Hinge mechanism for variable displacement compressors
AssigneeKabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
InventorsMasaki Ota, Tomoji Tarutani, Ryo Matsubara, Taku Adaniya
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
variable displacement compressor has a drive shaft extending through a crank chamber. A lug plate is integrally fixed to the drive shaft. A drive plate is connected to and driven by the lug plate by a hinge mechanism. The drive plate inclines with respect to the drive shaft to vary the displacement of the compressor. The hinge mechanism has a linear guide on the lug plate and a pin projecting from the drive plate toward the lug plate. A bearing surface engages the pin. The pin has an axis that intersects an axis of the guide. The axis of the pin is parallel to the axis of the drive shaft when the compressor operates with a maximum load.
Claims20
A variable displacement compressor having a crank chamber and a cylinder bore within a housing, a drive shaft, having a longitudinal axis, extending through the crank chamber, a lug plate integrally attached to the drive shaft, and a drive plate located adjacent to the lug plate, wherein the drive plate is coupled to the lug plate by a hinge mechanism, wherein the hinge mechanism drives the drive plate and permits the drive plate to rotate with and incline with respect to the drive shaft, and wherein the displacement of the compressor varies according to the inclination of the drive plate based on a pressure difference between the crank chamber and the cylinder bore, wherein the hinge mechanism comprises:
- a guide provided on the lug plate, the guide having a bearing surface extending at least partially about a longitudinal guide axis;
- and
- a pin projecting from the drive plate along a longitudinal pin axis toward the guide, wherein the pin engages and is guided for sliding movement by the bearing surface of the guide, the longitudinal pin axis and the longitudinal guide axis forming an angle of intersection of not less than about 45°.
A variable displacement compressor having a crank chamber and a cylinder bore within a housing, a drive shaft, having a longitudinal axis, extending through the crank chamber, a lug plate integrally attached to the drive shaft, and a drive plate located adjacent to the lug plate, wherein the drive plate is coupled to the lug plate by a hinge mechanism, wherein the hinge mechanism permits the drive plate to rotate with and incline with respect to drive shaft, and wherein the displacement of the compressor varies according to the inclination of the drive plate based on a pressure difference between the crank chamber and the cylinder bore, wherein the hinge mechanism comprises:
- a guide channel opposed to the drive plate, wherein the channel has a longitudinal axis and an inner bearing surface extending at least partially about the longitudinal channel axis;
- and
- a pin extending from the drive plate along a longitudinal pin axis toward the guide channel, wherein a distal portion of the pin contacts the bearing surface, the longitudinal pin axis and the longitudinal channel axis forming an angle of intersection of not less than about 45 degrees.
A variable displacement compressor having a crank chamber and a plurality of cylinder bores within a housing, a drive shaft, having a longitudinal axis, extending through the crank chamber, a lug plate integrally attached to the drive shaft, a drive plate located adjacent to the lug plate, and a plurality of pistons located in the cylinder bores, respectively, each of the pistons being coupled to the drive plate, wherein the drive plate is coupled to the lug plate by a hinge mechanism, wherein the hinge mechanism drives the drive plate and permits the drive plate to incline with the drive shaft, and wherein the displacement of the compressor varies according to the inclination of the drive plate based on a pressure difference in the crank chamber and the cylinder bore, wherein the hinge mechanism comprises:
- a pair of guide channels opposed to the drive plate, wherein each channel has a longitudinal axis and an inner bearing surface extending at least partially about the longitudinal channel axis;
- a pair of brackets carried by the drive plate, each of said brackets having a bore;
- and
- a pair of pins extending from the drive plate toward the guide channels, wherein each of the pins has a distal end that engages the inner bearing surfaces and a proximal end that is press-fitted into the bore, each pin having a longitudinal axis that intersects a respective longitudinal channel axis at an angle of not less than about 45 degrees.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.