Patent Publication Number: US-6902379-B2

Title: Displacement control valve of variable displacement compressor, compressors including such valves, and methods for manufacturing such compressors

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a displacement control valve of a variable displacement compressor, which is suitable for use in an automobile air conditioning system and the like, and more specifically, to an improved mechanism of the displacement control valve which maintains a smooth operation. Moreover, the invention relates to compressors comprising such control valves. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Variable displacement compressors provided in a refrigerant circuits for automobile air conditioning systems, for example, the variable displacement compressor disclosed in Japanese Patent No. JP-A-2000-18172 are known. As depicted in  FIG. 3 , this variable displacement compressor  50  has a cylinder block  51  with a plurality of cylinder bores  51   a , a front housing  52  provided on one end of cylinder block  51 , and a rear housing  53  provided on the other end of cylinder block  51  via a valve plate  54 . A drive shaft  56  is provided across a crank chamber  55  which is formed by cylinder block  51  and front housing  52 . An inclined plate  57  is disposed around drive shaft  56 . A rotor  58  is fixed on drive shaft  56 , and inclined plate  57  is connected to rotor  58  via a joint portion  59 . 
   One end of drive shaft  56  extends up to the outside of front housing  52  through the interior of a boss portion  52   a  which protrude from front housing  52 . An electromagnetic clutch  70  is provided around boss portion  52   a  via a bearing  60 . Electromagnetic clutch  70  comprises a rotor  71  provided around boss portion  52   a , an electromagnet  72  contained in rotor  71 , and a clutch plate  73  provided on an end surface of rotor  71 . Clutch plate  73  is connected to one end of drive shaft  56  via a fastener  74 , such as a bolt. A seal member  52   b  is interposed between drive shaft  56  and boss portion  52   a , and the inside and the outside of the compressor are sealed from each other. The other end of drive shaft  56  is present in cylinder block  51 , and the other end is supported by a supporting member  78 . Bearings  75  and  77  are provided around drive shaft  56 , and a bearing  76  is provided on an end surface of rotor  58 . 
   A piston  62  is inserted slidably into each cylinder bore  51   a . The radially outer portion of inclined plate  57  is received in a concave portion  62   a  which is formed on the inner end portion of piston  62 . The radially outer portion of inclined plate  57  slidably engages a pair of shoes  63 , so that the rotational movement of inclined plate  57  is transformed into the reciprocating movement of piston  62 . 
   A suction chamber  65  and a discharge chamber  64  are defined in rear housing  53  separately from each other. Suction chamber  65  communicates with cylinder bore  51   a  via a suction port  81 , which is provided on valve plate  54 , and via a suction valve (not shown). Discharge chamber  64  can communicate with cylinder bore  51   a  via a discharge port  82 , which is provided on valve plate  54 , and via a discharge valve (not shown). Suction chamber  65  communicates with crank chamber  55  via an orifice  83 , which is opened on valve plate  54 , and via a refrigerant chamber  84 , which is formed at a position on the end surface of drive shaft  56 . 
   A displacement control valve  10  is provided in a concave portion which is formed on the rear wall of rear housing  53  of this variable displacement compressor  50 . As depicted in  FIG. 4 , displacement control valve  10  is provided in a control mechanism equity  53   a  which is formed within the end portion of rear housing  53 . Displacement control valve  10  has a valve casing  1  with a valve casing body  1   a  and a cap  1   b  provided on the end of the valve casing body  1   a . A bellows  2  is disposed as a pressure sensing means in a pressure sensing chamber formed at an end portion in valve casing  1 . Bellows  2  comprises a bellows body  2   b , shaft members  2   d  which project from the respective inner ends of bellows body  2   b  and the tips of which are disposed separately from each other, an inner spring  2   a  disposed around shaft members  2   d  in bellows body  2   b , and a support member  2   c  provided on and contiguous with the end of bellows body  2   b . The inside of bellows body  2   b  is set substantially in a vacuum condition. A spring  3  is disposed around support member  2   c  to urge bellows body  2   b  toward an end surface of cap  1   b  via shaft members  2   d . Bellows  2  functions as a pressure sensing means for detecting a pressure in suction chamber  65  (hereinafter, “a suction pressure”). 
   A rod passage  1   c  is provided in valve casing body  1   a  and extends through valve casing body  1   a  in the axial direction of displacement control valve  10 . A pressure sensitive rod  4  is inserted into rod passage  1   c  within valve casing body  1   a  and supported by valve casing body  1   a . One end of pressure sensitive rod  4  contacts the upper end of support member  2   c  of bellows  2 , and the other end of pressure sensitive rod  4  contacts a valve body  5   a  which is formed as a large-diameter part on one end of a valve mechanism  5 . Because bellows  2  is a pressure sensing means, and because pressure sensitive rod  4  is connected operatively to bellows  2 , valve body  5   a  opens or closes communication paths  66 ,  1   g ,  1   d ,  1   e , and  68  between discharge chamber  64  and crank chamber  55  in accordance with the expansion or contraction of bellows  2 . A fixed core  7  with a rod guide passage  7   a  is disposed around valve mechanism  5 . The lower end of core  7  contacts the upper end of valve casing body  1   a . Core  7  slidably supports a valve shaft  5   b  of valve body  5   a  (hereinafter, “a solenoid rod”). Valve casing body  1   a  and a first end of fixed core  7  form a valve chamber  6 . Specifically, one end portion of valve mechanism  5  is received in valve chamber  6 . 
   Valve chamber  6  communicates with discharge chamber  64  via communication path  68 , chamber  14 , and communication path  1   e . A plunger  9  is provided on a second end of fixed core  7 . A tube  8  covers plunger  9  and a part of fixed core  7 . A plunger chamber  11  is defined by fixed core  7  and tube  8 . A communication path  13  communicates between plunger chamber  11  and suction chamber  65  via communication path  67 , orifices  1   f , and pressure sensing space  15 . A solenoid  12  formed by an electromagnetic coil is disposed around tube  8 . Solenoid  12  creates a magnetic field for applying an electromagnetic force on a gap between plunger  9  and fixed core  7  and applying the electromagnetic force to valve body  5   a  via solenoid rod  5   b.    
   In such a displacement control valve  10 , the displacement is changed by adjusting the opening degree of the control path which connects the discharge chamber and the crank chamber. 
   In the above-described mechanism of displacement control valve  10 , the gaps between rods  4  and  5   b  slidably inserted and rod passages  1   c  and  7   a , respectively, are designed with close clearances to suppress refrigerant leakage. However, a shift may occur between the axes of rods  4  and  5   b  and the axes of rod passages  1   c  and  7   a  by a finishing error or an assembly error. In particular, as depicted in  FIG. 5 , in a case in which there is a shift in angle between the axes, the orientation of gaps between rods  4  and  5   b  and rod passages  1   c  and  7   a  are offset from each other by 180 degrees between the entrance portions and the exit portions of rod passages  1   c  and  7   a . In other words, the orientation having a maximum gap at the entrance portion becomes a orientation having a minimum gap at the exit portion. On the other hand, because rod passages  1   c  and  7   a  are provided in respective partition walls, both end parts partitioned by each partition wall experience a pressure difference, and a portion of refrigerant flows into the above-described clearance from the increased pressure side to the reduced pressure side. At that time, fine foreign materials contained in the refrigerant may enter into this clearance. If there is a shift between axes, the foreign materials having entered from the maximum gap direction into the clearance may not be discharged from the gap between the rod and the rod passage, depending on the size of the foreign materials. Further, the foreign materials may damage the movement of the rod by wedging within the clearance(s), and it may degrade operation of the control valve and may cause poor control on compressor displacement. 
   Such a situation may be better understood with reference to FIG.  5 . With respect to solenoid rod  5   b , a discharge pressure is operating in space  6 , and on the other hand, a suction pressure is operating in plunger chamber  11  because chamber  11  communicates with suction chamber  65 . Therefore, refrigerant flows from space  6  to plunger chamber  11  through the gap between solenoid rod  5   b  and rod passage  7   a , and at that time, fine foreign materials may enter into the gap. As depicted in  FIG. 5 , in a case where the axis of solenoid rod  5   b  inclines relative to the axis of rod passage  7   a , foreign materials having entered from the larger gap may be brought into a deep portion by the refrigerant flow. When solenoid rod  5   b  is inclined, the gap may decrease in size gradually, and at last, the foreign materials having entered may be pressed between solenoid rod  5   b  and rod passage  7   a , thereby damaging the movement of solenoid rod  5   b . In addition, with respect to the pressure sensitive rod  4  side, because a pressure in the crank chamber and a suction pressure operate on the upper and lower sides thereof, foreign materials may be drawn into the gap by the pressure difference. Consequently, foreign materials having a certain size may not be discharged and may be pressed within rod passage  1   c , thereby damaging the movement of pressure sensitive rod  4 . 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, a need has arisen to provide an improved structure for a displacement control valve of a variable displacement compressor and compressors comprising such valves, which is not subjected to a wedge created by the pressing of foreign materials into the components even if foreign materials enter into a gap between a rod and a rod guide passage, and further which may easily discharge the entered foreign materials from the gap, thereby maintaining a stable operation. 
   To satisfy the foregoing need and other needs, a displacement control valve of a variable displacement compressor according to the present invention is provided. In an embodiment of a displacement control valve for use in a variable displacement compressor, the displacement of the compressor is varied by closing or opening a control path between a discharge chamber or a suction chamber and a crank chamber. The valve comprises a valve body for closing or opening the control path; a control rod; and a rod passage receiving the control rod. A first end of the control rod is affixed to the valve body, and the control rod extends from the valve body to means for urging the valve body to close or open the control path. The control rod is tapered, such that a first cross-sectional area of the control rod proximate to the valve body is greater than a second cross-sectional area of the control rod proximate to the means for urging the valve body to close or open the control path. 
   In another embodiment, this invention is a variable displacement compressor comprises a displacement control valve, wherein the displacement of the compressor is varied by closing or opening a control path between a discharge chamber or a suction chamber and a crank chamber. The valve comprises a valve body for closing or opening the control path; a control rod; and a rod passage receiving the control rod. A first end of the control rod is affixed to the valve body, and the control rod extends from the valve body to means for urging the valve body to close or open the control path. The control rod is tapered, such that a first cross-sectional area of the control rod proximate to the valve body is greater than a second cross-sectional area of the control rod proximate to the means for urging the valve body to close or open the control path. 
   In still another embodiment, the invention is a displacement control valve for use in a variable displacement compressor, wherein the displacement of the compressor is varied by closing or opening a control path between a discharge chamber or a suction chamber and a crank chamber. The valve comprises a valve body for closing or opening the control path; a control rod; and a rod passage receiving the control rod. A first end of the control rod is affixed to the valve body, and the control rod extends from the valve body to means for urging the valve body to close or open the control path. The rod is tapered, such that a gap formed between the rod and the rod passage increases in size proximate to the means for urging the valve body. 
   In yet another embodiment, the invention is a variable displacement compressor comprising a displacement control valve, wherein the displacement of the compressor is varied by closing or opening a control path between a discharge chamber or a suction chamber and a crank chamber. The valve comprises a valve body for closing or opening the control path; a control rod; and a rod passage receiving the control rod. A first end of the control rod is affixed to the valve body, and the control rod extends from the valve body to means for urging the valve body to close or open the control path. The rod again is tapered, such that a gap formed between the rod and the rod passage increases in size proximate to the means for urging the valve body. 
   In still yet another embodiment, the invention is a displacement control valve for use in a variable displacement compressor, wherein the displacement of the compressor is varied by closing or opening a control path between a discharge chamber or a suction chamber and a crank chamber. The valve comprises a valve body for closing or opening the control path; a control rod; and a rod passage receiving the control rod. A first end of the control rod is affixed to the valve body, and the control rod extends from the valve body to means for urging the valve body to close or open the control path. A spiral groove is formed about, within, and over at least a portion of a peripheral surface of at least one of the rod and of the rod passage. 
   In a further embodiment, the invention is a variable displacement compressor comprising a displacement control valve, wherein the displacement of the compressor is varied by closing or opening a control path between a discharge chamber or a suction chamber and a crank chamber. The valve comprises a valve body for closing or opening the control path; a control rod; and a rod passage receiving the control rod. A first end of the control rod is affixed to the valve body, and the control rod extends from the valve body to means for urging the valve body to close or open the control path. A spiral groove is formed about, within, and over at least a portion of a peripheral surface of at least one of the rod and of the rod passage. 
   In still a further embodiment, the invention is a variable displacement compressor comprising a displacement control valve, wherein the displacement of the compressor is varied by closing or opening a control path between a discharge chamber or a suction chamber and a crank chamber. The valve comprises a valve body for closing or opening the control path; a control rod; and a rod passage receiving the control rod. A first end of the control rod is affixed to the valve body, and the control rod extends from the valve body to means for urging the valve body to close or open the control path. A spiral groove is formed about, within, and over at least a portion of a peripheral surface of the rod. 
   In still an further embodiment, the invention is a method for manufacturing a variable displacement compressor. This method comprises the steps of providing a displacement control valve, wherein the valve comprises a valve body for closing or opening a control path, a control rod, a rod passage receiving the control rod, wherein a first end of the control rod is affixed to the valve body and the control rod extends from the valve body to means for urging the valve body to close or open the control path; and tapering the control rod, such that a first cross-sectional area of the control rod proximate to the valve body is greater than a second cross-sectional area of the control rod proximate to the means for urging the valve body to close or open the control path. 
   In yet a further embodiment, the invention is a method for manufacturing a variable displacement compressor. This method comprises the steps of providing a displacement control valve, wherein the valve comprises a valve body for closing or opening a control path, a control rod, a rod passage receiving the control rod, wherein a first end of the control rod is affixed to the valve body and the control rod extends from the valve body to means for urging the valve body to close or open the control path; and tapering the control rod, such that a gap formed between the rod and the rod passage increases in size proximate to the means for urging the valve body. 
   In still yet a further embodiment, the invention is a method for manufacturing a variable displacement compressor. The method comprises the steps of providing a displacement control valve, wherein the valve comprises a valve body for closing or opening a control path, a control rod, a rod passage receiving the control rod, wherein a first end of the control rod is affixed to the valve body and the control rod extends from the valve body to means for urging the valve body to close or open the control path; and forming a spiral groove is formed about, within, and over at least a portion of a peripheral surface of at least one of the rod and of the rod passage. 
   In the displacement control valves described above, the gap between an outer peripheral surface of the rod and an inner circumferential surface of the rod passage is formed, so that the gap becomes larger in a low-pressure side or crank case chamber-side than in a high-pressure side over at least a portion of the rod in a radial direction. As the refrigerant flows from the high-pressure side toward the low-pressure side, even if there is a shift between the axis of the rod (e.g., the radial direction) to the axis of the rod passage due to an error in the finishing of valve parts or an error in the assembly of the valve parts, the gap between the rod and the rod passage does not decrease. Moreover, foreign materials, which may enter into this gap, may be easily discharged from the gap. Alternatively, even in a case in which such foreign materials are not discharged, the rod does not become wedged into the rod passage, and the movement of the rod may not be damaged. Therefore, smooth operation of the rod within the rod passage may be stably maintained. 
   Further, in compressors or valves in which a spiral groove extends within and over at least a portion of an outer peripheral surface of the rod or of an inner circumferential surface of the rod passage, or both, in a substantially radial direction, the path of fine foreign materials entering from the high-pressure side into the low-pressure side inevitably crosses the spiral groove. Thus, the foreign materials accompanying the refrigerant flow may be captured within the spiral groove. Fine foreign materials captured within the spiral groove may be readily discharged by the refrigerant flowing in the spiral groove in the direction of the spiral groove. Alternatively, even in the situation in which foreign materials are not discharged, this configuration avoids the wedging of the rod within the rod passage, and the movement of the rod may not be damaged. Therefore, smooth operation of the rod within the rod passage may be stably maintained. 
   Thus, in the present invention, the displacement control valve may operate without being damaged by foreign materials, and stable operation of the displacement control valve may be maintained. Therefore, improper operation of the displacement control valve, due to the presence of foreign materials in the compressor or in a system using the compressor or due to foreign materials generated during driving, may be avoided or reduced, and displacement control may be stably achieved. 
   Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying figures. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Embodiments of the invention now are described with reference to the accompanying figures, which are given by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the present invention. 
       FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a displacement control valve of a variable displacement compressor according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a displacement control valve of a variable displacement compressor according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a known variable displacement compressor. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a displacement control valve of the variable displacement compressor depicted in FIG.  3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the displacement control valve depicted in  FIG. 4 , showing a problem therein. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   In the present invention, because portions of a variable displacement compressor, other than the displacement control valve, are substantially the same as those depicted in  FIG. 3 , only the displacement control valve is described in detail.  FIG. 1  depicts a displacement control valve of a variable displacement compressor according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, as compared with the structure depicted in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the structures of a solenoid rod  105   b  and a pressure sensitive rod  104  of a displacement control valve  100  are different. Because the structures of other portions are substantially the same as those depicted in  FIGS. 4 and 5  and described previously, explanation for those other portions is omitted here and similar elements are assigned like numbers. 
   In  FIG. 1 , solenoid rod  105   b , which is inserted into rod passage  7   a  of fixed core  7  is formed to include a plurality of tapered portions. This configuration may be especially effective when the rod is relatively long. The diameter of each portion becomes gradually smaller from a high-pressure side (e.g., the side of chamber  6 ) toward a low-pressure side (e.g., the side of plunger chamber  11 ) in the radial direction of solenoid rod  105   b . In each of the tapered portions, a gap between the outer peripheral surface of solenoid rod  105   b  and the inner circumferential surface of rod passage  7   a  is formed, so that the size of the gap increases toward the low-pressure side, rather than in the high-pressure side, over at least a portion of solenoid rod  105   b  in its radial direction. 
   Similarly, pressure sensitive rod  104  is a tapered form so as to gradually decrease in its diameter from a high-pressure side (e.g., a crank chamber pressure side) toward a low-pressure side (e.g., the side of pressure sensing chamber  15 ) in the radial direction of pressure sensitive rod  104 . A gap between the outer peripheral surface of pressure sensitive rod  104  and the inner circumferential surface of rod passage  1   c  is formed, so that the gap may increase in size in the direction of the low-pressure side, rather than the high-pressure side, in the radial direction of the rod. The difference between the larger diameter side and the smaller diameter side of each of rods  105   b  and  104  may be set, for example, in a range of about several microns to several tens of microns. 
   Thus, because the gap toward the low-pressure side is set larger than the gap of the high-pressure side, even in a situation in which the axis of rod  105   b  or  104  is shifted relative to the axis of rod passage  7   a  or  1   c , respectively, the gap is prevented or limited from becoming smaller from the high-pressure side toward the low-pressure side, and foreign materials having entered into the gap may be readily discharged from the gap with the refrigerant flow. Further, even if the foreign materials are not discharged, the rod does not become wedged in the rod passage when the foreign materials are moved from the high-pressure side toward the low-pressure side, and the foreign materials do not damage the movement of the rod by being nipped on the way. Therefore, smooth operations of solenoid rod  105   b  and pressure sensitive rod  104  may be stably maintained. 
   The gap forming structure in solenoid rod  105   b  may be formed as a single rod similar to that described for pressure sensitive rod  104 . Further, the gap forming structure in pressure sensitive rod  104  may be formed as a plurality of rods, similar to that in solenoid rod  105   b . Further, the diameter of rod  105   b  or  104  may change in order to define a desirable gap. Nevertheless, in the above-described embodiment, instead of this structure, the inner diameter of rod passage  7   a  or  1   c  may be changed to obtain substantially the same advantage. Thus, both the diameter of the rod and the inner diameter of the rod passage may be changed. 
     FIG. 2  depicts a displacement control valve of a variable displacement compressor according to another embodiment of the present invention. Again, as compared with the structure depicted in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the structures of a solenoid rod  205   b  and a pressure sensitive rod  204  of a displacement control valve  200  are different from those discussed above and are described herein in detail. Because the structures of other portions are substantially the same as those depicted in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , explanation for the other portions is omitted here and the same labels as those in  FIGS. 4 and 5  are given to corresponding elements. 
   In  FIG. 2 , a spiral groove  205   c  extends in the radial direction of solenoid rod  205   b  is provided on the outer peripheral surface of solenoid rod  205   b  inserted into rod passage  7   a  of fixed core  7 . Further, a spiral groove  204   c  extending along the radial direction of pressure sensitive rod  204  is provided on the outer peripheral surface of pressure sensitive rod  204  inserted into rod passage  1   c . These spiral grooves may be provided on the inner circumferential surfaces of rod passage  7   a  and  1   c , and may be provided on both the outer peripheral surfaces of solenoid rod  205   b  and those of pressure sensitive rod  204  and the inner circumferential surfaces of rod passages  7   a  and  1   c . Further, a plurality of spiral grooves may be provided substantially in parallel to each other. 
   By providing such a spiral groove, fine foreign materials which may enter into the gap from the high-pressure side may be captured in the spiral groove at an appropriate position, and the foreign materials may be discharged accompanying with the refrigerant flowing in and along the spiral groove. Even if the foreign materials are not discharged, the rod may not wedge within the passage, and therefore, smooth operations of solenoid rod  205   b  and pressure sensitive rod  204  may be stably maintained. 
   Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail herein, the scope of the invention is not limited thereto. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed herein are only exemplary. It is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not to be limited thereby, but is to be determined by the claims which follow.