Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit. The air conditioning apparatus is driven by an engine. The air conditioning apparatus includes a variable displacement compressor. An external information detector detects external information used for the air conditioning. An E/G-ECU controls the output of the power source. An A/C-ECU is connected to the E/G-ECU via a communication line. The A/C-ECU computes a target value of the displacement of the compressor based on the external information. The A/C-ECU sends the computed target value to the E/G-ECU. The E/G-ECU controls the displacement of the compressor based on the computed target value. This is capable of rapidly changing the discharge displacement in accordance with the driving condition of the engine.

Abstract: A mechanical rotational device includes a housing. An end portion of a rotary shaft protrudes from a front wall of the housing. An electric rotational device is coaxial with the rotary shaft and is coupled to the end portion of the rotary shaft. The electric rotational device functions as at least one of a motor and a generator. A rotational member is coupled to the rotary shaft and has a power transmitting mechanism for transmitting power between the rotational unit and an external device. A one-way clutch is located in the power transmitting path between the rotary shaft and rotational member. The one-way clutch is located inward of the rotational member. The electric rotational device is located on or forward of the housing. At least part of the electric rotational device is located outward of the power transmitting mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rotating apparatus. The rotating apparatus includes a rotor and a motor generator. The rotor includes a belt holder on its outer circumferential surface. The belt holder transmits power between an engine and the rotor. The motor generator is accommodated in and operably connected to the rotor. The motor generator selectively functions as at least one of a motor and a generator. The motor generator is arranged inside the belt holder such that the motor generator is surrounded by the belt holder.

Abstract: Vehicle air conditioning systems (2) may include an electrically driven compressor (4, 6) that is electrically connected to an alternator (16) driven by a vehicle engine (18). The compressor may be driven in a first drive mode, in which a normal drive control is performed. The compressor also may be driven in a second drive mode, in which the rotational speed of the compressor is increased, as compared to the normal drive control. The compressor may be driven in the second drive mode at least when vehicle running speed is being reduced.

Abstract: Compressors may include a compressor housing having a compression chamber defined within the compressor housing. The compression chamber is preferably arranged and constructed to compress and discharge a fluid drawn into the compression chamber. A unit housing may be coupled to the compressor housing. A control device may be disposed within the unit housing and the control device preferably controls electric components of the compressor. Further, a suction passage is preferably defined to introduce the fluid into the compression chamber. The suction passage preferably penetrates through the unit housing so as to directly cool the control device due to the fluid flowing through the suction passage.

Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus having a refrigerant circuit including a condenser, a pressure reducing device, an evaporator, and a variable displacement compressor. The air-conditioning apparatus has a torque detecting device and an external information detecting device. The torque detecting device directly or indirectly detects the reaction torque acting on the compressor, and the external information detecting device detects various external information other than the torque. The air-conditioning apparatus further has a control device for determining a target torque in accordance with the external information provided by the external information detecting device. The control device executes a feedback control program for controlling the displacement of the compressor such that the torque detected by the torque detecting device approaches the target torque.

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.

Abstract: A compressor includes a cylinder block having a cylinder bore. A valve plate assembly is located between the cylinder block and a rear housing. The valve plate assembly includes a plurality of plates. The rear housing is connected with the cylinder block through the valve plate assembly. A pair of pins engage all the plates to determine the position of the valve plate assembly relative to at least one of the cylinder block and the rear housing.

Abstract: A control valve used for a variable displacement compressor comprises a valve housing, a valve chamber defined in the valve housing, a valve body. The valve body is located in the valve chamber. A pressure sensing chamber is defined in the valve housing. A movable wall is located in the sensing chamber to divide a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber. The movable wall moves in accordance with the pressure difference between the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber. A rod transmits the movement of the movable wall to the valve body. The pressure directed in the vicinity of the end portion of the rod is the same type pressure directed in the first pressure chamber or in the second pressure chamber. An actuator determines the target pressure difference between the two pressure chambers. This permits the displacement of the compressor to be quickly changed.

Abstract: Pistons are accommodated in each cylinder bores of a variable displacement compressor. A swash plate is coupled to the piston for converting rotation of the drive shaft to reciprocation of the pistons. A thrust bearing located between a rotor and a housing of the compressor. The outermost load-bearing points of the thrust bearing are radially farther from the axis of the drive shaft than the axes of the pistons. This permits the thrust bearing to directly receive a reaction forces from the pistons through the rotor without applying a moment to the bearing.

Abstract: A controller normally supplies current the magnitude of which corresponds to a required cooling performance of a refrigeration circuit to a displacement control valve. As a result the compressor displacement is adjusted in accordance with the required cooling performance (usual displacement control). When a vehicle is quickly accelerated, the controller temporarily eliminates the current value to the control valve to minimize the compressor displacement (displacement limiting control). When the control is switched from the displacement limiting control to the usual In displacement control, the controller changes the current value from zero to a target value, which corresponds to the required cooling performance, taking a predetermined restoration time. For an initial period of the restoration period, the current value is set greater than a corresponding value on a direct proportional line, which represents a constant rate of change from zero to the target value.

Abstract: An automobile moves at a traveling speed in accordance with the position of an acceleration pedal. A compressor is driven by the engine of the automobile. The discharge displacement of the compressor is adjusted by an external control procedure. When the position of the acceleration pedal reaches a determining value, or above at which it is determined that engine power is needed for accelerating the vehicle, the compressor is controlled such that the discharge displacement decreases. The determining value is selected by a controller in relation to the traveling speed detected by a speed sensor. The determining value increases as the speed increases.

Abstract: A vehicle air conditioning apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit. The air conditioning apparatus is driven by an engine. The air conditioning apparatus includes a variable displacement compressor. An external information detector detects external information used for the air conditioning. An E/G-ECU controls the output of the power source. An A/C-ECU is connected to the E/G-ECU via a communication line. The A/C-ECU computes a target value of the displacement of the compressor based on the external information. The A/C-ECU sends the computed target value to the E/G-ECU. The E/G-ECU controls the displacement of the compressor based on the computed target value. This is capable of rapidly changing the discharge displacement in accordance with the driving condition of the engine.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for installing pistons in cylinder bores formed in a cylinder block of a compressor. The piston on one end of the cylinder block and a positioning jig on the other end of the cylinder block are arranged. The positioning jig is inserted into the cylinder bore such that part of the positioning jig protrudes from the cylinder bores toward the piston. The protruding part of the positioning jig is engaged with the piston to determine the position of the piston. The piston is inserted into the cylinder bore while maintaining the engagement between the jig and the piston. The positioning jig is removed from the cylinder bore. This facilitate automation of installation of pistons in cylinder bores.

Abstract: A valve housing of the control valve has a communication passage communicating a suction port of the compressor with a crank chamber of the compressor. A main valve is provided in the valve housing for opening and closing the communication passage. A spring member resiliently biases the main valve toward its closed position. A pressure actuated unit moves the main valve toward the open position by receiving a suction pressure of the compressor. A flow adjustment valve is disposed in the valve housing for adjusting an open degree of a leak passage and receives the discharge pressure exerting a force on the flow adjustment valve toward its closed position. The flow adjustment valve increases a leak flow rate of a fluid flowing from a discharge port of the compressor to a crank chamber through a leak passage when the compressor provides a lower discharge pressure. A correction spring is disposed between the main valve and the flow adjustment valve.

Abstract: A shaft sealing assembly for a compressor includes first and second lip rings, each of which is disposed around a shaft of a compressor to provide sealing. A retainer ring is disposed between the two lip rings to retain the shape of the first lip ring, which serves to allow leakage of fluid when the shaft rotates and prevent the leakage when the shaft is stopped. The three rings are held together at the radial portions of the rings. Each of the radial portions of the two lip rings extends outwardly beyond the radial portion of the retainer ring, providing an annular contact area. The two lip rings resiliently contact one another in the contact area. An annular projection is provided on at least one of the lip rings in the contact area to ensure the sealing.

Abstract: A displacement control apparatus controls the displacement of a variable displacement controller. A drive shaft of the compressor is driven by an engine. Torque acting on the drive shaft represents the displacement. The apparatus includes a control valve, an air conditioner controller and a compressor controller. The control valve changes the compressor displacement. The air conditioner controller produces a torque setting signal, which represents a target torque, to the compressor controller. The compressor controller changes the valve opening based on the torque setting signal such that the actual load torque matches the target torque value. Accordingly, the compressor is controlled according to the torque. The air conditioner controller may send the torque setting signal to an engine controller, which eliminates the need for load torque maps.