Multiphase centrifugal compressor

A method of supplying compressed air to a system, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) driving a first compressor by a power source to compress air;
• (b) driving a second compressor by the power source to compress air;
• (c) operating the compressors at least partially in series so that at least some air that is compressed by the first compressor is further compressed by the second compressor and then supplied to the system;
• and
• (d) operating the compressors at least partially in parallel so that at least a portion of air is compressed by the first compressor and at least another portion of air is compressed by the second compressor and the at least a portion and at least another portion of compressed air are supplied to the system without passing through the other compressor,
• steps (a) and (b) each including the step of drivingly connecting the compressors to the power source so that each of the compressors operates continuously with operation of the power source,
• steps (a) and (b) including the common step of intermeshing a common gear between the compressors,
• steps (a) and (b) further including the common steps of entraining an endless element around at least a portion of the power source and driving the common gear at least in part with the endless element.

A method of supplying compressed air to a system, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) driving a first compressor off of a power source to compress air;
• (b) driving a second compressor off of the power source to compress air;
• (c) operating the compressors at least partially in series so that at least some air that is compressed by the first compressor is further compressed by the second compressor and then supplied to the system;
• (d) operating the compressors at least partially in parallel so that at least a portion of air is compressed by the first compressor and at least another portion of air is compressed by the second compressor and the at least a portion and at least another portion of compressed air are supplied to the system without passing through the other compressor;
• and
• (e) intercommunicating the first and second compressors and the system,
• step (e) including the steps of fluidly communicating the first and second compressors with a serial passageway and disposing a first valve along the serial passageway for controlling the flow of compressed air there through,
• step (e) including the steps of fluidly communicating the first compressor and the system with an additional passageway and disposing a second valve along the additional passageway for controlling the flow of compressed air there through.

A multiphase compressing air assembly for supplying compressed air to a system, said assembly comprising:

• a first compressor drivingly connectable to a power source shaft and operable to compress air for the system,
• said first compressor including a first inlet, a spaced first outlet, and a first rotatable impeller fluidly between the first inlet and first outlet to compress air;
• a second compressor drivingly connectable to the power source shaft and operable to compress air for the system,
• said second compressor including a second inlet, a spaced second outlet, and a second rotatable impeller fluidly between the second inlet and second outlet to compress air;
• and
• a fluid flow control assembly fluidly intercommunicating the compressors so that the compressors cooperatively provide compressed air to the system in a number of operating phases, including a first phase in which at least some compressed air from the first outlet is supplied to the second inlet and a second phase in which at least some compressed air from the first and second outlets is supplied to the system without passing through the other compressor,
• said first and second compressors being drivingly connectable to the power source shaft wherein both of the impellers are rotated continuously by the power source shaft and at a substantially constant relative speed to the power source shaft speed during the operating phases of the compressors.

A multiphase compressing air assembly for supplying compressed air to a system, said assembly comprising:

• a first compressor drivingly connectable to a power source and operable to compress air for the system,
• said first compressor including a first inlet, a spaced first outlet, and a first impeller fluidly between the first inlet and first outlet to compress air;
• a second compressor drivingly connectable to the power source and operable to compress air for the system,
• said second compressor including a second inlet, a spaced second outlet, and a second impeller fluidly between the second inlet and second outlet to compress air;
• a fluid flow control assembly fluidly intercommunicating the compressors so that the compressors cooperatively provide compressed air to the system in a number of operating phases, including a first phase in which at least some compressed air from the first outlet is supplied to the second inlet and a second phase in which at least some compressed air from the first and second outlets is supplied to the system without passing through the other compressor;
• and
• a drive assembly operable to drivingly connect the compressors to the power source so that each of the compressors operates continuously with operation of the power source,
• said first and second impellers being rotatable, each being operable to compress air for the system when rotated,
• said first and second compressors including a transmission drivingly connecting the impellers to the drive assembly,
• said transmission cooperating with the drive assembly to maintain rotation of the impellers at a substantially constant ratio relative to operation of the power source,
• said transmission including a plurality of intermeshing gears with at least one of said gears being common to both compressors,
• said transmission including a common rotatable transmission shaft coupled to said common gear,
• said drive assembly including an endless element entraining at least a portion of said common shaft and being operable to entrain at least a portion of the power source.

A multiphase compressing air assembly for supplying compressed air to a system, said assembly comprising:

• a first compressor drivingly connectable to a power source and operable to compress air for the system,
• said first compressor including a first inlet, a spaced first outlet, and a first impeller fluidly between the first inlet and first outlet to compress air;
• a second compressor drivingly connectable to the power source and operable to compress air for the system,
• said second compressor including a second inlet, a spaced second outlet, and a second impeller fluidly between the second inlet and second outlet to compress air;
• and
• a fluid flow control assembly fluidly intercommunicating the compressors so that the compressors cooperatively provide compressed air to the system in a number of operating phases, including a first phase in which at least some compressed air from the first outlet is supplied to the second inlet and a second phase in which at least some compressed air from the first and second outlets is supplied to the system without passing through the other compressor,
• said fluid flow control assembly including a passageway fluidly communicating said first outlet and said second inlet,
• said fluid flow control assembly further including a first valve disposed along said passageway for controlling the flow of compressed air there through,
• said fluid flow control assembly including an additional passageway in fluid communication with said first outlet and operable to be in fluid communication with the system,
• said fluid flow control assembly further including a second valve disposed along said additional passageway downstream of said first-mentioned passageway for controlling the flow of compressed air through said additional passageway.

In a pneumatic conveyor including tubing and a power source shaft, an improved centrifugal air compressing system comprising:

• a first compressor drivingly connected to the power source shaft for compressing air for the tubing,
• said first compressor including a first inlet, a spaced first outlet, and a first rotatable impeller fluidly between the first inlet and first outlet to compress air;
• a second compressor drivingly connected to the power source shaft for compressing air for the tubing,
• said second compressor including a second inlet, a spaced second outlet, and a second rotatable impeller fluidly between the second inlet and second outlet to compress air;
• and
• a fluid flow control assembly fluidly intercommunicating the compressors so that the compressors cooperatively provide compressed air to the tubing in a number of operating phases, including a first phase in which at least some compressed air from the first outlet is supplied to the second inlet and a second phase in which at least some compressed air from the first and second outlets is supplied to the tubing without passing through the other compressor,
• said first and second compressors being drivingly connected to the power source shaft wherein both of the impellers are rotated continuously by the power source shaft and at a substantially constant relative speed to the power source shaft speed during the operating phases of the compressors.

In a pneumatic conveyor including tubing and a power source, an improved centrifugal air compressing system comprising:

• a first compressor drivingly connected to the power source for compressing air for the tubing,
• said first compressor including a first inlet, a spaced first outlet, and a first impeller fluidly between the first inlet and first outlet to compress air;
• a second compressor drivingly connected to the power source for compressing air for the tubing,
• said second compressor including a second inlet, a spaced second outlet, and a second impeller fluidly between the second inlet and second outlet to compress air;
• a fluid flow control assembly fluidly intercommunicating the compressors so that the compressors cooperatively provide compressed air to the tubing in a number of operating phases, including a first phase in which at least some compressed air from the first outlet is supplied to the second inlet and a second phase in which at least some compressed air from the first and second outlets is supplied to the tubing without passing through the other compressor;
• and
• a drive assembly drivingly connecting the compressors to the power source so that each of the compressors operates continuously with operation of the power source,
• said first and second impellers being rotatable to compress air for the tubing when rotated,
• said first and second compressors including a transmission drivingly connecting the impellers to the drive assembly,
• said transmission cooperating with the drive assembly to maintain rotation of the impellers at a substantially constant ratio relative to the operation of the power source,
• said transmission including a plurality of intermeshing gears with at least one of said gears being common to both compressors,
• said transmission including a common rotatable transmission shaft coupled to said common gear,
• said drive assembly including an endless element entraining at least a portion of said common shaft and at least a portion of the power source.

In a pneumatic conveyor including tubing and a power source, an improved centrifugal air compressing system comprising:

• a first compressor drivingly connected to the power source for compressing air for the tubing,
• said first compressor including a first inlet, a spaced first outlet, and a first impeller fluidly between the first inlet and first outlet to compress air;
• a second compressor drivingly connected to the power source for compressing air for the tubing,
• said second compressor including a second inlet, a spaced second outlet, and a second impeller fluidly between the second inlet and second outlet to compress air;
• and
• a fluid flow control assembly fluidly intercommunicating the compressors so that the compressors cooperatively provide compressed air to the tubing in a number of operating phases, including a first phase in which at least some compressed air from the first outlet is supplied to the second inlet and a second phase in which at least some compressed air from the first and second outlets is supplied to the tubing without passing through the other compressor,
• said fluid flow control assembly including a passageway fluidly communicating said first outlet and said second inlet,
• said fluid flow control assembly further including a first valve disposed along said passageway for controlling the flow of compressed air there through,
• said fluid flow control assembly including an additional passageway in fluid communication with said first outlet and the tubing,
• said fluid flow control assembly further including a second valve disposed along said additional passageway downstream of said first-mentioned passageway for controlling the flow of compressed air through said additional passageway.