Compressor device

Abstract: Compressor device, more particularly a two-stage compressor device (1), consisting of a low-pressure compressor (4), a first compartment (7) of a cooling part (6) which compartment is connected to the low-pressure compressor (4) by means of a first flexible connection (21), a high-pressure compressor (5) which is connected to the exit (11) of this first compartment (7), a second compartment (8) of the aforementioned cooling part (6) which is connected to the high-pressure compressor (5) by means of a second flexible connection (22), and a conduit (15) for the discharge of the compressed gas, which is connected to the exit of the second compartment (8), whereby the aforementioned flexible connections (21-22) are situated at opposite sides of the compression part (3) formed by the low-pressure compressor (4) and the high-pressure compressor (5), characterized in that these flexible connections (21-22) mainly extend opposite to each other.

Description: This invention relates to a compressor device for the vibration-free displacement of gasses, air or liquid from a moving to a motion-free part of a compressor device, such that no transmission of movements or vibrations to the motion-free part of this device takes place. It is known to cool gasses during their compression. The compressor devices hereto applied, thus, consist of a compression part and a cooling part. In order to avoid that the heavy vibrations which are generated in the compression part cause damages in the constructively generally very sensitive cooling part, it is known to place the compression part, with which at least the compressors and eventually their driving motors are intended, upon rubber blocks and to provide a flexible connection between the compression part and the cooling part. Then, the cooling part is mounted fixedly. In a two-stage compressor device, it is also known to direct the gas, compressed in a low-pressure stage, via a first flexible connection to a first compartment of a cooling part, to supply the gas discharged from this first compartment to a high-pressure stage, to direct the gas, compressed in the high-pressure stage, via a second flexible connection to a second compartment of the cooling part and finally to discharge the gas cooled in this second compartment for usage. With this known embodiment, use is made of two flexible connections in the form of bellows which are attached between flanges attached, on one hand, at the compression part and, on the other hand, at the cooling part, whereby these flanges are connected to each other by means of tension rods. This known embodiment shows as disadvantage that it only allows for a two-dimensional displacement from the compression part, placed upon rubber blocks, in respect to the cooling part. Furthermore, the tension rods transmit vibrations to the cooling part. The invention has as an object a compressor device of the above-described known type which does not show the aforementioned disadvantages. To this aim, the invention consists of a compressor device, for example a two-stage compressor device, which is formed at least by a low-pressure compressor, a first compartment of a cooling part which compartment is connected to the low-pressure compressor by means of a first flexible connection, a high-pressure compressor which is connected to the exit of this first compartment, a second compartment of the aforementioned cooling part which is connected to the high-pressure compressor by means of a second flexible connection, and a discharge for the consumption of the compressed gas which is connected to the exit of the second compartment, whereby the aforementioned flexible connections are situated at opposite sides of the compression part formed by the low-pressure compressor and the high-pressure compressor, with the characteristic that these flexible connections mainly extend opposite to each other. Because the flexible connections extend opposite to each other, the advantage is created that the compression part, which generally is placed upon rubber blocks or such, can perform a three-dimensional displacement in respect to the generally fixedly mounted cooling part. Hereby, it is avoided in an optimum manner that heavy vibrations, from which kind whatsoever, which are created in the compression part, damage the cooling part. In a preferred form of embodiment, the flexible connections are free from connections present around them, such as the aforementioned tension rods, as a result of which the construction renders considerably simpler and the transmission of vibrations in the connections is counteracted in an optimum manner. The two flexible connections are preferably situated precisely opposite to each other, as a result of which an opposite action can be realized in the two connections, such that a compensation of forces is obtained which enhances the stability of the whole unit. In the most optimal embodiment, the flexible connections extend precisely according to a common axis. According to the invention, it is, however, not excluded to apply flexible connections which extend somewhat under an angle in respect to each other. Indeed, it is clear that with an inclined positioning, a mutual displacement between the compression part and the cooling part still is possible according to three dimensions and that the effect, aimed at according to the invention, is still achieved, eventually in a minor extent. Preferably, the compression part is mounted in a movable manner, to which end it is placed upon rubber blocks or such, and is the cooling part fixed. According to the invention, it is, however, not excluded to support the cooling part in a movable and/or elastic manner. Furthermore, it is also not excluded that in certain embodiments the compressors are fixedly mounted on the frame of the compressor device, whereas the cooling device is mounted on this frame in a movable manner. The flexible connections may be of different nature. In consideration of the high pressures which appear with such two-stage compressor devices, use is made preferably of bellows, for example, made of metal. With the intention to better show the characteristics of the invention, a preferred form of embodiment is described in the following, as an example without any limitative character, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: figure 1 schematically shows a known compressor device; figure 2 schematically shows a compressor device according to the invention. The compressor device 1, shown schematically in figure 1, mainly consists of a frame 2, a compression part 3 with a low-pressure compressor 4 and a high-pressure compressor 5, and a cooling part 6 with a first compartment 7 and a second compartment 8. The low-pressure compressor 4 and the first compartment 7 form the so-called low-pressure stage, whereas the high-pressure compressor 5 and the second compartment 8 form the so-called high-pressure stage. Hereby, the gas to be compressed is aspired via an entrance 9 at the low-pressure compressor 4. Via a conduit 10, the compressed gas is supplied to the first compartment 7, where it is cooled. From the exit 11, the cooled gas, by means of a conduit 12, is supplied to the entrance 13 of the high-pressure compressor 5. From there, the gas compressed under high pressure is supplied via a conduit 14 to the second compartment 8, in order to be supplied subsequently via a conduit 15 to a consumer. The compression part 3, and more particularly the compressors 4 and 5, with which also the corresponding drives are intended, are fixed in a movable manner onto the frame 2 by means of rubber blocks 16. As mentioned in the introduction, it is known to provide between the low-pressure compressor 4 and the first compartment 7 of the cooling part 6, and more particularly in the conduit 10, a first flexible connection 17, and also a second flexible connection 18 between the high-pressure compressor 5 and the second compartment 8, more particularly, in the conduit 14. According to this known embodiment, to this aim use is made of connections 17-18, whereby an additional fixation has to be realized by means of tension rods 19-20, in order to prevent that the whole unit is pressed apart by the occurring gas forces. In figure 2, a compressor device 1 according to the invention is shown, whereby the parts which are corresponding to the parts of figure 1 are indicated with the same reference numerals. As shown in figure 2, according to the invention use is made of flexible connections 21 and 22 which are provided at opposite sides of the compression part 3, with the particularity that they extend with their flow directions in a direction opposite to each other, which leads to the advantages mentioned in the introduction. Preferably, these connections 21 and 22 shall be situated precisely opposite to each other, extend in horizontal direction and be situated on a common axis. Hereby, the connections 21-22 consist only of flexible elements, such as, for example, bellows, in other words, these connections 21-22 are free of other connection elements, more particularly free of rigid elements, such as the aforementioned tension rods 19-20. Analogous to figure 1, the compression part 3 is mounted in a movable manner, as it is placed upon rubber blocks 16 on the frame 2, and the cooling part 6 is mounted at this frame 2 in a fixed manner. The compressors 4 and 5, which may or may not have a common drive, are preferably connected rigidly to each other to form a single unit. The same applies to the compartments 7 and 8. It has to be noted that the flexible connections 21-22 at their extremities preferably are fitted laterally between, on one hand, rigid parts 23-24 which are part of and/or are connected to the compression part 3, and, on the other hand, rigid parts 25-26 which are part of and/or are connected to the cooling part 6 and which in fact grip around or between the rigid parts 23 and 24, such that an optimum compensation of vibration forces is performed. Due to all these characteristics, vibrations are compensated considerably better than in the known embodiment of figure 1, because a great number of vibrations compensate each other, this due to the opposite positioning of the flexible connections 21-22. The present invention is in no way limited to the form of embodiment described and represented as example, on the contrary, such compressor device can be realized in various forms and dimensions without leaving the scope of the invention. Thus, for example, can one or several pressure stages be applied, whereby each time care is taken that the connections between the compression part 3 and the cooling part 6, regardless if two or more connections are concerned, extend sidewards and are situated at opposite sides of the compression part 3.

Claims: Compressor device, more particularly a two-stage compressor device (1), consisting of a low-pressure compressor (4), a first compartment (7) of a cooling part (6) which compartment is connected to the low-pressure compressor (4) by means of a first flexible connection (21), a high-pressure compressor (5) which is connected to the exit (11) of this first compartment (7), a second compartment (8) of the aforementioned cooling part (6) which is connected to the high-pressure compressor (5) by means of a second flexible connection (22), and a conduit (15) for the discharge of the compressed gas, which is connected to the exit of the second compartment (8), whereby the aforementioned flexible connections (21-22) are situated at opposite sides of the compression part (3) formed by the low-pressure compressor (4) and the high-pressure compressor (5), characterized in that these flexible connections (21-22) mainly extend opposite to each other. Compressor device according to claim 1, characterized in that the flexible connections (21-22) are situated exactly opposite to each other. Compressor device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the flexible connections (21-22) extend in horizontal direction. Compressor device according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the flexible connections (21-22) are situated on a common axis. Compressor device according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that at the height of the flexible connections (21-22) only these connections (21-22) are present, in other words, that the connection formed thereby is free of other connecting elements. Compressor device according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the flexible connections (21-22) consist of bellows. Compressor device according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the compression part (3) is situated mobile in respect to a frame (2) and that the cooling part (6) is fixedly attached at this frame (2). Compressor device according to claim 7, characterized in that the compression part (3) is placed upon blocks (16) of an elastic material, such as rubber. Compressor device according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the flexible connections (21-22) at their extremities are fixed laterally between, on one hand, rigid parts (23-24) which are part of or are connected to the compression part (3) and, on the other hand, rigid parts (25-26) which are part of or are connected to the cooling part (6).

Inventors: VAN GRIMBERGE GUIDO RENE LOUIS, VAN GRIMBERGE, GUIDO RENE LOUISA, van Grimberge, Guido René Louisa
Applicants: ATLAS COPCO AIRPOWER NV, ATLAS COPCO AIRPOWER N.V.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: F04B41
IPC codes: F04B39, F04D29, F04B41