Gas compression apparatus
OwnerJames C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Fletcher, Leslie S. Terpinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus for transferring gas from a first container to a second container of higher pressure comprising a free-piston compressor having a driving piston and cylinder, a smaller diameter driven piston and cylinder, and a rod member connecting the driving and driven pistons for mutual reciprocation in their respective cylinders. A conduit may be provided for supplying gas to the driven cylinder from the first container. Also provided is control apparatus for intermittently introducing gas to the driving piston, from the first container, to compress gas by the driven piston for transfer to the second higher pressure container.
Claims16
A method of transferring gas from a first container at a lower pressure level to a second container at a higher pressure level utilizing a free piston compressor having a driving piston and cylinder, a smaller diameter driven piston and cylinder, and a rod connecting said driving and driven pistons for mutual reciprocation in their respective cylinders between first and second terminal positions, said method comprising the steps of:
- a. supplying gas from said first container to said driven piston and cylinder;
- b. accumulating gas from said first container in a capacitance chamber until a predetermined pressure has been achieved;
- c. intermittently releasing said accumulated gas from said capacitance chamber for introduction into said driving cylinder when said predetermined pressure has been exceeded;
- and
- d. allowing said accumulated gas to expand in said driving cylinder to move said driving and driven pistons from said first to said second terminal positions, thereby compressing the gas within said driven cylinder for transfer to said second container.
Apparatus for transferring fluid from a low pressure to a higher pressure comprising:
- a. a source of fluid under low pressure;
- b. a receiver for receiving fluid under high pressure;
- c. a first cylinder adapted to receive fluid from said low pressure source;
- d. a second cylinder, of smaller diameter an said first cylinder, adapted to receive fluid from said low pressure source and to deliver fluid to said receiver at a high pressure;
- e. first and second pistons rigidly connected to each other by a rod and adapted to reciprocate simultaneously within said first and second cylinders respectively;
- f. first vent means in said first cylinder and located on the rod side of said first piston for continuous communication with the ambient environment;
- g. first conduit means for supplying fluid from said low pressure source to said first cylinder;
- h. second conduit means for supplying fluid from said low pressure source to said second cylinder;
- i. third conduit means for delivering fluid at high pressure from said second cylinder to said receiver;
- j. capacitance means located in said first conduit means for receiving and storing fluid at low pressure;
- k. control means located between said capacitance means and said first cylinder and responsive to the pressure within said capacitance means and said receiver for intermittently releasing fluid from said capacitance means for expansion against the face of said first piston;
- and,
- 1. second vent means in said first cylinder and located on the face side of said first piston for exhausting said intermittently introduced fluid after expansion against the face of said piston.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.