BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a variable capacity swash plate type compressor,
and more particularly, to a variable capacity swash plate type compressor, in which
a check valve for circulating refrigerant inside a compressor and preventing a backflow
of the refrigerant when an air conditioner is turned off is mounted on a side of a
discharge muffler chamber in a cover type so that the discharge muffler chamber is
formed by the check valve, thereby reducing the number of components, the number of
work processes, and a pulsating pressure (pulsating noise) of discharged refrigerant,
allowing that the check valve is mounted at the center of a discharge chamber without
any increase in size of the compressor, preventing an overlapping phenomenon of a
pulsating pressure waveform of a high-pressure refrigerant at the time of discharge
since the check valve is located at the center of the discharge chamber, and preventing
a separation of the check valve by fixing the check valve in the discharge chamber
via a retainer.
Background Art
[0002] In general, a compressor constituting an air conditioner for an automobile is operated
through the steps of selectively receiving driving power from a power source by mean
of a restricting action of an electromagnetic clutch, inhaling refrigerant gas from
an evaporator thereto, compressing the refrigerant gas by a straight reciprocating
motion of pistons, and discharging it toward a condenser. Such a compressor is classified
into various kinds according to compression methods and structures, and among the
compressors of the various kinds a variable capacitance compressor has been widely
used which can vary a compression volume. European Patent
EP 1 394 410 B1 discloses a generic swash-type compressor having a reduced pressure pulsation by
discharging the compressed refrigerant through an orifice.
[0003] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a variable capacity swash plate type compressor according
to a prior art. Referring to FIG. 1, the variable capacity swash plate type compressor
1 according to a prior art includes: a cylinder block 10 having a plurality of formed
cylinder bores 11 therein; a front housing 20 coupled to the front of the cylinder
block 10 and having a crank chamber 21 formed therein; a rear housing 30 coupled to
the rear of the cylinder block 10 by interposing a valve unit 40 between the cylinder
block 10 and the rear housing 30 and having a suction chamber 31, a discharge chamber
32 and a discharge passageway 33.
[0004] Here, the cylinder block 10 has a suction port 12 and a suction muffler chamber 13,
so that refrigerant is introduced into the suction chamber 31 through the suction
port 12 and the suction muffler chamber 13.
[0005] Furthermore, a driving shaft 50 is rotatably mounted on the cylinder block 10 and
the front housing 20, and a swash plate 60 is mounted inside the crank chamber 21
to be rotated together with the driving shaft 50 by being connected with the driving
shaft 50 via a rotor 61 and a hinge means 62 firmly mounted on the driving shaft 50
and change an inclination angle in correspondence with a pressure change of the crank
chamber 21.
[0006] In addition, a plurality of pistons 65 are mounted on the outer circumference of
the swash plate 60 by interposing shoes 64 on the outer circumference of the swash
plate 60, so that the pistons 65 inhale and compress the refrigerant while performing
a reciprocating motion inside the cylinder bore 11 in cooperation with a rotating
motion of the swash plate 60.
[0007] Moreover, a control valve 80 is mounted on the rear housing 30 to vary a differential
pressure between a refrigerant suction pressure of the cylinder bore 11 and a gas
pressure of the crank chamber 21 so as to vary the inclination angle of the swash
plate 60.
[0008] Additionally, a discharge muffler chamber 90 is disposed in the discharge chamber
32 of the rear housing 30 to reduce a pulsating pressure of the discharged refrigerant.
The discharge muffler chamber 90 includes a division wall 91 formed in the discharge
chamber 32 and a cover 92 combined to a side of the division wall 91 and having a
refrigerant inflow hole 93. Therefore, the refrigerant discharged from the cylinder
bore 11 to the discharge chamber 32 moves to the discharge muffler chamber 90 through
the refrigerant inflow hole 93 of a small diameter formed on the cover 92, and then,
is discharged to the outside through a discharge passageway 33. That is, the pulsating
pressure is reduced by a process that the refrigerant is expanded, reduced and expanded
while passing through the discharge chamber 32, the refrigerant inflow hole 93 and
the discharge muffler chamber 90 in order.
[0009] Meanwhile, a compression coil spring 63 is mounted between the rotor 61 and the swash
plate 60 to return the swash plate 60 to its initial position.
[0010] As described above, when the driving shaft 50 is rotated by driving power of an engine,
the swash plate 60 mounted on the driving shaft 50 in such a way as to adjust the
inclination angle shakes in back and forth directions while rotating together with
the driving shaft 50, and so, the plural pistons 65 combined to the outer circumference
of the swash plate 60 perform the reciprocating motion inside the cylinder bore 11
of the cylinder block 10 in order as long as a distance proportionate to the inclination
angle of the swash plate 60.
[0011] Here, a suction valve (not shown) of the valve unit 40 is opened by a pressure drop
of the cylinder bore 11 during a suction stroke of the pistons 65, and so, the refrigerant
is introduced into the cylinder bore 11 from the suction chamber 31 since the suction
chamber 31 is fluidically communicated with the cylinder bore 11.
[0012] Furthermore, the refrigerant is compressed by a pressure increase of the cylinder
bore 11 and a discharge valve (not shown) of the valve unit 40 is opened during a
compression stroke of the pistons 65, and so, the compressed refrigerant is discharged
from the cylinder bore 11 to the discharge chamber 32 since the discharge chamber
32 is fluidically communicated with the cylinder bore 11.
[0013] Moreover, since the inclination angle of the swash plate 60 is adjusted in correspondence
with the differential pressure between the pressure of the crank chamber 21 and the
suction pressure of the cylinder bore 11, a discharge capacity of the compressor 1
is varied.
[0014] Meanwhile, in case that the clutchless variable capacity swash plate type compressor
1 is installed in a vehicle, when the air conditioner is turned off, the compressor
1 keeps the minimum swash plate angle but the angle does not become 0 degree, and
so, the refrigerant is discharged while the air conditioner is not operated. To prevent
the above, a check valve 70 is used in such a compressor 1.
[0015] The check valve 70 is inserted and mounted in the discharge passageway 33 of the
rear housing 30 to circulate the refrigerant inside the compressor 1 and prevent a
backflow of the refrigerant from the outside when the air conditioner is turned off.
[0016] That is, since the check valve 70 is opened only when pressure more than a predetermined
level is applied, it is closed due to a meager pressure at the minimum inclination
angle of the swash plate while the air conditioner is not operated. So, while the
air conditioner is not operated, the refrigerant contained in the compressor 1 is
not discharged to the outside but circulates inside the compressor 1.
[0017] However, since the check valve 70 is mounted on the rear side (downstream side) of
the discharge muffler chamber 90, a pulsating noise of the discharged refrigerant
is generated.
[0018] In addition, since a cover 92 having a refrigerant inflow hole 93 must be additionally
combined to a side of the division wall 91 to form the discharge muffler chamber 90
inside the discharge chamber 32, the number of components and the number of work processes
are increased.
[0019] Additionally, since the check valve 70 must be inserted and mounted inside the discharge
passageway 33 of the rear housing 30, a mounting space of the check valve 70 must
be secured, and so, a size of the compressor 1 is increased.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0020] The present invention relates to a variable capacity swash plate type compressor
as defined in claim 1.
[0021] Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems
occurring in the prior arts, and it is an object of the present invention to provide
a variable capacity swash plate type compressor, in which a check valve for circulating
refrigerant inside a compressor and preventing a backflow of the refrigerant when
an air conditioner is turned off is mounted on a side of a discharge muffler chamber
in a cover type so that the discharge muffler chamber is formed by the check valve,
thereby reducing the number of components, the number of work processes, and a pulsating
pressure (pulsating noise) of discharged refrigerant, allowing that the check valve
is mounted at the center of a discharge chamber without any increase in size of the
compressor, preventing an overlapping phenomenon of a pulsating pressure waveform
of a high-pressure refrigerant at the time of discharge since the check valve is located
at the center of the discharge chamber, and preventing a separation of the check valve
by fixing the check valve in the discharge chamber via a retainer.
[0022] There can be provided a variable capacity swash plate type compressor, which includes:
a cylinder block having a plurality of cylinder bores formed therein; a front housing
coupled to the front of the cylinder block and having a crank chamber formed therein;
a driving shaft rotatably mounted on the cylinder block and the front housing; a plurality
of pistons mounted on the driving shaft and performing a reciprocating motion inside
the cylinder bore in cooperation with a swash plate rotating inside the crank chamber;
a rear housing coupled to the rear of the cylinder block and having a suction chamber
and a discharge chamber formed therein in such a manner as to be partitioned from
each other by a partitioning wall, the discharge chamber having a discharge muffler
chamber partitioned and formed by a division wall to reduce a pulsating pressure of
discharged refrigerant; and a check valve mounted on a refrigerant discharge channel
of the rear housing to circulate the refrigerant inside the compressor and prevent
a backflow of the refrigerant when an air conditioner is turned off, characterized
in that the check valve is coupled to the inner side of the division wall.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will
be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of
the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0024] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a variable capacity swash plate type compressor according
to a prior art;
[0025] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a variable capacity swash plate type compressor according
to the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line of A-A of FIG. 2;
[0027] FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged sectional view of a discharge muffler chamber of the
variable capacity swash plate type compressor according to the present invention;
and
[0028] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a check valve of the variable capacity swash plate
type compressor according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0029] Reference will be now made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention
with reference to the attached drawings.
[0030] In the present invention, description of the same parts and operations as the prior
art will be omitted.
[0031] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a variable capacity swash plate type compressor according
to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line of A-A of
FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged sectional view of a discharge muffler chamber
of the variable capacity swash plate type compressor, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view
of a check valve of the variable capacity swash plate type compressor.
[0032] As shown in the drawings, the variable capacity swash plate type compressor 100 according
to the present invention includes: a cylinder block 110 having a plurality of cylinder
bores 111 formed therein; a front housing 120 coupled to the front of the cylinder
block 110 and having a sealed crank chamber 121 formed therein; a rear housing 130
coupled to the rear of the cylinder block 110 by interposing a valve unit 140 between
the cylinder block 110 and the rear housing 130 and having a discharge chamber 132
and a suction chamber 131 formed by partitioning of a partitioning wall 134, the discharge
chamber 132 being formed in the inner area and filled with refrigerant introduced
from the cylinder block 110, the suction chamber 131 being formed in the outer area
and filled with refrigerant introduced from the outside.
[0033] The valve unit 140 includes: a valve plate 141 having a suction hole 142 and a discharge
hole 143; a suction valve (not shown) mounted on a side of the valve plate 141 to
open and close the suction hole 142; and a discharge valve (not shown) mounted on
the other side of the valve plate 141 to open and close the discharge hole 143. So,
the refrigerant is inhaled from the suction chamber 131 to the cylinder bore 111 during
a suction stroke of pistons 165, and then, a compressed refrigerant is discharged
from the cylinder bore 111 to the discharge chamber 132 during a compression stroke
of the pistons 165.
[0034] The rear housing 130 has a discharge passageway 133 for discharging the refrigerant
of the discharge chamber 132 to the outside, and a control valve 170 is mounted on
a control valve port 136 of the rear housing 130 to properly control the capacity
of the refrigerant contained in the crank chamber 121.
[0035] Furthermore, a capacity control passageway 171 is fluidically communicated from the
control valve port 136 to the crank chamber 121 to introduce the refrigerant and oil
of the discharge chamber 132 to the crank chamber 121 when the control valve 170 is
opened.
[0036] The cylinder block 110 has a suction muffler chamber 113 formed on the outside thereof
and having a suction port 112 to introduce refrigerant from the outside thereto, and
the suction muffler chamber 113 is fluidically communicated with the suction chamber
131 of the rear housing 130.
[0037] Moreover, a driving shaft 150 is mounted on the cylinder block 110 and the front
housing 120 and rotatably supported by interposing a bearing 122 therebetween.
[0038] A rotor 161 is combined to the driving shaft 150 inside the crank chamber 121 to
transmit a rotational force of the driving shaft 150 to a swash plate 160, and rotatably
supported on the inner surface of the front housing 120.
[0039] In addition, the swash plate 160 is connected to the rotor 161 via a hinge means
162 and mounted on the driving shaft 150 in such a way as to change an inclination
angle in correspondence to a pressure change of the crank chamber 121.
[0040] Additionally, a sleeve 163 is mounted on the inner surface of the swash plate 160
in such a way as to allow an inclination of the swash plate 160 and slidably combined
to the driving shaft 150.
[0041] A plurality of pistons 165 are mounted on a slide face of the outer circumference
of the swash plate 160 by interposing a pair of hemispherical shoes 166, which are
faced with each other, between the pistons 165 and the swash plate 160, so that the
plural pistons 165 can inhale and compress the refrigerant while performing a straight
reciprocating motion inside the cylinder bore 111 according to the rotating motion
of the swash plate 160.
[0042] Meanwhile, a compression coil spring 164 is mounted between the rotor 161 and the
sleeve 163 to return the swash plate 160 to its initial position.
[0043] Moreover, a discharge muffler chamber 180 is formed inside the discharge chamber
132 to reduce a pulsating pressure of the discharged refrigerant.
[0044] The discharge muffler chamber 180 is constructed in such a way that a circular division
wall 135 is formed at the center of the discharge chamber 132 to partition the discharge
muffler chamber 180 from the inside of the discharge chamber 132 and a check valve
190, which will be described later, is combined to an opening of the division wall
135.
[0045] That is, a check valve 190 is mounted on a refrigerant discharge channel of the rear
housing 130 to circulate the refrigerant inside the compressor 100 and prevent a backflow
of the refrigerant introduced from the outside when an air conditioner is in an off-state.
In the present invention, the discharge muffler chamber 180 is formed by the check
valve 190.
[0046] Therefore, the check valve 190 is coupled to the inner side of the division wall
135 to cover a side of the discharge muffler chamber 180, and in this instance, located
at an end portion of the division wall 135 to secure a space for the discharge muffler
chamber 180.
[0047] Here, it is preferable that the check valve 190 is forcibly pressed and coupled to
the inner side of the division wall 135, and in this instance, a retainer 195 is mounted
on the inner surface of the division wall 135 to prevent a separation of the check
valve 190 from the division wall 135. Meanwhile, a seating jaw 135a is formed on the
inner surface of the division wall 135 for seating the check valve 190 on the inner
surface of the division wall 135.
[0048] Furthermore, since the check valve 190 is combined to the division wall 135 formed
at the center of the discharge chamber 132, the check valve 190 is also mounted at
the center of the discharge chamber 132 so as to prevent an overlapping phenomenon
of a pulsating pressure waveform when a high-pressure refrigerant is discharged.
[0049] As described above, since the discharge muffler chamber 180 is formed by the check
valve 190, components for forming the discharge muffler chamber 90 (used in the prior
art) can be omitted, so that the compressor 100 according to the present invention
can reduce the number of components and the number of work processes and reduce the
pulsating pressure (pulsating noise), and the check valve 190 can be mounted without
any increase in size of the compressor 100 since the check valve 190 is mounted in
the discharge muffler chamber 180 securing a mounting area.
[0050] The check valve 190 may be one of well-known various check valves. As shown in FIG.
5, the check valve 190 includes: a cover portion 191 inserted and coupled to the inner
side of the division wall 135 and having a refrigerant inflow hole 191a formed at
the center thereof; a valve body 192 coupled to a side of the cover portion 191 and
having a refrigerant outflow hole 192a formed therein; and a valve 193 fluidically
mounted between the cover portion 191 and the valve body 192 for elastically opening
and closing the refrigerant inflow hole 191a by an elastic member 194 supported on
the valve body 192.
[0051] The valve body 192 has a section formed in a "⊏" shape, and includes a support jaw
192b protrudingly formed at the inner center thereof for supporting the elastic member
194 and a flange 192c formed at the outer peripheral surface of a side thereof.
[0052] In this instance, the cover portion 191 and the valve body 192 are coupled with each
other in such a way that the valve body 192 is inserted into a bead 191b protrudingly
formed on a side of the cover portion 191 and the bead 191b is bent to surround the
flange 192c of the valve body 192.
[0053] When the air conditioner is in the off-state, since the minimum inclination angle
of the swash plate is kept but does not become 0 degree, the refrigerant is discharged
to the outside even when the air conditioner is in the off-state, but in this instance,
the check valve 190 is not opened because the volume of the discharged refrigerant
is very small and pressure is meager. That is, since the check valve 190 is opened
only when pressure more than a predetermined level is applied, the check valve 190
is not opened because pressure is meager at the minimum inclination angle of the swash
plate when the air conditioner is in the off-state.
[0054] So, when the air conditioner is in the off-state, the compressor 100 does not discharge
the refrigerant contained therein to the outside but circulates it therein and prevents
the backflow of the refrigerant introduced from the outside.
[0055] Hereinafter, a refrigerant circulation process of the variable capacity swash plate
type compressor 100 according to the present invention will be described.
[0056] First, when the driving shaft 150 is rotated by driving power of an engine, the swash
plate 160 mounted on the driving shaft 150 is shaken in back and forth directions
while rotating together with the driving shaft 150, and thereby, the plural pistons
165 combined to the outer circumference of the swash plate 160 repeat the suction
and compression strokes while performing the reciprocating motion inside the cylinder
bore 111 of the cylinder block 110 in order.
[0057] Here, while the pistons 165 perform the suction stroke, since the suction valve (not
shown) of the valve unit 140 is opened by a pressure drop of the cylinder bore 111
so that the cylinder bore 111 and the suction chamber 131 are fluidically communicated
with each other, the refrigerant supplied from the outside to the suction chamber
131 through the suction port 112 and the suction muffler chamber 113 is introduced
into the cylinder bore 111.
[0058] In addition, while the pistons 165 perform the compression stroke, since the refrigerant
is compressed by a pressure increase of the cylinder bore 111 and the discharge valve
(not shown) of the valve unit 140 is opened to fluidically communicate the cylinder
bore 111 and the discharge chamber 132 with each other, compressed refrigerant is
discharged from the cylinder bore 111 to the discharge chamber 132.
[0059] Continuously, the refrigerant discharged to the discharge chamber 132 is a high-temperature
and high-pressure refrigerant, and so the check valve 190 is opened by the high-pressure
refrigerant. When the check valve 190 is opened, the refrigerant discharged to the
discharge chamber 132 moves to the discharge muffler chamber 180 after passing through
the refrigerant inflow hole 191a and the refrigerant outflow hole 192a, and then,
is discharged to the outside through the discharge passageway 133.
[0060] In this instance, during a process that the refrigerant moves to the discharge muffler
chamber 132 after passing through the check valve 190, the refrigerant is expanded
in the discharge chamber 132, reduced while passing through the check valve 190, and
expanded again in the discharge muffler chamber 180, so that the pulsating pressure
of the discharged refrigerant is reduced.
[0061] Meanwhile, as described above, when the air conditioner is not operated, since the
inclination angle of the swash plate 160 is minimized to thereby cause little flow
of the refrigerant and the pressure of the refrigerant is small, the check valve 190
is closed, so that the refrigerant circulates inside the compressor 100.
[0062] As described above, according to the present invention the variable capacity swash
plate type compressor can reduce the number of components and the number of work processes
and reduce the pulsating pressure (pulsating noise) of discharged refrigerant since
the check valve, which circulates the refrigerant inside the compressor and prevents
the backflow of the refrigerant when the air conditioner is in the off-state, is mounted
on a side of the discharge muffler chamber in a cover type and the discharge muffler
chamber is formed by the check valve.
[0063] Moreover, the variable capacity swash plate type compressor can allow that the check
valve is mounted in the discharge muffler chamber, which secures the mounting space
for the check valve, without any increase in size of the compressor.
[0064] Furthermore, the variable capacity swash plate type compressor can prevent the overlapping
phenomenon of the pulsating pressure waveform when the high-pressure refrigerant is
discharged since the check valve is located at the center of a discharge chamber.
[0065] In addition, the variable capacity swash plate type compressor can prevent the separation
of the check valve by fixing the check valve in the discharge chamber via the retainer.
[0066] While the present invention has been described with reference to the particular illustrative
embodiment, it is not to be restricted by the embodiment but only by the appended
claims.
1. Taumelscheibenkompressor mit veränderlicher Förderleistung, der aufweist:
einen Zylinderblock (110) mit einer Vielzahl von Zylinderbohrungen (111), die darin
ausgebildet sind;
ein vorderes Gehäuse (120), das mit der Vorderseite des Zylinderblocks (110) verbunden
ist und eine Kurbelkammer (121) aufweist, die darin ausgebildet ist;
eine Antriebswelle (150), die drehbar an dem Zylinderblock (110) und dem vorderen
Gehäuse (120) angebracht ist;
eine Vielzahl von Kolben (165), die an der Antriebswelle (150) angebracht sind und
eine Hin- und Herbewegung innerhalb der Zylinderbohrung (111) ausführen, in Kooperation
mit einer Taumelscheibe (160), die sich innerhalb der Kurbelkammer (121) dreht;
ein hinteres Gehäuse (130), das mit der Rückseite des Zylinderblocks (110) verbunden
ist und eine Ansaugkammer (131) und eine Auslasskammer (132) aufweist, die darin ausgebildet
sind, in einer solchen Weise, um voneinander durch eine Trennwand (134) getrennt zu
sein;
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
die Auslasskammer (132) eine Auslass-Dämpfer-Kammer (180) aufweist, getrennt und ausgebildet
durch eine Trennwand (135), um einen pulsierenden Druck von ausgestoßenem Kühlmittel
zu reduzieren;
die Trennwand (135) eine kreisförmige Trennwand (135) ist;
ein Rückschlagventil (190) an einem Kühlmittelauslasskanal des hinteren Gehäuses (130)
angebracht ist, um das Kühlmittel innerhalb des Kompressors (100) zu zirkulieren und
einen Rückfluss des Kühlmittels zu verhindern, wenn eine Klimaanlage ausgeschaltet
wird,
das Rückschlagventil (190) mit der Innenseite der kreisförmigen Trennwand (135) verbunden
ist und im Zentrum der Auslasskammer (132) angeordnet ist und mit einer Öffnung der
kreisförmigen Trennwand (135) kombiniert ist; und
die Auslass-Dämpfer-Kammer (180) in einer solchen Art und Weise konstruiert ist, dass
die kreisförmige Trennwand (135) im Zentrum der Auslasskammer (132) gebildet ist.
2. Taumelscheibenkompressor mit veränderlicher Förderleistung nach Anspruch 1, wobei
ein Halter (195) mit der Trennwand (135) kombiniert wird, um eine Trennung des Rückschlagventils
(190) von der Trennwand (135) zu verhindern, nachdem das Rückschlagventil mit der
Innenseite der Trennwand verbunden wurde.
3. Taumelscheibenkompressor mit veränderlicher Förderleistung nach Anspruch 1, wobei
das Rückschlagventil (190) aufweist: einen Abdeckabschnitt (191) mit einer Kühlmitteleinströmungsöffnung
(191a), die in dem Zentrum davon ausgebildet ist; einen Ventilkörper (192), der mit
einer Seite des Abdeckabschnitts (191) verbunden ist und eine Kühlmittelausströmungsöffnung
(192a) aufweist, die darin ausgebildet ist; und ein Ventil (193) strömungstechnisch
angebracht zwischen dem Abdeckabschnitt (191) und dem Ventilkörper (192) zum elastischen
Öffnen und Schließen der Kühlmitteleinströmungsöffnung (191a) durch ein elastisches
Element (194), das auf dem Ventilkörper (192) gelagert ist.
4. Taumelscheibenkompressor mit veränderlicher Förderleistung nach Anspruch 1, wobei
das Rückschlagventil (190) heftig an die Innenseite der Trennwand (135) gepresst wird
und mit der Innenseite der Trennwand (135) verbunden wird.