Housing Upper Part Of A Labyrinth Piston Compressor And Method For Cooling Same, And Labyrinth Piston Compressor

Abstract

A housing upper part for a labyrinth piston compressor having a cylinder barrel running in the direction of a longitudinal axis, with a cylinder interior and a cylinder barrel exterior. The cylinder barrel has at least one-cylinder inlet opening or cylinder outlet opening which open into the cylinder interior. Wherein a gas distribution housing at least partially encloses the cylinder barrel in the circumferential direction about the longitudinal axis (L) forming between the gas distribution housing and at least one-part section of the cylinder barrel exterior, a gas distribution interior. Wherein the part section is axisymmetric about the longitudinal axis, the gas distribution interior is fluidically connected to the cylinder interior either via the cylinder inlet opening or the cylinder outlet opening, and the gas distribution housing has either a gas inlet or a gas outlet which is fluidically connected to the gas distribution interior.

Description

[0001] The invention concerns a housing upper part of a labyrinth piston compressor according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention further concerns a labyrinth piston compressor comprising a housing upper part. The invention moreover concerns a method for cooling a housing upper part of a labyrinth piston compressor according to claim 12.

PRIOR ART

[0002] Labyrinth piston compressors are compressors for the compressing of fluids. A piston is arranged in a cylinder such that a gap exists permanently between the envelope surface of the piston and the inner wall of the cylinder so that piston and cylinder do not touch each other. It is thereby accepted that a portion of the fluid will flow past the piston between the cylinder wall and the envelope surface. In order to keep such leakage low, the gap between cylinder wall and envelope surface is kept as small as possible.

[0003] Publication JP 2010209723 discloses such a labyrinth piston compressor with a housing upper part. This labyrinth piston compressor has the drawback that a one-sided wear can occur on the piston, leading to an increased gap width and an increased leakage.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The problem which the invention proposes to solve is to configure a more advantageous housing upper part for a labyrinth piston compressor as well as a more advantageous labyrinth piston compressor and a more advantageous method for operating a labyrinth piston compressor with such a housing upper part.

[0005] This problem is solved with a housing upper part having the features of claim 1. The subclaims 2 to 9 concern further advantageous embodiments. The problem is further solved with a labyrinth piston compressor comprising a housing upper part according to one of claims 1 to 9. The problem is further solved with a method for operating a housing upper part of a labyrinth piston compressor comprising the features of claim 13. Subclaims 14 to 16 concern further advantageous steps of the method.

[0006] The problem is solved in particular with a housing upper part of a labyrinth piston compressor comprising a cylinder barrel running in the direction of a longitudinal axis with a cylinder interior and a cylinder barrel exterior, wherein the cylinder barrel comprises at least one cylinder inlet opening or at least one cylinder outlet opening, which open into the cylinder interior, wherein a gas distribution housing at least partly encloses the cylinder barrel in the circumferential direction to the longitudinal axis so that a gas distribution interior is formed between the gas distribution housing and at least one part section of the cylinder barrel exterior of the cylinder barrel, wherein the part section is configured axially symmetrical in regard to the longitudinal axis, wherein the gas distribution interior is fluidically connected either via the cylinder inlet opening or the cylinder outlet opening to the cylinder interior, and wherein the gas distribution housing comprises either a gas inlet or a gas outlet which is fluidically connected to the gas distribution interior.

[0007] The problem is further solved in particular with a method for cooling a housing upper part of a labyrinth piston compressor comprising a cylinder barrel running in the direction of a longitudinal axis with a cylinder interior and a cylinder barrel exterior, wherein an inlet fluid being compressed is drawn in through a cylinder inlet opening arranged on the cylinder barrel from a gas distribution interior into the cylinder interior, or wherein a compressed outlet fluid is discharged via a cylinder outlet opening arranged on the cylinder barrel from the cylinder interior into the gas distribution interior, and wherein part sections of the cylinder barrel exterior arranged opposite each other and axially symmetrical in regard to the longitudinal axis are swept by the same inlet fluid or outlet fluid.

[0008] A labyrinth piston compressor comprises at least a housing upper part and a housing lower part, and it comprises at least a crank shaft, a crosshead, a piston rod and a piston. The housing upper part and the housing lower part are firmly joined together. The crank shaft and the crosshead are arranged in the housing lower part, while the piston rod is connected to the crosshead. The housing upper part comprises a cylinder barrel, the piston being arranged inside the cylinder interior of the cylinder barrel, and the piston being connected to the piston rod, while the piston is mounted so that it can move inside the cylinder interior in the direction of the longitudinal axis. In one advantageous configuration, the labyrinth piston compressor furthermore comprises a spacer, which is arranged between the housing lower part and the housing upper part, while the spacer can also be part of the housing lower part or part of the housing upper part, or wherein the spacer can be integrated in the housing upper part or in the housing lower part.

[0009] The housing upper part for a labyrinth piston compressor according to the invention has the advantage that the cylinder wall surrounding the piston of the labyrinth piston compressor has a substantially axially symmetrical temperature distribution in the circumferential direction to the longitudinal axis. That is, the cylinder wall in regions situated axially symmetrically opposite each other in regard to the longitudinal axis has the same or substantially the same temperature. This ensures that the cylinder barrel during the operation of the labyrinth piston compressor is not warped on one side due to the temperature acting there. As a result, the gap between the cylinder wall and the piston can be kept very small, since a temperature change of the cylinder barrel during operation will cause little or no warpage. The small gap has the result that the labyrinth piston compressor according to the invention has very slight leakage. Advantageously, the labyrinth piston compressor according to the invention furthermore has slight wear, enabling a long-term reliable and low-maintenance operation of the labyrinth piston compressor.

[0010] In an especially advantageous configuration, a gas distribution housing extending in the circumferential direction for 360.degree. surrounds the cylinder wall on the outside, while either an inlet fluid being compressed or a compressed outlet fluid flows in this gas distribution interior formed by the gas distribution housing and the cylinder wall, with the result that the cylinder barrel exterior is swept by the same fluid in the circumferential direction, and the cylinder barrel exterior therefore has the same or substantially the same temperature in the circumferential direction. This ensures that the cylinder barrel during the operation of the labyrinth piston compressor is not warped on one side on account of the temperature working there and the resulting material expansions of certain areas of the cylinder barrel. The inlet fluid flowing into the labyrinth piston compressor and the outlet fluid flowing out from it is advantageously channeled in the housing upper part according to the invention so that the cylinder has the same or substantially the same temperature in the circumferential direction.

[0011] In another possible configuration, the cylinder barrel can have a higher or lower temperature for a section in the direction of the longitudinal axis, while in an especially advantageous configuration the cylinder has the same or substantially the same temperature in the circumferential direction. The symmetrical or substantially symmetrical temperature distribution ensures that the cylinder barrel is not warped on one side due to the temperature. This makes it possible to keep the abrasion of the piston and the cylinder inner surface very low and to ensure that no wear on one side occurs during the operation of the labyrinth piston compressor, which might lead to increased leakage and possibly piston cracking. Such a labyrinth piston compressor comprising the housing upper part according to the invention has the benefit of a higher efficiency, and/or that the fluid can be compressed to a greater pressure and/or the labyrinth piston compressor can be operated at lower speed of revolution. In contrast with the housing upper part according to the invention, the housing upper part or the labyrinth piston compressor disclosed in publication JP 2010209723 has highly different temperatures in the circumferential direction of the cylinder in the uncooled state, so that a heat warpage occurs on the cylinder during operation, resulting in the piston wearing down the cylinder wall on one side.

[0012] In an especially advantageous configuration, the housing upper part according to the invention is made from aluminum or an aluminum alloy. Aluminum has significantly better low temperature properties than cast iron for example, such as gray cast iron. Thus, a compressor with a cylinder made of aluminum is approved for an operating temperature down to -160.degree. C., while a cylinder of gray cast iron is only approved for an operating temperature down to -40.degree. C. A labyrinth piston compressor comprising the housing upper part according to the invention made from aluminum or an aluminum alloy thus has the benefit that it can be used even at very low operating temperatures down to -160.degree. C., for example in the field of cryoengineering or low temperature engineering at temperatures lower than -150.degree. C., for example in the liquefaction of gases. A housing upper part made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy furthermore has the benefit that its manufacture is cheaper than a housing upper part made from an iron alloy, such as gray cast iron.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The drawings used to explain the sample embodiments show:

[0014] FIG. 1 a longitudinal section through a first sample embodiment of a housing upper part of a labyrinth piston compressor along sectioning line A-A;

[0015] FIG. 2 a top view of the housing upper part of FIG. 1;

[0016] FIG. 3 a longitudinal section through a second sample embodiment of a housing upper part along sectioning line B-B;

[0017] FIG. 4 a top view of the housing upper part of FIG. 3;

[0018] FIG. 5 a perspective view of the housing upper part of FIG. 3;

[0019] FIG. 6 a longitudinal section of the second sample embodiment of the housing upper part along sectioning line C-C;

[0020] FIG. 7 a perspective view of a third sample embodiment of a housing upper part;

[0021] FIG. 8 a longitudinal section through a fourth sample embodiment of a housing upper part;

[0022] FIG. 9 a transverse section through the second sample embodiment along sectioning line D-D;

[0023] FIG. 10 a longitudinal section through a fifth sample embodiment of a housing upper part;

[0024] FIG. 11 another longitudinal section through the fifth sample embodiment of the housing upper part;

[0025] FIG. 12 a transverse section through the fifth sample embodiment along sectioning line E-E;

[0026] FIG. 13 a longitudinal section through a sixth sample embodiment of a housing upper part;

[0027] FIG. 14 a transverse section through a seventh sample embodiment of a housing upper part.

[0028] Essentially the same parts in the drawings are provided with the same reference numbers.

WAYS OF IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTION

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a partial cutout view of a labyrinth piston compressor 21 comprising, besides the components not shown, a housing upper part 1, a spacer 22, a piston 15 with a piston rod 16, a seal 23 as well as a linear guide 24. The housing upper part 1 comprises a cylinder barrel 2 with a cylinder interior 2a running in the direction of a longitudinal axis L. The piston 15 is arranged inside the cylinder interior 2a, and is mounted so that it can move together with the piston rod 16 in the direction of movement L1 in the direction of the longitudinal axis L. The piston 15 has on the envelope surface constituting a side surface 15a fine grooves running in the circumferential direction, which are not shown in detail.

[0030] The cylinder barrel 2 comprises at least one cylinder inlet opening 4, which opens into the cylinder interior 2a. Furthermore, a cylinder outlet opening 6 is arranged at the end face of the cylinder interior 2a. The cylinder inlet opening 4 and the cylinder outlet opening 6 are preferably spaced apart in the longitudinal direction L. In the sample embodiment of FIG. 1, the cylinder outlet opening 6 is arranged only slightly higher than the cylinder inlet opening 4. The cylinder barrel 2 is surrounded by a gas distribution housing 9a such that an interior 9b extending in the circumferential direction for 360.degree. is formed between the outside 2e of the cylinder barrel 2 and the gas distribution housing 9a. The gas distribution housing 9a has at least one single gas inlet opening 9, and in the depicted sample embodiment it has two gas inlet openings 9 situated opposite each other in regard to the longitudinal direction L, through which the inlet fluid being compressed is drawn in from the outside. Between the interior 9b and the cylinder inlet opening 4 there is arranged an inlet valve 5, shown only schematically, which allows the gas to pass in the direction indicated by an arrow, and prevents a gas flow in the opposite direction. In the depicted sample embodiment there are two inlet valves 5 arranged symmetrically to the longitudinal direction L. The gas distribution housing 9a has an entry opening 9c for the valve 5, in order to service or replace the valve 5. The entry opening 9c is closed by a cover plate 19. On the upper end face of the cylinder 2 there is arranged an end part 8 at the end face. The end part 8 comprises three cylinder outlet openings 6, which are each followed by an outlet valve 7 shown schematically. The outlet valves 7 allow the compressed outlet fluid or gas to pass in the direction indicated by an arrow, and prevent a gas flow in the opposite direction. The end part 8 terminates in a gas outlet 10. In the housing upper part 1 there is furthermore arranged a piston rod seal 23. The labyrinth piston compressor 21 furthermore comprises in the depicted sample embodiment a spacer 22 with a standing foot 18 and a linear guide 24. The housing upper part 1 is connected by the spacer 22 to a housing lower part 25, only suggested in the drawing. The housing upper part 1 is fastened on the standing foot 18. The labyrinth piston compressor 21 comprises at the top a compression chamber 3, while at the bottom there is arranged in the cylinder wall 2d an inlet and outlet 2f, which forms a fluidic connection between the lower cylinder interior 3c and the interior 9b of the gas distribution housing 9a. In the depicted sample embodiment, the cylinder inlet openings 4 are arranged at the same height in the direction of the longitudinal axis L and mutually spaced apart in the circumferential direction by 180.degree.. This arrangement has the benefit that fluid flowing in through the gas inlet 9 flows into the interior 9b, thereby flowing around the cylinder barrel exterior 2e before the gas flows through the inlet valve 5 into the cylinder inlet opening 4. The cylinder barrel exterior 2e therefore has the same or roughly the same temperature in the circumferential direction. On account of the compression of the gas in the compression chamber 3, the temperature of the housing wall of the cylinder barrel 2 may rise in the direction of travel of the longitudinal axis L toward the cylinder outlet opening 6, while the cylinder barrel 2 has the same or roughly the same temperature in the circumferential direction. Thus, the cylinder barrel 2 has a symmetrical or approximately symmetrical temperature distribution radially to the longitudinal axis L, which means that little or no heat warpage occurs in the radial direction on the cylinder barrel 2. This produces the advantage that the piston does not become worn down on one side. This increases the sealing action of the piston 15, or allows the gas in the compression chamber 3 to be compressed to a greater pressure. Furthermore, the efficiency of the labyrinth piston compressor is increased.

[0031] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the housing upper part 21 depicted in FIG. 1. At the end face end part 8 one notices the gas outlet 10 as well as the outlet valves 7. The gas distribution housing 9a has one cover plate 19 each at left and right.

[0032] FIG. 3 shows in a longitudinal section a further sample embodiment of a housing upper part 1, which in contrast with the sample embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 is designed for two compression chambers, a first compression chamber 3a as well as a second compression chamber 3b. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the spacer 22 can also be part of the housing upper part 1. In the view represented, the region above the piston 15 is configured identically to that of FIG. 1. In the region above the piston 15, the cylinder opening 4a with inlet valve 5a is represented, which open into the first compression chamber 3a, as well as the cylinder outlet opening 6a as well as the outlet valve 7a, which are arranged between the first compression chamber 3a and the gas outlet 10a. The cylinder interior 2a beneath the piston 15 forms a second compression chamber 3b. In the region beneath the piston 15 the cylinder opening 4b with inlet valve 5b is represented, opening into the second compression chamber 3b, as well as a cylinder outlet opening 6b and an outlet valve 7b, which are arranged between the second compression chamber 3b and a gas conducting housing 10c.

[0033] The top view depicted in FIG. 4 of the housing upper part 1 of FIG. 3 shows the gas outlet 10a of the first compression chamber 3a, and the outlet valves 7a. Furthermore, the gas inlet 9 is shown, being arranged at the side in the gas distribution housing 9a.

[0034] FIG. 5 shows the housing upper part 1 of FIGS. 3 and 4 in perspective view, the gas inlet 9 being particularly visible, as well as the gas outlet 10a of the first compression chamber 3a and the gas outlet 10b of the second compression chamber 3b at top and bottom.

[0035] FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal section along sectioning line C-C of the housing upper part 1 represented in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. FIG. 9 shows a transverse section along sectioning line D-D of the housing upper part 1 represented in FIGS. 3 to 6, where in contrast with FIGS. 3 and 6 the piston 15 is not represented in FIG. 9, and only the valve seat 5b of the outlet valves 5 is shown. As can be seen from FIG. 9, the gas distribution housing 9a is configured such that it forms an interior 9b running around the cylinder barrel exterior 2e by an angle .alpha. of 360.degree., while the gas inlet 9 opens into this interior 9b. This arrangement of the gas inlet 9 has the benefit that the gas drawn in first flows along the cylinder barrel exterior 2e and then is drawn in through the inlet valves 5a, 5b into the first and second compression chamber 3a, 3b. As a result, the cylinder barrel exterior 2e is constantly cooled, preferably as represented in FIG. 6, along the entire height L2 of the compression chamber 3, which comprises the first and the second compression chamber 3a, 3b. FIG. 6 shows at top the end face end part 8, in which the cylinder outlet opening 6a, the outlet valve 7a following it in the flow direction, and the gas outlet 10a following it are visible. FIG. 6 shows at bottom the gas conducting housing 10c, whose interior 10d opens into the gas outlet 10b, while the second compression chamber 3b is fluidically connected via the cylinder outlet opening 6b, the outlet valve 7b and the interior 10d to the gas outlet 10b.

[0036] The sample embodiments represented in FIGS. 1 to 6 have cylinder outlet openings 6, 6a, 6b which are each arranged at the end face 2b, 2c of the cylinder interior 2. Since the gas compressed in the compression chamber 3a, 3b is also heated during the compression, the compressed outlet gas emerging through the cylinder outlet openings 6, 6a, 6b has a higher temperature than the inlet gas being compressed and flowing into the cylinder interior 2. Because the outlet gas is not taken through the cylinder wall 2d, but instead diverted via the end face 2b, 2c of the cylinder interior 2, the cylinder wall 2d is less strongly locally heated, which means that a possible heat warpage of the cylinder barrel 2 is substantially reduced. The diverting of the outlet gas at the end face furthermore has the benefit that the diverting occurs at the end of the cylinder interior 2a or outside of the cylinder interior 2a, so that the warmer emerging gas can only slightly heat the cylinder wall 2d, if at all. Preferably, the cylinder interior 2a has an interior length L2 in the direction of the longitudinal axis L which is smaller than the length of the gas distribution interior 9b, as is represented in FIG. 6. This configuration has the benefit that the inlet gas flowing in via the gas inlet 9 also cools the outside 2e of the cylinder barrel 2 behind which the end face end part 8 is arranged, so that this also is cooled, resulting in reduced temperature differences in the cylinder barrel 2, and thus a possible heat warpage of the cylinder barrel 2 is reduced.

[0037] The sample embodiments represented in FIGS. 1 to 6 could also be configured such that the inlet valves 5 and the outlet valves 7 change places, so that the inlet fluid flows through the gas outlet 10 and the inlet valve 5 into the compression chamber 3, and the outlet fluid flows from the compression chamber 3 via the cylinder inlet opening 4 and the outlet valve 7 into the gas chamber 9b. In this case, the outlet fluid sweeps the cylinder barrel exterior 2e and exits through the opening 9, while the cylinder barrel exterior 2e has a uniform temperature distribution.

[0038] FIG. 7 shows another sample embodiment of a housing upper part 1. Between the upper gas outlet 10a and the lower situated gas conducting housing 10c is arranged a fluidically connected connection channel 17, so that a fluidic gas connection is formed via an opening 17a between the gas outlet 10a and the gas conducting housing 10c. The gas outlet 10a is closed gas-tight by a cover plate 20, only partly represented, so that all of the compressed outlet gas flowing through the outlet valve 7a is taken to the gas conducting housing 10c and then to the gas outlet 10b. The sample embodiment of a housing upper part 1 shown in FIG. 7 thus has the benefit of having a single gas inlet 9 and a single gas outlet 10b.

[0039] FIG. 8 shows in a longitudinal section a fourth sample embodiment of a housing upper part 1. In this sample embodiment, the piston 15 belonging to the labyrinth piston compressor 21 with its piston rod 16 is not shown. In contrast to the sample embodiment represented in FIG. 1, in the sample embodiment of FIG. 8 the cylinder outlet openings 6 are likewise arranged in the cylinder wall 2d of the cylinder barrel 2. The end part 8 at the end face is configured such that a fluidic channel is formed between the compression chamber 3 and the cylinder outlet openings 6. Each of the cylinder outlet openings 6 is then associated with an outlet valve 7, which opens into a gas distribution interior 10f. An entry opening 10e for the outlet valve 7 is closed by a cover plate 19. The gas distribution interior 10f has a gas outlet 10a at the rear side, so that the gas outlet 10a is only shown by broken lines. Otherwise, the housing upper part 1 is configured substantially the same as in FIG. 1.

[0040] FIGS. 10 to 12 show a fifth sample embodiment of a housing upper part 1. FIG. 10 shows in a longitudinal section a housing upper part 1 with a first and a second compression chamber 3a, 3b. Two cylinder openings 4a open into the first compression chamber 3a. One cylinder opening 4b opens into the second compression chamber 3b. The entry openings 9c for the valves 5a, 5b are closed with cover plates 19. A gas inlet 9 opens into the gas distribution interior 9b. A connection channel 17 shown only schematically conveys the inlet fluid being compressed, entering via the gas inlet 9, to the gas distribution interior 9b situated at the left. FIG. 11 shows in a longitudinal section a housing upper part 1 with a first and a second compression chamber 3a, 3b. Two cylinder outlet openings 6a open from the first compression chamber 3a into the gas distribution interior 9b. A cylinder outlet opening 6b opens from the second compression chamber 3b into the gas distribution interior 9b. The entry openings 10e for the valves 7a, 7b are closed with cover plates 19. A gas outlet 10 exits from the gas distribution interior 9b. A connection channel 17 shown only schematically conveys the compressed outlet fluid in the gas distribution interior 9b situated at left through the connection channel 17 only represented schematically to the gas outlet 10. FIG. 12 shows a section through FIGS. 10 and 11 along sectioning line E-E, where the piston 15 and the piston rod 16 are not shown in FIG. 12. The gas distribution housings 9a are configured such that the gas distribution interior 9b only lies against the cylinder barrel exterior 2e along one part section 2g. The part sections 2g run axially symmetrically in regard to the longitudinal axis L, which has the result that part sections 2g of the cylinder barrel exterior 2e lying opposite each other in relation to the longitudinal axis L have the same or roughly the same temperature, as these oppositely lying part sections 2g are swept by the same gas, either the inlet gas being compressed or the compressed outlet gas. Advantageously, the part section 2g extends in the circumferential direction U for at least 20.degree. or at least 30.degree.. In the sample embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the gas distribution interiors 9b run perpendicular to each other in the cross section shown. The gas distribution interiors 9b, as shown in FIG. 14, may also run at an acute or an obtuse angle to each other. The embodiment represented in FIG. 14 has the advantage that the housing upper part 1 requires less space, so that several labyrinth piston compressors 21 can be arranged closer alongside each other.

[0041] FIG. 13 shows in a longitudinal section a sixth sample embodiment. In contrast with the sample embodiment represented in FIG. 3, the housing upper part 21 represented in FIG. 13 has valve seats 5a, 5b and valves 5 situated therein only on the left side of the gas distribution interior 9b, while no valves are arranged in the depicted right side of the gas distribution interior 9b. Otherwise, the housing upper parts 1 represented in FIGS. 3 and 13 are the same in configuration, so that further details can be seen in particular from FIGS. 4 and 9.

[0042] The housing upper part 1 according to the invention has at least one cylinder inlet opening 4 and at least one cylinder outlet opening 6. Preferably, a plurality of cylinder inlet openings 4 spaced apart in the circumferential direction are arranged in the cylinder wall 2d in the circumferential direction to the longitudinal axis L. Preferably, the cylinder inlet openings 4 are regularly spaced apart in the circumferential direction, there being arranged preferably two, three or four cylinder inlet openings 4 in the circumferential direction. Likewise, as represented in FIG. 8, a plurality of cylinder outlet openings 6 spaced apart in the circumferential direction could be arranged in the cylinder wall 2d in the circumferential direction to the longitudinal axis L. Preferably, the cylinder outlet openings 6 are regularly spaced apart in the circumferential direction, there being arranged preferably two, three or four cylinder outlet openings 6 in the circumferential direction. However, the cylinder outlet openings 6 are preferably arranged at the end face of the cylinder interior 2a, while the cylinder outlet openings 6 preferably run in the direction of the longitudinal axis L. In the circumferential direction to the longitudinal axis L there can be arranged a single cylinder outlet opening 6, but preferably there are two, three or four cylinder outlet openings 6.

[0043] The labyrinth piston compressor 21 comprises a cylinder barrel 2 running in the direction of a longitudinal axis L with a cylinder interior 2a and a cylinder barrel exterior 2e, while a piston 15 is mounted in the cylinder interior 2a so as to be able to move in the direction of the longitudinal axis L and forms a compression chamber 3, the gas being compressed being drawn in through a cylinder inlet opening 4 passing through the cylinder barrel 2.

[0044] The method for cooling the housing 1 of the labyrinth piston compressor 21 occurs in that an inlet fluid being compressed is drawn in through a cylinder inlet opening 4 arranged on the cylinder barrel 2 from a gas distribution interior 9b into the cylinder interior 2a, or wherein a compressed outlet fluid is discharged via a cylinder outlet opening 6 arranged on the cylinder barrel 2 from the cylinder interior 2a into the gas distribution interior 9b, and wherein part sections 2g of the cylinder barrel exterior 2e arranged opposite each other and axially symmetrical in regard to the longitudinal axis L are swept by the same inlet fluid or outlet fluid. This has the result that oppositely situated part sections 2g have the same or substantially the same temperature.

[0045] In one advantageous method, the part section 2g runs along an angle of 360.degree., so that the cylinder barrel exterior 2e is swept by the inlet fluid being compressed or the compressed outlet fluid by an angle .alpha. of 360 degrees in the circumferential direction of the longitudinal axis L.

[0046] In one advantageous embodiment, the cylinder barrel exterior 2e comprises in the circumferential direction of the longitudinal axis L at least two part sections 2g spaced apart in the circumferential direction, and extending in the circumferential direction for an angle of at least 30.degree. each.

[0047] In one advantageous method, the outlet fluid is ejected through a cylinder outlet opening 6 arranged at the end face of the cylinder interior 2a, the cylinder inlet opening 4 and the cylinder outlet opening 6 being spaced apart in the direction of the longitudinal axis L, in order to produce a temperature gradient on the cylinder barrel exterior 2e in the direction of the longitudinal axis L.

[0048] Preferably the method occurs in that the fluid being compressed is drawn in through a plurality of cylinder inlet openings 4 arranged at the same height in regard to the longitudinal axis L in the cylinder barrel 2 distributed in the circumferential direction in order to generate the same temperature in the circumferential direction.

[0049] Preferably, moreover, the method occurs such that the cylinder barrel 2 comprises a cylinder barrel exterior 2e, and the outside 2e is swept at least along the interior length L2 by the fluid being compressed in order to cool the cylinder barrel 2 along the interior length L2 before the fluid being compressed flows into the cylinder interior 2a.

Claims

1. A housing upper part of a labyrinth piston compressor comprising a cylinder barrel running in the direction of a longitudinal axis (L) with a cylinder interior and a cylinder barrel exterior, wherein the cylinder barrel comprises at least one cylinder inlet opening or at least one cylinder outlet opening, which open into the cylinder interior, characterized in that a gas distribution housing at least partly encloses the cylinder barrel in the circumferential direction to the longitudinal axis (L) so that a gas distribution interior is formed between the gas distribution housing and at least one part section of the cylinder barrel exterior of the cylinder barrel, wherein the part section is configured axially symmetrical in regard to the longitudinal axis (L), wherein the gas distribution interior is fluidically connected either via the cylinder inlet opening or the cylinder outlet opening to the cylinder interior, and wherein the gas distribution housing comprises either a gas inlet or a gas outlet which is fluidically connected to the gas distribution interior.

2. The housing upper part as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cylinder interior has a cylinder interior length (L2), and the gas distribution interior extends at least along the cylinder interior length (L2) so that the part section of the cylinder barrel exterior forms a boundary of the gas distribution interior at least along the entire length of the cylinder interior length (L2).

3. The housing upper part as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gas distribution housing encloses the cylinder barrel exterior in the circumferential direction of the longitudinal axis (L) by an angle (.alpha.) of 360.degree., so that the gas distribution interior or the part section extends in the circumferential direction for 360.degree..

4. The housing upper part according to claim 1, wherein the cylinder barrel exterior comprises in the circumferential direction of the longitudinal axis (L) at least two part sections spaced apart in the circumferential direction, which form a boundary of the gas distribution interior along the cylinder barrel exterior, wherein the part sections extend in the circumferential direction across an angle of at least 30.degree..

5. The housing upper part according to claim 1, wherein the cylinder inlet opening and the cylinder outlet opening are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction (L).

6. The housing upper part according claim 1, wherein a plurality of cylinder inlet openings or cylinder outlet openings are arranged at the same height in regard to the longitudinal axis (L), and mutually spaced apart in the circumferential direction in regard to the longitudinal axis (L).

7. The housing upper part according to claim 6, wherein two cylinder inlet openings or two cylinder outlet openings are arranged each time opposite each other in regard to the longitudinal axis (L).

8. The housing upper part according to claim 6, wherein the cylinder outlet opening or the cylinder inlet opening is arranged at an end face of the cylinder interior running in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L).

9. The housing upper part according claim 6, wherein it is made from aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

10. A labyrinth piston compressor comprising a housing upper part according to claim 1 and also comprising a piston as well as a piston rod, wherein the piston divides the cylinder interior into a first compression chamber and a second compression chamber, wherein a first cylinder inlet opening opens into the first compression chamber, wherein a second cylinder inlet opening opens into the second compression chamber, wherein the first cylinder outlet opening is arranged at the end face of the cylinder interior facing away from the piston rod, and wherein a second cylinder outlet opening is arranged at the end face of the cylinder interior facing toward the piston rod.

11. The labyrinth piston compressor according to claim 10, wherein a connection channel connects the first and the second cylinder outlet opening fluidically to each other, and the connection channel is fluidically connected to a gas outlet.

12. The labyrinth piston compressor according to claim 10, wherein the gas distribution interior furthermore encloses at least a part section of the cylinder outlet opening on the outside in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L).

13. A method for cooling a housing upper part of a labyrinth piston compressor comprising a cylinder barrel running in the direction of a longitudinal axis (L) with a cylinder interior and a cylinder barrel exterior, wherein an inlet fluid being compressed is drawn in through a cylinder inlet opening arranged on the cylinder barrel from a gas distribution interior into the cylinder interior, or wherein a compressed outlet fluid is discharged via a cylinder outlet opening arranged on the cylinder barrel from the cylinder interior into the gas distribution interior, and wherein part sections of the cylinder barrel exterior arranged opposite each other and axially symmetrical in regard to the longitudinal axis (L) are swept by the same inlet fluid or outlet fluid.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the cylinder barrel exterior is swept by the inlet fluid being compressed or by compressed outlet fluid by an angle (.alpha.) of 360 degrees in the circumferential direction of the longitudinal axis (L).

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the cylinder barrel exterior comprises in the circumferential direction of the longitudinal axis (L) at least two part sections spaced apart in the circumferential direction, extending in the circumferential direction for an angle of at least 30.degree. each.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the outlet fluid is ejected through a cylinder outlet opening arranged at the end face of the cylinder interior, wherein the cylinder inlet opening and the cylinder outlet opening are spaced apart in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L) so as to produce a temperature gradient on the cylinder barrel exterior in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L).