Abstract: A closure device for monitoring leakage of a process fluid through a bore of a compressor casing is provided. The closure device may include a body configured to be detachably coupled with the compressor casing about the bore of the compressor. The body may define a fluid passage and a plurality of grooves. The plurality of grooves may be defined about an outer circumferential surface of the body and may be axially spaced from one another. The closure device may also include a plurality of seals at least partially disposed in respective grooves of the plurality of grooves. The plurality of seals may be configured to engage an inner surface of the compressor casing such that adjacent seals of the plurality of seals at least partially define an annular gap therebetween fluidly coupled with the fluid passage and configured to contain the leakage of the process fluid.

Abstract: A closure device for monitoring leakage of a process fluid through a bore of a compressor casing is provided. The closure device may include a body configured to be detachably coupled with the compressor casing about the bore of the compressor. The body may define a fluid passage and a plurality of grooves. The plurality of grooves may be defined about an outer circumferential surface of the body and may be axially spaced from one another. The closure device may also include a plurality of seals at least partially disposed in respective grooves of the plurality of grooves. The plurality of seals may be configured to engage an inner surface of the compressor casing such that adjacent seals of the plurality of seals at least partially define an annular gap therebetween fluidly coupled with the fluid passage and configured to contain the leakage of the process fluid.

Abstract: A sealing method and method according to which a first and second ring are each provided with split ends, and an arcuate lip extends from one end portion of the each ring and in an axial direction relative to the ring and projects outwardly from the face of the ring. The rings are disposed in an interlocking relationship with the second portion of the lip of the first ring extending within, and in a closely spaced relation to, the corresponding inner surface of the second ring; and with the second portion of each lip of the second ring extending within, and in a closely spaced relation to, the corresponding inner surface of the first ring.

Abstract: A sealing method and method according to which a first and second ring are each provided with split ends, and an arcuate lip extends from one end portion of the each ring and in an axial direction relative to the ring and projects outwardly from the face of the ring. The rings are disposed in an interlocking relationship with the second portion of the lip of the first ring extending within, and in a closely spaced relation to, the corresponding inner surface of the second ring; and with the second portion of each lip of the second ring extending within, and in a closely spaced relation to, the corresponding inner surface of the first ring.

Abstract: A gas compression apparatus and method according to which a compression cylinder is connected between two heads, and gas is introduced into at least one header and into the cylinder. A piston is reciprocated in the cylinder with a stroke corresponding to the length of the cylinder to compress the gas after which the compressed gas is discharged from the cylinder. If the cylinder bore becomes damaged or wears out, or if it is desired to change the stroke length of the piston, the cylinder can easily be replaced by disconnecting it from the heads and installing another cylinder between the heads.

Abstract: A hollow through-bolt is threaded internally and externally, at one end, to receive therein a reciprocable, end-threaded rod. A pair of fluid-control valves, centrally bored, are mounted on the through-bolt in spaced apart disposition. The other end of the through-bolt has a shoulder formed thereon for seating one of the valves thereagainst, and the other valve central bore is tapped for threaded engagement with the one end of the through-bolt. A sleeve, slidably engaged with the through-bolt, and interposed between the valves, maintains the one valve positioned against the shoulder.

Abstract: An elongated sleeve, externally threaded, is threadedly engaged with threaded bores in transverse walls formed in a straight cylinder of a gas compressor. A nut is secured to an intermediate portion of the sleeve, by means of a setscrew, and an end of the sleeve threadedly mounts a valve. The cylinder wall has an aperture formed therein to provide access for an open-end wrench, so that the wrench can work the nut to cause rotation of the nut and the sleeve, and move the valve outwardly or inwardly of the cylinder, as the valve is wholly confined within the cylinder at the frame-end thereof, and is otherwise inaccessible for movement.

Abstract: A cylindrical gas compressor has inlet valves confined therewithin, at opposite ends thereof, and discharge valves, shaft-mounted therebetween, for reciprocation to ingest and compress admitted gas. Outboard of the inlet valves are circular plates from which extend a plurality of fingers. The plates are confined within chambers in the compressor, and radial ports are provided for admitting pressured fluid to the plates to cause them to move inboard, whereby the fingers penetrate the inlet valves and remove the inlet valve valving elements off the valve seat, effecting unloading of the inlet valves. Springs hold the plates outboard of the inlet valves, to allow the valves to function normally-loaded, in the absence of the plate-displacing, ports-admitted, pressured fluid.

Abstract: Inlet valves, in a fluid-pressuring cylinder, are biasingly held in given operative positions where they occlude passageways, formed in the cylinder, which open at opposite ends onto the cylinder interior and the cylinder exterior. When an incompressible slug of liquid enters the cylinder, the relevant valve retracts against the bias thereof to expose the passageway, whereby the risk of over-pressuring is avoided, and the excess pressure is simply vented through the passageway(s), directly to the exterior of the cylinder.

Abstract: A body having a longitudinal axis, and parallel bearing surfaces at opposite axial ends thereof, has grooves formed therein, adjacent both axial ends thereof for receiving sealing rings therein. The body is interposed between fluid-control valves which are centrally supported, in spaced-apart disposition on a reciprocable rod, for abutting engagement thereof with the outermost peripheries of axial ends of the valves to support the valves and prevent bending moments from being exerted on the valves, and the grooves-receivable sealing rings offer enhanced fluid sealing over that carried by the valves themselves.

Abstract: A straight cylinder, clamped between end headers, confines valve assemblies wholly therewithin, and has a cylindrical sleeve set within one half length of the cylinder to effect a staging, i.e., a two-step compression, of the admitted gas.

Abstract: The compressor has a straight cylinder wholly confined within which are inlet valves, and reciprocatable discharge valves. One inlet valve is set in place by a centerbolt which can be turned by a wrench (or the like) to move the inlet valve to selected positions relative to its confronting discharge valve, whereby the volume of the clearance pocket is varied. The centerbolt mounted inlet valve, then, comprises an instrument for selectively varying the clearance pocket volume, obviating any need for any special clearance pocket varying devices or components.

Abstract: A housing, feet therefor, and casings, formed of common, readily available tubular stock, of uniform thickness, are assembled and welded together to define a frame for a crankshaft and crosshead assemblies. The tubular housing has openings in the sides thereof in which to receive the casings, and has apertures, also in sides thereof, in which to journal a crankshaft. The casings include transverse webs with arcuate ways formed therein for slidably supporting crosshead shoes thereon.

Abstract: The compressor is formed of a simple, straight cylinder clamped between end headers by means of tie bolts. Confined within the cylinder are inlet valves--one at each end thereof--and inlet ports formed in the cylinder open onto these valves. A reciprocable piston rod carries a pair of spaced-apart discharge valves thereon. The latter valves, having annular bodies, have piston ring grooves formed thereabout, to receive sealing piston rings therein; too the discharge valves serve as the gas compressing pistons.

Abstract: The assembly, designed for use in combination with a straight-cylinder, gas-compression chamber, has a center bolt which is threaded at opposite ends thereof to receive a pair of valve sets. Each of the latter has a ported valve seat, valve guard, and ported valve plate. The guard is set about the bolt, and against a shoulder formed on the bolt therefor. The seat is centrally threaded, to engage one of the threaded ends of the bolt, and it and the guard confine the valve plate therebetween. In that one of the valve sets is turned 180.degree. from the other, i.e., the two guards being in confrontation, and the two seats remotely disposed, vis-a-vis, the one valve set is open to fluid flow, while the other is closed, as the assembly is reciprocated in such a straight-cylinder, chamber. Identical valve sets, on different, short bolts set in end closures of such a chamber, serve as gas inlet valves, while the reciprocable assembly carries the discharge valves.

Abstract: The crosshead has a body formed of solid, metal plate, and of substantially U-shape. It comprises a pair of spaced-apart parallel limbs which are bridged between by an integral transverse member, and the latter is bored through to receive a piston rod therein. Shoe plates are joined to the limbs to guide the body in reciprocation. In the combination with a connecting rod assembly and a piston rod, an end of the piston rod is directly fastened to the connecting rod assembly, and the crosshead is coupled to an intermediate portion of the piston rod.

Abstract: The valve, depicted as of the plate-type, has a ported valve seat, stop plate, and valving element (movable between the plate and seat) biased toward the seat by compression springs. Eight sets of compression springs are employed, in the disclosed embodiment, and each set comprises a pair of helical, counterwound (compression) springs concentrically nested together.

Abstract: In the depicted embodiment, the novel valve assembly comprises a pair of valving plates in which are formed separate, circular, and walled valving chambers. One plate is in surmounting relationship to the others, so that the valving chambers subsist in a plurality of tiers. All the chambers, however, are in given rows which are common to both tiers, and any one chamber, depending upon which tier it is in, either overlies or underlies a portion of another, adjacent chamber in the other tier. Consequently, a great through-flow volume of fluid is accommodated in a considerably compacted, overall valve assembly area. Notwithstanding such an integration of the valving chambers, no one thereof obstructs the fluid flow through any other thereof. Each of the chambers has its own inlet and outlet ports, valving element moveable therewithin, and spring for biasing the valving element in a given direction.

Abstract: In the embodiment shown, the valve has a seat and a stop plate with valving elements therebetween. The seat has pluralities of openings formed therein, and the stop plate has a central void. The valving elements move, to open or close off communication between the openings and the void, in response to pressured fluid. Each element controls fluid flow through a pair of openings. The valve seat has angularly-formed lands with which the elements, correspondingly angularly formed, nest to close off fluid communication through the valve.