Piston Compressor Having a Venting Device

Abstract

A piston compressor is provided for compressing a gas, which optionally can be disconnected from a drive device by way of a clutch. The piston compressor has an inlet valve, which is arranged between an inlet line for gas to be compressed and a compression chamber of the piston compressor, and an outlet valve, which is arranged between the compression chamber of the piston compressor and an outlet line for compressed gas. The piston compressor has a venting device, by which compressed gas can be led out of the compression chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A piston compressor for compressing a gas, which compression is optionally separable from a drive device by way of a clutch, comprising:
 an inlet valve, which is arranged between an inlet line for the gas to be compressed and a compression chamber of the piston compressor;   an outlet valve, which is arranged between the compression chamber of the piston compressor and an outlet line for compressed gas; and   a venting device, through which compressed gas, which passes from the outlet line back into the compression chamber during a separation of the piston compressor from the drive device, is able to be discharged from the compression chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The piston compressor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 the compressed gas is able to be discharged from the compression chamber into a region at ambient pressure, which is formed by an environment itself, a gas chamber connected to an inlet system, or an interior of the crankcase.   
     
     
         3 . The piston compressor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 a switchable valve device forms the venting device.   
     
     
         4 . The piston compressor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 a check valve forms the venting device.   
     
     
         5 . The piston compressor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 the inlet valve forms the venting device,   the inlet valve is configured such that a connection between the inlet line and the compression chamber is closable thereby only from a predetermined pressure in the compression chamber, and   the predetermined pressure is at least 0.1 bar higher than the pressure in the inlet line.   
     
     
         6 . The piston compressor as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein
 the predetermined pressure is at least 0.2 bar higher than the pressure in the inlet line.   
     
     
         7 . The piston compressor as claim in  claim 5 , wherein
 the predetermined pressure is at least 0.5 bar higher than the pressure in the inlet line.   
     
     
         8 . The piston compressor as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein
 the inlet valve has a valve seat formed in a concave manner and a valve tongue formed in a substantially planar manner such that the valve tongue bears in a sealing manner against the valve seat only after an elastic deformation brought about by the pressure in the compression chamber.   
     
     
         9 . The piston compressor as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein
 the inlet valve has a valve seat formed in a planar manner and a valve tongue formed in a curved manner, such that the valve tongue bears in a sealing manner against the valve seat only after an elastic deformation brought about by the pressure in the compression chamber.   
     
     
         10 . The piston compressor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 a venting duct forms the venting device.   
     
     
         11 . The piston compressor as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein
 at least one end of the venting duct is arranged in a valve plate or in a cylinder wall.   
     
     
         12 . The piston compressor as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein
 a check valve or a shut-off valve is arranged in the venting duct.   
     
     
         13 . The piston compressor as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein
 a check valve or a shut-off valve is arranged in the venting duct.