A PROCESS FOR PRODUCING VARIABLE DISPLACEMENT COMPRESSOR PISTONS HAVING HOLLOW PISTON BODIES AND INTEGRAL ACTUATOR RODS
Variable displacement pistons are produced wherein hollow piston bodies are integrally formed with associated actuator arms to ensure proper alignment of the bodies and rods. The process utilizes a two-axis press (40) to first form a pair of actuator arms (14', 14'') by working a blank of metallic material along a first axis (30) between opposing members (42, 44) of a die assembly. With the die assembly still closed after formation of the actuator arms (14', 14''), a pair of hollow piston bodies (12', 12'') are formed by extruding the remainder of the blank of metallic material along a second axis (32). The hollow piston bodies (12', 12'') are axially aligned and integrally formed with respective ones of the actuator arms (14', 14''). A piston head is welded to the end of each hollow piston body which is then machined. By separating the actuator arms from one another, a pair of variable displacement compressor pistons having hollow piston bodies axially aligned and integrally formed with respective actuator arms are thus formed.