Patent EA-004947-B1 (EA)
Title: Method for raising gas pressure, membrane compressor therefor, steam's distributor and control device for steam's distributor
IPC: F04B39/10
Filed: 2003-12-25
Abstract: 1. Method for boosting pressure of gas in a membrane compressor by displacing the same with a hydraulic fluid, the said method is realized in automatic cyclic mode and comprising: defining a pneumatic zone and a hydraulic zone in the working chambers of a compressor, supplying an initial volume of gas at one pressure into said pneumatic zone from a low pressure source; directing a flow of hydraulic fluid at second pressure into said hydraulic zone by means of a flow distributor; compressing said initial volume of gas to a smaller volume and higher pressure by force exerted to it by said fluid through a membrane; diverting said compressed gas from said pneumatic zone into a receiver; switching said hydraulic fluid flows from one said chamber into another one by means of said flow distributor; determining the moment of said switching of hydraulic fluid flows from one said chamber to another one by means of a flow distribution control device switching from one stable position to another; switching of said flow distribution control device whereby to terminate supply and to discharge said hydraulic fluid from one said chamber and to direct it into another said chamber containing said initial volume of gas; filling a hydraulic system of said compressor with said hydraulic fluid at a pressure being excessive in relation to those outside of said system; hermetically sealing said system; controlling operation of said flow distributor by said control device by means of switching said device from one stable position to another under action of entered to it flows of a hydraulic fluid contained in said system; specifying said moment of switching of hydraulic fluid flows by a pressure value set in said control device; and switching of said flows of hydraulic fluid when the force of pressure of fluid flow coming to said control device becomes equal to the force determined by said set pressure value. 2. Method of claim 1, wherein upon removal of an air from said hydraulic system through a releasing valve, said excessive pressure is created by means of forced pumping of hydraulic fluid through a feeding valve into said system, whereas value of said excessive pressure of hydraulic fluid is within a range between 1.5 and 5 atmospheres. 3. A membrane compressor for implementing the method of claim 1 comprising: working chambers (1,2) with membranes dividing said chambers into pneumatic and hydraulic zones; a flow distributor (3) directing hydraulic fluid into said chambers; a flow distribution control device (4); a pump (6) supplying hydraulic fluid (27) through a feed pipeline into said flow distributor; an electric motor actuating said pump; inlet conduits with check valves supplying gas from the low pressure source to pneumatic zones of said working chambers; outlet conduits (28) with check valves supplying compressed gas to a receiver; a discharge pipeline diverting hydraulic fluid from said flow distributor; said flow distributor is connected by one conduit to one working chamber and one inlet port of said control device, whereas by another one - to another working chamber and another inlet port of said control device; wherein hydraulic system of said compressor is of closed type and comprises hydraulic zones of said working chambers, said flow distributor, said flow distribution control device, said pump and their connecting conduits; said discharge pipeline is connected to said pump; said control device and said flow distributor pipelines is equipped with gearing means (5) providing their mechanical interaction; and hydraulic fluid in said hydraulic system is at the pressure being excessive in relation to one outside of said system. 4. The membrane compressor of claim 3, wherein said pump is an oil pump of gear type. 5. The membrane compressor of claims 3 and 4, wherein said membrane is made of flexible and elastic material. 6. The membrane compressor of claim 3-5, wherein said gearing means comprise a driven element attached to said flow distributor and a driving element rigidly connected to an attachment performing essentially linear reciprocating movement to be transformed into rotational movement of said driven element. 7. A flow distributor comprising a body with connecting channels performed in it; a feed pipeline (27) connected to a pump; at least two conduits connected by said channels alternatively to said feed pipeline and to a discharge pipeline (28); first said conduit is connected to one working chamber and one inlet port of a control device, whereas second one - with another working chamber and another inlet port of a control device; wherein said body is performed in the form of a hollow cylinder with at least six openings in its wall and a cylinder spindle (31) mounted inside it in bearings (32) with possibility of rotation around longitudinal axis of said cylinder; first said opening is an inlet port connected with a feed pipeline, second said opening is an outlet port connected with discharge pipeline, whereas other said openings are located by pairs one over another in cavities (35,36) performed in longitudinal direction in said cylinder wall essentially symmetrically in relation to its longitudinal axis; said spindle comprises at least four channels; one said cavity is connected to a first conduit, while another one - to a second conduit; said spindle has at least two levels perpendicular to its axis; two channels are performed at each said level in such a way that axis of first said channel cuts axis of said spindle; channels of each level are crossing ones and essentially perpendicular to each other whereas points of intersection of axes of channels of different levels are shifted in relation to said spindle axis in different directions along axis of said first channel; first channel (43) of one said level is located with possibility of constant connection to inlet port of said cylinder, whereas first channel (45) of another said level is located with possibility of constant connection to outlet port of said cylinder; second channels (44,45) of each of said levels are located with possibility of connection to openings performed in said cavities in such a way that upon rotation of said spindle channel (31) of one said level serves as a passageway for alternative supply of hydraulic fluid into working chambers, whereas channel of another said level serves as a passageway for alternative discharge of hydraulic fluid from working chambers; wherein supply and discharge of hydraulic fluid to and from different working chamber occurs simultaneously; and a gearing element is rigidly attached to one face end of said cylindrical spindle. 8. The flow distributor of claim 7, wherein said gearing element is performed in the form of a lever (33), with a comb at its end (34); and said comb contains at least two teeth. 9. The flow distributor of claims 7 and 8, wherein said first and second conduits are connected hermetically to correspondent cavities in the wall of said cylinder. 10. A flow distribution control device switched from one stable position to another comprising two cylinders with bars installed inside them with a possibility of reciprocating movement; each of said bars consists of two parts divided by an annular groove; one end face of said bars is directed toward a hydraulic cavity connected to a conduit passing from flow distributor to the correspondent working chamber, wherein said control device is equipped with a pressure regulator (47), having a rod with dome-like end face (54); said regulator is rigidly attached to one side of a support plate with central through hole for passing of said rod (50); cylinders rigidly attached to other side of said support plate symmetrically with regard to axis of said through hole; a control slider in the form of rectangular parallelepiped located (56,57) between said cylinders with possibility of essentially linear reciprocating movement along the surface of said plate from one stable position to another one (74); sides of said parallelepiped faced toward said cylinders have protruding bars of equal length (75,76) passing inside said cylinders through openings in their nearest end faces; at least one rib is attached to at least one of two other sides of said parallelepiped being perpendicular to the surface of said plate (79); said cylinders contain bars inside them; said bars act as a pistons (58,66) and at their end faces directed toward said control slider (62,70) are provided with a guiding bar of smaller diameter, whereas at their end faces directed toward a hydraulic cavity - with sealing means; a spiral spring (63,72) is set on said guiding bar and performs essentially function of an accumulator of energy used to move said slider; said spiral springs rest against locking plates attached to end faces of protruding bars (64,72) of said slider located inside said cylinders; two tie-rods (80,81) by one their ends are secured with possibility of rotation to said cylinders at far end faces thereof symmetrically with regard to axis of through hole in said support plate, whereas by other their ends are connected with each other by means of a slotted joint coupling (88) ensuring mutual shifting of said tie-rods; each said tie-rod is provided at its secured end with a return spring (82,83) resting against body of said cylinder and with a protrusion (84,86) engaging with an annular groove (59,67) of said piston through an opening in the wall of said cylinder with possibility of moving inside it under action of said piston; and said control slider in each stable position rests against end face of rod of said pressure regulator protruding over surface of said support plate. 11. The flow distribution control device of claim 10, wherein said pressure regulator is made in the form of a leverage containing a cylindrical bar (48) with a through hole (49) along its longitudinal axis; a rod (50) having dome-like end face is installed inside said cylindrical bar with possibilit