Air compressor aftercooler

Abstract

A compressor aftercooler and an aftercooler assembly incorporating the aftercooler. The aftercooler has an inlet header and a cooler outlet that are in flow communication with a cooling area therebetween such that air passing from the inlet header to the cooler outlet is reduced in temperature. A bypass outlet exits directly from the inlet header such that air passing from the inlet header to the bypass outlet bypasses the cooling area. The aftercooler assembly further comprises a valve and piping arrangement to control flow through the aftercooler.

1 . A compressor aftercooler comprising: 
 a body having an inlet header and a cooler outlet, the inlet header and the cooler outlet in flow communication with a cooling area therebetween such that air passing from the inlet header to the cooler outlet is reduced in temperature; and    a bypass outlet that exits directly from the inlet header such that air passing from the inlet header to the bypass outlet bypasses the cooling area.    
   
   
       2 . A compressor aftercooler assembly comprising: 
 an aftercooler having a body having 
 an inlet header and a cooler outlet, the inlet header and the cooler outlet in flow communication with a cooling area therebetween such that air passing from the inlet header to the cooler outlet is reduced in temperature; and  
 a bypass outlet that exits directly from the inlet header such that air passing from the inlet header to the bypass outlet bypasses the cooling area;  
   a first pipe section exiting the bypass outlet and a second pipe section exiting the cooler outlet; the first and second pipe sections each connected with a combining tee such that flow through the first and second pipe sections flows to a common discharge;    a first valve positioned along the first pipe section between the bypass outlet and the common discharge and a second valve positioned along the second pipe section between the cooler outlet and the common discharge.