Patent ID: 7758325

Claim:
A reciprocating compressor comprising: a frame including: a hollow central body defining an interior volume and including a base; first and second crosshead guides extending from opposite sides of the central body, each of the first and second crosshead guides including a first end portion coupled to the central body and a second end portion configured to be coupled to a compression cylinder; and at least one support structure extending from the second end portion of each of the first and second crosshead guides to the first end portion and the central body, wherein the at least one support structure comprises an oblique support structure formed at an angle with respect to first and second dimensions of the respective crosshead guide, the first and second dimensions perpendicular to one another within a first plane that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the respective crosshead guide, to increase stiffness of the respective crosshead guide in both the first and second dimensions, wherein the first dimension is parallel to a second plane defined by the base a crosshead disposed within each of the first and second crosshead guides a crankshaft disposed within the interior volume and coupled to each crosshead via a connecting rod, wherein the crankshaft and each crosshead are configured such that rotation of the crankshaft during operation induces linear motion of each crosshead within the respective crosshead guide wherein the first crosshead guide and its associated oblique support structure are opposed to and at least partially axially overlap the second crosshead guide and its associated oblique support structure along the hollow central body such that during operation the oblique support structures of the first and second crosshead guides reduce a coupled moment of the frame resulting from the induced linear motion of the crossheads within the respective first and second crosshead guides.