Reciprocating Compressor Frame

Abstract

A reciprocating compressor barrel frame comprising a continuous curved wall having an inner surface and an outer surface. A housing is formed by the inner surface of the curved wall. A pair cross head shoe supports extend from the outer surface of said curved wall in opposite directions perpendicular to said housing. A plurality of bearing support members are disposed within the housing and supported by the curved wall. The bearing support members are arranged so as to support a crankshaft disposed within the housing. A base flange is connected to the curved wall and is operable to attach to a structure that will support the frame.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reciprocating compressor frame for use with a crankshaft comprising:
 a frame constructed of a single piece of material, comprising:
 a barrel-shaped body formed by a continuous wall completely surrounding a portion of the crankshaft disposed in the body; and 
 a pair of cross head shoe supports integral with and extending generally perpendicular to said barrel-shaped body from said wall in opposite directions, said supports being supported only by said body. 
   
     
     
         2 . The reciprocating compressor frame of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of bearing support members disposed within said frame and supported by said wall. 
     
     
         3 . The reciprocating compressor frame of  claim 2  wherein said bearing support members are directly coupled to said wall and arranged so as to support the crankshaft disposed within said frame. 
     
     
         4 . The reciprocating compressor frame of  claim 1  wherein said frame further includes a base flange, wherein said base flange is operable to attach to a structure that will support the frame. 
     
     
         5 . The reciprocating compressor frame of  claim 1  further comprising a lubricant sump disposed within said frame. 
     
     
         6 . The reciprocating compressor frame of claim of  claim 5  wherein said lubricant sump is arranged so as to lubricate the crankshaft disposed within said frame. 
     
     
         7 . The reciprocating compressor frame of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of access openings in the wall. 
     
     
         8 . The reciprocating compressor frame of  claim 7  wherein said access openings are arranged so as to provide access to the crankshaft, connecting rods, or bearings disposed within said frame. 
     
     
         9 . The reciprocating compressor frame of  claim 7 , further comprising hinged or clamped on covers that cover said access openings. 
     
     
         10 . The reciprocating compressor frame of  claim 1  further comprising stationary cross head shoes removably connected to said cross head shoe supports. 
     
     
         11 . A reciprocating compressor comprising:
 a crankshaft;   a plurality of cross heads coupled to said crankshaft via connecting rods;   a barrel-shaped frame constructed of a single piece of material and completely surrounding a portion said crankshaft disposed in the frame with said crankshaft rotatably mounted therein, said frame comprising:
 a continuous wall comprising a plurality of access openings through the wall to provide access to said crankshaft; and 
 a plurality of cross head shoe supports extending in opposite directions from, formed integral to, and supported only by the wall of said frame, wherein each cross head is supported by at least one cross head shoe that is removably connected to one of said plurality of cross head shoe supports; 
   a plurality of pistons, wherein each piston is coupled to a cross head and disposed within a cylinder coupled to a cross head shoe support; and   a valve assembly coupled to each cylinder, wherein said valve assembly comprises an inlet valve that opens in response to decreasing air pressure within said valve assembly and an outlet valve that opens in response to increasing air pressure within said valve assembly.   
     
     
         12 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 11  further comprising:
 a plurality of bearing support members disposed within said frame and supported by said wall; and 
 a plurality of bearings disposed between said crankshaft and said plurality of bearing support members. 
 
     
     
         13 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 11  further comprising a lubricant sump disposed within said frame and arranged so as to lubricate said crankshaft. 
     
     
         14 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 11  further comprising:
 a plurality of covers operable to cover said access openings. 
 
     
     
         15 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 14  wherein said plurality of covers are hinged or clamped to said frame. 
     
     
         16 . An assembly comprising a reciprocating compressor, the reciprocating compressor comprising:
 a reciprocating compressor frame constructed of a single piece of material, comprising:
 a barrel-shaped, continuous wall; and 
 a pair of laterally extending cross head shoe supports formed integral to and extending from said wall in opposite directions, said cross head shoe supports being supported only by the wall; 
   a cross head disposed in each of the cross head shoe supports;   a reciprocating compressor piston coupled to the cross head and disposed in a reciprocating compressor cylinder assembly; and   a reciprocating compressor crankshaft assembly at least partially disposed in an interior region of the frame and coupled to the piston via a supporting rod, said wall surrounding the portion of the crankshaft assembly disposed in the frame.   
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the frame includes a plurality of apertures located between the cross head shoe supports. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising a bearing support integral with the one-piece frame and having an arcuate shape. 
     
     
         19 . A reciprocating-compressor assembly, comprising a frame constructed of a single piece of material, comprising:
 continuous arcuate wall surrounding an interior volume about the longitudinal axis of the frame; and   a pair of cross head shoe supports integral with and extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the frame in opposite directions and extending from and supported only by the arcuate wall.