Crossed piston compressor with vernier offset port means
AssigneeBattelle Memorial Institute
InventorsWilliam H. Wilkinson, James H. Saunders
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and apparatus for compressing gaseous fluids, especially refrigerant gas vapors operating in refrigeration cycles, combining reciprocating pistons in a rotating cylinder member which is mounted for rotation in a stationary frame and is driven by an external source of rotative power. The cylinder block rotates in an encircling port ring member which contains inlet, interstage, and outlet port sets with the number of port sets, numbering more or less than the number of cylinders, to provide a vernier effect in the timing of connections between the port sets and the cylinders.
Claims22
A compressor apparatus for pressurizing a gaseous fluid from at least one pressurized source in a plurality of different pressure stages comprising:
- a plurality of pistons connected in pairs, and operating in cylinders within a rotating cylinder block, with the cylinder block rotating in an encircling port ring having a plurality of port sets, each port set including inlet, interstage, and outlet ports, with the number of port sets being one less or one more than the number of piston and cylinder combinations, the encircling port ring being stationery and a component of the supporting frame of the apparatus.
A compressor apparatus for pressurizing a gaseous fluid in more than one stage, said gaseous fluid being at an inlet pressure at a first stage, an interstage pressure at a second stage, and an outlet pressure at a third stage, comprising:
- a. supporting frame means having a central axis, and providing rotational support for an input crankshaft means,
- b. a rotatable cylinder support means having oppositely disposed radial cylinder bore means, the cylinder support means being rotatable about the central axis, in juxtaposed sliding engagement, within the frame means,
- c. a plurality of pistons, connected in pairs to reciprocate within opposite cylinders when moved in translation by the eccentricity of the cranking elements of the crankshaft,
- d. a port ring means supported by the frame means encircling the cylinder support means, having a plurality of port sets, each port set including inlet, interstage, and outlet ports constructed to intermittently communicate with the cylinder bore means during the rotation of the cylinder support means, and
- e. with the number of port sets being one less, or one more, than the number of pistons, providing a vernier offset in the engagement of the ports sets and cylinders during rotation of the cylinder support means and the pistons in the support frame.
In a vapor compression refrigeration system including a vapor compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, a separator for fluid and vapor at interstage pressure, a further expansion valve and an evaporator, the improvement wherein the compressor comprises:
- a plurality of pistons connected in pairs, and operating in cylinders within a rotating cylinder block, with the cylinder block rotating in an encircling port ring having a plurality of port sets, each port set including inlet, interstage, and outlet ports, with the number of port sets being one less or one more than the number of piston and cylinder combinations, the encircling port ring being stationery and a component of the supporting frame of the apparatus.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.