U.S. patent application number 15/500777 was filed with the patent office on 2017-08-03 for housing upper part of a labyrinth piston compressor and method for cooling same, and labyrinth piston compressor.
This patent application is currently assigned to BURCKHARDT COMPRESSION AG. The applicant listed for this patent is BURCKHARDT COMPRESSION AG. Invention is credited to Andreas ALLENSPACH, Benjamin REMBOLD, Urs WEILENMANN.
Application Number | 20170218935 15/500777 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53879467 |
Filed Date | 2017-08-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170218935 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WEILENMANN; Urs ; et
al. |
August 3, 2017 |
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.
Inventors: |
WEILENMANN; Urs;
(Herrliberg, CH) ; REMBOLD; Benjamin; (Schlieren,
CH) ; ALLENSPACH; Andreas; (Winterthur, CH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BURCKHARDT COMPRESSION AG |
Winterthur |
|
CH |
|
|
Assignee: |
BURCKHARDT COMPRESSION AG
Winterthur
CH
|
Family ID: |
53879467 |
Appl. No.: |
15/500777 |
Filed: |
July 28, 2015 |
PCT Filed: |
July 28, 2015 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2015/067233 |
371 Date: |
January 31, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04B 39/1046 20130101;
F04B 53/162 20130101; F04B 39/045 20130101; F04B 39/06
20130101 |
International
Class: |
F04B 39/10 20060101
F04B039/10; F04B 39/06 20060101 F04B039/06; F04B 53/16 20060101
F04B053/16; F04B 39/04 20060101 F04B039/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 31, 2014 |
EP |
14179372.9 |
Aug 4, 2014 |
EP |
14179721.7 |
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).
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.
* * * * *