US3112064A

US3112064A - Gas compressor valves

Info

Publication number: US3112064A
Application number: US66454A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert W Ayling
Original assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
Current assignee: CBS Corp
Priority date: 1960-11-01
Filing date: 1960-11-01
Publication date: 1963-11-26
Anticipated expiration: 1980-11-26

Description

Nov. 26, 1963 R. w. AYLING 3,112,064'

GAS COMPRESSOR VALVES Filed Nov. 1, 1960 s sheets-shea 1 Nov. 26, 1963 R. w. AYLING GAS COMPRESSOR VALVES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. l, 1960 Nov. 26, 1963 R. w. AYLING 3,112,064

GAS COMPRESSOR VALVES Filed Nov. 1, 1960 .'5 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent O 3,112,064 GAS COMPRESSOR VALVES Robert W. Ayiing, Staunton, Va., assigner to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Nov. 1, 1960, Ser. No. 66,454 3 Claims. (Cl. 23S-231) This invention relates to gas compressors, and relates more particularly to suction and discharge valves for gas compressors.

Refrigerant compressors of the reciprocating piston type usually have suction an-d discharge valves consisting of reeds of spring metal. Prior valves of this type have had the disadvantages that valve stress at maximum lift was excessive, severe impacts of the valves on their seats occurred, and rubbing wear occurred between the valves and their seats.

This invention overcomes the disadvantages of such prior valves by forming valves as wheel-like discs of spring metal, having spokes extending radially inwardly from annular outer portions towards but spaced apart at the centers of the discs. The inner ends of the spokes are retained but not clamped so that they can bend freely when the annular portions of the discs move towards and from valve plates. The spokes provide the springing and return the valves to their seats promptly. By not clamping the spokes, valve ilexibility and higher lifts result. Spoke stress is limited by contoured stops in the case of the discharge Ivalves, and by stops cut in the tops of the cylinders in the case of the suction valves.

An object of this invention is to increase the efficiencies of reed type valves of gas compressors.

Another object of this invention is to increase the lives of reed type valves of gas compressors.

Another object of this invention is to increase the lifts of reed type valves of Igas compressors.

This invention will now be described with reference to the annexed drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view, in section, of a refrigerant compressor embodying this invention, a suction valve being shown closed, and a discharge valve being shown open;

FlG. 2 is an enlarged, yfragmentary section of the valve assembly of FIG. 1, the suction valve being shown open, and the discharge Valve being shown closed;

FIG. 3 is a section along the lines 3 3 of FIG. 1, with broken away portions;

,. FiG. 4 is a section along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 1,

with broken away portions, and

FIG. 5 is an exploded, perspective view of the valve assembly of FIGS. l-4.

A refrigerant compressor 1@ has a piston 11 in a `cylinder 12, the latter having a wall 13 around a bore 14 in which the piston 11 reciprocates. A suction gas passage 15 extends vertically around the wall 13. The piston 11 has a central recess 16 in the top of its head for clearing the head end of a rivet 17 which serves to `clamp the valve assembly as will be described later.

A suctio'n valve 18 shaped as shown by FIG. 5 as a generally circular disc of spring metal having an annular outer portion 19 with four inwardly extending, radial spokes 26 the inner ends of which are spaced apart at the center of the valve 1S. The valve 13 has eight, equally spaced-apart tabs 21 which extend radially outward from the outer edge of its outer portion `19 into a recess 22 in the inner side of the top of the wall 13. The recess 22 has a `fiat bottom which serves as a stop for the tabs 21 when the valve 18 is unseated as shown by FIG. 2 during the suction strokes of the piston 11. The valve 1S has Patented Nov. 26, 1.963

ICC

open spaces 3S between its spokes 2i) and its outer portion 19, and a suction valve guide 23 has clover-leaf-like portions 24 in the spaces 3S, and has slots 2S between the portions 2d in which the spokes 20 extend. The slots 25 are formed complemental to the inner ends of the spokes, and their edges are spaced slightly from the edges of the spokes for preventing any appreciable side movements of the spokes. The guide 23 is slightly thicker than the valve 18.

A circular, suction valve plate 26 is seated on top of the wall 13 with its outer portion overlapping the recess 22. The plate 26 has eight, outer, equally spaced-apart slots 27, and has four, inner, equally spaced-apart discharge slots 28, the sides of the slots being curved in circular arcs concentric with the plate 26. The slots 27 are suction slots and extend over the outer portion of the suction valve 18 inwardly of its tabs 21, and are covered by the outer portion of the valve 18 when it is seated during the discharge strokes of the piston 11 as shown by FIG. 1. A suction gas passage 29 extends around the plate 26 above the suction gas passage 15. The discharge slots 2S extend over the spaces 26 in 'the Valve 1S.

A circular intermediate plate 30 is seated on the plate 26, and has an annular inner portion 31 containing four, equally spaced-apart slots 32 having sides formed in circular arcs concentric with the plate 20, which slots are discharge slots and extend over and in alignment with the discharge slots 2S in the plate 26. The plate 3() has an annular outer portion 33 connected to its inner portion 31 by radial struts 34, with open spaces 35 between the struts 34 and the inner and

outer portions

31 and 33 respectively. The spaces 3S are over the suction slots in the plate 26. Radial tabs 36 extend 'from the outer portion 33 towards but terminate short of the inner portion 33. The tabs 36 rest on .the portion of the plate 26 between its outer slots 27 and its outer edge. The struts 3ftextend over the plate 26 between its slots 27.

Another intermediate plate 4t), similar to the plate 39, is seated on the plate 3i?, and has an annular inner portion 41 containing four, equally spaced-apart, discharge slots 42 having sides formed in Icircular arcs concentric with the plate 4G, which slots are over and in alignment with the discharge slots 32 in the plate 39. The plate 4t) has an annular outer portion 43 connected to its inner portion -41 by radial stru-ts 44, with open spaces 45 between the struts d4 and the inner and

outer portions

41 and 43 respectively. The spaces 4S are over the spaces 35 in the plate 30. Radial tabs 46 extend from the outer portion i3 towards but terminating short of the inner portion 41. The -tabs 46 rest on the tabs 36 of the plate 3th. The struts 44 extend over the struts 34 of the plate 30. The plate 4t) has a curved recess in its edge in which is fitted a seal ring 48.

A discharge valve plate Si? is seated on the plate di), and has spaced-apart slots 51 which have sides curved in circular arcs concentricwith the plate 56 which is cincular. The slots 5d are discharge slots and extend over and in alignment with the discharge slots 42 in the plate 40.

A discharge valve guide 611 is seated on the plate 50. A dis-charge valve 61 extends around the guide 6G. The vaive 61 is a circular disc of spring metal having an annuiar outer portion 62 with four radial spokes 63 which `extend from the outer portion 62 towards but terminate short of the center of the valve 611. The guide 611 has four clover-leatdike portions 65 which extend within spaces 66 in the Valve 61 between its spokes 63 and its outer portion 62. The guide portions 65 have radial passages 67 therebetween which are shaped complemental to the spokes 63 and within which the spokes 63 extend. The edges of the passages 67 are spaced slightly from the edges of the spokes 63 for preventing any appreciable side movements of the spokes 63. The peripheral portion 62 3 of the valve 61 extends over the discharge slots 51 in the plate 5i). The guide 60 is slightly thicker than the valve 61.

A circular, discharge valve stop plate 70 has a central 'portion of maximum thickness which is seated on the ,guide 6i). The plate 70 has eight, outer, equally spaced- `apart slots 71, the sides of which are curved in circular slots concentric with the plate 70, and which are located -above spaces 72 between the

plates

50 and 70 beyond the outer edge of the discharge valve 61. The plate '70 has four inner, equally spaced-apart slots 74, the sides of which are curved in circular arcs concentric with the plate 70. The plate 70 decreases in thickness from its central portion to the slots 74 for providing space between the outer portions of the plates 50 and 7i) for the outer portion of the valve 61 to move when it is unseated as shown by FIG. l.

The plates 26, 3), 40 and 5) are brazed together to form a single valve plate, and the remainder of the valve assembly consisting of the suction valve guide 23, the suction valve 18, the discharge valve guide 6?, the discharge valve 61, and the discharge valve stop plate 70 is assembled to this single valve plate, the rivet 16 clamping the guides 23 and 6() and the plate 7? to this single valve plate. Since the guides are thicker than the valves, the inner ends of the spokes of the latter are not clamped 'to the assembly. Due to the spokes not being clamped and not being joined at their inner ends, the valves have more exibility and higher lifts without excessive stress than prior valves of the reed type.

A spring guide sleeve S0 has a lower flanged portion $1 in contact with the upper and outer sides of the outer portion of the plate 70, and has spaced-apart, vertically extending tabs 83 around which extend the lower portion of a coiled spring 84, the lower end of which contacts the flanged lower portion 81 of the sleeve, and the upper end of which contacts the inner surface of head 86 of the cylinder 12. The spring 84 is compressed when the head 86 is clamped to the cylinder 12 by the usual bolts which are not shown, and hold the valve assembly against the top of the cylinder wall 13.

Operation In operation, on the compression strokes of the piston 11 as shown by FIG. 1, the outer portion 62 of the discharge valve 61 is lifted by the compressed gas which flows from the top of the cylinder bore 14 through the

slots

2S, 32, 42 and 51 against the under side of the outer portion 62 of the valve 61. The discharge gas passing 4the lifted outer portion of the discharge valve passes into the space 72 between the

plates

50 and 70, and from the space 72 through the

slots

71 and 74 into discharge gas chamber 90 within the cylinder head, and from the chamber 9G through the usual discharge gas outlet -which is not shown.

On the suction strokes of the piston 11 as shown by FG. 2, the outer portion 19 of the suction valve 18 is pulled down by the suctionv until the outer tabs 21 of the valve 18 contact the bottom of the recess 22 in the top of the cylinder wall 13. Suction gas is drawn through the suction passages 15 and 2.9, spaces 3S and 45 in the plates 330 and 4t) respectively, and slots 27 in the plate 26, :through the space between the bottom of the plate 26 :and the unseated outer portion 19 of the valve 1S, and through the spaces 38 between the spokes 20 of the valve 18 into the cylinder bore above the piston 11.

What is claimed is:

k1. A valve assembly for a gas compressor comprising a `generally circular disc of spring metal having an annular outer portion with a plurality of spaced-apart spoke portions extending rom said annular portion radially towards but terminating short of the center of said disc, a guide disc having a central portion between the inner ends of said spoke portions and having outer portions extending `between 4the Outer portions of said spoke portions, said '4 outer portions of said guide disc forming therebetween slots having edges which are spaced slightly from thc edges of said spoke portions, said guide disc being thicker than said iirst mentioned disc, a valve plate having a plurality of spaced-apart openings arranged in a circle aligned with said annular portion so as to be closed by said annular portion, and means extending through the centers of said discs and plate for clamping said guide disc to said plate.

2. A valve assembly for a gas compressor comprising a valve plate having a circular outer portion and having a circular inner portion concentric with said outer portion and having a smaller diameter than said outer portion, a plurality of spaced-apart openings extending through said inner portion and arranged in a circle concentric with said plate, passage means in said outer portion connecting said openings with the space around said inner portion, a valve dise at the inner side of said inner portion, said disc having an annular portion covering said openings and having a plurality of spaced-apart spoke portions extending from said annular portion radially towards but terminating short of the center of said disc, a valve guide disc having a central portion between the inner ends of said spoke portions and having outer portions between the outer portions of said spoke portions, said outer portions of said guide disc forming therebetween slots having edges spaced slightly from the edges of said spoke portions, said guide disc being thicker than said valve disc, and means clamping said guide disc to said plate.

3. ln a gas compressor having a wall around a cyliner rbore and having an annular passage around said wall for connection to the suction side of said compressor, the combination therewith of a circular valve plate having an inner portion of reduced diameter seated on said wall, said inner portion terminating short of said passage, the outer portion of said plate extending across said passage, said inner portion hav-ing a first plurality of spacedapart openings extending therethrough and arranged in a rst circle concentric with said plate, said outer portion having passage means connecting said openings with said annular passage, a suction valve disc at the inner side of said inner portion, said disc having an annular outer portion covering said openings and having a plurality of spaced-apart spoke portions extending radially towards but spaced from the center of said disc, a suction guide valve disc having a central portion between the inner ends of said spoke portions and having outer portions between the outer portions of said spoke portions, said outer portions of said guide disc forming therebetween slots having edges which are spaced slightly from the edges of said spoke portions, said guide disc being thicker than said valve disc, said plates having a second plurality of openings extending therethrough and arranged in a circle concentric with said plate, said last mentioned circle having a smaller diameter than said irst circle, a discharge valve disc having an inner side at the outer side of said plate, said discharge valve disc having an annular outer portion covering said openings of said second plurality and having spoke portions extending from its said annular portion radially towards but spaced from the center of said discharge valve disc, a discharge valve guide disc having a central portion between the inner ends of said spoke portions of said discharge valve disc and having outer portions between the outer portions of said discharge valve disc, said outer portions of said discharge valve guide disc forming therebetween slots which have edges which are slightly spaced from the edges of said spoke portions of said discharge valve disc, said discharge valve lguide disc being thicker than said discharge valve `disc, a circular discharge valve stop plate concentric with and having the same diameter as the outer portion of said valve plate, said stop plate having a central portion contacting said central portion of said discharge valve guide disc and having an outwardly tapered outer 5 pertion, said stop plate having a plurality off spacedapart discharge 4gas openings, and means extending through the centers of said discs and plates for clamping said valve guide discs to said plates.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 793,214 Neuhaus Iune 27, 1905 6 Fairhurst Sept. 7, 1915 Seligman Oct. 5, 1954 Muckley et al. May 6, 1958 Gerteis May 3, 1960 Frank et al. July 17, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Aug. 15, 1929 Switzerland Mar. 16, 1937

Claims

1. A VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR A GAS COMPRESSOR COMPRISING A GENERALLY CIRCULAR DISC OF SPRING METAL HAVING AN ANNULAR OUTER PORTION WITH A PLURALITY OF SPACED-APART SPOKE PORTIONS EXTENDING FROM SAID ANNULAR PORTION RADIALLY TOWARDS BUT TERMINATING SHORT OF THE CENTER OF SAID DISC A GUIDE DISC HAVING A CENTRAL PORTION BETWEEN THE INNER ENDS OF SAID SPOKE PORTIONS AND HAVING OUTER PORTIONS EXTENDING BETWEEN THE OUTER PORTIONS OF SAID SPOKE PORTIONS, SAID OUTER PORTIONS OF SAID GUIDE DISC FORMING THEREBETWEEN SLOTS HAVING EDGES WHICH ARE SPACED SLIGHTLY FROM THE EDGES OF SAID SPOKE PORTIONS, SAID GUIDE DISC BEING THICKER THAN SAID FIRST MENTIONED DISC, A VALVE PLATE HAVING A PLURALITY OF SPACED-APART OPENINGS ARRANGED IN A CIRCLE ALIGNED WITH SAID ANNULAR PORTION SO AS TO BE CLOSED BY SAID ANNULAR PORTION, AND MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH THE CENTERS OF SAID DISCS AND PLATE FOR CLAMPING SAID GUIDE DISC TO SAID PLATE.