Abstract: A refrigeration cabinet assembly for a refrigeration appliance (1) comprises a cabinet (20) having five closed faces and an open front face providing access to an interior of the cabinet. A lateral stiffening arrangement (50, 51) is provided within the cabinet to resist bending or bowing of the side walls, particularly when the cabinet includes upper and lower compartments, the upper compartment having a door hinged to the cabinet. The lateral stiffening arrangement reduces door droop. A torsionally stiff structure may also be fixed to one of the five closed faces (23) or a structure (31) could be added to one of the five closed faces (23) so that together with that closed face a torsionally stiff structure results. The torsional stiffness of the assembly is thereby increased beyond that of the cabinet alone so that the insulated cabinet has an improved ability to resist twisting, further reducing door droop.

Abstract: A refrigeration cabinet assembly for a refrigeration appliance (1) comprises an insulated cabinet (20) having five closed faces and an open front face providing access to an interior of the cabinet. A torsionally stiff structure fixed to one of the five closed faces (23) or a structure (31) is added to one of the five closed faces (23) so that together with that closed face a torsionally stiff structure results. The torsional stiffness of the assembly is thereby increased beyond that of the cabinet alone so that the insulated cabinet has an improved ability to resist twisting.

Abstract: A refrigeration cabinet assembly for a refrigeration appliance (1) comprises an insulated cabinet (20) having five closed faces and an open front face providing access to an interior of the cabinet. A torsionally stiff structure fixed to one of the five closed faces (23) or a structure (31) is added to one of the five closed faces (23) so that together with that closed face a torsionally stiff structure results. The torsional stiffness of the assembly is thereby increased beyond that of the cabinet alone so that the insulated cabinet has an improved ability to resist twisting.

Abstract: A linear compressor comprising a cylinder part including a cylinder bore. A piston disposed in, and is slidable within, the bore. A main spring connects the cylinder part directly or indirectly to the piston. A connecting rod connects between the main spring and the piston. A stator has an air gap, and the connecting rod passes through the air gap. At least one armature pole is located along the connecting rod.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a clutch for a laundry appliance. The clutch selectively connects a laundry vessel to a variable speed drive. A driven member is rotationally coupled to the variable speed drive and a driven member is rotationably coupled to the laundry vessel. The driven member is at least partially rotationally coupled to the driven member by friction. At least one locking element is moveable from an unlocked position to a locking position. The driven member and the driven member are rotationally coupled together once the driven member accelerates to a rotational speed above a first rotational speed, connecting the laundry vessel to the variable speed drive.

Abstract: A linear compressor has a hollow piston with crown and sidewall. The piston reciprocates in a cylinder. A piston rod connects the piston to a spring. A connection between the piston rod and the piston transmits axial forces directly to the piston crown. The connection transmits lateral forces to the piston at an axial location away from the piston crown. The connection allows rotational flexibility between the piston and the piston rod transverse to and uniformly around the piston reciprocation axis. Other improvements in or relating to linear compressors are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: A substantially planar suspension spring for supporting a linear compressor housed within a hermetic shell. A hub portion (36) connects to the body of the compressor assembly while a spiral arm portion (38) curves around the hub portion (36) at least one full turn before attaching to the wall of the compressor housing. Provides lateral stability to the reciprocating compressor assembly while maintaining axial flexibility.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a clutch for a laundry appliance. The clutch selectively connects a laundry vessel to a variable speed drive. A driven member is rotationally coupled to the variable speed drive and an un-driven member is rotationably coupled to the laundry vessel. The un-driven member is at least partially rotationally coupled to the driven member by friction. At least one locking element is moveable from an unlocked position to a locking position. The un-driven member and the driven member are rotationally coupled together once the un-driven member accelerates to a rotational speed above a first rotational speed, connecting the laundry vessel to the variable speed drive.

Abstract: A sensorless method and apparatus for detecting piston collisions in a free piston linear compressor motor. The waveform of the back EMF induced in the motor stator windings is analysed for slope discontinuities and other aberrations in a time window centred on the back EMF zero-crossings. Waveform slope artefacts are indicative of piston collisions and cause the motor power to be decremented in response.

Abstract: A linear compressor (1) includes a cylinder (21) with a piston (22) connected through a main spring (19) and a planar spring (20). One or more flat blocks of permanent magnet material (17) with large faces of the blocks facing a stator (15) and defining armature poles are secured to a connecting rod (30). A lateral support (52) acts between the cylind (21) and the connecting rod (30) at a location midway between the permanent magnet material and the piston (22) allowing axial movement of the connecting rod (30) but transferring side loads to the cylinder (21).

Abstract: A substantially planar suspension spring for supporting a linear compressor housed within a hermetic shell. A hub portion (36) connects to the body of the compressor assembly while a spiral arm portion (38) curves around the hub portion (36) at least one full turn before attaching to the wall of the compressor housing. Provides lateral stability to the reciprocating compressor assembly while maintaining axial flexibility.

Abstract: A linear compressor has a hollow piston with crown and sidewall. The piston reciprocates in a cylinder. A piston rod connects the piston to a spring. A connection between the piston rod and the piston transmits axial forces directly to the piston crown. The connection transmits lateral forces to the piston at an axial location away from the piston crown. The connection allows rotational flexibility between the piston and the piston rod transverse to and uniformly around the piston reciprocation axis. Other improvements in or relating to linear compressors are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: A variable restrictor including a tube with first and second ends of a first cross-sectional area and a region between the ends of reduced cross-sectional area. The region comprises a flattened portion of the tube where the tube has been permanently deformed such that opposed wall portions of the tube are much closed together than in the remainder of the tube. An actuator is arranged to selectively alter the separation of the opposed wall portions of the flattened section.

Abstract: A cylinder and head assembly for a linear compressor has a cylinder chassis (35, 11), a cylinder liner (12) open at both ends and a valve plate (5) defining a barrier between the compression end (37) of the cylinder liner (12) and the head space (7) defined by the cylinder chassis. The valve (5) plate is located between an annular shoulder (39) of the cylinder chassis (35) and an open end of the cylinder liner (37).

Abstract: A linear compressor includes a cylinder part and a piston part. A spring connects the cylinder part and the piston part and operates in the direction of reciprocation of the piston part relative to the cylinder part. The piston part includes a radially compliant but axially stiff linkage and piston. The cylinder part includes a cylinder and a cylinder liner therewithin. A bore runs through the cylinder liner and the piston reciprocates in the bore. Gas bearing passages are formed between the cylinder and the cylinder liner leading to opening through the wall of the cylinder liner to the bore. A gas bearing manifold receives compressed gases and supplies the compressed gases to the gas bearing passages. The gas bearing passages follow a tortuous path to the openings.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a linear compressor includes measures to account for possible variations in manufacture of the spring connecting between a cylinder part and a piston part. In the method, the piston is located at a predetermined axial position in the bore of the cylinder of the compressor. A spring that is connected with the cylinder part is extended so that a piston connection point of the spring is at a position based on a predetermined displacement of the spring or a position in which the spring exerts a predetermined reaction force. In this position, this piston and the spring connection point are thus separated by a distance that depends on the actual formed dimension of the individual spring. The piston and the piston connection point are subsequently joined to have a rigid axial separation that is fixed according to the separation attained in these steps.

Abstract: A method of operating a drain pump in a laundry washing machine during the drain phase of the wash cycle to reduce pump blockages is disclosed. The method includes the steps of (a) starting the pump and running it for a first period of time to produce a discharge of a given flow rate, (b) stopping the pump and leaving the pump stopped for a second period of time, and repeating steps (a) and (b) for the duration of said drain phase, said second period of time being such that the flow rate reduces substantially to zero.

Abstract: A linear abstract includes a cylinder part and a piston part. A spring connects the cylinder part and the piston part and operates in the direction of reciprocation of the piston part relative to the cylinder part. The piston part includes a radially compliant but axially stiff linkage and a piston. The cylinder part includes a cylinder and a cylinder liner therewithin. A bore runs through the cylinder liner and the piston reciprocates in the bore. Gas bearing passages are formed between the cylinder and the cylinder liner leading to openings through the wall of the cylinder liner to the bore. A gas bearing manifold receives compressed gases and supplies the compressed gases to the gas bearing passages. The gas bearing passages follow a tortuous path to the openings.

Abstract: A method of operating a drain pump in a laundry washing machine during the drain phase of the wash cycle to reduce pump blockages is disclosed. The method includes the steps of (a) starting the pump and running it for a first period of time to produce a discharge of a given flow rate, (b) stopping the pump and leaving the pump stopped for a second period of time, and repeating steps (a) and (b) for the duration of said drain phase, said second period of time being such that the flow rate reduces substantially to zero.