Base unit for assembling a crankcase of a reciprocal compressor

Abstract

A base unit for assembling a crankcase of a reciprocal compressor comprises a housing configured to hold at least part of a crankshaft; an access port placed onto the housing and configured to hold a connecting rod for a piston; the base unit having at least an interface zone on the housing, configured to be coupled with another interface zone of another base unit for assembling the crankcase.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A base unit for assembling a crankcase of a reciprocal compressor, comprising:
 a housing configured to hold at least part of a crankshaft; and   an access port placed onto the housing and configured to hold a connecting rod for a piston;
 wherein the base unit has at least one interface zone on the housing, and the at least one interface zone being configured to be coupled with another interface zone of another base unit for assembling the crankcase. 
   
     
     
         2 . The base unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a longitudinal axis defining an orientation for the crankshaft, and the at least one interface zone laying on a plane transversal to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         3 . The base unit according to  claim 2 , wherein the housing has a first end and a second end opposite to each other and substantially aligned along the longitudinal axis, wherein the at least one interface zone comprises two interface zones placed respectively onto the first end and onto the second end of the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The base unit according to  claim 3 , wherein the two interface zones are parallel to each other. 
     
     
         5 . A base unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one interface zone is provided with at least a socket configured to receive a connecting device for fixing the at least one interface zone to another base unit. 
     
     
         6 . The base unit according to  claim 5 , wherein the socket comprises a hole adapted to receive either a screw or a pin. 
     
     
         7 . A base unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing has an open side configured to admit the crankshaft. 
     
     
         8 . A kit for assembling a crankcase comprising:
 a plurality of base units according to  claim 1 ; and   at least a connecting device configured to attach two of the base units to each other onto the respective interface zones.   
     
     
         9 . The kit according to  claim 8 , further comprising a spacer device insertable between two base units and configured to be connected to the base units onto the respective interface zones. 
     
     
         10 . The kit according to  claim 9 , wherein the spacer device has two interface zones opposite to each other and configured to be attached to respective interface zones of respective base units. 
     
     
         11 . The kit according to  claim 8 , further comprising a crankshaft configured to be inserted into the housing. 
     
     
         12 . The kit according to  claim 11 , wherein the crankshaft comprises a plurality of segments for assembling the crankshaft, and each crankshaft segment being configured to be housed into a respective base unit and to be joined with at least another crankshaft segment in order to define the crankshaft. 
     
     
         13 . The kit according to the  claim 12 , wherein each segment has a length substantially equal to the length of its respective base unit along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         14 . The kit according to  claim 8 , wherein the base units have all the same length along the respective longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         15 . A crankcase comprising at least a base unit according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . The crankcase according to  claim 15 , the crankcase being assembled from a kit comprising:
 a plurality of base units according to  claim 15 ; and   at least a connecting device configured to attach two of the base units to each other onto the respective interface zones.   
     
     
         17 . A method for assembling a crankcase according to  claim 15 , comprising the steps of:
 providing at least two of the base units; and   attaching the base units to each other onto the respective interface zones.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the step of inserting a spacer device between the base units. 
     
     
         19 . The method for upgrading a crankcase according to  claim 15 , comprising the steps of:
 providing a further base unit, and   attaching the further base unit to the crankcase.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the step of attaching the further base unit to the crankcase is performed by placing an interface zone of the further base unit into contact with an interface zone of a base unit already part of the crankcase.