LINEAR MOTOR COMPRESSOR WITH CLEARANCE SEALS AND GAS BEARINGS

摘要

A gas bearing system for a piston 24 of a linear compressor 20 in which gas from the piston head space 26 is injected into a high pressure reservoir 106 within the piston when the working fluid in the piston head space is at high pressure. In one embodiment, gas from a low pressure reservoir 104 is exhausted into it when the piston working space fluid is at low pressure. Gas flow is directed between high pressure and areas of low pressure during operation of the piston. This gas flow is directed between the piston and its surrounding sleeve 30 in a manner which holds the piston 24 in suspension away from the sleeve 30 to thereby reduce the friction and wear experienced by the piston and sleeve.