Patent Publication Number: US-2018030971-A1

Title: Variable-capacity swashplate-type compressor

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a variable-capacity swash plate-type compressor having an improved connection structure of a lug plate and a swash plate. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In general, an air conditioning device used in an automobile is a device that keeps the temperature of an automobile indoor lower than the temperature of an outside using a refrigerant, and includes a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator so as to configure a circulation cycle of the refrigerant. 
     Such a compressor is a device that compresses and transports the refrigerant and is driven by power of an engine or a motor. 
     A swash plate-type compressor can be classified into a variable-capacity swash plate-type compressor in which a disc-shaped swash plate has a varying inclination angle according to rotation of a driving shaft to which power of the engine is supplied, and a fixed swash plate-type compressor in which the disc-shaped swash plate is fixedly installed on the driving shaft to which power of the engine is supplied. 
     In the variable-capacity swash plate-type compressor, the inclination angle of the swash plate varies consecutively according to a variation of thermal load, and the transportation amount of a piston is controlled so that a flow can be precisely controlled, and a change in rapid torque of the engine caused by the compressor is prevented so that riding comfort of the automobile can be improved. 
     Regarding a connection structure of a lug plate and the swash plate of a variable-capacity swash plate-type compressor according to the related art, protrusions that protrude toward the swash plate are formed on the lug plate, and arms having a moving roller that rolls and moves in contact with the protrusions, are formed in the swash plate. The lug plate and the swash plate are connected to each other due to surface contact between the protrusions and the arms. 
     In this case, inclination movement in which the inclination angle of the swash plate varies with respect to the lug plate, and transfer of a rotational force for transferring a rotational force of the lug plate to the arms of the swash plate are performed simultaneously on both sides of one side and the other side of the protrusions. Thus, inclination movement and rotation are not smoothly performed, and load is concentrated on the protrusions of the lug plate so that durability is lowered and damage easily occurs due to cracks caused by lowered durability. 
     Meanwhile, the prior art that is the background of the present invention is disclosed in Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1193399. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     The present invention provides a variable-capacity swash plate-type compressor having an improved connection structure of a lug plate and a swash plate so as to disperse rotational torque, compressive load, and torsional moment, which are applied to the swash plate and the lug plate. 
     Technical Solution 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a variable-capacity swash plate-type compressor including: a lug plate coupled to a swash plate so as to be fixed to a driving shaft; and the swash plate coupled to the lug plate and having a varying inclination angle while making a rotational motion, wherein the swash plate may include a body, and first and second arms that protrude from the body toward the lug plate and are spaced apart from each other, and the lug plate may include a plate, a center lug arm that protrudes from the plate to be inserted between the first and second arms and is coupled to the body of the swash plate, and left and right lug arms that protrude from the plate to be spaced apart from each other and support both sides of each of the first and second arms. 
     At least one part of spaces C 2  and C 3  between the first and second arms of the swash plate and one side of the center lug arm and spaces C 1  and C 4  between the first and second arms and the left and right lug arms may be spaced apart from each other so that a clearance is formed. 
     When the driving shaft rotates, at least one of the left lug arm, the right lug arm, the center lug arm, and the first and second arms may be twisted so that at least a part of two facing surfaces in a state in which the clearance is disposed between the two facing faces, is in contact with each other. 
     Each of the first and second arms and the left and right lug arms may be spaced apart from each other, thereby forming left and right clearances, and both sides of each of the first and second arms and the center lug arm may be spaced apart from each other, thereby forming a center clearance. 
     Surfaces placed in one among spaces between the first and second arms and the left and right lug arms and spaces between the left and right lug arms and the center lug arm may be in contact with each other, thereby forming a torque transfer surface that transfers power for rotating the swash plate. 
     When a torque transfer surface is formed in a position of a space C 3  between the second arm and one side of the center lug arm, the center clearance C 2  may have a greater gap than that of the left clearance C 1  (C 1 &lt;C 2 ). 
     When a torque transfer surface is formed in a position of a space C 1  between the first arm and the left lug arm, the one-side center clearance C 3  may have a greater gap than that of the other-side center clearance C 2  (C 2 &lt;C 3 ). 
     A through hole through which the center lug arm of the lug plate passes, may be formed in the swash plate, and surface contact portions may be formed on both sides of the through hole and may face both sides of the center lug arm. 
     Effect of the Invention 
     In a variable-capacity swash plate-type compressor according to at least one of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a pair of arms of a swash plate, and a center lug arm and left and right lug arms of a lug plate are arranged by engaging with each other, so as to disperse torsional moment and support the lug plate when the lug plate rotates, thereby reducing the load applied to the respective arms. Therefore, controllability and durability of the swash plate can be improved. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a variable-capacity swash plate-type compressor according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 2 and 3  are views of the usage state of movement of the swash plate in the variable-capacity swash plate-type compressor illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of a lug plate of the variable-capacity swash plate-type compressor illustrated in  FIG. 1  and a side view thereof. 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the swash plate of the variable-capacity swash plate-type compressor illustrated in  FIG. 1  and a side view thereof. 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the lug plate and the swash plate of the variable-capacity swash plate-type compressor illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a top plan view of a variable-capacity swash plate-type compressor according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE 
     According to the present invention, at least one of spaces C 2  and C 3  between first and second arms of a swash plate and sides of a center lug arm of a lug plate and spaces C 1  and C 4  between the first and second arms and left and right lug arms of the lug plate are spaced apart from each other so that a clearance can be formed, and surfaces placed in one of spaces between the first and second arms and the left and right lug arms and spaces between the left and right lug arms and the center lug arm are in contact with each other, thereby forming a torque transfer surface that transfers power for rotating the swash plate so that a connection structure of the lug plate and the swash plate is improved and rotational torque, compressive load and torsional moment, which are applied to the swash plate and the lug plate, can be dispersed. 
     Modes of the Invention 
     Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Before describing this, the terms or words used in the present specification and the claims should not be interpreted to be limited in a general or dictionary sense but should be interpreted in a meaning and concept that comply with the technical concept of the present invention based on a principle that the inventor can define the concept of the terms properly so as to describe his/her own invention in a best manner. 
     Therefore, embodiments described in the present specification and configuration shown in the drawings are just exemplary embodiments of the invention and do not represent the technical concept of the present invention, and it should be understood that there may be various modifications that may replace the embodiments of the present specification and the drawings at the time of filing the present application. 
       FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a variable-capacity swash plate-type compressor according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to the drawing, the variable-capacity swash plate-type compressor according to the present invention includes a driving shaft  20 , a lug plate  100  coupled to a swash plate  200  so as to be fixed to the driving shaft  20 , and the swash plate  200  coupled to the lug plate  100  and having a varying inclination angle while making a rotational motion. 
     The driving shaft  20  has a straight rod shape and is fixedly coupled to the lug plate  100 . Thus, as the driving shaft  20  rotates, the lug plate  100  is simultaneously rotated so that the driving shaft  20  transfers power for rotating the lug plate  100 . 
     The lug plate  100  is coupled to the swash plate  200  to be fixed to the driving shaft  20  so as to be rotated together when the driving shaft  20  rotates. The lug plate  100  includes a plate  110 , a center lug arm  120 , and left and right lug arms  131  and  132 . 
     Also, the plate  110  forms a body of the lug plate  100  and has an approximately circular shape, and the center lug arm  120  and the left and right lug arms  131  and  132  are formed at one side of the plate. 
     The center lug arm  120  protrudes from the plate  110  to be inserted between a pair of arms  211  and  212  that protrude from the swash plate  200  and is coupled to a body  210  of the swash plate  200 . The center lug arm  120  passes through the body  210  of the swash plate  200  and transfers rotational moment for rotating the swash plate  200 . 
     The center lug arm  120  is disposed in the center of the left and right lug arms  131  and  132 , and the left and right lug arms  131  and  132  protrude from the plate  110  to be spaced apart from each other. At least a part of the first and second arms  211  and  212  that form a pair protruding from the swash plate  200  are supported on both sides of each of the left and right lug arms  131  and  132 . 
     The swash plate  200  includes the body  210 , and the pair of arms  211  and  212  that protrude from the body  210  toward the lug plate  100  to be spaced apart from each other. 
     The first and second arms  211  and  212  that forms a pair are in contact with the left and right lug arms  131  and  132  and the center lug arm  120  so as to disperse rotational moment transferred to the swash plate  200  while the lug plate  100  rotates. Thus, problems of lowered durability or cracks due to load concentrated on one place (in particular, an end of the center lug arm  120 ) can be overcome. 
     In this case, a clearance  300  may be formed with a predetermined gap in a space between the first and second arms  211  and  212  that forms a pair, the left and right lug arms  131  and  132 , and both sides that are one side and the other side of the center lug arm  120 . 
     The clearance  300  may be formed with the predetermined gap when at least one part of spaces C 2  and C 3  between the first and second arms  211  and  212  that forms a pair of the swash plate  200  and both sides  120   a  and  120   b  of the center lug arm  120  and spaces C 1  and C 4  between the first and second arms  211  and  212  of the swash plate  200  and the left and right lug arms  131  and  132  are spaced apart from each other. 
     In this case, at least one part of the spaces C 2  and C 3  between the first and second arms  211  and  212  and both sides  120   a  and  120   b  of the center lug arm  120  and the spaces C 1  and C 4  between the first and second arms  211  and  212  and the left and right lug arms  131  and  132  may be in contact with each other, thereby forming a torque transfer surface  400  for rotational moment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , when the torque transfer surface  400  is formed in a position of the space C 3  between the second arm  212  and the other side  120   b  of the center lug arm  120 , the spaces C 1  and C 4  between the first and second arms  211  and  212  and the left and right lug arms  131  and  132  are spaced apart from each other, thereby forming left and right clearances  310  and  320 , and the space C 2  between the first and second arms  211  and  212  and the one side of the center lug arm  120  are spaced apart from each other, thereby forming a center clearance  330 . 
     In this case, the center clearance  330  in the space C 2  between the first and second arms  211  and  212  and the one side of the center lug arm  120  may have a greater gap than that of the left clearance  310  in the space C 1  between the first arm  211  and the left lug arm  131  (C 1 &lt;C 2 ). 
     Hereinafter, driving of the respective lug arms  120 ,  131 , and  132  and a pair of arms  211  and  212  when the driving shaft  20  rotates will be described. 
     When the driving shaft  20  rotates, at least one of the left lug arm  131 , the right lug arm  132 , the center lug arm  120 , and the pair of arms  211  and  212  is twisted. Subsequently, at least a part of two facing surfaces in a state in which the clearance  300  is formed between the two facing surfaces, is in contact with each other due to torsion. In detail, one of the left lug arm  131  and the first arm  211  may be twisted and in contact with each other, or one of the first arm  211  and the center lug arm  120  may be twisted and in contact with each other. Also, one of the second arm  212  and the right lug arm  132  may be twisted and in contact with each other. 
     In this case, the left and right clearances  310  and  320  may have a smaller gap than that of the center clearance  330  so that, when the driving shaft  20  rotates, the pair of arms  211  and  212  are twisted, the twisted pair of arms  211  and  212  are firstly in contact with the left and right lug arms  131  and  132  and then are in contact with the center lug arm  120 . This is because a rotational force is concentrated on the center lug arm  120  and thus the left lug arm  131  and the first arm  211  are firstly in contact with each other and the rotational force and torsional moment can be dispersed. 
     Sides of one of the pair of arms  211  and  212  are in contact with the center lug arm  120  so that the torque transfer surface  400  that transfers power for rotating the swash plate  200  can be formed. 
     Referring to the drawing, the center lug arm  120  directly presses the second arm  212  via the torque transfer surface  400  so that the rotational force for rotating the swash plate  200  can be transferred in a wide range. In other words, the rotational force is transferred via the torque transfer surface  400  for rotational moment as well as a surface that the center lug arm passes through the body  210  and then directly contacts, so that load can be prevented from being concentrated. 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  are views of the usage state of movement of the swash plate  200  in the variable-capacity swash plate-type compressor illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     Referring to the drawings, the swash plate  200  is formed to be rotated relative to the lug plate  100 . A pair of arms (see  211  and  212  of  FIG. 1 ) of the swash plate  200  are in contact with an inclination surface (see  112  of  FIG. 3 ) formed on the lug plate  100  and slide thereon so that the inclination angle of the swash plate  200  may vary. Also, a spring is provide on a rear surface of the swash plate  200  and presses the swash plate  200  toward the lug plate  100  so that the swash plate  200  and the lug plate  100  cannot be separated from each other. 
     Meanwhile, a through hole (see  230  of  FIG. 5 ) is formed in the center of the body  210  of the swash plate  200  so that the driving shaft (see  20  of  FIG. 1 ) is not caught on the swash plate  200  according to rotation. 
       FIG. 4  is a view of the lug plate  100  of the variable-capacity swash plate-type compressor illustrated in  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 5  is a view of the swash plate  200  of the variable-capacity swash plate-type compressor illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     First, referring to  FIG. 4 , (a) of  FIG. 4  is a top view of the lug plate  100 , and (b) of  FIG. 4  is a side view of the lug plate  100 . 
     In this case, the left and right lug arms  131  and  132  and the center lug arm  120  are formed on the lug plate  100 , and the inclination surface  112  is formed between the left and right lug arms  131  and  132  and the center lug arm  120 , and the inclination surface  112  may be in contact with fore-ends of the pair of arms  211  and  212  of the swash plate  200 , and compressive load may be applied to the inclination surface  112 . 
     The center lug arm  120  protrudes from the plate  110  to be longer than the left and right lug arms  131  and  132 . This is because the fore-ends of the center lug arm  120  pass through the swash plate  200  and transfer rotational force to the swash plate  200 . 
     Ends  110   a  of the inclination surface  112  may be formed to be compressed and supported in such a way that the pair of arms  211  and  212  of the swash plate  200  do not ascend any longer. 
       FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the swash plate of the variable-capacity swash plate-type compressor illustrated in  FIG. 1  and a side view thereof. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , (a) of  FIG. 5  is a top view of the swash plate  200 , and (b) of  FIG. 5  is a side view of the swash plate  200 . 
     A through hole  230  through which the center lug arm  120  of the lug plate  100  passes, is formed in the swash plate  200 . Surface contact portions that face both sides  120   a  and  120   b  of the center lug arm  120  may be formed on both sides  231  and  232  of the through hole  230 . Through the surface contacting portions  234 , rotational force may be transferred from the fore-ends of the center lug arm  120 . 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the lug plate  100  and the swash plate  200  of the variable-capacity swash plate-type compressor illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     (a) of  FIG. 6  illustrates the swash plate  200 , and (b) of  FIG. 6  illustrates the lug plate  100 . 
     Referring to (a) of  FIG. 6 , a pair of arms  211  and  212  protrude from the body  210  of the swash plate  200  toward one side, and the through hole  230  through an opening is formed between the pair of arms  211  and  212 . 
     As described above, when the swash plate  200  is rotated by rotation of the lug plate  100 , at least one arm of the first arm  211  and the second arm  212  is twisted, is in contact with the center lug arm or the left and right lug arms, and torsional moment is applied to the at least one arm of the first arm  211  and the second arm  212 . The torsional moment is transferred in a direction F 1 . 
     Meanwhile, the center lug arm  120  is in contact with the first arm  211  so that rotational force can be transferred to the first arm  211  via a rotational torque transfer surface (see  400  of  FIG. 1 ). In this case, rotational force is applied to an inside surface of the first arm  211 , and the rotational force is applied to the first arm  211  in a direction F 2 . 
     Because the pair of arms  211  and  212  slide while being in contact with the inclination surface  112 , compressive load with respect to the inclination surface  112  may be applied to the fore-ends of the pair of arms  211  and  212  in a direction F 3 . 
     Next, referring to (b), the inclination surface  112  is formed on the lug plate  100  and guides inclination movement while being in surface contact with the fore-ends of the pair of arms of the swash plate  200 . The inclination surface  112  is formed between the left and right lug arms  131  and  132  and the center lug arm  120 , respectively, so that the pair of arms are engaged with each other through the inclination surface  112  and are supported thereon. 
     Torsional moment is applied to the right lug arm  132  in a position of the right lug arm  132  facing the second arm  212  in the direction F 1 . Rotational force applied as a reaction while applying force for rotating the swash plate  200  using the lug plate  100  is applied to one side of the fore-ends of the center lug arm  120  in the direction F 2 . 
     As described above, the pair of arms  211  and  212  are supported on the inclination surface  112 , and compressive load is applied to the direction F 3 . 
     When describing another embodiment of the present invention with reference to  FIG. 7 , when the torque transfer surface  400  is formed in a position of the space C 1  between the first arm  211  and the left lug arm  131 , the center first and second clearances  310  and  320  are formed in the spaces C 2  and C 3  between both sides of the left and right lug arms  131  and  132  and the center lug arm  120  to be spaced apart from each other, and the right clearance  330  may be formed when the space C 4  between the second arms  211  and  212  and the right lug arm  132  are spaced apart from each other. 
     In this case, the center second clearance  320  may have a greater gap than that of the center first clearance  310  (C 2 &lt;C 3 ). 
     This is because rotational force is concentrated on the left lug arm  131  and thus the center first and second clearances  310  and  320  are firstly in contact with each other so as to disperse rotational force and torsional moment. 
     While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.