GB311132A - A method and device for operating starting-air compressors for marine internal combustion engines - Google Patents

Abstract

311,132. Hansen, P. June 22, 1928. Starling.-Cornpressed air for starting marine engines is supplied by a compressor driven by an auxiliary Diesel engine with solid injection, the compressor being arranged to give a full yield only when the pressure in the starting-air reservoir is below normal, and the compression space being increased by the addition of one or more expansion chambers when the reservoir pressure is restored to normal, so that the compressor then runs light. The auxiliary engine can thus be kept continually running and used to drive an electric generator for the operation of ship's machinery, lighting, &c. In one form, Fig. 1, a three-cylinder auxiliary engine a drives a dynamo c and a two-stage air compressor d, e having an inter-cooler q and supplying starting air to a reservoir p. When the reservoir p is fully charged, the compressor cylinders are connected to expansion chambers h, j by opening valves i, k connected to a lever l actuated by a hand wheel n having a screw spindle. In a modification, Fig. 3, only the lowpressure cylinder d is provided with an expansion chamber h, and the pipe o connecting the highpressure cylinder e to the reservoir p is provided with a double-seated valve r connected to the valve i. When the valve i is closed, the valve s seats at t and the pipe o is connected through a pipe o to the reservoir p; when the valve i is open, the valve s shuts off the pipe o and opens the pipe o to the atmosphere through a check valve u. In a further modification, the expansion chamber h, Fig. 3, is omitted and the inter-cooler q is used as an expansion chamber; when working with reduced yield, a bye-pass valve is opened to connect the low-pressure cylinder to the cooler, or the outlet valve of the low-pressure cylinder is held open. The bye-pass valve may be connected to a blow-off valve such as r, Fig. 3, in the outlet pipe of the high-pressure cylinder.