Patent ID: 6045337
Filing Date: 2000-04-04
Classification: F04B

Abstract:
A clutchless variable capacity swash plate compressor comprising:a housing, said housing including a suction port via which a suction refrigerant gas is drawn from an evaporator, a suction chamber, a refrigerant inlet passage communicating between said suction port and said suction chamber, at least one compression chamber for drawing said suction refrigerant from said suction chamber and compressing said suction refrigerant gas into a high-pressure refrigerant gas, a discharge chamber into which said high-pressure refrigerant is delivered from said at least one compression chamber, and a crankcase;a piston within each said at least one compression chamber for changing a volume of each of said at least one compression chamber;a swash plate accommodated within said crankcase, for transmitting a driving force to said at least one piston;a valve element arranged at an intermediate portion of said refrigerant inlet passage, for increasing or decreasing an opening area of said intermediate portion of said refrigerant inlet passage;an urging member urging said valve element in a direction of a large valve opening position in which said opening area of said intermediate portion is large;an accumulator for accumulating said high-pressure refrigerant gas therein to build up pressure for urging said valve element in a direction of a small valve opening position in which said opening area of said intermediate portion is small;a high-pressure passage for permitting said high-pressure refrigerant gas to flow from said discharge chamber into said accumulator;a pilot valve arranged at an intermediate portion of said high-pressure passage, for closing said high-pressure passage to inhibit supply of said high-pressure refrigerant gas to said accumulator to thereby bring said valve element to said large valve opening position, when suction pressure of said suction refrigerant gas is high, and opening said high-pressure passage to permit supply of said high-pressure refrigerant gas to said accumulator to thereby bring said valve element to said small valve opening position, when said suction pressure of said suction refrigerant gas is low; anda selector valve that operates to select a first valve position for establishing communication between said suction port and said crankcase when said valve element is in said large valve opening position, and a second valve position for establishing communication between said suction chamber and said accumulator when said valve element is in said small valve opening position.