Compressor and method for compressing a working medium

Abstract

The invention relates to a compressor and to a method for compressing a working medium, having: a compressor piston that compresses a working medium, a seal for sealing off the compressor piston, a magazine which contains a plurality of replacement seals, a changing device for exchanging the seal with one of the replacement seals in the magazine, wherein the central axes of the replacement seals are arranged so as to be substantially aligned along a longitudinal axis of the magazine.

1 . A compressor comprising
 a compressor piston compressing a working medium,   a seal for sealing the compressor piston,   a magazine containing a plurality of replacement seals,   a replacement device for replacing the seal with one of the replacement seals of the magazine,   wherein   centre axes of the replacement seals are arranged substantially in alignment along a longitudinal axis of the magazine.   
     
     
         2 . Compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein the replacement seals are each stacked substantially horizontally one above the other along the magazine. 
     
     
         3 . Compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein the replacement device comprises a feed drive for displacing the replacement seals in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the magazine. 
     
     
         4 . Compressor according to  claim 3 , wherein the replacement device comprises a platform for arranging the replacement seals, wherein the feed drive is arranged for displacing the platform together with the replacement seals. 
     
     
         5 . Compressor according to  claim 3 , wherein the replacement device comprises a slider for displacing the seal from an operating position aligned with the compressor piston into a change position aligned with the replacement seals and/or for displacing one of the replacement seals from an exchange position aligned with the replacement seals into the operating position aligned with the compressor piston. 
     
     
         6 . Compressor according to  claim 5 , wherein the slider comprises a mounting ring for receiving the seal and/or a replacement seal of the replacement seals. 
     
     
         7 . Compressor according to  claim 5 , comprising:
 an additional magazine for receiving a replaced seal.   
     
     
         8 . Compressor according to  claim 7 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the additional magazine is arranged substantially in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the magazine. 
     
     
         9 . Compressor according to  claim 7 , wherein the feed drive is arranged to displace the seal arranged in the change position into the additional magazine. 
     
     
         10 . Compressor according to  claim 7 , wherein a cover plate is arranged between adjacent replacement seals in the magazine. 
     
     
         11 . Compressor according to  claim 10 , wherein the magazine comprises a first positioning claw for retaining the cover plate and/or wherein the additional magazine comprises a second positioning claw for retaining an additional cover plate. 
     
     
         12 . Compressor according to  claim 1 , wherein the compressor piston is displaceable into a retracted position beyond an operational dead centre for replacing the seal with one of the replacement seals of the magazine. 
     
     
         13 . A method of compressing a working medium, comprising the steps of:
 moving a compressor piston compressing the working medium, wherein the compressor piston is sealed with a seal,   providing a magazine with a plurality of replacement seals,   replacing the seal with one of the replacement seals of the magazine,   wherein   centre axes of the replacement seals are arranged substantially in alignment along a longitudinal axis of the magazine.   
     
     
         14 . Method according to  claim 13 , wherein replacing the seal with a replacement seal of the plurality of replacement seals of the magazine comprises at least one of the following steps:
 displacing the compressor piston into a retracted position beyond an operational dead centre, and/or   displacing the seal from an operating position arranged in alignment with the compressor piston into an change position arranged in alignment with the plurality of replacement seals, and/or   displacing the seal arranged in the change position into a storage position in an additional magazine, and/or   displacing the replacement seals into an exchange position corresponding to the change position of the seal, and/or   displacing the replacement seal arranged in the exchange position into the operating position arranged in alignment with the compressor piston, and/or   pushing the compressor piston into the replacement seal arranged in the operating position.   
     
     
         15 . Compressor according to  claim 5 , wherein the slider displaces the seal in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the compressor piston. 
     
     
         16 . Compressor according to  claim 5 , wherein the slider displaces one of the replacement seals in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the magazine. 
     
     
         17 . Method according to  claim 14 , wherein displacing the seal from the operating position into the change position comprises displacing the seal in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the compressor piston. 
     
     
         18 . Method according to  claim 14 , wherein displacing the seal from the change position into the storage position comprises displacing the seal in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the magazine. 
     
     
         19 . Method according to  claim 14 , wherein displacing the replacement seal into the exchange position comprises displacing the replacement seal in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the magazine. 
     
     
         20 . Method according to  claim 14 , wherein displacing the replacement seal from the exchange position into the operating position comprises displacing the replacement seal in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the magazine.