Abstract: A variable displacement compressor has a housing, a piston, a drive shaft, a rotor, a cam plate and a hinge mechanism. The hinge mechanism between the rotor and the cam plate guides the cam plate to incline and slide relative to the drive shaft. Thus, the displacement volume of the compressor is varied. The rotation of the drive shaft is converted to the reciprocation of the piston through the rotor, the hinge mechanism and the cam plate. The hinge mechanism includes first and second hinge elements that are respectively provided on the rotor and on the cam plate and engage each other. At least one of the first and second hinge elements has a degree of freedom for motion against the rotor and/or the cam plate to which it belongs.

Abstract: A variable displacement compressor has a drive shaft, a rotor supported by the drive shaft, a drive plate supported by the drive shaft and a hinge mechanism located between the rotor and the drive plate. The hinge mechanism includes a cam, which is located on the rotor, and a guide portion, which is located on the drive plate. The cam has a cam surface, which has a predetermined profile. One of the cam surface and the guide portion slides against the other in accordance with inclination of the drive plate. The guide portion traces a path corresponding to the profile of the cam surface with respect to the cam. The path includes a first path corresponding to a small displacement region of the compressor and a second path corresponding to a large displacement region of the compressor. The profile of the cam surface is determined such that the first path and the second path bulge in a direction opposite to each other to compensate for fluctuation of a top dead center position of the piston.

Abstract: Variable displacement compressors 30 may include a rotor 7 that is press-formed from a plate W. The rotor 7 is fixedly mounted on a drive shaft 6 and is coupled to a swash plate 8 via a hinge device 20. The hinge device 20 preferably permits the swash plate 8 to rotate with the rotor 7 as well as the drive shaft 6 and also may permit the swash plate 8 to change its inclination angle relative to the rotor 7 as well as the drive shaft 6. The swash plate 8 may be coupled to a piston(s) 11 that reciprocates within a cylinder bore(s) 2a.

Abstract: A compressor that generates relatively little noise and prevents partial clutch engagement and gas leakage when the inclination of a cam plate is suddenly decreased by a great amount. The compressor includes a control valve that electrically controls the compressor displacement based on external information. The rear end of a drive shaft is supported by a shaft bore formed in a cylinder block. A stopper is located endwise of the drive shaft to limit axial movement of the drive shaft. The stopper may be very stiff spring or a rigid member.

Abstract: A compressor includes a piston and a shoe, which contact and slide on one another. The piston includes a sliding surface, on which a solid lubricant film is formed. The shoe includes a sliding surface that slides on the first sliding surface. A soft film that mainly contains soft metal is formed on the second sliding surface. The solid lubricant that forms the solid lubricant film is a solid lubricant other than a soft metal.

Abstract: A maximum inclination setting projection comes into contact with a rotary support in a region closer to a point corresponding to a top dead center than an imaginary two-part dividing plane, thereby establishing a maximum angle of inclination of a cam plate. Thus, a hinge mechanism is not required to support any proportion of a compressive load in the region closer to the point corresponding to the top dead center than the imaginary two-part dividing plane when the cam plate is in its maximum angle of inclination. Bulbous parts of guide pins do not come in contact with halves of cylindrical inside surfaces of guide holes closer to the rotary support, and there is made a clearance between the bulbous part of the guide pin and the guide hole and between the bulbous part of the guide pin and the guide hole, interrupting transmission of the compressive load between them.

Abstract: Suction ports corresponding to individual cylinder bores are formed in a partition plate. A refrigerant feeder channel is provided on a rear wall of a rear housing whose internal space is partitioned chiefly into a suction chamber and a discharge chamber. A structural wall of the refrigerant feeder channel constitutes an integral part of the rear housing. The refrigerant feeder channel is formed from an outer cylindrical wall of the rear housing, extends across the discharge chamber and opens into the suction chamber. An outflow opening of the refrigerant feeder channel has a slanting edge so that it opens toward the partition plate. The outflow opening is so positioned that its center lies on an axis of a rotary shaft.

Abstract: A compressor comprises a drive shaft supported in a housing, a piston accommodated in a cylinder bore and connected to the drive plate, a valve plate for separating the cylinder bore from the suction chamber and the discharge chamber. A discharge passage passes through the housing and the valve plate to connect the discharge chamber to the external circuit. Gas is sent from the discharge chamber to the external circuit through the discharge passage. A check valve is located on the valve plate to selectively open and close the discharge passage. The check valve checks gas flow from the external circuit to the discharge chamber. This prevents the pressure in the crank chamber from increasing to an excessive degree.

Abstract: A compressor includes a transpire passageway exclusively communicated with a suction pressure area, and a throttle constituted by a clearance gap between an inner peripheral surface of an end portion of the shaft hole adjoining a crankcase chamber and an outer peripheral surface of a drive shaft. The transpire passageway has one end passageway portion being opened at a sealed portion sealed by a shaft sealing member disposed in a shaft hole. The transpire passageway has another end passageway portion being opened a suction pressure area.