Abstract: The present invention relates to a system of controlling a piston in a linear compressor, a method of controlling a piston in a linear compressor, as well as a linear compressor, particularly applicable to cooling systems that may include, for instance, refrigerators, air-conditioning systems and the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fluid pump and a fluid-transfer plate and a sensor for a fluid pump, particularly applicable to linear compressors, for detecting the position of the respective piston and preventing the latter from colliding with the fluid-transfer plate upon variations in the compressor operation conditions, or even variations in the feed voltage. The objectives of the present invention are achieved by means of a fluid pump (1) comprising a piston (2) that is axially displaceable within a cylinder (3), the cylinder (3) comprising a cylinder closing fluid-transfer plate (40), the piston (2) being displaced toward the fluid-transfer plate (40) and capturing a gas or fluid from a low-pressure environment (11), and the fluid pump (11) comprising a sensor assembly (98), which includes an inductive sensor (8) associated with the fluid-transfer plate (40).

Abstract: A reciprocating compressor driven by a linear motor, comprising a shell, within which are mounted: a reference assembly formed by a motor and a cylinder (1); a resonant assembly formed by a piston (2) reciprocating inside the cylinder (1), and by an actuating means (3) operatively coupling the piston (2) to the motor; two spring means (10) mounted to the resonant assembly and to the reference assembly and which are elastically and axially deformed in the displacement direction of the piston (2); a mounting element (40) coupling an end of one spring means (10) to an end of the other spring means (10); and a coupling element (50) mounted to the piston (2) and to the mounting element (40), which is axially displaced together with the piston (2) and displaced freely and transversally to the displacement direction of the piston (2), said coupling element (50) transmitting the axial forces between the piston (2) and the mounting element (40) and minimizing the application of radial forces to the piston (2).

Abstract: A suction muffler for a reciprocating hermetic compressor mounted inside a hermetic shell (1), said suction muffler comprising a hollow body (20) defining at least one acoustic chamber and provided with a gas inlet (22) connected to a suction line (9) by means of a tubular connector, and with a gas outlet (32) connected to a suction valve (8b) of the compressor, said equalizing chamber (60) being provided, on one side, with an opening (60a) to the interior of the hermetic shell (1) and, on the other side, with a fluid communication (61) with the acoustic chamber, said equalizing chamber (60) being dimensioned to minimize, simultaneously, the noises of the gas pulses inside the suction muffler, the mixture of said gas with that contained inside the hermetic shell (1), and the pressure differential between the interior of the latter and the suction line (9), upon operation of the compressor after a stop period.

Abstract: An axial bearing arrangement for a reciprocating hermetic compressor comprising a cylinder block (20) internal to a shell (10) and carrying a cylinder (30) and a radial bearing hub (40); a crankshaft (50) vertically mounted in the radial bearing hub (40) and carrying, inferiorly, a rotor (61) of an electric motor (60) and, superiorly, a support annular face (51a) and an eccentric portion (52). The radial bearing hub (40) incorporates an upper tubular extension (45), bearing a corresponding extension of the crankshaft (50) and around which is mounted an axial rolling bearing (90) for supporting the weight of the crankshaft (50)-rotor (61) assembly, as well as the axial stresses produced during compression of the refrigerant gas.

Abstract: A linear compressor having a cylinder (2) and a piston (1) that is moved by an electric linear motor (4, 5, 6) is provided with one or more elastic elements (30, 50) made of steel wire having a central volute portion (30a, 50a). A leg (30b, 30c, 50b, 50c) extends from each end of the central volute portion (30a, 50a). In a first embodiment, one of the legs (30b) is fastened internally of the piston (1) and the other leg (30c) to a part of the cylinder (2). In a second embodiment, the central volute portion (50a) is mounted directly to the piston (1) and the two legs (50b, 50c) are fixedly connected to the cylinder (2). When the piston is moved by the action of the electric linear motor, the wire of the central volute portion of the elastic element distorts and stretches in the direction of travel of the piston. It is preferred that several elastic elements be mounted to the piston (1) having like portions of the central volute portion angularly spaced apart.