Patent ID: 11959473
Assignee: EATON-MAX, INC.
Field: Engines, pumps, turbines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 7:
8. A method of operating a reciprocating piston air compressor having a tank for storing compressed air, a reciprocating piston pump for compressing air and delivering it to the tank, the pump having an air inlet and an inlet valve moveable between and open position and a closed position, an electric motor for driving the pump, an outlet for delivering compressed air from the tank for use external to the tank, a variable speed drive, a head unloader, a plurality of cylinder heads having channels therein, and a programmable logic controller for controlling operation of the air compressor, the method including the step of:
utilizing the programmable logic controller to control the head unloader to hold the air intake valve in the open position during startup of the electric motor;
utilizing the programmable logic controller to monitor the operating speed of the electric motor;
utilizing the programmable logic controller to cause the head unloader to close the air intake valve when the operating speed of the electric motor reaches a desired speed; and
circulating fluid through the channels.