Wobble plate arrangement for a compressor

Abstract

A wobble plate arrangement ( 1 ) for a swash plate compressor comprises a swash plate ( 4 ) on which a wobble plate ( 5 ) is rotatably mounted. At least one antifriction bearing ( 7 ) is located between the swash plate ( 4 ) and the wobble plate ( 5 ), the swash plate ( 4 ) and the wobble plate ( 5 ) having been joined to one another during assembly of the bearing to form an integrated bearing unit from which the bearing ( 7 ) cannot be separately detached. Advantageously, the bearing ( 7 ) comprises two races ( 20, 22:26, 22 ) between which is located a plurality of rolling bearings ( 23 ) and at least one ( 22:26 )) of the two races of the bearing ( 7 ) is integrally formed with either the swash plate ( 4 ) or the wobble plate ( 5 ), preferably with the wobble plate ( 5 ).

1 . A wobble plate arrangement ( 1 ) for a swash plate compressor comprising a swash plate ( 4 ) on which a wobble plate ( 5 ) is rotatably mounted and at least one antifriction bearing ( 7 ) being located therebetween 
 characterized in that 
 the swash plate ( 4 ) and the wobble plate ( 5 ) are joined to one another during assembly of the bearing ( 6 ,  7 ) to form an integrated bearing unit from which the bearing ( 6 ,  7 ) cannot be separately detached.  
   
     
     
         2 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the bearing ( 7 ) comprises two races ( 20 ,  22 ;  26 ,  22 ) between which is located a plurality of rolling bearings ( 23 ), 
 characterized in that 
 at least one of the two races ( 20 ,  22 : 26 ,  22 ) of the bearing ( 7 ) is integrally formed with either the swash plate ( 4 ) or the wobble plate ( 5 ).  
   
     
     
         3 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 2 , 
 characterized in that 
 one ( 22 ) of the two races ( 20 ,  22 : 26 ,  22 ) of the bearing ( 7 ) is integrally formed with the wobble plate ( 5 ).  
   
     
     
         4 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 2  or  claim 3 , 
 characterized in that 
 the bearing ( 7 ) is located between apposed circumferential faces ( 15 ,  16 ) of the swash plate ( 4 ) and the wobble plate ( 5 ).  
 
 
     
     
         5 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 4 , 
 characterized in that 
 an insert ( 20 ) defining an inner race is fitted to the swash plate ( 4 ).  
   
     
     
         6 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 4 , 
 characterized in that 
 the profile of the inner race ( 20 ) flares radially outwards to enable the play of the bearing ( 7 ) to be adjusted by axial adjustment of the position of the insert ( 20 ).  
   
     
     
         7 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 5  or  claim 6 , 
 characterized in that 
 the insert ( 20 ) is retained in position by a lip ( 25 ) formed by the swash plate ( 4 ).  
 
 
     
     
         8 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 7 , 
 characterized in that 
 the lip ( 25 ) is formed from the swash plate ( 4 ) by a cold shaping process.  
   
     
     
         9 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 4 , 
 characterized in that 
 an outer race ( 22 ) of the bearing ( 7 ) is integrally formed with the wobble plate ( 5 ) and an inner race ( 26 ) of the bearing ( 7 ) is integrally formed with the swash plate ( 4 ).  
   
     
     
         10 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 9 , 
 characterized in that 
 the bearing unit is assembled by inserting the swash plate ( 4 ) eccentrically into the annulus defined by the wobble plate ( 5 ) along a first longitudinal axis ( 27 ) that is offset but parallel to a second longitudinal axis ( 28 ) of the wobble plate ( 5 ).  
   
     
     
         11 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 10 , 
 characterized in that 
 the rolling bearings ( 23 ) are distributed between the inner and outer races ( 22 ,  26 ) to remove the eccentricity of the swash plate ( 4 ) and to bring the first and second longitudinal axes ( 27 ,  28 ) into coincidence.  
   
     
     
         12 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 9 , 
 characterized in that 
 the rolling bearings ( 23 ) are distributed between the inner and outer races ( 22 ,  26 ) via a feed channel provided in either the swash plate ( 4 ) or the wobble plate ( 5 ).  
   
     
     
         13 . An arrangement as claimed in any of  claims 9  to  12 , 
 characterized in that 
 the axial play of the bearing ( 7 ) is adjusted by a thermal contraction or expansion of the swash plate ( 4 ) or the wobble plate ( 5 ).  
 
 
     
     
         14 . An arrangement as claimed in any of  claims 2  to  13 , 
 characterized in that 
 the rolling bearings ( 23 ) are retained in position by the insertion of a cage ( 24 ) between the two races ( 20 ,  22 : 26 ,  22 ) of the bearing.  
 
 
     
     
         15 . An arrangement as claimed  claim 14 , 
 characterized in that 
 the cage ( 24 ) comprises welded steel cage or a polyamide cage.  
   
     
     
         16 . An arrangement as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  15 , 
 characterized in that 
 the wobble plate ( 5 ) is made from tempered steel.  
 
 
     
     
         17 . An arrangement as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  16 , 
 characterized in that 
 the wobble plate ( 5 ) defines one ( 22 ) of the two races of the bearing ( 7 ), the race ( 22 ) being formed by a mechanical polishing of the wobble plate ( 5 ).  
 
 
     
     
         18 . An arrangement as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  15 , 
 characterized in that 
 the wobble plate ( 5 ) is made from a light metal which has been coated with another material.  
 
 
     
     
         19 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 18 , 
 characterized in that 
 the wobble plate ( 5 ) is coated with a ceramic outer layer.  
   
     
     
         20 . An arrangement as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  19 , 
 characterized in that 
 the swash plate ( 4 ) is made from tempered steel.  
 
 
     
     
         21 . An arrangement as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  20 , 
 characterized in that 
 the swash plate ( 4 ) defines one ( 26 ) of the two races of the bearing ( 7 ), the race ( 26 ) being formed by a mechanical polishing of the swash plate ( 4 ).  
 
 
     
     
         22 . An arrangement as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  21 , 
 characterized in that 
 the bearing ( 7 ) comprises one of a single-row radial ball bearing, a double-row radial ball bearing, and a deep groove ball bearing.  
 
 
     
     
         23 . An arrangement as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  22 , 
 characterized in that 
 two anti-friction bearings ( 6 ,  7 ) are located between the swash plate ( 4 ) and the wobble plate ( 5 ).  
 
 
     
     
         24 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 23 , 
 characterized in that 
 the two anti-friction bearings ( 6 ,  7 ) respectively comprise an axial roller bearing ( 6 ) and an angular ball bearing ( 7 ).  
   
     
     
         25 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 23 , 
 characterized in that 
 the two anti-friction bearings ( 6 ,  7 ) comprise two single-row angular ball bearings.  
   
     
     
         26 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 23 , 
 characterized in that 
 the two anti-friction bearings ( 6 ,  7 ) respectively comprise an axial roller bearing and an single-row ball bearing.  
   
     
     
         27 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 23 , 
 characterized in that 
 the two anti-friction bearings ( 6 ,  7 ) respectively comprise an axial roller bearing and a double-row ball bearing.  
   
     
     
         28 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 23 , 
 characterized in that 
 the integrated bearing unit comprises up to three bearings.  
   
     
     
         29 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 23 , 
 characterized in that 
 the wobble plate ( 5 ) is profiled to define a total of four bearing races.  
   
     
     
         30 . An arrangement as claimed in  claim 23 , 
 characterized in that 
 the swash plate ( 4 ) is profiled to define a total of up two bearing races.  
   
     
     
         31 . An arrangement as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  30  
 characterized in that 
 the wobble plate ( 5 ) has two degrees of rotary freedom so that it can rotate jointly with the swash plate ( 4 ) and rotate relative to the swash plate ( 4 ).  
 
 
     
     
         32 . A compressor for a vehicle air conditioning system 
 characterized in that it comprises a wobble plate arrangement ( 1 ) as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  31 .    
     
     
         33 . A compressor for a vehicle air conditioning system comprising at least one piston ( 2 ) moveable in a cylinder, a drive shaft ( 3 ), a wobble plate arrangement ( 1 ) comprising a swash plate ( 4 ) on which a wobble plate ( 5 ) is rotatable mounted located between the piston ( 2 ) and the drive shaft ( 3 ), and at least one antifriction bearing ( 7 ) being located between the swash plate ( 4 ) and the wobble plate ( 5 ), 
 characterised in that 
 the swash plate ( 4 ) and the wobble plate ( 5 ) have been joined to one another during assembly of the bearing to form an integrated bearing unit from which the bearing ( 7 ) cannot be separately detached.