US1740924A - Compressor - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 24, 1929. H. c. KELLOGG C OMPRE S S OR Original Filed March 9, 1925 Im/erdZF.

Patented 'Dec. 24, 1929 HERB! C. mLOGG, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN COMPRESSOR Original application filed March 9, 1925, Serial No. 14,180. Divided and this application filed September 16, 1927. Serial No. 219,900.

This inventionv relates generally to improvements in compressors andmore particularly to compressors having special utility in refrigerating systems of the character described and claimed in my co-pending application, Serial N 0. 14,180, filed March 9, 1925, of which thepresent is a divisional application.

An object of the invention is to provide a mself-contained automatic, double acting, fluid operated and hermetically sealed compressor unit for use in refrigerating and other systems wherein a compression effect is desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compressor unit desired for use in re-' frigerating and other systems and in which running water available from a city main is utilized to operate the compressor unit.

Another object of the invention is to pro- 'vide a combined fluid motor and compressor unit to thereby eliminate separate motor and compressor units.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compressor in which stuffing boxes are entirely eliminated, to thus do away with loss of efliciency due to friction or leaks, or time spent in adjusting the stufling boxes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compressor unit applicable for use 30,with a refrigerating machine in which the motive power mechanism is contained within the machine, thus eliminating all external mechanical power transmitting connections, and reducing the number of working parts to a minimum.

These and other objects will become more apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention. In the drawings accompanying this description,

Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section in a vertical plane thru the compressor and motor unit in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail section of the cylindrical slide valve showing the ports in another position;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section showing a fragment of the flexible enclosing casing and shell wall and the guide ring;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section shown on an enlarged scale and taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a-detail elevational view of the piston valve.

Referring now to the drawings, the com- .pressor unit, generally designated by the reference character 8, is constructed about a transverse dividing member or valve housing 11 (Fig. 4) to each end of which are secured water receiving cylindrical shells 12 and 13'. These shells are secured by bolts or the like extending through apertures in external flanges 14 and 15 formed preferably integralwith the shells, and engaging in tapped holes in said valve housing 11.

Compressor cylinders 16 and 17 of a smaller diameter than the shells, are secured to the opposite ends of the shells 12 and 13 respectively, by cap screws or the like passing through apertures in external flanges 18 and 19 formed on the ends of said compressor cylinders and engaging in tapped holes in external flanges 20 and 21 on the water retaining shells 12 and 13. Tapped bosses 20' are provided on the bottom of each shell and carry a pipe plug to permit drawing of the oil, which forms a seal as hereinafter described.

The outer end of each of the compressor cylinders is closed bya wall 26 preferably formed integrally therewith as shown, but a separate head may be provided if desired; In each of said walls or heads two tapped holes are provided, one to receive an inlet valve and the other to receive an outlet valve which will later be described.

A pair of pistons 22 and 23 are securely fixed to the opposite ends of a hollow piston rod 24 in any approved manner, but as here illustrated a boss 25 is formed on the rear side of each piston having a central bore concentric with the outer diameter of the piston to surround said piston rod. Each piston is held in place securely against axial displacement by a counter-sunk machine screw extending through the end wall or head 23 of the piston and threading into said piston rod.

The two pistons 22 and 23 are each provided with external flanges 27 and 28 respectively and are also provided with piston rings 29 to prevent leakage of the gas into the water cylin ers or oil compartments.

Confined between the two pistons 2223 and the central valve housing 11 are annular extensible-bellows members 12 and 13, forming a flexible enclosing casing. Each extensible member has a guided support intermediate its ends on a reciprocable guide ring 31 having sliding motion in the cylindrical shells 12 and 13'. These guide rings are provided with spaced guide projections between which occur spaces to permit the oil to pass freely from one side to the other of these guide rings. The ends of the exteni ,sible members are secured to the flanges 27 and 28 of the pistons 22 and 23 and to the walls'of the valve housing 11, so as to be free to expand and contract'alternately with the reciprocation of the pistons, thus forming a hermetic seal for preventing the contents of the various compartments escaping.

A substantially hollow cylindrical piston valve 32 is reciprocatingly mounted in a longitudinal bore in the operating fluid chest 40 25 of valve housing 11. The end portions of the piston valve 32 are turned down to a reduced diameter to form annular grooves 33 and 34 adapted to register with ports in the cylindrical fluid chest 40 formed integral with the so valve housing 11. The'central portion of said piston valve is turned down to form a central annular groove 36 which communicates at spaced points with its central bore, or which may be made in halves and joined together by connecting rods 37 as illustrated in Figs. 4

and 5. v

A pair of internal annular grooves 38, 39 are formed in the cylindrical chest 40 adjacent one end, and another set of internal annular. grooves 41and 42 are provided adjacent its other end. The grooves 39 and 42 both open downwardly through ports 39' and 42 to the power chambers defined within the bellows or extensible members 12 and 13.

An outlet nozzle 43 is formed in the bottom of the valve housing 11 and has a branch 44 leading to one side of the center line of the housing to the fluid chest 40 and another branch 45 leading to the opposite side of the center line of said chest to open into the internal grooves 38 and 41 respectively. When the slide valve is in the positionshown'in Fig. 1 the groove 33 will place both grooves 41 and 42 in communication, therebyudischarging the left hand power chamber while.

when the slide valve is in the position shown in Fig. 2 it will discharge the right hand power chamber.

Ports 46 and 47 are formed in the fluid chest 40, one at each side of the inlet nozzle 50, to alternately admit fluid under pressure from the inlet nozzle through the central groove 36 to the power chambers 12 and 13.

The heads 48 and 49 are each provided with internal threads to engage external threads I on the ends of thevalve chest 40. A central bore is provided in each head to slidably ad- 'mit the hollow piston rod 24. Bores 51 and 52 are also provided in the heads 48 and 49 respectively and outlets. from each of said bores connect to pipes or tubes 53and 54 communicating with the outlet nozzle 43.

Small lugs 55 are provided on the inner sides of heads 48 and 49 to provide clearance and give sufficient area for the passage of the fluid, to and from the hollow piston rodcom-J partments, when the piston valve is in its extreme positions.

The hollow boreof the piston rod 24 has two dividing walls 56 and 56 dividing itinto three compartments 57, 58 and 59. The central compartment 58 has a plurality of .small holes drilled through it in the same vertical plane to form the series of ports B. To the left of the series of ports B a similar series A is provided and to the right of series B two more series C, D are provided. Each The refrigerant to be compressed enters the compressor cylinders alternately through inlet valves 63 and 64. Each inlet valve comprises a valve housing 65 having one end of reduced diameter. threaded to engage a tapped hole in the cylinder end wall. The other end of said housing is of reduced diameter and is externally threaded to engage the internally threaded cap 66 which forms a pressure joint between the housing portion 65 and the tube 67. The spring and ball check are held in position by a bushing 70 which screws into the end of the valve housing.

The compressed refrigerant leaves the cylinders 16 and 17 respectively through outlet valves 68 and 69. These exhaust valves 68 and 69 are of similar construction to the inlet valves except that the spring in these valves is at the opposite end of the ball exerting a pressure inwardly.

lVith the parts of the device in the position indicated in Fig. 1 fluid under pressure enters the valve housing 11 throughadmission port 50 which may be connected with the city water supply or the like, and flows around the central annular groove 36 of the slide valve 32, and out through inlet port 47 in the valve chest 40, into the right hand expansion chamber 13 until the piston 23 has been forced to the end of its stroke. At this time the piston 23 has completed a compression stroke and the piston 22 has completed an intake stroke.

When the pistons move to this position the from the central groove 36 of the piston valve communicating with the series of ports 13. The water-will pass through the piston rod and out through port 1), which is in position to register with the space between the right hand end of the piston valve 32 and the head 49 maintained by the lugs 55. As this space fills with water it forces the piston valve 32 to the extreme left hand position shown in Fig. 2. This reciprocation of the piston valve to the left is permitted at this time because the left hand end ofthe valve chamber is being vented through the ports E-E. These ports vent this end of the valve chamber into the pipe 53 and permit movement of the iston valve in this direction.

hen the pistons reach the end of their movement in this direction the series of ports F in piston rod compartment 59 is thereupon placed in registry with the bore 52 in the head 49, and the other series of orts F is placed in communication with t .e space formed between the end of the valve 32 and said head 49. The fluid in this space enters compartment 59 through the ports F and drains out through the other ports 5" passing to the outlet nozzle 43 through the tube 5% provided for that purpose. Simultaneously therewith, the working fluid is admitted to the other end of the piston valve, through the series of ports A an consequently the piston valve is reciprocated to the right.

This movement of the valve operates to admit the working fluid to the right hand chamber 13 through ports 50 and 4:7 and to exhaust the working fluid from the left hand chamber 12 through ports 42' and 45 which results in the two pistons 22 and 23 moving to the right. This brings us back to the point at which we started and completes a cycle of the compressor.

A supply of oil is provided between the flexible casing members 12 and 13 and their respective enclosing shells 12 and 13 and the pipes 73 form a connection (not shown) between both shells to permit the oil to be transferred from one shell or the other as the pistons reciprocate, thus forming a seal to prevent escape of the refrigerant, an absorbing medium for any small leakage of refrigerant and a source of lubricant for the pistons. Suitable means are provided in said line for supplying these shells with oil.

The compressor unit is mounted on any approved base, such as by reference to my copending application, a cooler 74 by a connection 75 which forms a passage permitting the water leaving the compressor housing to enter said base or cooler.

It will be apparent that with the above construction the objects of the invention are readily attained in a simple and eflicient manner. The combined fluid motor and compressor unit is self-contained, compact and rugged, and as its motive fluid is available from a ready source such as a city water main, the unit is well adapted for many uses where an eflicient and economical operation of com pressor is desired.

1 do not intend to be limited to the particular details herein shown and described, as it will be obvious that the fore oing is merely an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

I claim:

1. In compressor apparatus of the class de shells supported in substantial alignment,

compressor cylinders supported by opposite valves associated with said cylinders for admitting and discharging the fluid being compressed to and from said cylinders, a transverse dividing member between said shells and to which said shells are secured, extensible members connected to said dividing member and to said pistons, valve mechanism carried by said transverse dividing member for controlling the admission and discharge of a working fluid to and from said extensible members, and means operating with said pistons for controlling said valve mechanism.

3. In compressor apparatus of the class described, the combination of compressor cylinders supported in substantial alignment with their open ends facing each other, pistons in said cylinders, said cylinders being adapted to receive and discharge a fluid being compressed, a transverse dividing member supported between the open ends of said cylinders, extensible members connected to said transverse dividing member and said pistons, a valve chest supported by said transverse dividing member, a piston valve reciprocably supported in said valve chest for controlling the admission and discharge of a working fluid to and from said extensible members, and a connecting rod extending between said pistons and passing through said valve chest for controlling the operation of said piston valve.

4. In compressor apparatus of the class described, the combination of compressor cylinders supported substantially in alignment, pistons in said cylinders, extensible power chambers operatively connected to said pistons, and valve mechanism enclosed Witlnn ends of said shells, pistons in said cylinders,

said power chambers for controlling the admission and discharge of a working fluid to and from said power chambers.

5. In compressor apparatus of the class described, the combination of compressor cylinders supported in substantial alignment, pistons in said cylinders, extensible members connected to said pistons and forming power chambers, and valve mechanism sealed with- 6 in said extensible members for controllingthe admission and discharge of a working uid to and from said members.

6. In compressor apparatus of the class described, the combination of compressor cylinders supported in substantial alignment, pistons in said cylinders, a connecting rod having a hollow portion and extending between said pistons, extensible members connected to said pistons and extending towards each other, means separating said extensible members to define separate power chambers in said members, and valve mechanism aligned axially of said pistons and said extensible members for controlling the circulation of a working fluid through said members and operable b fluid passing through said connecting rod 7. In compressor apparatus of he class described, the combination of compressor cylinders supported in substantial alignment, pistons in said cylinders, valve mechanism in said cylinders, a transverse dividing member supported between said cylinders, extensible members connected to said transverse dividin member and to said pistons, said members belng of larger diameter than said pistons, said valve mechanism comprising a cylindrical valve chamber supported by said trans verse dividing member, ports in said valve chamber opening into said extensible members,a piston valve in said valve chamber controlling said ports, and a connecting rod extending between said pistons and passing axially through said piston valve for controlling the operation of the latter.

8. In compressor apparatus of the class described, the combination of compressor cylinders supported in substantial alignment, pistons in said cylinders, a connecting rod having a hollow portion and extending between said pistons, a transverse dividing member supported between said cylinders, extensible members connected to said transverse dividing member and to said pistons, cylinders surrounding said extensible members and socured to said transverse dividing member, and valve mechanism supported by said transverse dividing member and operable by fluid passing through said connecting rod for conjtbrolling the operation of said extensible memers.

9. In compressor apparatus of the class described, the combination of compressor cylinders supported in substantial alignment, pis- $5 tons in said cylinders, extensible members a working fluid to said members, c'linders surrounding said members, and ui e rings attached to said extensible mem ers intermediate their ends and having reciprocable support in said cylinders for supporting the intermediate portions of said members.

11. In combination, a cylinder, a piston, a piston rod, an extensible member connected to said piston, a closure member for the other end of said extensible member, valve mechanism supported by said closure member for controlling the admission of a working fluid to said member, and means responsive to the axial position or" said piston rod for controlling theoperation of said valve means.

12. In combination, a cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, valve mechanism for.

said cylinder, an extensible member connected to said. piston, a closure member for closing the opposite end of said extensible member, valve mechanism supported by said closure member substantially axially of said extensible member, said valve mechanism controlling the admission of a Working fluid to said member, and a piston rod extending from said piston and controlling said valve mechanism.

13. In combination, a cylinder, a piston, valve means for said cylinder, an extensible member connected to said piston, means for closing the other end of said extensible mem ber, valve mechanism for admitting a working fluid to said extensible member, a cylindrical chamber enclosing said member, and a guide ring operatively related to said extensible member and. having reciprocable guided support in said cylindrical chamber.

14. in compressor apparatus of the class described, the combination of two compresso'r cylinders supported in substantial align ment, pistons in said cylinders, extensible members connected to said pistons, a transverse dividing member closing the adjacent ends of said extensiblemembers, an admission passageway for a working fluid entering said transverse dividing member, an ex haust passageway for the working fluid in said transverse dividing member, a cylindrical valve chamber in said dividing member,

a piston valve in said valve chamber, an admission port in said valve chamber communicating with said admission passageway, inlet ports in said valve chamber opening into said extensible members on each side of said central admission port, discharge ports in said valve chamber communicating with said exhaust passageway, outlet ports in said valve chamber leading from said extensible members, and grooves in said piston valve for placing said admission port alternately in communication with each of said inlet ports and for placing the outlet ports of said extensible members alternately in communication with their respective discharge ports.

15. In compressor apparatus of the class described, the combination of two compressor cylinders supported in substantial alignment, pistons in said cylinders, extensible members connected to said pistons, a transverse dividing member closing the adjacent ends of said extensible members, an admission passageway for a working fluid entering saidtransverse dividing member, an exhaust passageway for the working fluid in said transverse dividing member, a cylindrical valve chamber in said dividing member,

a piston valve in said valve chamber, a central admission port in said valve chamber communicating with said admission passageway, inlet ports in said valve chamber openmg into said extensible members on each side of said central admission port, laterally spaced discharge ports in said valve chamber communicating with said exhaust passageway, outlet ports in said valve chamber leading from said extensible members, grooves in said piston valve for placing said admission port alternately in communication with each of said inlet ports and for placing the outlet ports of said extensible members alternately in communication with their respective discharge ports, and a piston rod connecting said pistons and extending axially through said piston valve, said piston rod having ports therein for admitting the working fluid to opposite ends of said piston valve.

16. In compressor apparatus of the class described, the combination of a pair of compressor cylinders supported in substantial alignment, pistons in said cylinders, extensible members connected to said pistons, closure means for closing the adjacent ends of said extensible members, a valve chamber in said closure means, a supplying port opening into said valve chamber adapted to receive the working fluid under pressure, inlet orts leading from said valve chamber to sai extensible members, outlet ports leading from said members to said valve chamber, an exhaust passageway leading from said valve chamber, a. iston valve reciprocably supported in said valve chamber having passageways therein for placing said ports 1n selective communication alternately to admit the working fluid to one of said extensible members and discharge it from the other, a connecting rod extending between said pis tons and passing axially through said piston valve, said connecting rod having a hollow portion divided into a central compartment and end compartments, ports opening into said central compartment adapted to admit the working fluid to one end of said piston valve, and ports opening into said end compartments adapted alternately to open the opposite ends of said valve chamber to exhaust. v

17. In a device ofthe class described, the combination of a valve housing connected with a fluid supply under pressure, a valve mounted in said housing, fluid receiving members secured to said housing, arranged to have their contents communicated through the housing and piston rod to operate said valve, compressor cylinders provided with inlet and exhaust means and secured to the opposite ends of said receiving members, a hollow piston rod operatively mounted in said valve, and pistons fixedly secured on said piston rod.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature at 1609 First National Bank Building, Detroit, Michigan.

HERBERT C. KELLGGG.

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