Gas compressor

A gas compressor connectable to a supply of gas and to a gas storage tank, the compressor comprising:

• a first pneumatic cylinder having a piston separating a first pneumatic cylinder chamber and a second pneumatic cylinder chamber;
• a second pneumatic cylinder having a piston separating a third pneumatic cylinder chamber and a fourth pneumatic cylinder chamber;
• an end cap connecting the first pneumatic cylinder and the second pneumatic cylinder;
• a drive mechanism operatively coupled to move the piston of each pneumatic cylinder;
• a gas conduit circuit selectively connecting the supply of gas to the first pneumatic cylinder chamber, selectively connecting the supply of gas to the second pneumatic cylinder chamber, selectively connecting the supply of gas to the third pneumatic cylinder chamber, and selectively connecting the fourth pneumatic cylinder chamber to the gas storage tank;
• the piston in the first pneumatic cylinder includes a check valve in series with an orifice formed through the piston and selectively connecting the first pneumatic cylinder chamber to the second pneumatic cylinder chamber;
• the end cap including a check valve in series with an orifice formed through the end cap and selectively connecting the second pneumatic cylinder chamber to the third pneumatic cylinder;
• the piston in the second pneumatic cylinder includes a check valve in series with an orifice formed through the piston and selectively connecting the third pneumatic cylinder chamber to the fourth pneumatic cylinder chamber.

A gas compressor comprising:

• a cylinder;
• a piston moveably positioned within the cylinder and forming an internal chamber on either side of the piston within the cylinder, the piston having a check valve in series with an orifice formed through the piston and selectively connecting the internal chambers of the cylinders;
• a gas inlet connected to each chamber of the cylinder;
• and
• a compressed gas outlet connected to one chamber of the cylinder.

A method of compressing gas using a cylinder having a piston moveably positioned within the cylinder and forming a boost chamber on one side of the piston and a boosted chamber on the other side of the piston, the method comprising the steps of:

• extending the piston to compress a volume of gas in the boost chamber and allowing gas provided by a source of gas to enter the boosted chamber;
• allowing a portion of the gas in the boost chamber to pass through a piston check valve and orifice through the piston when the pressure in the boost chamber surpasses the check valve activation pressure;
• retracting the piston to compress a volume of gas in the boosted chamber, and allowing gas provided by the source of gas to enter the boost chamber;
• allowing a portion of the gas in the boosted chamber to pass through a check valve of a cylinder exit line when the pressure in the boosted chamber surpasses the check valve activation pressure.

A method of compressing gas using a gas compressor comprising a first cylinder having a piston separating a first cylinder chamber and a second cylinder chamber, a second cylinder having a piston separating a third cylinder chamber and a fourth cylinder chamber, each piston having a check valve in series with an orifice formed through the piston and selectively connecting the chambers of the respective cylinders;

• a means for moving the piston of each cylinder, a gas reservoir, and a gas storage tank, the method comprising the steps of:
• moving the pistons of each cylinder from a retracted position to an extended position forcing gas to flow from a source of gas into the first cylinder chamber and the third cylinder chamber, and
• forcing gas to flow from the second cylinder chamber to the gas reservoir, and forcing gas to flow from the fourth cylinder chamber to the storage tank;
• opening a valve to allow gas flow from the gas reservoir to the first cylinder chamber when the pistons are in a fully extended position;
• closing the valve and retracting the pistons until they are fully retracted which forces gas flow from the first cylinder chamber to the fourth cylinder chamber, and from the third cylinder chamber into the reservoir, and from the gas source into the second cylinder chamber.