Radial Cam-Driven Compressor and Radial Cam-Driven Compressor Assemblies
AssigneeCarleton Life Support Systems, Inc.
InventorsTimothy Raleigh, Sammy Mickelson, Robert Francois, Scott H. Harvey, Kevin Hurley
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Abstract
A first aspect of the invention includes a multi-stage gas compressor having a central cam with a plurality of pistons operably connected to and radially extending from the central cam. The cam follower assemblies each include a roller element connected to a roller bracket which rides within and along a guide channel defines by facing grooves formed in housing end plates.
Claims12
A radial cam-driven compressor comprising:
- a) a housing having a central opening and a plurality of radially extending bore holes formed in annularly spaced relation about and through said housing;
- b) a cam rotatably mounted on a camshaft extending through said housing central opening;
- c) a plurality of cylinder and piston assemblies with each said piston located and movable within a respective said cylinder;
- and
- d) a plurality of cam follower assemblies each including a roller element rotatably connected to a roller bracket and a connecting rod having first and second ends, each said connecting rod extending along a respective radial axis through a respective said bore hole in said housing, each said connecting rod first end connected to a respective said roller bracket located within said housing central opening, each said connecting rod second end connected to a respective said piston located outside said housing central opening, said roller element of each of said cam follower assemblies being in rolling contact with said cam;
- whereby rotation of said cam is operable to sequentially reciprocate each of said rollers and respective connecting rods and piston and cylinder assemblies positioned in annularly spaced relation about said housing.
In a cam-driven compressor including a housing, a cam and a plurality of cylinder and piston assemblies with each said piston located and movable within a respective said cylinder, wherein the improvement comprises:
- a) a plurality of cam follower assemblies each including a roller element rotatably connected to a roller bracket having first and second, spaced end plates, and a connecting rod having first and second ends, each said connecting rod first end connected to a respective said roller bracket, each said connecting rod second end connected to a respective said piston, said roller element of each of said cam follower assemblies being in rolling contact with said cam;
- and
- b) first and second housing plates positioned in spaced, parallel relation to said housing with said first and second housing plates each including a plurality of grooves aligned in facing relation to each other, each pair of facing grooves defining a guide channel,
- whereby said pair of end plates are received in closely fitting, sliding engagement within a respective guide channel whereby rotation of said cam is operable to reciprocate each of said cam follower assemblies in a respective said guide channel.
In a cam-driven compressor including a plurality of cylinder and piston assemblies with each said piston located and movable within a respective said cylinder, each said piston and cylinder pair defining a gas compression chamber within a respective cylinder, and a cylinder head for mounting to each cylinder, each cylinder head including a gas inlet port and gas outlet port, wherein the improvement comprises:
- a) a filter and filter retainer plate positioned between the gas compression chamber and gas outlet port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.