant is then 
sucked into the headcover 14 through the suction resonance tube 15 
installed at the headcover 14. 
When the piston 8 makes its reverse movement inside the cylinder 7, the 
low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant sucked into the headcover 14, 
after passing through the spouting valve suction hole 12a formed at the 
spouting valve 12 via packing cover suction hole 13a formed at the packing 
cover 13, is sucked through the suction hole 11a formed at the valve plate 
11. By the difference of pressure between the insides of the headcover 14 
and the cylinder 7, the suction valve 10 is subsequently opened and 
permits suction of the low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant into 
the cylinder 7 until the piston 8 reaches its bottom dead center. 
At this time, as it was shown in FIG. 2, the suction valve 10 is checked by 
the suction valve limiter 9 established at the upper side of the cylinder 
7. 
When the piston 8 terminates its reverse movement (terminates the suction 
stroke) and starts the forward movement (compression stroke) inside the 
cylinder 7, the suction valve 10 is closed, and the low-temperature and 
low-pressure refrigerant is compressed into high-temperature and 
high-pressure refrigerant inside the cylinder 7. 
When the refrigerant is compressed to high temperature and high-pressure 
inside the cylinder 7 and reaches a certain degree of pressure 
(termination of compression stroke), the internal pressure of the cylinder 
7 becomes higher than that of the headcover 14, and thus, the 
high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant opens the spouting valve 12 
which is stopping the spouting hole 11b established at the valve plate 11, 
and subsequently spouts the high temperature and high pressure refrigerant 
out into the headcover 14. 
After being spouted into the closed container 1, the high-temperature and 
high-pressure refrigerant which was spouted into the headcover 14 is then 
sent into a refrigerant cycle's condenser through a spouting pipe 
installed at the closed container 1. 
However, due to the gap volume caused by the spouting hole being formed at 
the spouting valve limiter and the valve plate, and due to the resistance 
of flow caused during the passing of the spouted refrigerant at the 
spouting hole and due to the hardness of the spouting valve, the original 
hermetic reciprocating compressor had suffered from a problem which 
reduced the efficiency of the compressor. The problem of the compressor 
was the following: Because of the delay in the opening of the spouting 
valve, the refrigerant was over-compressed and was not spouted easily, 
thus the temperature of the refrigerant was also, because of the expansion 
of the refrigerant, the opening of the suction valve was delayed, and the 
amount of the refrigerant to be sucked into the cylinder was reduced while 
additionally thinning the density of the sucked refrigerant. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The main purpose of this invention is aimed at the providing of a valve 
system to improve the efficiency of the hermetic reciprocating compressor. 
The renewed valve system is designed to reduce the gap volume of the 
spouting hole to make smooth the spouting of the refrigerant through the 
spouting hole established at the valve plate. This will increase the 
amount of the refrigerant to be sucked into the cylinder, and thereby, to 
increase the density of the sucked refrigerant. 
The technical means for the attainment of the purpose of the present 
invention comprises the following elements: A spouting device to open and 
close the spouting hole at the valve plate restricting the movement of the 
suction and spouting valves; an elastic device placed on the spouting 
device to open and close the spouting device during low pressure for 
providing a small opening for the refrigerant; a height movement limiting 
device being inserted in the refrigerant leakage preventive device to 
restrict the movement height of the spouting device; and a spouting valve 
breakaway preventive device to prevent the breaking away of the spouting 
valve which is opening and closing the spouting of the refrigerant at the 
lower part of the movement height limiting device. 
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become 
apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it 
should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, 
while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way 
of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the 
spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in 
the art from this detailed description.

(A) shows the frontal view of the compressing section. 
(B) shows the side view of the compressing section. 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
As shown in the FIGS. 3 and 4, the valve system of the newly invented 
hermetic reciprocating compressor comprises the following elements: 
A cylinder 101 formed to enable the reciprocation of the piston, a suction 
valve limiter 104 formed on the cylinder 101 similar to the limiter. A 
suction valve 102 functions to open and close the suction of the 
refrigerant in front of the cylinder 101. A suction valve spouting hole 
103 is formed at the suction valve 102, and a valve plate 105 functions to 
restrict the movement of the suction and spouting valves, 102 and 109 
respectively, in front of the suction valve 102. A suction hole 106 is 
formed at the valve plate 105 and functions to suck the refrigerant. A 
spouting hole 107 is formed at the valve plate 105 and functions to spout 
the refrigerant. The spouting hole walls 114 are formed on the upper side 
of the spouting hole 107. A valve plate groove 108 is formed on the upper 
side of the valve plate 105, and end edges a, b are formed slightly higher 
than the spouting hole 107 and designed to enable the setting of a valve 
spring 110 within the valve plate groove 108. A spouting valve 109 is 
formed between the valve plate 105 and the packing cover 117, and 
functions to control the spouting of the refrigerant. A packing cover 117 
prevents the leaking of the refrigerant which spouts in front of the 
spouting valve 109. A packing cover spouting hole 118 is located in the 
packing cover 117. A valve spring 110 substains an elasticity capable of 
preventing moving of the spouting valve 109. A retainer is connected on 
the valve plate groove 108 and functions to fix the valve spring 110 and 
to limit the movement height of the spouting valve. A guide 112 is formed 
at the lower part of the retainer 111 and is designed to prevent the 
moving of the spouting valve to both right and left. A guide groove 113 is 
formed to enable the reciprocating of the valve spring 110 within the 
circumference of the guide 112. 
The motion and operational effectiveness of the newly invented compressor 
are as indicated in the FIGS. 3 and 4. When the piston starts its reverse 
movement (suction stroke) inside the cylinder 101, the low-temperature and 
low-pressure refrigerant being sucked into the headcover is further sucked 
into the cylinder 101 after passing through the packing cover suction hole 
118 formed at the packing cover 117 and the suction hole 106 formed at the 
valve plate 105. 
At this time, by the pressure difference between the insides of the 
headcover and the cylinder 101, the suction valve is opened, and the 
low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant is sucked into the cylinder 
101 until the piston reaches its bottom dead center. 
The suction valve 102 is then hung up on the suction valve limiter 104 
formed on the upper side of the cylinder 101. 
When the piston terminates the reverse movement (suction stroke) and starts 
its forward movement (compression stroke) inside the cylinder 101, the 
suction hole 106 is closed, and the low-temperature and low-pressure 
refrigerant being sucked in the cylinder 101 is compressed into 
high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant within the cylinder 101. 
When the refrigerant to be compressed into high-temperature and 
high-pressure refrigerant inside the cylinder 101 reaches a certain degree 
of pressure (termination of the compression stroke) the internal pressure 
of the cylinder 101 becomes higher than that of the headcover. The 
high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant then opens the spouting 
valve 109 flowing through the spouting hole 107 formed at the valve plate 
105 and is subsequently spouted out into the headcover. 
The high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant spouted in the headcover 
is then spouted into the closed container. The refrigerant is again sent 
to the refrigerant cycle's condenser through the spouting pipe established 
at the closed container. 
At the refrigerant cycle's condenser, the spouting valve 109 forms a round 
block which is slightly bigger than the spouting hole 107 at the valve 
plate 105 to prevent leaking of the refrigerant. The round block is formed 
as a plate in a round shape. The spouting valve 107 is placed on the 
spouting hole 109 without fixing it to control the spouting of the 
refrigerant. 
During the opening and closing of the spouting valve 109, an elastic valve 
spring 110 is set on the top of the spouting valve 109 to prevent the 
moving of the spouting valve 109 upward. To prevent the moving of the 
spouting valve to both right and left sides, the guide 112 is also set an 
the lower part of the retainer 111 which is limits the movement height of 
the spouting valve 109. The spouting valve 109 and the valve sprang 110 
are easily opened even at low pressure to provide a small opending for the 
refrigerant. 
The guide groove 113 is permits the valve spring 110 to make reciprocating 
motions around the circumference of the guide 112 established at the lower 
part of the retainer 111. 
In order to safely place the spouting valve 109 and the valve spring 110 in 
the valve plate groove 108 formed on the upper side of the valve plate 
105, plastic deformation of the valve spring 110 is required to define 
opening direction. The valve spring 110 safely placed in the valve plate 
groove 108 is fixed on its one side by the retainer 111 limiting the 
movement height of the spouting valve 109. 
In order to safely place the valve spring 110 within the valve plate groove 
108, edges a and b are formed. One edge of the valve spring 110 is placed 
on the edges a and is fixed by the retainer 111. The other edge of the 
valve spring 110 is placed on the edge b. The edge b should be placed 
higher than that of a. 
The edges a and b must be placed higher than the walls 114 of the spouting 
hole 107 so as to safely place the valve spring 110 within the valve plate 
groove 108. In the meantime, the walls 114 of the spouting hole 109 should 
be minimized so as to reduce the gap volume of the spouting hole 107 to 
enable smooth spouting of the refrigerant. 
When the retainer 111 is safely placed and connected with the valve plate 
groove 108, both edges of the upper side of the retainer 111 should be 
formed with the same height of the upper side of the valve plate 105. The 
center of the retainer 111 should be deformed into a shape similar to that 
of a bow so as to help smooth the motion of the spouting valve 109. 
In order to prevent the retainer 111 from breaking away from the valve 
plate groove 108, the both ends of upper side of the retainer 111 should 
be fixed by the packing cover 117. 
As it was explained above, this invention minimizes the height of the 
spouting hole formed at the valve plate so as to reduce the gap volume and 
the resistance of flow present during the spouting of the refrigerant in 
order to help smooth the spouting of the refrigerant. In addition to the 
above, by placing and not fixing on the spouting hole, a spouting valve 
consisting of a round block slightly bigger than the spouting hole on the 
valve plate, the spouting valve can be easily opened or closed even at the 
small gap of pressure, thus the refrigerant is spouted without being over 
compressed. Because of this, the amount of the refrigerant sucked into the 
cylinder is increased, and the density of the sucked refrigerant is also 
increased, resulting in improved efficiency of the hermetic reciprocating 
compressor.