Displacement control device for variable displacement compressor

• US 20030044291A1
• Filed: 09/05/2002
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Hashimoto, Yuji, Ota, Masaki, Hirose, Tatsuya, Tarutani, Tomoji, Umemura, Satoshi, Matsubara, Ryo
• Granted Patent: US 6,729,853 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/222.2
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2027/1813 Crankcase pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2027/1827 between crankcase and discharge chamber
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2027/1831 between crankcase and suction chamber
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2027/1859 Suction pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 2027/1877 External parameters
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 27/1804 Controlled by crankcase pressure

Abstract

A first bleed passage and a second bleed passage each connect a crank chamber of a compressor with a suction chamber of the compressor. A first supply passage and a second supply passage each connect the crank chamber with a discharge chamber of the compressor. A first control valve adjusts the opening size of the first supply passage in response to the pressure in the suction chamber. A second control valve includes a ball valve and an electromagnetic actuator. The ball valve adjusts the opening size of the second supply passage and the opening size of the first bleed passage. The electromagnetic actuator moves the ball valve. The ball valve is moved to a first position and to a second position. At the first position, the ball valve closes the second supply passage and opens the first bleed passage. At the second position, the ball valve opens the second supply passage and closes the first bleed passage. A displacement control device, which includes the first and second control valves, readily and reliably changes the displacement of the compressor.

Claims

1. A displacement control device for a variable displacement compressor in a refrigerant circuit of a vehicular air conditioner, wherein the compressor is driven by a drive source of the vehicle to compress refrigerant, wherein the refrigerant circuit includes a low pressure zone and a high pressure zone, the low pressure zone being exposed to the pressure of refrigerant drawn into the compressor, and the high pressure zone being exposed to the pressure of refrigerant compressed by the compressor, and wherein the displacement control device adjusts the pressure in a crank chamber of the compressor, thereby changing the displacement of the compressor, the control device comprising:

a bleed passage connecting the crank chamber with the low pressure zone;

a first supply passage and a second supply passage, wherein the first and second supply passages connect the crank chamber with the high pressure zone, and wherein the first and second supply passages are formed independent from each other;

a first control valve located in the first supply passage, wherein the first control valve adjusts the opening size of the first supply passage and includes a pressure sensitive member and a valve body, the pressure sensitive member being displaced in response to a pressure in the refrigerant circuit, the valve body being moved by the pressure sensitive member, wherein, in response to a pressure in the refrigerant circuit, the pressure sensitive member moves the valve body such that the displacement of the compressor is changed to cancel pressure fluctuation of a pressure in the refrigerant circuit; and

a second control valve located in the second supply passage and in the bleed passage, wherein the second control valve operates in response to an external command and includes a first valve portion and a second valve portion, wherein the first valve portion adjusts the opening size of the second supply passage, and the second valve portion adjusts the opening size of the bleed passage, wherein, when the first valve portion decreases the opening size of the second supply passage, the second valve portion increases the opening size of the bleed passage, and wherein, when the first valve portion increases the opening size of the second supply passage, the second valve portion decreases the opening size of the bleed passage.

2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the second control valve includes an actuator, wherein, based on the external command, the actuator urges the first valve portion in a direction closing the second supply passage.

3. The control device according to claim 2, wherein the actuator is an electromagnetic actuator, wherein, when electricity is supplied to the electromagnetic actuator, the first valve portion decreases the opening size of the second supply passage, and wherein, when electricity to the electromagnetic actuator is stopped, the first valve portion increases the opening size of the second supply passage.

4. The control device according to claim 2, wherein the first valve portion is urged in a direction opening the second supply passage by a force based on the difference between the pressure in the high pressure zone and the pressure in the crank chamber, and wherein, when the pressure difference is excessive, the first valve portion increases the opening size of the second supply passage against the urging force of the actuator.

5. The control device according to claim 1, wherein a section of the second supply passage between the second control valve and the crank chamber is also used as a section of the bleed passage between the second control valve and the crank chamber.

6. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the first valve portion and the second valve portion are formed in a single member.

7. The control device according to claim 6, wherein the single member is a spherical body.

8. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the compressor is always coupled to the drive source with a power transmission mechanism.

9. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the bleed passage is a first bleed passage, wherein, when the first valve portion closes the second supply passage, the second valve portion opens the first bleed passage, wherein, when the second valve portion closes the first bleed passage, the first valve portion opens the second supply passage, and wherein the control device further includes a second bleed passage, the second bleed passage always communicating the crank chamber with the low pressure zone.

10. The control device according to claim 8, wherein the minimum displacement of the compressor is greater than zero, wherein the refrigerant circuit includes a circulation stopping device, and wherein, when the displacement of the compressor is minimum, the circulation stopping device stops the circulation of refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit.

11. The control device according to claim 9, wherein the minimum displacement of the compressor is greater than zero, wherein the refrigerant circuit includes a circulation stopping device, and wherein, when the displacement of the compressor is minimum, the circulation stopping device stops the circulation of refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit.

12. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure sensitive member moves the valve body in response to the pressure in the low pressure zone such that the displacement of the compressor is changed to cancel pressure fluctuation of the pressure in the low pressure zone.

13. A displacement control device for a variable displacement compressor in a refrigerant circuit of a vehicular air conditioner, wherein the compressor is driven by a drive source of the vehicle to compress refrigerant, wherein the refrigerant circuit includes a low pressure zone and a high pressure zone, the low pressure zone being exposed to the pressure of refrigerant drawn into the compressor, and the high pressure zone being exposed to the pressure of refrigerant compressed by the compressor, and wherein the displacement control device adjusts the pressure in a crank chamber of the compressor, thereby changing the displacement of the compressor, the control device comprising:

a bleed passage connecting the crank chamber with the low pressure zone;

a first supply passage and a second supply passage, wherein the first and second supply passages connect the crank chamber with the high pressure zone, and wherein the first and second supply passages are formed independent from each other;

a first control valve located in the first supply passage, wherein the first control valve adjusts the opening size of the first supply passage and includes a pressure sensitive member and a first valve body, the pressure sensitive member being displaced in response to a pressure in the refrigerant circuit, the first valve body being moved by the pressure sensitive member, wherein, in response to a pressure in the refrigerant circuit, the pressure sensitive member moves the first valve body such that the displacement of the compressor is changed to cancel pressure fluctuation of a pressure in the refrigerant circuit; and

a second control valve located in the second supply passage and in the bleed passage, wherein the second control valve includes a second valve body and an electromagnetic actuator, wherein the second valve body adjusts the opening size of the second supply passage and the opening size of the bleed passage, wherein the electromagnetic actuator moves the second valve body, wherein the second valve body is moved between a first position and a second position, wherein, at the first position, the second valve body closes the second supply passage and opens the bleed passage, and wherein, at the second position, the second valve body opens the second supply passage and closes the bleed passage.

14. The control device according to claim 13, wherein, when electricity is supplied to the electromagnetic actuator, the second valve body is moved to the first position, and wherein, when electricity is stopped to the electromagnetic actuator, the second valve body is moved to the second position.

15. The control device according to claim 13, wherein the second valve body is urged toward the second position by a force based on the difference between the pressure in the high pressure zone and the pressure in the crank chamber, and wherein, when the pressure difference is excessive, the second valve body is moved to the second position against the urging force of the electromagnetic actuator.

16. The control device according to claim 13, wherein a section of the second supply passage between the second control valve and the crank chamber is also used as a section of the bleed passage between the second control valve and the crank chamber.

17. The control device according to claim 13, wherein the compressor is always coupled to the drive source with a power transmission mechanism.

18. The control device according to claim 13, wherein the bleed passage is a first bleed passage, and wherein the control device further includes a second bleed passage, the second bleed passage always communicating the crank chamber with the low pressure zone.

19. The control device according to claim 17, wherein the minimum displacement of the compressor is greater than zero, wherein the refrigerant circuit includes a circulation stopping device, and wherein, when the displacement of the compressor is minimum, the circulation stopping device stops the circulation of refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit.

20. The control device according to claim 18, wherein the minimum displacement of the compressor is greater than zero, wherein the refrigerant circuit includes a circulation stopping device, and wherein, when the displacement of the compressor is minimum, the circulation stopping device stops the circulation of refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit.