Cylindrical compressor with standardized shell and core

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods of manufacture are provided for a cylindrical compressor with a standardized shell and core. The compressor including a cylindrical cast metal shell having a shell bore extending longitudinally therethrough and configured to receive a cylindrical cast metal core. The core having a core bore extending longitudinally therethrough defining a core bore diameter within a predefined range of diameters and corresponding to a shell bore diameter. The core having an outer diameter configured to provide an interference fit between the core and the shell when the core is disposed within the shell. The compressor including a plurality of valve assemblies extending through the shell and the core so as to interface a valve of the valve assembly with the core bore and further including cylinder head coupled to the shell, a piston rod assembly configured within the core bore, and a packing case coupled to the core.

1 . A kit of parts for assembling a compressor for compressing and distributing natural gas, the kit of parts comprising:
 first and second cylindrical shells, the first cylindrical shell having a shell bore extending longitudinally therethrough and defining a first shell bore diameter that is configured to receive a cylindrical core having a core bore diameter within a first predefined range of diameters, and the second cylindrical shell having a shell bore extending longitudinally therethrough and defining a second shell bore diameter that differs from the first shell bore diameter and that is configured to receive a cylindrical core having a core bore diameter within a second predefined range of diameters, the first predefined range of diameters differing from the second predefined range of diameters;   a cylindrical core have an outer diameter that provides an interference fit between the cylindrical core and one of the first and second cylindrical shells when the cylindrical core is disposed within the shell bore of the one of the first and second cylindrical shells, and the cylindrical core having a core bore extending longitudinally therethrough that defines a core bore diameter within one of the first and second predefined range of diameters;   a cylinder head configured to removably couple to a first end of the cylindrical shell;   a piston assembly configured to be positioned within the core bore and including a piston coupled to a piston rod; and   a packing case configured to couple to the cylindrical core at a second end of the cylindrical shell, the packing case being configured to allow a piston rod to travel longitudinally through the core bore.   
     
     
         2 . The kit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third cylindrical shell having a shell bore extending longitudinally therethrough and defining a third shell bore diameter that differs from the second shell bore diameter, the third shell bore diameter being configured to receive a cylindrical core having a core bore diameter within a third predefined range of diameters that differs from the second predefined range of diameter; and   a fourth cylindrical shell having a shell bore extending longitudinally therethrough and defining a fourth shell bore diameter that differs from the third shell bore diameter, the fourth shell bore diameter being configured to receive a cylindrical core having a core bore diameter within a fourth predefined range of diameters that differs from the third predefined range of diameter.   
     
     
         3 . The kit of  claim 2 , wherein the first predefined range of diameters comprises 4.5 inches to 9.0 inches, the second predefined range of diameters comprises 9.25 inches to 14.0 inches, the third predefined range of diameters comprises 14.25 inches to 20.0 inches, and the fourth predefined range of diameters comprises 20.0 inches to 26.5 inches. 
     
     
         4 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein the piston assembly comprises a plurality of piston assemblies, each piston assembly having a piston diameter and a piston rod size that differs from one another. 
     
     
         5 . The kit of  claim 2 , wherein the piston assembly comprises a plurality of piston assemblies, each piston assembly having a piston diameter and a piston rod size, and wherein the plurality of piston assemblies comprises a first piston having a piston diameter in a range of 4.5 inches to 6.5 inches, a second piston having a piston diameter in a range of 6.75 inches to 14.0 inches, and a third piston having a piston diameter in a range of 14.25 inches to 26.5 inches. 
     
     
         6 . The kit of  claim 5 , wherein the first piston rod has a piston rod size of 2.0 inches, the second piston rod has a piston rod size of 2.25 inches, the third piston rod has a piston rod size of 2.5 inches, and a fourth piston rod has a piston rod size of 2.75 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of a sidewall of the first and second cylindrical shells is less than a thickness of a sidewall of the cylindrical core. 
     
     
         8 . The kit of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one O-ring configured to be positioned in one or more grooves formed along a circumference of a flange of the packing case, each of the at least one O-rings being configured to seal the packing case to a lip of one of the first and second cylindrical shells. 
     
     
         9 . The kit of  claim 1 , further comprising a gasket configured to be seated within a recession of the cylinder head such that the gasket overlaps portions of the cylindrical core and the cylindrical shells when the cylindrical core is disposed within the shell bore of the one of the first and second cylindrical shells. 
     
     
         10 . The kit of  claim 1 , further comprising a set screw configured maintain a position of the cylindrical core relative to one of the first and second cylindrical shells when the cylindrical core is disposed within the shell bore thereof. 
     
     
         11 .- 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus comprising:
 a cylindrical shell having a shell bore extending longitudinally therethrough and defining a shell bore diameter that is configured to receive a cylindrical core; and   a plurality of cylindrical cores, each of which has an outer diameter sized for installation within the shell bore, and each of which further has a core bore extending longitudinally therethrough with a core bore diameter that differs from each other core bore diameter in the plurality of cylindrical cores.   
     
     
         20 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 19 , further comprising a plurality of valve assemblies having sizes that differ from each other, wherein each size of a valve assembly in the plurality of valve assemblies is predetermined to correspond to a core bore diameter in the plurality of cylindrical cores. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , further comprising a plurality of piston assemblies having sizes that differ from each other, wherein each size of a piston assembly in the plurality of piston assemblies is predetermined to correspond to a core bore diameter in the plurality of cylindrical cores. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising a plurality of a packing cases having sizes that differ from each other, wherein each size of a packing case in the plurality of packing cases heads is predetermined to correspond to a core bore diameter in the plurality of cylindrical cores. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising a plurality of a cylinder heads having sizes that differ from each other, wherein each size of a cylinder head in the plurality of cylinder heads is predetermined to correspond to a core bore diameter in the plurality of cylindrical cores. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the shell bore diameter is a first shell bore diameter and the cylindrical cores are first cylindrical cores, and further comprising:
 a second cylindrical shell having a shell bore extending longitudinally therethrough and defining a second shell bore diameter that is configured to receive a cylindrical core, wherein the second shell bore diameter differs from the first shell bore diameter; and   a plurality of second cylindrical cores, each of which has an outer diameter sized for installation within the shell bore in the second cylindrical shell, and each of which further has a core bore extending longitudinally therethrough with a core bore diameter that differs from each core bore diameter in first cylindrical cores.   
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein each core bore diameter in the first cylindrical cores is within a range of first diameters, each core bore diameter in the second cylindrical cores is within a range of second diameters, and each second diameter is larger than each first diameter.