Reciprocating compressor with improved valve cylinder assembly

Abstract

A reciprocating compressor with an improved valve assembly is disclosed. Compressor includes a cylinder block having a cylinder that defines a cylindrical bore extending longitudinally along a bore axis. Cylinder block includes a hollow chamber extending longitudinally along a chamber axis, which is non-intersecting relative to the bore axis. Valve assembly is disposed in hollow chamber. Valve assembly is made up of an axially-stacked arrangement of components extending along chamber axis. The axially-stacked arrangement of components is spaced apart from a wall that forms a perimeter of the cylinder and is thus free from mechanical interference with the perimeter of the cylinder.

1 . A reciprocating compressor comprising:
 a cylinder block including a cylinder that defines a cylindrical bore extending longitudinally along a bore axis, the cylinder block including a hollow chamber extending longitudinally along a chamber axis, which is non-intersecting relative to the bore axis; and   a valve assembly disposed in the hollow chamber, the valve assembly comprising an axially-stacked arrangement of components extending along the chamber axis, the axially-stacked arrangement of components spaced apart from a wall that forms a perimeter of the cylinder, and thus free from mechanical interference with the perimeter of the cylinder.   
     
     
         2 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the bore axis and the chamber axis are mutually orthogonal axes. 
     
     
         3 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of valve covers affixed to mutually opposed sides of the cylinder block to retain in axial compression within the hollow chamber the axially-stacked arrangement of components. 
     
     
         4 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 1 , further comprising an inlet passageway formed in the cylinder block, and wherein the axially-stacked arrangement of components includes a suction valve in fluid communication with the inlet passageway. 
     
     
         5 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 4 , further comprising an outlet passageway formed in the cylinder block, and wherein the axially-stacked arrangement of components includes a discharge valve in fluid communication with the outlet passageway. 
     
     
         6 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 4 , wherein the axially-stacked arrangement of components includes a spacer interposed between the suction valve and the discharge valve. 
     
     
         7 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 5 , further comprising a passageway arranged to provide fluid communication through the spacer between the cylindrical bore with the suction valve and the discharge valve. 
     
     
         8 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 4 , further comprising a perimeter fluid seal disposed at a perimeter joint between the suction valve and the spacer. 
     
     
         9 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 5 , further comprising a perimeter fluid seal disposed at a perimeter joint between the discharge valve and the spacer. 
     
     
         10 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the cylinder comprises a double-action cylinder,
 wherein the cylinder block includes a further hollow chamber extending longitudinally along a further chamber axis, which is non-intersecting relative to the bore axis, the further chamber axis spaced apart from the chamber axis along the bore axis.   
     
     
         11 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 10 , comprising a further valve assembly disposed in the further hollow chamber, the further valve assembly comprising a further axially-stacked arrangement of components extending along the further chamber axis, the further axially-stacked arrangement of components spaced apart from the wall that defines the perimeter of the cylinder, and thus free from mechanical interference with the perimeter of the cylinder. 
     
     
         12 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 11 , wherein the bore axis and the further chamber axis are mutually orthogonal axes. 
     
     
         13 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 12 , comprising a further pair of valve covers affixed to the mutually opposed sides of the cylinder block to retain in axial compression within the further hollow chamber the further axially-stacked arrangement of components. 
     
     
         14 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 10 , comprising an inlet passageway formed in the cylinder block, and wherein the arrangement of further axially-stacked components includes a further suction valve in fluid communication with the inlet passageway. 
     
     
         15 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 14 , comprising an outlet passageway formed in the cylinder block, and wherein the further axially-stacked arrangement of components includes a further discharge valve in fluid communication with the outlet passageway. 
     
     
         16 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 4 , wherein the further axially-stacked arrangement of components includes a further spacer interposed between the further suction valve and the further discharge valve. 
     
     
         17 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 15 , a further passageway arranged to provide fluid communication through the further spacer between the cylindrical bore with the further suction valve and the further discharge valve. 
     
     
         18 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 14 , comprising a further perimeter fluid seal disposed at a perimeter joint between the further suction valve and the further spacer. 
     
     
         19 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 15 , comprising a further perimeter fluid seal disposed at a perimeter joint between the further discharge valve and the further spacer. 
     
     
         20 . The reciprocating compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the valve assembly is arranged with a respective tilt angle relative to a local gravity vector, wherein the tilt angle is in a range from −90° to 90° relative to the local gravity vector.