GB1114259A - Apparatus for and a method of compressing a fluid - Google Patents

Abstract

1,114,259. Hydraulic intensifiers; compressing gases. REXALL DRUG & CHEMICAL CO. June 3, 1965 [June 3, 1964], No.23772/65. Headings F1P and F1N. In an apparatus for compressing fluid comprising two intensifier units A, B having small area, high-pressure pistons 44, 51 for compressing the fluid supplied to chambers 45, 52 into a conduit 66 and integral large area, low-pressure pistons 42, 49 driven by hydraulic fluid supplied by a pump 4 to chambers 41, 43, 48, 50, the supply from the pump 4 is divided into a lowpressure supply P2 and a higher-pressure supply P1 which are alternately supplied to each chamber 41, 48 to cause a pre-compression stroke followed by a discharge stroke of the intensifier pistons. The pressure levels P1, P2 and a third pressure P3, used for returning the intensifier pistons, are automatically maintained by differential pressure regulating devices 16, 22 and a pressure relief valve 28. The device 16 is responsive to the pressure P1 downstream of an adjustable flow control valve 14 and to the pump pressure in a line 8 upstream thereof, so that when the pressure in the line 8 exceeds the pressure P1 plus the pressure due to a spring 18, a spool 19 moves to allow hydraulic fluid from the line 8 to pass to the pressure level P2. The pressure level P2 is maintained constant by the device 22 which operates in a similar manner to the device 16 but is responsive to pressure levels P1, P2. The supply to and exhaust from the chambers 41, 43, 48, 50 of the intensifier units A, B is controlled by valves 38, 69, 71 operated by solenoids connected in an electrical circuit, Fig. 2 (not shown) including micro-switches MA2-4 and MB2-4 actuated by piston rods 67, 68 carried by the pistons 42, 49.