US595429A

US595429A - Air or gas pump or compressor

Info

Publication number: US595429A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1897-12-14
Anticipated expiration: 1914-12-14

Description

2 SheetsSheet 1.

L. R. ALBERGER.

AIR 0R GAS PUMP 0R COMPRESSOR.

(No Model.)

No. 595,429. Patented Dec. 14, 1897.

1 HI lllIHl i IIIII H THE (No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

L. R. ALBERGER. AIR 0B. GAS PUMP 0R comrmzssonq w No. 595,429. Patented Dec. 14, 1.897.

WZWW UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS R. ALBERGER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE HENRY R. VVORTHINGTON, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.

Al R OR GAS PUMP OR COMPRESSOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,429, dated December 14, 1897.

Application filed August .1394

'To all whom it may concern.-

citizen of the United States, residing at New York, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air or Gas Pumps or Oompressors, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved direct-acting air or gas pump or compressor, and especially to provide an efficient duplex air pump or compressor of this class. i

In crank and fly-wheel air pumps and compressors the proper movement of the plunger throughout the stroke is secured by the flywheel, the excess of power at the beginning of the stroke and until the air on the force side of the plunger is compressed to delivery- I opposite sides, the plunger mayjump through the first part of the stroke until the pressure on the force side of the plunger is raised to the delivery-pressure, this jump increasing with the ratio of the delivery-pressure to the I suction-pressure and frequently amounting to more than half a stroke and under some conditions to nearly a full stroke.

In all direct-acting air pumps and compressors difliiculty has been found in securing the uniformity of action desirable to prevent slamming of the valves and shock to the moving parts of the pump, and a dash-pot or an additional water-pump actuated by the steampiston of the air pump or compressor is frequently used for this purpose.

In duplex pumpsthat is, pumps in which the steam-valves on one side are operated from the other side of the engine, the two pistons and plungers being timed differently-each side of the pump opens the steanr valves on the opposite side in the latter. part of the stroke and usually commences to open them only a. little later than half stroke. Consequently if the piston and plunger jump Serial No. 519,560. (No model.)

any considerable portion of the stroke the steam-valves on the opposite side are opened too early, especially as the blow from the quick motion of the jumping piston will throw the valve and open it in advance of the movement of the piston and valve-rod, and the piston and plunger on the opposite side then jump in turn and again shift the VELIXYGS on the first-mentioned side before that side has time to complete its stroke, the result being that the pistons and plungers take short strokes at the centers of the cylinders, and if the ratios of the delivery-pressure to the pressure in the cylinder be quite high this stroke may be so short as to preventthe pump doing any eflective work. This result is aided also by the air compressed in the clearance-space, which increases'the pressure behind the plunger and aids in causing the jump referred to, and, moreover, prevents any suction on a very short stroke, as no suction will take place behind the plunger until the air compressed in the clearance-space on the previous forward movement of the plunger has expanded to suction-pressure. This failure of suction in air-pumps during the first part of the stroke, due to the clearance-space, is well known, and to avoid this difliculty wet air-pumps have been used and various devices employed in dry air-pumps for relieving the pressure in the clearance-space when the plunger is reversed. This difficulty exists more largely in direct-acting pumps, because a comparatively large clearance-space is re quired, while only a small clearance is necessary in crank and fly-wheel pumps, because the movement of the piston is limited and concussion prevented by the crank. In crank and fly-wheel dry air-pumps also it has been suggested to connect the two opposite ends of the cylinder at the end of each stroke, so as to allow the compressed air in the clearance-space to expand into the opposite end of the cylinder, thus securing suction practically throughout the stroke, a valve construction being used which will prevent the delivery-pressure from being transmitted to the force side of the plunger.

I avoid practically all objectionable irregularities of action in direct-acting air pumps or-compressors by making the plunger-load substantially uniform throughout the stroke, and thus am enabled to provide an eiiicieut duplex air pump or compressor of this class. This result may be secured by admitting pressure on the force side of the plunger from any suitable source at or near the com mencement of each compression-strokethat is, so that the plunger shall be under substantially the delivery-load at the commencement of the stroke, or so early in the stroke as to prevent any substantial jump of the plunger. I prefer, however, to admit the pressure to secure this uniformity of load while the plunger is at rest before reversing, and by connecting the delivery and pump-cylinder on the force side of the plunger for this purpose, and I prefer also to connect the two opposite ends of the cylinder at the end of each stroke before communication is thus opened between the delivery and cylinder. In attaining this latter result I employ an equalizingport which is controlled so as to secure communication between the opposite ends of the cylinder at the end of each stroke, thus permitting the expansion of the air in the clearance-space to the force side of the plunger, so as to lessen the pressure behind the plunger and increase the pressure in front of the plunger at the beginning of the next stroke, these features coacting in tending to equalize the plunger-load throughout the stroke. It will be seen that I also secure an advantage in that I thus not only increase the plunger-load at the beginning of the stroke and so aid in avoiding the jump previously referred to and in securing the full stroke of the plunger, but I also thus secure suction at the beginning of the stroke, so that even if the stroke of the plunger should be reduced somewhat air will still be received at the suction end and work done.

The opening and closing of the equalizingport and the control of the connection between the cylinder ends and delivery to obtain the above mentioned results may be secured by valve constructions of different form, but I prefer to use a construction in which communication between the delivery and pump-cylinder on the force side of the plunger is secured at or near the com mencement of the stroke through the regular admission and emission ports at the ends of the cylinder, and the equalizing-port is controlled by the same valve or valves that control the delivery, and such a construction forms a part of the invention and may be employed in single air pumps or compressors as well as in duplex constructions.

It is evident that the invention may be embodied in constructions of widely different form, but for the purpose of illustrating all the features of the invention I have shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, a duplex direct-acting air pump or compressor which will be found a convenient and efficient embodiment of the invention, and a full description of the same Will now be given and the features forming the invention specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the pump with the pump-cylinder and valve on one side shown in section. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Referring to said drawings, A B are the two steam-cylinders; O D, the corresponding pump-cylinders, shown as jacketed for water circulation, as usual; ah, the corresponding piston-rods, and 0 (Z the corresponding plungers. The construction of the steam end of the cylinders and valve movement is substantially the same as shown and described in many prior patents, and now well known in connection with the \Vorthington duplex pumping-engine, so that no further description of these parts is required, it being understood that the valves on one side of the engine are operated from the opposite side through levers e f, actuated by the respective piston-rods a b and connected to the valves by the usual links. It will be understood, however, that any other suitable construction may be used for the steam end of the engine, that shown being selected only as forming a simple and eflicient construction Well adapted for use in connection with the invention.

At the pump end, E is the suction and F the force main, and G a joint suction and delivery chamber. This chamber G connects with the suction E through a cove g on each side of the engine and with the opposite ends of the cylinders O D through admission and emission ports h, and communication through these ports is controlled on the opposite sides by rotary valves ills, these valves being formed with central ports 1 2, respectively, which connect the ports 71. at the opposite ends of the cylinder when the plunger has reached the end of its stroke, and thus form the equalizing-ports referred to above. These valves 1' 75 are operated from the opposite. side of the pump by means of the levers of and links 10 11 on the opposite sides and crank-arms 12 13, carried by the respective valve-stems.

The positions of the operating parts on both sides of the pump are shown in full and dotted lines in Fig. 1, this figure showing the position selected for illustration, being that in which the plunger 0 is at half-stroke and the plunger (Z at the end of its stroke. In this position the valve 6 on the c plunger side of the pump is in such a position as to connect the suction-cove g with the suction side of the cylinder and the delivery with the force side, while the valve on the d plunger side of the pump has closed both the suction and delivery and opened communication through the port 2, between the opposite ends of the cylinder D, so that the compressed air in the clearance-space has expanded into the opposite end of the cylinder, so as to increase the pressure on the force side of the plunger at the beginning of the next stroke. The pisforce side of the plunger, so that the delivery-- pressure is at once admitted on the opposite side of the plunger and the full final load upon the plunger secured at the commencement of the next stroke, thus insuring a uniform action and preventing the jump of the plunger. As the plunger r: reaches the end of its stroke the'plunger d on the opposite side of the engine reaches the middle of its stroke and then commences to shift the valve 2', so as to close the suction and delivery on that side and to open communication between the opposite ends of the cylinder 0 through the equalizing-port 1, and then to close the equalizing-port and open the delivery to the opposite end of the cylinder while the plunger c is at rest, and thus the operation is continued.

The construction shown, in which a single valve on each side is employed and communication between the delivery and force side of the plunger at the commencement of the stroke is made through the regular admission and emission ports, is .very simple and emcient and in itself forms a part of the invention; but it will be understood that the invention, broadly considered, may be carried out by other constructions.

It will be understood that the term duplex pump used herein is not to be construed as limited to a construction in which there are only two pistons and plungers, but that it is used in its'commercial sense to include pumps having two or more steam-cylinders, with their pistons and plungers, and in which the steam valves on each cylinder are operated from the piston of one of the other cylinders, the the pistons and plungers of the different cylinders being timed differently.

What I claim is- 1. A duplex direct-acting air or gas pump provided with meansfor securing communication between the opposite ends of the respective cylinders at the end of each stroke, and for admitting fluid to the cylinders from another source to increase the pressure in front of the plungers above the suction-pressure at or near the commencement of each compression stroke, substantially as described.

2. A duplex direct-acting air or gas pump provided with means for securing communication between the opposite ends of the respective cylinders at the end of each stroke and securin g communication between the delivery and the respective. cylinders in front 3. A duplex direct-acting air or gas pump provided with means for admitting fluid to the cylinders in front of the plungers at or near the commencement of each compressionstroke from a source of pressure substantially equal to that of the delivery, whereby substantially the delivery-load upon the plunger is secured during the first part of the stroke, substantially as described.

4. A duplex direct-acting air or gas pump provided with means for securing communication between the delivery and therespective cylinders in front of the plunger at or near the commencement of each compressionstroke, substantially as described.

- 5. The combination with the cylinders and plungers'of a duplex direct-acting air or gas pump, of delivery-valves constructed and arranged to secure communication between the delivery and the respective cylinders on the force side of the plungers at or near the commencement of each compression-stroke, and actuating connections between said valves and moving parts of the opposite side of the pump, substantially as described.

6. The combination with the cylinders and plungers of a duplex direct-acting air or gas pump, of valves controlling the suction and delivery, andconstructed and arranged to secure communication between the delivery and cylinders infront of the plungers at or near the commencement-of each compression-stroke, an equalizing-port on each side of the pump controlledby said valves and connecting the opposite ends of the cylinders at the end of each stroke, and means foractuating the valves on each side of the pump from the opposite side, substantially as described.

7. The combination with the cylinders and plungers of a duplex direct-acting air or gas pump, of valves controlling the suction and delivery, equalizing-ports controlled by said valves, and connections between said valves and the opposite sides of the pump for actuating said valves to close communication between the delivery and cylinder and open the equalizing-port at the end of each compres sion-stroke, and to close the equalizing-port and open communicationbetween the delivery and cylinder on the force side of the plunger before the commencement of the next compression-stroke, substantially as described.

8. The combination with the cylinder and plunger of a direct-acting air or gaspump, of delivery-valve mechanism constructed and arranged to secure communication between the delivery and the cylinder on the force side of the plunger at or near the commencement of the compression-stroke, actuating connections between said valve mechanism and a moving part of the pump, and an equalizingport controlled by said delivery-valve mechanism and connecting the opposite ends of the cylinder at the end of each stroke before the communication between the delivery and the cylinder is opened, substantially as described.

9. The combination with the cylinder and plunger of a direct-acting air or gas pump, of valve mechanism controlling the suction and delivery, an equalizing-port controlled by said valve mechanism, and connections between said valve mechanism and a moving part of the pump for actuating said valve mechanism to close communication between the delivery and cylinderin front of the plunger and open the equalizing-port at the end of each stroke, and to close the equalizing-port and open communication between the delivery and cylinder on the force side of the plunger at or near the commencement of the next compression-stroke, substantially as described.

10. The combination with pump-cylinder C having ports 71, of oscillating valve t'provided with equalizing-port 1, and constructed to connect ports it through the equalizing-port 1, when the delivery is closed and open the delivery to one end of the cylinder when the equalizing-port is closed and at or near the commencement of the compression-stroke, of actuating connections between said valve and a moving part of the pump, substantially as described.

11. The combination with duplex pumpcylinders O, D having ports 7L, of oscillating valves 6, 70 provided with equalizing-ports 1,2,

and constructed to connect ports h through the equalizing-ports 1, 2 in the respective cylinders when the delivery is closed and open the delivery to one end of the cylinder when the equalizing-port is closed and at or near the commencement of the compression-stroke, of actuating connections between each of said valves and the opposite side of the pump, substantially as described.

12. The combination with duplex pumpcylinders O, D having ports h, of oscillating valves 2', 7c, controlling said ports, and connections between said valves and the opposite sides of the pump for shifting said valves to open the delivery on the force side of the plunger for the next stroke before the stroke is commenced, substantially as described.

13. The combination with duplex pumpcylinders C, D having ports h, of oscillating valves 2', 7c, controlling said ports, and having equalizing-ports 1, 2, and constructed to connect ports 7L through the equalizing-ports when the delivery is closed, and connections between said valves and the opposite sides of the pump whereby said valves are actuated, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS R. ALBERGER.

Witnesses:

C. J. SAVVYER, T. F. KEHOE.