Abstract: Refrigerant gas is introduced into a suction chamber through a suction line. Refrigerant gas is allowed to flow from the crank chamber into the suction chamber through an outlet line. An open degree adjustment valve (34) has a first valve body for adjusting an open degree of the suction line and a second valve body for adjusting an open degree of the outlet line. The first valve body and the second valve body are connected to each other. The first valve body moves in such a manner as to increase the open degree of the suction line when the difference between the pressure in the suction chamber and the pressure in the crank chamber decreases, and reduce the open degree of the suction line when the difference between the pressure in the suction chamber and the pressure in the crank chamber increases. Thus, variation of gas pressure is reliably suppressed while maintaining favorable starting performance of the compressor.

Abstract: Each suction port 43 of a cylinder block 11 has a narrow passage 50 located at a top dead center side and a wide passage 51 located at a bottom dead center side. A suction communication passage 45 of a rotary valve 41 passes by a first succeeding end 50b of the narrow passage 50 before passing by a second succeeding end 51b of the wide passage 51. A high-pressure groove 47 of a residual gas bypass groove 46 faces only a narrow passage 50 of a suction port 43A that corresponds to a high-pressure side compression chamber 26 when in communication with the suction port 43A. A width Tc between the first succeeding end 50b and a second preceding end 51a of the wide passage 51 in the rotation direction of the rotary valve 41 is smaller than a seal width W of a seal region S between the high-pressure groove 47 and the outlet 45b of the suction communication passage 45.

Abstract: A fluid machine is served as an expansion device and a compression device. The fluid machine compresses gas in an operation chamber upon functioning as the compression device. The fluid machine expands the gas in the operation chamber upon functioning as the expansion device. The fluid machine includes a movable discharge valve served as a differential pressure regulating valve that discharges the gas from the operation chamber when the fluid machine functions as the compression device. The discharge valve is moved to a non-operation position where the discharge valve fails to function as the differential pressure regulating valve when the fluid machine functions as the expansion device.

Abstract: A swash plate type variable displacement compressor includes a housing, a drive shaft, a piston, a lug plate, a swash plate, a hinge mechanism provided between the lug plate and the swash plate, and a control mechanism. The hinge mechanism includes a restraining hinge element that is located on a suction side with respect to a first imaginary plane that includes a top position of the swash plate corresponding to the top dead center position of the piston and the axis of the drive shaft for restraining the lug plate and the swash plate from rotating relative to each other and the swash plate to move away from the lug plate. The hinge mechanism further includes a non-restraining hinge element that is located on a discharge side with respect to the first imaginary plane for not restraining the swash plate from moving away from the lug plate.

Abstract: Refrigerant gas is introduced into a suction chamber through a suction line. Refrigerant gas is allowed to flow from the crank chamber into the suction chamber through an outlet line. An open degree adjustment valve (34) has a first valve body for adjusting an open degree of the suction line and a second valve body for adjusting an open degree of the outlet line. The first valve body and the second valve body are connected to each other. The first valve body moves in such a manner as to increase the open degree of the suction line when the difference between the pressure in the suction chamber and the pressure in the crank chamber decreases, and reduce the open degree of the suction line when the difference between the pressure in the suction chamber and the pressure in the crank chamber increases. Thus, variation of gas pressure is reliably suppressed while maintaining favorable starting performance of the compressor.

Abstract: A variable speed compressor has a housing, a compression mechanism and a variable speed mechanism including input and output shafts and a carrier each rotatable around a first axis, planetary cones received by the carrier and each rotatable around a respective second axis inclining to the first axis, and a control ring coaxial with the first axis to vary the speed of rotation of the planetary cones to move along the first axis. The rotating speed of the input shaft is controllably transmittable to the output shaft by transmitting torque thereof to the output shaft so that the input and output shafts and the control ring contact the planetary cones. The control ring having a cylindrical shape has first and second pressure sensing surfaces coaxial with the first axis, formed on the opposite side thereof, sensing pressure applied to the sensing surfaces for movement.

Abstract: A fluid machine is served as an expansion device and a compression device. The fluid machine compresses gas in an operation chamber upon functioning as the compression device. The fluid machine expands the gas in the operation chamber upon functioning as the expansion device. The fluid machine includes a movable discharge valve served as a differential pressure regulating valve that discharges the gas from the operation chamber when the fluid machine functions as the compression device. The discharge valve is moved to a non-operation position where the discharge valve fails to function as the differential pressure regulating valve when the fluid machine functions as the expansion device.

Abstract: A compressor includes a housing, a rotary shaft, a pulley, an electric motor, a pulley one-way clutch, and a motor one-way clutch. The shaft is rotatably supported by the housing. The pulley is operably connected to the shaft and includes a power transmission portion. When power is transmitted from a vehicular engine to the power transmission portion, the pulley is rotated. The electric motor rotates the shaft and includes a rotor, which is operably connected to the shaft. At least part of the electric motor overlaps the power transmission portion in the axial direction of the shaft. The pulley one-way clutch is located between the pulley and the shaft and selectively permits and prevents power transmission between the pulley and the shaft. The motor one-way clutch is located between the rotor and the shaft and selectively permits and prevents power transmission between the rotor and the shaft.

Abstract: A hybrid compressor includes a housing. A rotary shaft is rotatably supported by the housing. A compression mechanism is located in the housing and connected to the rotary shaft for compressing refrigerant gas. A drive mechanism is located in the housing for driving the compression mechanism. A speed-changing mechanism is located in the housing for transmitting power from the drive mechanism to the compression mechanism via rotary shaft. The speed-changing mechanism varies the rotational speed of the drive mechanism. A sealing mechanism is located in the housing for sealing the speed-changing mechanism.

Abstract: A variable displacement mechanism for a scroll type compressor includes a by-pass passage, a valve chamber, a valve plate and an actuator. The by-pass passage serves to interconnect a compression chamber in a process of volume reduction with a suction pressure region and includes a first valve hole. The valve chamber serves to communicate with the first valve hole and forms a valve seat surface around an opening of the first valve hole. The valve plate has an end surface that faces the valve seat surface. The valve plate is arranged in the valve chamber so as to selectively move between an open position, where the end surface is separated from the valve seat surface to open the first valve hole, and a close position, where the end surface contacts the valve seat surface to close the first valve hole. The actuator serves to actuate the valve plate.

Abstract: A control device for a hybrid compressor includes a motor driver for driving an electric motor, a clutch controller for driving an electromagnetic clutch and an engine drive timing controller. Power is transmitted from an engine to the compressor when the electromagnetic clutch is connected. The clutch controller sets a connecting force of the electromagnetic clutch to transmit a second starting torque of the compressor. The engine drive timing controller is electrically connected to the motor driver and the clutch controller. The engine drive timing controller commands the motor driver to activate the electric motor to discharge liquid refrigerant from the compression chambers to a predetermined level so that the compressor reduces its starting torque to the second starting torque before commanding the clutch controller to connect the electromagnetic clutch to transmit the power from the engine to the compressor.

Abstract: In a scroll type compressor having a movable scroll member and a fixed scroll member, the movable scroll member and the fixed scroll member defines compression chambers therebetween. The compression chambers reduce in volume in accordance with orbital motion of the movable scroll member relative to the fixed scroll member. Thus gas is compressed. A variable displacement mechanism for the scroll type compressor has a by-pass passage, a pivotal plate and an actuator. The by-pass passage serves to interconnect the compression chamber in a process of volume-reducing and a suction pressure region. The pivotal plate has a communication hole that partially constitutes the by-pass passage and is selectively pivoted between a first pivotal position for opening the by-pass passage by the communication hole and a second pivotal position for closing the by-pass passage. The actuator serves to pivot the pivotal plate.

Abstract: A hybrid compressor system has a hybrid compressor for compressing refrigerant. The compressor is selectively driven by one of a first drive source and a second drive source. The hybrid compressor system also includes a first one-way clutch, a driver for driving the second drive source, a sensor for detecting a rotational state of the first drive source and a controller. The first one-way clutch is arranged on a first power transmission path between the compressor and the first drive source for permitting power transmission from the first drive source to the compressor. The controller is electrically connected to the driver and the sensor. When a drive source of the compressor is switched from the second drive source to the first drive source, the controller orders the driver to stop the second drive source after the rotation of the first drive source is detected.

Abstract: A hybrid compressor system in a vehicle air conditioner includes a variable displacement hybrid compressor, a detector for detecting information for air conditioning, a thermal load calculator and a controller. The compressor is selectively driven by an engine and an electric motor. The calculator calculates a thermal load based on the detected information. The controller compares the thermal load with a predetermined value. The controller changes displacement of the compressor to a first predetermined displacement value and selects the engine as a drive source of the compressor when the thermal load is larger than the predetermined value. The controller changes the displacement of the compressor to a second predetermined displacement value that is smaller than the first predetermined displacement value and selects the electric motor as the drive source of the compressor when the thermal load is equal to, or smaller than the predetermined value.

Abstract: A hybrid compressor system has a hybrid compressor for compressing refrigerant. The compressor is selectively driven by one of a first drive source and a second drive source. The hybrid compressor system also includes a first one-way clutch, a driver for driving the second drive source, a sensor for detecting a rotational state of the first drive source and a controller. The first one-way clutch is arranged on a first power transmission path between the compressor and the first drive source for permitting power transmission from the first drive source to the compressor. The controller is electrically connected to the driver and the sensor. When a drive source of the compressor is switched from the second drive source to the first drive source, the controller orders the driver to stop the second drive source after the rotation of the first drive source is detected.

Abstract: A compressor includes a housing, a rotary shaft, a pulley, an electric motor, a pulley one-way clutch, and a motor one-way clutch. The shaft is rotatably supported by the housing. The pulley is operably connected to the shaft and includes a power transmission portion. When power is transmitted from a vehicular engine to the power transmission portion, the pulley is rotated. The electric motor rotates the shaft and includes a rotor, which is operably connected to the shaft. At least part of the electric motor overlaps the power transmission portion in the axial direction of the shaft. The pulley one-way clutch is located between the pulley and the shaft and selectively permits and prevents power transmission between the pulley and the shaft. The motor one-way clutch is located between the rotor and the shaft and selectively permits and prevents power transmission between the rotor and the shaft.

Abstract: A rotor is connected to a main body of a rotary machine. The rotor includes a rotor main body and a dynamic damper provided in the rotor main body. The rotor main body is made of resin. The dynamic damper has a weight that swings like a pendulum. The axis of the pendulum motion of the weight is separated by a predetermined distance from and is substantially parallel to the rotation axis of the rotor. This suppresses rotational vibration and reduces noise.