Electric compressor

Abstract

The present invention provides an electric compressor that can realize high durability and high efficiency by means of a low-cost construction, and is advantageous in providing a construction for using a carbon dioxide refrigerant. In the electric compressor in accordance with the present invention, the rotational motion of an inclined plate 23 having a predetermined fixed angle of inclination is converted to swinging motion of a swing plate 24 that swings while the rotation thereof is regulated, and pistons 21 are driven by the swinging motion of the swing plate 24. Therefore, a construction having no sliding part due to the rotation of the inclined plate 23 can be provided, so that the durability can be improved.

1 . An electric compressor comprising a plurality of cylinders arranged in the circumferential direction on one end side of a compressor body; a plurality of pistons reciprocating in said cylinders; a drive shaft for driving said pistons; and a motor for rotating said drive shaft, so that a refrigerant is sucked and discharged by reciprocating said pistons in the axial direction of said drive shaft, characterized in that 
 said electric compressor further comprises:    an inclined member which has an inclined surface, making a predetermined fixed angle of inclination with respect to said drive shaft, at one end thereof and rotates integrally with said drive shaft; and    a swing member to which said pistons are connected via a connecting member having a universal joint at a predetermined position in the circumferential direction and which reciprocates said pistons by swinging along the inclined surface of said rotating inclined member while the rotation thereof is regulated, and    a carbon dioxide refrigerant is used as said refrigerant.    
   
   
       2 . The electric compressor according to  claim 1 , further comprising 
 a refrigerant suction chamber for accommodating the refrigerant sucked into said cylinders and a refrigerant discharged chamber into which the refrigerant is discharged from said cylinders are provided on one end side of said compressor body, and    said refrigerant suction chamber is formed in a central portion on one end side of said compressor body, and said refrigerant discharge chamber is formed in a ring from around said refrigerant suction chamber.    
   
   
       3 . The electric compressor according to  claim 1 , further comprising a refrigerant suction port is provided on the other end said of said compressor body so that a refrigerant sucked through said refrigerant suction port flows in said compressor body and is sucked into said cylinders.  
   
   
       4 . The electric compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said inclined member is provided at one end of said drive shaft, and said motor is arranged on the other end side of said drive shaft; and    said drive shaft is supported by only at least one bearing arranged on the other end side of said inclined member.    
   
   
       5 . The electric compressor according to  claim 4 , further comprising 
 a first housing arranged on the side of said pistons, swing member, and inclined member and a second housing arranged on the side of said motor are provided, and    an intermediate plate having a bearing for said drive shaft is provided between said housings.    
   
   
       6 . The electric compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said inclined member is provided so that one end side of said drive shaft penetrates said inclined member, and said motor is arranged on the other end side of said drive shaft;    the other end of said drive shaft is supported by a bearing; and    supporting means which rotatably supports one end of said drive shaft and swingingly supports said swing member is provided on one end side of said drive shaft.    
   
   
       7 . The electric compressor according to  claim 6 , wherein said supporting means is formed by a spherical body to which one end of said drive shaft is connected and which engages slidably with a central portion of said swing member and a spherical body supporting member for slidably supporting said spherical body.  
   
   
       8 . The electric compressor according to  claim 2 , wherein 
 said inclined member is provided at one end of said drive shaft, and said motor is arranged on the other end side of said drive shaft; and    said drive shaft is supported by only at least one bearing arranged on the other end side of said inclined member.    
   
   
       9 . The electric compressor according to  claim 8 , further comprising 
 a first housing arranged on the side of said pistons, swing member, and inclined member and a second housing arranged on the side of said motor are provided, and    an intermediate plate having a bearing for said drive shaft is provided between said housings.    
   
   
       10 . The electric compressor according to  claim 3 , wherein 
 said inclined member is provided at one end of said drive shaft, and said motor is arranged on the other end side of said drive shaft; and    said drive shaft is supported by only at least one bearing arranged on the other end side of said inclined member.    
   
   
       11 . The electric compressor according to  claim 10 , further comprising 
 a first housing arranged on the side of said pistons, swing member, and inclined member and a second housing arranged on the side of said motor are provided, and    an intermediate plate having a bearing for said drive shaft is provided between said housings.    
   
   
       12 . The electric compressor according to  claim 2 , wherein 
 said inclined member is provided so that one end side of said drive shaft penetrates said inclined member, and said motor is arranged on the other end side of said drive shaft;    the other end of said drive shaft is supported by a bearing; and    supporting means which rotatably supports one end of said drive shaft and swingingly supports said swing member is provided on one end side of said drive shaft.    
   
   
       13 . The electric compressor according to  claim 12 , wherein said supporting means is formed by a spherical body to which one end of said drive shaft is connected and which engages slidably with a central portion of said swing member and a spherical body supporting member for slidably supporting said spherical body.  
   
   
       14 . The electric compressor according to  claim 3 , wherein 
 said inclined member is provided so that one end side of said drive shaft penetrates said inclined member, and said motor is arranged on the other end side of said drive shaft;    the other end of said drive shaft is supported by a bearing; and    supporting means which rotatably supports one end of said drive shaft and swingingly supports said swing member is provided on one end side of said drive shaft.    
   
   
       15 . The electric compressor according to  claim 14 , wherein said supporting means is formed by a spherical body to which one end of said drive shaft is connected and which engages slidably with a central portion of said swing member and a spherical body supporting member for slidably supporting said spherical body.  
   
   
       16 . The electric compressor according to  claim 2 , further comprising a refrigerant suction port is provided on the other end said of said compressor body so that a refrigerant sucked through said refrigerant suction port flows in said compressor body and is sucked into said cylinders.  
   
   
       17 . The electric compressor according to  claim 16 , wherein 
 said inclined member is provided at one end of said drive shaft, and said motor is arranged on the other end side of said drive shaft; and    said drive shaft is supported by only at least one bearing arranged on the other end side of said inclined member.    
   
   
       18 . The electric compressor according to  claim 17 , further comprising 
 a first housing arranged on the side of said pistons, swing member, and inclined member and a second housing arranged on the side of said motor are provided, and    an intermediate plate having a bearing for said drive shaft is provided between said housings.    
   
   
       19 . The electric compressor according to  claim 16 , wherein 
 said inclined member is provided so that one end side of said drive shaft penetrates said inclined member, and said motor is arranged on the other end side of said drive shaft;    the other end of said drive shaft is supported by a bearing; and    supporting means which rotatably supports one end of said drive shaft and swingingly supports said swing member is provided on one end side of said drive shaft.    
   
   
       20 . The electric compressor according to  claim 19 , wherein said supporting means is formed by a spherical body to which one end of said drive shaft is connected and which engages slidably with a central portion of said swing member and a spherical body supporting member for slidably supporting said spherical body.