Variable capacity wobble plate compressor

A variable capacity wobble plate compressor suitable for use with an associated internal combustion engine, comprising:

• a housing;
• a drive shaft arranged for rotational movement in said housing;
• an electromagnet clutch disposed between the engine and said drive shaft for transmitting rotational movement from the engine to said drive shaft when said clutch is engaged;
• a wobble plate mounted on said drive shaft for swinging axially of said drive shaft as said drive shaft rotates;
• pistons connected to said wobble plate for reciprocating motions in response to swinging of said wobble palte;
• wherein a change in angularity of said wobble plate relative to said drive shaft causes a change in stroke of said reciprocating motions of said pistons so that the capacity of said compressor is varied;
• a sensing element arranged on said wobble plate at a predetermined peripheral portion, said sensing element being moved along a predetermined orbital path together with swinging of said wobble plate;
• sensor means arranged on said housing for generating an electric signal when said sensing element passes by said sensor means as said wobble plate swings;
• control means for determining the rotational speed of said drive shaft and the angularity of said wobble plate on the basis of said electric signal from said sensor means;
• said sensor means being so located as to align with a predetermined location between an axial center of said predetermined orbital path of swinging of said sensing element and an extreme possible point toward said pistons, when said wobble plate assumes a minimum angularity;
• said control means further including means for controlling the degree of angularity of said wobble plate relative to said drive shaft and hence the capacity of said compressor responsive to the determined angularity of said wobble plate as determined on the basis of said electric signal from said sensor means.