Abstract: A vehicular air conditioning system (10) includes a compressor (110) having a crank chamber (138), a suction chamber (120), and a discharge chamber (122). A refrigerant mixture includes carbon dioxide and oil. A conduit (13) connects the discharge chamber (122) of the compressor (110) directly with an oil separator (14) to route the refrigerant mixture directly to the oil separator (14). A capillary tube (16) is connected between the oil separator (14) and the crank chamber (138) of the compressor (110) to cool and throttle oil enroute directly to the crank chamber (138) of the compressor (110).

Abstract: A rotary compressor has a vane slot for slidably supporting a planar vane, and a transverse slot for containing a spring cartridge. The spring cartridge can be a two piece molded structure having an internal support pin for a torsion spring designed to exert a biasing force on the slidable vane. The torsion spring has a relatively large number of coil convolutions, that minimize the unit torsional stress on the spring material.

Abstract: A rotary compressor having a housing with a pump cavity, an orbiting ring piston in the cavity, a cylindrical post carried by the housing within the orbiting ring, at least one pair of vanes engaging the orbiting ring to define pumping chambers in the cavity, a pair of primary fluid inlet passages communicating with the working pressure chamber during expansion of the pressure chamber, a pair of fluid outlet ports communicating with the working chambers as the volume of the working chambers contracts upon rotation of the orbiting ring piston, and a pair of secondary fluid inlet ports in parallel disposition with respect to the primary ports formed in a valve plate adjacent the orbiting ring piston whereby the orbiting ring piston registers with the ports and opens and closes the ports in synchronism with the opening end and closing of the main ports whereby the effective inlet flow capacity for the fluid into the expanding working chamber is increased.

Abstract: A clutch apparatus for a rotary compressor for an air conditioning system is disclosed including a crankshaft, an eccentric for engaging an orbiting ring within the compressor, and a plunger disposed within the crankshaft. The apparatus further includes a device for axially reciprocating the plunger in the crankshaft so as to cause engagement and disengagement of the plunger into the eccentric whereby the crankshaft transmits torque to the eccentric to rotate the orbiting ring within the compressor.

Abstract: A multiple stage rotary compressor having a housing with a pump cavity, an orbiting ring piston in the cavity, a cylindrical post carried by the housing within the orbiting ring, a pair of vanes engaging the outer surface of the orbiting ring to define a pair of primary pumping chambers in the cavity and a second pair of internal vanes contacting the inner surface of the orbiting ring to define a pair of secondary pumping chambers and a capacity controller adapted to selectively disable each of the outer vanes to establish differing compressor pump capacities depending upon the operating requirements of the compressor.

Abstract: A gas compressor includes a housing defining a compression chamber, a crankshaft having an eccentric surface radially offset from the axis of rotation of the crankshaft, an orbiting ring rotatably mounted on the eccentric for rotation about an axis offset from the shaft axis, a cylindrical post coaxial with the axis of the housing passages for carrying gas to and from the compression chamber, vanes movable radially with respect to the orbiting ring, and pressure sensitive valves that open exhaust passages from the compression chamber. The orbiting ring rotates in continual contact with the inner surface of the housing and the outer surface of the cylindrical post. Compression occurs within a first stage space and a second stage space, each space divided into compression chambers by the sliding vanes and contact between the ring and post or between the ring and housing.

Abstract: A gas compressor includes a housing defining a compression chamber, a crankshaft having an eccentric surface radially offset from the axis of rotation of the crankshaft, an orbiting ring rotatably mounted on the eccentric for rotation about an axis offset from the shaft axis, a cylindrical post coaxial with the axis of the housing passages for carrying gas to and from the compression chamber, vanes movable radially with respect to the orbiting ring, and pressure sensitive valves that open exhaust passages from the compression chamber. The orbiting ring rotates in continual contact with the inner surface of the housing and the outer surface of the cylindrical post. Compression occurs within a first stage space and a second stage space, each space divided into compression chambers by the sliding vanes and contact between the ring and post or between the ring and housing.