Compressor improvements

摘要

A linear compressor having a piston reciprocating in a cylinder, the piston including an outward wall surface ending at either end of said piston at an annular corner, a region of the outward wall surface having a reduced radius at the corner, such that the average clearance between the cylinder and the piston is greater at the corner than the minimum annular average clearance between the piston wall and the cylinder; such that the region of reduced radius at the corner provides lift when the piston is moving with the end surface leading. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing a piston for a gas bearing lubricated linear compressor, the method comprising the steps of: making a piston body including an outward wall surface suitable for controlled corrosion; immersing an end of the piston body in an electrolyte for eroding the outward wall surface (eg: by electrolysis or chemical reaction); and withdrawing the piston body end from the electrolyte.