U.S. patent application number 12/810062 was filed with the patent office on 2010-10-28 for valve plate of reciprocating compressor.
This patent application is currently assigned to DOOWON TECHNICAL COLLEGE. Invention is credited to Kijung An, Haksoo Kim, Kibeom Kim, Stefan Kroess, Geonho Lee, Ikseo Park.
Application Number | 20100272583 12/810062 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40372418 |
Filed Date | 2010-10-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100272583 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee; Geonho ; et
al. |
October 28, 2010 |
VALVE PLATE OF RECIPROCATING COMPRESSOR
Abstract
Provided is a valve plate of a reciprocating compressor, the
reciprocating compressor including a front housing and a rear
housing, a cylinder block having a plurality of cylinder bores, a
drive shaft rotatably supported by the front housing and the
cylinder block, a swash plate connected to the drive shaft to be
rotated therewith to vary its inclination angle, pistons
reciprocally accommodated in the cylinder bores depending on slide
movement of the swash plate, a valve plate installed between one
end of the cylinder block and the rear housing and having a suction
port and a discharge port, and a suction chamber and a discharge
chamber that are formed in the rear housing with the valve plate
interposed therebetween, characterized in that an oil suction
passage, an oil discharge passage and a coolant supply passage are
formed in a surface of the valve plate opposite to the pistons, the
oil discharge passage is constituted by at least two branch
passages directed from a center part toward an outer periphery of
the valve plate, and the branch passages are connected by a
connecting passage at the center part. Therefore, it is possible to
appropriately distribute the pressure of oil to prevent oil leakage
to the coolant supply passage, etc., even when the pressure of the
oil discharged through the oil discharge passage is high. Further,
the branch passages and the connecting passage have a specific
shape to enable smooth flow of the oil.
Inventors: |
Lee; Geonho; (Gyeonggi-do,
KR) ; Kim; Haksoo; (Kyonggi-do, KR) ; Kim;
Kibeom; (Kyungnam, KR) ; Park; Ikseo;
(Chungnam, KR) ; An; Kijung; (Chungnam, KR)
; Kroess; Stefan; (Dornbirn, AU) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Stevens Law Group
1754 Technology Drive, Suite #226
San Jose
CA
95110
US
|
Assignee: |
DOOWON TECHNICAL COLLEGE
KYONGGI-DO
KR
DOOWON ELECTRONIC CO.
CHUNGNAM
KR
|
Family ID: |
40372418 |
Appl. No.: |
12/810062 |
Filed: |
December 24, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
December 24, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR08/07687 |
371 Date: |
June 22, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/269 ;
417/439 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04B 27/1009 20130101;
F04B 39/1066 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/269 ;
417/439; 417/269 |
International
Class: |
F04B 39/02 20060101
F04B039/02; F04B 1/24 20060101 F04B001/24; F04B 39/10 20060101
F04B039/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 26, 2007 |
KR |
10-2007-0137459 |
Claims
1. A valve plate of a reciprocating compressor, the reciprocating
compressor comprising a front housing and a rear housing, a
cylinder block having a plurality of cylinder bores, a drive shaft
rotatably supported by the front housing and the cylinder block, a
swash plate connected to the drive shaft to be rotated therewith to
vary its inclination angle, pistons reciprocally accommodated in
the cylinder bores depending on slide movement of the swash plate,
a valve plate installed between one end of the cylinder block and
the rear housing and having a suction port and a discharge port,
and a suction chamber and a discharge chamber that are formed in
the rear housing with the valve plate interposed therebetween,
characterized in that an oil suction passage, an oil discharge
passage and a coolant supply passage are formed in a surface of the
valve plate opposite to the pistons, the oil discharge passage is
constituted by at least two branch passages directed from a center
part toward an outer periphery of the valve plate, and the branch
passages are connected by a connecting passage at the center
part.
2. The valve plate of a reciprocating compressor according to claim
1, wherein the valve plate has a circular shape and the branch
passages radially extend from the center part.
3. The valve plate of a reciprocating compressor according to claim
2, wherein the connecting passage has an arcuate shape concentric
with the circular shape.
4. The valve plate of a reciprocating compressor according to claim
2 or 3, wherein the oil suction passage extends from the center
part in a direction opposite to the oil discharge passage.
5. The valve plate of a reciprocating compressor according to claim
4, wherein the oil suction passage extends in a radial direction of
the circular shape.
6. The valve plate of a reciprocating compressor according to claim
4, wherein the coolant supply passage extends from the center part
toward the outer periphery of the circular shape and has a coolant
flow hole formed at an end thereof.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a valve plate of a
reciprocating compressor, and more particularly, to a valve plate
of a reciprocating compressor capable of lowering the pressure of
discharged oil to prevent leakage of the discharged oil to a
coolant supply passage.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In general, conventional reciprocating compressors are
widely used in air conditioners for automobiles, each of which
commonly includes a piston, a piston driving apparatus, a cylinder
block, valves, and so on.
[0003] Typical examples of the reciprocating compressors are swash
plate type compressors, which have been widely used in recent
times.
[0004] The swash plate type compressor is characterized in that an
inclination angle of a swash plate is varied according to variation
in thermal load to control a stroke of a piston to thereby
accomplish precise motion control, and the inclination angle of the
swash plate is continuously varied to reduce abrupt torque
variation of an engine due to the compressor to thereby improve
ride comfort of a vehicle even during operation of the
compressor.
[0005] In the reciprocating compressor, coolant is sucked through a
suction chamber to be compressed by the piston, and the compressed
coolant is discharged into a discharge chamber to transmit the
coolant into a cooling cycle repetitively.
[0006] The conventional swash plate type compressor generally
includes a front housing and a rear housing, a cylinder block
disposed between the front housing and the rear housing, a
plurality of pistons reciprocating in cylinder bores of the
cylinder block, a drive shaft disposed in the housing and
transmitting rotation movement from an external power source to
drive the pistons, a swash plate connected to the plurality of
pistons and connected to the drive shaft, and a swash plate chamber
for accommodating the swash plate, etc.
[0007] In addition, an oil circulation structure is employed in the
compressor to circulate oil therethrough.
[0008] Further, in recent times, an oil flow groove has been formed
in a surface of the valve plate opposite to the piston to circulate
the oil.
[0009] However, since the conventional compressor is concentrated
on only a function of circulating oil with no regard to the oil
pressure, when a high pressure is applied to the oil flow groove
formed in the valve plate, the oil may leak, thereby decreasing
efficiency of the compressor.
[0010] In addition, a separate element for discharging the coolant
remaining in the swash plate chamber is needed, which complicates
the structure of the compressor.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0011] In order to solve the foregoing and/or other problems, it is
an object of the present invention to provide a valve plate of a
reciprocating compressor capable of dividing an oil discharge
passage to prevent oil leakage between a valve plate and a cylinder
block even when an oil discharge pressure is high.
Technical Solution
[0012] One aspect of the present invention provides a valve plate
of a reciprocating compressor, the reciprocating compressor
including a front housing and a rear housing, a cylinder block
having a plurality of cylinder bores, a drive shaft rotatably
supported by the front housing and the cylinder block, a swash
plate connected to the drive shaft to be rotated therewith to vary
its inclination angle, pistons reciprocally accommodated in the
cylinder bores depending on slide movement of the swash plate, a
valve plate installed between one end of the cylinder block and the
rear housing and having a suction port and a discharge port, and a
suction chamber and a discharge chamber that are formed in the rear
housing with the valve plate interposed therebetween, characterized
in that an oil suction passage, an oil discharge passage and a
coolant supply passage are formed in a surface of the valve plate
opposite to the pistons, the oil discharge passage is constituted
by at least two branch passages directed from a center part toward
an outer periphery of the valve plate, and the branch passages are
connected by a connecting passage at the center part.
[0013] In this case, the valve plate may have a circular shape and
the branch passages may radially extend from the center part.
[0014] In addition, the connecting passage may have an arcuate
shape concentric with the circular shape.
[0015] Further, the oil suction passage may extend from the center
part in a direction opposite to the oil discharge passage.
[0016] Furthermore, the oil suction passage may extend in a radial
direction of the circular shape.
[0017] Meanwhile, the coolant supply passage may extend from the
center part toward the outer periphery of the circular shape and
may have a coolant flow hole formed at an end thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0018] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0019] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a
compressor employing a valve plate in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a front view of the structure of the valve plate
in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0021] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the structure of the valve
plate in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention.
MODE FOR THE INVENTION
[0022] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be
described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, a reciprocating compressor 1000 in
accordance with the present invention includes a front housing 120
and a rear housing 130, a cylinder block 110 having a plurality of
cylinder bores 110a, a drive shaft 140 rotatably supported by the
cylinder block 110, a swash plate 150 connected to the drive shaft
140 by a connecting link 600 and rotated by the drive shaft 140 to
vary an inclination angle thereof, pistons 200 reciprocally
accommodated in the cylinder bores 110a depending on slide movement
of the swash plate 150, a valve plate 300 installed between one end
of the cylinder block 110 and the rear housing 130, and a suction
chamber 131 and a discharge chamber 132 formed in the rear housing
130 with the valve plate 300 interposed therebetween.
[0024] Specifically, the front housing 120 and the rear housing 130
are installed at both sides of the cylinder block 110, and the
valve plate 300 is installed between the rear housing 130 and the
cylinder block 110.
[0025] In addition, the suction chamber 131 and the discharge
chamber 132 are formed in the rear housing 130, and the valve plate
300 has suction ports 331 for communicating the cylinder bores 110a
with the suction chamber 131 and discharge ports 332 for
communicating the cylinder bores 110a with the discharge chamber
132.
[0026] Further, suction valves and discharge valves are
respectively installed in the suction ports 331 and the discharge
ports 332 that are respectively formed in the valve plate 300 to
open and close the suction ports 331 and the discharge ports 332
using variation in pressure according to reciprocal movement of the
pistons 200.
[0027] Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in accordance with
the present exemplary embodiment, an oil suction passage 380a, an
oil discharge passage 380b and a coolant supply passage 390 are
formed in a surface of the valve plate 300 opposite to the pistons
200.
[0028] First, the oil discharge passage 380b is constituted by at
least two branch passages (a) and (b) formed from a center part
300a toward an outer periphery of the valve plate 300, and the
branch passages (a) and (b) are connected by a connecting passage
(c) in the center part 300a.
[0029] As described above, since the oil discharge passage 380b is
branched into at least two passages, an initial pressure (pressure
at the connecting passage) of the oil can be appropriately
distributed to be discharged at a low pressure.
[0030] Ultimately, it is possible to prevent oil leakage to
peripheral parts such as the coolant supply passage 390 due to the
pressure of the discharged oil.
[0031] In addition, the valve plate 300 may have a circular shape,
and the branch passages (a) and (b) may radially extend from a
center part of the circular shape. Therefore, the oil pressure can
be evenly distributed so that the oil can flow smoothly.
[0032] Further, when the connecting passage (c) has an arcuate
shape concentric with the circular shape, the oil can flow more
smoothly.
[0033] Meanwhile, the oil suction passage 380a extends from the
center part 300a of the valve plate 300 in a direction opposite to
the oil discharge passage 380b.
[0034] Specifically, the oil suction passage 380a extends in a
radial direction of the circular valve plate 300 so that the oil
can be introduced more smoothly. The outer end of the oil suction
passage 380a is in communication with a control valve 800 of the
rear housing 130. Therefore, when the oil separated from the
coolant gas by an oil separator 700 passes through the control
valve 800 to be stored in a lower part of the cylinder block 110,
the oil is sucked upward through the oil suction passage 380a by an
oil pump to be distributed into the respective parts.
[0035] In addition, the coolant supply passage 390 extends from a
center part toward an outer periphery of the circular valve plate
300, and has a coolant flow hole 370 formed at its end. The coolant
flow hole 370 is in communication with the suction chamber 131 of
the rear housing 130.
[0036] Meanwhile, the cylinder block 110 has a plurality of
cylinder bores 110a, and the coolant introduced from the suction
chamber 131 by the pistons 200 reciprocating in the cylinder bores
110a is continuously compressed.
[0037] The drive shaft 140 is rotatably supported by the front
housing 120 and the cylinder block 110, and a pulley P is coupled
to one end of the drive shaft 140 as a power source.
[0038] The swash plate 150 is slidably coupled to the pistons 200
via a shoe 201.
[0039] Further, the swash plate 150 is connected to the drive shaft
140 through a link mechanism.
[0040] Here, the link mechanism includes connecting projections 155
respectively formed at front and rear surfaces of the swash plate
150, and connecting links 600 connected to the connecting
projections 155 and the drive shaft 140 via hinge pins at their
ends.
[0041] Therefore, the connecting links 600 and the connecting
projections 155 can be hinged with respect to the drive shaft
140.
[0042] Here, the oil separator 700 is installed in the discharge
chamber 132 of the rear housing 130.
[0043] That is, since some oil is contained in the coolant sucked
from the discharge chamber 132 of the rear housing 130, the oil can
be separated by a centrifugal force through the oil separator 700
so that only pure gas coolant can be circulated through a coolant
cycle.
[0044] More specifically, the oil separator 700 includes an inner
recess 710 having a gas discharge port 711, an outer recess 720
formed along the peripheral of the inner recess 710 and in
communication with the discharge port 332, and an oil discharge
port 730 formed from the inner recess 710 and in communication with
the control valve 800.
[0045] Hereinafter, operation of the valve plate in accordance with
the present invention will be described in brief while describing
an operation mechanism of the compressor and a flow mechanism of
coolant and oil.
[0046] First, when the compressor 1000 is operated, the pulley P
connected to an engine (not shown) is rotated, and the drive shaft
140 installed at the pulley P is rotated.
[0047] As the drive shaft 140 rotates, the swash plate 150 is
rotated in an inclination-variable manner, and the pistons 200 are
slid by the swash plate 150 to perform compression. As the pistons
200 are operated, the coolant is introduced into the suction
chamber 131 of the rear housing 130 to be continuously supplied
into the cylinder bores 110a through the suction ports 331 of the
valve plate 300.
[0048] Then, the coolant introduced through the suction ports 331
of the valve plate 300 is compressed in the cylinder bores 110a by
the pistons 200, and the compressed coolant is introduced into the
outer recess 720 of the oil separator 700 through the discharge
ports 332 of the valve plate 300.
[0049] Next, the coolant is introduced into the inner recess 710
from the outer recess 720 through a coolant introduction groove 741
formed in a guide wall to separate the oil from the coolant gas
using a centrifugal force.
[0050] At this time, the oil having large density is collected in
the side bottom of the inner recess 710 outside the gas discharge
port 711 and then continuously directed to the control valve 800
through the oil discharge port 730.
[0051] The oil passed through the control valve 800 passes through
an oil distributing hole 145 formed through the drive shaft 140 in
a longitudinal direction thereof to be supplied into the swash
plate chamber 120a or peripheral parts thereof by the oil pump.
[0052] Then, the oil passed through the respective parts passes
through the peripheral parts of the oil pump to be introduced into
the cylinder bores 110a via the oil discharge passage 380b. Next,
the oil is discharged to the discharge chamber 132 by operation of
the pistons 200 together with the coolant.
[0053] Meanwhile, some of the coolant gas remaining in the swash
plate chamber 120a passes through a coolant suction hole 146 formed
through the drive shaft 140 to be introduced into the suction
chamber 131 via the coolant flow hole 370. The coolant introduced
into the suction chamber 131 is mixed with the coolant introduced
through the cooling cycle.
[0054] Solid arrows of FIG. 1 represent flow paths of the oil, and
dotted arrows of FIG. 1 represent flow paths of the coolant.
[0055] The valve plate of a reciprocating compressor in accordance
with the present invention has been exemplarily described, and the
valve plate may be applied to other typical reciprocating
compressors, on condition that the compressors include a housing, a
swash plate, a drive shaft, pistons, cylinder bores, and so on.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0056] According to a valve plate of a reciprocating compressor of
the present invention, since an oil suction passage, an oil
discharge passage and a coolant supply passage are formed in a
surface of the valve plate opposite to pistons, the oil discharge
passage is constituted by at least two branch passages formed from
a center part toward an outer periphery of the valve plate, and the
branch passages are connected by a connecting passage at the center
part, it is possible to appropriately distribute the pressure of
oil to prevent oil leakage to the coolant supply passage, etc.,
even when the pressure of the oil discharged through the oil
discharge passage is high.
[0057] In addition, since the oil can be appropriately supplied
into inner elements of the compressor, without oil leakage, it is
possible to maintain the entire efficiency of the compressor.
[0058] Further, the branch passages and the connecting passage have
a specific shape to enable smooth flow of the oil.
[0059] Furthermore, the oil suction passage also has a specific
shape to enable smooth flow of the oil.
* * * * *