With Intercooler Patents (Class 417/243)
  • Patent number: 6123515
    Abstract: A pressure relief valve for rapidly exhausting air pressure from a source of such pressure. The valve includes a housing containing a valve member located across a main port provided in the housing that directly receives the air pressure from the pressure source. A second port is provided for receiving a pilot pressure from the pressure source, and a piston is located adjacent the second port. At least one exhaust port is provided in the housing for exhausting to atmosphere the air received through the main port and against the valve member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventors: Ralph Santoro, Jr., Brian L. Cunkelman
  • Patent number: 6068457
    Abstract: A refrigeration unit having a compressor includes a refrigerant gas inlet, a drive shaft, and at least one compression stage. At least one compression stage includes at least one impeller with a hub, the hub having a radially lobed bore. The drive shaft has a radially lobed portion complementary to the radially lobed bore of the impeller hub. The lobed portion of the drive shaft is received in the bore to define a coupling for transmitting torque from the drive shaft to the impeller. This coupling may have three lobes. The compressor may have more than one stage and more than one impeller. The first stage impeller is closer to the refrigerant gas inlet than the second stage impeller. The second stage impeller has a hub and radially lobed bore, wherein a second radially lobed portion of the drive shaft can be inserted to define another coupling. The cross-sectional area of this second coupling may be greater than the cross-sectional area of the first coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: American Standard Inc.
    Inventor: Randy E. Dewhirst
  • Patent number: 6062825
    Abstract: A water release system includes a compact aftercooler connected to receive hot, moisture laden compressed air from a compressor having a load cycle under control of a governor. A water release valve is connected between a header of the aftercooler and an unloader pressure line connected to the governor. The valve ordinarily remains open until it receives a certain, pressure value signal from the unloader line which is effective to close the valve. A switch is located in pressure sensing relationship with the aftercooler, and a solenoid valve is electrically connected to the pressure sensitive switch and pneumatically connected between the water release valve and the governor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Inventor: Dale A. Chovan
  • Patent number: 6056510
    Abstract: A multistage vacuum pump unit having a plurality of separate single-stage pumps connected in series with each other by exhaust pipes, the exhaust pipes each connecting a suction port of one of the adjacent single-stage pumps with an exhaust port of another of the adjacent single-stage pump; motors for driving the separate single-stage pumps respectively; driving device for varying a revolution of one of the single-stage pumps that is at least in contact with an atmospheric side; driving current detection device for detecting a driving current of the motor for driving the single-stage pump that is in contact with the atmospheric side; pressure detection device for detecting a pressure at a vacuum-side inlet; and control device for controlling revolutions of the motors of the single-stage pumps based on the pressure detected by the pressure detection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsuyuki Miura, Hiroya Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 6004109
    Abstract: A first vacuum pump (14) is connected to a vacuum chamber (5) by a primary intake line (13) having a first vacuum valve (4) therein. A second vacuum pump (15) is connected to the output of the first vacuum pump (14) by a connecting line (20) having a second vacuum valve (12) therein. A blowout valve (17) is connected to the connecting line (20) between the first pump (14) and the second valve (12). A secondary intake line (19) having therein a third vacuum valve (13) is connected between the vacuum chamber (5) and the intake of the second vacuum pump (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Balzers und Leybold Deutschland Holding AG
    Inventors: Thomas Gebele, Wolfgang Buschbeck
  • Patent number: 5980218
    Abstract: A multi-stage compressor having at least two compressor stages comprises an inter-cooler provided between the stages for cooling a gas being discharged from a compressor in the preceding stage. The compressor stages are driven by a common electric motor, of which a rotating shaft is supported by magnetic bearings. A part of the gas cooled by the inter-cooler and a part of the work gas discharged from a bleed valve provided down-stream of a rear stage of the compressor are selectively introduced into the electric motor or the magnetic bearings. Thus, at the time of load operation the gas discharged from the inter-cooler is introduced into the motor or the magnetic bearings to cool them, and at the time of non-load operation the gas discharged from the bleed valve is introduced into the motor or the magnetic bearings to cool them. It is possible to ensure a flow rate of gas required for cooling the motor during non-load operation with economy during load operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuki Takahashi, Haruo Miura, Hideo Nishida, Naohiko Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5927399
    Abstract: An aftercooler apparatus condenses vapor in untreated gas discharged from a compressor of a gas drying system. The apparatus includes a radiator, a bypass line and a bypass valve. The radiator features a first inlet, a second inlet and an outlet. The first inlet connects to the compressor from which it receives the untreated gas. The outlet connects to the next component in the gas drying system. The radiator condenses the vapor suspended in the untreated gas and passes aftercooled gas resulting therefrom via its outlet to the next component. The bypass line, through which the untreated gas may flow, connects at one end between the compressor and the first inlet and at another end to the second inlet. The bypass valve senses the difference in pressure between the first inlet and the outlet. The bypass valve also controls the flow of the untreated gas in response to the difference in pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventors: Michael V. Kazakis, Scott M. Trapp
  • Patent number: 5899669
    Abstract: A compressor device, more particularly a two-stage compressor device (1), consists of a low-pressure compressor (4), a first compartment (7) of a cooling part (6) connected to the low-pressure compressor (4) by a first flexible connector (21), a high-pressure compressor (5) which is connected to the exit (11) of the first compartment (7), a second compartment (8) of the cooling part (6) which is connected to high-pressure compressor (5) by a second flexible connector (22), and a conduit (15) which is connected to the exit of the second compartment (8) for the discharge of the compressed gas. Flexible connections (21-22) are situated at opposite sides of a compression part (3) formed by the low-pressure compressor (4) and the high-pressure compressor (5), such that flexible connectors (21-22) extend substantially opposite each other. The arrangement of flexible connectors (21-22) in compressor device (1) avoids the transmission of movements and vibrations from compression part (3) to cooling part (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Airpower, naamloze vennootschap
    Inventor: Guido Rene Louisa Van Grimberge
  • Patent number: 5894881
    Abstract: An electrical circuit for controlling the operation of a fan cooled aftercooler receiving pressurized air from a compressor located in a locomotive. The circuit includes a motor for driving the fan of the aftercooler, an electrical relay comprising a coil and contacts operated by the coil, and a temperature sensitive switch connected in electrical series with the coil. The contacts of the relay are connected in electrical series with the motor. The temperature sensitive switch is effective to open the circuit of the coil and thereby open the contacts to stop operation of the fan when ambient temperature falls to or below freezing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventors: Daniel G. Wagner, Walter E. Goettel, Brian L. Cunkelman
  • Patent number: 5885060
    Abstract: A thermostatically controlled intercooler system for use with a multiple stage compressor to prevent the condensation of water from the compressed gas, such as air, within the system, whereby the temperature of a compressed gas entering a second compressor stage following the first compressor stage is controlled to a target temperature, ideally up to about 250.degree. F., as will not allow the partial pressure of the water vapor therein to exceed the saturation vapor pressure associated with and defined by the temperature achieved by cooling the air prior to the air entering the subsequent compression stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventors: Brian L. Cunkelman, Walter E. Goettel, Daniel G. Wagner, Roger Drummond
  • Patent number: 5795138
    Abstract: A compressor includes impeller rotors, a rotatable shaft upon which the impeller rotors are mounted, and tilting pad journal bearings having a ceramics bearing surface. The rotatable shaft is journalled by the tilting pad journal bearings which is arranged to be self generating and air or gas lubricated. The tilting pad self generating bearings reduce frictional losses and the ceramics bearing surfaces prevent problems commonly caused by high speed and temperature generated at bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Inventor: Richard Gozdawa
  • Patent number: 5779398
    Abstract: Method and system unloads dry bulk materials from a tank hopper supported on a trailer, the trailer being connected to a tractor. A material conveying conduit is adapted for receiving material from the hopper. A blower is provided for supplying pressurized air to the hopper and to the conduit so that a pressure differential is created between the hopper and the conduit to thereby induce the flow of the materials from the hopper to the conduit. The pressurized air is cooled via a radiator which transfers heat from the pressurized air to ambient air. Ambient air is caused to flow across the radiator by a fan that is electrically driven by a battery located on the tractor, and that is automatically controlled by a pressure sensor switch positioned for sensing the pressure of the pressurized air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Bulk Transportation Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Melton R. Battle, James E. Bedeker, Robert C. Heiss
  • Patent number: 5718563
    Abstract: A portable compressor, which includes a compressor airend for compressing a fluid; a prime mover operably connected to the airend to drive the airend and thereby compress the fluid; and a portable compressor housing which defines a housing chamber having a chamber temperature. The compressor means and prime mover are located in the chamber. The housing has a first end and a second end and means formed thereon to provide for ambient air to flow through the first and second ends and into the housing chamber. The portable compressor also including a housing chamber temperature optimizing system comprising: fan for drawing ambient air through the housing ends. The fan is adapted for movement in a first direction to draw ambient air through the first housing end and in a second direction to draw ambient air through the second housing end. The system also includes a chamber temperature measuring member located in the housing chamber; and a motor for moving the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventor: William Roger Hutchinson
  • Patent number: 5716197
    Abstract: A high pressure gas compressor having an internal two staged compression with a compression chamber formed in part by a positive displacement, stepped piston and cylinder configuration, providing a first stage compression by an enlarged diameter segment of the piston and a second stage compression provided by a smaller diameter segment of the piston. Temperature is maintained within design limits by the admission to the compression chamber of an expanded gas from a high pressure storage, which on adiabatic expansion of the admission gas reduces the temperature of the mixed charge for final compression at a resultant temperature that is within the design limits of the compressor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Inventors: Marius A. Paul, Ana Paul
  • Patent number: 5674053
    Abstract: A high pressure gas compressor in one embodiment having an internal two staged compression with a compression chamber formed in part by a positive displacement, stepped piston and cylinder configuration, providing a first stage compression by an enlarged diameter segment of the piston and a second stage compression provided by a smaller diameter segment of the piston, and in another embodiment having an internal, single stage compression with a high compression ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Inventors: Marius A. Paul, Ana Paul
  • Patent number: 5613843
    Abstract: Compressor bodies, an accelerator and a main motor are disposed on a base, while an innercooler, an aftercooler an oil cooler and a coolant cooler are disposed perpendicular to the axial direction of the motor so that the directions, in which the tube nests of the gas coolers are drawn out, are made to be the same. A control panel having a maintenance display is mounted on a front panel composed of panel portions which are mounted pivotally around respective remote or opposite side ends. Portions to be inspected daily are disposed near the front panel and one side panel adjacent thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Tsuru, Shinichi Hirose, Junji Okita, Tadashi Kaneki, Katsuaki Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 5580193
    Abstract: Method and system unloads dry bulk materials from a tank hopper supported on a trailer, the trailer being connected to a tractor. A material conveying conduit is adapted for receiving material from the hopper. A blower is provided for supplying pressurized air to the hopper and to the conduit so that a pressure differential is created between the hopper and the conduit to thereby induce the flow of the materials from the hopper to the conduit. The pressurized air is cooled via a radiator which transfers heat from the pressurized air to ambient air. Ambient air is caused to flow across the radiator by a fan that is pneumatically driven by an air brake system located on the tractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Bulk Transportation Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Melton R. Battle, James E. Bedeker, Robert C. Heiss
  • Patent number: 5547019
    Abstract: An active intercooler for heating or cooling a fluid passing through the intercooler. The intercooler may be used to cool gases from the compression stage of an engine turbocharger in order to increase engine horsepower. The intercooler could also be used to cool the oil in an engine or transmission. Alternately, the intercooler could be used to heat or cool the air provided to the passenger compartment of a vehicle. The active intercooler includes a chamber through which the fluid flows. A thermoelectric heat pump is attached to the chamber in order to remove and dissipate heat from the fluid flowing through the chamber. A control system is provided to control the current supplied to the thermoelectric heat pump and thus the cooling capacity of the thermoelectric heat pump. A heat sink including a plurality of fins is attached to the thermoelectric heat pump on a surface opposite the chamber in order to increase the ability of the thermoelectric heat pump to dissipate heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Inventor: Robert S. Iacullo
  • Patent number: 5386873
    Abstract: An air cooling system for an engine driven, multi-stage compressor is provided which includes a fan means for providing a cooling airstream to the air cooling system and an engine radiator. An intercooler has a predetermined height dimension and receives heated, compressed, interstage air. An oil cooler has a predetermined height dimension which is substantially less than the height dimension of the intercooler. An aftercooler receives hot, compressed, final stage air. The intercooler, the oil cooler, the radiator, and the aftercooler are arranged in two banks, each bank comprising two cooling cores juxtaposed one to each other. The intercooler and the engine radiator define the first bank which is positioned substantially adjacent to the fan means to receive the coolest cooling airstream. The oil cooler and the aftercooler define the second bank which receives warmer cooling air which has first passed through the first bank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventors: William H. Harden, III, Daniel T. Martin, Devin D. Biehler
  • Patent number: 5385449
    Abstract: A compressor arrangement for producing compressed air includes a compressor connected through a line to devices using the compressed gas and a supercharger driven by the exhaust of a heat engine. In order to improve the overall efficiency of the arrangement, the compressor is driven by the drive side of the heat engine and the supercharger is arranged in one of an intake line and a pressure line of the compressor. The pressure line forms the connection between the compressor and a pressure reservoir which is connected through another line to the devices using the compressed gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Harald Wenzel
  • Patent number: 5362207
    Abstract: A portable compressed air system includes a housing, and a diesel engine having a predetermined torsional inertia, a predetermined cranking speed, and a predetermined idle speed. A centrifugal compressor is flexibly coupled in motive force receiving relation to the diesel engine. The flexible coupling has a predetermined spring rate which places the torsional interia of the compressor above a highest predetermined cranking speed and below the predetermined idle speed of the diesel engine. A microprocessor-based electronic controller controls compressor operation. A receiver stores compressed air. A cooling means cools the portable compressed air system. The cooling means has a fan, an intercooler, an oil cooler, an engine radiator, and an aftercooler. The intercooler, the oil cooler, the radiator, and the aftercooler are arranged in two banks, and each bank is defined by two cooling cores juxtaposed one to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventors: Daniel T. Martin, William H. Harden, III, Dale R. Herbstritt, Dilip K. Mistry
  • Patent number: 5338162
    Abstract: A high-pressure cleaner includes a pump for pumping cleaning liquid, the drive mechanism of which pump is driven by an air-cooled motor. The cleaner also includes an air cooler adapted to be cooled by the cleaning liquid on its way to the pump and an air-circulating arrangement for circulating air between the motor and the air cooler in an enclosure containing the motor and the air cooler. The part of the air cooler through which the cleaning liquid flows is in intimate thermal contact with or integral with a housing containing the drive mechanism of the pump. With this arrangement, the cooling capacity of the cleaning liquid flowing towards the pump is also used for cooling the mechanism used for moving the pump's pistons, e.g., a swash-plate mechanism or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: K.E.W. Industri A/S
    Inventor: Karsten Krarup
  • Patent number: 5287916
    Abstract: An apparatus for disposing liquid effluent which has been separated from a fluid system includes a compressor for supplying a compressed fluid to the fluid system. An engine for driving the compressor has an exhaust system which vents an exhaust fluid to an atmosphere external to the fluid system. An aftercooler is flow connected to an outlet of the compressor. A separating means for removing liquid effluent from the compressed fluid is flow connected to the aftercooler. The separating means has a conduit through which the separated liquid effluent flows. A reservoir for collecting the liquid effluent is flow connected in fluid receiving relation to the conduit of the separating means and flow connected in fluid supplying relation to the exhaust system of the engine. During operation, the collected liquid effluent flows from the reservoir into the exhaust system, whereupon entry therein, the exhaust fluid vaporizes the liquid effluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventor: Glenn E. Miller
  • Patent number: 5284202
    Abstract: An aftercooler through which a first fluid passes. A cooling fan applies a cooling fluid to the aftercooler. A variable speed motor is rotatably coupled to the cooling fan. A temperature sensor, in communication with the first fluid, is located downstream of the aftercooler. A controller controls operation of the variable speed motor based upon the temperature applied to the temperature sensor to prevent condensate freeze-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventors: James R. Dickey, Daniel T. Martin, Michael J. Shannon
  • Patent number: 5282726
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for increasing the capacity of a gas compressor. The apparatus comprises a supercharger for compressing a gas flow and an evaporative cooler for cooling and ducting the supercharged gas flow to the gas compressor. The cooler comprises a section of pipe connecting the supercharger and the compressor. Mounted on the wall of the pipe are nozzles oriented upstream to atomize water into droplets of mean diameter ranging from about 4 to about 12 microns. The pipe is sized to provide a residence time of from about 0.1 to about 0.5 seconds for the droplets in the gas flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: James R. Warren
  • Patent number: 5240386
    Abstract: A gas compressor includes a housing defining a compression chamber, a crankshaft having an eccentric surface radially offset from the axis of rotation of the crankshaft, an orbiting ring rotatably mounted on the eccentric for rotation about an axis offset from the shaft axis, a cylindrical post coaxial with the axis of the housing passages for carrying gas to and from the compression chamber, vanes movable radially with respect to the orbiting ring, and pressure sensitive valves that open exhaust passages from the compression chamber. The orbiting ring rotates in continual contact with the inner surface of the housing and the outer surface of the cylindrical post. Compression occurs within a first stage space and a second stage space, each space divided into compression chambers by the sliding vanes and contact between the ring and post or between the ring and housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Jayendra J. Amin, Guntis V. Strikis, Vipen K. Khetarpal
  • Patent number: 5209647
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Dresser-Rand Company
    Inventor: Robert A. Bennitt
  • Patent number: 5195874
    Abstract: A multistage compressor includes a lower pressure side compression part, a higher pressure side compression part, an intermediate conduit placing the lower and higher side compression parts in communication, and a cooler disposed midway of the intermediate conduit for allowing gas to flow from the lower pressure side compression part to the higher pressure side compression part and for cooling the flowing gas. The cooler includes a drain outlet port. The compressor further includes an electromagnetic valve disposed at the drain outlet port and a controller for controlling the valve. The valve is opened when the compressor is started or re-started after a pause, is kept open during a predetermined period of time, and is then closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Tokico Ltd.
    Inventor: Akiharu Odagiri
  • Patent number: 5131825
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the operation of a multi-stage, dry compression vacuum pump (1) with an inlet (7) and an outlet (9), in which the aspirated gases contain gaseous components which endanger the operation of the vacuum pump; in order to render the gas components harmless it is proposed that the gases aspirated from the vacuum chamber (8) and flowing through the vacuum pump be carried through a reaction chamber (14) in which the components endangering the vacuum pump are chemically or physically treated at a pressure between the aspiration pressure and the outlet pressure of the vacuum pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: Leybold Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Paul Bachmann, Lothar Brenner, Hartmut Kriehn, Monika Kuhn
  • Patent number: 5131817
    Abstract: In a gas pumping system including a first stage rotary lobe pump for pumping gas to a second stage liquid ring pump, cooling liquid is injected into the compression zone of the rotary lobe pump so that the liquid mixes intimately with the gas being compressed in that zone and reduces the temperature rise of the gas in that zone in order to reduce heat transfer from that gas to the lobes of the rotary lobe pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1992
    Assignee: The Nash Engineering Company
    Inventor: Michael J. Pastore, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5113931
    Abstract: A combination pump and heat exchanger assembly in a manufacturing process temperature controller uses a cast metal pump case with two upwardly opening sockets receiving the lower ends of two tubes, one of them communicating through the case with the pump impeller intake and the other with the impeller discharge. Closed circuit and open circuit versions are shown. In both types, the tubes are constructed to function as tanks, at least one being a heat exchanger unit, and they are readily and removably secured to the case by threaded fasteners and are sealed therein by compression seals. The heat exchanger tubes employ electrical heating elements or chilled liquid piping units therein. A controller including a microcomputer responds to temperature of liquid pumped from the assembly through a process to be temperature controlled, and returned to the assembly, to control an electric heater and/or a motor-operated modulator valve discharging to drain while cool make-up water is admitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Assignee: Advantage Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip D. Oswalt, Ronald A. Wolfe
  • Patent number: 5110264
    Abstract: A variable speed turbo vacuum pump system (10) utilizes a motor driven compressor (12) to evacuate a gaseous medium from an enclosed space (22). The compressor (12) is a rotational type having at least one compressor wheel (40), the rotational speed of which is increased in inverse proportion to the decreasing inlet density of the gaseous medium from within the enclosed space (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventor: Roger P. Murry
  • Patent number: 5106270
    Abstract: An air supply system having a multi-cylinder, two-stage air compressor including a pair of low pressure cylinders and a high pressure cylinder. A first intercooler interconnected between the outlet of one of the pair of low pressure cylinders and the inlet of the high pressure cylinder and a second intercooler interconnected between the outlet of the other of the pair of low pressure cylinders. An aftercooler connected to the outlet of the high pressure cylinder for effectively reducing the temperature of the compressed air supplied to a storage reservoir to near or at ambient temperature. A protective housing including a frontal screened opening for permitting a rotary fan to draw cooling air into the housing and including an internal shroud for directing the cooling air over the intercoolers and aftercooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventors: Walter E. Goettel, Daniel G. Wagner, Richard S. Patterson, Dale A. Chovan
  • Patent number: 5042970
    Abstract: Time lost in recharging compressed gas storage bottles on board aircraft is minimized with a fast recharge compressor (20) for rapidly providing compressed gas (30) having a housing (24) with a gas inlet (26), a shaft (46) within the housing (24) on which is mounted a turbine (34) and a multi-stage compressor (36). The turbine (34) is designed to run the shaft (46) and thereby the multi-stage compressor (36). Entering gas is divided into two streams and one stream (28) is directed through the turbine (34) while the other stream (30) is directed through the compressor stages (38,40,44). Heat is exchanged between the two streams by heat exchangers (52,54,56,57,60) after the expansion stream (28) has passed through the turbine (34) so as to cool the compression stream (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Colin Rodgers
  • Patent number: 5020973
    Abstract: A V-twin, two-stage compressor has valve plates disposed between the head and cylinder of each stage and mounting free-floating flexible read intake and exhaust valves therein. The flexible reeds are movably captured between the floors of respective reed recesses, and separate, non-fixed keeper bars are disposed over, but slightly spaced from, the reeds. Keeper bars over the exhaust reed extend above the valve plate for engagement by the head. A restrictor plate lies within a valve plate recess on keeper bars over the intake valve. A cored crankshaft providing motor drive shaft lubrication, and a removable counterweight providing crankshaft use with one-piece connecting rods is disclosed. A cooling fan is driven by the removable counterweight and V-shaped fan shroud projections direct cooling air over the cylinders and heads while another cooling air port directs air over an intercooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: The Scott & Fetzer Company
    Inventor: James B. Lammers
  • Patent number: 4968219
    Abstract: A sleeve seal heating system for a multi-stage compressor is disclosed. The multi-stage compressor includes a mechanism for dissipating heat disposed between and in fluid communication with a pair of compressor stages in the multi-stage compressor. The present invention contemplates the inclusion of a mechanism for selectively bypassing the heat dissipating mechanism disposed between and in fluid communication with each pair of compressor stages to thereby warm a succeeding stage, causing the stage to become substantially operative. The mechanism for bypassing comprises a bypass valve. The bypass valve is controlled to bypass the mechanism for dissipating heat when a seal in the succeeding stage is not substantially operative. Each compressor stage comprises a piston reciprocating within a piston chamber, the piston chamber being in valved communication with and between a fluid input and a fluid output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Martha Fisher-Votava
  • Patent number: 4968222
    Abstract: Reciprocating type compressor which includes a cylinder having an inner bore, a piston reciprocating in the inner bore, an inter cooler adjacent a compression space which is formed in the inner bore by the piston and an operational gas passage and a refrigerant passage arranged in heat-exchanging relationship. An inlet valve is located adjacent to the compression space for controlling the introduction of operational gas in response to an intake stroke of the piston, and an outlet valve is arranged adjacent to the inter cooler so as to discharge the operational gas via the inter cooler in response to a discharge stroke of the piston. The refrigerant passage is ring-shaped and defines a longitudinal axis coinciding with an axial center of the inner bore. The operational gas passage includes a plurality of conduits for conducting operational gas from the compression space. The conduits include inlet ends disposed opposite the compression space and outlet ends disposed opposite the outlet valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Gotou, Shintaro Harada, Yoshihira Shiroshita
  • Patent number: 4943208
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-stage lateral channel compressor, wherein the housings of the individual compressor stages consisting of individual housing shells are arranged axially, one behind the other, and are mechanically interconnected, wherein, in addition, a common driving shaft is provided for the impellers of the individual compressor stages, and a coolant is provided in the interspace which exists between the housings of the individual compressor stages. An intensive cooling is thereby achieved, in that the interspace is sealed both from the outside and also against the driving shaft, an inlet and an outlet orifice are each assigned to the interspace and a liquid coolant, which flows through the interspace, is supplied and evacuated by way of these orifices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1990
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Siegfried Schoenwald
  • Patent number: 4889180
    Abstract: A system for use in providing compressed air for snow making equipment used in conjunction with a liquid cooled air compressor, including a plurality of motor driven fans and a heater coil assembly positioned in a portion of the path of the air moved by each of the fans, the heater coil assembly having a liquid coolant flowing therethrough, an air-to-air heat exchanger positioned adjacent the heater coil assembly and in the air flow paths of the fans, the air-to-air heat exchanger being connected in series with the air compressor and the snow making equipment and serving to reduce the temperature of the compressed air flowing from the compressor to the snow making equipment, actuator controlled louvers positioned above the air-to-air heat exchanger, there being one louver for each fan, a liquid cooling coil assembly supported adjacent the air-to-air heat heat exchanger and in a separate air flow path, a liquid transfer pump for moving cooling liquid from the compressor and a control assembly which may be a ma
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Assignee: Brunner Engineering & Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventor: Mark D. Sloan
  • Patent number: 4859158
    Abstract: A high ratio positive displacement recirculating rotary compressor is disclosed. The compressor includes an integral heat exchanger and recirculation conduits for returning cooled, high pressure discharge gas to the compressor housing to reducing heating of the compressor and enable higher pressure ratios to be sustained. The compressor features a recirculation system which results in continuous and uninterrupted flow of recirculation gas to the compressor with no direct leakage to either the discharge port or the intake port of the compressor, resulting in a capability of higher sustained pressure ratios without overheating of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Inventor: John F. Weinbrecht
  • Patent number: 4838343
    Abstract: A portable compressed air cooling apparatus for a compressed air system of the type including an air compressor having a compressed air outlet port, a compressed air output unit, and a compresssed air supply line having a first end coupled to the compressed air outlet port of the air compressor and having a second end coupled to the compressed air output unit. An elongated tube is provided between the compressed air outlet port of the air compressor and the compressed air output unit so that all of the compressed air passing from the compressed air outlet port of the air compressor to the compressed air output unit will pass through the tube before passing to the compressed air output unit. A hollow tank surrounds at least a portion of the tube and a liquid coolant is sealed within the tank for cooling the compressed air as the compressed air passes through the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Inventor: Kenneth D. Bogue
  • Patent number: 4830580
    Abstract: A two-stage air compressor unit having an intercooler and aftercooler placed in side by side relationship to form an integral unit which is cooled by forced air blown by a motor driven fan and which has the inlet and outlet parts located in such a manner that little, if any, heat transfer occurs between the intercooler and the aftercooler so that greater cooling efficiency is realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Assignee: Nippon Air Brake Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Hata, Satoshi Ogura
  • Patent number: 4802826
    Abstract: A completely sealed, self-contained, liquid-cooled gas compressor is disclosed. It is made up of vertically superimposed and motive power connected electric motor, gas compressor and oil pump coaxially positioned within a vertical sealed cylindrical housing providing an oil sump at its lower end. Heat exchanger tubes are mounted within the oil sump and in an externally mounted heat exchanger for cooling the oil in the sump and cooling compressed gas derived from a series of compressor stages. Cooled oil is caused to continuously flow over the electric motor and compressor to provide cooling and lubrication and sealing of compressor pistons. A special type of axial swash or wobble plate compressor is used to obtain coaxial alignment and direct connection of motor driven shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1989
    Assignee: Rix Industries
    Inventor: John M. Hall
  • Patent number: 4789314
    Abstract: A multi-section Roots vacuum pump of the reverse flow cooling type with internal flow division arrangement includes a sequence of pump sections, casings for the pump sections including housings for accommodating pairs of rotor therein, inlet passages and outlet passages connected to the casing for pump sections, upper peripheral gas passages connected to the inlet passage formed around an upper portion of the housing, lower peripheral gas passages connected to a supply inlet of reverse flow cooling gas formed around a lower portion of the housing, partition walls between the upper and lower peripheral gas passages, and inter-section walls for separating adjacent pump sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1988
    Assignee: Unozawa-Gumi Iron Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Higuchi, Shigeharu Kambe
  • Patent number: 4685509
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cooling device for a multi-stage compressor in which two coolers are placed in a common housing. The two coolers cool the medium of the preceiding stage of the multi-stage compressor heated by the input compressor work. The common housing has chambers that are divided into different pressure stages, are connected to the multi-stage compressor by inlet tubes and outlet tubes, and contain water separators with condensate removal pipes associates with them. To be able to conduct the medium to be cooled with a minimum of pressure drops, dividing walls (13, 23) are provided at a distance from the top and bottom end, respectively, of the cooling housing (50). Each dividing wall (13, 23) forms a cylindrical space (24, 14) with the housing wall (51) and the respective end walls (57, 56) of the cooling housing (50) for the installation of the water separators (15, 25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1987
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Walter Koeller
  • Patent number: 4653986
    Abstract: A hydraulically powered compressor has infinitely variable capacity control through use of a variable displacement hydraulic pump, and a hydraulic control and power system provides the infinitely variable capacity control with a proportionate change in required power. Components may be mounted in an air duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Assignee: Tidewater Compression Service, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Ashton
  • Patent number: 4602680
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing moisture from compressed gases such as compressed air, the appparatus being completely self contained and requiring no external power or energy source, nor any source of coolant medium, other than ambient air. The apparatus of the invention comprises a reservoir for containing a volume of liquid, and a heat exchanger connected to the reservoir located beneath the reservoir through which the liquid from the reservoir can circulate. The method of the invention comprises circulating compressed air through the heat exchanger to reduce the temperature of the compressed air and condense moisture therefrom, and circulating water through the heat exchanger from the reservoir to reduce the temperature of compressed air circulated through the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1986
    Inventor: William D. Bradford
  • Patent number: 4554799
    Abstract: A refrigeration system comprises an evaporator which feeds uncompressed vapor to a first (low) stage compressor, a second (high) stage compressor which receives low compression vapor from the first stage and feeds high compression vapor to a condenser, and a receiver which receives liquid from the condenser and ultimately feeds it to the evaporator. Desuperheater apparatus, comprising a pressure vessel (subcooler) and a heat exchanger, is provided to remove excess heat (superheat) from the compressed vapor fed by the first stage to the second stage to thereby improve thermal efficiency of the system and to reduce the mass of refrigerant to be handled by the second stage thereby enabling use of a smaller, more economical second stage compressor. The pressure vessel contains a bath of liquid which is supplied from the receiver and then fed to the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1985
    Assignee: Vilter Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Francis T. Pallanch
  • Patent number: 4516913
    Abstract: A multistage drum compressor has its stage cylinders arranged in ascending order around the axis of a shaft which operates the various stage pistons and which rotates in a direction opposed to the order of the stages, whereby the stage pistons are actuated in reverse stage order. The compressor incorporates internal ducts for providing interstage cooling of the gas being compressed by means of a circulating liquid coolant system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1985
    Assignee: Techniques Girodin
    Inventor: Marius G. Girodin
  • Patent number: 4505333
    Abstract: Methods and means for economically compressing low volume, low pressure natural gas at the wellhead are provided. The means include an electrically operated, self starting compressor responsive to a low pressure inlet shut-off switch and a high pressure discharge shut-off switch. The means may also include a scrubber for separating liquid and condensate from the gas and means for automatically transporting such to a remote liquid storage tank. The compressor itself is an air compressor modified by the provision of natural gas crankcase purging and venting, suction port oil injection, and increase lubrication capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1985
    Inventor: Tom E. Ricks, Sr.