US1123327A - Compressor. - Google Patents

Description

C. H. LEINERT.

COMPRESSOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21, 1913. l Patented J an. 5, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

C. H. LEINERT.

COMPRESSOR.

PPLIGATION FILED MAY 21, 1913. 1,123,327, l Patented .12.11.5,1915y 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

" C. H. LEINERT.

COMPRESSOR.

. cATloN FILED MAY 21, 1913.

` 1,123,327. Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

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CHARLES E. LENERT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COMPRESSOR.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Airplication lcd Ray 21, 1913. Seria'l No. 769,089.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. LEINERT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, ha've invented certain new and useful Improvements in Compressors, of which the following is a speciication.

My invention relates to compressors, and

refers particularly (although not exclu-` sively) to compressors adapted for use.v in connection with cooling systems in which ammonia is employed, although my compressor may also be used for compressing air or other gases, and, in fact, may be c mployed as-'a vacuum machine. The principles involved in my compressor may also be employed for the particular type of air compressors known as blowing engines used in connection with blast furnaces.

The types of compressors which have heretofore been employed are known as single acting and double acting. In the case of a single-acting compressor, the gas is admitted to one side of a piston which operates within a cylinder, and by reciprocation of the piston this gas is compressed. In the case of the double-acting compressors, gas is admitted to each side of the piston reciprocating within a cylinder, so that a compressing action takes place on movement of the piston in either direction.

It -is the object of my invention to increase and simplify the operation of compressors by the use of a quadruple-acting machine. A pair of pistons is provided which are suitably connected with each other so that they reciprocate together. These pistons are located within a single cylinder, which at or near its center is provided with a partition which is preferably movable and valved. In this way four compression s aces are provided within the cylinder, so t at as the connected pistons reciprocate back and forth, the gas in two of the compression spaces is simu taneously compressed while new gas is being admitted to the other two compression spaces, and .upon movement of the pistons in the opposite direction the reverse By operating the compresser 'in this manner, I have found that great simplicity of construction lmay be attained and a considerable saving of 'power effected, both on account of the lessened weight and friction of the parts and on account of a cooling action which I will explain hereinafter.

In the quadru le-acting machine which I have just descri ed, ammonia or other as may be admitted to the four compression chambers at a plurality of pressures, and the gas in all of the compression spaces may then be compressed to a certain fixed pressure, or at a plurality of different pressures, if desired. 4

A further object of my invention is to prevenl a rise of Vtemperature of the gas which is admitted to and compressed in the compressor to .the greatest possible extent, both for the purpose of economizing power in efecting the compression and in order to keep the various bearing parts of the machine cool to prevent undue wear. I accomplish this result by admitting gas to two of the compression spaces through the two piston rods, which are made hollow valves beingI provided at the inner ends oi these piston rods. The gas which passes through these piston rods is, of course, in an expanded and therefore cool condition, and serves to cool the piston rods, the bearings associated therewith and the walls of the piston itself. y

A further object of my invention resides in so constructing the various parts that when the compressed gas is expelled from the compression spaces this expulsion is made complete so that there is n o rexpansion of the gas into the compression spaces. This point is a very important one, since if anypappreciable amount of compressed gas is allowed to remain in the compression spaces, on rexpansion of such gas, the entrance of further 'gas to the compression space is prevented.

A still further object of my invention relates to the provision of inlet and outlet valves for the compression spaces. These valves are so constructed, 'as will be explained in detail hereinafter, that theymay readily be adjusted to open or close, as the case may be, at any desired pressure; this result being accomplished by regulating a suitable s cushion.

A objectief my :inventionl consists" Patented Jam-5, 1915.

in the use of interlocking packing rings on the piston,

these rings being constructed s that expansion of the same is effected withthe oil and These and,ot her advantages of my invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, which show a preferred embodiment of my improvements, and in which,-

Figure l is a plan of my compressor, with the various connections used therefor; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged, vertical longitudinal section through the compression cylinder and the various parts associated therewith; and Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

The compressor is provided with pedestals 10 which are supported on the base 11. Also supported on the base 11 is the pillow block 12, which supports in suitable bear-V ings the crank shaft 13. A. yoke 14 is suitably connected to the crank-shaft 13 at one end, and at its opposite end is attached to a. .cross-head 15 which reciprocates within a cross-head guide 16a.

Attached to the ends of the cross-head 15 are the connecting rods 16, which are also attached to a cross-head 17 which reciprocates within a cross-head guide 18. The crossheads 15 and 17 are rigidly attached to the hollow piston- rods 19 and 20. so that on rotation of the main crank-shaft 13 the piston rods 19 and 20 are themselves reciprocated. The piston rod 19 at one end passes into the main trunk stuffing-box 21,l which at the same time acts as a suction chamber in connection with the branch inlet-pipe 22. Similarly, the hollow piston-rod 20 passes into the main trunk stuffing-box 23, which is connected with. the branch inlet-pipe 24. Suitable packing rings are provided around the piston rods 19 and 20 to prevent leakage of gas as the piston rods are reciprocated within the main trunk stuiiing- boxes 21 and 23.

The inner ends of the piston rods 19 and 20 proiect within the compressor cylinder represented as a whole bv 25. The end of each piston rod is provided with a piston 26. a threaded connection being provided between the piston rod and the piston. Each of the pistons 26 is hollow and of semispherical shape, of the same contour Aas the two ends of the cylinder 25. Each of the pistons 26 has an inner end member 27 procasing 41.

vided with a ange 28. Between the peri hery of the member 27 and the inner sur ace of the cylinder 25 are placed packing rings 29, 30 and 31. These rlngs are held in position by the flange 28, and the central ring 30, provided with offsets 32, serves to expand the rings 29 and 31 so that snug engagement is made with the inner surface of the cylinder, and the use of a bull ring or expanding springs is thereby avoided. `astened to the member 27 is a'valve-seat member 33 provided with passages 34 and a sleeve 35. A valve 36 seats on the valveseat member 33 and has an extension 37 within the sleeve 35. Fastened to this extension 37 by means of a screw-bolt 38 is a cap 39, which also engages the outer surface of the sleeve 35. Between the cap 39 and the valve-seat member 33 is a spring 40 which serves to normally keep the valve 36 seated against the valve-seat member 33.

The compressor cylinder, represented as a whole by 25, consists of an outer casing 41 which is supported by the base 11 of the compressor, and within this casing are bushings 42, the water-cooling spaces 43 being formed between the bushings 42 and the Between the casing41 and the outer surfaces of the bushings 42 are provided recesses 41a and 42, which preferably have outlet passages 43a connected therewith. After the bushings 42 have been inserted withinthe casing 41. hot metal, such as lead or similar composition, is poured through the passages 438L and fills the annular recesses formed by the recesses 41a and 42, thereby serving to prevent leakage between the casing 41 and the bushings 42. The upper portion of the casing 41 is provided with an aperture 44 which is normally closed by a. valve-cap 45, and outside of this a'waterjacket cap 46; the space between the valvecap 45 and the water-jacket cap 46 being normally filled with cooling water.

Just inside of the valve-cap 45 is an annular space 47, which at its lower portion is provided with a pair of supporting lugs 48 recessed at 49a. The lugs 48 serve to support valve-partitions 49 and 50. The valve-partition 49 is provided with a flange 51 which is located just exterior to and fits over a flange 52 of the valve-partition 50. Between the partitions 49 and 50 are placed expansion springs 53, which serve to hold the partitions 49 and 50 against the ends of the bushings 42, so that there is no communication between the annular space 47 and the inside of the cylinder 25. The partition 49 is provided with a, valve-seat member 54, this seat-member being held in position by a ring '55 having apertures 56 extending therethrough. A valve 57 engages the valve-seat member 54 and extends inwardly within the ring member 55. In a similar manner the partition 50 is provided with a valve-seat .pies a position between the va member 54 held' in position by the ring member 55B having passages 56B. A valve 57a extends through the 'ring member 55, and also has an extension 58 which extends within the inner Between the valves 57' and 57a is located an expansion sprin 59, which serves to keep the valves 57 an 57 a in engagement with the 'respective valve-seat members 54'and 54a.

The two ends of the cylinder 25 are provided with cylinder- heads 60 and 61. Each of these cylinder-heads is provided with suitable packing through whlch the piston rod 19 or 20, as the case may be, passes. Each of the cylinder- heads 60 and 61 is provided with an inlet passage 62 which communicate with a valve chamber 63 closed on the outside by a cap 64. Integral with the cap 64 is a hollow extension 65, on the outside of which a valve 66, seating against a valveseat 67, is located. The valve member 66 is provided with flanges 68 and 69. The valveseat member 67 is held inposition by a ring 70, which is connected with a ring 71, containing a rubber ring 72, by means of ribs 73. The housing 74 is fastened to the ring 7l. A helical expansion spring 75 extends between the ring 72 and the fiange 69. rlhe cap 64 has fitted upon its end a cock 76 provided with a passage 77 leading to the interior of extension 65 and may be brought in register with the passage 78 in the cap-member 64. The passage 78 communicates with the chamber 63. Each of the cylinder- heads 60 and 61 also contains a chamber 79, which is closed by means of a cap 80 having a hollow inward extension 81. At the base of the eX- tension 81, the cap 80 is provided with an annular recess 82 at the bottom of which is a rubber ring 83. The valve 84 has a sleeve 85 inclosing the extension 81, and also has a piston-like end 86 which lits within the annular recess 82 in the cap 80. The s ring 87 occuve 84 and the base of the recess within the extension 81 of the cap 80. r1`he valve 84 is normally seated by the spring 87 against a valve-seat member 88. A. cock 89 extends through the cap 80 and has a passage 90 which is in communication with the chamber 79, and on turning the cock is adapted to be broughtl into register with a passage 91 which communicates with the annular recess 82. Each of the cylinderheads 60 and 61 may be provided with one or more of the inlet valves 66 and outlet valves 84 of the type which I have just described.

The annular space 47 communicates with the oil separator, which is indicated as a whole by 92. This oil separator, as most clearly indicated in Fig. 4, is provided with a central passage 93 which communicates at its lower end with the space between said passage and the outer casing 94 of the oil separator. This space is provided with a spirally-disposed partition 95, the lower sur hollow end of the valve 57 face of which is provided with corrugations 96, thereby forming a spiral passage 97 through which the gas travels in a manner which will presently be explained. The upper end of the passage 97 is closed by a ballcheck valve 98; this ball-check valve serving to normally close communication between the passage 97 and the pipe 99 which leads to the ammonia condenser or other similar apparatus to which the compressed gas 1s to bedelivered. Pipes 100 lead from the chambers 79 associated with the outlet valves 84 to the passage 93 in the oil separator 92. The lower end of the oil separator 92 is provided with a discharge pipe 101 for carrying off oil or condensed liquid.

Associated with my compressor a bypass header 102 may ,he employed, to' which may lead supply- pipes 103, 104, 105 and 106. Between each of these pipes a valve 107 is provided in the header 102, so that the latter is divided into a plurality of sections. Each of the pipes 103, 104, 105 and 106 is also provided with a valve 108. The pipe 22 leads from the header 102 to the main truck stuffing-box 21, and the pipe 24 leads from the header to the main trunk stuling-box 23. A pipe 109 leads from the header 102 to the inlet passage 62 in the cylinder-head 60, and a pipe 110 leads from the header 102 to the inlet passage 62 in the cylinder-head 61.

Having thus described the various parts which are used in my improved compressor, the operation of the same will now be readily understood. Ammonia or other gas to be compressed is supplied to the various inlets of the compressor through the pipes 22, 109, 110 and 24. Y1t will be evident that by proper adjustment of the valves 107 in the header 102, and the valves 108 in the pipes 103', 104, 105 and 106, the entrance pipes 22, 109. 110 and 24 may be supplied with gas at a plurality'of di'erent pressures. As the main crank-shaft 13 is rotated, the two pistons 26v are reciprocated (by means of the connections explained above) within the bushings 42 of the cylinder 25. lLet us assume that the pistons are being moved to the right from the positions indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. As this travel takes place, a vacuum is formed in the space to the left of the left-hand piston 26. This results in opening the valve 66 against the tension of the spring 75, and gas is allowed to pass from the passage 62 in the cylinder-head 60 into that portion of the cylinder located to the left of the piston attached to the pistonrod 19. At the same time, the gas whichis located bef tween the left-hand piston and the partition 49 is compressed, and the valve' 57 is thereby unseated, allowing this gasSto pass through the openings 56' into thev annular space 47 tothe-passage 93 in the oil sepa.-

` be expelled through the outlet y cylinder between the rator.-v This action continues until the left-v handpiston 26 has reached a point in its travel where it approaches the partition 49. When this happens, the partition 49 as a whole is then moved against the tension of the springs 53 and unseated from the end of the bushing 42, so that the gas passes directly from the interior of the cylinder to the annular space 47. The piston may then engage the partition 49, so that absolutely all of the gas within this portion of' the cylinder 1s expelled into the annular space 47. It will be evident that while this ,action is taking place, the partition is being forced more iirmly against the ends of the right-hand bushing 42. In the meantime the right-hand piston 26 is traveling toward the cylinder-head 61. The gas in that portion of the cylinder between the right-hand piston 26 and the cylinder-head 61 is compressed, land when it reaches the predetermined pressure the outlet valve 84 is unseated and the compressed gas passes through the pipe 100 to the passage 93 in the oil separator 92. At the same time,.the valve 36 in the right-'hand piston`26 is unseated` and the gas contained within the hollow piston-rod 20 is allowed to pass into the space between the right-hand piston 26 and the partition 50. Inasrnuch a's this rgas has been previously expanded, it serves to keep the piston rod and the piston at a low temperature, preventing heating of the bearings. 1t will also be clear that inasmuch as the piston 26 is hollow, it acts as a trap for catching scale or mechanical impurities of other description which may be contained within the gas. lVhen the piston rods 19 and 20 are moved in the opposite direction, it will be apparent that1exactly the reverse operation to that which has just been described takes place; that" is, gas will be admitted to the portion of the cylinder between the left-hand piston 26 and the partition 49 and t0 the portion of the right-hand piston 26 and the cylinder-head 61, while the, Agas will valve '84 of the cylinder-head and through the partition 50. It willl thus be apparent that there are four, compression spaces within the cylinder 25, gas being compressed in two of .these spaces at any one time, and

' being'iadmitted to the other two by suction at the same time.

I have emplo ed the cock 76 in connection with the val ve 66 in order to easily regulate the pressure at which the valve operates. If the cock is turned so thatr communication between the passages 7 7 and 7 8`is interrupted, 1t will be evident that thejvalve 66 w1ll unseat with great diiiiculty, since such unseating would -tend to cause a .vacuunil within the hollow-extension ofthe .cock 76, therefore,

` area of the amaca-z cap 64. On the other hand, if the passage 77 is brought fully into register with the passage 78, the valve 66 unseatsvery easily, since gas is constantly supplied through the passages 78 and 77 to the interior of the extension 65. By `suitable regulation of the the valve 66 may be unseated at any desired degree of suction. The cock 89 used in connection with the outlet valve 84 operates on asimilar principle. If communication between the passages 90 and 91 is entirely interrupted, the valve 84 will open with difculty, since outward movement of this valve must be against an air cushion within the annular recess 82. 1f, on the other hand, it is desired to have the valve open very easily, the passage 90 is brought into register with the passage 91.

The area of the piston-like flange 86 is somewhat larger than that of the valve 84, and since the pressure of gas within the chamber 79 is at the maximum to which it is desired .to compressthe gas, the valve 84 may-open at a comparatively low pressure within the cylinder on account of the higher pressure within the chamber 79, the greater piston-like'flange 86, and the fact that the gas within the annular-'recess 82 isreadily expelled through the passages 91 and 90. This action is particularly desirable in ordinary operation, since it causes the gas to be expelled from the cylinder immediately when the piston starts to-move toward the outlet valve. The rubber rings 83 and 72 areV provided in connection with the outlet and inlet valves in order to provide cushioning means for the same.

As previously explained, the compressed vgas passes to thepassage 93' of the oil separator, and thence downwardly through this passage to the bottom of thecasing 94. The gas next passes through the spiral passage 97l and comes incontactjwith the corrugations k96, which serve to remove oil -and liquid. These drop from the onto the smooth-surface at the top of the spiral partition 95 and are carried down to the bottom of the oil separator by gravity, and then pass out through the discharge pipe 101. From the passage 97 the gas passes the'ball-check valve 98 and goes to the pipe 99, the ball-check valve 98 serving to prevent any return of compressed gas which has on'ce passed this valve.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the lart that many changes could be made in the my invention, or

both through and ing compressed iluid substantially as dearound said partition, scribed.

2. In a compressor, the combination of a cylinder, two pistons, an intermediate partition in said c linder, means for exhausting compresse Huid both throu h and around said partition, and means or supplying fluid to be compressed, said means including a valved passage through each of said istons, substantially as described.v

3. n a compressor, the combination of a cylinder, two pistons reciprocably mounted within said cylinder, said pistons being provided with hollow stems, a artition inisaid cylinder, said partition being located between said pistons, means for vexhausting compressed Huid through and around said partition, and means for admitting fluid to be compressed through said hollow stem,

substantially as described.

4. In a quadruple actin compressor, the combination of a cylin er, two pistons mounted therein, an intermediate two-part, expansible partition located between said pistons, and means for admitting fluid through said pistons, compressed Huid escaping around the peripheries of said partitions, substantially as described.

5. In a compressor, the combination of a cylinder having a pair of bodily movable transverse partitions in its central portion, an outlet passage communicatin with the space between said partitions an on bodily movement of one of said partitions communicating with said cylinder, a pair of pistons within said cylinder, said pistons being located on opposite sides'of sald partitions, and means for reciprocating said pistons in unison, substantially as described.

6. In a compressor, the combination of a cylinder having a pair of bodily movable valved transverse partitions in its central portion, an outlet passage communicating with the space between said partitions and on bodily movement of one of said artitions communicating with said cylin er, a pair of pistons within said cylinder, said pistons being located on opposite sides of said partitions, means for reciprocating the said pistons in unison, and means for admitting gas to said cylinder between each of said pistons and said partitions, substantially as described.

7. In a compressor, the combination of a cylinder having a pair of bodily movable valved transverse partitions in its central portion, an outlet passage communicating with the space between said partitions and on bodily movement of one of said artitions communicating with said cylin er, a pair of pistons within said cylinder, said pistons being located on opposite sides of said partitions, means for reciprocating said pistons in unison, means for admitting gas to said cylinder between each'of said pistons and .said partitions, inlet means for admitting gas to said cylinder between each of said pistons and the adjacent end of said cylinder, and outlet means from said cylinder between each of said pistons and the adjacent end of the cylinder, substantially as described. x

8. A moistureseparator for gases, comprising a casing, a passage through said casing, and corrugations on the roof of said passage for separating the moisture from said gases, substantially as described.

9. A moisture separator for gases, Acomprising a casing, a passage through said casing, corrugations on the roof of said passage for separating the moisture from said gases, and a discharge outlet leading from said casing, whereby the separated moisture is 'carried away from *said casing, substantially as described.

10. In a compressor, the combination of a` cylinder having a pair of bodily movable valved transverse partitions in itsl central portion, resilient means for normally keepinv said partitions separated from each otler, an outlet passage communicating with the space between said partitions and on bodily movement of one of said partitions communicating with said cylinder, a pair of pistons within said cylinder, said pistons being located at opposite sides of said partitions, and means for reciprocating said pistons in unison, substantially as described.

CHARLES H. LEINERT. Witnesses THOMAS HENDERSON, S. J. Larson.

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