Oil-free compressor crankcase cooling arrangement

Abstract

An oil-free compressor crankcase cooling arrangement includes a compressor crankcase, at least one piston cylinder supported in the compressor crankcase, a crankshaft assembly supported by the compressor crankcase and linked to a piston of the at least one piston cylinder by a connecting rod, at least one inlet valve supported on and in fluid communication with the compressor crankcase, and at least one outlet valve supported on and in fluid communication with the compressor crankcase. A cooling cross-flow of air is established between the at least one inlet valve and the at least one outlet valve to cool the compressor crankcase. The at least one inlet valve and the at least one outlet valve include check valves. A first nozzle is positioned on the at least one inlet valve, and a second nozzle is positioned on the at least one outlet valve.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . An oil-free compressor crankcase cooling arrangement for a rail vehicle, comprising:
 a compressor crankcase;   at least one piston cylinder supported in the compressor crankcase;   a crankshaft assembly supported by the compressor crankcase and linked to a piston of the at least one piston cylinder by a connecting rod;   at least one inlet valve supported on and in fluid communication with the compressor crankcase; and   at least one outlet valve supported on and in fluid communication with the compressor crankcase,   wherein a cooling cross-flow of air is established between the at least one inlet valve and the at least one outlet valve to cool the compressor crankcase.   
     
     
         2 . The crankcase cooling arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one inlet valve and the at least one outlet valve comprise check valves. 
     
     
         3 . The crankcase cooling arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a first nozzle positioned on the at least one inlet valve, and a second nozzle positioned on the at least one outlet valve. 
     
     
         4 . The crankcase cooling arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an inlet air filter operatively connected to the at least one inlet valve,
 wherein the inlet air filter protects the compressor crankcase from contamination and debris.   
     
     
         5 . The crankcase cooling arrangement as claimed in  claim 3 , further comprising an inlet air filter positioned on the first nozzle of the at least one inlet valve,
 wherein the inlet air filter protects the compressor crankcase from contamination and debris.   
     
     
         6 . The crankcase cooling arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the compressor crankcase defines a cavity for housing the crankshaft assembly, and
 wherein the cooling cross-flow of air is directed through the cavity of the compressor crankcase from a first side of the compressor crankcase to an opposing, second side of the compressor crankcase.   
     
     
         7 . The crankcase cooling arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one inlet valve is supported on a first side of the compressor crankcase and the at least one outlet valve is supported on an opposing, second side of the compressor crankcase. 
     
     
         8 . The crankcase cooling arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one inlet valve is opened as air is pulled into the compressor crankcase during an upstroke of the at least one piston cylinder. 
     
     
         9 . The crankcase cooling arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one outlet valve is opened as air is pushed out of the compressor crankcase during a downstroke of the at least one piston cylinder. 
     
     
         10 . The crankcase cooling arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 ,
 further comprising an unloader valve assembly positioned on the at least one piston cylinder configured to exhaust pressurized fluid from the at least one piston cylinder.   
     
     
         11 . A method of cooling an oil-free compressor crankcase of a rail vehicle, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing an oil-free compressor, comprising:   a compressor crankcase;   at least one piston cylinder supported in the compressor crankcase;   a crankshaft assembly supported by the compressor crankcase and linked to a piston of the at least one piston cylinder by a connecting rod;   at least one inlet valve supported on and in fluid communication with the compressor crankcase; and   at least one outlet valve supported on and in fluid communication with the compressor crankcase;   b) pulling air into the compressor crankcase via the at least one inlet valve;   c) directing the air through the compressor crankcase; and   d) pushing the air out of the compressor crankcase via the at least one outlet valve.   
     
     
         12 . The method of cooling a compressor crankcase as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising the step of opening the at least one inlet valve during an upstroke of the at least one piston cylinder,
 wherein air is pulled into the compressor crankcase through the open inlet valve.   
     
     
         13 . The method of cooling a compressor crankcase as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising the step of opening the at least one outlet valve during a downstroke of the at least one piston cylinder,
 wherein air is pushed out of the compressor crankcase through the open outlet valve.   
     
     
         14 . The method of cooling a compressor crankcase as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising the step of establishing a cooling cross-flow of air that is directed from a first side of the compressor crankcase, over the crankshaft assembly, and out of an opposing second side of the compressor crankcase,
 wherein the at least one inlet valve is supported on the first side of the compressor crankcase, and   wherein the at least one outlet valve is supported on the opposing, second side of the compressor crankcase.   
     
     
         15 . The method of cooling a compressor crankcase as claimed in  claim 11 , the oil-free compressor further comprising a first nozzle positioned on the at least one inlet valve and a second nozzle positioned on the at least one outlet valve. 
     
     
         16 . The method of cooling a compressor crankcase as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing an inlet air filter operatively connected to the at least one inlet valve; and   filtering the air that is pulled into the compressor crankcase via the at least one inlet valve using the inlet air filter.   
     
     
         17 . The method of cooling a compressor crankcase as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing an inlet air filter on the first nozzle of the at least one inlet valve; and   filtering the air that is pulled into the compressor crankcase via the at least one inlet valve using the inlet air filter.   
     
     
         18 . The method of cooling a compressor crankcase as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the at least one inlet valve and the at least one outlet valve comprise check valves. 
     
     
         19 . The method of cooling a compressor crankcase as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the at least one inlet valve is supported on the compressor crankcase on a first side of the at least one piston cylinder, and
 wherein the at least one outlet valve is supported on the compressor crankcase on an opposing second side of the at least one piston cylinder.   
     
     
         20 . The method of cooling a compressor crankcase as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing an unloader valve assembly on the at least one piston cylinder, and   exhausting fluid from the at least one piston cylinder via the unloader valve assembly.