Patent ID: 6158970
Filing Date: 2000-12-12
Classification: F04B,Y10T

Abstract:
A variable displacement compressor comprising:a drive shaft rotated about its axis;a compression mechanism for drawing in and compressing gas in accordance with the rotation of the drive shaft;a crank chamber housing part of the compression mechanism, wherein the gas flows into and out of the crank chamber to vary the displacement in accordance with the pressure of the gas in the crank chamber;a suction pressure region, which is exposed to the pressure of gas drawn into the compressor by the compression mechanism;a discharge pressure region, which is exposed to the pressure of gas compressed by the compression mechanism;a communication passageway including at least a first passage or a second passage, wherein the first passage connects the discharge pressure region to the crank chamber, the first passage increasing the pressure of the crank chamber by permitting the flow of the gas from the discharge pressure region to the crank chamber, and wherein the second passage connects the crank chamber to the suction pressure region, the second passage decreasing the pressure of the crank chamber by permitting the flow of the gas from the crank chamber to the suction pressure region; anda valve arranged in either the first passage or the second passage, wherein the valve adjusts the opened area of the first or second passage to increase the pressure of the crank chamber when the rotating speed of the drive shaft exceeds a predetermined value, and wherein the valve includes:a valve body for selectively opening and closing the first or second passage; andorbiting elements following the rotation of the drive shaft to orbit about the drive shaft and act on the valve body to selectively open and close the first or second passage, the orbiting elements maintaining substantially equal angular intervals between one another when orbiting about the drive shaft, each orbiting element having an orbiting radius defined by the path of the orbiting elements about the axis of the drive shaft, the orbiting elements moving radially to change the orbiting radius in accordance with the rotating speed of the drive shaft.