Variable displacement compressors

Abstract

A variable displacement compressor 10 includes return springs 9 and 19 that press a swash plate 11 in the axial direction of a drive shaft 8 . One end of the return spring 19 is fastened to the swash plate 11 , and the other end is fastened to a ring-like (toric) receiving plate 19 a through which the drive shaft 8 is inserted. When the swash plate 11 rotates, the return spring 19 and the receiving plate 19 a rotate in synchronism with the swash plate 11 , and the receiving plate 19 a slides in contact with a contact portion 1 a of the cylinder block 1.

1 . A variable displacement compressor comprising: 
 a drive shaft,    a support member supporting the drive shaft,    a swash plate that rotates in synchronism with the drive shaft,    a piston that is disposed within a cylinder bore, wherein the rotation of the swash plate is converted into the reciprocation of the piston, and the stroke length of the piston and the discharge capacity of the compressor change in accordance with the inclination angle of the swash plate,    a return spring provided on the circumference of the drive shaft between the swash plate and the support member, the return spring urging the swash plate, and    a receiving portion receiving an end of the return spring in contact with a contact portion of the support member between the return spring and the support member.    
     
     
         2 . A variable displacement compressor according to    claim 1   , wherein the contact portion is formed on the support member itself.  
     
     
         3 . A variable displacement compressor according to    claim 1   , wherein the receiving portion is fastened to the return spring.  
     
     
         4 . A variable displacement compressor according to claims  1 , wherein the receiving portion substantially has a ring shape.  
     
     
         5 . A variable displacement compressor according to    claim 1   , wherein the receiving portion is integrally formed with the contact portion.  
     
     
         6 . A variable displacement compressor according to    claim 5   , wherein the receiving portion has been hardened.  
     
     
         7 . A variable displacement compressor having a support member that supports a drive shaft, a swash plate that rotates in synchronism with the drive shaft, a piston that is disposed within a cylinder bore, wherein the rotation of the swash plate is converted into the reciprocation of the piston, and the stroke length of the piston and the discharge capacity of the compressor change in accordance with the inclination angle of the swash plate, further comprising: 
 a return spring provided on the circumference of the drive shaft between the swash plate and the support member, the return spring urging the swash plate, and    means for receiving an end of the return spring in contact with a contact portion of the support member between the return spring and the support member.    
     
     
         8 . A variable displacement compressor according to    claim 7   , wherein the contact portion is formed on the support member itself.  
     
     
         9 . A variable displacement compressor according to    claim 7   , wherein the means for receiving the end of the return spring is fastened to the return spring.  
     
     
         10 . A variable displacement compressor according to    claim 7   , wherein the means for receiving the end of the return spring is formed in a ring-like shape.  
     
     
         11 . A variable displacement compressor according to    claim 7   , wherein the means for receiving the end of the return spring is integrally formed with the contact portion.  
     
     
         12 . A variable displacement compressor according to    claim 11   , wherein the means for receiving the end of the return spring has been hardened.  
     
     
         13 . A method for manufacturing the variable displacement compressor according to    claim 1    comprising: 
 providing a return spring urging the swash plate on the circumference of the drive shaft between the swash plate and the support member and  
 providing a receiving portion that receives the end of the return spring in contact with a contact portion of the support member between the return spring and the support member.  
 
     
     
         14 . A method as in    claim 13   , further comprising forming the contact portion on the support member itself.  
     
     
         15 . A method as in    claim 13   , further comprising fastening the receiving portion to the return spring.  
     
     
         16 . A method as in    claim 13   , further comprising forming the receiving portion into a substantially ring shape.  
     
     
         17 . A method as in    claim 13   , further comprising integrally forming the receiving portion with the contact portion.  
     
     
         18 . A method as in    claim 17   , further comprising hardening the receiving portion.