Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a reciprocal compressor.
Background Art
[0002] Patent document 1 discloses a reciprocal compressor comprising a rotation shaft,
a motion converter for converting rotation to reciprocal motion, pistons driven by
the rotation shaft through the motion converter to move reciprocally, a cylinder block
provided with cylinder bores in which the pistons are inserted and a center bore in
which one end of the rotation shaft is inserted, a valve plate provided with suction
holes, discharge holes, suction valves for closing the suction holes and discharge
valves for closing the discharge holes and disposed opposite one end of the cylinder
block, and a rear housing provided with a suction chamber communicating with the cylinder
bores through the suction holes and the suction valves and a discharge chamber communicating
with the cylinder bores through the discharge valves and the discharge holes, wherein
the cylinder bores are circumferentially distanced from each other, and the cylinder
block is provided with a secondary discharge chamber which is located closer to the
valve plate than the center bore to communicate with the discharge chamber through
an opening formed in the valve plate.
In accordance with the reciprocal compressor of patent document 1, the volume of the
discharge chamber increases to decrease pulsation of discharge pressure caused by
refrigerant gas discharging from the cylinder bores to the discharge chamber, thereby
decreasing noise of the compressor.
Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No.
7-77157
Disclosure of Invention
Problems to be solved
[0003] The reciprocal compressor of patent document 1 has a problem in that the secondary
discharge chamber is complicated in structure and troublesome to produce because it
is formed by a center cylindrical portion coaxial to the center bore and radial arm
portions extending from the center cylindrical portion and located between the cylinder
bores.
The center bore of the reciprocal compressor of patent document 1 extends only to
the longitudinal middle of the cylinder block. However, such kind of reciprocal compressor
also has been used, wherein the center bore extends to one end of the cylinder block
adjacent the valve plate and an adjust member is screwed in the center bore to adjust
the longitudinal position of the rotation shaft. When the technical concept of the
cylinder block being provided with the secondary discharge chamber, which is the technical
concept of patent document 1, is applied to the aforementioned reciprocal compressor,
the portion of the center bore closer to the valve plate than the adjust member is
communicated with the discharge chamber through the opening formed in the valve plate
to increase the volume of the discharge chamber. However, if the portion of the center
bore closer to the valve plate than the adjust member is communicated with the discharge
chamber through the opening formed in the valve plate, a crank chamber accommodating
the rotation shaft and the motion converter communicates with the discharge chamber
through the center bore because the portion of the center bore more distant from the
valve plate than the adjust member communicates with the portion of the center bore
closer to the valve plate than the adjust member through threaded portion of the adjust
member. As a result, operation of the reciprocal compressor is impaired.
An object of the present invention is to provide a reciprocal compressor wherein a
cylinder block is provided with a void space communicating with a discharge chamber
to increase the volume of the discharge chamber and which can resolve the problem
of the reciprocal compressor of patent document 1.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0004] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a reciprocal compressor
comprising a rotation shaft, a motion converter for converting rotation to reciprocal
motion, pistons driven by the rotation shaft through the motion converter to move
reciprocally, a cylinder block provided with cylinder bores in which the pistons are
inserted and a center bore in which one end of the rotation shaft is inserted, a valve
plate provided with suction holes, discharge holes, suction valves for closing the
suction holes and discharge valves for closing the discharge holes and disposed opposite
one end of the cylinder block, and a rear housing provided with a suction chamber
communicating with the cylinder bores through the suction holes and the suction valves
and a discharge chamber communicating with the cylinder bores through the discharge
valves and the discharge holes and disposed opposite the valve plate, wherein the
cylinder bores are circumferentially distanced from each other, and the cylinder block
is provided with a group of secondary discharge chambers which are located closer
to the valve plate than the center bore to communicate with the discharge chamber
through openings formed in the valve plate, and wherein the group of secondary discharge
chambers comprises a center secondary discharge chamber adjacent the center bore,
and a plurality of satellite secondary discharge chambers located radially outside
the center secondary discharge chamber, circumferentially distanced from each other,
and located between the cylinder bores, and each of the secondary discharge chambers
communicates with the discharge chamber through the opening formed in the valve plate.
In the reciprocal compressor of the present invention, the secondary discharge chamber
is formed not by a center cylindrical portion coaxial to the center bore and radial
arm portions extending from the center cylindrical portion and located between the
cylinder bores but by a center secondary discharge chamber adjacent the center bore
and a plurality of satellite discharge chambers located radially outside the center
secondary discharge chamber, circumferentially distanced from each other and located
between the cylinder bores. A secondary discharge chamber formed by a center secondary
discharge chamber and satellite secondary discharge chambers independent of the center
secondary discharge chamber is simpler in structure and easier to produce than a secondary
discharge chamber formed by a center cylindrical portion and radial arms continuously
extending from the center cylindrical portion.
[0005] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a reciprocal compressor
comprising a rotation shaft, a motion converter for converting rotation to reciprocal
motion, pistons driven by the rotation shaft through the motion converter to move
reciprocally, a cylinder block provided with cylinder bores in which the pistons are
inserted and a center bore in which one end of the rotation shaft is inserted, a valve
plate provided with suction holes, discharge holes, suction valves for closing the
suction holes and discharge valves for closing the discharge holes and disposed opposite
one end of the cylinder block, and a rear housing provided with a suction chamber
communicating with the cylinder bores through the suction holes and the suction valves
and a discharge chamber communicating with the cylinder bores through the discharge
valves and the discharge holes and disposed opposite the valve plate, wherein an adjust
member is screwed in the center bore to locate the rotation shaft in the longitudinal
direction, the center bore communicates with the discharge chamber at a portion closer
to the valve plate than the adjust member through an opening formed in the valve plate,
and the contact part between the adjust member and the center bore is sealed by a
seal member.
In the reciprocal compressor of the present invention, the center bore communicates
with the discharge chamber at a portion closer to the valve plate than the adjust
member through an opening formed in the valve plate, and the contact part between
the adjust member and the center bore is sealed by a seal member. Therefore, volume
of the discharge chamber is increased, pulsation of discharge pressure caused by the
refrigerant gas discharging from the cylinder bores to the discharge chamber is decreased,
and the compressor noise is decreased, with the portion of the center bore more distanced
from the valve plate than the adjust member being prevented from communicating with
the portion of the center bore closer to the valve plate than the adjust member through
the threaded portion of the adjust member, and with the crank chamber accommodating
the rotation shaft and the motion converter being prevented from communicating with
the discharge chamber through the center bore.
[0006] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cylinder
block is provided with a plurality of satellite bores located radially outside the
center bore, circumferentially distanced from each other and located between the cylinder
bores, and each of the satellite bores communicates with the discharge chamber through
an opening formed in the valve plate.
In this embodiment, the volume of the discharge chamber further increases, pulsation
of discharge pressure caused by the refrigerant gas discharging from the cylinder
bores to the discharge chamber further decreases, and the compressor noise further
decreases.
[0007] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, not only a bulkhead
for separating the discharge chamber from the suction chamber but also legs provided
in the discharge chamber clamp the valve plate in cooperation with the cylinder block.
When the secondary discharge chamber or the portion of the center bore closer to the
valve plate than the adjust member communicates with the discharge chamber through
the opening formed in the valve plate, the balance of the pressure acting on the valve
plate is liable to change, the force acting on the valve plate to push it in the direction
of the rear housing is liable to become larger than the force acting on the valve
plate to push it in the reverse direction, and the valve plate is liable to deform
toward the discharge chamber at the center portion. When the legs provided in the
discharge chamber as well as the bulkhead for separating the discharge chamber from
the suction chamber clamp the valve plate in cooperation with the cylinder block,
the deformation of the valve plate is prevented.
Effect of the Invention
[0008] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a reciprocal compressor
wherein a cylinder block is provided with a void space communicating with a discharge
chamber to increase the volume of the discharge chamber and which can resolve the
problem of the reciprocal compressor of patent document 1.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
[0009] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described.
First embodiment
[0010] As shown in Figure 1, a variable displacement swash plate compressor A comprises
a rotation shaft 10, a rotor 11 fixed to the rotation shaft 10, a swash plate 12 supported
by the rotation shaft 10 to be variable in inclination relative to the rotation shaft
10. The swash plate 12 is connected to the rotor 11 by a linkage 13, which allows
the inclination of the swash plate 12 to vary, so as to rotate synchronously with
the rotor 11 or the rotation shaft 10.
Pistons 15 are anchored to the swash plate 12 through pairs of shoes 14 slidably engaging
the outer circumferential portion of the swash plate 12.
The rotor 11, the linkage 13, the swash plate 12 and the shoes 14 form a motion converter
for converting rotation of the rotation shaft 10 to reciprocal motion of the pistons
15.
The pistons 15 are inserted in cylinder bores 16a formed in a cylinder block 16.
The cylinder bores 16a are circumferentially distanced from each other.
A front housing 18 forms a crank chamber 17 for accommodating the rotation shaft 10,
the rotor 11, the linkage 13, the swash plate 12 and the shoes 14. The front housing
18 has a cylindrical form closed at one end.
One end of the rotation shaft 10 passes through the closed end of the front housing
18 to extend out of the front housing 18. A seal member 19 is disposed between the
front hosing 18 and the portion of the rotation shaft 10 passing through the front
housing 18.
[0011] The rotation shaft 10 is rotatably supported by a radial bearing 20 pressed in and
fixed to the portion of the front housing through which the rotation shaft passes
and a radial bearing 21 pressed in and fixed to a center bore 16b formed in the cylinder
block 16. The center bore 16b extends to the longitudinal middle of the cylinder block
16.
[0012] Driving power is transmitted from an external power source to the said one end of
the rotation shaft 10 through an electromagnetic clutch 26 mounted on the front housing
18. The external power source is not shown in Figure 1.
[0013] A valve plate 27 is disposed opposite one end of the cylinder block 16. The valve
plate 27 is provided with suction holes 27a, discharge holes 27b, suction valves for
closing the suction holes 27a and discharge valves for closing the discharge holes
27b.
A rear housing 28 is disposed opposite the valve plate 27. The rear housing 28 is
provided with a suction chamber 28a communicating with the cylinder bores 16a through
the suction holes 27a and the suction valves, and a discharge chamber 28b communicating
with the cylinder bores 16a through the discharge valves and the discharge holes 27b.
The suction chamber 28a connects to an evaporator of a car air conditioner through
a suction port 29 and the discharge chamber 28b connects to a condenser of the car
air conditioner through a discharge port 30. The car air conditioner, the evaporator
and the condenser are not shown in Figure 1.
[0014] A center secondary discharge chamber 16c of cylindrical shape is formed in the cylinder
block 16. The center secondary discharge chamber 16c is disposed adjacent the center
bore 16b and located closer to the valve plate 27 than the center bore 16b. The center
secondary discharge chamber 16c extends to the aforementioned one end of the cylinder
block 16 to communicate with the discharge chamber 28b through an opening 27c formed
in the valve plate 27. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a plurality of satellite secondary
discharge chambers 16d of cylindrical shape with small diameter are formed in the
cylinder block 16. The satellite secondary discharge chambers 16d are located radially
outside the center secondary discharge chamber 16c, circumferentially distanced from
each other and located between the cylinder bores 16a. The satellite secondary discharge
chambers 16d extend to the aforementioned one end of the cylinder block 16 to communicate
with the discharge chamber 28b through openings 27d formed in the valve plate 27.
Legs 28d are disposed in the discharge chamber 28b in addition to the bulkhead 28c
for separating the discharge chamber 28b from the suction chamber 28a to clamp the
valve plate 27 in cooperation with the cylinder block 16.
[0015] The front housing 18, the cylinder block 16, the valve plate 27 and the rear housing
28 are assembled as a unitary body by through bolts 31.
The variable displacement swash plate compressor A is provided with an air supply
passage communicating the discharge chamber 28b with the crank chamber 17 and a displacement
control valve for closing the air supply passage. The variable displacement swash
plate compressor A is provided with an air exhaust passage communicating the crank
chamber 17 with the suction chamber 28a and a restriction disposed in the air exhaust
passage. The air supply passage, the displacement control valve, the air exhaust passage
and the restriction are not shown in Figures 1 and 2.
[0016] In the variable displacement swash plate compressor A, driving power of the external
power source not shown in Figures 1 and 2 is transmitted to the rotation shaft 10
through the electromagnetic clutch 26 and the rotation of the rotation shaft 10 is
transmitted to the swash plate 12 through the rotor 11 and the linkage 13. Rotation
of the swash plate 12 causes reciprocal motion of the outer circumferential portion
thereof in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the rotation shaft 10. The reciprocal
motion of the outer circumferential portion of the swash plate 12 is transmitted to
the pistons 15 through the shoes 14 to cause reciprocal motion of the pistons 15 in
the cylinder bores 16a. Refrigerant gas returned from the evaporator of the car air
conditioner is sucked into the cylinder bores 16a through the suction port 29, the
suction chamber 28a, the suction holes 27a and the suction valves. The refrigerant
gas is compressed in the cylinder bores 16a and passes out of the compressor to the
condenser of the car air conditioner through the discharge holes 27b, the discharge
valves, the discharge chamber 28b and the discharge port 30.
The displacement control valve opens and closes the air supply passage between the
discharge chamber 28b and the crank chamber 17 to start and stop the introduction
of the discharge pressure to the crank chamber 17. Thus, the pressure in the crank
chamber 17 is controlled to control the inclination angle of the swash plate 12, thereby
variably controlling the displacement of the compressor A.
[0017] When the compressed refrigerant gas discharges from the cylinder bores 16a to the
discharge chamber 28b, the refrigerant gas causes pulsation of discharge pressure.
The pulsation of the discharge pressure propagates outside the compressor through
the discharge port 30 to resonate with various members close to the compressor, thereby
causing compressor noise. However, in the variable displacement swash plate compressor
A, the operation of the discharge chamber 28b as an expansion muffler is enhanced
to restrict the propagation of the pulsation of the discharge pressure outside the
compressor because the center secondary discharge chamber 16c and the plurality of
the satellite secondary discharge chambers 16d formed in the cylinder block 16 communicate
with the discharge chamber 28b through the opening 27c and the openings 27d formed
in the valve plate 27 to increase the volume of the discharge chamber 28b. As a result,
the compressor noise decreases.
In the variable displacement swash plate compressor A, the secondary discharge chamber
is not formed by a center cylindrical portion coaxial to the center bore and radial
arm portions extending from the center cylindrical portion and located between the
cylinder bores but by a center secondary discharge chamber 16c adjacent the center
bore 16b and a plurality of satellite secondary discharge chambers 16d located radially
outside the center secondary discharge chamber 16c, circumferentially distanced from
each other and located between the cylinder bores 16a. The secondary discharge chamber
formed by the center secondary discharge chamber 16c and the satellite secondary discharge
chambers 16d independent of the center secondary discharge chamber 16c is simpler
in structure and easier to produce than the secondary discharge chamber formed by
the center cylindrical portion and the radial arm portions continuously extending
from the center cylindrical portion.
[0018] When the secondary discharge chambers 16c and 16d communicate with the discharge
chamber 28b through the openings 27c and 27d formed in the valve plate 27, the balance
of the pressure acting on the valve plate 27 is liable to change, the force acting
on the valve plate 27 to push it in the direction of the rear housing 28 is liable
to become larger than the force acting on the valve plate 27 to push it in the reverse
direction, and the valve plate 27 is liable to deform toward the discharge chamber
28b at the center portion. When the legs 28d provided in the discharge chamber 28b
as well as the bulkhead 28c for separating the discharge chamber 28b from the suction
chamber 28a clamp the valve plate 27 in cooperation with the cylinder block 16, the
deformation of the valve plate 27 is prevented.
Second embodiment
[0019] In the following description, the same structures as in the first embodiment will
be allotted the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment.
As shown in Figure 3, a variable displacement swash plate compressor A comprises a
rotation shaft 10, a rotor 11 fixed to the rotation shaft 10, a swash plate 12 supported
by the rotation shaft 10 to be variable in inclination relative to the rotation shaft
10. The swash plate 12 is connected to the rotor 11 by a linkage 13, which allows
the inclination of the swash plate 12 to vary, so as to rotate synchronously with
the rotor 11 or the rotation shaft 10.
Pistons 15 are anchored to the swash plate 12 through pairs of shoes 14 slidably engaging
the outer circumferential portion of the swash plate 12.
The rotor 11, the linkage 13, the swash plate 12 and the shoes 14 form a motion converter
for converting rotation of the rotation shaft 10 to reciprocal motion of the pistons
15.
The pistons 15 are inserted in cylinder bores 16a formed in a cylinder block 16. The
cylinder bores 16a extend through the cylinder block 16.
A front housing 18 forms a crank chamber 17 for accommodating the rotation shaft 10,
the rotor 11, the linkage 13, the swash plate 12 and the shoes 14. The front housing
18 has a cylindrical shape closed at one end.
One end of the rotation shaft 10 passes through the closed end of the front housing
18 to extend out of the front housing 18. A seal member 19 is disposed between the
front hosing 18 and the portion of the rotation shaft 10 passing through the front
housing 18.
[0020] The rotation shaft 10 is rotatably supported by a radial bearing 20 pressed in and
fixed to the portion of the front housing through which the rotation shaft passing
and a radial bearing 21 pressed in and fixed to a center bore 16b formed in the cylinder
block 16. The center bore 16b passes through the cylinder block 16.
The rotation shaft 10 is clamped by a thrust bearing 22 disposed between the rotor
11 and the front housing 18 and a support member 23 disposed adjacent the other end
of the rotation shaft 10. The space between the other end of the rotation shaft 10
and the support member 23 is controlled to a predetermined value by an adjust member
24 screwed in the center bore 16b to locate the rotation shaft 10 in the longitudinal
direction.
The contact part between the head of the adjust member 24 and the center bore 16b
is sealed by an O-ring 25.
[0021] Driving power is transmitted from an external power source not shown in Figure 3
to the said one end of the rotation shaft 10 through an electromagnetic clutch 26
mounted on the front housing 18.
[0022] A valve plate 27 is disposed opposite one end of the cylinder block 27. The valve
plate 27 is provided with suction holes 27a, discharge holes 27b, suction valves for
closing the suction holes 27a and discharge valves for closing the discharge holes
27b.
A rear housing 28 is disposed opposite the valve plate 27. The rear housing 28 is
provided with a suction chamber 28a communicating with the cylinder bores 16a through
the suction holes 27a and the suction valves and a discharge chamber 28b communicating
with the cylinder bores 16a through the discharge valves and the discharge holes 27b.
The suction chamber 28a connects to an evaporator of a car air conditioner through
a suction port 29 and the discharge chamber 28b connects to a condenser of the car
air conditioner through a discharge port 30. The car air conditioner, the evaporator
and the condenser are not shown in Figure 3.
The portion of the center bore 16b closer to the valve plate 27 than the adjust member
24 communicates with the discharge chamber 28 through an opening 27c formed in the
valve plate 27.
Legs 28d are disposed in the discharge chamber 28b in addition to the bulkhead 28c
for separating the discharge chamber 28b from the suction chamber 28a to clamp the
valve plate 27 in cooperation with the cylinder block 16.
[0023] The front housing 18, the cylinder block 16, the valve plate 27 and the rear housing
28 are assembled as a unitary body by through bolts 31.
The variable displacement swash plate compressor A' is provided with an air supply
passage communicating the discharge chamber 28b with the crank chamber 17 and a displacement
control valve for closing the air supply passage. The variable displacement swash
plate compressor A' is provided with an air exhaust passage communicating the crank
chamber 17 with the suction chamber 28a and a restriction disposed in the air exhaust
passage. The air supply passage, the displacement control valve, the air exhaust passage
and the restriction are not shown in Figure 3.
[0024] In the variable displacement swash plate compressor A', driving power of the external
power source not shown in Figure 3 is transmitted to the rotation shaft 10 through
the electromagnetic clutch 26 and the rotation of the rotation shaft 10 is transmitted
to the swash plate 12 through the rotor 11 and the linkage 13. Rotation of the swash
plate 12 causes reciprocal motion of the outer circumferential portion thereof in
the direction of the longitudinal axis of the rotation shaft 10. The reciprocal motion
of the outer circumferential portion of the swash plate 12 is transmitted to the pistons
15 through the shoes 14 to cause reciprocal motions of the pistons 15 in the cylinder
bores 16a. Refrigerant gas returned from the evaporator of the car air conditioner
is sucked into the cylinder bores 16a through the suction port 29, the suction chamber
28a, the suction holes 27a and the suction valves. The refrigerant gas is compressed
in the cylinder bores 16a and passes out of the compressor to the condenser of the
car air conditioner through the discharge holes 27b, the discharge valves, the discharge
chamber 28b and the discharge port 30.
The displacement control valve opens and closes the air supply passage between the
discharge chamber 28b and the crank chamber 17 to start and stop the introduction
of the discharge pressure to the crank chamber 17. Thus, the pressure in the crank
chamber 17 is controlled to control the inclination angle of the swash plate 12, thereby
variably controlling the displacement of the compressor.
[0025] When the compressed refrigerant gas discharges from the cylinder bores 16a to the
discharge chamber 28b, the refrigerant gas causes pulsation of discharge pressure.
The pulsation of the discharge pressure propagates outside the compressor through
the discharge port 30 to resonate with various members disposed close to the compressor,
thereby causing compressor noise. However, in the variable displacement swash plate
compressor A', the operation of the discharge chamber 28b as an expansion muffler
is enhanced to restrict the propagation of the pulsation of the discharge pressure
outside the compressor because the portion of the center bore 16b closer to the valve
plate 27 than the adjust member 24 communicates with the discharge chamber 28b through
the opening 27c to increase the volume of the discharge chamber 28b. As a result,
the compressor noise decreases.
In the variable displacement swash plate compressor A', the contact part between the
head of the adjust member 24 and the center bore 16b is sealed by the O·ring 25. Therefore,
the portion of the center bore 16b more distanced from the valve plate 27 than the
adjust member 24 is prevented from communicating with the portion of the center bore
16b closer to valve plate 27 than the adjust member 24 through the threaded portion
of the adjust member 24, and the crank chamber 17 does not communicate with the discharge
chamber 28b through the center bore 16b. Therefore, the displacement of the compressor
A' is reliably controlled by opening and closing the air supply passage between the
discharge chamber and the crank chamber.
[0026] When the portion of the center bore 16b closer to the valve plate 27 than the adjust
member 24 communicates with the discharge chamber 28b through the openings 27c formed
in the valve plate 27, the balance of the pressure acting on the valve plate 27 is
liable to change, the force acting on the valve plate 27 to push it in the direction
of the rear housing 28 is liable to become larger than the force acting on the valve
plate 27 to push it in the reverse direction, and the valve plate 27 is liable to
deform toward the discharge chamber 28b at the center portion. When the legs 28d provided
in the discharge chamber 28b as well as the bulkhead 28c for separating the discharge
chamber 28b from the suction chamber 28a clamp the valve plate 27 in cooperation with
the cylinder block 16, the deformation of the valve plate 27 is prevented.
[0027] It is possible to form a plurality of satellite bores like the satellite secondary
discharge chambers 16d in the first embodiment, which are located radially outside
the center bore 16b, circumferentially distanced from each other and located between
the cylinder bores 16a, in the cylinder block 16 and form openings like the openings
27d in the first embodiment in the valve plate 27 to communicate the satellite bores
to the discharge chamber 28b through the openings in the valve plate, in addition
to communicating the portion of the center bore 16b closer to the valve plate 27 than
the adjust member 24 with the discharge chamber 28b through the opening 27c formed
in the valve plate 27.
In the aforementioned case, the volume of the discharge chamber 28b further increases,
the pulsation of the discharge pressure caused by the refrigerant gas discharging
from the cylinder bores 16a to the discharge chamber 28b further decreases and the
compressor noise further decreases.
Industrial Applicability
[0028] The present invention can be widely used in reciprocal compressors such as swash
plate compressors, wobble plate compressors, etc.
Brief Explanation of Drawings
[0029]
Figure 1 is a sectional view of a reciprocal compressor in accordance with the first
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a view in the direction of arrows II-II in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional view of a reciprocal compressor in accordance with the second
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
1. A reciprocal compressor comprising a rotation shaft, a motion converter for converting
rotation to reciprocal motion, pistons driven by the rotation shaft through the motion
converter to move reciprocally, a cylinder block provided with cylinder bores in which
the pistons are inserted and a center bore in which one end of the rotation shaft
is inserted, a valve plate provided with suction holes, discharge holes, suction valves
for closing the suction holes and discharge valves for closing the discharge holes
and disposed opposite one end of the cylinder block, and a rear housing provided with
a suction chamber communicating with the cylinder bores through the suction holes
and the suction valves and a discharge chamber communicating with the cylinder bores
through the discharge valves and the discharge holes and disposed opposite the valve
plate, wherein the cylinder bores are circumferentially distanced from each other,
and the cylinder block is provided with a group of secondary discharge chambers which
are located closer to the valve plate than the center bore to communicate with the
discharge chamber through openings formed in the valve plate, and wherein the group
of secondary discharge chambers comprises a center secondary discharge chamber adjacent
the center bore, and a plurality of satellite secondary discharge chambers located
radially outside the center secondary discharge chamber, circumferentially distanced
from each other, and located between the cylinder bores, and each of the secondary
discharge chambers communicates with the discharge chamber through the opening formed
in the valve plate.
2. A reciprocal compressor comprising a rotation shaft, a motion converter for converting
rotation to reciprocal motion, pistons driven by the rotation shaft through the motion
converter to move reciprocally, a cylinder block provided with cylinder bores in which
the pistons are inserted and a center bore in which one end of the rotation shaft
is inserted, a valve plate provided with suction holes, discharge holes, suction valves
for closing the suction holes and discharge valves for closing the discharge holes
and disposed opposite one end of the cylinder block, and a rear housing provided with
a suction chamber communicating with the cylinder bores through the suction holes
and the suction valves and a discharge chamber communicating with the cylinder bores
through the discharge valves and the discharge holes and disposed opposite the valve
plate, wherein an adjust member is screwed in the center bore to locate the rotation
shaft in the longitudinal direction, the center bore communicates with the discharge
chamber at a portion closer to the valve plate than the adjust member through an opening
formed in the valve plate, and the contact part between the adjust member and the
center bore is sealed by a seal member.
3. A reciprocal compressor of claim 2, wherein the cylinder block is provided with a
plurality of satellite bores located radially outside the center bore, circumferentially
distanced from each other, and located between the cylinder bores, and each of the
satellite bores communicates with the discharge chamber through an opening formed
in the valve plate.
4. A reciprocal compressor of anyone of claims 1 to 3, wherein not only a bulkhead for
separating the discharge chamber from the suction chamber but also legs provided in
the discharge chamber clamp the valve plate in cooperation with the cylinder block.