US964987A - Compressor. - Google Patents

Description

J. T. LOVE. COMPRESSOR.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 22, 1909.

Patented July 19, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES 7/14 J. T. LOVE COMPRESSOR.

APPLIGATION FILED 111:0. 22, 1009.

964,987, Patented July 19, 1910.

3 BHEBTBBHEET 2. 7

WITNESSES THE NORRIS PETERS 00., WASHINGTON 1: c.

J. T.-LOVE.

' COMPRESSOR. v APPLIOATION FILED D30. 22 1909.

Patented July 19, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

3 INVENTUB W3 WITNESSES W? Amman JOHN T. LOVE,

OF CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM H. FLINT AND JAMES W. CONWAY, BOTH OF CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA.

COMPRESSOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 19, 1910.

Application filed December 22, 1909. Serial No. 534,404.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN T. Love, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Charlotte, county of Mecklenburg, and State of North Carolina, have invented an Improvement in Compressors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to compressors, and consists of certain improvements which are fully set forth in the following specification and shown in the accompany ing drawings, which form a part thereof.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and effective construction of a compressor which may be employed for compressing air or gases for refrigerating apparatus, or for any other use to which it may be found applicable.

My invention consists of certain features of construction which are fully described hereinafter, and more particularly defined in the claims.

These improvements will be better understood by reference to the drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of a compressor with part in section, embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on line 0c-a2 of Fig. 3; Fig. 3 is a cross section of the same on line g y of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a plan View illustrating the application of my improved compressor to a refrigerating apparatus.

2 is the heavy base of the machine, and is made of box-shape construction with provision for supporting the housings 3 of two separate compressing devices, one at each end of the base or bed frame; and with an intermediate gap or well in which a flywheel 5 may revolve. The crank shaft 4: is supported in suitable bearings 6 carried upon the bed frame, on each side of the two cranks of the crank shaft 4, and in which the said crank shaft is journaled. As is customary, the cranks of the crank shaft are arranged at 180 degrees apart. The housings 3 extend upward and are provided with suitable guides 14: for the cross heads 13, said cross heads being connected with the cranks by means of connecting rods 15. The cross heads 13 are connected with piston rods 12, having at their upper ends suitable pistons 11 working in the compressing cylinders 8. The housings are suitably formed of the open type construction and so made as to provide shields to prevent the escape of the oil which may be thrown by the cranks and connecting rod. Suitable wells 7 may be provided through which the cranks and the connecting rods travel during the rotation of the crank shaft, and by which they may be properly lubricated. These parts of the apparatus, above described, may be of any suitable practical form, such as employed in compressors or engines generally, and I do not limit or restrict myself in any respect thereto.

Referring now to the compressing mechanism proper arranged at the upper parts of the housing, it will suffice to describe this mechanism in detail with respect to one of the compressors, as both of the compressors shown in Fig. 1 are similar in construction and mode of operation. The compressing cylinder 8 is bolted to the housing through a lower head 9 which is provided with a stufling box 10 through which the piston rod 12 reciprocates, and the lower part of the cylinder below the piston, when in its lowermost position, is enlarged to form a chamber 16 of considerable capacity, so that when the piston rises in the act of compressing the air or gas above it, the partial vacuum produced below it may not be excessive.

WVhile I prefer to form this chamber 16 by enlarging the internal diameter of the cylinder at the lower part, it may be formed v in any other suitable manner so long as there is in communication with the cylinder below the piston a cubical capacity which would be greater than the normal clearance between the piston and the cylinder head. This chamber 16 is designed to provide a closed space below the piston which shall be air-tight and which shall not produce, under normal operation of the compressor, any excessive resistance due to either compression or partial vacuum, but which, in case of leakage of the compressed air or gas around the piston from the compression end thereof into the said chamber 16, will hold the said air or gas and permit it to be, by accumulation of such leakage and action of the piston, increased in pressure sufficient to cause it to be ejected through a pipe 55 opening through the lower cylinder head and provided with a check valve 54 which will permit the outflow of the said air or gas, but prevent any inflow into the said chamber 16.

' between the bottom of the The upper end of the cylinder 8 is provided with a cylinder head 17 containing the inlet valve 22 and the outlet valve 24, said cylinder head being clamped firmly upon the top of the cylinder by means of a cast iron ring 18 having an inwardly directed flange 19 extending over the cylinder head and clamped down upon the cylinder by means of cap screws 20. The cylinder head 17 is preferably made of wrought steel, whereas, the ring 18 with its flange 19 is made of cast iron, so that if, from any reason, an excessive pressure was caused to exist within the cylinder, breakage would occur on this flange l9, and thereby relieve the pressure without destroying or injuring the more costly parts of the mechanism. Thls ring 18, being of exceedingly simple construction, may be easily replaced in case of breakage, and being only a clamp, I great nicety in the fitting of the cylinder is not especially essential.

The cylinder head 17 carries the inlet and the outlet valves. It is bored and tapped to receive the valve chambers 25 and 35 respectively for the inlet valve 22 and the outlet valve 24. The bored part of the cylinder head below the valve chamber 25 is provided with a downwardly directed valve seat 21 upon which the valve 22 seats itself, and said cylinder head is further provided with an upwardly directed valve seat 23 below the valve chamber 35, which supports and guides the outlet valve 24.

Referring more specifically to the inlet valve 22 and its connections, I provide the valve chamber 25 at the bottom with a flanged sleeve 26, through which flange are a series of apertures 27, the perimeter of said flange being clamped firmly in position valve chamber 25 and a seat formed in the cylinder head 17. The sleeve 26 forms a guide for the valve stem 28. Arranged within the valve chamber and secured upon the valve stem 28, is a collar 32, and between this collar and the flange of the sleeve 26, is arranged a coil spring whose function is to raise the valve 22 and hold it normally upon its seat 21. The valve chamber 2-5 is provided with tubular passages 30 in its upper part, and these open into the interior of the sleeve 31 which is screwed upon the top. of the valve chamber, and said sleeve is screw-threaded at its upper end to provide a connection of the piping through which the air or gas tov be compressed may be delivered to the compressor. The upper end of the valve stem 28 extends through the top of the valve chamber 25 and. is guided therein, and is also provided with a second collar 34 secured to it, and which will prevent the valve 22 dropping into the cylinder should the collar 32 from any cause become disconnected with re spect tov its position upon the valve stem 28.

All of the parts in the make-up of this valve device are preferably formed of steel. The discharge valve structure is somewhat more simple than the inlet valve mechanism. As will be seen the valve stem 38 is reduced at its upper part to form a shoulder, and the upper part is guided through the top of the chamber 35 so as to guide the valve 24 with respect to its seat 23. The shoulder on the valve stem 38, contacting with the under part of the top of the valve chamber, will limit the upward movement of the valve in opening. Discharge ports 36 open through the top of the valve casing and communicate with the interior of a sleeve 37 screwed or otherwise secured upon the top of the valve casing, and screw-threaded at the upper end for connection with the piping through which the compressed air or gas is to be forced. The parts comprising the discharge valve mechanism are also preferably formed of steel.

Surrounding the cylinder 8 is a water jacket 39, the same being flanged at the bot tom and clamped in position by the same bolts which clampthe cylinder and the lower cylinder head 9 to the housings. The upper end of the water 'acket 39 is provided with a cap or bonnet 40 which extends over the cylinder head and is provided wit-h two apertures at the top through which the valve chambers 25 and 35 extend, and these apertures in their connection with the said valve chambers may be made water tight by suitable stufling boxes 42.

The water jacket 39 and its cap 40 provides an annular water space 41 around the cylinder and its head and valves, and over the latter, and thereby keeps them cool dur ing the operation of the compressor. Water is continually supplied to the space 41 through the water jacket by the pipe 43 at its bottom, and the surplus water may be allowed to escape from the top of the cap through the pipe connection 44 which may lead to any convenient point of discharge.

During the ordinary operation of the compressor, the air or gas is drawn through the sleeve 31, ports 30, the valve chamber 25, ports 27, and between the valve seat and valve 22 into the cylinder. When compressed, by the rising of the piston, the air or gas is driven outward between the valve seat 23 and valve 24, through the valve casing 25, through the ports 36 and sleeve 37 into the pipe in communication therewith.

Should the strain within the compressor be such as to rupture the flange 19 of the ring 18, as hereinbefore explained, it is evident that the ammonia or other gas which is being compressed within the cylinder 8 would escape into the water chamber instead of into the room, because of the fact that the cylinder and head is inelosed within the water jacket and cap or bonnet. As a result of this, the ammonia or other gas thus escaping is conveyed away with the water through the pipe 44 to a place outside of the building where it may escape to the atmosphere. In this way, the usual danger to the workmen by the escape of ammonia within the building in case of breakage is entirely obviated. This is a very important advantage of my improvements.

Referring now to Fig. 4:, which, for illustration, shows my improved compressor employed in connection with a refrigerating apparatus, the compressed gas, (which may be ammonia) is forced through the sleeves 37 into the high pressure pipes 45 which deliver through an oil strainer 46 into the cooling coils in a tank 47 kept cool by water, and in which the compressed gas is liquefied. The liquefied gas then flows into a receiver 49. From the receiver 1 9 the liquefied gas is permitted to escape under controlled regulation through cooling coils contained in the tank 51, and the expanded gas after performing the cooling action desired, is delivered by low pressure receiving pipes 52 and 53 into the sleeves 31 connecting with the inlet valves of the compressors. When the apparatus is employed in this connection, the pipes 55 leading from the bottom of the compressing cylinders are connectedby a pipe 55 with the receiving pipe 52, so that such escaping gas as may find its way from above the piston to below the same may be normally returned into the receiving pipes and again put into the circulation. A check valve 56 may be employed in the pipe 55 if so desired. This same arrangement for returning the escaping gas into the receiving pipes of the compressors may be em ployed in connection with any other gas or with air, and would be wholly irrespective of the particular use or application of the compressor in commercial practice.

In illustrating the application of my improved compressor for refrigeration or cooling, 1 have simply illustrated a typical form of refrigerating apparatus to indicate the receiving pipe and the connection of the discharge pipes 55 from the cylinders there with.

My improved compressor may be employed in connection with any suitable steam engine for rotating the crank shaft, but the latter may be rotated by belt, gearing or other means, as found convenient, whether driven by steam, electricity, hydraulic or other power, it being immaterial to my invention how the compressor is driven. It is furthermore evident that, while I have shown my invention in connection with a duplex machine, the improvements are equally applicable to a single cylinder compressor, and I therefore do not restrict my-. self to a duplex machine.

I have shown my invention in the form Which I have found excellently adapted for commercial application thereof, but I do not limit myself to the details shown, as these may be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a compressor, the combination of a cylinder, a cylinder head fitting the top of the cyclinder and provided with the valves, a clamping ring having a connection of relatively weak resistance for holding the cyl inder head in position, and means for attaching the clamping ring firmly to the cylinder.

2. In a compressor, the combination of a cylinder, a cylinder head fitting the top of the cylinder and provided with the valves, a clamping ring having a connection of relatively weak resistance for holding the cylinder head in position, means for attaching the clamping ring firmly to the cylinder, inlet and outlet port extensions opening from the cylinder head, and a Water jacket surrounding the cylinder and having a bonnet extending over the cylinder head.

3. Ina compressor, the combination of a cylinder, a cylinder head fitting the top of the cylinder and provided with the valves, a clamping ring having a connection of relatively weak resistance for holding the cylinder head in position, means for attaching the clamping ring firmly to the cylinder, inlet and outlet port extensions opening from the cylinder head, a water jacket surrounding the cylinder and having a detachable bonnet extending over the cylinder head, and stuning boxes carried by the bonnet between it and the inlet and outlet port extensions.

4. In a compressor, the combination of the cylinder, a head therefor having an inlet port, a valve for said port, and clamping means surrounding said head rigidly secured to the cylinder and having a relatively weak portion extending inwardly over the cylinder head for clamping it to the cylinder whereby the cylinder head may not be inj ured in case of abnormal rupturing pressure being produced in the cylinder.

5. In a compressor, the combination of the cylinder, a head therefor having an outlet port, a valve for said port, and annular clamping means rigidly secured to the cylinder and having a relatively weak portion extending inwardly over the cylinder head for clamping it to the cylinder whereby the cylinder head may not be injured in case of abnormal rupturing pressure being produced in the cylinder. I

6. In a compressor, the combination of the cylinder, a steel cylinder head therefor, a clamping ring of cast iron fitting about the head and having an inwardly extending annular flange of relatively weak strength extending over the head for clamping it to the cylinder, and means of greater strength than the annular flange for securing the clamping ring to the cylinder.

In a compressor, the combination of the cylinder, a steel cylinder head therefor, a clamping ring of cast iron fitting about the head and having an inwardly arrlnged flange extending over the head for clamping it to the cylinder, means for securing the ring to the cylinder, and valve devices carried by the head.

8. In a compressor, the combination of the cylinder, a head therefor having valve devices, means for clamping the head to the cylinder of relatively weak structure at its clamping position so as to rupture before injury to the head and valve devices in case of abnormal pressure, and bolts of relatively great strength for rigidly securing the clamping means to the cylinder.

'9. In a compressor, the combination of the cylinder, with a cylinder head having a valve seat, a valve for the seat having a stem, a flanged sleeve for guiding the valve stem, and having ports through its lflange, a valve chamber fitted into the head and clamping the flanged sleeve in position and also having a perforated top through which the valve stem extends, a collar secured to the valve stem, and a coil spring between the collar and flange of the sleeve, and an inlet from above the perforated top of the valve chamber wl ereby the valve is between the valve seat and inlet and the axis of the valve is in alinement with the flow of the air or gases between the inlet and seat.

10. In a compressor, the combination of the cylinder, with a cylinder head having a valve seat, a valve for the seat having a stem, a flanged sleeve for guiding the valve stem and having -orts through its flange, a valve chamber fltted into the head and clamping the flanged sleeve in position and also having a perforated top through which the valve stem extends, a collar secured to the valve stem, a coil spring between the collar and flange of the sleeve, and a second collar secured to the valve stem at a distance beyond the outer surface of the top of the valve chamber.

11. In a compressor, the combination of the cylinder, a head therefor having valve devices, means for clamping the head to the cylinder of relatively weak structure so as to rupture before injury to the head and valve devices in case of abnormal pressure, a water jacket surrounding the cylinder and having a bonnet extending over the cylinder head, and an outlet pipe from the water jacket to carry of]? the water and any escaping gases in case :of rupture of the clamping means.

12. In a compressor, the combination of the cylinder, valve devices therefor, means for holding the valve devices to the cylinder in such relatively weak form as to insure rupture before injury to the valve devices themselves in case of abnormal pressure, a water jacket surrounding the cylinder and extending over and inclosing the valve devices and the means for securing them in position, and an'outlet pipe to carry off the water and any escaping gases in the case of rupture of the means for securing the valve devices to the cylinder.

In testimony of which invention, I hereunto set my hand.

JOHN T. LOVE. l Vitnesses CHAS. I H. ONEILL, CHAS. L. Loonn'rr.

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