Air Compressor Pre-Lubrication System

Abstract

The air compressor pre-lubrication system includes an oil pump, a priming tank, and a control valve. The oil pump is connected to an oil sump and includes a discharge line connected to an air compressor. The priming tank is connected to the oil pump to receive pressurized oil. The control valve is provided in an outline line connected to the priming tank and is further connected to the oil pump discharge line. The priming tank is configured to maintain a charge of oil from the oil pump and selectively release the charge of oil through actuation of the control valve. An auxiliary pre-lubrication oil pump may replace the priming tank. The pre-lubrication oil pump is connected to the oil sump and is fluidly coupled to the discharge line leading to the air compressor.

1 . An air compressor pre-lubrication system, comprising:
 an oil pump connected to an oil sump and comprising a discharge line connected to an air compressor;   a priming tank connected to the oil pump to receive pressurized oil;   a control valve provided in an outline line connected to the priming tank and further connected to the oil pump discharge line; and   wherein the priming tank is configured to maintain a charge of oil from the oil pump and selectively release the charge of oil through actuation of the control valve.   
     
     
         2 . An air compressor pre-lubrication system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control valve comprises a solenoid valve. 
     
     
         3 . An air compressor pre-lubrication system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the priming tank comprises a volume at least equal to the volumetric sum of lubrication passageways in the air compressor. 
     
     
         4 . An air compressor pre-lubrication system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the priming tank comprises a diaphragm adapted to force oil into the discharge line upon actuation of the control valve. 
     
     
         5 . An air compressor pre-lubrication system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an inlet check valve upstream of the of the priming tank. 
     
     
         6 . An air compressor pre-lubrication system as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising an outlet check valve upstream of the control valve. 
     
     
         7 . An air compressor pre-lubrication system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the priming tank is fluidly connected to the oil sump via sump return line and an oil pump relief valve. 
     
     
         8 . An air compressor pre-lubrication system, comprising:
 an oil pump connected to an oil sump and comprising a discharge line connected to an air compressor;   a pre-lubrication oil pump connected to the oil sump and fluidly coupled to the discharge line leading to the air compressor; and   wherein the pre-lubrication pump is adapted to provide pressurized oil to the discharge line prior to operation of the air compressor.   
     
     
         9 . An air compressor pre-lubrication system as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the pre-lubrication pump comprises an electric pump. 
     
     
         10 . A method of pre-lubricating an air compressor comprising the steps of:
 storing a charge of oil in a priming tank during normal operation of the air compressor;   maintaining the charge of oil in the priming tank during stoppage of the air compressor; and   selectively releasing the charge of oil before air compressor start-up to provide pressurized lubrication to the air compressor.   
     
     
         11 . A method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the step of releasing the charge of oil comprises actuation of a control valve. 
     
     
         12 . A method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the control valve comprises a solenoid valve. 
     
     
         13 . A method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the priming tank comprises a volume at least equal to the volumetric sum of lubrication passageways in the air compressor. 
     
     
         14 . A method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the priming tank comprises a diaphragm and the method comprises the diaphragm forcing oil into the discharge line upon actuation of a control valve. 
     
     
         15 . A method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the step storing a charge of oil in the priming tank is accomplished by an oil pump fluidly coupled to the priming tank. 
     
     
         16 . A method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising preventing return flow to the oil pump with an inlet check valve provided upstream of the of the priming tank. 
     
     
         17 . A method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the step of releasing the charge of oil comprises actuation of a control valve and an outlet check valve is provided upstream of the control valve.