Variable displacement compressor shaft oil separator

Abstract

A compressor shaft has a fluid inlet that leads into a fluid inlet tube, which is perpendicular to a longitudinal hole in the length of the shaft. An intermediate inlet into the longitudinal hole is located between the fluid inlet and an outlet at an end of the longitudinal hole. A drive plate mounted to the compressor shaft has a protruding drive arm, which uses a holding mechanism to connect to a swash plate. At certain swash plate angles, the intermediate inlet is covered and sealed by the swash plate, or uncovered. The drive arm defines an internal bore and a through slot. At opposite ends, the bore merges into the longitudinal hole and opens into the through slot. The holding mechanism and/or swash plate guide covers the bore in the slot.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A compressor apparatus comprising:
 a compressor casing defining a suction chamber;   a piston defining a working chamber with the compressor casing;   a control valve contained within the compressor casing;   a compressor shaft defining:
 a longitudinal hole, the longitudinal hole open at a first shaft end and extending to a second shaft end, wherein the longitudinal hole at the second shaft end defines an outlet always open directly into the suction chamber; 
 a fluid inlet and a fluid inlet tube, the fluid inlet tube approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal hole at the first end of the longitudinal hole, the fluid inlet tube fluidly linking the fluid inlet and the longitudinal hole; 
   a swash plate connected to the shaft;   an intermediate inlet located between the fluid inlet and the outlet;   a drive plate mounted to the compressor shaft located between the fluid inlet and the intermediate inlet;   a drive arm protruding from the drive plate; wherein the intermediate inlet is located under the swash plate and is sealed by the swash plate when the compressor is undergoing low displacement;   the swash plate is spaced from the intermediate inlet to open the intermediate inlet when the compressor is undergoing high displacement; and   the low displacement is less than the high displacement.   
     
     
         2 . The compressor of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a swash plate guide attached to the swash plate; and   a holding mechanism, wherein the holding mechanism secures the swash plate and swash plate guide to the drive plate and the holding mechanism is moveable within a slot in the drive arm when the swash plate changes position.   
     
     
         3 . The compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the swash plate contacts the compressor shaft at a position between the fluid inlet and the intermediate inlet when the compressor is undergoing high displacement. 
     
     
         4 . The compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid inlet is spaced from a first terminal end of the compressor shaft. 
     
     
         5 . The compressor of  claim 4 , wherein the outlet extends through a second terminal end of the compressor shaft, the second terminal end being opposite to the first terminal end. 
     
     
         6 . The compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate inlet extends approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal hole. 
     
     
         7 . The compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid inlet is always open at a position adjacent the swash plate. 
     
     
         8 . The compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid inlet is always open to a swash plate chamber defined by the compressor casing.