Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
A compressor having a compression cylinder defining an aperture, and a piston disposed within said aperture for movement between an upper end of the aperture and a lower end of the aperture, wherein the piston's movement is actuated by an electromagnetic actuator comprising: an electromagnetic element, said electromagnetic element including a core and a coil, said core having a first surface and an opening at said first surface extending through said core, said first surface further having a continuous channel extending around said opening, said coil being disposed in said channel; and an armature element interconnected with the compressor piston, said armature element having a raised portion dimensioned to be received within said channel, said armature further being in a normally biased initial spaced apart position from said electromagnetic element; wherein applying current to the coil in the electromagnetic element causes the armature to move toward the electromagnetic element and the piston to move to the upper end of the aperture, and interrupting the current to the coil causes the armature to move away from the electromagnetic element and the piston to move to the lower end of the aperture.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
A compressor having a compression cylinder defining an aperture, and a piston disposed within said aperture for movement between an upper end of the aperture and a lower end of the aperture, wherein the piston's movement is actuated by an electromagnetic actuator comprising: an electromagnetic element, said electromagnetic element including a core and a coil, said core having a first surface and an opening at said first surface extending through said core, said first surface further having a continuous channel extending around said opening, said coil being disposed in said channel; and an armature element interconnected with the compressor piston, said armature element having a raised portion dimensioned to be received within said channel, said armature further being in a normally biased initial spaced apart position from said electromagnetic element; wherein applying current to the coil in the electromagnetic element causes the armature to move toward the electromagnetic element and the piston to move to the upper end of the aperture, and interrupting the current to the coil causes the armature to move away from the electromagnetic element and the piston to move to the lower end of the aperture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A compressor having an electromagnetic actuator in accordance with claim 14 wherein said electromagnetic element and said armature are annular in horizontal cross-section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
A compressor having an electromagnetic actuator in accordance with claim 1 wherein said channel further comprises a bottom portion of frustroconical cross-section and a top portion, said coil being disposed in said top portion, and further wherein said raised portion of said armature element is substantially conical in cross section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A compressor in accordance with claim 1 wherein said actuator further comprises a support spring, said support spring disposed within the opening of the electromagnetic element and biasing said armature in the spaced apart position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A compressor in accordance with claim 4 wherein said actuator further comprises at least one lower spring, said lower spring contacting said armature and serving to bias the armature in an opposing direction from said support spring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A compressor in accordance with claim 1 wherein said compressor cylinder further includes an upper support and a lower support, and further wherein said upper spring contacts the upper support and said lower spring contacts the lower support.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
A compressor having an electromagnetic actuator in accordance with claim 16 further comprising: a reaction mass, said reaction mass being mounted intermediate said support spring and said upper surface; and at least one upper spring extending from and contacting said reaction mass and said upper surface, wherein the compression and extension of the support spring drives the reaction mass 180 degrees out-of-phase with the moving armature element.