Linear compressor and lubricating oil pump thereof

[0021] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a linear compressor and a lubricating oil pump thereof, which can prevent generation of friction between a lubricating oil cylinder and a lubricating oil piston, thereby improving durability of the lubricating oil cylinder and minimizing additional processing of the lubricating oil piston.

[0022] In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a lubricating oil pump for use in a linear compressor comprising: a lubricating oil cylinder to suction lubricating oil; a lubricating oil piston to be reciprocated inside the lubricating oil cylinder to thereby pump the lubricating oil; and a lubricating oil cylinder protector to prevent generation of friction between the lubricating oil cylinder and the lubricating oil piston.

[0027] In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a linear compressor comprising: a hermetic container containing lubricating oil stored in a bottom region thereof; a compression unit arranged in the hermetic container to compress operating fluid using a driving force from a linear motor; a lubricating oil cylinder mounted to the compression unit to suction or discharge the lubricating oil stored in the hermetic container; a lubricating oil piston mounted to be reciprocated inside the lubricating oil cylinder to thereby pump the lubricating oil; a resonance unit to resonate the lubricating oil piston with the compression unit to thereby allow the lubricating oil piston to be reciprocated; and a lubricating oil cylinder protector to prevent generation of friction between the lubricating oil cylinder and the lubricating oil piston.

[0035] In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a linear compressor comprising: a hermetic container containing lubricating oil stored in a bottom region thereof; a compression unit having a cylinder arranged in the hermetic container to suction and discharge operating fluid, a piston mounted to be reciprocated inside the cylinder, and a linear motor to reciprocate the piston; a frame to support the compression unit; a linear motor cover to support the linear motor along with the frame; a lubricating oil cylinder integrally formed in the frame to be located between the frame and the linear motor cover and adapted to suction and discharge the lubricating oil stored in the hermetic container; a lubricating oil piston mounted to be reciprocated inside the lubricating oil cylinder to thereby pump the lubricating oil; a resonance unit to resonate the lubricating oil piston with the compression unit to thereby allow the lubricating oil piston to be reciprocated; and a lubricating oil cylinder protector to prevent generation of friction between the lubricating oil cylinder and the lubricating oil piston.

[0042] The linear compressor and the lubricating oil pump thereof according to the present invention configured as stated above can prevent generation of friction between the lubricating oil cylinder and the lubricating oil piston by making use of the lubricating oil cylinder protector, resulting in improved durability of the lubricating oil cylinder, and simplifying or omitting additional processing of the lubricating oil piston.

However, the prior art linear compressor as stated above has the following problems.

This complicates manufacture of the lubricating oil piston 35 and increases manufacturing costs thereof.

This is a severe problem because the exchange of the lubricating oil pump 30′ requires the exchange of the frame 20.