Patent ID: 6695591
Filing Date: 2004-02-24
Classification: F04B,F04D

Abstract:
A five-stage, high flow rate, high pressure compressor, comprising:a compressor block having a plurality of cylinders in two banks, including pistons connected with a crankshaft driven by an external power source, and valve means for controlling the flow of gas to and from the cylinders; a centrifugal blower for providing a compressed gas output as a first stage of compression; a mechanical drive connected between the crankshaft and the centrifugal blower; first means connecting the centrifugal blower output with an intake manifold for the cylinders of one bank of cylinders of the compressor block, said pistons of one said bank of cylinders operating in parallel as a second stage of compression to further compress the compressed gas output of the centrifugal blower and to direct the further compressed gas to an exhaust manifold for said one bank of cylinders; second means connecting the exhaust manifold of the first bank of cylinders with one or more of the cylinders of the second bank of cylinders, said one or more cylinders having a volume smaller than the cylinders of said first bank of cylinders, the one or more pistons of said one or more cylinders operating as a third stage of compression of said compressed gas; third means connecting the compressed gas from said one or more cylinders with a further cylinder of said second bank of cylinders, said further cylinder having a volume smaller than said one or more cylinders, said piston of said further cylinder operating as a fourth stage of compression of said gas; and fourth means connecting the compressed gas from said further cylinder of said second bank of cylinders with an output cylinder of said second bank of cylinders, said output cylinder having a smaller volume than said further cylinder, said piston of said output cylinder operating as a fifth stage of compression of the compressed gas, and a fifth means for providing a compressed gas output at high flow rates and high pressures.