U.S. patent application number 14/221808 was filed with the patent office on 2014-10-02 for compressor.
This patent application is currently assigned to KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI. The applicant listed for this patent is KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI. Invention is credited to Nobutoshi BANNO, Naoki GOTO, Toshiyuki KOBAYASHI, Jun KONDO.
Application Number | 20140294637 14/221808 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51596253 |
Filed Date | 2014-10-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140294637 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KONDO; Jun ; et al. |
October 2, 2014 |
COMPRESSOR
Abstract
A compressor includes a housing, a cylinder block, a valve
plate, a discharge valve forming plate and a retainer gasket. The
discharge valve forming plate includes a discharge valve, a
connecting portion and a discharge valve engaging portion. The
discharge valve opens and closes the discharge port. A plurality of
discharge valve support portions extends from the connecting
portion to support the discharge valve. The discharge valve
engaging portion extends from the connecting portion. The retainer
gasket includes a retainer, a gasket and a retainer gasket engaging
portion. The retainer restricts an opening and closing operation of
the discharge valve. The gasket ensures airtightness between the
housing and the cylinder block. The retainer gasket engaging
portion is formed by bending a part of the retainer gasket. The
discharge valve forming plate and the retainer gasket are
positioned by connecting the discharge valve engaging portion and
the retainer gasket engaging portion.
Inventors: |
KONDO; Jun; (Kariya-shi,
JP) ; BANNO; Nobutoshi; (Kariya-shi, JP) ;
KOBAYASHI; Toshiyuki; (Kariya-shi, JP) ; GOTO;
Naoki; (Kariya-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA JIDOSHOKKI |
kariya-shi |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOYOTA
JIDOSHOKKI
kariya-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
51596253 |
Appl. No.: |
14/221808 |
Filed: |
March 21, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/559 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04B 27/0852 20130101;
F04B 27/1036 20130101; F04B 27/1081 20130101; F04B 27/0873
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/559 |
International
Class: |
F04B 53/10 20060101
F04B053/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 28, 2013 |
JP |
2013-069772 |
Claims
1. A compressor comprising: a housing in which a suction chamber
and a discharge chamber are formed; a cylinder block in which a
compression chamber is formed; and a valve plate including a
discharge port through which the discharge chamber and the
compression chamber communicate with each other; a discharge valve
forming plate having a flat plate shape, the discharge valve
forming plate including: a discharge valve configured to open and
close the discharge port; a connecting portion from which a
plurality of discharge valve support portions extends to support
the discharge valve; and a discharge valve engaging portion
extending from the connecting portion; and a retainer gasket
including: a retainer configured to restrict an opening and closing
operation of the discharge valve; a gasket configured to ensure
airtightness between the housing and the cylinder block; and a
retainer gasket engaging portion formed by bending a part of the
retainer gasket, wherein the discharge valve forming plate and the
retainer gasket are positioned by connecting the discharge valve
engaging portion and the retainer gasket engaging portion.
2. The compressor according to claim 1, wherein the retainer gasket
engaging portion is a pair of projections and the discharge valve
engaging portion is a projection inserted between a pair of the
projections.
3. The compressor according to claim 2, wherein the retainer gasket
engaging portion includes an engaging portion engaged with the
discharge valve engaging portion to prevent the discharge valve
forming plate from falling off.
4. The compressor according to claim 3, wherein the compression
chamber and the discharge chamber are partitioned by a partitioning
wall, the partitioning wall is a valve plate provided between the
cylinder block and the retainer gasket, and an accommodating
portion is formed in the valve plate and accommodates the
projection of the retainer gasket engaging portion.
5. The compressor according to claim 3, wherein the cylinder block
and the partition wall are integrally formed, and an accommodating
portion is formed in the cylinder block and accommodates the
projection of the retainer gasket engaging portion.
6. The compressor according to claim 4, wherein an accommodating
and engaging portion is formed in the accommodating portion and the
accommodating and engaging portion is engaged with the projection
of the retainer gasket engaging portion to perform positioning.
7. The compressor according to claim 5, wherein an accommodating
and engaging portion is formed in the accommodating portion and the
accommodating and engaging portion is engaged with the projection
of the retainer gasket engaging portion to perform positioning.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a compressor and, more
particularly, to a compressor including a retainer gasket and a
discharge valve forming plate.
[0002] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-230040
discloses a swash plate type compressor used for a vehicle air
conditioner. Referring to FIG. 14, a swash plate type compressor 71
includes a cylinder assembly 76 formed by joining a gasket 88 to
the rear end surface of the front cylinder block 76A and joining
the front end surface of a rear cylinder block 76B to the gasket
88. A front housing 77 is provided on the front end surface of the
front cylinder block 76A and a rear housing 78 is provided on the
rear end surface of the rear cylinder block 76B. A plurality of
columnar cylinder bores 75 are formed in the cylinder assembly 76.
A piston 74 which reciprocates in the cylinder bore 75 is provided
in the cylinder bore 75. The piston 74 is connected to a swash
plate 73 through a shoe 89. The swash plate 73 is mounted on a
drive shaft 72 provided in the center of the cylinder assembly 76.
A suction chamber 79 and a discharge chamber 80 are provided in the
front housing 77 and the rear housing 78, respectively. Valve
plates 81 are provided between both the end surfaces of the
cylinder assembly 76 and the front and the rear housings 77 and 78,
respectively.
[0003] Suction valve forming plates 82 including suction valves and
gaskets 83 are provided between the valve plates 81 and both the
end surfaces of the cylinder assembly 76, respectively. Discharge
valve forming plates 84 having a flat plate shape and including
discharge valves and retainer gaskets 85 are provided between the
valve plate 81 and the front and the rear housings 77 and 78,
respectively.
[0004] A sectional view of a state of assembly of the valve plate
81 and the discharge valve forming plate 84 is shown in FIG. 15. A
plurality of dowels 86 are formed on the valve plate 81.
Positioning holes 87 are formed in the discharge valve forming
plate 84. When assembling the valve plate 81 and the discharge
valve forming plate 84, the dowels 86 of the valve plate 81 are
inserted into and fit in the positioning holes 87 of the discharge
valve forming plate 84 and the distal ends of the dowels 86 are
caulked to be expanded in the entire radial direction to integrally
fix the valve plate 81 and the discharge valve forming plate 84.
Consequently, assembly work for the compressor is made
efficient.
[0005] However, in the swash plate type compressor 71 described in
the above-described Publication, the dowels 86 need to be formed on
the valve plate 81. As shown in FIG. 14, the compressor 71 being
assembled is required to have high airtightness on contact surfaces
of the valve plates 81, the suction valve forming plates 82, the
gaskets 83 and the retainer gaskets 85. Among these members, the
valve plate 81, which is thick and has high rigidity compared with
the other members, is required to have high flatness in order to
prevent leakage of gas. In order to ensure flatness, polishing is
applied to the valve plate 81. However, a sophisticated technology
is required to perform the polishing while leaving convex portions
in the valve plate 81, leading to an increase in manufacturing
costs.
[0006] The present invention is directed to providing a compressor
which has a simple configuration and is formed by efficient
assembly work.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In accordance with the present invention, a compressor
includes a housing, a cylinder block, a valve plate, a discharge
valve forming plate and a retainer gasket. A suction chamber and a
discharge chamber are formed in the housing. A compression chamber
is formed in the cylinder block. The valve plate includes a
discharge port. The discharge chamber and the compression chamber
communicate with each other through the discharge port. The
discharge valve forming plate has a flat plate shape and includes a
discharge valve, a connecting portion and a discharge valve
engaging portion. The discharge valve is configured to open and
close the discharge port. A plurality of discharge valve support
portions extends from the connecting portion to support the
discharge valve. The discharge valve engaging portion extends from
the connecting portion. The retainer gasket includes a retainer, a
gasket and a retainer gasket engaging portion. The retainer is
configured to restrict an opening and closing operation of the
discharge valve. The gasket is configured to ensure airtightness
between the housing and the cylinder block. The retainer gasket
engaging portion is formed by bending a part of the retainer
gasket. The discharge valve forming plate and the retainer gasket
are positioned by connecting the discharge valve engaging portion
and the retainer gasket engaging portion.
[0008] Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become
apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the
principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The invention together with objects and advantages thereof,
may best be understood by reference to the following description of
the presently preferred embodiments together with the accompanying
drawings in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a reciprocating compressor
according to a first preferred embodiment of the present
invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II in
FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a valve plate of the reciprocating
compressor of FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a plan view of a retainer gasket of the
reciprocating compressor of FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged view of retainer gasket
projections of the reciprocating compressor of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view taken along the line
VI-VI in FIG. 5;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a plan view of a discharge valve forming plate of
the reciprocating compressor of FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII in
FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view showing a state in
which the retainer gasket projections and discharge valve forming
plate projections are combined in the reciprocating compressor of
FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 10 is a plan view of a valve plate of a reciprocating
compressor according to a second preferred embodiment of the
present invention;
[0020] FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line
XI-XI in FIG. 10 showing a state in which valve plate projections,
retainer gasket projections, and discharge valve forming plate
projections are combined in the reciprocating compressor of FIG.
10;
[0021] FIG. 12 is a partial sectional view of the front end of a
front cylinder block of a reciprocating compressor according to a
third preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 13 is a partial sectional view of the rear end of a
rear cylinder block of the reciprocating compressor of FIG. 12;
[0023] FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a conventional swash plate
type compressor according to a background art; and
[0024] FIG. 15 is a sectional view showing a state of assembly of a
valve plate and a discharge plate forming plate in the conventional
swash plate type compressor of FIG. 14.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0025] The following will describe a compressor according to a
first preferred embodiment of the present invention with referring
to FIGS. 1 through 9. Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1
designates a swash plate type compressor according to the first
preferred embodiment of the present invention. The swash plate type
compressor 1 (hereinafter referred to as "compressor") includes a
front cylinder block 3 and a rear cylinder block 4 which have a
column shape. The front end surface of the rear cylinder block 4 is
joined to the rear end surface of the front cylinder block 3
thereby to form a cylinder assembly 2 of the swash plate type
compressor. The cylinder assembly 2 serves as a cylinder block of
the present invention. The front cylinder block 3 and the rear
cylinder block 4 are formed of aluminum or aluminum alloy. A front
housing 5 is provided on the front end surface of the front
cylinder block 3 through a front valve port assembly 10 for
covering the front end surface of the front cylinder block 3. A
rear housing 6 is provided on the rear end surface of the rear
cylinder block 4 through a rear valve port assembly 11 for covering
the rear end surface of the rear cylinder block 4. The front and
the rear housings 5 and 6 are formed of aluminum or an aluminum
alloy. The front and the rear housings 5 and 6 serve as a housing
of the present invention.
[0026] Shaft holes 7 and 8 are formed through the front and the
rear cylinder blocks 3 and 4 so as to extend through the centers of
the front and the rear cylinder blocks 3 and 4. A drive shaft 9 is
inserted in the shaft holes 7 and 8. The drive shaft 9 is rotatably
supported by sealing surfaces (not shown) formed on the surfaces of
the shaft holes 7 and 8. Holes 12 and 13 are formed in the front
and the rear valve port assemblies 10 and 11 at the center thereof,
respectively. The drive shaft 9 is formed extending through the
holes 12 and 13. The axis extending from the center of the circle
of the upper surface of the columnar front cylinder block 3 to the
center of the circle of the bottom surface of the columnar rear
cylinder block 4 and the axis of the drive shaft 9 coincide with
each other. The axes are represented as a center axis L. A space
between the inner surface of the front housing 5 and the drive
shaft 9 is sealed by a shaft seal 14.
[0027] A swash plate 16 formed of aluminum or an aluminum alloy is
mounted to the drive shaft 9 around the axial center of the drive
shaft 9. The swash plate 16 includes an annular base 17 and a boss
18 formed obliquely to the drive shaft 9. The swash plate 16 is
accommodated in the crank chamber 19 which is formed in the front
and the rear cylinder blocks 3 and 4 and includes front and rear
end surfaces 54 and 55. A thrust bearing 20 is provided between the
front end surface 54 of the crank chamber 19 and the base 17 of the
swash plate 16. A thrust bearing 21 is provided between the rear
end surface 55 of the crank chamber 19 and the base 17 of the swash
plate 16. The thrust bearings 20 and 21 restricts the movement of
the swash plate 16 in the axial direction of the drive shaft 9. The
thrust bearings 20 and 21 are pressed against the front and the
rear end surfaces 54 and 55, respectively.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 2, three front cylinder bores 22 are
formed in the front cylinder block 3 at equal intervals around the
drive shaft 9. Similarly, as shown in
[0029] FIG. 1, three rear cylinder bores 23 are formed in the rear
cylinder block 4 at equal intervals around the drive shaft 9 (only
one is shown in FIG. 1). The front cylinder bores 22 and the rear
cylinder bores 23 are arranged to be paired in the axial direction
of the drive shaft 9. A double-headed piston 24 is accommodated in
the front and the rear cylinder bores 22 and 23. The front cylinder
bores 22 are closed by the front valve port assembly 10 and the
double-headed pistons 24. The rear cylinder bores 23 are closed by
the rear valve port assembly 11 and the double-headed pistons
24.
[0030] The rotation of the swash plate 16 integrally rotating with
the drive shaft 9 is transmitted to the double-headed pistons 24
through a pair of shoes 25 provided to hold the boss 18. The
double-headed pistons 24 reciprocate in the front and the rear
cylinder bores 22 and 23. Front compression chambers 26 are formed
in the front cylinder bores 22 between the front valve port
assembly 10 and the double-headed pistons 24, respectively. Rear
compression chambers 27 are formed in the rear cylinder bores 23
between the rear valve port assembly 11 and the double-headed
pistons 24, respectively.
[0031] The following will describe a front suction mechanism and a
front discharge mechanism of the compressor 1. As shown in FIG. 1,
three front suction chambers 28 are formed in the front housing 5
and the front cylinder block 3 so as to surround the drive shaft 9
and extend through the front valve port assembly 10 (only one is
shown in FIG. 1). Each front suction chamber 28 is provided between
the adjacent front cylinder bores 22 (refer to FIG. 2). Each front
suction chamber 28 communicates with an accommodation chamber 15
formed in the front housing 5 through a passage (not shown).
[0032] Front discharge chambers 30 are respectively provided
radially outward of the front suction chambers 28 on the circular
cross-section of the front cylinder block 3 perpendicular to the
center axis L of the drive shaft 9. Each front discharge chamber 30
extends through the front valve port assembly 10 and into the front
cylinder block 3. Front discharge chambers 29 are provided so as to
face the front compression chambers 26, respectively. Each front
discharge chamber 29 and the corresponding front discharge chamber
30 communicate with each other through a passage (not shown).
[0033] The following will describe a rear suction mechanism and a
rear discharge mechanism of the compressor 1. As shown in FIG. 1,
three rear suction chambers 32 are formed around the drive shaft 9
in the rear housing 6 and the rear cylinder block 4 so as to extend
into the rear housing 6 through the rear valve port assembly 11
(one is shown in FIG. 1). Each rear suction chamber 32 is provided
between the adjacent rear cylinder bores 23, as in the case of the
front suction chambers 28. Rear discharge chambers 34 are formed in
the rear housing 6 so as to face the corresponding rear compression
chambers 27, respectively. A rear housing-side suction chamber 33
is formed in the rear housing 6 at the center thereof. The front
suction chamber 28, the rear suction chamber 32 and the rear
housing-side suction chamber 33 serve as a suction chamber of the
present invention. The front discharge chamber 29, the front
discharge chamber 30, the rear discharge chamber 34 and the rear
discharge chamber 35 serve as a discharge chamber of the present
invention. The front compression chamber 26 and the rear
compression chamber 27 serve as a compression chamber of the
present invention.
[0034] Rear discharge chambers 35 are provided radially outward of
the rear suction chambers 32 on the circular cross-section of the
rear cylinder block 4 perpendicular to the center axis L of the
drive shaft 9 (only one rear discharge chamber 35 is shown in FIG.
1). The rear discharge chambers 35 extend through the rear valve
port assembly 11 and into the rear housing 6. Discharge ports 31
are formed in the rear valve port assembly 11 so as to face the
rear discharge chambers 34. Each rear discharge chamber 34 and the
corresponding rear compression chamber 27 communicate with each
other through the corresponding discharge port 31. Discharge valves
52B are provided in the rear discharge chambers 34 for opening and
closing the discharge ports 31, respectively. Each rear discharge
chamber 34 and the corresponding rear discharge chamber 35
communicate with each other through a passage (not shown).
[0035] A suction passage 36 is provided in the front and the rear
cylinder blocks 3 and 4. The suction passage 36 communicates with
one front suction chamber 28 and one rear suction chamber 32. An
inlet 37 is formed through the front cylinder block 3. One end of
the inlet 37 is opened through the outer circumferential surface of
the front cylinder block 3 and the other end of the inlet 37 is
opened through the inner circumferential surface of the suction
passage 36. One opening of the inlet 37 is connected to a circuit
wire 38 of an external refrigerant circuit provided outside the
compressor 1.
[0036] The following will describe the front valve port assembly 10
and the rear valve port assembly 11 in detail. As shown in FIG. 1,
the front valve port assembly 10 is formed of a discharge valve
forming plate 42, a valve plate 43 and a retainer gasket 44, and
the rear valve port assembly 11 is formed of a discharge valve
forming plate 42, a valve plate 43 and a retainer gasket 44. The
valve plates 43 are a partitioning wall for partitioning the front
compression chambers 26 and the front discharge chambers 29 and a
partition wall for partitioning the rear compression chambers 27
and the rear discharge chambers 34. The discharge valve forming
plate 42 is arranged between the valve plate 43 and the retainer
gasket 44. The front valve port assembly 10 is formed such that the
valve plate 43 and the front cylinder block 3 are adjacent to each
other and the front housing 5 and the retainer gasket 44 are
adjacent to each other. The rear valve port assembly 11 has the
same structure as the front valve port assembly 10. The rear valve
port assembly 11 is formed such that the valve plate 43 and the
rear cylinder block 4 are adjacent to each other and the rear
housing 6 and the retainer gasket 44 are adjacent to each other. As
shown in FIG. 3, discharge ports 31 are provided in the valve
plates 43 so as to face the corresponding front cylinder bores 22
and the corresponding rear cylinder bores 23 (refer to FIG. 1),
respectively, and bolt holes 58 are provided in the valve plates 43
for fixing the valve plates 43 to the front and the rear cylinder
blocks 3 and 4 (refer to FIG. 1), respectively. Valve plate suction
ports 57 are formed in the valve plates 43 such that each valve
plate suction port 57 is positioned between the adjacent discharge
ports 31. Valve plate discharge ports 56 are provided in the valve
plates 43 radially outward of the valve plate suction ports 57.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 4, the retainer gasket 44 is formed in a
thin disc shape. The circumference of the side edge of the retainer
gasket 44 is formed by a gasket 61. The gaskets 61 function to
ensure airtightness between the front housing 5 and the front
cylinder block 3 (refer to FIG. 1) and between the rear housing 6
and the rear cylinder block 4 (refer to FIG. 1), respectively.
Retainer gasket discharge ports 50 are formed in the gasket 61 so
as to have a shape projecting in three directions. Three retainers
49, one ends of which are connected to the gasket 61, are arranged
at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the retainer
gasket 44 so as to face the corresponding front cylinder bores 22
and the corresponding rear cylinder bores 23 (refer to FIG. 1),
respectively. A retainer gasket inner frame 62 is provided in the
retainer gasket 44 radially inward of the retainer gasket discharge
ports 50. The retainer gasket inner frame 62 is formed to have a
thin belt-like shape of a closed loop projecting in three
directions. A retainer gasket suction port 51 is formed in the
retainer gasket 44 radially inward of the retainer gasket inner
frame 62 so as to have a shape projecting in three directions. The
retainer gasket inner frame 62 is connected to the other ends of
the retainers 49. Pairs of two retainer gasket projections 45 are
provided in projecting portions of the retainer gasket inner frame
62, respectively. The retainer gasket projection 45 serves as a
retainer gasket engaging portion of the present invention. The
retainers 49 are formed in the retainer gasket 44 by press working
and, simultaneously, the retainer gasket projections 45 are formed
by bending a part of the retainer gasket inner frame 62 by press
working. Therefore, another process is not required for forming the
retainer gasket projections 45. Six bolt holes 46 are provided in
the gasket 61 for mounting the retainer gasket 44 to the valve
plate 43 (refer to FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 5, each retainer
gasket projection 45 includes a distal end 45A. The distal ends 45A
of the retainer gasket projections 45 are formed into a shape
projecting in a substantially arcuate shape toward the paired
retainer gasket projection 45, respectively. One pair of the distal
ends 45A of the retainer gasket projections 45 forms an engaging
portion. As shown in FIG. 6, the retainer gasket projection 45 is
formed substantially perpendicular to the plane of the retainer
gasket 44.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 7, the discharge valve forming plate 42
includes a connecting portion 64 having a thin belt-like frame
shape of a closed loop projecting in three directions. The
discharge valve forming plate 42 includes a discharge valve forming
plate suction port 53 formed inside the discharge valve forming
plate 42. Discharge valve supports 52A are formed in the connecting
portion 64 of the discharge valve forming plate 42 to extend to the
outer side of the discharge valve forming plate 42 at three
positions where the connecting portion 64 of the discharge valve
forming plate 42 is bent to the inner side of the discharge valve
forming plate 42. The discharge valves 52B are provided at the
distal ends of the discharge valve supports 52A, respectively. That
is, the discharge valve support 52A supports the corresponding
discharge valve 52B. The discharge valves 52B are provided at
positions respectively overlapping the retainers 49 when the
discharge valve forming plate 42 and the retainer gasket 44 (refer
to FIG. 4) are overlapped with each other. The retainer 49
restricts the opening and closing operation of the discharge valve
52B. Discharge valve forming plate projections 47 are respectively
formed in the discharge valve forming plate 42 at the center of the
connecting portions 64 so as to extend from the connecting portion
64 toward the inner side of the discharge valve forming plate 42.
The discharge valve forming plate projections 47 are formed on a
plane which is the same as the plane of the discharge valve forming
plate 42. The discharge valve forming plate projection 47 serve as
a discharge valve engaging portion of the present invention.
[0039] The following will describe a method of assembling the front
and the rear valve port assemblies 10 and 11 when assembling the
compressor 1, in detail. As shown in FIG. 8, when the valve plate
43, the discharge valve forming plate 42, and the retainer gasket
44 are combined to assemble the front valve port assembly 10 (and
the rear valve port assembly 11), the valve plate 43, the discharge
valve forming plate 42 and the retainer gasket 44 are overlapped
with one another. As shown in FIG. 9, the valve plate 43, the
discharge valve forming plate 42 and the retainer gasket 44 are
connected with one another such that the discharge valve forming
plate projection 47 is inserted between one pair of the retainer
gasket projections 45 so as to pass through between the distal ends
45A of the retainer gasket projections 45. The distal ends 45A of
the retainer gasket projections 45 projecting from the plane of the
discharge valve forming plate 42 are inserted into the valve plate
suction ports 57 along a suction port inner wall surface 65 (refer
to FIG. 3) of the valve plate 43 and accommodated in the valve
plate suction ports 57. The valve plate suction port 57 serves as
an accommodating portion. One discharge valve forming plate
projection 47 is inserted between one pair of the retainer gasket
projections 45 and, therefore, the positioning of the retainer
gasket 44 and the discharge valve forming plate 42 may be reliably
performed. As shown in FIG. 5, the distal ends 45A of one pair of
the retainer gasket projections 45 are machined into a shape
projecting in a substantially arcuate shape toward the inner side
of the paired retainer gasket projections 45. The width of the
discharge valve forming plate projections 47 (refer to FIG. 7) is
machined slightly wider than the distance between the distal ends
45A of one pair of the retainer gasket projections 45. Therefore,
when the retainer gasket 44 and the discharge valve forming plate
42 are overlapped with each other, the discharge valve forming
plate projection 47 is inserted between one pair of the retainer
gasket projections 45 thereby to expand the distance between the
distal ends 45A of one pair of the retainer gasket projections 45.
After the discharge valve forming plate projection 47 passes
through between the distal ends 45A of one pair of the retainer
gasket projections 45, the distal ends 45A of the retainer gasket
projections 45 are returned to the original position due to the
elasticity thereof. Similarly, the other two discharge valve
forming plate projections 47 are inserted between the other two
pairs of the retainer gasket projections 45, respectively, so that
the retainer gasket 44 and the discharge valve forming plate 42 may
easily positioned and engaged with each other. Consequently, work
efficiency may be improved and a work time can be reduced. The
assembling can be performed more easily than the assembling with
machining of dowels or the like in the valve plate 43. Further, the
retainer gasket 44 and the discharge valve forming plate 42 may be
prevented from falling off during assembly work.
[0040] The discharge valve forming plate 42 and the retainer gasket
44 are positioned by connecting the discharge valve forming plate
projections 47 and the retainer gasket projections 45 with each
other. Therefore, the assembly work for the compressor 1 may be
made efficient.
[0041] According to the first preferred embodiment, the retainer
gasket 44 includes at least one pair of two retainer gasket
projections 45 and the discharge valve forming plate 42 includes at
least one discharge valve forming projection 47. Alternatively, the
retainer gasket 44 may include at least one retainer gasket
projection 45, the discharge valve forming plate 42 may include at
least one pair of two discharge valve forming plate projections 47
and the retainer gasket projection 45 may be inserted between the
discharge valve forming plate projections 47. In this case, the
advantageous effects which is the same as the advantageous effects
in the first preferred embodiment may be obtained.
[0042] The following will describe a compressor according to a
second preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the
following second and other preferred embodiments, like reference
numerals or symbols denote the like elements or parts of the
compressor used in the description of the first preferred
embodiment and the detailed description of such elements or parts
will be omitted. In the compressor according to the second
preferred embodiment of the present invention, positioning of the
valve plate, the retainer gasket and the discharge valve forming
plate may be performed.
[0043] As shown in FIG. 10, the valve plate 43 includes valve plate
projections 59 respectively formed on the edges of the valve plate
suction ports 57 located radially outward of the valve plate 43.
The valve plate projection 59 serves as an accommodating and
engaging portion. The valve plate projections 59 are formed to be
on the same plane as the valve plate 43. Other structures are the
same as the first preferred embodiment.
[0044] As shown in FIG. 11, when assembling the front and the rear
valve port assemblies 10 and 11, the discharge valve forming plate
42 is overlapped with the valve plate 43, and the retainer gasket
44 is overlapped with the discharge valve forming plate 42. In the
assembling, the discharge valve forming plate projection 47 and the
valve plate projection 59 are inserted between one pair of the
retainer gasket projections 45. As in the first preferred
embodiment, the discharge valve forming plate projection 47 and the
valve plate projection 59 are inserted between the retainer gasket
projections 45 such that the discharge valve forming plate
projection 47 pass through between the distal ends 45A and the
valve plate projection 59 is inserted between the distal ends 45A.
Consequently, the positioning of the valve plate 43, the retainer
gasket 44 and the discharge valve forming plate 42 may be easily
performed when assembling the valve plate 43, the retainer gasket
44 and the discharge valve forming plate 42. Further, after the
valve plate 43, the retainer gasket 44, and the discharge valve
forming plate 42 are overlapped with one another, the valve plate
43, the retainer gasket 44 and the discharge valve forming plate 42
are engaged with one another. Therefore, the valve plate 43, the
retainer gasket 44 and the discharge valve forming plate 42 are
prevented from falling off and may be handled as one body.
Consequently, work efficiency may be improved.
[0045] The following will describe a compressor according to a
third preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the
compressor according to the third preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the valve plate and the cylinder block are
integrally formed.
[0046] As shown in FIG. 12, a valve plate 63A is integrally formed
with the front end of the front cylinder block 3. As shown in FIG.
13, a valve plate 63B is integrally formed with the rear end of the
rear cylinder block 4. The surface of the valve plate 63A facing
the front housing 5 and the surface of the valve plate 63B facing
the rear housing 6 have a structure which is the same as the
structure of the surface of the valve plate 43 of the second
preferred embodiment (refer to FIG. 10). Other structures are the
same as the second preferred embodiment.
[0047] When assembling the compressor 1, as shown in FIG. 11, the
assembly is performed in the same manner as the second preferred
embodiment. Consequently, the valve plates 63A and 63B (refer to
FIGS. 12 and 13), the retainer gasket 44 and the discharge valve
forming plate 42 may be easily positioned when assembling. Further,
work efficiency for engaging the valve plates 63A and 63B, the
retainer gasket 44 and the discharge valve forming plate 42 with
one another may be improved.
[0048] According to the first through the third preferred
embodiments of the present invention, the compressor 1 is a swash
plate type compressor employing a gas suction system using a rotary
valve. Alternatively, the compressor 1 may be swash plate type
compressors of other systems and the compressor 1 is not limited to
the swash plate type and may be any compressor as long as the
compressor includes a piston. According to the first through the
third preferred embodiments of the present invention, three pairs
of the retainer gasket projections 45 are provided and three
discharge valve forming plate projections 47 and three valve plate
projections 59 are provided. Alternatively, at least one pair of
the retainer gasket projections 45 may be provided and at least one
of any one of the discharge valve forming plate projections 47 and
the valve plate projections 59 may be provided with respect to the
retainer gasket projections 45. Further, according to the first
through the third preferred embodiments of the present invention,
the distal ends 45A of one pair of the retainer gasket projections
45 are machined into the shape projecting in the substantially
arcuate shape toward the inner side of the paired retainer gasket
projections 45. Alternatively, the distal ends 45A may be projected
in a shape other than the substantially arcuate shape.
* * * * *