Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
236 words
A variable capacity compressor (40) comprising a housing (1,2,3,24,26) having a chamber (la); a drive shaft (4) supported rotatably in the housing (1,2,3,24,26); an inclined plate (10) coupled to the drive shaft (4); a plurality of pistons (21) arranged to be driven reciprocably by rotation of the inclined plate (10), each piston (21) being connected to the inclined plate (10) by a connecting means (19) which abuts slidably against both faces of the inclined plate (10); a hinge mechanism (8,8a,8b,10a,10b,ll) for coupling the inclined plate (10) to the drive shaft (4) and for permitting the angle of inclination of the inclined plate (10) to be varied within a predetermined range; and a means (34) for controlling the pressure in the chamber (la), the arrangement of the hinge mechanism (8,8a,8b,10a,10b,11) being such that variations in the chamber pressure force the mechanism to move and vary the angle of inclination of the inclined plate (10), and wherein each connecting means (19) comprises a pair of sliding shoes (19), each shoe (19) being mounted in a respective holding portion (35) of the respective piston (21) and having a first surface in sliding contact with the respective face of the inclined plate (10) and a second, spherically curved, surface in sliding abutment with a complementary surface on the respective holding portion (35), the second surfaces of the two shoes (19) being coincident with the surface of a common notional sphere.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
236 words
A variable capacity compressor (40) comprising a housing (1,2,3,24,26) having a chamber (la); a drive shaft (4) supported rotatably in the housing (1,2,3,24,26); an inclined plate (10) coupled to the drive shaft (4); a plurality of pistons (21) arranged to be driven reciprocably by rotation of the inclined plate (10), each piston (21) being connected to the inclined plate (10) by a connecting means (19) which abuts slidably against both faces of the inclined plate (10); a hinge mechanism (8,8a,8b,10a,10b,ll) for coupling the inclined plate (10) to the drive shaft (4) and for permitting the angle of inclination of the inclined plate (10) to be varied within a predetermined range; and a means (34) for controlling the pressure in the chamber (la), the arrangement of the hinge mechanism (8,8a,8b,10a,10b,11) being such that variations in the chamber pressure force the mechanism to move and vary the angle of inclination of the inclined plate (10), and wherein each connecting means (19) comprises a pair of sliding shoes (19), each shoe (19) being mounted in a respective holding portion (35) of the respective piston (21) and having a first surface in sliding contact with the respective face of the inclined plate (10) and a second, spherically curved, surface in sliding abutment with a complementary surface on the respective holding portion (35), the second surfaces of the two shoes (19) being coincident with the surface of a common notional sphere.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A compressor (40) according to claim 1, wherein the controlling means (34) is a bellows (34).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A compressor (40) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the notional sphere has its centre located halfway between the two faces of the inclined plate (10).