Swash plate type compressor with swash plate hinge coupling mechanism

Abstract

A swash plate type compressor with a variable displacement mechanism is disclosed. The compressor includes a compressor housing having a cylinder block provided with a plurality of cylinders and a crank chamber. A piston is slidably fitted within each of the cylinders and is reciprocated by a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism includes a drive shaft rotatably supported by the compressor housing, a pair of rotor plates fixed on the drive shaft and a swash plate having a surface with an adjustable incline angle or tilt. The rotor plates are arranged on opposite sides of the swash plate. The swash plate converts the rotating motion of the drive shaft into the reciprocating motion of the pistons which are coupled to the swash plate through bearings. A pair of hinge coupling mechanisms hingedly connect an arm portion of the swash plate to an arm portion of each of the rotor plates to permit variations in the incline angle or tilt of the swash plate. The two hinge coupling mechanisms include two arm portions extending from opposite sides of the swash plate and an arm portion extending from each of the two rotor plates. The combination and arrangement of the two hinge coupling mechanisms on opposite sides of the swash plate reduces gas compression reaction forces acting thereon so that wear and deterioration thereof can be prevented to thereby increase the life of the compressor and enable effective control of the capacity of the compressor through adjustments in the incline angle or tilt of the swash plate.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.