Linear compressor and sealed system for an appliance

Abstract

A sealed system, as provided herein, may include a linear compressor, a shell, and a condenser. The linear compressor may include a casing and a piston. The casing may extend along an axial direction from a first end portion to a second end portion. The casing may include a cylinder assembly defining a chamber proximal to the second end portion. The piston may be slidably received within the chamber of the cylinder assembly. The shell may define an internal volume enclosing the linear compressor and lubrication oil therein. The condenser may be in downstream fluid communication with the linear compressor to receive a compressed refrigerant therefrom.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sealed system for an appliance, comprising:
 a linear compressor comprising
 a casing extending along an axial direction from a first end portion to a second end portion, the casing comprising a cylinder assembly defining a chamber proximal to the second end portion, and 
 a piston slidably received within the chamber of the cylinder assembly; 
   a shell defining an internal volume enclosing the linear compressor and lubrication oil therein;   a condenser in downstream fluid communication with the linear compressor to receive a compressed refrigerant therefrom;   an oil outlet conduit extending through the shell to the casing of the linear compressor; and   a heat exchanger spaced apart from the internal volume in fluid communication with the oil outlet conduit to receive lubrication oil from the linear compressor,   wherein the casing further defines an oil reservoir, an oil exhaust, and a gas vent, the oil reservoir positioned radially outward from the chamber of the cylinder assembly to selectively direct lubrication oil thereto, the oil exhaust extending from the oil reservoir to the oil outlet conduit, the gas vent extending from the oil reservoir to the internal volume in fluid parallel with the oil exhaust.   
     
     
         2 . The sealed system of  claim 1 , wherein the linear compressor further comprises an oil shield disposed on the casing at the second end portion in front of the gas vent to direct lubrication oil downward from the gas vent to a sump of the shell. 
     
     
         3 . The sealed system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a refrigerant conduit that extends between the linear compressor and the condenser, the refrigerant conduit directing compressed refrigerant from the linear compressor to the condenser during operation of the linear compressor, the oil outlet conduit directing lubrication oil from the linear compressor to the heat exchanger during operation of the linear compressor.   
     
     
         4 . The sealed system of  claim 1 , wherein the linear compressor further comprises a pump, the pump operable to urge a flow of lubrication oil from the linear compressor to the heat exchanger during operation of the linear compressor. 
     
     
         5 . The sealed system of  claim 4 , wherein the pump is disposed within the internal volume of the shell to urge lubrication oil from the internal volume to the oil reservoir. 
     
     
         6 . The sealed system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a discharge valve assembly mounted to the casing at the second end portion in front of the chamber along the axial direction, wherein the gas vent is disposed above the discharge valve assembly.   
     
     
         7 . The sealed system of  claim 6 , wherein the linear compressor further comprises an oil shield disposed on the casing at the second end portion, the oil shield extending in front of the gas vent and over the discharge valve assembly to direct lubrication oil downward from the gas vent to a sump of the shell. 
     
     
         8 . The sealed system of  claim 6 , wherein the oil reservoir extends annularly about the axial direction. 
     
     
         9 . The sealed system of  claim 1 , wherein the cylinder assembly further defines a groove extending annularly about the piston within the chamber, the groove being in fluid communication with the oil reservoir. 
     
     
         10 . The sealed system of  claim 1 , wherein the gas vent defines a diameter smaller than the diameter of the oil exhaust. 
     
     
         11 . A sealed system for an appliance, comprising:
 a linear compressor comprising
 a casing extending along an axial direction from a first end portion to a second end portion, the casing comprising a cylinder assembly defining a chamber proximal to the second end portion, and 
 a piston slidably received within the chamber of the cylinder assembly; 
   a shell defining an internal volume having a sump, the shell enclosing the linear compressor and lubrication oil therein; and   a condenser in downstream fluid communication with the linear compressor to receive a compressed refrigerant therefrom;   wherein the casing further defines an oil reservoir and a gas vent, the oil reservoir positioned radially outward from the chamber of the cylinder assembly to selectively direct lubrication oil thereto, the gas vent extending from the oil reservoir to the internal volume through the second end portion, and   wherein the linear compressor further comprises an oil shield disposed on the casing at the second end portion in front of the gas vent to direct lubrication oil downward from the gas vent to the sump of the shell.   
     
     
         12 . The sealed system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a refrigerant conduit that extends between the linear compressor and the condenser; and   an oil outlet conduit extending through the shell to the casing of the linear compressor, the refrigerant conduit directing compressed refrigerant from the linear compressor to the condenser during operation of the linear compressor, the oil outlet conduit directing lubrication oil from the linear compressor and out of the shell during operation of the linear compressor.   
     
     
         13 . The sealed system of  claim 11 , wherein the linear compressor further comprises a pump, the pump operable to urge a flow of lubrication oil from the sump to the linear compressor during operation of the linear compressor. 
     
     
         14 . The sealed system of  claim 12 , wherein the pump is disposed within the internal volume of the shell to urge lubrication oil from the internal volume to the oil reservoir. 
     
     
         15 . The sealed system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a discharge valve assembly mounted to the casing at the second end portion in front of the chamber along the axial direction, wherein the gas vent is disposed above the discharge valve assembly.   
     
     
         16 . The sealed system of  claim 11 , wherein the oil shield extends in front of the gas vent and over the muffler housing to direct lubrication oil downward from the gas vent to a sump of the shell. 
     
     
         17 . The sealed system of  claim 11 , wherein the oil reservoir extends annularly about the axial direction. 
     
     
         18 . The sealed system of  claim 11 , wherein the cylinder assembly further defines a groove extending annularly about the piston within the chamber, the groove being in fluid communication with the oil reservoir. 
     
     
         19 . The sealed system of  claim 11 , wherein the gas vent defines a diameter smaller than the diameter of the oil exhaust.