Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Byron L Brucken

George T Bennett

Dennis A Black

Frank W Hodits, Jr

Roy E Watt

A combination high pressure switch-low pressure switch and high pressure relief valve control device is disclosed having series connected high and low pressure switches which are held closed to complete a control circuit in a normal pressure operating range and are respectively responsive to pressures above and below this range to open the control circuit. A high pressure relief valve is also integrated into the control device and operates to provide high pressure relief to atmosphere at pressures substantially above the high pressure switch actuating pressure.

Combination switch and valve device

A swash plate compressor of light weight construction having a cylinder block defining weight reducing tubular cylinder bore portions which form, with its outer shell, a low pressure gas upper inlet channel and a pair of low pressure gas lower exit channels. Aperture means are provided in one of the heads and its associated valve plate to allow direct axial flow communication from the compressor suction inlet to the upper inlet channel for receiving a mixture of low pressure gas and oil. Aperture means are formed in the compressor heads and their associated valve plates providing communication from the upper inlet channel to the compressor low pressure gas suction chambers via a weight reducing swash plate space that completely exposed the swash plate and each of the lower exit channels. The result is that compressor weight is reduced while lubrication is achieved by the low pressure gas and oil mixture entering the upper inlet channel and flowing in heat exchange relation with the upper tubular portions separating a portion of the oil from gas for deposit on the upper tubular portions for subsequent gravitational flow to the operation portions of the compressor and with the low pressure gas and oil mixture directly exposed to and enveloping the swash plate to ensure that sufficient entrained oil is caused to separate out as a film on the swash plate sides.

Swash plate compressor

A variable output axial compressor having an improved socket plate guide mechanism. A spherical bearing body is reciprocally supported on a guide rod which extends axially through the compressor socket plate cavity. A pair of guide shoes, radially movable in complementary socket plate guides, receive and relatively slidably retain the bearing body therebetween obviating rotational movement of the socket plate. The guide rod includes a longitudinal, fluid flow passage for carrying control fluid through the socket plate chamber from the rear head to an expansible chamber at the front cover.

Guide mechanism for compressor socket plate

A lightweight electromagnetic clutch adaptable for use with an air conditioning compressor including a rotatable electromagnetic coil and pulley assembly and an armature plate forming part of a magnetic flux circuit. An annular dish-shaped member is joined in back-to-back relation with a rotatable coil housing to provide a unitary flux carrying driven structure with the radially outer portion of each defining a driven pulley belt receiving groove. The radially inner portion of the dish-shaped member together with the coil housing inner wall and a support casing fixed tubular extension define a bearing cavity wherein the dish-shaped member and the bearing provide, with the housing, composite flux paths for the magnetic circuit.

Electromagnetic rotating coil clutch

The electromagnetic clutch illustrated is adaptable for use with an air-conditioning compressor and includes a rotatable electromagnetic coil and pulley assembly and an armature plate which form part of a 4-pole magnetic flux path. A slip ring is secured to the coil housing, and a spring-loaded brush means is secured to the compressor for sliding engagement with the slip ring. A clutch rotor is secured to an end of the inner coil housing wall adjacent the armature plate and extends radially outwardly from said inner wall so as to provide an uninterrupted circular air space with the outer coil housing wall adjacent the armature plate, such that no shorting of the lines of flux can occur from the end portion of the outer wall to the clutch rotor, providing a faster and stronger attraction of the armature plate when the electromagnetic coil is energized.

Electromagnetic clutch

A rotary compact compressor having through vanes of fixed length slidably mounted in intersecting slots of a cylindrical rotor which rotates on an eccentric axis in a cylinder working chamber formed with a developed surface. The rotor includes an integral forwardly extending drive shaft which is supported in a cantilevered rotatable manner by single bearing means in a front head housing. The cantilevered rotor facilitates assembly of the through vanes by virtue of the rotor intersecting slots being open throughout their diametrical extent to the rotor rear face. The structure further includes a combined cover and valve plate enclosing the front face of the rotor housing section.

Rotary through vane compressor

A reciprocating vane rotary compressor for an automotive air conditioning system wherein the compressor capacity may be varied in response to the evaporator pressure or temperature such that the evaporator pumps only the amount of refrigerant required at moderate ambient temperatures. The compressor has a circumferentially adjustable modulation ring mounted in concentric relation with the internal compressor chamber surface. The ring, having by-pass port means, may be advanced in the direction of rotation of the rotor, with the port means operative to delay the time that the chamber goes under compression. By varying the induction cut-off point of the ring by-pass port means, the compressor chamber undergoing pre-compression returns gas via a suction transfer passage in the housing to the compressor suction cavity. The compressor rotor is mounted on a unique overhanging stub shaft arrangement to provide a simplified single journal bearing location for the rotor.

Rotary vane variable capacity compressor

A combined over pressure relief and low fluid pressure electrical cut-off valve assembly having a housing defining a chamber with an inlet in communication with the high pressure gas of an air conditioning compressor and an outlet exposed to atmospheric pressure. A pressure sensitive snap-acting metal flexible diaphragm, having a central valve opening, extends across the chamber upper open end. An axial shaft, positioned in the valve opening, includes seal means on the underside of its head portion normally seated on the upper surface of the diaphragm to close the valve opening. A retainer is threaded on the shaft lower end and adjustably maintains an inner high pressure set point spring on the underside of the diaphragm. An outer spring retainer has an externally threaded shank mounted in the housing central bore and adjustably maintains an outer low pressure set point spring on the underside of the diaphragm. A contact ring is supported in the housing outlet whereby the diaphragm is held in electrically conductive relation with the ring by the outer spring such that the diaphragm is prestressed to flex downwardly away from the contact ring but not from the shaft head seal means in response to atmospheric pressure to open the contact without opening the valve opening.

Combined electrical cut-off and relief valve

The electromagnetic clutch illustrated includes an electromagnetic coil assembly, an armature plate, and a pulley assembly having cylindrical end portions with an intermediate groove portion, and a hub portion, all of which form part of a 4-pole magnetic flux path. A non-magnetic ring member is mounted in support relationship between the groove portion and the pulley hub. A clutch rotor is secured to an end of the pulley hub adjacent the armature plate and extends radially outwardly therefrom so as to provide a uninterrupted circular air space with the cylindrical end portion adjacent the armature plate, such that no shorting of the lines of flux can occur from the end portion to the clutch rotor, providing a faster and stronger attraction of the armature plate when the electromagnetic coil is energized.

A wobble plate compressor in which the output of the compressor is modulated in response to refrigeration requirements by varying the compressor piston displacement to match the cooling requirement. The compressor housing front end has an axial protruding integral tubular extension which supports one end of a drive shaft by means of a journal bearing supported in the tubular extension. A cup-shaped hydraulic modulating cylinder is located in an axial fixed relation on the drive shaft adjacent the front end cover such that a disc-shaped piston, mounted on an axially slidable sleeve surrounding the drive shaft, is telescopically received in the cylinder rearwardly facing open end so as to define with the cylinder an expansible hydraulic chamber. An axially extending recess in the shaft defines an open-ended passage providing hydraulic fluid flow communication between radial passage means in the housing front end and the expansible chamber.

Variable displacement compressor

A wobble plate compressor including a three-part housing in the form of a front shell-like section, defining a wobble plate mechanism cavity, an intermediate cylinder block section and a rear head section, all of the parts being connected in series such as by elongated cap screws. A blind bore in the first section end cover receives a piston to define an expansible chamber actuator. Passage means are formed in the housing for conducting hydraulic fluid from the housing sump to the inlet of pump means. Hydraulic liquid outlet passage means, providing a flow passage between the front and rear heads, are formed in the housing such that control valve means in the rear head can affect the flow of the liquid or oil from the sump to the expansible chamber, causing the modulating piston to vary the angle of the wobble plate mechanism and thus the pumping capacity of the compressor. A generally spherical guide shoe is mounted in an axial shiftable manner on a guide pin projecting radially from the wobble plate with the spherical shoe slidable between a pair of opposed cylindrical guides whereby a line contact is maintained between the spherical guide shoe and the cylindrical guides to prevent rotation of the wobble plate element while permitting angular movement thereof relative to the drive shaft.

Variable displacement compressor with three-piece housing

A wobble plate compressor in which the output of the compressor is modulated in response to refrigeration requirements by varying the compressor piston displacement to match the cooling requirement. An expansible chamber power unit including a sleeve surrounds the drive shaft in sealing relation therewith for axial movement with said sleeve including a wobble plate connected thereto for pivotal movement relative to the shaft. The wobble plate angle is varied during the axial movement of the sleeve by means of a drive lug on the drive shaft having a cam track therein connected in rotary driving relation to cam follower means on the wobble plate. The cam track opposite ends define respectively, maximum and minimum stroke lengths for each of the pistons whereby under controlled pressure conditions the force system results in the pistons tending to go to their full stroke positions.

Variable stroke compressor

A swash plate radial piston compressor having a toggle action connection means between the swash plate and pistons wherein each piston makes two reciprocations in its cylinder for each 360.degree. of rotation of the compressor input shaft. Means are provided for varying the angle of the swash plate such that a nutating ring, which encircles the swash plate in journaled fashion around the periphery of the swash plate will vary the length of the stroke of the pistons upon a change in the angular position of the swash plate causing a change of volume displacement of the compressor without changing the head clearance of the radial pistons, thus allowing the compressor to go to zero displacement while the input shaft continues to rotate.

Variable displacement radial piston compressor

An automotive air conditioning system including series connected condenser, expansion valve and evaporator components having refrigerant supplied thereto by a mechanical refrigerant compressor; the refrigerant compressor includes a drive shaft connected to the output of a variable speed traction drive transmission having an input shaft connected to a belt pulley for drive from the vehicle engine. The transmission includes a compact carriage that supports friction cones at opposite ends thereof and includes an axially adjustable speed transfer spool for bridging first and second pluralities of friction cones on either end of the carriage to vary the power transfer from the input shaft to an output shaft so as to manually adjust the circulation of refrigerant flow through the system in accordance with ambient temperature conditions.

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Miamisburg, OH, United States of America

Byron L Brucken