Wobble plate type refrigerant compressor

A wobble plate type compressor comprising:

• a compressor housing including a cylinder block, a front end plate and a cylinder head, said cylinder block having a plurality of cylinders in which a plurality of pistons are slidably disposed, said front end plate having an opening formed therein, said compressor housing forming a suction chamber, a discharge chamber and a crank chamber;
• a drive mechanism including a drive shaft and a rotor mounted on said drive shaft for rotation therewith, said drive shaft extending at least partially into said compressor housing through the opening in said front end plate and said rotor rotatably disposed in said crank chamber against said front end plate;
• a wobble plate operationally driven by said rotor;
• coupling means for operationally coupling said wobble plate to said pistons such that the rotation of said rotor causes said wobble plate to reciprocate said pistons in said cylinders;
• bearing means for rotatably supporting said drive shaft in the opening in said front end plate;
• a communication path having at least two ends wherein a first end of said communication path opens into said bearing means and a second end of said communication path opens into said crank chamber radially outside said rotor;
• a plurality of roller elements arranged annularly around said drive shaft;
• a race disposed on the outer circumference of said roller elements, said race having at least one hole formed therein;
• and
• an annular groove formed between said race and said communication path.

A wobble plate type compressor comprising:

• a compressor housing including a cylinder block, a front end plate and a cylinder head, said cylinder block having a plurality of cylinders in which a plurality of pistons are slidably disposed, said front end plate having an opening formed therein, said compressor housing forming a suction chamber, a discharge chamber and a crank chamber;
• a drive mechanism including a drive shaft and a rotor mounted on said drive shaft for rotation therewith, said drive shaft extending at least partially into said compressor housing through the opening in said front end plate and said rotor rotatably disposed in said crank chamber against said front end plate;
• a wobble plate operationally driven by said rotor;
• coupling means for operationally coupling said wobble plate to said pistons such that the rotation of said rotor causes said wobble plate to reciprocate said pistons in said cylinders;
• bearing means for rotatably supporting said drive shaft in the opening in said front end plate;
• a groove formed in the opening of said front end plate and at least partially surrounding said bearing means;
• and
• a communication path having at least two ends wherein a first end of said communication path opens directly into the groove in said front end plate and a second end of said communication path opens into said crank chamber radially outside said rotor, said first end of said communication path directing substantially all of the lubricating oil exiting therefrom directly to said groove.

A wobble plate type compressor comprising:

• a compressor housing including a cylinder block, a front end plate and a cylinder head, said cylinder block having a plurality of cylinders in which a plurality of pistons are slidably disposed, said front end plate having an opening formed therein, said compressor housing forming a suction chamber, a discharge chamber and a crank chamber;
• a drive mechanism including a drive shaft and a rotor mounted on said drive shaft for rotation therewith, said drive shaft extending at least partially into said compressor housing through the opening in said front end plate and said rotor rotatably disposed in said crank chamber against said front end plate;
• a wobble plate operationally driven by said rotor;
• coupling means for operationally coupling said wobble plate to said pistons such that the rotation of said rotor causes said wobble plate to reciprocate said pistons in said cylinders;
• bearing means for rotatably supporting said drive shaft in the opening in said front end plate;
• a groove formed in the opening of said front end plate and at least partially surrounding said bearing means;
• a communication path having at least two ends wherein a first end of said communication path opens into the groove in said front end plate and a second end of said communication path opens into said crank chamber radially outside said rotor;
• a plurality of roller elements arranged annularly around said drive shaft;
• a race disposed on the outer circumference of said roller elements, said race having at least one hole formed therein;
• and
• wherein said groove is an annular groove completely encircling at least a portion of said race.

A wobble plate type compressor comprising:

• a compressor housing including a cylinder block, a front end plate and a cylinder head, said cylinder block having a plurality of cylinders in which a plurality of pistons are slidably disposed, said front end plate having an opening formed therein, said compressor housing forming a suction chamber, a discharge chamber and a crank chamber;
• a drive mechanism including a drive shaft and a rotor mounted on said drive shaft for rotation therewith, said drive shaft extending at least partially into said compressor housing through the opening in said front end plate and said rotor rotatably disposed in said crank chamber against said front end plate;
• a wobble plate operationally driven by said rotor;
• coupling means for operationally coupling said wobble plate to said pistons such that the rotation of said rotor causes said wobble plate to reciprocate said pistons in said cylinders;
• bearing means for rotatably supporting said drive shaft in the opening in said front end plate;
• and
• a communication path extending through said front end plate and having at least two ends wherein a first end of said communication path opens directly into said bearing means and a second end of said communication path opens into said crank chamber radially outside an outermost radial surface of said rotor, thereby bypassing said rotor, said first end of said communication path directing substantially all of the lubricating oil exiting therefrom directly to said bearing means.

A wobble plate type compressor comprising:

• a compressor housing including a cylinder block, a front end plate and a cylinder head, said cylinder block having a plurality of cylinders in which a plurality of pistons are slidably disposed, said front end plate having an opening formed therein, said compressor housing forming a suction chamber, a discharge chamber and a crank chamber;
• a drive mechanism including a drive shaft and a rotor mounted on said drive shaft for rotation therewith, said drive shaft extending at least partially into said compressor housing through the opening in said front end plate and said rotor rotatably disposed in said crank chamber against said front end plate;
• a wobble plate operationally driven by said rotor;
• coupling means for operationally coupling said wobble plate to said pistons such that the rotation of said rotor causes said wobble plate to reciprocate said pistons in said cylinders;
• bearing means for rotatably supporting said drive shaft in the opening in said front end plate;
• a groove formed in the opening of said front end plate and at least partially surrounding said bearing means;
• and
• a communication path extending through said front end plate and having at least two ends wherein a first end of said communication path opens directly into said groove and a second end of said communication path opens into said crank chamber radially outside an outermost radial surface of said rotor, thereby bypassing said rotor, said first end of said communication path directing substantially all of the lubricating oil exiting therefrom directly to said bearing means.