Structure for supporting swash plate of variable displacement swash plate type compressor

Abstract

A structure for supporting a swash plate of a variable displacement swash plate type compressor is disclosed. The structure has a spherical sleeve slidably mounted on the drive shaft, a journal mounted on an outer surface of the sleeve and inserted in the swash plate, and a pair of pins adapted to connect the journal to the sleeve. An external diameter of the sleeve is smaller than an internal diameter of the journal, so that a predetermined gap is provided therebetween. Since the sleeve and the journal are not in contact with each other but connected to each other by the pins, a precise machining operation of the facing surfaces thereof and an additional machining operation for flat surfaces are not necessary, thereby facilitating machining of the sleeve and the journal. Lubrication therebetween is also not necessary.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A structure for supporting a swash plate in such a manner that an incline angle of the swash plate can be controlled with respect to a drive shaft, comprising: 
 a sleeve mounted on the drive shaft;    a journal having a bore for allowing the journal to be mounted on an outer surface of the sleeve, and inserted in the swash plate; and    a pair of pins adapted to connect the journal to the sleeve and to allow the journal to be turned with respect to the sleeve;    wherein an outer surface of the sleeve is smaller than a surface of the bore, so that a predetermined gap is provided therebetween.    
     
     
         2 . A structure for supporting a swash plate of a variable displacement swash plate type compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein surfaces of said pins and said sleeve tightly contact each other.  
     
     
         3 . A structure for supporting a swash plate of a variable displacement swash plate type compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein each diameter of said pin sections to be connected with the journal and diameter of said pin sections to be connected with the sleeve are different from each other.  
     
     
         4 . A structure for supporting a swash plate of a variable displacement swash plate type compressor according to  claim 3 , wherein the diameter of the pin section to be connected with the journal is larger than that of the pin section to be connected with the sleeve.  
     
     
         5 . A structure for supporting a swash plate of a variable displacement swash plate type compressor according to  claim 3 , wherein said pin section to be connected with the sleeve has a cone shape.  
     
     
         6 . A structure for supporting a swash plate of a variable displacement swash plate type compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said pin sections to be connected with the journal has a threaded portion.  
     
     
         7 . An apparatus, comprising; 
 a sleeve having an outer surface, a first through-hole and a second through-hole substantially perpendicular to the first through-hole; and    a journal having a surface defining a first through-hole, the journal further having a second through-hole substantially perpendicular to the first through-hole of the journal;    wherein at least part of the sleeve is located within the first through-hole of the journal in a way that the second through-holes of the sleeve and journal are arranged to receive a pin, and    wherein the surface of the journal is separated from the outer surface of the sleeve with a gap in a cross section where the second through-holes of the sleeve and journal are formed.    
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the gap is from about 0.025 to about 1 mm.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the gap is from about 0.05 to about 0.5 mm.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the gap is from about 0.075 to about 0.25 mm.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the second through-holes of the sleeve and journal have different diameters.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the diameter of the second through-hole of the journal is larger than that of second through-hole of the sleeve.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the second through-hole of the sleeve has a cone shape.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the second through-hole of the journal has a saw tooth shape.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the apparatus is included in a compressor.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the apparatus is included in an air conditioner.  
     
     
         17 . An apparatus, comprising; 
 a sleeve having an outer surface, a first through-hole and a second through-hole substantially perpendicular to the first through-hole; and    a journal having a surface defining a first through-hole, the journal further having a second through-hole substantially perpendicular to the first through-hole of the journal;    wherein at least a part of the sleeve is located within the first through-hole of the journal such that the second through-holes of the sleeve and journal are arranged to receive a pin, and    wherein a predetermined sized gap is provided between the outer surface of the sleeve and the surface of the journal such that the outer surface of the sleeve does not contact the surface of the journal, wherein the gap is provided in a cross section where the holes of the sleeve and the journal are formed.    
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the gap is from about 0.025 to about 1 mm.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the gap is from about 0.05 to about 0.5 mm.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the gap is from about 0.05 to about 0.5 mm.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the gap is from about 0.075 to about 0.25 mm.