Slant plate type compressor with variable displacement mechanism

Abstract

A slant plate type compressor including a compressor housing having a cylinder block is disclosed. A plurality of cylinders are formed around the periphery of the cylinder block and a piston is slidably fitted within each of the cylinders and is reciprocated by a drive mechanism. A crank chamber is formed between the cylinder block and a front end plate of the compressor housing. The drive mechanism includes a drive shaft rotatably supported in the compressor housing, a rotor coupled to the drive shaft and rotatable therewith, and a coupling mechanism for drivingly coupling the rotor to the pistons such that they rotary motion of the rotor is converted into reciprocating motion of the pistons. The coupling mechanism includes a plate having a surface disposed at a slant angle relative to the drive shaft. The slant angle changes in response to a change in pressure in the crank chamber to change the capacity of the compressor. The compressor housing includes a rear end plate including suction and discharge chambers. A communication path communicates the crank chamber and the suction chamber. A valve control mechanism controls the opening and closing of the communication path to cause a change in pressure in the crank chamber. A flow control mechanism formed in the cylinder block admits reduced discharge gas pressure to the crank chamber from the discharge chamber to control the crank chamber pressure which controls the slant angle of the slant plate.