Apparatus for controlling a fluid compression system
AssigneeIngersoll-Rand Company
InventorsRobert K. Haseley, Paul A. Kirkpatrick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus includes a compressor for compressing fluid including a sensor capable of sensing at least one function relative to the operation of the compressor. A controller controls the compressor causing the value of said one function to be within a predetermined parameter. A computer overrides the independent response of the controller wherein the controller acts in response to the computer, the computer being separate from said controller. The computer may act as a sequencing computer or as a test computer.
Claims27
An apparatus comprising:
- compression means for compressing a fluid which includes a compressor inlet, a compressor element, a compressor sump and a compressor discharge;
- a sensor capable of sensing at least one function which relates to the pressure of said compressor discharge;
- control means, responsive to said sensor, capable of independently controlling said compression means to maintain said discharge pressure within a predetermined range, wherein provided a constant speed of the compressor element, the control means controls the discharge pressure by regulating flow of the fluid between the compressor inlet and the compressor sump;
- and
- computer means for overriding said independent control of said compression means by said control means.
An apparatus for controlling a fluid compression system, comprising
- compression means for pressurizing fluid, the compression means includes an inlet, a compressor element and outlet and a sump;
- control means for indicating operating parameters and functions of the compression means, graphically displaying the parameters and functions, setting limits of the parameters and controlling the compression means in response to any of the parameters reaching a preset level of a corresponding function wherein the compression means operates in a first mode in which, after a range is set for outlet pressure being defined by upper and lower outlet pressures limits, the control means will alter operation of the compression means causing the outlet pressure to return within the range when the pressure exceeds either of the limits;
- and
- the compression means operates in a second mode wherein, after the outlet pressure exceeds either of the limits, the control means will regulate flow of air to the compressor sump while the compressor element of the compression means maintains constant speed of the compressor element to regulate the outlet pressure wherein the control means determines which of the first and second modes is more efficient depending upon the operation of the compression means, and causes the compression means to operate in that mode;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.