The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 31, 1999
Filed:
Jan. 26, 1995
Anthony S Loc, Alhambra, CA (US);
Gerald R Pruitt, San Pedro, CA (US);
Raytheon Company, El Segundo, CA (US);
Abstract
A linear compressor (60) includes a reciprocating piston (20) for varying the volume of a compression chamber (12). A moving coil motor (26) causes the piston (20) to reciprocate against the force of an integrally machined double-helix spring (62) about a position in which the spring (62) is in a free state. The spring (62) includes a retainer (72) which is attached to the piston (20), a fixed flange (66) and two resilient helical members (78,80) which extend between the flange (66) and retainer (72) along a longitudinal axis (82). The helical members (78,80) are configured such that lateral reaction forces thereof are mutually canceling. The helical members (78,80) have the same twist direction, are interspersed with each other along the longitudinal axis (82) and are rotationally displaced from each other about the longitudinal axis (82) by substantially 180.degree.. Alternatively, a spring (90) includes helical members (100,102) which have opposite twist directions and are spaced from each other along a longitudinal axis (104), and are interconnected at their inner ends by a center member (106).