Retrofit of a reciprocating compressor with a concentric valve and a valve clamp having an inlet port in a top cover of the clamp

Abstract

An assembly to retro-fit a valve head of a compressor that may include a valve head including an exhaust orifice, a concentric two-way valve carried by the valve head, and a valve clamp having an intake port in a top of the valve clamp; the valve clamp being removably coupled to the valve head. The valve clamp may include an annular first wall that defines an intake chamber in fluid connection with the intake port and an annular second wall outside the first wall. The space between the first and second walls may define an exhaust chamber in fluid connection with the exhaust orifice of the valve head. The valve clamp may also include a plunger housing to engage and displace a spring-loaded plunger. The plunger housing may be supported on the valve clamp with a plurality of support arms.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An assembly of a compressor comprising:
 a piston cylinder;   a valve head including an exhaust orifice, said valve head removably coupled to said piston cylinder;   a concentric two-way valve carried by said valve head; and   a valve clamp, said valve clamp removably coupled to said valve head, said valve clamp extending into a central hollow of said valve head, said valve clamp contacting and securing said concentric valve within said valve head;   an intake opening, wherein the opening opens into an intake port, said intake opening is positioned over said concentric valve and forms part of said intake port, said opening formed in said valve clamp.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of a compressor of  claim 1  wherein said valve clamp includes an first wall having an inner face and an outer face, said inner face of said first wall defining an intake chamber, said intake chamber is in fluid connection with said intake opening, intake port and an intake portion of said concentric valve, said intake opening formed in said valve clamp. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of a compressor of  claim 2  wherein said valve clamp includes a second wall radially outward of said first wall, said second wall having an inner face and an outer face, said inner face of said second wall and said outer face of said first wall defining an exhaust chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The method for retrofitting a reciprocating compressor of  claim 3  wherein said concentric valve having a first circular plate at a top of said concentric valve and a second circular plate at a bottom of said concentric valve. 
     
     
         5 . The method for retrofitting a reciprocating compressor of  claim 1  further comprising aligning a plurality of apertures of said top cover with a plurality of clamp apertures in said second valve head, wherein said apertures in said top cover are in tabs of said top cover and said tabs are defined by recesses between said tabs. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of a compressor of  claim 5  wherein a plurality of support arms divides said intake port into one or more intake ports, wherein said intake ports are in fluid connection with an intake chamber of said valve clamp. 
     
     
         7 . A method for retrofitting a reciprocating compressor comprising:
 selecting for removal from a piston cylinder a first valve head, said first valve head having been configured to house at least a one way intake valve assembly in an intake chamber of said head and at least a one way exhaust valve assembly in an exhaust chamber of said head, said intake and exhaust chambers sealed off from each other;   removing said first valve head from said piston cylinder;   selecting a second valve head;   removably coupling a bottom of the second valve head to said piston cylinder;   seating a concentric two way valve within said second valve head;   positioning an intake opening in a top cover of a valve clamp over said concentric valve, wherein said intake opening opens into an intake port in said valve clamp, and said intake opening forms part of said intake port;   securing said concentric valve within said second valve head with said valve clamp having said top cover; and   removably coupling said top cover to said second valve head.   
     
     
         8 . The method for retrofitting the reciprocating compressor of  claim 7  wherein the step of positioning said intake opening over said concentric valve includes arranging said intake opening over an intake portion of said concentric valve. 
     
     
         9 . The method for retrofitting the reciprocating compressor of  claim 8  further comprising:
 forming a fluid connection between the intake opening and intake portion. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method for retrofitting the reciprocating compressor of  claim 9  wherein the step of forming the fluid connection comprises forming a radial outward sealing engagement between a first wall of said valve clamp and said two way concentric valve. 
     
     
         11 . The method for retrofitting the reciprocating compressor of  claim 10  wherein the step of forming the fluid connection comprises forming with said first wall an intake chamber in fluid connection with said intake opening and said intake portion. 
     
     
         12 . The method for retrofitting the reciprocating compressor of  claim 11  wherein the step of forming the fluid connection comprises forming an exhaust chamber with said first wall, said exhaust chamber in fluid connection with an exhaust portion of said concentric valve. 
     
     
         13 . The method for retrofitting the reciprocating compressor of  claim 12  wherein the step of forming the fluid connection comprises isolating the intake chamber and intake portion from the exhaust portion and exhaust chamber to substantially prevent exhaust fluid passing out of the exhaust portion from leaking into the intake chamber and to substantially prevent fluid in the exhaust chamber from leaking into the intake chamber and being drawn into the intake portion.