Reciprocating piston gas compressor
United States Patent 1 Gannaway l l RECIPROCATING PISTON GAS COMPRESSOR [75] Inventor: Edwin L. Gannaway, Adrian, Mich.  
 [73] Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation. Rockford,  
 Ill.  
 (22] Filed: Aug. 6, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 385,882  
 {52] US. Cl 4l7/3l2; 4l7/902 [5|] Int. Cl .i F04!) 21/00 [58] Field of Search 417/312, 902  
 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3.288.357 ll/l966 Comstock et al. 4l7/902 X 3.387.774 6/l968 Gunnaway et all 4l7/3l2 3.509907 5/]970 Gannaway H 417/902 X Primary Examiner-William L. Freeh Assirrunt ExamincrGregory Paul LaPointe Attorney, Agent, or FirmWegner, Stellman. McCord, Wiles &amp; Wood Apr.8, 1975 V [57] ABSTRACT A refrigeration gas compressor including an upright hermetically sealed housing having a generally elliptical transverse cross section, a cylinder block mounted in a lower portion of the housing, an electric motor mounted in an upper portion of the housing. a centrally disposed drive shaft rotatable by the motor and including eccentric portions for reciprocating pistons in the cylinder block along the major axis of the elliptical cross section of the housing, a manifold block mounted on the cylinder block adjacent the outer end of the cylinders therein, an inlet chamber in the manifold block communicating with the cylinders through intake valving, an outlet chamber in the manifold block communicating with the cylinders through outlet valving, an outlet muffler chamber in the manifold block having restricted communication with the outlet chamber, an intake muffler adjacent the top of the motor and inlet tubing extending along the opposite side of the motor from the manifold block and c0mmunicating with the intake chamber.  
 8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures RECIPROCATING PISTON GAS COMPRESSOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION It is a general object of the present invention to provide a new and improved refrigeration gas compressor utilizing a compact construction including a sealed housing with a generally elliptical cross-sectional configuration in which a drive motor and cylinder block are centrally located. together with intake tubing extending along one side of the motor, and a manifold block including a discharge chamber disposed at the opposite side of the motor.  
  In the preferred construction illustrated herein, the cylinder block includes a plurality of cylinders disposed at one side of the longitudinal axis of the drive motor, in vertically spaced radially aligned relationship so that the discharge from both of the cylinders is collected in a single discharge chamber at one side of the motor and cylinder block along the major axis of the elliptical cross section of the housing.  
  As illustrated herein. an intake muffler is located at the top of the motor remote from the cylinder block, and a plurality of intake tubes extend from the intake muffler to the cylinder where a transverse passage communicates the tubes with the intake chamber in the manifold block. The manifold block extends upwardly alongside the motor at the opposite side from the intake tubes and includes a plurality of discharge muffler chambers communicating with each other through restricted passages.  
  The novel arrangement provides a compact construction in which the elliptical cross sectional configuration of the housing closely surrounds the cylinder block, the manifold block and the intake tubing. while the intake tubing is separated from the discharge path, and muffling is associated with both the intake and the discharge valving.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through the major axis of the generally elliptical housing;  
  FIG. 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken at about the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;  
  FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken at about the line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and  
  FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view through the manifold block at about the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;  
 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in more detail, in a preferred construction, a compressor embodying the principles of the present invention includes a closed housing ll) comprising an upper portion II and a lower portion 12 which are hermetically sealed to provide a gas-tight interior to which intake gas is supplied by an inlet fitting 14 in the lower housing portion 12. The housing 10 is elongated in a vertical direction. as illus&#39; trated in FIGS. 1 and 3. As best seen in FIG. 2, the housing has a generally elliptical cross-sectional configuration which provides adequate interior space while occupying minimum volume in a refrigeration or air conditioning package. At the lower end, the housing It] includes mounting brackets as at l5 adapted for use in suitably supporting the compressor.  
  A cylinder block 17 is disposed in the lower portion of the housing I0. The cylinder block is somewhat skeletal. with a hollow central portion. and is formed at one side with a pair of cylinders 18 which are vertically spaced and radially aligned relative to each other. The cylinders l8 are generally in line with the major axis of the elliptical cross-sectional configuration of the housing 10, and each of the cylinders includes a reciprocal piston 19. As best seen in FIG. 3, the cylinder block 17 is supported bu springs as at 20, at opposite sides of the block, in turn supported on brackets 21 secured to the lower portion 12 of the housing 10.  
  An electric motor is mounted on the cylinder block 17 in the upper portion of the housing 10. The motor includes a rotor 22 which is centrally disposed in the housing portion 1] and a surrounding stator 24. A drive shaft 26 is secured to the rotor for rotation therewith. The shaft 26 is supported in an upper bearing 27 in the cylinder block I7 and a lower bearing 28 in a bearing plate secured to the cylinder block as at 29. The shaft 26 includes eccentric portions 30 and 31 connected by rods 32 for reciprocating the pistons 19.  
  In order to provide for appropriate lubrication of shaft portion 34 mounted in bearing 27, shaft portion 35 mounted in bearing 28, and eccentric shaft portions 30 and 31, the bottom of the lower housing portion 12 is formed with an oil sump 37 for holding lubricating fluid. The lower portion ofthe shaft 35 extends into the lubricating fluid and a cover plate 38 includes an inlet 39 for admitting fluid to the lower end of the shaft which functions as a centrifugal pump. The lubricating fluid is supplied by such pump to V-shaped lubricating grooves 40 in the shaft portion 35. The specific construction of the lubricating system for the shaft 26, and venting for the lubrication system, is the subject of my co-pending applications Ser. No. 340,522, filed Mar. 12, I973 and assigned to the assignee of this application. As described in the copending application, the shaft 26 is constructed with interior passages which supply lubricating fluid to an aperture 42 in eccentric 30, an aperture 43 in accentric 31. and an aperture 44 in shaft portion 34. The details of the lubricating system form no part of the present invention and need not be described further.  
  The outer ends of the cylinders 18 are closed by a valve plate 50 secured to the cylinder block. The valve plate 50 is provided with a pair of inlet ports 51 (FIG. 4) which communicate with the upper cylinder 18 and a pair of inlet ports 52 which communicate with the lower cylinder 18. The value plate also includes a pair of outlet ports 53 which communicate with the upper cylinder 18 and a pair of outlet ports 54 which communicate with the lower cylinder 18. Associated with the inlet ports 51 and 52 is inlet valving in the form of leaf members as at 56 adapted to admit gas to the cylinders on suction strokes of the piston. Associated with the outlet ports 53 and 54 is outlet valving in the form of leaf members as shown at 57 for discharging gas under pressure during the compression strokes of the pistons 19.  
  A manifold block 60 is positioned on the valve plate 50 and includes an inlet chamber 62 communicating with the inlet ports 51 and 52 (FIG. 4). The block 60 also includes an outlet chamber 63 communicating with the outlet ports 53 and 54.  
  As previousiy noted, intake gas is provided to the interior of the housing through an inlet fitting 14. At the upper end of the motor stator 24, there is an annular intake muffler 65 which communicates through ports as at 66 with the interior of the housing 10. The intake muffler 65 is supported on the stator 24 and urged thereagainst resiliently by a coiled compression spring 67. Leading from the annular intake muffler 65, a pair of intake tubes 68 extend alongside the motor at the opposite side from the manifold block 60 and each communicates with transversely extending passage 69 in the cylinder block leading to the inlet chamber 62. The specific construction of each intake tube 68 is the subject of my co pending application Ser. No. 340,533, filed Mar. l2, l973, and assigned to the assignee of this application. The intake muffler 6S and the intake tubes 68 provide for muffling of the sound associated with the intake valving 56.  
  In order to control the noise associated with the discharge valving 57, the manifold block 60 is formed with a second outlet chamber 70 which communicates with the outlet chamber 63 through a restricted passage 71. An additional outlet chamber 72 communicates with the chamber 70 through a restricted passage 73. The outlet chamber 72 communicates at 75 with an outlet tube 76 which extends downwardly alongside the manifold block 60, as shown in FIG, 2. then around to the lower end of the cylinder block, and ultimately to an end portion 78 outside the housing 10.  
  In operation, when the electric motor is energized, the drive shaft 26 is rotated to reciprocate the pistons 18. On the suction strokes. the pistons draw gas into the cylinders through the intake muffling system. Intake gas supplied through the inlet fitting l4 circulates through the interior of the housing 11 for cooling the electric motor. On the compression strokes of the pistons, pressurized gas is delivered through the discharge muffling system including the chamber 63, restricted passage 71, the chamber 70, restricted passage 73, and the outlet chamber 72. The location of the manifold block 60 at one side of the motor and cylinder block, with the intake tubing on the opposite side,allows construction of the outlet muffler chambers of relatively large proportions to improve the muffling of the discharge valving. At the same time, the relatively hotter discharge system is separated from the relatively cooler intake tubing 68 so as to transfer as little heat as possible thereto. The entire assembly is compactly arranged in the elliptical housing so that the housing closely surrounds the cylinder block, the manifold block 60, and the intake tubing 68, with the manifold block and the tubing 68 generally aligned with the major axis of the elliptical cross section of the housing. The discharge valving for both cylinders is compactly arranged at one side of the cylinder block, with the cylinder vertically spaced and radially aligned, so that both cylinders discharge directly into the outlet chamber 63, which facil itates location of the relatively large discharge muffler at one side of the housing, isolated from the intake tubing.  
 1 claim:  
 1. A gas compressor, comprising,  
 a. an elongate sealed housing having a generally elliptical transverse cross section,  
 b. an electric motor mounted in one end portion of the housing including a rotor and a surrounding stator centrally disposed with respect to the elliptical housing cross section,  
 c. a cylinder block mounted in the other end portion of the housing including at least one radial cylinder disposed generally along the major axis of the elliptical cross section of the housing and having a reciprocal piston,  
 dv drive shaft rotatable with the rotor and including and eccentric portion for reciprocating said piston,  
 e. intake and discharge valving adjacent the outer end of said cylinder,  
 f. a manifold block mounted on the cylinder block at one end of the major axis of the elliptical housing, adjacent the valving, and including an inlet chamber communicating with the intake valving and an outlet chamber communicating with the discharge valving,  
 g. an intake muffler adjacent the end of the motor remote from the cylinder block,  
 h. an inlet in the housing for supplying gas to the inlet muffler,  
 i. intake tubing extending along the side of the motor opposite from the manifold block, at the other end of the major axis of the elliptical housing and leading from the inlet muffler to the cylinder block,  
 j. inlet passage extending transversely in the cylinder block from the intake tubing to the inlet chamber, and  
 k. a discharge conduit communicating the outlet chamber with the exterior of the housing.  
 2. A gas compressor as defined in claim 1, wherein the manifold block extends axially of the housing alongside the motor and includes at least one outlet muffler chamber having restricted communication with said outlet chamber and communicating with said discharge conduit.  
 3. A gas compressor as defined in claim 1, wherein said intake tubing comprises a plurality of separate intake tubes disposed in generally parallel spaced relationship to each other.  
 4. A gas compressor as defined in claim 1, wherein the housing closely surrounds the cylinder block,  
 manifold block and intake tubing.  
 5. A gas compressor as defined in claim 1, wherein the cylinder block has a plurality of radially aligned cylinders each having a reciprocal piston and intake and discharge valving adjacent the outer end thereof communicating with the inlet and outlet chambers in the manifold block.  
 6. A gas compressor, comprising,  
 a. an upright hermetically sealed housing having a generally elliptical transverse cross section,  
 b. a cylinder block mounted in a lower portion of the housing including vertically spaced transversely extending cylinders disposed along the major axis of the elliptical cross section of the housing and having reciprocal pistons,  
 c. an electric motor mounted on the cylinder block in the upper portion of the housing including a cen&#39; trally disposed rotor and a surrounding stator.  
 d. a drive shaft rotatable with the rotor and including eccentric portions for reciprocating said pistons,  
 e. bearing means on the cylinder block suporting the drive shaft.  
 f. a valve plate on the cylinder block at the outer end of cylinders. cylinder.  
 g. intake valving on the valve plate for admitting gas to the cylinders during the suction strokes of the pistons.  
 h. discharge valving on the valve plate for discharging gas on the compression strokes of the pistons.  
 . a manifold block mounted on the valve plate at one end of the major axis of the elliptical housing and extending upwardly alongside the motor,  
 . an inlet chamber in the manifold block adjacent the cylinder block communicating with the intake valving.  
 k. an outlet chamber in the manifold block adjacent the cylinder block communicating with the discharge valving.  
 . an outlet muffler chamber in the upper portion of the manifold block having restricted communication with the outlet chamber,  
 m. a discharge conduit leading from the outlet muffler chamber to the exterior of the housing.  
 n. an inlet opening in the housing for admitting gas to the housing.  
 0. an annular intake muffler in the upper end of the housing communicating with the interior of the housing,  
 p. a plurality of intake tubes extending downwardly along the side of the motor at the end of the major axis ofthe elliptical housing opposite said manifold block. the intake tubes leading from the inlet muffler to the cylinder block. and  
 g. an inlet passage extending transversely through the cylinder block from the intake tubes to the inlet chamber.  
 7. A gas compressor, comprising, a. an elongate sealed housing having a generally elliptical transverse cross section.  
 bv an electric motor mounted in one end portion of the housing including a rotor and a stator.  
 c. a cylinder block aligned with the motor in the other end portion of the housing including at least one cylinder disposed generally along the major axis of the elliptical cross section of the housing and having a reciprocal piston.  
 . an inlet in the housing for supplying gas to the housing. means, including intake tubing extending along the side of the motor at the other end of the major axis of the elliptical housing and opposite from the manifold block, leading to the cylinder block and a passage through the block. communicating between the housing and the inlet chamber. and  
 . a discharge conduit communicating the outlet chamber of the manifold block with the exterior of the housing.  
 8. A gas compressor. comprising.  
 an elongate sealed housing.  
 b. an electric motor mounted in one end portion of the housing including a centrally disposed rotor and a surrounding stator,  
 . a cylinder block mounted in the other end portion of the housing including at least one radial cylinder having a reciprocal piston.  
 . a drive shaft rotatable with the rotor and including an eccentric portion for reciprocating said piston.  
 . intake and discharge valving adjacent the outer end of said cylinder.  
  a manifold block mounted on the cylinder block adjacent the valving including an intake chamber communicating with the intake valving and an out let chamber communicating with the discharge valving.  
 . an intake muffler adjacent the end of the motor remote from the cylinder block.  
 . an inlet in the housing for supplying gas to the inlet intake tubing extending along the side of the motor opposite from the manifold block. leading from the inlet muffler to the cylinder block.  
 . an inlet passage extending transversely in the cylinder block and from the inlet tubing to the inlet chamber, and  
 . a discharge conduit communicating the outlet chamber with the exterior of the housing.