Patent ID: 8714946

Claim:
A linear compressor, the linear compressor defining an axial direction and a radial direction, the linear compressor comprising: a casing defining a chamber, the chamber of said casing extending longitudinally along the axial direction; a piston received within the chamber of said casing, said piston slidable along the axial direction between a top dead center position, a default position, and a bottom dead center position, the default position being disposed between the top dead center position and the bottom dead center position along the axial direction; a driving coil positioned proximate said piston, said driving coil configured for selectively urging said piston to slide along the axial direction within the chamber of said casing; at least one spring magnet mounted to said piston, each magnet of said at least one spring magnet having an outer surface; and an electro-magnetic spring comprising at least one ferromagnetic tooth, each ferromagnetic tooth of the at least one ferromagnetic tooth having an outward surface, the outward surface of each ferromagnetic tooth of said at least one ferromagnetic tooth positioned proximate a respective outer surface of said at least one spring magnet, the outward surface of each ferromagnetic tooth of said at least one ferromagnetic tooth facing and exposed to the respective outer surface of said at least one spring magnet, at least one outward surface of said at least one ferromagnetic tooth having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the outward surface positioned a first distance from the respective outer surface of said at least one spring magnet, the second portion of the outward surface positioned a second distance from the respective outer surface of said at least one spring magnet, the first distance being different than the second distance.