Position sensor and a linear compressor

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sensor, particularly useable for detecting the position of a compressor actuator ( 2 ), the actuator ( 2 ) being axially displaceable in a cylinder bore ( 3 ), the sensor comprising a probe ( 4 ) and a hermetic terminal ( 7 ) associable with each other, the probe ( 4 ) being positioned inside the cylinder bore ( 3 ), the hermetic terminal ( 7 ) being connected to a control circuit ( 8 ) and, further, to a linear compressor provided with an actuator ( 2 ), a cylinder bore ( 3 ) and a head ( 5 ), the actuator being axially displaceable inside the cylinder bore ( 3 ), the linear compressor comprising a position sensor comprising a probe ( 4 ) and a hermetic terminal ( 7 ) associable with each other, the probe ( 4 ) being positioned inside the cylinder bore ( 3 ), the hermetic terminal ( 7 ) being connected to a control circuit ( 8 ).

1 . A sensor, particularly useable in detecting the position of an actuator ( 2 ) of a compressor in which the actuator ( 2 ) is axially displaceable inside a cylinder bore ( 3 ), the sensor being characterized by comprising: 
 a probe ( 4 ) and a hermetic terminal ( 7 ) to be arranged in a head ( 5 ) of the cylinder ( 5 ), the probe ( 4 ) being positioned inside the cylinder bore ( 3 ), the probe ( 4 ) and the hermetic terminal ( 7 ) being associable with each other by means of the contact of the actuator ( 2 ) with the probe ( 4 ), the hermetic terminal ( 7 ) being connected to a control circuit ( 8 ).    
   
   
       2 . A sensor according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the probe ( 4 ) comprises a contact projection ( 10 ) arranged between a first end ( 11 ) fixed between a head ( 5 ) and the cylinder bore ( 3 ) and a second end ( 12 ).  
   
   
       3 . A sensor according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the second end ( 12 ) comprises a contact region ( 9 ).  
   
   
       4 . A sensor according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the contact region ( 9 ) comprises a substantially curved profile.  
   
   
       5 . A sensor according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the contact projection ( 10 ) and the contact region ( 9 ) are arranged on different planes.  
   
   
       6 . A sensor according to  claim 5 , characterized in that the hermetic terminal ( 7 ) is positioned in an insulated cavity ( 15 ) arranged in the compressor hood ( 5 ).  
   
   
       7 . A sensor according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the hermetic terminal ( 7 ) is positioned at a backset distance (d) from the head ( 5 ).  
   
   
       8 . A sensor according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the probe ( 4 ) and the hermetic terminal ( 7 ) are associable with each other by means of the contact of the contact projection ( 10 ) with the hermetic terminal ( 7 ).  
   
   
       9 . A sensor according to  claim 8 , characterized in that the contact of the contact projection ( 10 ) with the hermetic terminal ( 7 ) forms an electric contact with the control circuit ( 8 ).  
   
   
       10 . A sensor according to  claim 9 , characterized in that the contact region ( 9 ) is contactable by the actuator ( 2 ).  
   
   
       11 . A sensor according to  claim 10 , characterized in that the contact of the contact projection ( 10 ) with the hermetic terminal ( 7 ) is substantially simultaneous with the contact of the actuator ( 2 ) with the contact region ( 9 ).  
   
   
       12 . A sensor according to  claim 11 , characterized in that the substantially simultaneous contact of the contact projection ( 10 ) with the terminal ( 7 ) and of the actuator ( 2 ) with the contact region ( 9 ) takes place substantially at a first control point ( 6 ).  
   
   
       13 . A sensor according to  claim 11 , characterized in that the substantially simultaneous contact of the contact projection ( 10 ) with the terminal ( 7 ) and of the actuator ( 2 ) with the contact region ( 9 ) takes place at a second control point ( 6 ′).  
   
   
       14 . A sensor according to  claim 12  or  13 , characterized in that the control circuit ( 8 ) comprises an electric circuit that includes a source of electric voltage ( 21 ) and a resistor ( 22 ), both connected in series with the hermetic terminal and with the head ( 5 ), the electric circuit being closed when the contact projection ( 10 ) contacts the hermetic terminal ( 7 ).  
   
   
       15 . A sensor according to  claim 12  or  13 , characterized in that the control circuit ( 8 ) comprises an electric circuit that includes a source of electric voltage ( 21 ) and a resistor ( 22 ), both connected in series with the hermetic terminal ( 7 ) and with the actuator ( 4 ), the electric circuit being closed when the contact projection ( 10 ) contacts the hermetic terminal ( 7 ).  
   
   
       16 . A linear compressor provided with an actuator ( 2 ), a cylinder bore ( 3 ) and a head ( 6 ), the actuator being axially displaceable inside the cylinder bore ( 3 ), the linear compressor being characterized by comprising: 
 a position sensor comprising a probe ( 4 ) and a hermetic terminal ( 7 ),    the hermetic terminal ( 7 ) being arranged in the head ( 5 ) and the probe ( 4 ) being positioned inside the cylinder bore ( 3 ),    the probe ( 4 ) and the hermetic terminal ( 7 ) being associable with each other by means of the contact of the actuator ( 2 ) with the probe ( 4 ), the hermetic terminal ( 7 ) being connected to a control circuit ( 8 ).    
   
   
       17 . A compressor according to  claim 16 , characterized in that the probe ( 4 ) comprises a contact projection ( 10 ) arranged between a first end ( 11 ) fixed between the head ( 5 ) and the cylinder bore ( 3 ) and a second end ( 12 ).  
   
   
       18 . A compressor according to  claim 17 , characterized in that the second end ( 12 ) of the probe ( 4 ) comprises a contact region ( 9 ).  
   
   
       19 . A compressor according to  claim 18 , characterized in that the contact region ( 9 ) comprises a substantially curved profile.  
   
   
       20 . A compressor according to  claim 19 , characterized in that the contact projection ( 10 ) and the contact region ( 9 ) are arranged on different planes,  
   
   
       21 . A compressor according to  claim 20 , characterized in that the hermetic terminal ( 7 ) is positioned in an insulated cavity ( 15 ) arranged in the head ( 5 ).  
   
   
       22 . A compressor according to  claim 21 , characterized in that the hermetic terminal ( 7 ) is positioned at a backset distance (d) from the head ( 5 ).  
   
   
       23 . A compressor according to  claim 22 , characterized in that the probe ( 4 ) and the hermetic terminal ( 7 ) are associable with each other by means of contact of the contact projection ( 10 ) with the hermetic terminal ( 7 ).  
   
   
       24 . A compressor according to  claim 23 , characterized in that the contact of the contact projection ( 10 ) with the hermetic terminal ( 7 ) forms an electric contact with the control circuit ( 8 ).  
   
   
       25 . A compressor according to  claim 24 , characterized in that the contact region ( 9 ) is contactable by the actuator ( 2 ).  
   
   
       26 . A compressor according to  claim 25 , characterized in that the contact of the contact projection ( 10 ) with the hermetic terminal ( 7 ) is substantially simultaneous with the contact of the actuator ( 2 ) with the contact region ( 9 ).  
   
   
       27 . A compressor according to  claim 26 , characterized in that the substantially simultaneous contact of the contact projection ( 10 ) with the terminal ( 7 ) and of the actuator ( 2 ) with the contact region ( 9 ) takes place at a first control point ( 6 ).  
   
   
       28 . A compressor according to  claim 26 , characterized in that the substantially simultaneous contact of the contact projection ( 10 ) with the terminal ( 7 ) and of the actuator ( 2 ) with the contact region ( 9 ) takes place at a second control point ( 6 ′).  
   
   
       29 . A compressor according to  claim 27  or  28 , characterized in that the control circuit ( 8 ) comprises an electric circuit that includes a source of electric voltage ( 21 ) and a resistor ( 22 ), both in series with the hermetic terminal ( 7 ) and with the head ( 5 ), the electric circuit being closed when the contact projection ( 10 ) contacts the hermetic terminal ( 7 ).  
   
   
       30 . A compressor according to  claim 27  or  28 , characterized in that the control circuit ( 8 ) comprises an electric circuit that includes a source of electric voltage ( 21 ) and a resistor ( 22 ), both connected in series with the hermetic terminal ( 7 ) and with the actuator ( 2 ), the electric circuit being closed when the contact projection ( 10 ) contacts the hermetic terminal ( 7 ).