POSITION SENSOR AND COMPRESSOR

• US 20030118460A1
• Filed: 09/20/2002
• Published: 06/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Empresa Brasileria de Compressors S/A Embraco
• Original Assignee: Empresa Brasileria de Compressors S/A Embraco
• Inventors: Lilie, Dietmar E.B., Puff, Rinaldo, Berwanger, Egidio
• Granted Patent: US 6,779,984 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/415
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 35/045 using solenoids

Abstract

A position sensor (10) is described, particularly a sensor (10) applicable to a linear compressor (15), for detecting the position of the piston (1) and preventing the latter from knocking against the head (3) located at the end of its stroke. One of the objectives of the present invention is to provide a sensor (10) capable of detecting the position of the piston (1), which can solve the problem of collision of the latter with the head (3) altogether and that is easy to build and to install, thus reducing the production and manufacture costs of the compressor (15). The piston (1) being axially displaceable inside a hollowed body (2), the compressor (15) comprising a valve blade (9), the blade being positioned between the head (3) and the hollowed body (2), the sensor (10) comprising a probe (20) electrically connected to a control circuit (12), the probe (20) being capable of detecting the passage of the piston (1) by a point of the hollowed body (2) and signalling this to the control circuit (12).

Claims

1. A sensor (10), particularly one that can be employed for detecting the position of a piston (1) of a compressor (15), the piston (1) being axially displaceable inside a hollowed body (2), the compressor (15) comprising a valve blade (9), this blade (9) being positioned between a head (3) and the hollowed body (2), the sensor (10) being characterized by comprising a probe (2) electrically connected to a control circuit (12), the probe (20) being capable of detecting the passage of the piston (1) at a point of the hollowed body (2) and signaling this to the control circuit (12).

2. A sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that the probe (20) is positioned at a point inside the hollowed body (2), the probe (20) being capable of physically contacting the piston (1) and signaling to the control circuit (12).

3. A sensor according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a first end portion of the probe (20) is fixed to the body (2) so as to be electrically insulated from the latter.

4. A sensor according to claim 3, characterized in that the electric insulation is carried out by means of an electrically-insulating material (11a) and (11b), which is respectively positioned between the body (2) and the blade (9), and between the head (3) and the blade (9).

5. A sensor according to claim 4, characterized in that the insulation (11a) and (11b) is the sealing joint of the head (3).

6. A sensor according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, characterized in that the physical contact of the piston (1) with the probe (20) is an electric contact.

7. A sensor according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, characterized in that the location point the probe (20) within the body (2) is a point (8) substantially close to the head (3).

8. A sensor according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7, characterized in that the probe (20) is a projection of the valve blade (9).

9. A sensor according to claim 8, characterized in that the projection is a fold of a portion of the blade (9).

10. A sensor according to claim 9, characterized in that the end portion of the fold is on a plane substantially farther away from the head (3) than the plane of the blade (9).

11. A sensor according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10, characterized in that the control circuit (12) comprises an electric circuit (45) that includes a source of electric voltage (42) and a resistor (40) connected in series to the probe (20) and to the body (2), the electric circuit (45) closing when the piston (1) makes physical contact with the probe (20).

12. A sensor according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10, characterized in that the control circuit (12) comprises an electric circuit (45) that includes a source of electric voltage (42) and a resistor (40) connected in series to the probe (20) and to the piston (1), the electric circuit (45) closing when the piston (1) makes physical contact with the probe (20).

13. A sensor according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10, characterized by comprising an electric circuit (45) that includes a source of electric voltage (42) and a resistor (40) connected in series to the probe (20) and to the body (2), the electric circuit (45) closing when the piston (1) makes physical contact with the probe (20).

14. A sensor according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10, characterized by comprising an electric circuit (45) that includes a source of electric voltage (42) and a resistor (40) connected in series to the probe (20) and to the piston (1), the electric circuit (45) closing when the piston (1) makes physical contact with the probe (20).

15. A compressor (15), particularly a linear one, comprising a piston (1) axially displaceable inside a hollowed body (2), the compressor (15) comprising a valve blade (9), the blade (9) being positioned between the head (3) and the hollowed body (2), the compressor (15) being characterized by comprising a probe (20) electrically connectable to a control circuit (12), the probe (20) being capable of detecting the passage of the piston (1) at a point of the hollowed body (2) and signaling this to the control circuit (12).

16. A compressor according to claim 15, characterized in that the probe (20) is positioned at a point inside the hollowed body (2), the probe (20) being capable of making physical contact with the piston (1) and signaling to the control circuit (12).

17. A compressor according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the probe (20) is fixed to the body (2) so as to be electrically insulated from the latter.

18. A compressor according to claim 17, characterized in that the electric insulation is carried out by an electrically-insulating material (11a) and (11b), which is respectively positioned between the body (2) and the blade (9) and between the head (3) and the blade (9).

19. A compressor according to claim 18, characterized in that the insulation (11a) and (11b) is the sealing joint of the head (3).

20. A compressor according to claim 15, 1617, 18, or 19, characterized in that the location point of the probe (20) within the body (2) is a point (8) substantially close to the head (3).

21. A compressor according to claim 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, or 20, characterized in that the probe (20) is a projection of the valve blade (9).

22. A compressor according to claim 21, characterized in that the projection is a fold of a portion of the blade (9).

23. A compressor according to claim 22, characterized in that the end portion of the fold is on a plane substantially further away from the head (3) than the plane of the blade (9).