Compressor week continues, swash and wobble plate compressors

sanden swash plate compressor — *(figure 1 Sanden swash plate compressor)*

Opposed Axial/Swash Plate Compressors

These compressors usually contain six or ten pistons. The pistons in an opposed axial compressor are connected together by a solid piece that keeps them at a fixed distance from each other. A rotating device called the swash plate causes the pistons to move. The swash plate is an elliptical disc that is mounted at an angle to the compressor drive shaft. The rotation of the swash plate moves the pistons parallel to the drive shaft. Another component called a slipper disc slides on the swash plate, and a ball rides in a socket in the slipper disc. The ball also rides in a socket in the piston, in effect connecting the piston and slipper disc.

four seasons wobble plate compressor — *(figure 2 Four Seasons wobble plate compressor)*

Single Row Axial/Wobble Plate Compressors

The single row axial compressor has five, six or seven pistons connected to a wobble plate. The piston’s connecting rods have a ball mounted on each end, and these balls fit into sockets on each piston and the wobble plate. The wobble plate is held in place by anti-rotation gears, and a cam rotates behind the wobble plate. The combination of the rotating cam and the stationary wobble plate causes the pistons to move in a plane parallel to the compressor drive shaft.

When having your mobile A/C system professionally serviced, insist on proper repair procedures and quality replacement parts. Insist on recovery and recycling so that refrigerant can be reused and not released into the atmosphere.

Thank you to MACS member Sanden International for the photo of the swash plate compressor in figure 1.
Thank you to MACS member Four Seasons for the photo of the wobble plate compressor in figure 2.

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