Air Conditioning - What does a swash ring do in an air compressor

Could someone explain what is a swash ring and what it does in an air compressor?

If you can refer me to an online dictionary or glossary that explains this as well, I am much appreciative.

Thank you, Viviana

I assume that you mean refrigerant compressor and not air compressor.

The term swash ring (or swash plate) would refer to the connection of the piston rods to the plate that "orbits" the cylinders in some compressors and hydraulic pumps. It acts to impart linear motion to the pistons from the rotary motion of the input shaft.

Envision the shaft having a round plate on its end at an angle of maybe forty five degrees rather than at ninety degrees. As the shaft turns the plate would take a wobbling motion. The pistons (and their cylinders) are parallel to the shaft and as the swash plate rotates it causes the pistons to move in and out of the cylinders.

Sometimes it is the cylinders that are moved by the swash plate and the pistons are stationary. The effect is the same.

Hi Furd

Thank you for the explanation!!

I did mean relative to the compressor of an air conditioner. As you can probably tell, I know nothing about air conditioners so it was great to find someone who can explain things to a layman.

I found a definition of swash plate on line but, I didn´t know it meant the same thing so I couldn´t use it. Do you have any idea as to why it is called "swash"?

I have to translate swash ring into Spanish and explain its meaning so if you know of any place online where the words are used interchangeably, I appreciate it because I have to document the translation.


Thank you Viviana

Sorry, I don't know why it is called that nor do I have any idea of how to translate into Spanish. I have a lot of trouble with Americanized English and it's my native language. :rolleyes:

Furd

You made me laugh out loud. :)

placa oscilante

I no nothing about Spanish but that is from Babelfish (http://babelfish.yahoo.com/?fr=avbbf-us)

Just from the look, I would suspect that would translate literally to "oscillating plate", which pretty much describes a swashplate.

Thank you. It´s great to have the word for this in Spanish. Viviana