Variable-capacity compressor control valve

Abstract

Provided is a variable-capacity compressor control valve where a decrease in the sealability or the operability due to shaft misalignment can be effectively suppressed without requiring high dimensional accuracy. The dimensions and the shape of each part are designed such that when the sub valve element closes the in-valve release passage, the tapered portion (sub valve element portion) provided at the lower end portion of the sub valve element enters the release through-hole of the in-valve release passage, and the sub valve element is thus aligned with the main valve element by the tapered portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A variable-capacity compressor control valve comprising:
 a valve body including a valve chamber with a valve orifice, a Ps inlet/outlet port communicating with a suction chamber of a compressor, a Pd introduction port arranged upstream of the valve orifice and communicating with a discharge chamber of the compressor, and a Pc inlet/outlet port arranged downstream of the valve orifice and communicating with a crank chamber of the compressor;   a main valve element adapted to open or close the valve orifice;   an electromagnetic actuator with a plunger for moving the main valve element in a direction to open or close the valve orifice;   a pressure-sensitive chamber adapted to receive a suction pressure Ps from the compressor via the Ps inlet/outlet port;   a pressure-sensitive reaction member adapted to urge the main valve element in the direction to open or close the valve orifice in accordance with a pressure in the pressure-sensitive chamber;   an in-valve release passage provided in the main valve element, the in-valve release passage being adapted to release a pressure Pc in the crank chamber to the suction chamber of the compressor via the Ps inlet/outlet port; and   a sub valve element adapted to open or close the in-valve release passage, wherein   the sub valve element has a sub valve element portion with a tapered portion, and dimensions and a shape of each part are designed such that when the sub valve element closes the in-valve release passage, the tapered portion enters the in-valve release passage, and the sub valve element is thus aligned with the main valve element by the tapered portion.   
     
     
         2 . The variable-capacity compressor control valve according to  claim 1 , wherein part of the tapered portion is located in the in-valve release passage when the sub valve element is at the highest elevated position with respect to the main valve element. 
     
     
         3 . The variable-capacity compressor control valve according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the sub valve element is supported by the pressure-sensitive reaction member at an end portion on a side opposite to the sub valve element portion, and is pressed against the plunger by a plunger spring such that the sub valve element moves up or down with the plunger.   
     
     
         4 . The variable-capacity compressor control valve according to  claim 1 , wherein the tapered portion has a protrusion that extends toward the in-valve release passage.