Condition Responsive Fluid Control Patents (Class 417/270)
  • Patent number: 6439857
    Abstract: An axial piston compressor produces air supplied to an air system of a vehicle, typically a heavy duty truck through a plurality of pistons held within a stationary block, and the movement of the pistons is predicated through the control of a pivotal swash plate. The pistons are idle in a neutral position of the swash plate, wherein a pressure above the pistons in the cylinder block counterbalances a thrust generated by an actuator upon the plate positioned in a plane extending perpendicular to a drive shaft. The plate oscillates in response to a pressure drop above the pistons causing the actuator to expand toward the plate and exert a thrust exceeding the lowered pressure above the pistons and enabling the swash plate to provide the pistons with reciprocal motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Haldex Brake Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Koelzer, Andrew W. Adams, Mark D. Schaake, Michael R. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 6413055
    Abstract: A swashplate assist mechanism for dynamically varying swashplate moments in a multiple piston hydraulic unit includes a valve means disposed in the swashplate and defining a variable orifice for metering fluid from at least one of the pistons; and means for generating a control error signal to the valve means so as to adjust the size of the variable orifice based upon the control error signal. When fluid is metered from a leading piston to a trailing piston near one or more of the pressure transition zones, or when fluid is metered from a trailing piston to a leading piston near the opposite transition zones, the swashplate moments can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Sauer-Danfoss Inc.
    Inventors: Kerry G. Geringer, Dennis M. Greene, Jeff L. Herrin, Richard L. Otto
  • Patent number: 6390784
    Abstract: A compressor has a swash plate located in a crank chamber and tiltably mounted on a drive shaft. A piston is operably coupled to the swash plate and is located in a cylinder bore. The inclination of the swash plate is varied according to the difference between the pressure in the crank chamber and the pressure in the cylinder bore. The compressor has a supply passage for connecting a discharge chamber with the crank chamber. A control valve is located in the supply passage for adjusting the amount of the gas introduced into the crank chamber from the discharge chamber through the supply passage. The control valve includes a valve body and a solenoid selectively excited and de-excited based on a supply of electric current from a driver to actuate the valve body. The solenoid generates a counter-electromotive force based on the self-inductance of the solenoid when the solenoid is de-excited. A protector, such as a diode, is connected in parallel with the solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawaguchi, Ken Suitou, Masanori Sonobe, Hiroshi Kubo
  • Patent number: 6364627
    Abstract: A variable capacity swash plate type compressor 10, which incorporates an inlet port 40 disposed in a crankcase 36 leading to a crank chamber 38. The inlet port 40 places the crank chamber 38 in the active flow path of a refrigerant gas for the compressor 10 and eliminates the need for an orifice tube in fluid communication with a discharge chamber 22 and the crank chamber 38 thereby increasing the maximum capacity of the compressor 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David H. Herder, Lavlesh Sud, Shane A. Harte, Yong Huang
  • Patent number: 6354811
    Abstract: A control valve controls the displacement of a variable displacement type compressor. The compressor includes a crank chamber, suction chamber, a bleed passage, and a supply passage. The control valve has a supply side valve, a transmission rod, and a relief side valve. The transmission rod connects the relief side valve with the supply side valve. The relief side valve includes a passage chamber constituting part of the bleed passage. The passage chamber is separated into a first area, which is connected to the crank chamber, and a lower area, which is connected to the suction chamber. A pressure sensing member moves the relief side valve body in accordance with the pressure in the upper area. The effective pressure receiving area of the sensing member is substantially equal to the cross sectional area of the passage chamber that is sealed by the relief side valve body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho, NOK Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Ota, Masahiro Kawaguchi, Ken Suitou, Ryo Matsubara, Kouji Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20020006339
    Abstract: A compressor C has a construction comprising a cylinder block 1 in which cylinder bores 1a are formed, a front housing 2 and a rear housing 4 which are arranged at the front and at the rear, respectively, of the cylinder block 1. Pistons 20 which are accommodated in each cylinder bore 1a so as to be able to reciprocate, are connected to the cam plate 12, which connects to a drive shaft 6 so as to be able to integrally rotate, so as to operate, and the pistons 20 compress refrigerant gas according to the rotation of the drive shaft 6. A suction muffler 40, a discharge muffler 41 and a control valve 31 are provided between the cylinder bores 1a in the cylinder block 1. Further, a unit 60 which comprises a discharge check valve and an oil separator is disposed in the suction muffler 40.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Publication date: January 17, 2002
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masaki Ota, Ken Suitou, Tomoji Tarutani, Kenta Nishimura, Taku Adaniya, Ryo Matsubara
  • Patent number: 6332757
    Abstract: A valve housing has a communication passage communicating a suction port of the compressor with a crank chamber of the compressor. A valve element opens and closes the communication passage, and a spring member resiliently biases the valve element toward the closed position. A pressure actuated unit moves the valve element toward the open position by a suction pressure of the compressor. The spring member includes a spring made of a temperature responsive material. The spring decreases in its resilient force in an opening direction of the valve element with increase of an outer-air temperature. The spring member has a primary spring made of an ordinary resilient material for resiliently biasing the valve element toward the closed position and a correction spring made of a material having a temperature positive characteristic. The correction spring provides a correction spring force smaller than a primary force of the primary spring in the opposite direction to the primary force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Saginomiya Seisakusho, Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Morio Kaneko, Ichiro Ohkawara, Masaki Ota, Ken Suitou, Kenta Nishimura, Taku Adaniya
  • Patent number: 6217290
    Abstract: A control valve for a variable capacity compressor; wherein an opening degree of a valve member disposed in a coolant gas passage for communicating a discharge pressure region of the variable capacity compressor with a crankcase thereof is made adjustable by a magnetization action of a solenoid, thereby causing an inclination angle of a wobble plate to change and also causing a discharging capacity of the compressor to change; and which is characterized in that the main valve body comprises a solenoid, a pressure sensitive chamber provided with bellows and a valve chamber provided with the valve member, and that the solenoid is provided with a plunger connected with one end of a stem, whose other end of the stem being detachably contacted with a stopper of the bellows, and the other end of the plunger being linked to a rod to be contacted with the valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Fujikoki Corporation
    Inventors: Masayuki Imai, Yoshiyuki Kume, Yukio Kazahaya
  • Patent number: 6203284
    Abstract: A compressor has a cam plate located in a crank chamber and mounted on a drive shaft and a piston coupled to the cam plate and located in a cylinder bore. The piston compresses gas supplied to the cylinder bore from a separate external circuit by way of a suction chamber and discharges the compressed gas to the external circuit by way of a discharge chamber. The cam plate is tiltable between a maximum inclined angle position and a minimum inclined angle position with respect to a plane perpendicular to an axis of the drive shaft according to a difference between the pressure in the crank chamber and the pressure in the cylinder bore. The piston moves by the stroke based on an inclination of the cam plate to control the displacement of the compressor. A valve is placed between the discharge chamber and the external circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawaguchi, Masanori Sonobe, Ken Suitou, Tetsuhiko Fukanuma, Hiroyuki Nagai, Yoshihiro Makino, Shintaro Miura
  • Patent number: 6183207
    Abstract: A pump which can operate in a number of different modes, wherein each mode corresponds to a different output of the pump. The pump may have a plurality of pump chambers located within a pump housing. The pump chambers may be arranged in fluid communication with an inlet port and an outlet port. Each pump chamber may have a pumping device which draws in fluid from the inlet port during an intake stroke and pushes fluid through the outlet port during a discharge stroke. The pump may also have a plurality of electronically controlled valve assemblies which control the output of the pump. Each valve assembly can be selectively switched to a by-pass state for by-passing the fluid flowing from the pump chamber back to the inlet port during the discharge stroke of a pumping device. The pump may operate in a number of different modes which each have a distinct output. Each mode may be defined by which valves are chosen to be switched to their by-pass state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Sturman Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Oded E. Sturman
  • Patent number: 6179574
    Abstract: A fluid transfer apparatus utilizing a slanted cain disk to oscillate and rotate a set of pistons arranged in a circle. Channels associated with the pistons and piston housing effect the transfer of fluid from a first location to a second location, as well as the pressurization or depressurization of the fluid, during movement of the pistons. The apparatus can be used as a high-pressure fluid pump, a fluid-powered motor, a fluid distribution valve, or another fluid transfer device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Jetec Company
    Inventor: Gene G. Yie
  • Patent number: 6162026
    Abstract: A reciprocating piston type compressor for compressing refrigerant gas for an automobile air conditioning system is improved to protect itself without protective control by a computer. The compressor detects the temperature of a part of the compressor in which the temperature increases to higher than a predetermined critical temperature when the compressor malfunctions, and changes a displacement control valve to reduce the displacement of the compressor when the detected temperature is higher than the predetermined critical temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Kazuya Kimura, Kiyohiro Yamada, Suguru Hirota, Shiro Hayashi
  • Patent number: 6158970
    Abstract: A variable displacement compressor that decreases displacement to reduce compression load without imbalancing the rotation of the drive shaft when the rotating speed of the compressor's drive shaft exceeds a predetermined limit value. The compressor includes a pressurizing passage connecting a crank chamber to a discharge chamber. A rotated guide rotates integrally with the drive shaft. The pressurizing passage is opened and closed by a valve body. Orbiting balls, which contact the valve body, are arranged about the axis of the drive shaft and the rotated guide. The balls follow the rotation of the rotated guide and orbit about the axis. The orbiting radius of the balls varies. A spring urges the balls in a direction decreasing the orbiting radius of the balls. When the rotating speed of the drive shaft exceeds the limit value, centrifugal force moves the balls against the force of the spring and increases the orbiting diameter of the balls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masaki Ota, Taku Adaniya, Kenta Nishimura, Hirotaka Kurakake, Osamu Hiramatsu, Hisakazu Kobayashi, Yasunori Makino, Ken Suitou, Kenji Takenaka
  • Patent number: 6135722
    Abstract: A variable displacement refrigerant compressor has a tilting swash plate connected to a number of pistons. The pistons are located in a cylinder block. The cylinder has a front end surface that faces the swash plate. A central bore is formed in the cylinder block to hold a drive shaft, a radial bearing, and a movable spool, or shut-off member, which regulates gas flow within the compressor. An area of the front end of the cylinder block surrounding the central bore is located forward of the axial center of the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawaguchi, Masanori Sonobe, Takuya Okuno, Ken Suitou
  • Patent number: 6126405
    Abstract: A compressor has a drive plate located in a crank chamber and tiltably mounted on a drive shaft and a piston operably coupled to the drive plate and located in a cylinder bore. The inclination of the drive plate is variable according to a difference between the pressure in the crank chamber and the pressure in the cylinder bore. The compressor has an adjusting mechanism for adjusting the pressure in one of the crank chamber and a suction chamber to vary the difference between the pressure in the crank chamber and the pressure in the cylinder bore. The adjusting mechanism includes a gas passage for passing the gas used for adjusting the pressure and a control valve for adjusting the amount of the gas flowing in the gas passage. The control valve includes a valve body, a reacting member and a solenoid. The valve body adjusts the opening size of the gas passage. The reacting member moves the valve body in accordance with the pressure of the gas supplied to the compressor from the external circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawaguchi, Masanori Sonobe, Hiroshi Kubo, Tetsuhiko Fukanuma
  • Patent number: 6102670
    Abstract: A variable fluid displacement apparatus includes a plate which is located in a crank chamber and is tiltably connected to a drive shaft so as to vary the variable slant angle responsive to a pressure differential between the crank chamber and a suction chamber. A first communication path communicates the crank chamber with a discharge chamber to control pressure within the crank chamber. A first valve device opens and closes a first opening area in the first communication path to adjust the pressure level. A second valve device closes a second communication path, which communicates the crank chamber with the suction chamber. A second opening area in the second communication path is closed when a pressure difference between the crank chamber and the suction chamber falls below a predetermined value. Thus, a variable displacement compressor obtains a desired compression capacity after the variable displacement compressor commences operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventor: Yukihiko Taguchi
  • Patent number: 6092455
    Abstract: A hydraulic pressure transformer for the conversion of an input hydraulic power to an output hydraulic power includes a housing with a generally planar face surface and a plurality of ports opening at the face surface. A barrel which is rotatable about an axis includes a generally spherical end face and a plurality of cylinders opening at the end face. A port block interposed between the barrel and the housing is rotatable about the axis. The port block has a first face surface, a second face surface and a plurality of ports extending between the first face surface and the second face surface. The ports selectively fluidly interconnect the plurality of cylinders in the barrel with the plurality of ports in the housing. The first face surface is generally spherical and abuts the end face of the barrel. The second face surface is generally planar and abuts the face surface of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Endsley, David C. Hale, Frank J. Raab
  • Patent number: 6074173
    Abstract: A variable displacement compressor controls a discharge displacement by changing an inclination of a swash plate (5) depending on a pressure differential between a crank chamber (3) and a suction chamber (13) thereby to change a piston stroke. A first communication passage (18) establishes communication between a discharge chamber (14) and the crank chamber. A pressure control valve (19) opens and closes the first communication passage. On the other hand, a second communication passage (20) establishes communication between the crank chamber and the suction chamber. A valve member (21) is disposed in the second communication passage and fully closes the second communication passage due to a biasing force of a spring when a pressure differential between the discharge chamber and the suction chamber becomes not greater than a given value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventor: Yukihiko Taguchi
  • Patent number: 6055809
    Abstract: A hydraulic piston pump 1 includes a distributing valve 11 having a pair of arcuate or circular ports 11a and 11b formed through it. The arcuate port 11b is shorter circumferentially than the arcuate port 11a to reduce, by a predetermined amount, the amount of pressure oil to be discharged from and sucked into the pump through it. The valve 11 also has a pair of tank ports 11c and 11d formed through it circumferentially on both sides of the shorter port 11b. The circumferential dimensions of the tank ports 11c and 11d correspond to the predetermined amount of oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Marol Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiichi Kishi, Taizo Kitano
  • Patent number: 6056513
    Abstract: A variable displacement compressor includes a crank chamber for housing a cam plate, a suction chamber, and a discharge chamber. The apparatus includes a first passage connecting the crank chamber with the discharge chamber to discharge the pressure in the crank chamber to the suction chamber to change the suction pressure. A second passage connects the discharge chamber with the crank chamber to supply the pressure from the discharge chamber to the crank chamber increase the pressure in the crank chamber. A valve is disposed in the second passage to open or close the second passage. When the cam plate speed exceeds a certain predetermined amount, a solenoid is actuated to increase the size of the valve opening. As such, the load on the compressor during high speed rotation of the compressor drive shaft is reduced and the durability of the compressor is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawaguchi, Ken Suitou, Hiroyuki Nagai, Yoshihiro Makino
  • Patent number: 6045337
    Abstract: There is provided a clutchless variable capacity swash plate compressor. A valve element is arranged at an intermediate portion of a refrigerant inlet passage, for increasing and decreasing an opening area of the intermediate portion. An urging member urges the valve element in a direction of a large valve opening position in which the opening area is large. An accumulator accumulates the high-pressure refrigerant gas therein to build up pressure for urging the valve element in a direction of a small valve opening position in which the opening area is small. When suction pressure of the suction refrigerant gas is high, a pilot valve closes to inhibit the supply of a high-pressure refrigerant to the accumulator to thereby bring the valve element to the large valve opening position, whereas when the suction pressure is low, the pilot valve opens to permit the supply of the high-pressure gas to the accumulator to bring the valve element to the small valve opening position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Zexel Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Tokumasu
  • Patent number: 6030185
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pump, more particularly a radial piston pump, including at least two pump pistons (10) with an associated working chamber (13) each, wherein the working chambers (13) are connected to suction lines (4) by way of suction valve devices (8) and to a joint pressure line (5) by way of pressure valve devices (9), wherein at least one of the suction valve devices (8) opens during the pressure stroke in dependence on the pressure in one of the associated lines (4, 5), and wherein at least one of the suction valve devices (8) opens during the pressure stroke in dependence on the pressure in the pressure line (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises Inc.
    Inventors: Hans-Jorg Feigel, Lothar Schiel, Ulrich Neumann
  • Patent number: 6024541
    Abstract: A hydraulic axial pump/motor comprises a plurality of revolving as well as reciprocating pistons, operatively associated with a stationary port plate. The port plate comprises at least a first, elongated, arcuate suction port and at least a second elongated, arcuate discharge port, divided by a bringing portion extending between the downstream side of the suction port and the upstream side of the discharge port. A tortuous passage of a non-uniform cross-section is formed in the bridging portion, allowing the by-passing of the fluid first in a direction towards the downstream side of the suction port and then towards and into the upstream side of the discharge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Nordip Ltd.
    Inventors: Alexander Perstnev, Samuel Perstnev
  • Patent number: 5944491
    Abstract: An improved compressor that is designed to minimize shock and vibration during start-up includes a plurality of pistons, each of which is positioned for movement within a cylinder in order to compress a gas, and conventional motive structure for driving the pistons. Advantageously, the compressor includes a sensor for sensing, from a condition that exists within the compressor, when the compressor is in a start-up phase. The sensor is designed to be operative regardless of the position of the pistons during start-up. Pressure relief structure, responsive to said sensor, is provided for relieving pressure in at least one of the cylinders when the sensor indicates that the compressor is in the start-up phase. This minimizes shock and vibration during the start-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Naoya Yakomachi, Satoshi Umemura, Hayato Ikeda, Takahisa Tokushige
  • Patent number: 5890877
    Abstract: Cavitation in a swash-plate pump is prevented by applying pump input pressure and a preselected spring force to a first end of a valve spool against countervailing atmospheric pressure applied against a second end of the valve spool wherein the valve spool moves to an open position with respect to an anti-cavitation valve upon the sum of the input pressure and spring pressure decreasing to less than atmospheric pressure. When the anti-cavitation valve opens, pump output pressure is applied through the anti-cavitation valve to a pump displacement control cylinder which decreases pump displacement so as to keep pump input pressure from decreasing to the point of cavitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventors: Walter G. Peterson, Gary P. Pittman
  • Patent number: 5873706
    Abstract: A refrigerant compressor includes a compressor housing divided by a valve plate into a first chamber and a second chamber. The valve plate includes suction conduits linking the first chamber with the suction chamber and discharge conduits linking the first chamber with the discharge chamber. A suction valve member bends to open and close the suction conduits in response to changes in discharge chamber pressure and the resulting pressure difference between the first chamber and the suction chamber. A suction valve control mechanism includes a regulator for regulating the opening and closing of the suction conduit between a maximum opening position and a minimum opening position in response to changes in discharge chamber pressure. Consquently, a starting torque shock to the compressor is reduced while maintaining high volumetric efficiency of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventor: Hironari Kawabata
  • Patent number: 5873704
    Abstract: A variable-capacity swash-plate operated single-headed piston type compressor including a crank chamber having a capacity large enough for receiving a drive shaft, a rotor, a swash plate and shoes engaging between the swash plate and single headed pistons and provided with an open mouth for directly receiving a refrigerant gas returning from an external refrigerating system, a suction passageway for providing a fluid communication between the crank chamber and a suction chamber from which the refrigerant gas is sucked into respective cylinder bores so as to be compressed by the single headed pistons, and a capacity control valve provided with a bellows element for adjustably changing the cross sectional area of the suction passageway in response to a change in a pressure prevailing in the suction passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masaki Ota, Hisakazu Kobayashi, Masaru Hamasaki, Youichi Okadome
  • Patent number: 5842835
    Abstract: A compressor includes a cylinder block having a cylinder bore, a first housing attached to a first end of the cylinder block, a second housing attached to a second end of the cylinder block, a crank chamber defined between the cylinder block and the first housing, a drive plate located in the crank chamber and mounted on a drive shaft, and a piston operably coupled to the drive plate and located in the cylinder bore. The drive plate is tiltable between a maximum inclination position and a minimum inclination position according to a difference between the pressure in the crank chamber and the pressure in the cylinder bore. The cylinder block has a shutter chamber opening to the first end and the second end. A shutter member is accommodated in the shutter chamber. The shutter member is movable between a first position and a second position in response to the inclination of the drive plate to selectively connect and disconnect an external circuit with an suction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawaguchi, Masanori Sonobe, Ken Suitou, Takuya Okuno, Masakazu Murase, Koji Kawamura
  • Patent number: 5803714
    Abstract: A swash plate type axial piston pump of enhanced assemblability and high assembling efficiency, in which looseness between constituent members of the pump is suppressed to minimum. A valve plate (31) and a cylinder block (15) are inserted in a first housing section (1a) sequentially, and then a second housing section (1b) is installed on the cylinder block (15) around an outer periphery and fixedly secured to the first housing section (1a), wherein an annular resilient member (29), an annular supporting member (24) and an annular shoe holder (27) are inserted in the second housing section (1b) sequentially. A plurality of pistons (21) each having a shoe (25) connected pivotally at one end are inserted into the cylinders (13), respectively, of the cylinder block (15) through retaining holes (27a), respectively, formed in the annular shoe holder (27).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsutomu Tominaga, Kazuyoshi Yamamoto, Daisuke Ochi, Yoshihiko Onishi
  • Patent number: 5800131
    Abstract: A vane pump and a process for operating it in which an eccentric ring against which the vanes ride is shifted in response to a temperature sensing element which bears upon the ring against the force of a spring acting thereon counter to the temperature sensing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Uwe Lehmann, Bodo Stich, Maik Wilhelm
  • Patent number: 5785502
    Abstract: A swash plate tiltably supported on a drive shaft is controlled by adjusting the pressure in a crank chamber. When an electromagnetic valve is de-excited, the high-pressure refrigerant gas in a discharge chamber is supplied to the crank chamber so that the inclination angle of the swash plate is shifted to its minimum inclination from its maximum inclination. An open/close mechanism located in a suction passage gradually opens or closes the suction passage in accordance with the differential pressure between the pressure in the external refrigeration circuit located upstream the open/close mechanism and the pressure in a suction chamber. When the inclination angle of the swash plate is minimized, the open/close mechanism closes the suction passage. It is therefore possible to prevent frosting while also suppressing rapid changes in load torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masaki Ota, Sokichi Hibino, Hisakazu Kobayashi, Masahiro Kawaguchi, Ken Suitou, Koji Kawamura, Takuya Okuno
  • Patent number: 5749709
    Abstract: A positive displacement pump comprising a housing which defines a pump inlet chamber in fluid communication with a pump inlet port and a pump outlet chamber in fluid communication with a pump outlet port. Disposed within the housing is a wobble plate which is adapted to pump fluid from the inlet chamber to the outlet chamber. Selectively insertable into and removable from within the housing is a modular pump component. The modular pump component is adapted to modify the operational characteristics of the pump when inserted into the pump housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Inventor: Benjamin R. Du
  • Patent number: 5702235
    Abstract: A capacity control device for variable-capacity compressors with a high-pressure valve portion 36 for opening or closing the communication between the discharge chamber 21 and the crank case 12; a low-pressure valve portion 41 for opening or closing the communication between the suction chamber 20 and the crank case 12; a valve open-close member 35 for opening or closing so as to reverse the open-close relationship between the high-pressure valve portion 36 and the low-pressure valve portion 41 by advancing or retreating; a pressurising chamber 53 for applying pressure to the valve open-close member 35 in a direction that opens the high-pressure valve portion 36 by a wider effective pressure-receiving area than that of the high-pressure valve portion 36. The device is driven with only small actuation forces by an electromagnetic solenoid 50 to open or close a communicating path between the discharge chamber 21 and the pressurising chamber 53 (FIG. 1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: TGK Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisatoshi Hirota, Naoyuki Ito
  • Patent number: 5700136
    Abstract: A pump which has a digitally controlled internal by-pass valve. The pump includes a housing which has a pumping chamber that contains a piston which pumps fluid from an inlet port to an outlet port of the housing. The pump also has an intake valve that moves to an open position when the pump draws in fluid and moves to a closed position when the piston pumps the fluid through the outlet port. The intake valve can be maintained in the open position by a separate hydraulic system so that the piston pumps fluid back through the inlet port and by-passes the outlet port. The separate hydraulic system includes a three-way solenoid control valve which directs fluid to the intake valve to open the valve. The control valve may contain a pair of solenoids which latch an internal spool to control the flow of fluid to the intake valve. The spool can be latched into position by a digital pulse that is provided by an electrical controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Sturman Industries
    Inventor: Oded E. Sturman
  • Patent number: 5688111
    Abstract: A compressor has a housing divided by a valve plate into a first chamber and a second chamber. The second chamber has a suction chamber and a discharge chamber. The valve plate includes discharge conduits communicating the first chamber with the discharge chamber and suction conduits communicating the first chamber with the suction chamber. A suction valve member bends to open and close the suction conduits in response to changes in discharge chamber pressure and the resulting pressure difference between the first chamber and the suction chamber. A suction valve control mechanism includes a regulator for regulating opening and closing of the suction valve between a maximum opening position and a minimum opening position in response to changes in discharge chamber pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Takai
  • Patent number: 5634776
    Abstract: A low noise hydraulic pump is disclosed which can be an piston pump or a vane pump, including a flow generation assembly with at least one pumping chamber for creating positive displacement of hydraulic fluid into a hydraulic system. The pump also includes a valve plate in fluid communication with the flow generation assembly, wherein the valve plate defines an inlet for admitting hydraulic fluid and also an outlet for receiving discharged hydraulic fluid. A check valve assembly is received within the valve plate for establishing a fluid passageway between the flow generation assembly and the outlet, wherein the check valve assembly reduces the pressure overshoot between the flow generation assembly and the outlet. The check valve assembly further comprises a check valve having a plurality of apertures, the apertures being sized so as to permit a predetermined flow of fluid through the check valve assembly, whereby the check valve assembly reduces noise generated by the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Trinova Corporation
    Inventors: Richard S. Leemhuis, Don G. Olmstead
  • Patent number: 5620310
    Abstract: A control valve for a variable displacement refrigerating compressor for an automobile climate control system for controlling fluid communication between the crank chamber and the discharge chamber of the compressor. The valve has axially arranged pressure-sensing unit having a diaphragm (13), a valve unit (17,23c) arranged so as to control a fluid communication of the passageway (23a) between the crank and discharge chambers of the compressor, a compensating unit having a balancing rod (18) compensating for the fluid-communication controlling operation of the valve unit (17,23c) in relation to the crank-pressure (Pc) and the discharge pressure (Pd), and a compensation-stopping unit (19,25) stopping the compensation operation of the compensating unit. The control valve permits the compressor to exhibit a satisfactory refrigerating performance irrespective of the ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Kenji Takenaka, Toru Takeichi
  • Patent number: 5613834
    Abstract: A positive displacement pump comprising a housing which defines a pump inlet chamber in fluid communication with a pump inlet port and a pump outlet chamber in fluid communication with a pump outlet port. Disposed within the housing is a wobble plate which is adapted to pump fluid from the inlet chamber to the outlet chamber. Selectively insertable into and removable from within the housing is a modular pump component. The modular pump component is adapted to modify the operational characteristics of the pump when inserted into the pump housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Inventor: Benjamin R. Du
  • Patent number: 5611675
    Abstract: A spool 9 is connected to the rotating shaft 1 so that the spool 9 is slidable with respect to the shaft 1, while the rotating movement of the shaft 1 is transmitted to the spool 9. The spool 9 is formed with a first recess 9-3 of a reduced circumferential extension for obtaining a reduced compression capacity and a second recess 9-4 of an increased circumferential extension for obtaining a full capacity of the compressor. An intake pressure is always opened to a side of the spool, while an intermediate chamber is formed on the other side of the spool. A spring 10 is arranged for causing the spool 9 to be moved toward the intermediate pressure chamber. At the instant the compressor is brought into operation, introduction of the intake gas occurs via the first recess 9-4, thereby obtaining a compression capacity of 3 to 5% compared to the full capacity of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuhide Uchida, Mikio Matsuda, Mitsuo Inagaki, Takeshi Sakai
  • Patent number: 5603609
    Abstract: An axial piston pump has multiple pistons and cylinders with a spill port in each piston. A sleeve controls venting from the spill port and an inlet is provided to each cylinder, by way of a check valve from a fluid supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Assignee: Microhydraulics, Inc.
    Inventor: George Kadlicko
  • Patent number: 5588807
    Abstract: A swash plate type variable displacement compressor is disclosed for adjusting an inclined angle of a swash plate (13) placed in a crank chamber (2a) in accordance with a pressure difference between the crank chamber (2a) and a gas suction chamber (4a) and for compressing gas supplied to compression chambers (18) from the gas suction chamber (4a) by pistons (21) that reciprocate with a stroke according to the inclined angle of the swash plate (13) in order to thereby control a volume of gas to be discharged from a gas discharge chamber (4b). A communication passage (23) connects the gas discharge chamber (4b) to the gas suction chamber (4a), and a branch passage (24) branching from the communication passage (23) is connected to the crank chamber (2a). Disposed in the communication passage (23) is a valve (25, 45) which normally blocks the communication passage (23) and opens the communication passage (23) to alter pressure in the crank chamber (2a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Kazuya Kimura, Hiroaki Kayukawa, Toru Takeichi, Osamu Hiramatsu
  • Patent number: 5586870
    Abstract: A compressor includes a rotary drive shaft having a first end and a second end, both the ends being rotatably supported by opposing walls of a crank chamber defined in a casing and a swash plate tiltably mounted on the drive shaft and operably coupled with a piston in a cylinder bore. A rotation of the drive shaft results in a reciprocating movement of the piston for compressing refrigerant gas in a cylinder bore. A rotary member is secured to the first end which extends outside the casing. the rotary member supplies a power to the drive shaft from a power supply. A support member, disposed between the rotary member and the first end, protrudes outward from the casing. A first bearing, disposed between the support member and the rotary member, receives a thrust load and a radial load acting on the rotary member when the rotary member rotates. A second bearing, disposed between the casing and the second end, receives the radial load acting on the rotary member when the rotary member rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masahiro Kawaguchi, Masanori Sonobe, Shigeki Kanzaki, Tomohiko Yokono
  • Patent number: 5572919
    Abstract: An apparatus controls a pressure in a cylinder chamber of a hydraulic pump-motor. The cylinder chamber is formed by fitting a piston in a cylinder bore of a rotatable cylinder block, and the cylinder block is rotated so that ports going to the cylinder chambers are alternatively opened to a high pressure port and a lower pressure port that are both formed in a valve plate. The apparatus includes a first switching port formed at a top dead point side of the valve plate, the first switching port being communicated with a tank through a first open-close valve. A second switching port is formed at a bottom dead point of the valve plate, the second switching port being communicated with the high pressure port through a second open-close valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Komatsu Seisakusho
    Inventor: Naoki Ishizaki
  • Patent number: 5540556
    Abstract: A positive displacement pump comprising a housing which defines a pump inlet chamber in fluid communication with a pump inlet port and a pump outlet chamber in fluid communication with a pump outlet port. Disposed within the housing is a wobble plate which is adapted to pump fluid from the inlet chamber to the outlet chamber. Selectively insertable into and removable from within the housing is a modular pump component. The modular pump component is adapted to modify the operational characteristics of the pump when inserted into the pump housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Inventor: Benjamin R. Du
  • Patent number: 5456581
    Abstract: A multi-piston pump is provided which uses microprocessor controlled check all valves to control flow rate of a fluid at the pump's outlet port. The pump includes nine cylindrical shaped chambers and associated reciprocating pistons which are driven by a cam attached to a shaft. The pump's shaft is coupled to the shaft of a motor which, in turn, drives the pump's shaft and cam resulting in a fluid, such as seawater, filling each of the nine chambers and then having the fluid forced from the chamber by the movement of its associated piston from bottom dead center to top dead center. A pressure transducer which monitors the pressure at the pump's outlet port and a shaft encoder which monitors the angular position of the pump's shaft respectively provide analog signals indicative of the pump's outlet port's pressure and the shaft's angular position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Gregory R. Jokela, Roman Kruchowy, James Massey
  • Patent number: 5370503
    Abstract: A swash plate type compressor with a variable displacement mechanism includes a compressor housing having a cylinder block provided with a plurality of cylinders and a crank chamber. A piston is slidably fitted within each of the cylinders and is reciprocated by a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism includes a drive shaft rotatably supported by the compressor housing, a pair of rotor plates fixed on the drive shaft and a swash plate having a surface with an adjustable tilt angle. The rotor plates are arranged on opposite sides of the swash plate. A plurality of slide contact coupling mechanisms extend between the swash plate and the rotor plate. The slide contact coupling mechanisms include two arms extending from opposite sides of the swash plate and a projection extending from one of the two rotor plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Terauchi
  • Patent number: 5332365
    Abstract: A variable capacity type slant plate type compressor including a crank chamber, a suction chamber and a discharge chamber is disclosed. The crank chamber is linked by a first communication path to the suction chamber, and is linked by a second communication path to the discharge chamber. A first valve control mechanism is disposed within the first communication path and second valve control mechanism is disposed within the second communication path. Fluid communication between the crank and suction chambers is controlled by the first valve control mechanism so that the suction chamber pressure is maintained at one predetermined constant value while fluid communication between the crank and discharge chambers is continuously closed. Fluid communication between the crank and discharge chambers is opened by the second valve control mechanism when the predetermined constant value of the suction chamber pressure must be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventor: Yukihiko Taguchi
  • Patent number: 5318410
    Abstract: An improved wobble plate type variable displacement compressor compressing the refrigerant gas with pistons and discharges the gas from a discharge chamber is disclosed. The piston stroke is adjusted according to the tilt angle of the wobble plate which is varied by the magnitude of the inner pressure of the crank case. The first passage connects a suction chamber to the crank case for transferring the pressure of the crank case to the suction chamber. The second passage connects the crank case to the discharge chamber for transferring the pressure of the discharge chamber to the crank case via a restriction when the difference between the pressures and within the discharge chamber and the crank case is in excess of the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Chuichi Kawamura, Yoshihiro Fujisawa, Masafumi Ito
  • Patent number: 5316447
    Abstract: A compressor comprises a cylinder block having cylinder bores formed radially spaced from and circumferentially distributed equidistantly about the cylinder longitudinal axis. Pistons are slidably received in the respective bores for reciprocation therein executing alternately suction and discharge strokes. The compressor also has a discharge valve assembly for controlling discharge of a compressed fluid from each of the bores into a discharge chamber, which assembly is axially movable between a first position in which the assembly is abutted against an end wall of the block and a second position in which the assembly is spaced from the end wall of the block to define a narrow space therebetween to interconnect the bores with each other. When the assembly is pushed toward the second position by the pressure of the compressed fluid during initial running of the compressor, bypass channels interconnect the cylinder with the discharge chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Toshiro Fujii, Koichi Ito, Kazuo Murakami, Kazuaki Iwama
  • Patent number: RE35672
    Abstract: A variable capacity type slant plate type compressor including a crank chamber, a suction chamber and a discharge chamber is disclosed. The crank chamber is linked by a first communication path to the suction chamber, and is linked by a second communication path to the discharge chamber. A first valve control mechanism is disposed within the first communication path and second valve control mechanism is disposed within the second communication path. Fluid communication between the crank and suction chambers is controlled by the first valve control mechanism so that the suction chamber pressure is maintained at one predetermined constant value while fluid communication between the crank and discharge chambers is continuously closed. Fluid communication between the crank and discharge chambers is opened by the second valve control mechanism when the predetermined constant value of the suction chamber pressure must be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventor: Yukihiko Taguchi