Compressor capacity and lubrication control system
AssigneeFuller Company
InventorKermit D. Paul
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A compressor capacity control and lubrication system including a nonmodulating capacity regulator for an oil flooded gas compressor such as a rotary screw compressor. The system includes an on-off intake regulator. The lubrication system insures sufficient supply of cooling and sealing lubrication when the machine is operating at loaded conditions and a limited quantity of cooling lubrication when the machine is operating at unloaded conditions. This is accomplished by the use of a pair of gas-liquid reservoirs. One of the reservoirs is vented to atmosphere during unloaded operation of the compressor. Lubricant is supplied from both reservoirs to the compressor when the machine is operating at loaded conditions, but only one of the reservoirs when operating at unloaded conditions.
Claims6
In a gas compressor system including a screw type rotary gas compressor having an inlet for gas to be compressed, an inlet for lubricant and an outlet for compressed gas and lubricant, said gas compressor being operable in a loaded condition and in an unloaded condition, an improved system for supplying lubricant to said gas compressor comprising:
- a first source of lubricant having pressurized and vented conditions flow connected to the outlet of the gas compressor;
- a second source of lubricant adapted to be pressurized and flow connected to the first source of lubricant;
- means for selectively supplying lubricant from said second source to the inlet for lubricant of the gas compressor;
- means including a pump for continuously supplying lubricant from said first source to the inlet for lubricant of the gas compressor;
- first valve means for venting said first source of lubricant to atmosphere when the gas compressor is being operated in an unloaded condition;
- and
- said means for selectively supplying lubricant from said second source including conduit means flow connecting said source with the inlet for lubricant of the gas compressor and second valve means in said conduit means for preventing lubricant from being supplied to said inlet for lubricant of the gas compressor from said second source when the gas compressor is being operated in an unloaded condition and permitting lubricant to be supplied to the inlet for lubricant from said second source when the gas compressor is being operated in a loaded condition;
- said means from continuously supplying lubricant from said first source to the inlet for lubricant is flow connected to said conduit means flow connecting the said second source with the inlet for lubricant downstream, in the direction of lubricant flow, from said second valve means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.