Variable displacement compressor

Abstract

A cam plate of a variable displacement compressor is easily manufactured. The compressor includes a lug plate fixed to a drive shaft, a cam plate supported in an inclinable manner by the drive shaft, and a hinge mechanism connecting the lug plate and the cam plate. The cam plate includes a disk engaged with a piston and a joint formed separately from the disk and fixed to the disk. The joint forms the hinge mechanism. At least one of the joint and the disk is press-formed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A variable displacement compressor for drawing, compressing, and discharging refrigerant with a piston reciprocated by converting rotation of a drive shaft via a lug plate fixed to the drive shaft, a cam plate supported in an inclinable manner by the drive shaft, and a hinge mechanism connecting the lug plate and the cam plate, wherein the displacement of the compressor varies in accordance with the inclination of the cam plate, the cam plate comprising: 
 a disk engaged with the piston; and    a joint forming the hinge mechanism, wherein the joint is formed separately from the disk and connected to the disk, and at least one of the joint and the disk is press-formed.    
     
     
         2 . The variable displacement compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein the cam plate is formed by fixing the joint and the disk to each other.  
     
     
         3 . The variable displacement compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein the disk is a press-formed component.  
     
     
         4 . The variable displacement compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein the joint is a press-formed component.  
     
     
         5 . The variable displacement compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein the lug plate includes a support arm, the joint of the cam plate includes a connecting portion, and the hinge mechanism includes the support arm, the connecting portion of the joint of the cam plate, and a hinge pin for connecting the support arm and the connecting portion.  
     
     
         6 . The variable displacement compressor according to  claim 5 , wherein the joint of the cam plate further includes an engaging portion for contacting the lug plate and a hinge hole for receiving the hinge pin.  
     
     
         7 . The variable displacement compressor according to  claim 6 , wherein the joint further includes a shaft hole through which the drive shaft is inserted.  
     
     
         8 . The variable displacement compressor according to  claim 5 , wherein the connecting portion is one of two connecting portions, and the two connecting portions are separated from each other by a predetermined distance.  
     
     
         9 . A cam plate of a variable displacement compressor, wherein the compressor draws, compresses, and discharges refrigerant with a piston reciprocated by converting rotation of a drive shaft via a lug plate fixed to the drive shaft, the cam plate, and a hinge mechanism connecting the lug plate and the cam plate, the cam plate being supported in an inclinable manner by the drive shaft, wherein the displacement of the compressor varies in accordance with the inclination of the cam plate, the cam plate comprising: 
 a disk for engaging the piston; and    a press-formed joint formed separately from the disk and fixed to the disk, wherein the joint includes a connecting portion connected to the lug plate to form the hinge mechanism and having a hinge hole engaged with a hinge pin, and an engaging portion for contacting the lug plate.    
     
     
         10 . The cam plate according to  claim 9 , wherein the joint further includes a shaft hole through which the drive shaft is inserted.  
     
     
         11 . The cam plate according to  claim 9 , wherein the disk is a press-formed component.  
     
     
         12 . The cam plate according to  claim 9 , wherein the connecting portion is one of two connecting portions, and the two connecting portions are separated from each other by a predetermined distance.  
     
     
         13 . A variable displacement compressor for drawing, compressing, and discharging refrigerant with a piston reciprocated by converting rotation of a drive shaft via a lug plate fixed to the drive shaft, a cam plate supported in an inclinable manner by the drive shaft, and a hinge mechanism connecting the lug plate and the cam plate, wherein the displacement of the compressor varies in accordance with the inclination of the cam plate, the cam plate comprising: 
 a disk engaged with the piston; and    a press-formed joint formed separately from the disk and fixed to the disk, wherein the joint includes two connecting portions each connected to the lug plate to form the hinge mechanism and separated from each other by a predetermined distance and having a hinge hole engaged with a hinge pin, and an engaging portion for contacting the lug plate.    
     
     
         14 . The variable displacement compressor according to  claim 13 , wherein the disk is a press-formed component.  
     
     
         15 . A method for manufacturing a cam plate of a variable displacement compressor, wherein the compressor draws, compresses, and discharges refrigerant with a piston reciprocated by converting rotation of a drive shaft via a lug plate fixed to the drive shaft, the cam plate, and a hinge mechanism connecting the lug plate and the cam plate, the cam plate being supported in an inclinable manner by the drive shaft, wherein the displacement of the compressor varies in accordance with the inclination of the cam plate, the method comprising: 
 press forming a disk having a hole from a metal plate;    bending a metal plate to form a joint having two bent pieces; and    fixing the disk and the joint to each other.    
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising: 
 forming a hole for engaging a hinge pin to form the hinge mechanism in each bent piece.