Multistage compressor

Abstract

A multistage compressor may have at least one high-pressure stage and at least one low-pressure stage. The compressor may also include at least two pistons, which are driven via a common crankshaft supported in a crankcase, and which may be guided in associated cylinders, and which may form the at least one high-pressure stage and the at least one low-pressure stage. The compressor may further include a line arrangement which may communicate with the each of the cylinders for supplying and discharging air to and from the cylinders. There may be arranged in the line arrangement a switchable valve, which may be constructed in such a manner that the at least one high-pressure stage depending on a switching position of the valve may be associated with a different one of the cylinders.

1 . A multistage condenser, comprising:
 at least one high-pressure stage and at least one low-pressure stage;   at least two pistons which are driven via a common crankshaft supported in a crankcase, and which are guided in associated cylinders, and which form the at least one high-pressure stage and the at least one low-pressure stage;   a line arrangement which communicates with the each of the cylinders for supplying and discharging air to and from the cylinders;   wherein there is arranged in the line arrangement a switchable valve, which is constructed in such a manner that the at least one high-pressure stage depending on a switching position of the valve device is associated with a different one of the cylinders.   
     
     
         2 . The condenser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one high-pressure stage for each cylinder operating cycle or each switching position moves one cylinder further. 
     
     
         3 . The condenser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, during a time range, each of the pistons and associated cylinders being constructed for a same number of cylinder operating cycles as a high-pressure stage or as a low-pressure stage. 
     
     
         4 . The condenser as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a pre-compression cooler arranged downstream of the at least one low-pressure stage and upstream of the at least one high-pressure stage. 
     
     
         5 . The condenser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the valve has a rotatable cylindrical valve body. 
     
     
         6 . The condenser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the valve device is one of pneumatically, electrically or hydraulically switchable. 
     
     
         7 . The condenser as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one high-pressure stage includes one high-pressure stage and the at least one low-pressure stage includes three low-pressure stages; and   the at least two pistons include four pistons to form the one high-pressure stage and the three low-pressure stages.   
     
     
         8 . A compressor comprising a multistage condenser having:
 at least one high-pressure stage and at least one low-pressure stage;   at least two pistons, which are driven via a common crankshaft supported in a crankcase, and which are guided in associated cylinders, and which form the at least one high-pressure stage and the at least one low-pressure stage;   a line arrangement which communicates with the each of the cylinders for supplying and discharging air to and from the cylinders;   wherein there is arranged in the line arrangement a switchable valve, which is constructed in such a manner that the at least one high-pressure stage depending on a switching position of the valve is associated with a different one of the cylinders.   
     
     
         9 . An operating method of a multistage condenser having at least one high-pressure stage and at least one low-pressure stage, at least two pistons driven by a common crankshaft supported in a crankcase and guided in associated cylinders to form the at least one high-pressure stage and the at least one low-pressure stage, and a line arrangement communicating with each of the cylinders for supplying and discharging air to and from the cylinders, the method comprising:
 switching a valve of the multistage condenser into a position in which at least one high-pressure stage of the multistage condenser is associated with one of at least two cylinders such that the at least one high-pressure stage moves the one of at least two cylinders further for each cylinder operating cycle.   
     
     
         10 . The condenser as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein, during a time range, each of the pistons and associated cylinders being constructed for a same number of cylinder operating cycles as a high-pressure stage or as a low-pressure stage. 
     
     
         11 . The condenser as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising a pre-compression cooler arranged downstream of the at least one low-pressure stage and upstream of the at least one high-pressure stage. 
     
     
         12 . The condenser as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the valve has a rotatable cylindrical valve body. 
     
     
         13 . The condenser as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the valve device is one of pneumatically, electrically or hydraulically switchable. 
     
     
         14 . The condenser as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein:
 the at least one high-pressure stage includes one high-pressure stage and the at least one low-pressure stage includes three low-pressure stages; and   the at least two pistons include four pistons to form the one high-pressure stage and the three low-pressure stages.   
     
     
         15 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the at least one high-pressure stage for each cylinder operating cycle or each switching position moves one cylinder further. 
     
     
         16 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein, during a time range, each of the pistons and associated cylinders being constructed for a same number of cylinder operating cycles as a high-pressure stage or as a low-pressure stage. 
     
     
         17 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising a pre-compression cooler arranged downstream of the at least one low-pressure stage and upstream of the at least one high-pressure stage. 
     
     
         18 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the valve has a rotatable cylindrical valve body. 
     
     
         19 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the valve device is one of pneumatically, electrically or hydraulically switchable. 
     
     
         20 . The compressor as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein:
 the at least one high-pressure stage includes one high-pressure stage and the at least one low-pressure stage includes three low-pressure stages; and   the at least two pistons include four pistons to form the one high-pressure stage and the three low-pressure stages.