Compressor in which heat transfer in a cylinder head is controlled

Abstract

In a compressor having a cylinder head defining a refrigerant suction chamber and a refrigerant discharge chamber, the cylinder head is provided with a space located between the refrigerant suction chamber and the refrigerant discharge chamber. The cylinder head is disposed at one end of a compressor housing so that each of the refrigerant suction chamber and the refrigerant discharge chamber communicates with a plurality of cylinder bores disposed within the compressor housing and spaced from one another in a circumferential direction. In each cylinder bore, a piston reciprocally movable is disposed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A compressor comprising: 
 a compressor housing;    a plurality of cylinder bores made in the compressor housing and spaced from one another in a circumferential direction of the compressor;    a plurality of pistons reciprocally movable in the cylinder bores, respectively; and    a cylinder head opposite to one end of the compressor housing and defining a refrigerant suction chamber and a refrigerant discharge chamber each of which communicates with the cylinder bores, the cylinder head having a space located between the refrigerant suction chamber and the refrigerant discharge chamber.    
     
     
         2 . The compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein the space is formed by a groove which opens to the outside of the cylinder head.  
     
     
         3 . The compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant suction chamber is at a radially center area of the cylinder head while the refrigerant discharge chamber is at a radially outer peripheral area of the cylinder head.  
     
     
         4 . The compressor according to  claim 3 , wherein the refrigerant discharge chamber has an annular shape.  
     
     
         5 . The compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein the cylinder head includes: 
 a part defining the refrigerant discharge chamber; and    a heat-release protrusion formed on an outer surface of the part.    
     
     
         6 . The compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein the cylinder head has a refrigerant path for establishing communication between the refrigerant suction chamber and the space, the space being tightly sealed with respect to the outside of the cylinder head.  
     
     
         7 . The compressor according to  claim 6 , wherein the refrigerant path is defined by a hole formed in the cylinder head.  
     
     
         8 . The compressor according to  claim 6 , wherein the refrigerant path is defined by a groove formed in the cylinder head.  
     
     
         9 . The compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein the space is divided in a circumferential direction of the cylinder head into a plurality of small spaces, the cylinder head having a reinforcing part formed between every adjacent ones of the small spaces and extending towards both the refrigerant suction chamber and the refrigerant discharge chamber.  
     
     
         10 . The compressor according to  claim 1 , further comprising a valve plate interposed between the compressor housing and the cylinder head.  
     
     
         11 . The compressor according to any one of  claims 1  to  10 , wherein a carbon dioxide refrigerant is used as a refrigerant.