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Linear compressor assemblyRelated Patent Categories: Pumps, Motor Driven, Electric Or Magnetic Motor, Reciprocating Rigid Pumping MemberLinear compressor assembly description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070224058, Linear compressor assembly. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND [0001] The present invention relates to a compressor and more particularly to a linearly actuated compressor that is electrically driven. [0002] Linear actuator systems are applied to displace elements as diverse as railways and precision displacement machinery in closed loop and extended systems. The position of the element propelled by the linear actuator has been shown to be determined by a change of current and voltage passing through individual drive coils. For example, a voltage depression in one of the drive coils will indicate passage of the piston adjacent the drive coil. Control of an electric powered linear actuated pump or compressor represents an extremely complex design challenge. Therefore, it is critical to have a sensor which is reliable, simple and capable of responding to varied conditions (such as temperature, differing working fluids and corrosive materials) while responding with quick and repeatable indications about the position and velocity of the piston. It is problematic to precisely locate a piston relative to any drive coil based only upon measured voltage and currents through the drive coils because variations in temperature and the working fluid affect the voltages and currents. [0003] Prior linear compressor designs have not addressed the problem of heat build-up. In medium and larger sized electric powered linear compressors, heat build-up represents such a problem as to be a limiting factor in compressor design. SUMMARY [0004] In one embodiment, the invention provides for an apparatus including a housing having a bore formed therein, the bore being axially oriented along a first axis, a piston reciprocally disposed within the bore, and a plurality of drive coils adjacent the bore for energizing the drive coils to produce a magnetic field capable of displacing the piston within the bore substantially along the first axis. A controller is used for selectively controlling energizing of the drive coils. The linear compressor also includes a cooling system at least partially disposed in the housing and the cooling system used for cooling the apparatus. [0005] In another embodiment, the invention provides for an apparatus including a housing having a bore formed therein, the bore being axially oriented along a first axis, a piston reciprocally disposed within the bore, and a plurality of drive coils disposed adjacent the bore for energizing the drive coils to produce a magnetic field capable of displacing the piston within the bore substantially parallel to the first axis. The apparatus also includes a cooling reservoir positioned between the drive coils and the housing, wherein the cooling reservoir reduces compression heat of the apparatus. A sensor determines position and velocity of the piston relative to the housing, wherein the sensor functions independently of the drive coils, and a controller selectively controls the energizing of the drive coils in response to a signal from the sensor. [0006] In yet another embodiment, the invention provides for an apparatus including a housing having a central portion and two end portions, the two end portions being mounted at opposite ends of the central portion, wherein the central portion defines a bore. A piston is reciprocally disposed within the bore and a plurality of drive coils are disposed adjacent the bore for energizing the drive coils to produce a magnetic field capable of displacing the piston within the bore. The apparatus also includes a cooling system at least partially disposed in the housing, the cooling system for reducing compression heat of the apparatus. A sensor is positioned relative to one of the two end portions, the sensor capable of measuring relative distance and velocity between the sensor and the piston. A controller selectively controls the energizing of the drive coils in response to a signal from the sensor. [0007] The foregoing and other aspects will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] FIG. 1 is a side partially cross sectional view of an electric linear actuated compressor according to one embodiment of the invention. [0009] FIG. 2 is a side partially cross sectional view of an electric linear actuated compressor having a cooling reservoir contained within a housing of the compressor. [0010] FIG. 3 is a side partially cross sectional view of the compressor shown in FIG. 2 with a heat exchanger fluidly connected to the cooling reservoir. [0011] Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0012] In this disclosure, the term compressor or pump are intended to be used interchangeably as a mechanism which is designed to displace a working fluid from one location to another. [0013] FIG. 1 illustrates an electric linear actuated compressor 10. The compressor 10 includes a housing 14, a controller 18 and a sensor 22. The housing 14 includes a cylindrical central portion 26 and two end portions 30 and 34 at opposite ends of the central portion 26. The central portion 26 defines a bore 38 that is enclosed by the end portions 30, 34, and the bore 38 is axially oriented about a longitudinal axis 42 of the compressor 10. The housing 14 includes an outer wall 46 and an inner wall 50 spaced radially inward from the outer wall 46, such that the bore 38 is defined by the inner wall 50 of the housing 14. The outer wall 46 and the inner wall 50 are spaced apart to form a gap 54 therebetween. [0014] A piston 58 is reciprocally and slidingly disposed within the bore 38. Generally, the piston 58 is formed from any material, or combination of materials, which may be accelerated and decelerated under the influence of magnetic fields. In the illustrated embodiment, the piston 58 is formed of a ferromagnetic material, however, in a further embodiment, the piston 58 is formed from a plurality of permanent magnets as shown in FIG. 2. Within the bore 38, the piston 58 defines a first pressure section 62 proximate the first end portion 30 and a second pressure section 66 proximate the second end portion 34. [0015] The first end portion 30 includes two chambers, an inlet chamber 70 and an outlet chamber 74. An inlet valve 78 fluidly connects the first pressure section 62 and the inlet chamber 70 and an outlet valve 82 fluidly connects the first pressure section 62 and the outlet chamber 74. An inlet conduit 86 fluidly communicates with the inlet chamber 70 of the end portion 30 and provides fluid to the first pressure section 62 through the inlet valve 78, and an outlet conduit 90 fluidly communicates with the outlet chamber 74 of the end portion 30 and discharges fluid from the first pressure section 62 through the outlet valve 82. The second end portion 34 also includes an inlet chamber (not shown) and an outlet chamber (not shown) similar to the inlet and outlet chambers described above. An inlet valve 102 fluidly connects the second pressure section 66 and the inlet chamber, and an outlet valve 106 fluidly connects the second pressure section 66 and the outlet chamber. An inlet conduit 110 fluidly communicates with the inlet chamber of the end portion 34 and provides fluid to the second pressure section 66 through the inlet valve 102, and an outlet conduit 114 fluidly communicates with the outlet chamber of the end portion 34 and discharges fluid from the second pressure section 66 through the outlet valve 114. [0016] The inlet valves 78, 102 and the outlet valves 82, 106 are mounted within the respective end portions 30, 34. The inlet valves 78, 102 and the outlet valves 82, 106 permit fluid flow from a high pressure side to a low pressure side, as is known in the art. For example, the valves may be a flapper type, a finger type, and a popper type. In a further embodiment, the valves may be spring biased whereby the high pressure side has to be increased above the low pressure side by a desired amount before the valve opens, as is known in the art. [0017] As the piston 58 is driven from left to right in FIG. 1, pressure in the first pressure section 62 is increased (high pressure side) while pressure in the second pressure section 66 is decreased (low pressure side). Greater pressure in the first pressure section 62 forces the inlet valve 78 closed and the outlet valve 82 open by fluid pressure, thereby permitting fluid passage from the first pressure section 62 through the outlet conduit 90 and preventing fluid passage from the inlet conduit 86 to the first pressure section 62. Concurrently, movement of the piston 58 from the left to the right reduces pressure in the second pressure section 66. A reduction of pressure in the second pressure section 66 opens the inlet valve 102 and closes the outlet valve 106, thereby permitting fluid passage from the inlet conduit 110 to the second pressure section 66 and preventing fluid passage from the second-pressure section 66 to the outlet conduit 114. [0018] When the piston 58 travels from the right to the left in FIG. 1, pressure in the first pressure section 62 is decreased such that the section 62 becomes the low pressure side while pressure in the second pressure section 66 is increased such that the section 66 becomes the high pressure. Greater pressure in the second pressure section 66 forces the inlet valve 102 closed and the outlet valve 106 open by fluid pressure, thereby permitting fluid passage from the second pressure section 66 through the outlet conduit 114 and preventing fluid passage from the inlet conduit 110 to the second pressure section 66. Concurrently, a reduction of pressure in the first pressure section 62 opens the inlet valve 78 and closes the outlet valve 82, thereby permitting fluid passage from the inlet conduit 86 to the first pressure section 62 and preventing fluid passage from the first pressure section 62 to the outlet conduit 90. Thereby, low pressure is permitted to pass into the first pressure section 62 from the inlet conduit 86 and high pressure is permitted to exit from the second pressure section 66 to the outlet conduit 114. [0019] Slide and seal rings 118 are mounted about a periphery of the piston 58 to seal fluid passage along the inner wall 50 of the housing 14 between the first pressure section 62 and the second pressure section 66. In one embodiment, the rings 118 are formed from Teflon.RTM. polymer material, from E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (Wilmington, Del.), or a similar material. In the illustrated embodiment, the compressor 10 is non-lubricated, i.e., oil-free. [0020] In order to accomplish the reciprocation of the piston 58, drive coils 122 are mounted within the gap 54 defined by the outer and inner walls 46, 50 of the housing 14. Each drive coil 122 extends around an outer circumference of the bore 38. A plurality of drive coils 122 are positioned along a length of the bore 38 and are axially spaced apart from each other. The drive coils 122 are selectively energized to produce a magnetic field capable of displacing the piston 58 within the bore 38 substantially along the longitudinal axis 42. Continue reading about Linear compressor assembly... Full patent description for Linear compressor assembly Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Linear compressor assembly patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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