Patent ID: 7021193

Claim:
A hinge mechanism for a variable displacement compressor comprising: a rotor adapted to be mounted on and rotated by a drive shaft; a hub adapted to be mounted on the drive shaft and to rotate with the rotor; a pair of first arms affixed to and extending from a one of the rotor and the hub, with the pair of first arms being spaced apart; a second arm affixed to and extending from an other of the rotor and the hub, with the second arm extending between the pair of first arms; a pair of opposed elongated slots located on a one of the second arm and the pair of first arms; a pair of opposed semi-spherical pockets located an other of the second arm and the pair of first arms; and a pair of shoes, each having a first semi-spherical surface pivotally and rotationally engaged in a respective one of the opposed semi-spherical pockets and an opposed second surface, having a flat circular shape, rotationally and laterally slidably engaged in a respective one of the pair of opposed elongated slots to form a hinged connection between the rotor and the hub wherein the pair of shoes facilitate a slanting of the hub and transfer rotation from the rotor to the hub.