Swash plate-type compressor

Abstract

A swash plate-type compressor has a rotatable swash plate and a piston. The swash plate is made from an alloy of copper containing bismuth. The alloy of copper contains bismuth in a range of about 0.5 wt % to about 20.0 wt %. The piston is connected to the swash plate via at least one shoe and reciprocates in company with each rotation of the swash plate.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A swash plate-type compressor comprising: 
 a rotatable swash plate, wherein said swash plate is made from an alloy of copper comprising bismuth, and said alloy of copper comprises bismuth in a range of about 0.5 wt % to about 20.0 wt %; and    a piston is connected to said swash plate via at least one shoe and reciprocates in company with each rotation of said swash plate.    
     
     
         2 . A swash plate-type compressor of  claim 1 , wherein said swash plate comprises a layer of a lubricant on at least a swash plate surface sliding against said at least one shoe, and said layer comprises a solid lubricant comprising molybdenum disulfide.  
     
     
         3 . A swash plate-type compressor of  claim 1 , wherein said swash plate comprises a layer of a lubricant on at least a swash plate surface sliding against said at least one shoe, and said layer comprises a solid lubricant comprising poly-tetra-fluoro-ethylene.  
     
     
         4 . A swash plate-type compressor of  claim 1 , wherein said swash plate comprises a plurality of annular slits formed in at least said swash plate surface sliding against said at least one shoe, such that said annular slits have a depth less than or equal to about five microns.  
     
     
         5 . A swash plate-type compressor comprising: 
 a rotatable swash plate, wherein said swash plate is made from a ferrous alloy, wherein said swash plate is surface-treated on at least a swash plate surface sliding against at least one shoe by spraying an alloy of copper comprising bismuth, and said alloy of copper comprises bismuth in a range of about 0.5 wt % to about 20.0 wt %; and    a piston is connected to said swash plate via said at least one shoe and reciprocates in company with each rotation of said swash plate.    
     
     
         6 . A swash plate-type compressor of  claim 5 , wherein said swash plate comprises a layer of a lubricant on at least a swash plate surface sliding against said at least one shoe, and said layer comprises a solid lubricant comprising molybdenum disulfide.  
     
     
         7 . A swash plate-type compressor of  claim 5 , wherein said swash plate comprises a layer of a lubricant on at least a swash plate surface sliding against said at least one shoe, and said layer comprises a solid lubricant comprising poly-tetra-fluoro-ethylene.  
     
     
         8 . A swash plate-type compressor of  claim 5 , wherein said swash plate comprises a plurality of annular slits formed in at least said swash plate surface sliding against said at least one shoe, such that said annular slits have a depth less than or equal to about five microns.  
     
     
         9 . A swash plate-type compressor comprising: 
 a rotatable swash plate, wherein said swash plate is made from an aluminum alloy, wherein said swash plate is surface-treated on at least a swash plate surface sliding against at least one shoe by spraying an alloy of copper comprising bismuth, and said alloy of copper comprises bismuth in a range of about 0.5 wt % to about 20.0 wt %; and    a piston is connected to said swash plate via said at least one shoe and reciprocates in company with each rotation of said swash plate.    
     
     
         10 . A swash plate-type compressor of  claim 9 , wherein said swash plate comprises a layer of a lubricant on at least a swash plate surface sliding against said at least one shoe, and said layer comprises a solid lubricant comprising molybdenum disulfide.  
     
     
         11 . A swash plate-type compressor of  claim 9 , wherein said swash plate comprises a layer of a lubricant on at least a swash plate surface sliding against said at least one shoe, and said layer comprises a solid lubricant comprising poly-tetra-fluoro-ethylene.  
     
     
         12 . A swash plate-type compressor of  claim 9 , wherein said swash plate comprises a plurality of annular slits formed in at least said swash plate surface sliding against said at least one shoe, such that said annular slits have a depth less than or equal to about five microns.  
     
     
         13 . A method for manufacturing a swash plate-type compressor, wherein said compressor comprises a rotatable swash plate and a piston, said swash plate is made from an alloy of copper comprising bismuth, and said alloy of copper comprises bismuth in a range of about 0.5 wt % to about 20.0 wt %, and said piston is connected to said swash plate via at least one shoe and reciprocates in company with each rotation of said swash plate, said method comprising the step of: 
 applying a layer of a lubricant comprising a solid lubricant on at least a swash plate surface sliding against said at least one shoe.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said solid lubricant comprises molybdenum disulfide.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said solid lubricant comprises poly-tetra-fluoro-ethylene.  
     
     
         16 . A method for manufacturing a swash plate-type compressor, wherein said compressor comprises a rotatable swash plate and a piston, said swash plate is made from a ferrous alloy, said piston is connected to said swash plate via at least one shoe and reciprocates in company with each rotation of said swash plate, said method comprising the steps of: 
 surface-treating said ferrous alloy with an alloy of copper comprising bismuth on at least a swash plate surface sliding against at least one shoe, wherein said alloy of copper comprises said bismuth in a range of about 0.5 wt % to about 20.0 wt %; and    applying a layer of a lubricant comprising a solid lubricant on at least said swash plate surface sliding against said at least one shoe.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said step of surface-treating further comprises spraying an alloy of copper comprising bismuth on at least said swash plate surface sliding against said at least one shoe.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said solid lubricant comprises molybdenum disulfide.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said solid lubricant comprises poly-tetra-fluoro-ethylene.  
     
     
         20 . A method for manufacturing a swash plate-type compressor, wherein said compressor comprises a rotatable swash plate and a piston, said swash plate is made from an aluminum alloy, said piston is connected to said swash plate via at least one shoe and reciprocates in company with each rotation of said swash plate, said method comprising the steps of: 
 surface-treating said aluminum alloy with an alloy of copper comprising bismuth on at least a swash plate surface sliding against said at least one shoe, wherein said alloy of copper comprises said bismuth in a range of about 0.5 wt % to about 20.0 wt %; and    applying a layer of a lubricant comprising a solid lubricant said swash plate surface sliding against said at least one shoe.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said step of surface-treating further comprises spraying an alloy of copper comprising bismuth on at least said swash plate surface sliding against said at least one shoe.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said solid lubricant comprises molybdenum disulfide.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said solid lubricant comprises poly-tetra-fluoro-ethylene.