Abstract: A variable displacement compressor has a control valve for controlling the displacement of the compressor. When the pressure in a discharge chamber of the compressor (discharge pressure) is equal to or higher than a first threshold value, a controller sets a duty ratio, which is sent to the control valve, to zero % to limit the discharge pressure. As a result, the compressor displacement is minimized and the discharge pressure is lowered. Therefore, the pipes of an external refrigerant circuit does not receive excessive load based on high discharge pressure. When the displacement of the compressor is minimized, circulation of refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit is stopped and refrigerant containing lubricant circulates within the compressor.

Abstract: One or more capacitors are formed using thermally oxidized films formed on a silicon layer of an SOI substrate. The capacitors may be formed alone or together with other semiconductor elements on a single SOI substrate. A diffuse layer having an impurity in a high density is first formed on the silicon layer, and then an oxidized film is formed on the diffused layer by thermal oxidation. Then, contaminants in the oxidized film are driven-out under a high temperature heat treatment, thereby to improve quality of the oxidized film, such as durability against a high voltage. Plural capacitors may be formed using oxidized films having a respectively different thickness, by repeating thermal oxidation and removal of the oxidized film.

Abstract: A housing includes a crank chamber and cylinder bores. Pistons are accommodated in the cylinder bores. A drive shaft is supported by the housing to pass through the crank chamber. A lug plate is fixed to the drive shaft. The pistons are coupled to the lug plate, which converts rotation of the drive shaft into reciprocation of the pistons and compresses gas in the cylinder bores. A thrust bearing is located between the housing and the lug plate and transmits a thrust load applied to the lug plate. The thrust bearing includes a front race located next to the housing, a rear race located next to the lug plate, and rollers located between the front and rear races. A front seat for supporting the front race is formed on the housing. A rear seat for supporting the rear race is formed on the lug plate. The diameters of the front and rear seats are different, which causes elastic deformation of the races when a thrust load is applied.

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: One or more capacitors are formed using thermally oxidized films formed on a silicon layer of an SOI substrate. The capacitors may be formed alone or together with other semiconductor elements on a single SOI substrate. A diffused layer having an impurity in a high density is first formed on the silicon layer, and then an oxidized film is formed on the diffused layer by thermal oxidation. Then, contaminants in the oxidized film are driven-out under a high temperature heat treatment, thereby to improve quality of the oxidized film, such as durability against a high voltage. Plural capacitors may be formed using oxidized films having a respectively different thickness, by repeating thermal oxidation and removal of the oxidized film.

Abstract: A variable displacement compressor includes a swash plate, which is rotatably supported on a drive shaft in a crank chamber. The crank chamber is connected to a discharge chamber through a pressurizing passage. An electromagnetic control valve is located in the pressurizing passage. When the control valve opens the pressurizing passage, pressure in the crank chamber increases and inclination of the swash plate decreases. When the control valve closes the pressurizing passage, the pressure in the crank chamber decreases and inclination of the swash plate increases. A fixed restrictor is located in the pressurizing passage. When the control valve suddenly opens the pressurizing passage, the fixed restrictor limits the flow rate of gas in the pressurizing passage so that the pressure in the crank chamber gradually increases. Accordingly, the inclination of the swash plate gradually decreases, thus reducing vibration and noise.

Abstract: A single-headed piston type swash-plate-operated refrigerant compressor is provided with a swash plate mounted on a rotatable drive shaft and having front and rear opposite surfaces, single headed pistons arranged on the rear side of the swash plate to reciprocate in respective cylinder bores, and front and rear shoes to be held in slide-contact with the peripheral parts of the front and rear surfaces of the swash plate to engage a tail end part of each of the single headed pistons with the swash plate in which the front and rear surfaces of the swash plate are provided with respective uppermost layers having physical surface properties different from one another. A front uppermost and a rear uppermost layer of the swash plate are formed of a sprayed coating of, for example, a copper-base material and the rear uppermost layer is coated by a solid lubricant layer containing a solid lubricant, such as molybdenum disulfide, at least in a part of the solid lubricant.

Abstract: A variable capacity piston-operated refrigerant compressor having a cylinder block provided with cylinder bores in which single-headed pistons are reciprocated to compress a refrigerant gas, and a housing assembly arranged on opposite ends of the cylinder block to define a crank chamber for receiving a cam plate mounted around a rotatably supported drive shaft to cause the reciprocating motion of the pistons in response to the rotation thereof together with the drive shaft, the cam plate further controlling the stroke of the reciprocation of the pistons by the use of a differential pressure between a suction pressure acting on working ends of the respective pistons via a suction chamber and a pressure in the crank chamber communicating with a discharge chamber via a gas supply passage for supplying the discharge pressure refrigerant gas containing therein a lubricating oil which is separated from the refrigerant gas by the oil separating means arranged in the gas supply passage immediately before the refriger

Abstract: A control valve used in a variable displacement compressor. The valve includes a valve chamber having a valve hole. A valve body is accommodated in the valve chamber for selectively closing and opening the valve hole. An opening spring urges the valve body in a direction opening the valve hole. An actuator generates force in a direction closing the valve hole. A solenoid rod transmits the force of the actuator to the valve body. A pressure sensing chamber is defined independently from the valve chamber to receive refrigerant from a suction passage. A pressure sensing member is located in the sensing chamber for sensing the pressure in the sensing chamber. A pressure sensing rod transmits the pressure sensed by the sensing member to the valve body. A compression spring, a cap and stoppers maintain proper alignment of the pressure sensing member. The valve body is moved based on the refrigerant pressure sensed by the sensing member, the force of the spring and on the force of the actuator.

Abstract: A variable displacement refrigerant compressor has a tilting swash plate connected to a number of pistons. The pistons are located in a cylinder block. The cylinder has a front end surface that faces the swash plate. A central bore is formed in the cylinder block to hold a drive shaft, a radial bearing, and a movable spool, or shut-off member, which regulates gas flow within the compressor. An area of the front end of the cylinder block surrounding the central bore is located forward of the axial center of the bearing.

Abstract: A housing of a compressor has a shutter chamber for accommodating a shutter. The shutter moves between a closed position, where the shutter stops flow of gas from an external circuit into a suction chamber, and an open position, where the shutter permits the gas flow in response to the tilting motion of a swash plate. A coil spring, which has a conical shape, is located in the shutter chamber to bias the shutter in a direction toward the open position from the closed position. The spring is arranged to prevent the spring from sliding against the inner wall of the shutter chamber when the spring is expanded or contracted by movement of the shutter member.

Abstract: A sealing structure for the shaft of a compressor. The sealing apparatus includes an inner ring, and outer ring, and a support ring. The inner ring and the outer rings have flexible annular lips that contact the surface of the rotary shaft. The support ring supports the inner lip and determines the position of the inner lip. The first lip permits fluid leakage along the surface of the shaft, while the second lip forms a fluid-tight seal with the shaft. The support ring prevents the internal pressure of the compressor from pressing the first lip against the shaft with excessive force, which extends the life of the sealing apparatus.

Abstract: A variable displacement type compressor is disclosed. The compressor includes a housing, a cylinder bore within the housing, a piston located in the cylinder bore, a drive shaft rotatably supported by the housing, a rotary support mounted on the drive shaft, and a cam plate connected to the piston. The cam plate is supported tiltably on the drive shaft and is slidable in axial directions of the drive shaft. The cam plate inclines between a maximum inclination position and a minimum inclination position when the displacement of the compressor is changed. A first moment is applied to the cam plate by a compression reaction force of the piston when the compressor is operating. A hinge mechanism is located between the rotary support and the cam plate. The cam plate is rotated integrally with the drive shaft, the rotary support, and the hinge mechanism.

Abstract: A refrigerant compressor having a drive shaft rotatable to cause compression of a refrigerant gas, and a drive power transmission unit for transmitting a drive power from an external drive power source to the drive shaft, the drive power transmission unit having a pulley freely rotatably mounted around the drive shaft, a power transmitting element fixed to the drive shaft, and a shock absorbent rubber element arranged between the pulley and the power transmitting element for providing a positive engagement between the rubber element and the pulley, and between the rubber element and the power transmitting element.

Abstract: A floating gate of a semiconductor memory device has a gate bird beak on an end portion thereof. Further, a positional relationship between the floating gate and a drain is controlled such that a depletion layer formed within the drain in a non-selected state of the semiconductor memory device faces the gate bird beak without interposing the drain therebetween. Accordingly, drain disturbance can be efficiently prevented.

Abstract: A control valve for a variable displacement compressor. The control valve has a valve body for regulating a gas passage. A bellows actuates the valve body in accordance with an operating pressure introduced to a pressure sensing chamber. A solenoid biases the valve body with a force based on the electric current supplied to the solenoid. A cylindrical cap is fitted to a cylindrical portion provided on a housing of the control valve. The bellows is located in the pressure sensing chamber. The axial position of the cap in relation to the cylindrical portion is adjusted such that the bellows is positioned at a specific initial position when a pressure having a predetermined magnitude is introduced to the pressure sensing chamber and when a current having a predetermined value is supplied to the solenoid. The cap is secured to the cylindrical portion by crimping with the bellows positioned at the initial position.

Abstract: A compressor having a compression mechanism within a housing for compressing a refrigerant gas according to the rotation of a rotary shaft operatively connected to an external power source. A pulley is mounted on the rotary shaft and located on one side of the housing for transmitting power from the external power source to the shaft. A fan sends air to the outer surface of the housing by rotating with the pulley. Heat transferring fins are provided on the housing adjacent to the fan.

Abstract: A compressor comprises a plurality of compression chambers used for compressing gas. A gas chamber includes one of a suction chamber for supplying the gas to the compression chambers and a discharge chamber for receiving the compressed gas from the compression chambers. A plate member is located between the compression chambers and the gas chamber. The plate member has a plurality of ports respectively arranged in association with the compression chambers for connecting each compression chamber with the gas chamber. A plurality of valve flaps are respectively arranged in association with the ports. Each of the valve flaps faces the plate member to selectively open and close the associated port. Each valve flap has a proximal end supported on the plate member. The plate member has at least one groove formed thereon and facing the proximal end of each valve flap. Foreign matter enters between the proximal end of each valve flap and the plate member and is collected by the groove.

Abstract: A compressor includes a cylinder block having a cylinder bore, a first housing attached to a first end of the cylinder block, a second housing attached to a second end of the cylinder block, a crank chamber defined between the cylinder block and the first housing, a drive plate located in the crank chamber and mounted on a drive shaft, and a piston operably coupled to the drive plate and located in the cylinder bore. The drive plate is tiltable between a maximum inclination position and a minimum inclination position according to a difference between the pressure in the crank chamber and the pressure in the cylinder bore. The cylinder block has a shutter chamber opening to the first end and the second end. A shutter member is accommodated in the shutter chamber. The shutter member is movable between a first position and a second position in response to the inclination of the drive plate to selectively connect and disconnect an external circuit with an suction chamber.

Abstract: A swash plate tiltably supported on a drive shaft is controlled by adjusting the pressure in a crank chamber. When an electromagnetic valve is de-excited, the high-pressure refrigerant gas in a discharge chamber is supplied to the crank chamber so that the inclination angle of the swash plate is shifted to its minimum inclination from its maximum inclination. An open/close mechanism located in a suction passage gradually opens or closes the suction passage in accordance with the differential pressure between the pressure in the external refrigeration circuit located upstream the open/close mechanism and the pressure in a suction chamber. When the inclination angle of the swash plate is minimized, the open/close mechanism closes the suction passage. It is therefore possible to prevent frosting while also suppressing rapid changes in load torque.