Compressor and method with an improved inlet and discharge valve arrangement

Abstract

A gas compressor and method according to which a plurality of inlet valve assemblies are angularly spaced around a bore. A piston reciprocates in the bore to draw the fluid from the valve assemblies during movement of the piston unit in one direction and compress the fluid during movement of the piston unit in the other direction and the valve assemblies prevent fluid flow from the bore to the valve assemblies during the movement of the piston in the other direction. A discharge valve is associated with the piston to permit the discharge of the compressed fluid from the bore.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A fluid compressor comprising a housing defining an internal bore and an outlet registering with the bore; at least one head mounted to the housing; a plurality of angularly spaced inlet valve assemblies disposed in the at least one head for permitting the flow of the fluid from the head into the bore and for preventing the flow of the fluid from the bore to the head; and at least one piston/valve unit mounted in the bore for reciprocal movement and adapted to move in one direction to draw the fluid through the valve assemblies, and into the bore; and to move in the opposite direction to compress the fluid and allow the compressed fluid to pass to the outlet.  
     
     
         2 . The compressor of  claim 1  wherein the valve assemblies are angularly spaced around the bore.  
     
     
         3 . The compressor of  claim 1  wherein the axis of each valve assembly extends at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the bore.  
     
     
         4 . The compressor of  claim 3  wherein the angle is approximately forty-five degrees.  
     
     
         5 . The compressor of  claim 3  wherein the angle is approximately ninety degrees.  
     
     
         6 . The compressor of  claim 1  wherein a plurality of angularly-spaced inlet chambers are formed in the at least one head and adapted to receive fluid to be compressed, and wherein the inlet valve assemblies are mounted in the respective inlet chambers.  
     
     
         7 . The compressor of  claim 6  wherein the chambers are interconnected in the interior of the head permit the fluid to flow from chamber to chamber.  
     
     
         8 . The compressor of  claim 6  wherein the chambers and therefore the valve assemblies, are angularly spaced around the bore.  
     
     
         9 . The compressor of  claim 6  wherein the axis of each chamber, and therefore each valve assembly, extends at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the bore.  
     
     
         10 . The compressor of  claim 9  wherein the angle is approximately forty-five degrees.  
     
     
         11 . The compressor of  claim 9  wherein the angle is approximately ninety degrees.  
     
     
         12 . The compressor of  claim 1  wherein the compressed fluid flows through the piston/valve unit before passing to the outlet.  
     
     
         13 . The compressor of  claim 1  wherein there are two heads respectively mounted at the ends of the housing.  
     
     
         14 . The compressor of  claim 13  wherein there are two piston/valve units mounted for reciprocal movement in the bore.  
     
     
         15 . The compressor of  claim 14  wherein the piston/valve units are adapted to move in one direction whereby one piston/valve unit draws the fluid from the corresponding chambers, through its corresponding valve assemblies, and into the bore, and the other piston/valve unit compresses the fluid and allows it to pass to the outlet; and wherein the piston valve units are adapted to move in the other direction whereby the other piston/valve unit draws the fluid from its corresponding chambers, through its corresponding valve assemblies, and into the bore, and whereby the one piston/valve unit compresses the fluid and allows it to pass to the outlet.  
     
     
         16 . The compressor of  claim 14  further comprising a rod mounted for reciprocal movement in the bore and wherein the piston/valve units are attached to the rod.  
     
     
         17 . The compressor of  claim 1  wherein the valve assemblies are angularly spaced for 360 degrees around the bore.  
     
     
         18 . The compressor of  claim 17  wherein there are five valve assemblies equiangularly spaced around the bore.  
     
     
         19 . A method of compressing fluid comprising angularly spacing a plurality of inlet valve assemblies around a bore, introducing fluid to be compressed to the valve assemblies, and reciprocating a piston unit in the bore to draw the fluid from the valve assemblies during movement of the piston unit in one direction and compress the fluid during movement of the piston unit in the other direction, the valve assemblies preventing fluid flow from the bore to the valve assemblies during the movement of the piston in the other direction.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the valve assemblies are angularly spaced around the bore.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the valve assemblies are angularly spaced for 360 degrees around the bore.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein there are five valve assemblies equiangularly spaced around the bore.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising providing a head at one end of the bore, forming a plurality of angularly-spaced inlet chambers in the head, introducing the fluid into the chambers, and mounting the valve assemblies in the respective inlet chambers for receiving the fluid.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising interconnecting the chambers to permit the fluid to flow from chamber to chamber.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the compressed fluid flows through the piston unit and passes from the bore.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising providing a head at each end of the bore, forming a plurality of angularly-spaced inlet chambers in each head, introducing the fluid into the chambers, and mounting the valve assemblies in the respective inlet chambers for receiving the fluid.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising interconnecting the chambers in each head to permit the fluid to flow from chamber to chamber.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the compressed fluid flows through the piston unit and passes from the bore.