Compressor Device and Method

Abstract

A compressor includes a first piston, a second piston, and a crank. A first case chamber is defined by a lower surface of a first piston head, a portion of a first cylinder surface disposed below the lower surface of the first piston head, and a first case surface. A second case chamber is defined by a lower surface of a second piston head, a portion of a second cylinder surface disposed below the lower surface of the second piston head, and a second case surface. The first case chamber and the second case chamber are fluidly isolated from one another. The crank is to reciprocate the first piston head and the second piston head up and down.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A compressor comprising:
 a first piston having a first piston head, a first cylinder surface, a first case surface, a first piston chamber, and a first case chamber, the first case chamber being defined by a lower surface of the first piston head, a portion of the first cylinder surface disposed below the lower surface of the first piston head, and the first case surface;   a second piston having a second piston head, a second cylinder surface, a second case surface, a second piston chamber, and a second case chamber, the second case chamber being defined by a lower surface of the second piston head, a portion of the second cylinder surface disposed below the lower surface of the second piston head, and the second case surface, wherein the first case chamber and the second case chamber are fluidly isolated from one another; and   a crank to reciprocate the first piston head and the second piston head up and down.   
     
     
         2 . The compressor according to  claim 1 , further comprising a motor to rotate the crank. 
     
     
         3 . The compressor according to  claim 1 , further comprising a refrigerant flow path from an inlet, through the compressor, and to an outlet. 
     
     
         4 . The compressor according to  claim 3 , wherein the refrigerant flow path flows in parallel through the first piston and the second piston. 
     
     
         5 . The compressor according to  claim 3 , wherein the refrigerant flow path flows in series from the first piston to the second piston. 
     
     
         6 . The compressor according to  claim 3 , further comprising a condenser in fluid communication with the refrigerant flow path. 
     
     
         7 . The compressor according to  claim 1 , further comprising a third piston having a third piston head, a third cylinder surface, a third case surface, a third piston chamber, and a third case chamber, the third case chamber being defined by a lower surface of the third piston head, a portion of the third cylinder surface disposed below the lower surface of the third piston head, and the third case surface, wherein the first case chamber, the second case chamber, and the third case chamber are fluidly isolated from one another. 
     
     
         8 . A refrigerant recovery unit, comprising:
 a service coupler configured to convey a refrigerant to a refrigeration system; and   a compressor comprising:
 a first piston having a first piston head, a first cylinder surface, a first case surface, a first piston chamber, and a first case chamber, the first case chamber being defined by a lower surface of the first piston head, a portion of the first cylinder surface disposed below the lower surface of the first piston head, and the first case surface; 
 a second piston having a second piston head, a second cylinder surface, a second case surface, a second piston chamber, and a second case chamber, the second case chamber being defined by a lower surface of the second piston head, a portion of the second cylinder surface disposed below the lower surface of the second piston head, and the second case surface, wherein the first case chamber and the second case chamber are fluidly isolated from one another; and 
 a crank to reciprocate the first piston head and the second piston head up and down. 
   
     
     
         9 . The refrigerant recovery unit according to  claim 8 , further comprising a motor to rotate the crank. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerant recovery unit according to  claim 8 , further comprising a refrigerant flow path from an inlet, through the compressor, and to an outlet. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerant recovery unit according to  claim 10 , wherein the refrigerant flow path flows in parallel through the first piston and the second piston. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerant recovery unit according to  claim 10 , wherein the refrigerant flow path flows in series from the first piston to the second piston. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerant recovery unit according to  claim 10 , further comprising a condenser in fluid communication with the refrigerant flow path. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerant recovery unit according to  claim 8 , further comprising a third piston having a third piston head, a third cylinder surface, a third case surface, a third piston chamber, and a third case chamber, the third case chamber being defined by a lower surface of the third piston head, a portion of the third cylinder surface disposed below the lower surface of the third piston head, and the third case surface, wherein the first case chamber, the second case chamber, and the third case chamber are fluidly isolated from one another. 
     
     
         15 . A method of compressing a refrigerant comprising the steps of:
 compressing the refrigerant with a first piston having a first piston head, a first cylinder surface, a first case surface, a first piston chamber, and a first case chamber, the first case chamber being defined by a lower surface of the first piston head, a portion of the first cylinder surface disposed below the lower surface of the first piston head, and the first case surface;   compressing the refrigerant with a second piston having a second piston head, a second cylinder surface, a second case surface, a second piston chamber, and a second case chamber, the second case chamber being defined by a lower surface of the second piston head, a portion of the second cylinder surface disposed below the lower surface of the second piston head, and the second case surface, wherein the first case chamber and the second case chamber are fluidly isolated from one another; and   reciprocating the first piston head and the second piston head up and down with a crank.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising the step of:
 rotating the crank with a motor.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising the step of:
 conveying the refrigerant through a refrigerant flow path from an inlet, through the compressor, and to an outlet.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the step of:
 conveying the refrigerant in parallel through the first piston and the second piston.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the step of:
 conveying the refrigerant in series from the first piston to the second piston.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the step of:
 condensing the refrigerant with a condenser in fluid communication with the refrigerant flow path.