Reciprocating piston compressor having improved noise attenuation

Abstract

A reciprocating piston compressor having a suction muffler and a pair of discharge mufflers to attenuate noise created by the primary pumping frequency in the primary pumping pulse. The suction muffler is disposed along a suction tube extending between the motor cap and the cylinder head of the compressor. The discharge mufflers are positioned in series within the compressor to receive discharge gases from the compression mechanism and are spaced one quarter of a wavelength from each other so as to sequentially diminish the problematic or noisy frequencies created during compressor operation. The motor/compressor assembly including the motor and compression mechanism is mounted to the interior surface of the compressor housing by spring mounts. These mounted are secured to the housing to define the position of the nodes and anti-nodes of the frequency created in the housing to reduce noise produced by natural frequencies during compressor operation.

1 - 4 . (canceled)  
   
   
       5 . A method for reducing the amplitude of pressure pulses having a particular wavelength in a fluid, comprising: 
 flowing the pressure pulse-containing fluid through a conduit;    attenuating the pressure pulse amplitude at a first location along the conduit; and further attenuating the pressure pulse amplitude at a second location along the conduit distanced from the first location a distance which is substantially equal to an odd multiple of one quarter of the wavelength.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said steps of attenuating and further attenuating respectively comprise flowing the fluid through a first muffler and a second muffler, the first and second mufflers respectively located at the first and second locations.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said step of flowing the fluid through a first muffler comprises flowing the fluid through a head discharge chamber of a reciprocating piston compressor.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of said first and second mufflers is a Helmholtz muffler.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said step of flowing the fluid through a conduit comprises flowing the fluid through the head discharge chamber of a reciprocating piston compressor, and said step of attenuating the pressure pulse amplitude at a first location comprises flowing the fluid through the head discharge chamber.  
   
   
       10 - 28 . (canceled)