GB561536A - Improvements relating to plants comprising a plurality of fluid compressors or generators of hot products of combustion under pressure, and particularly free piston compressors or generators feeding at least one receiving element - Google Patents

Abstract

561,536. Air compressors. PESCARA, R. P. Dec. 5, 1940, No. 17326. [Class 7 (i)] [Also in Groups XXVI and XXVIII] In a plant comprising two or more air compressors or gas generators (in which a compressor supplies air to charge the internal combustion motor element driving it and the motor exhaust gases together with excess compressed air supply a turbine &c.), pressure fluctuations in the common receiver or supply are minimized by maintaining a set phase relationship between the machines, the speeds of which are automatically varied to correct any departures of phase relationship from that of a periodically operating pilot element which may be one of the compressors &c., or a metronome synchronous motor. Fig. 1 shows apparatus in which the piston of master and slave free-piston gas generators A<1>, A<2> are connected to valves 14<1>, 14<2> periodically interrupting fluid supply through a pipe 11 to a cylinder having a piston actuating a valve which controls communication between the pressure accumulator 7<2> of the slave compressor and sources of high and low pressure. In another form, Fig. 3, the fluid circuits which control the accumulator valve pistons 9<2> are interrupted by valves t<2>, t<1>2 actuated respectively by the compressor pistons and by cams on a shaft 18 driven by an hydraulic motor 19, the supply to which is controlled by a valve 20 controlled by a servopiston 9<1> subject to pressure of fluid passing through' valves t1, t<1>1 actuated by the pilot compressor piston and a cam or shaft 18 ; the piston 9<1> also controls the fluid outlet area of a valve 23, through a lever 24. A further modification provides means for employing any selected compressor of a set as pilot. Moreover, the set. phase relationships may be altered by making the shaft 18 in sections, the angles between which can be varied by hand or automatically.