Frame for fluid machines

Abstract

Herein described is a frame for a fluid machine of the reciprocating type. The frame bears one or more cylinders moving inside each of which, with a reciprocating movement, is a piston operated by a crankshaft. The frame is made up of one or more modules of the same size and shape, within each one of the modules being provided a single chamber adapted to accommodate the crank mechanisms of each single cylinder. Each module is further provided with a pair of opposite side walls and with one or more fixing means which allow rigid coupling to each other, adjacently arranging their respective side walls, of two or more of the identical modules for providing a frame for fluid machines provided with two or more cylinders.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reciprocating compressor, comprising:
 a frame comprising two modules of the same size and shape, each of the two modules having a pair of sidewalls and a single chamber forming a cylinder;   a piston disposed in the cylinder;   a crankshaft extending through the pair of sidewalls of the two modules; and   a fastener extending through the pair of sidewalls of the two modules to rigidly couple the two modules together to position one of the pair of sidewalls on each of two modules adjacent to one another.   
     
     
         2 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 1 , further comprising centering pins disposed in the sidewall of the two modules that are adjacent to one another. 
     
     
         3 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of sidewalls of two modules include a circular hole to receive the crankshaft. 
     
     
         4 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 3 , further comprising a support plate disposed in the circular hole of one of the pair of sidewalls of the two modules, wherein the support plate is adapted to prevent excessive flexure stress of the crankshaft during operation of said reciprocating compressor. 
     
     
         5 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 4 , further comprising a plurality of bolts that affix the support plate to the sidewall of the two modules. 
     
     
         6 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of bolts are disposed circumferentially about the circular hole. 
     
     
         7 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more support bearings disposed about the crankshaft. 
     
     
         8 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more suctioning pipes coupled with the cylinder. 
     
     
         9 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 8 , further comprising one or more discharge pipes coupled with the cylinder. 
     
     
         10 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewalls have a shaped portion that insert in a shape-coupling manner on the one of the pair of sidewalls on each of two modules adjacent to one another. 
     
     
         11 . A fluid machine for compressing fluids, said fluid machine comprising:
 a first module comprising a first sidewall and forming a first chamber with a first piston disposed therein;   a second module coupled to the first module and having the same size and shape, the second module comprising a second sidewall that is adjacent to the first sidewall, the second module forming a second chamber with a second piston disposed therein;   a crankshaft extending through the first module and the second module; and   a fastener extending through the first sidewall and the second sidewall to rigidly couple the first module to the second module.   
     
     
         12 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 11 , wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall have a circular hole to receive the crankshaft. 
     
     
         13 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 12 , further comprising a support plate disposed in the circular hole of the first sidewall and the second sidewall, wherein the support plate is adapted to prevent excessive flexure stress of the crankshaft during rotation of the crankshaft. 
     
     
         14 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of bolts that affix the support plate to the first sidewall of the two modules 
     
     
         15 . The fluid machine of  claim 11 , further comprising one or more pipes coupled with at least one of the first chamber and the second chamber. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid machine of  claim 11 , further comprising a shaped portion that insert in a shape-coupling manner on the second sidewall that is adjacent to the first sidewall. 
     
     
         17 . A compressor, comprising,
 a frame comprising a plurality of modules of the same size and shape, each of the plurality of modules having a sidewall and a chamber, wherein the plurality of modules are rigidly affixed to one another by fasteners extending through the plurality of modules;   a piston disposed in the chamber of each of the plurality of modules; and   a crankshaft extending through the plurality of modules.   
     
     
         18 . The compressor of  claim 17 , further comprising bearings disposed about the crankshaft, wherein the bearings reside in the sidewall. 
     
     
         19 . The compressor of  claim 17 , further comprising a support plate disposed in a circular hole of the sidewall, wherein the support plate is adapted to prevent excessive flexure stress of the crankshaft during rotation of the crankshaft 
     
     
         20 . The compressor of  claim 17 , wherein the sidewall a shaped portion disposed on the sidewall that insert on adjacent ones of the plurality of modules in a shape-coupling manner.