Fixed angle swash plate compressor

Abstract

A compressor is disclosed generally comprising a housing, a shaft disposed therein, and a swash plate part that is mounted at a fixed angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. In some embodiments, the swash plate part is coupled to a second, inner swash plate part via a bearing. In other embodiments, the swash plate part is coupled directly to the shaft via the bearing. The bearing is adapted to accommodate both the radial and axial loads of the compressor in order to eliminate the need for a separate thrust bearing.

1 . A compressor, comprising: 
 a housing;    a shaft disposed in said housing, said shaft having a longitudinal axis;    an inner swash plate portion attached to said shaft at a fixed angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said shaft;    an outer swash plate portion coupled to said inner swash plate portion; and    a bearing assembly by which said outer swash plate portion is coupled to said inner swash plate portion;    wherein said bearing assembly is adapted to accommodate both the radial load and the axial load of the swash plate portions.    
   
   
       2 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said inner swash plate portion is integrally formed with said shaft.  
   
   
       3 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said bearing assembly comprises an angular contact bearing.  
   
   
       4 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said bearing assembly comprises a duplex bearing.  
   
   
       5 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said bearing assembly comprises a tandem duplex bearing.  
   
   
       6 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said bearing assembly comprises a back-to-back duplex bearing.  
   
   
       7 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said bearing assembly comprises a face-to-face duplex bearing.  
   
   
       8 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said bearing assembly comprises a double row angular contact bearing.  
   
   
       9 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said bearing assembly is a shielded double row bearing.  
   
   
       10 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said bearing assembly is a sealed double row bearing.  
   
   
       11 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said bearing assembly comprises a four-point contact bearing.  
   
   
       12 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said bearing assembly comprises a tapered roller bearing.  
   
   
       13 . A compressor, comprising: 
 a housing;    a shaft disposed in said housing, said shaft having a longitudinal axis;    a swash plate coupled to said shaft at a fixed angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said shaft; and    a bearing assembly by which said swash plate is coupled to said shaft;    wherein said bearing assembly is adapted to accommodate both the radial load and the axial load of the swash plate.    
   
   
       14 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said bearing assembly comprises an angular contact bearing.  
   
   
       15 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said bearing assembly comprises a duplex bearing.  
   
   
       16 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said bearing assembly comprises a tandem duplex bearing.  
   
   
       17 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said bearing assembly comprises a back-to-back duplex bearing.  
   
   
       18 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said bearing assembly comprises a face-to-face duplex bearing.  
   
   
       19 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said bearing assembly comprises a double row angular contact bearing.  
   
   
       20 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said bearing assembly is a shielded double row bearing.  
   
   
       21 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said bearing assembly is a sealed double row bearing.  
   
   
       22 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said bearing assembly comprises a four-point contact bearing.  
   
   
       23 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said bearing assembly comprises a tapered roller bearing.  
   
   
       24 . A compressor, comprising: 
 a housing having at least one piston channel;    a shaft disposed in said housing;    a swash plate coupled to said shaft;    at least one piston disposed in the at least one piston channel and movable therein;    wherein said swash plate is coupled to said at least one piston and inclined at an angle relative to the direction of motion thereof; and    a bearing assembly by which said swash plate is coupled to said shaft, such that the angle at which said swash plate is inclined relative to the direction of motion of the at least one piston remains fixed as said shaft rotates;    wherein said bearing assembly is adapted to accommodate both the radial load and the axial load of the swash plate.    
   
   
       25 . A compressor, comprising: 
 a housing;    a shaft disposed in said housing, said shaft having a longitudinal axis;    an inner swash plate portion attached to said shaft at a fixed angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said shaft;    an outer swash plate portion coupled to said inner swash plate portion; and    an angular contact bearing by which said outer swash plate portion is coupled to said inner swash plate portion.    
   
   
       26 . A compressor, comprising: 
 a housing;    a shaft disposed in said housing, said shaft having a longitudinal axis;    a swash plate coupled to said shaft at a fixed angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said shaft; and    an angular contact bearing by which said swash plate is coupled to said shaft.