Abstract:
A connector spool system for connecting a first component and a second component of an industrial compression system includes a connector spool having a substantially cylindrical shape. The spool includes an axial end and a flange at the axial end, the flange defining a radial surface for positioning proximate the first component. A spacer is positioned between the flange of the spool and the first component, the spacer including radial surfaces for providing uniform compressive force transmission between the spool and the first component.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
     This application is a United States national phase application of co-pending international patent application No. PCT/US2007/079349, filed Sep. 25, 2007, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/826,867, filed Sep. 25, 2006, the disclosures of which are Incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to connection members for components of a close-coupled pressurized system and, more particularly, a connector spool assembly provided with adjustment components to allow movement of the connector spool to facilitate separation and removal of system components. 
     One type of compression system is a compressor close-coupled to an electric motor driver, which provides for a compact design with significant benefits over traditional base-plate mounted compressor trains. A motor casing and a compressor casing comprise separate bodies requiring removal for service. One problem with component removal service activity is the cost and time required to disconnect process piping and instrumentation connected to each casing. Individual case removal is especially problematic for applications where the unit has compressor casings at each end of a double ended motor drive. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, the invention provides a connector spool system for connecting a first component and a second component of an industrial compression system. The spool system includes a connector spool having a substantially cylindrical shape, the spool including an axial end and a flange at the axial end, the flange defining a radial surface for positioning proximate the first component. A spacer is positioned between the flange of the spool and the first component, the spacer including radial surfaces for providing uniform compressive force transmission between the spool and the first component. 
     In another embodiment, the invention provides a connector spool system includes a connector spool having a substantially cylindrical shape, the spool including first and second axial ends and a flange at each axial end, the first flange releasably coupled to the first component and the second flange releasably coupled to the second component. The connector spool is axially movable relative to the components. The spool system also includes a spacer positioned between the first flange of the spool and the first component, the spacer including radial surfaces for providing uniform compressive force transmission between the spool and the first component. 
     Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a compression system incorporating one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the compression system shown in  FIG. 1 , with access covers removed from a connector spool between a motor casing and a compressor casing. 
         FIG. 3  is a section view of a portion of the compression system taken along line  3 - 3  shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a section view of a portion of the compression system shown in  FIG. 3  with axial spacers removed and the connector spool axially moved. 
         FIG. 5  is perspective view of a portion of the compression system showing the axial spacers removed from an operational position. 
     
    
    
     Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     For example, terms like “central”, “upper”, “lower”, “front”, “rear”, and the like are only used to simplify description of the present invention, and do not alone indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a particular orientation. The elements of the pressurized connector spool referred to in the present invention can be installed and operated in any orientation desired. In addition, terms such as “first”, “second”, and “third” are used herein for the purpose of description and are not intended to indicate or imply relative importance or significance. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an industrial compression system  10  showing various components of the system, including connection means  14 , that is connector spools, according to one embodiment of the invention. Industrial compression systems are used in industry to compress gases or fluids for industrial purposes. The system  10  might, for example, be used on an oil production platform. The industrial compression system  10  shown includes two compressors  18  close-coupled to a double-ended electric motor driver  22 . This arrangement allows for a compact design with benefits over more traditional base-plate mounted compressor trains. 
     Each compressor  18  is surrounded by a cylindrical compressor casing  26  and the motor  22  is surrounded by a cylindrical motor casing  34 . The compressor casings  26  and the motor casing  34  are separate bodies that are positioned to facilitate installation and removal of components for service. The connector spools  14  provide an assembly configuration that allows each of the compressor casings  26  and the motor casing  34  to be removed individually with minimum disturbance to other casings in a combined unit. In the illustrated embodiment, the connector spool  14  moves axially relative to the casings  26 ,  34  to facilitate separation and removal of the casing  26 ,  34 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , each compressor  18  includes a compressor inlet  38  and a compressor outlet  42 . The compressor inlet  38  takes in a fluid or a gas to be compressed and after compression, discharges it through the outlet  42 . Location and size of the inlet  38  and the outlet  42  may be widely varied as a matter of choice by the system designer. 
     In the industrial compression system  10  shown in  FIG. 1 , the motor  22  is double ended in order to drive two compressors  18 , one on each side of the motor  22 . A connector spool  14  is mounted at each end of the motor  22 . Other forms of compression systems may have a single connector spool or multiple of connector spools, depending on the number of motors, compressors and the configuration of the system. 
     An embodiment of the connector spool  14  is shown in  FIGS. 2-5 , which show the connector spool  14  coupled between the cylindrical compressor casing  26  and the cylindrical motor casing  34 . The connector spool  14  also provides a pressurized housing for a mechanical drive connection between the electric motor  22  and the compressor  18 . The connector spool  14  allows each casing  26 ,  34  to be disconnected and removed individually without disturbing the other casings in the industrial compression system  10 . The connector spool  14  includes a hollow cylindrical body  46 , or casing, which mates with cylindrical casings  26 ,  34  used for the compressor  18  and the motor  22 . 
     The connector spool  14  includes axial ends  50 A,  50 B, each having a flange  52 A,  52 B defining an aligned outer axial surface  54 . The outer axial surfaces  54 A,  54 B mate with inner axial surfaces  58 A,  58 B on the compressor and the motor casings  26 ,  34  to keep the connector spool  14 , the compressor casing  26  and the motor casing  30  aligned with respect to a rotational centerline  62  of the compression system  10 . The connector spool  14  includes access ports  66  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ) through the outer casing  46  which provide access to an interior region  70  of the connector spool  14  and are covered by an access cover  74 . 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate sectional views of the connector spool  14  along with portions of the compressor casing  26  and the motor casing  34 . In  FIG. 3 , the connector spool  14  is in an operational position, such as during operation of the industrial compression system  10 . In  FIG. 4 , the connector spool  14  is moved to a service position, such as during service of the industrial compression system  10 . At one end  50 A of the connector spool  14 , proximate to the motor casing  34 , an array of segmented spacers  78  is positioned. Each spacer  78  is a cylindrical segment with openings  82  ( FIG. 5 ), or cutouts, for accommodating connectors  86 , or bolts. In a further embodiment, radial clamping rings rather than axial connectors couple casings to the connector spool. The openings  82  are shaped to allow the spacer  78  to be removed or pulled out radially from an intentionally created structural gap  90  between the motor casing  34  and the connector spool  14  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ). 
     Removing the spacers  78  allows for axial movement of the connector spool  14  to facilitate maintenance procedures involving assembly and disassembly of components of the compression system  10 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , axial movement of the connector spool  14  disengages the connector spool  14  from the compressor casing  26 . With this movement, components of the compression system remain in place while still permitting removal of major components, such as the compressor casing  26  and/or the motor casing  34  as a single, intact unit. It should be readily apparent to those of skill in the art that in a further embodiment the spacer  78  are located at the compressor  50 B end of the connector spool  14  whereby axial movement of the spool  14  disengages the spool  14  from the motor casing  34 . Alternatively, spacers  78  may be located at both ends  50 A,  50 B of the connector spool  14 . It is also contemplated that various modifications might be made to structural configuration of the spacers  78 . 
     The spacers  78  are configured to permit tightening of connectors  86  to provide uniform compressive force transmission between the connector spool  14  and the motor casing  34 . In the illustrated embodiment, each spacer  78  includes flat axial surfaces  94  that are parallel to each other. The surfaces  94  provide uniform compressive force transmission between the connector spool  14  and the motor casing  34  when the connectors  86  are tightened during assembly. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , outer axial ends  50 A,  50 B of the connector spool  14  include radial surfaces  98 A,  98 B for substantially parallel alignment with the centerline axis  62 . The radial surfaces  98 A,  98 B in concert with mating inner radial surfaces  102 A,  102 B on the motor casing  34  and the compressor casing  26 , respectively, maintain alignment of the connector spool  14  and the casings  26 ,  34  with respect to the rotational centerline  62  of the system  10 . Sealing members  106  are positioned between the aligned radial surfaces  98 A,  98 B of the connector spool  14  and the casings  26 ,  34  to provide pressure sealing between the connector spool  14  and the casings  26 ,  34  when the system  10  is assembled. In the illustrated embodiment, the sealing members  106  are O-rings  110  positioned in grooves  114 , which are machined into the surfaces  98 A,  98 B of the connector spool  14  and receive the O-rings  110 . In a further embodiment, other sealing means may be used or the sealing members may be positioned at other locations between the connector spool  14  and the casings  26 ,  34 . 
     Connectors  86  axially couple the connector spool  14  to the compressor casing  26  through the flange  52 B. Spacers  78  are positioned between the connector spool flange  52 A and the motor casing  34 , and the connector spool  14 , the spacers  78  and the motor casing  34  are coupled together by the connectors  86 . The radial surfaces  98 A,  98 B of the connector spool  14  maintain the compressor and motor casings  26 ,  34  axially aligned and sealed with the sealing members  106 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the connector spool  14  is axially moved to the service position. In the service position, connectors  86  are removed from a coupling between the connector spool  14  and the compressor casing  26 . Further, the spacers  78  are removed from between the connector spool  14  and the motor casing  34 , which is facilitated by loosening the connectors  86  therebetween. By removing the spacers  78  and connectors  86 , the connector spool  14  is movable in the axial direction, which provides an axial gap  118  between the connector spool and the compressor casing  26 , whereby the compressor casing  26  is removable for service. 
     In order to transition the industrial compression system  10  from fully assembled for the operational mode to disassembled for the service mode, the compression system  10  is taken out of service and vented, or depressurized. Access covers  74  are removed as necessary and interconnecting parts such as shaft couplings are removed or separated. The connectors  86  at the motor casing interface are loosened and the connectors  86  at the compressor casing interface are removed. The spacers  78  are removed from between the connector spool  14  and the motor casing  34 , and at least one of the connectors  86  that couple the motor casing  34  is tightened to move the connector spool  14  axially toward the motor casing  34  to create the gap  118 . At this stage, the compressor casing  26  may be removed for service. 
     If the industrial compression system includes a double ended motor drive  22 , the process is repeated at an opposite end of the motor  22 . While the movement process occurs, the casings  26 ,  34  are maintained vertically with respect to gravity on appropriate pedestals, feet or stands that provide support and keep the components in relatively close axial alignment. It is contemplated that this invention can be employed at connections between various compression system components in addition to the connection as described between the motor casing and the connector spool. 
     It should be readily apparent to those of skill in the art that the access cover may be used with various driver and driven equipment. For example, drivers include, but are not limited to, a motor, a turbine or an internal combustion engine, and driven equipment includes, but is not limited to, a compressor, a generator, or a pump. 
     The embodiments described above and illustrated in the figures are presented by way of example only and are not intended as a limitation upon the concepts and principles of the present invention. As such, it would be appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art that various changes in the elements and their configuration and arrangement are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Since other modifications, changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a matter consistent with the scope of the invention.