U.S. patent application number 11/414014 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-01 for air compressor unloader system.
Invention is credited to Daniel Leiss.
Application Number | 20070253838 11/414014 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38648491 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070253838 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Leiss; Daniel |
November 1, 2007 |
Air compressor unloader system
Abstract
An air compressor unloader assembly for unloading the
compression chamber of an air compressor during a compressor
unloading cycle. The unloader assembly includes an unloader piston
slidable within an unloader cylinder in the head of the compressor
for slidably engaging the intake valve of the compressor and to
hold the intake valve open for unloading of the compression chamber
of the compressor pump. The unloading cylinder is accessible from
an exterior surface of the head via a removable threaded plug in a
gas tight arrangement. The plug is dimensioned whereby the unloader
piston may be readily accessed for lubrication and/or removed for
repair or replacement without having to remove the head from the
air compressor cylinder.
Inventors: |
Leiss; Daniel; (Somerset,
PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FLOYD B. CAROTHERS;CAROTHERS AND CAROTHERS
445 FORT PITT BOULEVARD, SUITE 500
PITTSBURGH
PA
15219
US
|
Family ID: |
38648491 |
Appl. No.: |
11/414014 |
Filed: |
April 28, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/298 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04B 39/08 20130101;
F04B 39/125 20130101; F04B 49/243 20130101; F04B 49/035
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/298 |
International
Class: |
F04B 49/00 20060101
F04B049/00 |
Claims
1. In a reciprocating gas compressor having a compression chamber
closed off with a head and an intake valve and an exhaust valve in
said head for regulated gas inlet to and gas outlet from said
chamber, and a compressor unloading assembly for unloading said
chamber during a compressor unloading cycle, said unloading
assembly comprising: an unloader piston slidable within an unloader
cylinder in said head for engaging said intake valve to hold said
intake valve open for unloading said compression chamber, said
unloading cylinder accessible from an exterior surface of said head
via a removable plug sealing said unloading cylinder gas tight,
said plug dimensioned whereby said unloader piston may be readily
accessed and removed for repair without having to remove said head
from said compressor cylinder.
2. The unloading assembly set forth in claim 1, including a
pressure governor having an inlet connected to receive gas outlet
under pressure from said compressor and having an outlet connected
to said unloader cylinder for moving said unloader piston to open
said intake valve with gas under pressure when a predetermined gas
outlet pressure from said compressor has been attained.
3. The unloading assembly set forth in claim 2, wherein said plug
is threadably received in said head.
4. The unloading assembly set forth in claim 2, wherein said
unloader piston slides toward said compression chamber to engage
and hold open said intake valve.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] I. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to air supply
systems using reciprocating type air compressors, and more
particularly, to compressor unloading systems which cause a
pressure regulating mechanism or governor to displace an unloader
piston to engage and hold the intake valve open during a compressor
unloading cycle.
[0003] II. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Piston type reciprocating air compressors are used to supply
air under pressure for many purposes. The compressor pump is
conventionally driven by either an electric or internal combustion
engine. Each compressor pump incorporates a compression chamber
closed off with a head and an intake valve and an exhaust valve in
the head for regulated gas inlet to and gas outlet from the
compression chamber. A compressor unloading assembly is provided
for unloading the compression chamber during a compressor unloading
cycle to reduce load on the motor when there is no demand on the
compressor pump to provide compressed air, or to otherwise regulate
the air pressure, particularly in continuous running type
compressor pumps.
[0005] Normally the unloader system or assembly includes a pressure
regulator, which is also known as a governor, located in the
pressure line. The pneumatic control outlet of the governor is
connected to an unloader piston which is thereby induced to
slidably engage the intake valve and hold the same open to
establish the unloading phase of the compressor.
[0006] The problem encountered with the unloader systems or
assemblies of the prior art is that this unloader piston is not
easily accessible for maintenance or replacement, and in deed, in
some prior art compressor pumps the entire head must be removed to
gain access to the unloader piston.
[0007] It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to
provide an unloading assembly which is easily accessible for
maintenance and repair.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The compressor unloading assembly of the present invention
for unloading the compression chamber of the compression pump
during a compressor unloading cycle is comprised of an unloader
piston slidable with an unloader cylinder in the compressor pump
head for engaging the intake valve of the compressor pump and to
hold the intake valve open for unloading the compression chamber.
This unloading cylinder is accessible from an exterior surface of
the pump head via a removable plug which seals the unloading
cylinder gas tihhy. For example, with a threaded plug. The plug is
dimensioned whereby the unloader piston may be easily accessed for
lubrication and/or removed for repair without having to remove the
head from the compressor cylinder or having to remove difficult
housing assemblies.
[0009] A pressure governor is provided and its inlet is connected
to receive gas outlet under pressure from the compressor pump. Its
outlet is connected to the unloader cylinder for moving the
unloader piston to open the intake valve of the compressor pump
with gas under pressure when a predetermined gas outlet pressure
from the compressor pump has been attained. The unloader assembly
is designed whereby the unloader piston slides downwardly toward
the compression chamber to engage and hold open the intake
valve.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Other objects and advantages appear hereinafter in the
following description and claims. The accompanying drawings show,
for the purpose of exemplification, without limiting the invention
or appended claims, certain practical embodiments of the present
invention wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of an air compressor
incorporating the unloading assembly of the present invention;
and
[0012] FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded isometric view of the head of
the air compressor shown in FIG. 1 illustrating some of the details
of the unloader assembly of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0013] The basic air compressor illustrated is of conventional
type, except for the unloading assembly of the present invention,
and is a two cylinder single stage air compressor pump 10. Of
course the unloading assembly of the present invention is also
applicable to all types of gas or air compressors, including two
stage compressors.
[0014] The compressor 10 includes generally a crankcase housing 11
enclosing the crankcase/piston assembly 12 with the pistons thereof
reciprocally received within dual cylinder 13. On top of cylinder
13 is secured valve plate 14 which retains steel disc intake valves
15 and identical type steel exhaust valves 16. Head 17 is secured
to the top of valve plate 14.
[0015] Air intake filter 18 is secured to inlet 19 for head 17 to
filter intake air.
[0016] Typical fly wheel 20 with an internal cooling fan is
provided on the end of the crank shaft/piston assembly 12.
[0017] The single stage compressor pump thus far described operates
in a conventional manner well known by the prior art, with the
exception of the unloading assembly provided in head 17, to be
later described in detail. Accordingly, specific operation of the
compressor pump need not and will not be described as this basic
pump assembly has been readily available for purchase on the open
market from Jenny Products, Inc. of Somerset, Pa.
[0018] The specifics of the unloading assembly of the present
invention is incorporated into head 17.
[0019] The unloader assembly 30 of the present invention is
comprised of unloader pistons 31 which are slidable within unloader
cylinders 32 in head 17. Pistons 31 are slidable downward within
cylinders 32 for engaging steel disc intake valves 15 and to hold
them open for unloading compression chambers 21. The unloading
cylinders 32 are accessible from exterior surface 33 of head 17 via
removable threaded plugs 34. Plugs 34 seal cylinders 32 gas tight
with O-rings 35.
[0020] The upper surfaces 36 of unloader pistons 31 are exposed to
gas under pressure entering through inlet 37 in head 17 (see FIG.
2). Gas under pressure is fed to inlet 17 via conventional pressure
governor 38 having an inlet 39 connected to receive gas outlet
under pressure from compressor 10 via outlet 25 in head 17. Outlet
40 of governor 38 is connected to unloader cylinders 32 via inlet
passage 37 for moving the unloader pistons 31 downwardly to open
intake valves 15 with gas under pressure, as regulated by regulator
38, from compressor 10 when the pressure has attained a
predetermined maximum.
[0021] The unloader pistons 31 are seated within unloader cylinders
32 by means of O-rings 41 and compression springs 42 serve to
disengage unloader pistons 31 when the governor 38 is no longer
applying gas under pressure to pistons 31.
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