Abstract: A four-way switching valve includes a first three-way switching valve having a valve element for connecting a port B to a port A, or to a port D via a sleeve, in a switching manner; a second three-way switching valve having a valve element for connecting a port C to the port A, or to the port D, in a switching manner; and a piston for actuating these three-way switching valves. The three-way valves and piston are coaxially arranged within a hollow cylindrical body. A three-way solenoid valve introduces high pressure into a pressure chamber on the upper side of the piston to actuate the valve elements held on the sleeve downward, while the upward actuation is effected with a driving force produced by reducing the pressure in the pressure chamber and configuring guides to have a larger pressure-receiving area than that of a guide.

Abstract: A refrigerating cycle is capable of performing both an operation in which the maximum cooling power is desired to be unleashed and an operation in which the most excellent performance coefficient is attained.

Abstract: In a capacity control apparatus of a variable capacity compressor 10 a chamber 30 between a valve seat 26 and diaphragm 24 communicates with a pressure control chamber 12 of the compressor 10. Said valve seat 26 communicates outside said chamber 30 with an inhalation chamber 3 of said compressor. A valve element 25 which is pressure balanced in relation to the pressure Pc in pressure control chamber 12 is axially moveable within said chamber 30. The pressure effective areas of said valve seat 26 and of a diaphragm 24 co-acting with said valve element 25 are formed with equal sizes. Due to the relatively small diaphragm size a small sized and cheap solenoid can be used for the actuation of valve element 25. The cross-section area of valve seat 26 is relatively big and prevents a delayed control response behavior of the capacity control apparatus.