Variable Capacity Swash Plate Compressor Check Valve Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing variable capacity swash plate type compressors experience increased component count, work processes, and pulsating noise due to the placement of check valves, which also require additional space and do not effectively prevent backflow when the air conditioner is turned off.

Innovation Solution

A check valve is mounted on the inner side of the division wall within the discharge muffler chamber, forming the discharge muffler chamber and preventing backflow without increasing the compressor size, thereby reducing components and noise, and is secured using a retainer to prevent separation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the check valve is mounted separately from the discharge muffler chamber, then the check valve can prevent backflow, but the number of components and work processes increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebackflow preventionVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The check valve is integrated into the discharge muffler chamber by mounting it on the inner side of the division wall that forms the chamber. This merging of the check valve with the discharge muffler chamber structure eliminates the need for separate mounting brackets, additional fasteners, and separate assembly/disassembly processes, thereby reducing component count while maintaining backflow prevention functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The division wall structure serves multiple functions: it forms the discharge muffler chamber for pulsating pressure reduction and simultaneously provides the mounting surface for the check valve. This multi-functional design allows the same structural element to fulfill both refrigerant flow management and check valve support roles, reducing overall component complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If the check valve is mounted separately from the discharge muffler chamber, then the check valve can prevent backflow, but the number of work processes increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebackflow preventionVSAvoidnumber of work processes

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The check valve is pre-positioned and fixed to the division wall during the housing manufacturing process or pre-assembly stage, before the final compressor assembly. This preliminary action ensures the check valve is already in its correct position and secured, eliminating the need for separate installation steps during compressor assembly and reducing the number of work processes required

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the check valve is mounted at the rear side of the discharge muffler chamber, then backflow is prevented, but pulsating noise increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebackflow preventionVSAvoidpulsating noise

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The check valve is positioned at the center of the discharge chamber on the inner side of the division wall, rather than at the rear side. This specific local positioning allows the check valve to function effectively for backflow prevention while being surrounded by the discharge muffler chamber structure on all sides, which dampens pulsating noise and prevents harmful noise generation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Reliability

If additional components are added for check valve mounting, then backflow prevention is ensured, but compressor size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebackflow preventionVSAvoidcompressor size

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The check valve is nested within the discharge muffler chamber structure, utilizing the existing division wall and chamber space. This nesting approach allows the check valve to be housed within the existing compressor volume without requiring additional external space or increasing the overall compressor dimensions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

5Ease of manufacture

If the check valve is not secured, then assembly is simple, but the check valve may separate during operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidcheck valve stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The retainer is designed as a separate, simple component that is easily attached to the division wall to hold the check valve in place. This extracted fastening solution provides secure mounting without complicating the overall assembly process, as the retainer can be easily attached during assembly and provides reliable retention during operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The retainer acts as an intermediary component between the check valve and the division wall. This simple intermediary element provides the necessary mechanical retention to prevent check valve separation during operation while maintaining assembly simplicity, as the retainer can be easily attached to the division wall to secure the check valve

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration reduces the number of components and work processes, minimizes pulsating noise, and prevents the separation of the check valve, allowing efficient refrigerant circulation and discharge without increasing the compressor's size, while maintaining the check valve at the center to avoid pulsating pressure waveform overlap.

Implementation Method 1

a valve (193) having an inlet communicating with the refrigerant discharge channel and having an outlet communicating with the discharge muffler chamber, and an elastic member (194) supporting the valve (193) to elastically deform the valve (193) so as to open a refrigerant flow path when a predetermined force is applied

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP1852607B1Variable capacity swash plate type compressor

Publication Date: 2013.11.20 HANON SYST CO LTD

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AI summary

The present invention relates to a variable capacity swash plate type compressor, in which a check valve for circulating refrigerant inside a compressor and preventing a backflow of the refrigerant when an air conditioner is turned off is mounted on a side of a discharge muffler chamber in a cover type so that the discharge muffler chamber is formed by the check valve, thereby reducing the number of components, the number of work processes, and a pulsating pressure (pulsating noise) of discharged refrigerant, allowing that the check valve is mounted at the center of a discharge chamber without any increase in size of the compressor, preventing an overlapping phenomenon of a pulsating pressure waveform of a high-pressure refrigerant at the time of discharge since the check valve is located at the center of the discharge chamber, and preventing a separation of the check valve by fixing the check valve in the discharge chamber via a retainer.