Patent ID: 8167588

Claim:
A reciprocating compressor frame comprising: a hollow central body defining an interior volume; and first and second crosshead guides configured to receive first and second crossheads respectively and to enable reciprocal movement of the respective first or second crosshead along an axis of the respective first or second crosshead guide, the first and second crosshead guides extending from opposite sides of the hollow central body and axially offset from one another along the hollow central body; and a first crosshead guide support structure extending outwardly from the hollow central body, along the first crosshead guide, and toward a distal end of the first crosshead guide; a second crosshead guide support structure extending outwardly from the hollow central body, along the second crosshead guide, and toward a distal end of the second crosshead guide; wherein the first crosshead guide support structure is opposed to and at least partially axially overlaps the second crosshead guide along the hollow central body such that the first crosshead guide support structure is provided opposite the axis of the second crosshead guide about the hollow central body, and the second crosshead guide support structure is opposed to and at least partially axially overlaps the first crosshead guide along the hollow central body such that the second crosshead guide support structure is provided opposite the axis of the first crosshead guide about the hollow central body, wherein each of the first and second crosshead guide support structures comprise 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 the 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 a base of the reciprocating compressor frame, and wherein the oblique support structure is formed at an angle equal to approximately forty-five degrees with respect to both the first and second dimensions of the respective crosshead guide to increase stiffness of the respective crosshead guide in substantially equal amounts in both the first and second dimensions.