Explosion proof compressor and a method for explosion proofing a compressor
AssigneeAir Engineers, Inc.
InventorGaylon W. Birdwell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An explosion proof compressor and method for explosion proofing a compressor for use with air conditioning or refrigeration system in a hazardous location where flammable gases or vapors may exist places the electrical supply terminals for the compressor within a gas tight housing which is pressurized with low pressure refrigerant gas being compressed by the compressor. The gas tight housing is in a fluid-transmitting relationship with a pressure responsive switch, whereby upon a pre-selected decrease in the pressure within the gas tight housing, the pressure responsive switch terminates the supply of electrical power to the compressor motor.
Claims16
A compressor for use with air conditioning or refrigeration systems in a hazardous location where flammable gases or vapors may exist, comprising:
- a compressor housing;
- a compressor motor located within the compressor housing;
- a low pressure refrigerant gas inlet line associated with the compressor housing;
- electrical supply terminals associated with the compressor housing;
- a first gas tight housing for the electrical supply terminals, the first gas tight housing being associated with the compressor housing;
- supply means for supplying low pressure refrigerant gas into the first gas tight housing;
- a first pressure responsive control means for controlling electrical power to the compressor motor;
- a first refrigerant gas pressure line disposed between, and in a fluid-transmitting relationship with, the first gas tight housing and the first pressure responsive control means, whereby upon a pre-selected decrease in pressure in the first gas tight housing, electrical power to the electrical supply terminals is terminated and the flammable gases or vapors are prevented from being ignited by the electrical supply terminals or compressor motor.
A method for explosion proofing a compressor, for use with air conditioning or refrigeration systems, disposed in a hazardous location where flammable gases or vapors may exist, the compressor including a compressor housing, compressor motor, a low pressure refrigerant gas inlet line associated with the compressor housing and electrical supply terminals associated with the compressor housing, comprising the steps of:
- disposing the electrical supply terminals within a first gas tight housing associated with the compressor housing;
- supplying low pressure refrigerant gas into the first gas tight housing;
- utilizing a first pressure responsive control means for controlling electrical power to the compressor motor;
- connecting the first gas tight housing to the first pressure responsive control means in a fluid-transmitting relationship by a first refrigerant gas pressure line;
- and
- terminating electrical power to the electrical supply terminals upon a pre-selected decrease in pressure in the first gas tight housing, whereby the flammable gases or vapors are prevented from being ignited by the electrical supply terminals or compressor motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.