Rack and Pinion Driven Gas Compressor

Abstract

A gas compressor is provided. The gas compressor comprises a motor, a pinion operatively coupled to the motor, a rack gear driven by the pinion, at least one inlet gas connection and at least one outlet gas connection, and a piston and piston rod reciprocal within a compressor cylinder. The piston rod is coupled to the rack gear, whereby gas entering the compressor cylinder through the at least one inlet gas connection is compressible within the cylinder by the piston and dischargeable from the cylinder through the at least one outlet gas connection. A method of compressing gas is also provided and comprises the steps of operating a motor coupled to a rack and pinion system, wherein the rack and pinion system is coupled to a piston and piston rod within a compressor cylinder.

1 . A gas compressor comprising:
 a motor;   a pinion operatively coupled to the motor;   a rack gear driven by the pinion;   at least one inlet gas connection and at least one outlet gas connection; and   a piston and piston rod reciprocal within a compressor cylinder, the piston rod being coupled to the rack gear,   whereby gas entering the compressor cylinder through the at least one inlet gas connection is compressible within the cylinder by the piston and dischargeable from the cylinder through the at least one outlet gas connection.   
     
     
         2 . The gas compressor of  claim 1  wherein the compressible gas comprises methane from at least one of a wellhead, a casing, and a production line. 
     
     
         3 . The gas compressor of  claim 2  further comprising a gas sales line. 
     
     
         4 . The gas compressor of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the at least one inlet and at least one of the at least one outlet comprise one and the same gas connection. 
     
     
         5 . The gas compressor of  claim 4  wherein the one and the same gas connection operates automatically by detecting differential pressures. 
     
     
         6 . The gas compressor of  claim 1  wherein the rack gear is linear. 
     
     
         7 . The gas compressor of  claim 1  wherein the motor is removable. 
     
     
         8 . The gas compressor of  claim 1  wherein the motor is a reversing electric motor. 
     
     
         9 . The gas compressor of  claim 1  further comprising a variable frequency drive. 
     
     
         10 . The gas compressor of  claim 9  wherein the variable frequency drive allows for an increase in speed of the compressor when pressure in the cylinder is lower than a predetermined pressure point, and a decrease in speed of the compressor when pressure in the cylinder is higher than a predetermined pressure point. 
     
     
         11 . The gas compressor of  claim 1  wherein the gas compressor is a dual action compressor. 
     
     
         12 . The gas compressor of  claim 1  further comprising pressure rated hoses for removably connecting the gas compressor to a gas source. 
     
     
         13 . The gas compressor of  claim 1  wherein the compressor is pipe-fitted in to a gas source. 
     
     
         14 . The gas compressor of  claim 1  wherein the compressor is portable to and from a gas source. 
     
     
         15 . A method of compressing gas comprising the steps of:
 operating a motor coupled to a rack and pinion system, wherein the rack and pinion system is coupled to a piston and piston rod within a compressor cylinder.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising the step of venting the compressed gas into a gas sales line. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising the step of capturing methane in the compressor cylinder from at least one of a wellhead, a casing, and a production line. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising the step of operating a variable frequency drive. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising the step of increasing the speed of the compressor when pressure in the cylinder is lower than a predetermined pressure point, and decreasing the speed of the compressor when pressure in the cylinder is higher than a predetermined pressure point.