A piston for a compressor

摘要

A piston (1) is provided for use in a compressor (20), primarily but not exclusively a swash plate CO2 compressor for a vehicle air-conditioning system. The piston (1) comprises a cylindrical portion (2) at one end and a foot portion (3) at its other end. The foot portion (3) can accommodate a bearing for a swash or wobble plate arrangement (21) of the compressor (20). In particular, the piston (1) is made from at least two individual parts (2, 3) which have been joined together after separate manufacture. The cylindrical portion (2) and the foot portion (3) are two of these parts and are made of different materials from one another. Preferably, the cylindrical portion (2) is made from aluminum and the foot portion (3) is made from steel, the two portions having been joined together by a friction fusion process or a magnetic pulse welding process.