Compressor capacity control operation mechanism and air conditioner provided with same

Abstract

A compressor capacity control operation mechanism includes a pilot valve (flow channel switching valve) having capillary tubes, a suction branching pipe, an intermediate pipe, and a discharge branching pipe. The suction branching pipe is connected to a first capillary tube and branches off from a compressor suction pipe. The intermediate pipe is connected to a second capillary tube and a compressor cylinder intermediate part. The discharge branching pipe is connected to a third capillary tube and branches off from a compressor discharge pipe. Preferably, the suction, intermediate and discharge branching pipes have larger diameters than the first second and third capillary tubes. Also, the pilot valve preferably has a flow channel configuration switchable between first and second states in which the first, second and third capillary tubes are connected differently in the first and second states.

1 . A compressor capacity control operation mechanism configured to be connected to a compressor and to control capacity of the compressor; the compressor capacity control operation mechanism comprising:
 a flow channel switching valve including
 a valve main body having a flow channel configuration switchable between
 a first state in which a first flow channel and a second flow channel are connected and a third flow channel is not connected to either the first flow channel or the second flow channel, and 
 a second state in which the second flow channel and the third flow channel are connected and the first flow channel is not connected to either the second flow channel or the third flow channel; with 
 
 a first capillary tube forming the first flow channel and extending from the valve main body; 
 a second capillary tube forming the second flow channel and extending from the valve main body; and 
 a third capillary tube forming the third flow channel and extending from the valve main body; 
   a suction branching pipe branching off from a suction pipe of the compressor and having a larger diameter than the first capillary tube, the suction branching pipe being connected to the first capillary tube;   an intermediate pipe connected to a cylinder intermediate part of the compressor and having a larger diameter than the second capillary tube, the intermediate pipe being connected to the second capillary tube;   a discharge branching pipe branching off from a discharge pipe of the compressor and having a larger diameter than the third capillary tube, the discharge branching pipe being connected to the third capillary tube; and   a fixing member having
 the flow channel switching valve fixed thereto, and 
 at least one of the suction branching pipe, the intermediate pipe, and the discharge branching pipe fixed thereto. 
   
   
   
       2 . The compressor capacity control operation mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the at least one of the suction branching pipe, the intermediate pipe, and the discharge branching pipe fixed to the fixing member being fixed to the fixing member in proximity to the capillary tube connected thereto.   
   
   
       3 . A compressor capacity control operation mechanism configured to control compressor capacity; the compressor capacity control operation mechanism comprising:
 a first pilot valve having four connecting capillary tubes connected thereto, the first pilot valve being operable as a first four-way switching valve;   a suction branching pipe connected to a first capillary tube of the four connecting capillary tubes and branched off from a compressor suction pipe;   an intermediate pipe connected to a second capillary tube of the four connecting capillary tubes and connected to a compressor cylinder intermediate part; and   a discharge branching pipe connected to a third capillary tube of the four connecting capillary tubes and branched off from a compressor discharge pipe.   
   
   
       4 . The compressor capacity control operation mechanism according to  claim 3 , wherein
 a fourth capillary tube of the four connecting capillary tubes is closed off.   
   
   
       5 . An air conditioner including the compressor capacity control operation mechanism according to  claim 3 , the air conditioner further comprising:
 a vapor-compression main refrigerant circuit including
 a compressor, 
 a switching valve including a second pilot valve operable as a second four-way switching valve, 
 a first heat exchanger, 
 an expansion mechanism, and 
 a second heat exchanger, with 
   the first pilot valve operable as the first four-way switching valve being identical to the second pilot valve operable as the second four-way switching valve.   
   
   
       6 . An air conditioner including the compressor capacity control operation mechanism according to  claim 4 , the air conditioner further comprising:
 a vapor-compression main refrigerant circuit including
 a compressor, 
 a four-way switching valve, 
 a first heat exchanger, 
 an expansion mechanism, and 
 a second heat exchanger, with 
   the first pilot valve operable as the first four-way switching valve being identical to the second pilot valve operable as the second four-way switching valve.   
   
   
       7 . The compressor capacity control operation mechanism according to  claim 3 , further comprising
 a fixing member having
 the first pilot valve fixed thereto, and 
 at least one of the suction branching pipe, the intermediate pipe, and the discharge branching pipe fixed thereto; wherein 
   the first pilot valve includes a valve main body having a flow channel configuration switchable between
 a first state in which the first and second capillary tubes are connected and the third capillary tube is not connected to either the first capillary tube or the second capillary tube, and 
 a second state in which the second and third capillary tubes are connected and the first capillary tube is not connected to either the second capillary tube or the third capillary tube; 
   the suction branching pipe has a larger diameter than the first capillary tube;   the intermediate pipe has a larger diameter than the second capillary tube;   the discharge branching pipe has a larger diameter than the third capillary tube.   
   
   
       8 . The compressor capacity control operation mechanism according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the at least one of the suction branching pipe, the intermediate pipe, and the discharge branching pipe fixed to the fixing member is fixed to the fixing member in proximity to the capillary tube connected thereto.