U.S. patent application number 12/185476 was filed with the patent office on 2009-02-12 for vane compressor.
This patent application is currently assigned to CALSONIC KANSEI CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Yoshitake UESHIMA.
Application Number | 20090041606 12/185476 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40011331 |
Filed Date | 2009-02-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090041606 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
UESHIMA; Yoshitake |
February 12, 2009 |
VANE COMPRESSOR
Abstract
Provide a vane compressor which starts the compression without
delay, and which prevents the vanes from chattering under the
start-up operation. To this end, the vane compressor 1 includes: a
cylinder chamber 3; a rotor 5 rotatably arranged in the cylinder
chamber 3; vane grooves 7 provided in the rotor 5 at equal
intervals in the circumferential direction thereof; vanes 9
arranged in the vane grooves 7 in a way that the vanes 9 are
capable of protruding to, and retracting from, the cylinder chamber
3; and the vane back-pressure chamber 11 communicating with the
bottom portions of the vane grooves 7, and configured to apply the
back pressure to the vanes 9; and a back-pressure supplying unit 13
configured to transmit the pressure to the vane back-pressure
chamber 11, and to push up the vanes to the sliding surface of the
cylinder chamber 3 once the activation mode for rotating the rotor
5 is selected.
Inventors: |
UESHIMA; Yoshitake;
(Kato-gun, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FOLEY AND LARDNER LLP;SUITE 500
3000 K STREET NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20007
US
|
Assignee: |
CALSONIC KANSEI CORPORATION
|
Family ID: |
40011331 |
Appl. No.: |
12/185476 |
Filed: |
August 4, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
418/259 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F01C 21/0863 20130101;
F04C 2/3446 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
418/259 |
International
Class: |
F01C 1/00 20060101
F01C001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 9, 2007 |
JP |
2007-208016 |
Claims
1. A vane compressor (1, 101), comprising: a cylinder chamber (3);
a rotor (5) rotatably arranged in the cylinder chamber (3); vane
grooves (7) provided in the rotor (5) at equal intervals in a
circumferential direction of the rotor (5); vanes (9) arranged in
the vane grooves (7) in a manner such that the vanes (9) are
capable of protruding to, and retracting from, the cylinder chamber
(3); a vane back-pressure chamber (11) communicating with bottom
portions of the vane grooves (7), and configured to apply a back
pressure to the vanes (9); and a back-pressure supplying unit (13)
configured to push up the vanes is (9) to a sliding surface of the
cylinder chamber (3) by transmitting the back pressure to the vane
back-pressure chamber (11) when an activation mode for rotating the
rotor (5) is selected.
2. The vane compressor (1) according to claim 1, wherein the
back-pressure supplying unit (13) comprises: a back-pressure
cylinder (15) communicating with the vane back-pressure chamber
(11); an activation piston (17) configured to generate the back
pressure by moving in the back-pressure cylinder (15); an
activation spring (21) configured to bias the activation piston
(17) in a back-pressure generating direction; and a position
holding module (19) configured to hold the activation piston (17)
in its resting position against the activation spring (21).
3. The vane compressor (1) according to claim 2, wherein the
position holding module (19) comprises: an engagement part (25)
provided between the activation piston (17) and a stopper member
(23), and configured to hold the activation piston (17) in its
resting position; an engagement spring (27) configured to bias the
stopper member (23) in an engagement direction of the engagement
part (25); and an electromagnetic solenoid (29) configured to
release the engagement part (25) from its engagement against the
engagement spring (27).
4. The vane compressor (1) according to claim 3, wherein the
activation piston (17) is provided with a cam (31) configured to
cause the stopper member (23) to retract against the engagement
spring (27) when the activation piston (17) retracts due to a
return pressure which is transmitted from the vane back-pressure
chamber (11) after the completion of the activation thereof; and
the engagement spring (27) is configured to cause the engagement
part (25) to engage by pressing the stopper member (23) once
retracted.
5. The vane compressor according to claim 2, wherein a low-pressure
side of the back-pressure cylinder (15) communicates with the inlet
port (49).
6. The vane compressor according to claim 3, wherein a low-pressure
side of the back-pressure cylinder (15) communicates with the inlet
port (49).
7. The vane compressor according to claim 4, wherein a low-pressure
side of the back-pressure cylinder (15) communicates with the inlet
port (49).
8. The vane compressor (101) according to claim 1, wherein the
back-pressure supplying unit (103) comprises: a high-pressure tank
(105) communicating with the vane back-pressure chamber (11), and
filled with a highly-pressurized fluid (51); a valve (107)
configured to allow and shut off a flow of the fluid (51) between
the vane back-pressure chamber (11) and the high-pressure tank
(105); and an opening/closing module (109) configured to open the
valve (107), and thus to cause the back pressure to be transmitted
from the high-pressure tank (105) to the vane back-pressure chamber
(11), once the activation mode is selected.
9. The vane compressor (101) according to claim 8, wherein the
opening/closing module (109) comprises: a stopper spring (111)
configured to close the valve (107); and an electromagnetic
solenoid (113) configured to cause the back pressure to be
transmitted from the high-pressure tank (105) to the vane
back-pressure chamber (11) by opening the valve (107) against the
stopper spring (111) once the activation mode is selected.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a vane compressor with a
compression chamber being formed in a cylinder chamber by use of
vanes which protrude out of a rotor.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] An example of a current type of vane compressor is disclosed
in Japanese Patent Application, Laid-Open No. 2004-190509. In this
type of vane compressor, when a rotor rotates, a centrifugal force
and a back pressure stemming from a discharge pressure raise the
vanes in the vane grooves up until the vanes come into intimate
contact with the sliding surface of a cylinder chamber. Thereby,
the vane compressor starts to compress the gas. For the purpose of
facilitating the movement and intimate contact of the vanes under
start-up operation, the vane compressor is provided with a volute
pump driven by the rotation of the rotor. This volute pump
transmits the back pressure to a vane back-pressure chamber.
[0005] Only after the compressor is activated, the volute pump
starts to rotate, and the discharge pressure of the compressor
starts to rise. There is a time lag between the activation of the
compressor and the actual compression which starts with the
application of a desired back pressure to the vane back-pressure
chamber. Because of this, the real compression lags behind.
[0006] On the other hand, once the compressor stops its operation,
the vanes sometimes retract to the bottom portions of the vane
grooves due to the gravitation and the differential pressure
generated by the reverse rotation of the rotor. This is because the
discharge pressure and the vane back pressure generated by the
volute pump disappear. Once the compressor is activated again under
this state, the vanes repeatedly hit the cylinder chamber during
their incomplete compression and discharge strokes due to a
centrifugal force until a stable pressure is supplied to the vane
back-pressure chamber. This causes the vanes to chatter under the
start-up operation, and accordingly causes continuous impulsive
sounds.
[0007] In the case of the vane compressor using the pressure
generated by the volute pump and the discharge pressure of itself,
as described above, the vane back pressure starts to rise only
after the compressor is activated. For this reason, the start of
real compression lags the activation of the compressor more, and
the vanes continue to chatter under the start-up operation for a
longer time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention has been made with the foregoing
problem taken into consideration. An object of the present
invention is to provide a vane compressor which causes the
compression to start without delay, and which prevents the vanes
from chattering under its start-up operation.
[0009] A first aspect of the present invention is a vane compressor
characterized by including: a cylinder chamber; a rotor rotatably
arranged in the cylinder chamber; vane grooves provided in the
rotor at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the
rotor; vanes arranged in the respective vane grooves in a way that
the vanes are capable of protruding to, and retracting from, the
cylinder chamber; a vane back-pressure chamber communicating with
the bottom portions of the respective vane grooves, and configured
to apply a back pressure to the vanes; and a back-pressure
supplying unit configured to push up the vanes to the sliding
surface of the cylinder chamber by transmitting the back pressure
to the vane back-pressure chamber when an activation mode for
rotating the rotor.
[0010] In the vane compressor according to the first aspect, once
the activation mode is selected, the back-pressure supplying unit
transmits the back pressure to the vane back-pressure chamber, as
well as the vanes are thus pushed up to, and brought into intimate
contact with, the sliding surface of the cylinder chamber, before
the rotor starts to rotate. For this reason, the start of real
compression does not lag the activation of the compressor, unlike
the vane compressor of the current type in which a pressure starts
to be applied to the vane back-pressure chamber after the rotor
starts to rotate. As a result, the compressor is no sooner
activated than the compression starts. This increases the
compression performance.
[0011] In addition, the rotor starts to rotate only after the vanes
are at once pushed up to, and brought into intimate contact with,
the sliding surface of the cylinder chamber due to the pressure
supplied by the back-pressure supplying unit. For this reason, the
vanes no longer chatter as a consequence of repeated hit of the
vanes against the cylinder chamber under the start-up
operation.
[0012] A second aspect of the present invention is the vane
compressor according to the first aspect, characterized in that the
back-pressure supplying unit includes: a back-pressure cylinder
communicating with the vane back-pressure chamber; an activation
piston configured to generate the back pressure by moving in the
back-pressure cylinder; an activation spring configured to bias the
activation piston in a direction in which the back pressure is
generated (hereinafter referred to as a "back-pressure generating
direction"); and a position holding module configured to hold the
activation piston in its resting position against the activation
spring.
[0013] In the vane compressor according to the second aspect, once
the activation mode is selected, the activation piston is released
from the position at which the activation piston has been held by
the position holding module, and the activation spring thus moves
the activation piston in the back-pressure generating direction of
the cylinder. Thereby, the back pressure is supplied to the vane
back-pressure chamber, and brings the vanes into intimate contact
with the sliding surface of the cylinder chamber.
[0014] A third aspect of the present invention is the vane
compressor according to the second aspect, characterized in that
the position holding module includes: an engagement part provided
between the activation piston and a stopper member, and configured
to hold the activation piston in its resting position; an
engagement spring configured to bias the stopper member in an
engagement direction of the engagement part; and an electromagnetic
solenoid configured to release the engagement part from its
engagement against the engagement spring.
[0015] In the vane compressor according to the third aspect, the
engagement spring holds the engagement part in the holding
condition until the activation mode is selected. Once the
activation mode is selected, the electromagnetic solenoid moves the
stopper member against the engagement spring, and thus releases the
engagement part from the engagement. Thereby, the activation spring
moves the activation piston in the back-pressure generating
direction, and the back pressure is thus supplied to the vane
back-pressure chamber. The back pressure brings the vanes into
intimate contact with the sliding surface of the cylinder
chamber.
[0016] Furthermore, the electromagnetic solenoid is operated only a
moment at which the engagement part is released from the engagement
by moving the stopper member. For this reason, the electromagnetic
solenoid consumes only a very small amount of electric power.
[0017] A fourth aspect of the present invention is the vane
compressor according to the third aspect, characterized in that:
the activation piston is provided with a cam configured to cause
the stopper member to retract against the engagement spring when
the activation piston retracts due to a return pressure which is
transmitted from the vane back-pressure chamber after the
completion of the activation thereof; and the engagement spring is
that configured to cause the engagement part to engage by pressing
the stopper member once retracted.
[0018] In the vane compressor according to the fourth aspect, after
the completion of the activation, the activation piston and the
activation spring as well as the engagement spring and the
engagement part of the position holding module are automatically
reset in their respective resting positions where they rest before
the activation mode is selected in accordance with the following
scheme. That is because, when the activation piston retracts to its
resting position side with the return pressure being applied from
the vane back-pressure chamber, the cam provided to the activation
piston causes the stopper member to retract against the engagement
spring in the middle of its retraction. Subsequently, the
engagement spring presses the stopper member once retracted, and
thus causes the engagement part to engage.
[0019] A fifth aspect of the present invention is the vane
compressor according to any one of the second to fourth aspects,
characterized in that the low-pressure side of the back-pressure
cylinder communicates with the inlet port.
[0020] In the vane compressor according to the fifth aspect, the
low-pressure side of the back-pressure cylinder communicates with
the inlet port. For this reason, after the completion of the
activation, when the activation piston returns to its resting
position side with the return pressure being applied from the vane
back-pressure chamber, the activation piston is assuredly returned
to its resting position by the suction effect of the low pressure
coming from the inlet port.
[0021] A sixth aspect of the present invention is the vane
compressor according to the first aspect, characterized in that the
back-pressure supplying unit includes: a high-pressure tank
communicating with the vane back-pressure chamber, and filled with
a highly-pressurized fluid; a valve configured to allow and shut
off the flow of the fluid between the vane back-pressure chamber
and the high-pressure tank; an opening/closing module configured to
open the valve, and thus to cause the back pressure to be
transmitted from the high-pressure tank to the vane back-pressure
chamber, once the activation mode is selected.
[0022] In the vane compressor according to the sixth aspect, once
the activation mode is selected, before the rotor starts to rotate,
the valve opens the high-pressure tank, and the back pressure is
thus transmitted to the vane back-pressure chamber. Thereby, the
vanes are pushed up, and brought into intimate contact with, the
sliding surface of the cylinder chamber. For this reason, the start
of real compression does not lag the activation of the compressor.
As a result, the compressor is no sooner activated than the
compression starts. This increases the compression performance.
[0023] In addition, the rotor starts to rotate only after the vanes
are at once pushed up to, and brought into intimate contact with,
the sliding surface of the cylinder chamber due to the pressure
coming from the high-pressure tank. For this reason, the vanes no
longer chatter as a consequence of repeated hit of the vanes
against the cylinder chamber under the start-up operation.
[0024] Furthermore, only immediately after the activation mode is
selected, the electromagnetic solenoid needs to be operated. For
this reason, the electromagnetic solenoid consumes only a very
small amount of electric power.
[0025] A seventh aspect of the present invention is the vane
compressor according to the sixth aspect, characterized in that the
opening/closing module includes: a stopper spring configured to
close the valve; and an electromagnetic solenoid configured to
cause the back pressured to be transmitted from the high-pressure
tank to the vane back-pressure chamber by opening the valve against
the stopper spring once the activation mode is selected.
[0026] In the vane compressor according to the seventh aspect,
before the activation mode is selected, the valve is stopped by the
stopper spring. Once the activation mode is selected, the
electromagnetic solenoid releases the valve against the stopper
spring, and the back pressure is thus transmitted to the vane
back-pressure chamber.
[0027] Moreover, the valve is configured in such a way as to be
released against the stopper spring. For this reason, once the vane
compressor starts a compression operation, the valve is released
against the stopper spring with the return pressure being applied
from the vane back-pressure chamber, and the high-pressure tank is
thus filled with the oil. Additionally, once the internal pressure
of the high-pressure tank becomes equal to the pressure of the vane
back-pressure chamber, the valve is stopped by the stopper spring,
and is thus reset to its resting position at which the valve is
located before the activation mode is selected.
[0028] In this manner, the valve can be reset to the resting
position without use of an external force or electric power.
[0029] In addition, the valve is reset to the resting position
without operating the electromagnetic solenoid. All the more for
this, the electromagnetic solenoid saves its power consumption.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
[0030] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment, and is a configuration
diagram of a chief section of a vane compressor which is put in a
resting condition before an activation mode is selected.
[0031] FIG. 2 shows the first embodiment, and is a configuration
diagram of the chief section of the vane compressor in which a back
pressure is being transmitted to a vane back-pressure chamber after
the activation mode is selected.
[0032] FIG. 3 shows the first embodiment, and is a configuration
diagram of the chief section of the vane compressor in which a
back-pressure supplying unit and a position holding module are
reset after a compression operation starts.
[0033] FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment, and is a configuration
diagram of a chief section of a vane compressor which is put in a
resting condition before an activation mode is selected.
[0034] FIG. 5 shows the second embodiment, and is a configuration
diagram of the chief section of the vane compressor in which a back
pressure is being transmitted to a vane back-pressure chamber after
the activation mode is selected.
[0035] FIG. 6 shows the second embodiment, and is a configuration
diagram of the chief section of the vane compressor in which a
back-pressure supplying unit and an opening/closing module are
reset after a compression operation starts.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0036] Descriptions will be provided hereinbelow for the
embodiments of the present invention by referring to the
drawings.
First Embodiment
[0037] FIGS. 1 to 3 each show a first embodiment of the present
invention. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a chief section of a
vane compressor 1 which is put in the resting condition. FIG. 2 is
a cross-sectional view of the chief section of the vane compressor
1 in the condition when an activation mode is selected. FIG. 3 is a
cross-sectional view of the chief section of the vane compressor 1
in the condition when a back-pressure supplying unit 13 and a
position holding module 19 are reset.
[0038] The vane compressor 1 includes: a cylinder chamber 3; a
rotor 5 rotatably arranged in the cylinder chamber 3; vane grooves
7 provided in the rotor 5 at equal intervals in a circumferential
direction thereof; vanes 9 arranged in the vane grooves 7 in a way
that the vanes 9 are capable of protruding to, and retracting from,
the cylinder chamber 3; a vane back-pressure chamber 11
communicating with the bottom portions of the vane grooves 7, and
configured to apply a back pressure to the vanes 9; and a
back-pressure supplying unit 13 configured to push up the vanes 9
to a sliding surface of the cylinder chamber 3 by transmitting the
back pressure to the vane back-pressure chamber 11 when an
activation mode for rotating the rotor 5 is selected.
[0039] The back-pressure supplying unit 13 includes: a
back-pressure cylinder 15 communicating with the vane back-pressure
chamber 11; an activation piston 17 configured to generate the back
pressure by moving in the back-pressure cylinder 15; an activation
spring 21 configured to bias the activation piston 17 in a
back-pressure generating direction; and a position holding module
19 configured to hold the activation piston 17 in its resting
position against the activation spring 21.
[0040] The position holding module 19 includes: an engagement part
25 provided between the activation piston 17 and a stopper member
23, and configured to hold the activation piston 17 in a position
where the activation piston 17 rests before being pushed into the
activation piston 17; an engagement spring 27 configured to bias
the stopper member 23 in an engagement direction of the engagement
part 25; and an electromagnetic solenoid 29 configured to release
the engagement part 25 from its engagement against the engagement
spring 27.
[0041] The activation piston 17 is provided with a cam 31
configured to cause the stopper member 23 to retract against the
engagement spring 27 when the activation piston 17 retracts due to
a return pressure from the vane back-pressure chamber 11 after the
completion of the activation thereof. The engagement spring 27
causes the engagement part 25 to engage by pressing the stopper
member 23 once retracted.
[0042] In addition, the low-pressure side of the back-pressure
cylinder 15 communicates with the inlet port 49.
[0043] The cylinder chamber 3 is almost elliptical, and is formed
in a position inside a front-side block (not illustrated), a
cylinder block 33 and a rear-side block (not illustrated). The
rotor 5 is fixed to a rotor shaft 35, and is arranged coaxial with
the cylinder chamber 3. The vane back-pressure chamber 11 is
provided, for example, between the front-side block (not
illustrated) and the cylinder block 33, and between the rear-side
block (not illustrated) and the cylinder block 33. The vane
back-pressure chamber 11 communicates with the bottom portions of
the vane grooves 7 of the rotor 5. When the coolant starts to be
compressed in response to the rotation of the rotor 5, the back
pressure which occurs due to the discharge pressure is designed to
work on the vane back-pressure chamber 11.
[0044] The cylinder block 33 is provided with two cylinder outlet
ports 37 in its two portions. Each cylinder outlet port 37 is
provided with a check valve 39. Each cylinder outlet port 37
communicates with the outlet port 45 of the compressor housing 43
through an oil separator 41. The outlet port 45 communicates with a
condenser (not illustrated).
[0045] Two cylinder inlet ports 47 are provided in a position
between the front-side block (not illustrated) and the cylinder
block 33, and in a position between the rear-side block (not
illustrated) and the cylinder block 33. Each cylinder inlet port 47
communicates with the inlet port 49 of the compressor housing 43.
The inlet port 49 communicates with an evaporator (not
illustrated). The compressor housing 43 is filled with a
predetermined amount of oil 51. Part of this oil 51 is mixed with
the coolant.
[0046] The cylinder 15 in the back-pressure supplying unit 13
communicates with the vane back-pressure chamber 11 through an oil
passage 53. The activation spring 21 biases the activation piston
17 in the back-pressure generating direction (or the direction
indicated by an arrow 71 in FIG. 2). In addition the low-pressure
side of the cylinder 15 (or the opposite side of the oil passage
53) communicates with the cylinder inlet ports 47 through the
communicating passage 55.
[0047] The engagement part 25 of the position holding module 19 is
constituted of: a concave part 57 formed in the outer periphery of
the activation piston 17; and the tip portion of the stopper member
23. The electromagnetic solenoid 29 includes an electromagnetic
coil 59 and an armature 61. The armature 61 and the stopper member
23 are integrated into a single unit. The engagement spring 27
biases the stopper member 23 to the concave part 57 in the
activation piston 17 with the armature 61 being interposed in
between.
[0048] In addition, after the cam 31 provided to the activation
piston 17 comes into contact with the tip of the stopper member 23,
the cam 31 causes the stopper member 23 to retract against the
engagement spring 27 to a position at which the stopper member 23
releases the engagement part 25 from the engagement.
[0049] Next, descriptions will be provided for how the vane
compressor 1 operates. While the vane compressor 1 is in its
resting status, as shown in FIG. 1, before the activation mode is
selected, the rotor 1 rests, and the electromagnetic solenoid 29 is
in the OFF state. The activation piston 17 is held in its resting
position with the tip portion of the stopper member 23 engaging
with the concave part 57 of the activation piston 17 while pressed
by the engagement spring 27. Thereby, no back pressure is
transmitted to the vane back-pressure chamber 11. As a result, the
vanes 9 retract back to the bottom portions of the respective vane
grooves 7 due to the gravitation and the differential pressure
generated by the reverse rotation of the rotor.
[0050] Once the activation mode is selected, as shown in FIG. 2,
the electromagnetic solenoid 29 is turned on immediately. Once the
electromagnetic solenoid 29 is turned on, the stopper member 23
retracts from its engagement position, and the engagement part 25
is thus released is from the engagement. Once the engagement part
25 is released from the engagement, the activation spring 21 moves
the activation piston 17 in the back-pressure generating direction,
and the hydraulic pressure (or the back pressure) is thus
generated. Thereby, the back pressure is supplied to the vane
back-pressure chamber 11 through the oil passage 53 as indicated by
an arrow 73. In response to this, the vanes 9 are pushed up to, and
brought into intimate contact with, the sliding surface of the
cylinder chamber 3.
[0051] The electrical solenoid 29 is turned on momentarily when the
activation mode is selected. After that, the electromagnetic
solenoid 20 is turned off immediately.
[0052] After the rotor 5 starts to rotate with the vanes 9 being in
intimate contact with the sliding surface of the cylinder chamber
3, the vanes 9 continue to be held in the state of being in
intimate contact with the cylinder chamber 3 due to the centrifugal
force generated by the rotation of the rotor 5 and the discharge
pressure (or the back pressure) supplied to the vane back-pressure
chamber 11, as described below, even when the electromagnetic
solenoid 29 is turned off and the electromagnetic coil 59 stops
being excited.
[0053] Once, as shown in FIG. 3, the vanes 9 come into intimate
contact with the sliding surface of the cylinder chamber 3, the
rotor 5 is driven to rotate as indicated by the arrow 75, and the
vane compressor 1 is thus activated. The coolant is taken in
through the inlet port 49 as indicated by the arrow 77, and is
subsequently compressed. The resultant coolant is discharged
through the outlet port 45 as indicated by the arrow 79.
[0054] At this time, as described above, the electromagnetic
solenoid 29 is turned off. The highly-pressurized oil (or the
return pressure) which occurs due to the discharge pressure flows
into the back-pressure cylinder 15 from the oil passage 53 as
indicated by an arrow 81. The highly-pressurized oil (or the return
pressure) moves the activation piston 17 to its resting position
against the activation spring 21. In the middle of the movement of
the activation piston 17, the cam operates, and causes the stopper
member 23 to retract against the engagement spring 27. Thereafter,
when the concave part 57 in the activation piston 17 moves to a
position at which the concave part 57 is opposite to the tip of the
stopper member 23, the stopper member 23 engages with the concave
part 57 due to the biasing force of the engagement spring 27.
Thereby, the activation piston 17 is reset to its resting
position.
[0055] In addition, when, as described above, the activation piston
17 retracts due to the discharge pressure, the compression of the
activation spring 21, the operation of the cam 31 and the
compression of the engagement spring 27 are facilitated by the
negative pressure applied to the low-pressure side of the
back-pressure cylinder 15 from the communicating passage 55
communicating with the inlet ports 47 on the low-pressure side.
Thereby, the activation piston 17 is assuredly reset to its resting
position.
[0056] In the vane compressor 1, as described above, the start of
the real compression does not lag the activation of the compressor.
That is because, before the rotor 5 starts to rotate, the
back-pressure supplying unit 13 transmits the back pressure to the
vane back-pressure chamber 11, and the vanes 9 are thus pushed up
to, and brought into intimate contact with, the sliding surface of
the cylinder chamber 3. As a result, the vane compressor 1 starts a
compression operation immediately after the vane compressor 1 is
activated. This increases the compression performance.
[0057] In addition, because the rotor 5 starts to rotate only after
the vanes 9 come into intimate contact with the sliding surface of
the cylinder chamber 3, the vanes 9 do not chatter under the
start-up operation, either.
[0058] Furthermore, when the activation piston 17 moves to its
resting position with the return pressure being applied from the
vane back-pressure chamber 11 after the completion of the
activation, the cam 31 provided to the activation piston 17 causes
the stopper member 23 to retract against the engagement spring 27
in the middle of the movement of the activation piston 17.
Subsequently, the engagement spring 27 causes the engagement part
25 to engage by pressing the retracted stopper member 23. Thereby,
the activation piston 17 is automatically reset to its resting
position at which the activation piston 17 rests before the
activation mode is selected. The activation piston 17 can be reset
thereto without use of an external power or electric power.
[0059] Additionally, the electromagnetic solenoid 29 only needs to
be on in a moment at which the engagement part 25 is released from
the engagement by moving the stopper member 23 after the activation
mode is selected. The electromagnetic solenoid 29 need not be
operated after the vane compressor 1 starts a compression operation
and when the vane compressor 1 resets the activation piston 17 to
its resting position. For this reason, the electromagnetic coil 59
consumes only a very small amount of electric power.
[0060] Moreover, because the low-pressure side of the back-pressure
cylinder 15 communicates with the cylinder inlet ports 47 through
the communicating passage 55, the retraction of the activation
piston 17 and the operation of the cam 31 are facilitated by the
negative pressure applied to the low-pressure side of the
back-pressure cylinder 15 from the cylinder inlet ports 47.
Thereby, the activation piston 17 is assuredly reset to its resting
position.
Second Embodiment
[0061] FIGS. 4 to 6 each show a second embodiment of the present
invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a chief section of a
vane compressor 101 which is put in the resting condition. FIG. 5
is a cross-sectional view of the chief section of the vane
compressor 101 which is activated after an activation mode is
selected. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the chief section of
the vane compressor 101 in which a back-pressure supplying unit 103
and an opening/closing module 109 are reset.
[0062] The vane compressor 101 includes: a cylinder chamber 3; a
rotor 5 rotatably arranged in the cylinder chamber 3; vane grooves
7 provided in the rotor 5 at equal intervals in a circumferential
direction of the rotor 5; vanes 9 arranged in the vane grooves 7 in
a way that the vanes 9 are capable of protruding to, and retracting
from, the cylinder chamber 3; a vane back-pressure chamber 11
communicating with the bottom portions of the vane grooves 7, and
configured to apply a back pressure to the vanes 9; and a
back-pressure supplying unit 103 configured to push up the vanes 9
to a sliding surface of the cylinder chamber 3 by transmitting the
pressure to the vane back-pressure chamber 11 when an activation
mode for driving to rotate the rotor 5 is selected.
[0063] The back-pressure supplying unit 103 includes: a
high-pressure tank 105 communicating with the vane back-pressure
chamber 11, and filled with highly-pressurized oil (or a fluid) 51
mixed with a coolant gas; a solenoid valve (valve) 107 configured
to allow and shut off a flow of the oil 51 between the vane
back-pressure chamber 11 and the high-pressure tank 105; an
opening/closing module 109 configured to open the solenoid valve
107, and thus to cause the pressure (or the back pressure) to be
transmitted from the high-pressure tank 105 to the vane
back-pressure chamber 11, once the activation mode is selected.
[0064] The opening/closing module 109 includes: a stopper spring
111 configured to close the solenoid valve 107; and an
electromagnetic solenoid 113 configured to cause the back pressure
to be transmitted from the high-pressure tank 105 to the vane
back-pressure chamber 11 by opening the solenoid valve 107 against
the stopper spring 111 once the activation mode is selected.
[0065] While the following descriptions are provided, functional
parts and functional members which are the same as those of the
vane compressor 1 according to the first embodiment are denoted by
the same reference numerals. Duplicated descriptions will be
omitted. The descriptions which have been provided for the first
embodiment will be referred to whenever deemed necessary.
[0066] The high-pressure tank 105 in the back-pressure supplying
unit 103 communicates with the vane back-pressure chamber 11
through an oil passage 53. The solenoid valve 107 is provided in a
location at which the high-pressure tank 105 is opened to, and
closed from, the oil passage 53.
[0067] The stopper spring 111 in the opening/closing module 109 is
arranged in a direction in which the solenoid valve 107 is opened
against the stopper spring 111.
[0068] In addition, the electromagnetic solenoid 113 includes an
electromagnetic coil 115 and an armature 117. The armature 117 is
connected to the solenoid valve 107 with a shaft 119 being
interposed in between.
[0069] Next, descriptions will be provided for how the vane
compressor 101, the back-pressure supplying unit 103 and the
opening/closing module 109 operate.
[0070] As shown in FIG. 4, while the vane compressor 101 is in a
resting status until the activation mode is selected, the
electromagnetic solenoid 113 is turned off. The solenoid valve 107
is stopped by the inner pressure of the high-pressure tank 105 and
the biasing force of the stopper spring 111. No back pressure is
transmitted to the vane back-pressure chamber 11. Accordingly, the
vanes 9 retract back to the bottom portions of the vane grooves 7
due to the gravitation and the differential pressure generated by
the reverse rotation of the rotor.
[0071] Once the activation mode is selected, as shown in FIG. 5,
the electromagnetic solenoid 113 is turned on, and the solenoid
valve 107 is thus opened against the stopper spring 111. Once the
solenoid valve 107 is opened, the hydraulic pressure (or the back
pressure) is supplied from the high-pressure tank 105 to the vane
back-pressure chamber 11 through the oil passage 53 as indicated by
an arrow 73. The vanes 9 are pushed up to, and brought into
intimate contact with, the sliding surface of the cylinder chamber
3 by this back pressure.
[0072] The electromagnetic solenoid 113 is turned on momentarily
when the activation mode is selected. After that, the
electromagnetic solenoid 113 is immediately turned off.
[0073] After the rotor 5 starts to rotate with the vanes 9 being in
intimate contact with the cylinder chamber 3, the vanes 9 continue
to be held in the state of being in intimate contact with the
cylinder chamber 3 due to the centrifugal force generated by the
rotation of the rotor 5 and the discharge pressure (or the back
pressure) supplied to the vane back-pressure chamber 11, as
described below, even when the electromagnetic solenoid 113 is
turned off.
[0074] Once, as shown in FIG. 6, the vanes 9 come into intimate
contact with the cylinder chamber 3, the rotor 5 is driven to
rotate as indicated by an arrow 75, and the vane compressor 101 is
thus activated. The coolant is taken in through the inlet port 49
as indicated by an arrow 77, and is subsequently compressed. The
resultant coolant is discharged through the outlet port 45 as
indicated by the arrow 79.
[0075] At this time, as described above, the electromagnetic
solenoid 113 is turned off. The highly-pressurized oil (or the
return pressure) which occurs due to the discharge pressure flows
from the oil passage 53 as indicated by an arrow 81. The solenoid
valve 107 is opened against the stopper spring 111, and the
highly-pressurized oil (or the return pressure) thus flows into the
high-pressure tank 105 as indicated by an arrow 83. Subsequently,
once the pressure of the high-pressure tank 105 becomes equal to
the pressure of the vane back-pressure chamber 11, the solenoid
valve 107 is stopped by the stopper spring 111, and is thus reset
to its resting position at which the solenoid valve 107 is located
before the activation mode is selected.
[0076] In the vane compressor 101, as described above, the start of
the real compression does not lag the activation of the compressor.
That is because, before the rotor 5 starts to rotate, the back
pressure is transmitted to the vane back-pressure chamber 11 from
the high-pressure tank 105, and the vanes 9 are thus pushed up to,
and brought into intimate contact with, the sliding surface of the
cylinder chamber 3. As a result, the vane compressor 101 starts a
compression operation immediately after the vane compressor 101 is
activated. This increases the compression performance.
[0077] In addition, because the rotor 5 starts to rotate only after
the vanes 9 come into intimate contact with the sliding surface of
the cylinder chamber 3, the vanes 9 do not chatter under the
start-up operation, either.
[0078] Furthermore, the solenoid valve 107 is configured to be
opened against the stopper spring 111. For this reason, after the
vane compressor 101 starts a compression operation, the solenoid
valve 107 is automatically opened against the stopper spring 111 by
the return pressure from the vane back-pressure chamber 11, and the
high-pressure tank 105 is filled with the oil. Subsequently, once
the pressure of the high-pressure tank 105 becomes equal to the
pressure of the vane back-pressure chamber 11, the solenoid valve
107 is closed by the stopper spring 111, and is reset to its
resting position. The solenoid valve 107 is reset thereto without
use of an external force or electric power.
[0079] Additionally, the electromagnetic solenoid 113 is operated
only in a moment at which the solenoid valve 107 is opened after
the activation mode is selected. The electromagnetic solenoid 113
need not be operated after the vane compressor 1 starts a
compression operation and when the vane compressor 1 resets the
solenoid valve 107 to its resting position. For this reason, the
electromagnetic coil 115 consumes only a very small amount of
electric power.
(Other Embodiments Included in the Scope of Claims)
[0080] It should be noted that the present invention shall not be
construed as being limited to only the foregoing embodiments, and
that the present invention can be variously modified within the
technical scope of the present invention.
[0081] In addition, the vane compressor according to the present
invention is applicable to any type of scheme for inputting driving
torque. For example, the present invention is capable of being
operated as an integrated motor-driven compressor obtained by
assembling the vane compressor and an electric motor together, and
as a pulley-driven compressor driven by driving torque inputted
through a pulley.
[0082] Furthermore, the application of the vane compressor
according to the present invention is not limited to a cooling
system in a vehicle air-conditioning apparatus.
[0083] The entire contents of the Japanese Patent Application No.
2007-208016 (filed on Aug. 9, 2007) are incorporated in the
description by reference.
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