Compressor system with pressure pulsation dampener and check valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9739290-B2
Application number	US-201514597868-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 15, 2015
Priority date	Jan 16, 2014
Publication date	Aug 22, 2017
Grant date	Aug 22, 2017

Abstract

A system is disclosed wherein a pressure pulse dampener is in fluid communication with a compressed fluid. The pulse dampener being operable for reducing pressure pulsations within the fluid. In some embodiments a check valve can be in fluid communication with the pulse dampener to prevent reverse flow of the compressed fluid.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a compressor operable for compressing a fluid;
a pulse dampener in fluid communication with compressed fluid downstream of the compressor, the pulse dampener having:
a housing with an outer perimeter wall;
a central body positioned internal to the perimeter wall; and
a toroidal passage formed between the outer perimeter wall and the central body;

a check valve connected downstream of the pulse dampener, the check valve having a housing with a valve positioned therein being movable between a closed position and an open position; and
wherein the check valve housing includes:
an outer wall extending circumferentially about the valve;
an inner body spaced apart from and positioned radially inward of the outer wall; and
a fluid passageway formed about the inner body in the space between the inner body and the outer wall, wherein the fluid passageway is defined by a substantially S-shaped configuration with a substantially constant cross-sectional flow area along the length of the S-shaped passageway.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a fluid guide vane extending across the S-shaped passageway from the center inner body to the outer wall of the check valve housing.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a check valve outlet passageway having a cross-sectional flow area substantially equivalent to the cross-sectional flow area of the S-shaped passageway.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the inner radial wall of the inner body projects radially inward along the S-shaped flowpath from the first to the second end.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein a vent aperture is formed through an aft end of the inner body and extends to the valve stem channel.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the pulse dampener includes an a outlet passageway with a cross-sectional flow area substantially equivalent to the cross-sectional flow area of the S-shaped passageway.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a valve seat configured to form a fluid tight seal with the valve when the valve is in the closed position.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the valve seat is formed with the pulse dampener housing.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the valve comprises:
a valve head;
a stem extending from the valve head being slidingly engageable with the valve stem channel of the inner body; and
a valve head aft face formed on a circumferential outer perimeter of the valve head having a complementary width and shape to that of the sealing face of the center body such that when the valve is in the open position the valve head aft face and the sealing face of the inner body are in sealing engagement with one another.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein outer edges of the valve head aft face and the sealing face are substantially aligned in a radial direction when in sealing engagement.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein a portion of the valve head extends past the outer perimeter wall of the pulse dampener housing in the closed position.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the inner body further comprises:
a first end positioned proximate a fluid inlet and a second end positioned proximate a fluid outlet of the check valve;
a portion of an inner radial wall of the S-shaped flow path formed between the first end and second end;
a sealing face having a defined width formed on a circumferential rim at a leading edge of the first end;
a valve stem channel formed along an axial direction between the first end and the second end; and
a hollow cavity positioned between the valve stem channel and the circumferential rim.

13. The system of claim 12 , further comprising a through aperture extending between the valve stem channel and the second end of the inner body.

14. The system of claim 12 , further comprising a biasing member positioned within the valve stem channel.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the biasing member is configured to urge the valve toward the closed position.

16. A system comprising:
a compressor operable for compressing a fluid;
a pulse dampener in fluid communication with compressed fluid downstream of the compressor, the pulse dampener having a housing with an outer perimeter wall;
a check valve connected downstream of the pulse dampener, the check valve having a housing with a valve positioned therein being movable between a closed position and an open position; and
wherein the check valve housing includes:
an outer wall extending circumferentially about the valve;
an inner body spaced apart from and positioned radially inward of the outer wall; and

a fluid passageway formed about the inner body in the space between the inner body and the outer wall, wherein the fluid passageway is defined by a substantially S-shaped configuration with a substantially constant cross-sectional flow area along the length of the S-shaped passageway;
wherein the housing of the pulse dampener further comprises:
first and second ends generally defining an axial flow direction;
an outer circumferential wall having an inner surface defining an outer radial flowpath wall;
an inlet passageway defined by the outer circumferential wall;
a central body having an open cavity positioned downstream of the inlet passageway;
a central passageway formed about the central body being defined by a perimeter wall of the central body and the outer circumferential wall positioned radially outward from the perimeter wall;
a toroidal passageway formed around the central body downstream of the central passageway;
an inlet aperture formed through the perimeter wall to provide fluid communication between the toroidal passageway and the open cavity within the central body; and
an outlet passageway formed downstream of the open cavity of the central body.

17. A check valve comprising:
a housing having an outer wall extending between first and second ends;
an inner body spaced radially inward from the outer wall;
a substantially S-shaped passageway formed about the inner body to space the inner body from the outer wall, the S-shaped passageway having a substantially constant cross-sectional flow area along a flow direction extending between the first and second ends;
a central inlet passageway positioned upstream of the S-shaped passageway;
a central outlet passageway positioned downstream of the of the S-shaped passageway;
wherein the inlet and outlet passageways include cross-sectional flow areas substantially equivalent to the cross-sectional flow area of the S-shaped passageway; and
a valve positioned within the housing being movable between open and closed positions; and
wherein the inner body comprises:
a valve stem channel extending along an axial direction between the first and second ends;
a side wall defining an inner radial flowpath wall of the S-shaped flowpath; and
a hollow cavity formed between the valve stem channel and a first end of the side wall; and
a resilient member positioned within the valve stem channel.

18. The check valve of claim 17 , further comprising a valve stem slidingly engageable with the valve stem channel.

19. The check valve of claim 17 , further comprising a vent aperture formed through an aft end of the inner body and extending to the valve stem channel.

20. The check valve of claim 17 , further comprising a guide vane positioned within housing of the check valve.

21. The check valve of claim 17 , wherein a circumferential ring is formed proximate the first end of the side wall.

Assignees

• Ingersoll-Rand Company

Inventors

• Lucas Michael John
• Li James

Classifications

• Y10T137/7904

  Reciprocating valves · CPC title

• F04B49/06

  Control using electricity (regulating by means of floats actuating electric switches F04B49/04) · CPC title

• F16K15/06

  with guided stems · CPC title

• Y10T137/0396

  Involving pressure control · CPC title

• F04B2205/05

  Pressure after the pump outlet · CPC title