Patents by Inventor Shigemi Shimizu

Shigemi Shimizu has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7313999
    Abstract: A piston includes a piston body fitted into a cylinder bore and having a sliding peripheral surface disposed in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder bore. The sliding peripheral surface of the piston body and the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder bore each have a noncircular cross-sectional form. The sliding peripheral surface of the piston body is formed by an elastically deformable sealing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Shigemi Shimizu, Masatoshi Sagiya, Hidenori Hosoi
  • Patent number: 7232294
    Abstract: In a compressor having a discharge valve mechanism, a valve retainer has a curved surface which is faced to and spaced from a movable portion of a flexible plate-like discharge valve and adapted to limit the movement of the movable portion. In a first direction parallel to the valve plate, the movable portion extends from a fixed portion, fixed to a valve plate, to face an exit end of a discharge hole of the valve plate. The curved surface has a plurality of parts different in radius of curvature from one another in a second direction parallel to the valve plate and perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Shigemi Shimizu, Shinji Nakamura, Takahiro Ito
  • Publication number: 20050025648
    Abstract: A piston includes a piston body fitted into a cylinder bore and having a sliding peripheral surface disposed in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder bore. The sliding peripheral surface of the piston body and the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder bore each have a noncircular cross-sectional form. The sliding peripheral surface of the piston body is formed by an elastically deformable sealing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventors: Shigemi Shimizu, Masatoshi Sagiya, Hidenori Hosoi
  • Publication number: 20040109778
    Abstract: In a compressor having a discharge valve mechanism, a valve retainer has a curved surface which is faced to and spaced from a movable portion of a flexible plate-like discharge valve and adapted to limit the movement of the movable portion. In a first direction parallel to the valve plate, the movable portion extends from a fixed portion, fixed to a valve plate, to face an exit end of a discharge hole of the valve plate. The curved surface has a plurality of parts different in radius of curvature from one another in a second direction parallel to the valve plate and perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Shigemi Shimizu, Shinji Nakamura, Takahiro Ito
  • Patent number: 6350106
    Abstract: A valuable displacement compressor has several cylinder bores, a crank chamber, a valve plate, a discharge chamber, and a capacity control mechanism for controlling pressure in the crank chamber. A swash plate is disposed in the crank chamber and is tiltably connected to a drive shaft. The swash plate is coupled to each of the pistons, so that the pistons are driven in a reciprocating motion within the cylinder bores. A tilt angle of the swash plate is variable depending on pressure in the crank chamber. A gas passage communicates between the crank chamber and the discharge chamber via the capacity control mechanism, which is disposed along with a line extension of the drive shaft. A first end portion of the capaity control mechanism projects into the discharge chamber and has a screw mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Shigemi Shimizu, Kiyoshi Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 6216582
    Abstract: In a swash plate type compressor, a swash plate (22) is fixed to a boss (21) by means of rivets (35). The swash plate is coupled to a plurality of pistons (24) via shoes (25). When a main shaft (16) is rotated to rotate a rotor (18), a rotational motion of the rotor is transmitted to the boss via a hinge mechanism (19) which changes an inclination of the swash plate. Accordingly, the boss is rotated to rotate the swash plate at the inclination to cause the pistons to make reciprocating motions in cylinders (26) via the shoes for performing a compressing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Saito, Shigemi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6038960
    Abstract: A piston-type fluid displacement apparatus includes a housing enclosing a crank chamber, a suction chamber, a suction chamber, and a discharge chamber. The housing includes a cylinder block wherein a plurality of cylinder bores formed, a drive shaft rotatably supported in the cylinder block and a plurality of pistons each of which is slidably disposed within one of the cylinder bores. Each of the pistons includes a cylindrical body and an arm portion axially extending from a first axial end of the cylindrical body and a pair of engaging portions formed the first axial end of the cylindrical body and the arm portion. The cylindrical body of the pistons includes an hollow portion therein. The housing further includes a plate having an angle of tilt and titably connected to the drive shaft and bearing coupling devices coupling the plate to each of the pistons, so that the pistons reciprocates within the cylinder bores upon rotation of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Fukushima, Shigemi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 5993177
    Abstract: In a scroll type compressor wherein a fixed scroll (8) has an end plate (8b) and an involute vane (8a) fixed to the end plate and is coupled to a movable scroll (5) so as to define a pair of working spaces therebetween, the end plate of the fixed scroll are formed a pair of cylinders each of which communicates with the working spaces via bypass holes (15a) and (15b) formed in the end plate of the fixed scroll. In each of the cylinders, a cylindrical piston valve member (10) is slidably received for opening and closing the bypass holes. Opening or closing of each bypass hole is determined depending on a position of an axial end of the piston valve member relative to the corresponding bypass hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Terauchi, Shigemi Shimizu, Akiyoshi Higashiyama, Akihiro Kawano
  • Patent number: 5937735
    Abstract: A front housing (20) has a shaft hole (210) and an oil path (20a) communicating with a crank chamber (15) and the shaft hole to lubricate a bearing supporting a drive shaft (3) and and a shaft seal contained in the shaft hole. A lubricating oil in the crank chamber (15) is scraped by the rotation of the drive shaft (3). An oil trap (19) is formed at one end of the oil path (20a) to effectively collect the lubricating oil which is supplied through the oil path (20a) to the shaft hole (210). The oil trap (19) is formed by a part of a first thrust race (201b) and an oil receiving groove (20g). The first thrust race (201b) has a plurality of finger portions (201d) bent towards a bottom surface of an annular groove (204) formed in an internal wall surface of the front housing (20). The annular groove (204) has a plurality of fitting holes (20h) for receiving the finger portions (201d) therein in one-to-one correspondence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Shigemi Shimizu, Shinji Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5899135
    Abstract: A piston type compressor comprises a compressor housing enclosing a crank chamber, suction chamber, and a discharge chamber therein. A plurality of pistons are slidably disposed within each of cylinders formed in a cylinder block. Each of the pistons includes a piston head, a piston end, a main cylindrical body and an engaging portion at the piston end axially extending from the cylindrical body. A first aperture is formed in the cylindrical body of the piston, so that the first aperture is near the piston head of the piston. A second aperture is formed in the cylindrical body of the piston so that the second aperture is near the piston end of the piston. The first aperture is positioned within the cylinder bore when the piston reciprocates in the cylinder bore. As a result, the piston type compressor of the present invention has a light weight piston which simultaneously reduces abrasion between the piston and the cylinder bore and reduces noise and vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kanou, Shigemi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 5782614
    Abstract: In a reciprocating compressor in which a suction chamber (7) extends around a discharge chamber (6) parallel to suction, a discharge gas conducting passage (6c) is connected to the discharge chamber and is adjacent to a suction gas inlet passage (7a) in a predetermined direction orthogonal to the plane. The suction gas inlet passage communicates with each of the first and second opposite ends of the suction chamber so that gas is supplied into the suction chamber through each of the first and second opposite ends thereof. A plurality of compression elements are arranged along the suction chamber and connected to the discharge chamber and the suction chamber. Each of the compression elements have a piston (16) which reciprocates to introduce the gas from the suction chamber, to compress the gas, and then to discharge the gas into the discharge chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Shigemi Shimizu, Yujiro Morita
  • Patent number: 5730249
    Abstract: A slant plate type compressor includes a compressor housing having a cylinder block provided with a plurality of cylinders and a basin portion formed at a bottom thereof for storing lubricating oil. A slant plate is disposed on the drive shaft and undergoes rotational motion with the drive shaft and is drivingly coupled to the pistons. The rotary motion of the drive shaft is converted into reciprocating motion of the pistons. An annular balance weight is coupled to a wobble plate, which is disposed about the slam plate and includes an axial end surface which has a sloped cross section. A pump mechanism disposed in the housing provides lubricating oil from the oil basin to the drive shaft. The pump mechanism contacts and is powered by the annular balance weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventor: Shigemi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 5495789
    Abstract: A swash plate type refrigerant compressor comprises a compressor housing enclosing therein a crank chamber, a suction chamber and a discharge chamber. A swash plate is tiltably connected to the drive shaft and has two sliding surfaces sides thereof. The swash plate includes a sliding surface which engages a plurality of pairs of shoes. The shoes couple the swash plate to the pistons so that the pistons may be driven in a reciprocating motion within the cylinder bores upon rotation of the swash plate. At least one groove is formed in the sliding contact surfaces between the swash plate and the shoes. The groove captures and retains lubricating oil in the refrigerant in response to the rotation of the swash plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Ogura, Kenji Saito, Shigemi Shimizu, Masakatsu Sakaki
  • Patent number: 5255569
    Abstract: A slant plate type compressor with a variable displacement mechanism is disclosed. The compressor includes a drive mechanism having a drive shaft rotatably supported in a compressor housing and a coupling mechanism for drivingly coupling the drive shaft to pistons such that rotary motion of the drive shaft is converted into reciprocating motion of the pistons. The coupling mechanism includes a slant plate having an inclined surface. The slant angle changes in response to a change in pressure in the crank chamber and, thus, changes the capacity of the compressor. The drive shaft includes an inner end portion which has a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the remainder of the drive shaft. A bias spring which has an outer diameter that is greater than a diameter of the remainder of the drive shaft is resiliently mounted on the inner end portion of the drive shaft between the slant plate and the cylinder block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Terauchi, Shigemi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 5242276
    Abstract: Disclosed is a multicylinder compressor including a cylinder block having a plurality of cylinders, a valve plate provided on an end of the cylinder block and having a plurality of inlet ports and outlet ports, a cylinder head provided on the valve plate and having a partition wall defining a discharge chamber, a discharge valve member provided on the valve plate, and a valve guard member provided in the discharge chamber and restricting the separation distance of each of the plurality of discharge valves of the discharge valve member from the valve plate. The outline of the fringe of the valve guard member is formed along the inner side surface of the partition wall. The valve guard member, particularly the valve guard portions of the valve guard member, can have a high rigidity, even if the thickness of the member is small. Therefore, the compressor according to the present invention can be made to be light-weight and can be produced inexpensively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventor: Shigemi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 5174727
    Abstract: A slant plate type compressor including a compressor housing having a cylinder block is disclosed. A plurality of cylinders are formed around the periphery of the cylinder block and a piston is slidably fitted within each of the cylinders and is reciprocated by a drive mechanism. A crank chamber is formed between the cylinder block and a front end plate of the compressor housing. The drive mechanism includes a drive shaft rotatably supported in the compressor housing, a rotor coupled to the drive shaft and rotatable therewith, and a coupling mechanism for drivingly coupling the rotor to the pistons such that they rotary motion of the rotor is converted into reciprocating motion of the pistons. The coupling mechanism includes a plate having a surface disposed at a slant angle relative to the drive shaft. The slant angle changes in response to a change in pressure in the crank chamber to change the capacity of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Terauchi, Shigemi Shimizu, Kazuhiko Takai
  • Patent number: 5165882
    Abstract: A sealing mechanism for sealing an aperture formed through a housing of a closed vessel is disclosed. The sealing mechanism includes a bolt having a threaded shaft portion and a flange portion. A seating portion is formed on the outer opening of the aperture and a rotation preventing portion is formed on the surface of the seating portion. A washer is disposed on the seating portion. The washer is made of a metal softer than the material of the housing. When the bolt is rotated the washer contacts the flange portion of the bolt. The axial force of the bolt causes the washer to engage the rotation preventing portion. The rotation preventing portion deforms the washer and prevents the washer from rotating. Therefore, the inner end surface of the washer does not rub against the surface of the seating portion. As a result, adequate sealing is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1992
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Shigemi Shimizu, Yoshihiro Ochiai
  • Patent number: 5137431
    Abstract: A slant plate type compressor having a lubricating mechanism for a piston assembly includes a housing having a cylinder block provided with a plurality of cylinders and a crank chamber adjacent the cylinder block. A piston slides within each cylinder and is reciprocated by a wobble plate driven by a cam rotor mounted on a drive shaft. Each piston is connected to the outer periphery of the wobble plate by a connecting rod. The piston has at least one piston ring disposed on its outer peripheral surface. The piston and connecting rod are connected by a ball-socket connection. During the compression stroke, the lubricating mechanism, which has a conduit formed in the piston, supplies lubricating oil from the piston chamber and the pressure reduced refrigerant gas to a gap created within the ball-socket connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1992
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Terauchu Kiyoshi, Shigemi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 5106271
    Abstract: A slant plate type compressor including a compressor housing having a cylinder block is disclosed. A plurality of peripherally located cylinders are formed through the cylinder block. A piston is slidably fitted in each of the cylinders and is reciprocated by a drive mechanism which includes a slant plate. The slant plate includes a boss for mounting a balance weight ring thereon. The balance weight ring includes an annular depression formed at an inner peripheral portion thereof. The balance weight ring is firmly attached to the boss by different types of retaining means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Shigemi Shimizu, Kazuhiko Takai
  • Patent number: 5062772
    Abstract: A slant plate type compressor including a compressor housing having a cylinder block is disclosed. A plurality of peripherally located cylinders are formed through the cylinder block. A piston is slidably fitted in each of the cylinders and is reciprocated by a drive mechanism which includes a slant plate. The slant plate includes a boss for mounting a balance weight ring thereon. The balance weight ring includes an annular depression formed at an inner peripheral portion thereof. The balance weight ring is firmly attached to the boss by different types of retaining means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1991
    Assignee: Sanden Corporation
    Inventors: Shigemi Shimizu, Kazuhiko Takai