Compressor

Abstract

Known compressors are equipped with gas bearings, in which the bearing nozzles are continuously supplied with a stream of gas. According to the invention, the gas bearing is a self-sufficient bearing, in which the supply pressure is independent of the delivery pressure. To achieve this, the compressor is equipped with a gas reservoir with a bearing supply pressure.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . A compressor comprising:
 a gas bearing, the gas bearing having a cylinder;   a piston movable within the cylinder, the gas bearing providing a gas interface between the piston and the cylinder to thereby assist in supporting the piston for movement within the cylinder and the gas cylinder being configured as a self-sufficient gas bearing in which the supply pressure of gas forming the gas interface is independent of the delivery pressure of the gas.   
   
   
       12 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein a gas reservoir with bearing supply pressure is provided. 
   
   
       13 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the supply of the gas bearing is taken at a lower pressure than a compression final pressure. 
   
   
       14 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the compressor includes a pressure reducer and the supply of the gas bearing is fed from a high pressure source via the pressure reducer. 
   
   
       15 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the compressor includes a compression chamber and the pressure reducer is fed from a separate tap in the compression chamber. 
   
   
       16 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the compressor includes a device for ensuring the gas bearing load bearing capacity to assist in a repetitive operation of the gas bearing. 
   
   
       17 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the compressor includes a gas reservoir and the gas reservoir is continuously under pressure. 
   
   
       18 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the compressor includes a gas reservoir and at least one channel with a valve located between the compression chamber and the gas reservoir. 
   
   
       19 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the compressor includes a gas reservoir and a channel with an anisotropic flow resistor that is located between the compression chamber and the gas reservoir.