STRAINER AND ANTI-BACKFLOW DEVICE FOR COMPRESSORS

• US 20080023081A1
• Filed: 07/31/2006
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Nemit, Paul, Huber, Paul A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,267,116 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/547
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 18/16 with helical teeth, e.g. chevron-shaped, screw type for non-parallel axes of movement F04C18/48
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 23/008 Hermetic pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 29/0092 Removing solid or liquid contaminants from the gas under pumping, e.g. by filtering or deposition; Purging; Scrubbing; Cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/033 spring-loaded
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/06 with guided stems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7862 Central post on seat
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7904 Reciprocating valves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/794 With means for separating solid material from the fluid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8049 Movable strainer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86791 Piston

Abstract

A backflow and strainer device is presented. The device is a unitary unit that prevents backflow of fluid gas in a compressor and prevents dirt particles and debris from entering the compressor, thereby damaging the components. A valve mechanism moves between an open position and a closed position to either allow or prevent fluid gas from flowing into the compressor. A mesh portion is disposed in the device to trap all dirt particles and debris to prevent them from entering the compressor. The valve mechanism responds to the higher and lower pressures associated with the operation and shutdown of compressors.

Claims

1. An anti-backflow system for a compressor comprising:

a hollow, cylindrical body;

a flanged ring connected to an end of the cylindrical body, the flanged ring extending from the cylindrical body and being configured for attachment to the compressor;

a valve mechanism disposed adjacent the cylindrical body, the valve mechanism being configured and disposed to have a first position to prevent fluid flow through the cylindrical body and a second position to permit fluid flow through the cylindrical body;

a stop, the stop being configured to limit the valve mechanism to movement between the first position and the second position;

a strainer mechanism disposed adjacent the cylindrical body and being configured to trap dirt particles and debris to prevent the dirt particles and debris from passing through the cylindrical body; and

wherein the valve mechanism moves between the first position and second position in response to the direction of fluid entering the cylindrical body.

2. The anti-backflow system of claim 1 further comprising:

a conical portion disposed in the cylindrical body having a plurality of openings and being configured with a larger diameter end and a smaller diameter end;

a slide stem extending from the smaller diameter end toward the larger diameter end;

the stop comprising a stop member disposed at an end of the slide stem adjacent the larger diameter end of the conical portion; and

wherein the valve mechanism is a conical poppet configured to slide along the slide stem to form the first position and the second position relative to the conical portion.

3. The anti-backflow system of claim 2 wherein the plurality of openings in the conical portion are slots configured to maximize flow area through the conical portion and to maintain a structural integrity of the conical portion when the compressor is shut down.

4. The anti-backflow system of claim 1 wherein the strainer mechanism is a steel wire mesh.

5. The anti-backflow system of claim 2 wherein the strainer mechanism is connected to the conical portion by brazing or soldering.

6. The anti-backflow system of claim 2 wherein the strainer mechanism and the conical portion form an integral unit.

7. The anti-backflow system of claim 1 further comprising:

an eccentric mounting to enable movement of the valve mechanism between the first position to the second position;

the stop comprising at least one ridge located around an inner edge of the flanged ring; and

wherein the valve mechanism is a disk, the disk being configured to rotate from a first position to a second position.

8. The anti-backflow system of claim 7 wherein the eccentric mounting includes a shaft disposed in a groove in the disk.

9. The anti-backflow system of claim 7 wherein the at least one a ridge has a first part and a second part, wherein the first part is disposed on a first inner portion of the flanged ring to have contact with a first side of the disk and the second part is disposed on a second inner portion of the flanged ring to have contact with a second side of the disk opposite the first side of the disk.

10. The anti-backflow system of claim 8 wherein the eccentric mounting is disposed on the valve mechanism at a distance of about ⅓

of a radius of the disk.

11. The anti-backflow system of claim 7 wherein the strainer is integral with the cylindrical body.

12. The anti-backflow system of claim 1 wherein the valve mechanism moves to the first position during operation of the compressor and the valve mechanism moves to the second position during shut-down of the compressor.

13. A compressor system comprising:

a housing, the housing having an inlet connection and an outlet connection;

a compression device disposed in the housing, the compression device configured to increase a pressure of a fluid flowing between the inlet connection and the outlet connection;

a flow control device disposed adjacent the inlet connection, the flow control device comprising;

a hollow, cylindrical body;

a flanged ring connected to an end of the cylindrical body, the flanged ring extending from the cylindrical body and connected to the inlet connection;

a valve mechanism, the valve mechanism being configured and disposed to have a first position to prevent fluid flow through the cylindrical body and a second position to permit fluid flow through the cylindrical body;

a strainer device disposed adjacent to cylindrical body and being configured to trap dirt particles and debris to prevent the dirt particles and debris from passing through the strainer device; and

wherein the flow control device prevents the backflow of fluid through the housing by having the valve mechanism move to the first position when the compression device is shut down.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising a stopping arrangement, the stopping arrangement being configured to limit the valve mechanism to movement between the first position and the second position.

15. The anti-backflow system of claim 14 further comprising:

a conical portion disposed in the cylindrical body, the conical portion having a plurality of openings and being configured with a larger diameter end and a smaller diameter end;

a slide stem extending from the smaller diameter end toward the larger diameter end;

the stopping arrangement comprises a stop located at an end of the slide stem adjacent the larger diameter end of the conical portion; and

wherein the valve mechanism is a conical poppet configured to slide along the slide stem to form the first position and the second position relative to the conical portion in response to a direction of flow into the cylindrical body.

16. The anti-backflow system of claim 15 wherein the plurality of openings in the conical portion are slots configured to maximize flow area and to maintain a structural integrity of the conical portion when the compressor is shut down.

17. The anti-backflow system of claim 15 wherein the strainer device is a steel wire mesh disposed between the conical portion and the poppet.

18. The anti-backflow system of claim 15 wherein the strainer device is connected to the conical portion by brazing or soldering.

19. The anti-backflow system of claim 15 wherein the strainer device and the conical portion form an integral unit.

20. The anti-backflow system of claim 14 further comprising:

an eccentric mounting configured to permit movement of the valve mechanism from the first position to the second position;

the stopping arrangement comprises at least one ridge located around an inner edge of the cylindrical body; and

wherein the valve mechanism is a disk being configured to rotate from a first position to a second position in response to a direction flow into the cylindrical body.

21. The anti-backflow system of claim 20 wherein the eccentric mounting includes a shaft disposed in a groove in the disc.

22. The anti-backflow system of claim 21 wherein the groove is disposed on the disc at a distance of about ⅓

of a radius of the disc.

23. A valve system for a compressor comprising:

a hollow, cylindrical body;

a flanged ring connected to an end of the cylindrical body, the flanged ring extending from the cylindrical body;

a conical portion having a plurality of openings and being configured with a larger diameter end and a smaller diameter end;

a conical poppet disposed adjacent to the conical portion and configured to move between a first position to permit flow through the cylindrical body and a second position to prevent flow through the cylindrical body;

a stop, the stop being configured to limit the conical poppet to movement between the first position and the second position;

a slide stem extending from the smaller diameter end of the conical portion toward the larger diameter end of the conical portion;

a strainer disposed adjacent to the conical portion and being configured to trap dirt particles and debris to prevent the dirt particles and debris from passing through the cylindrical body; and

wherein the conical poppet moves along the slide stem between the first position and second position in response to the direction of fluid entering the cylindrical body.

24. The anti-backflow system of claim 23 wherein the plurality of openings in the conical portion are slots configured to maximize flow area through the conical portion and to maintain a structural integrity of the conical portion when the compressor is shut down.

25. The anti-backflow system of claim 23 wherein the strainer and the conical portion form an integral unit.

26. A valve system for a compressor comprising:

a hollow, cylindrical body;

a flanged ring connected to an end of the cylindrical body, the flanged ring extending from the cylindrical body;

a disk configured and disposed to rotate between a first position to permit flow through the cylindrical body and a second position to prevent flow through the cylindrical body;

an eccentric mounting to enable rotation of the disk from the first position to the second position;

a stopping arrangement, the stopping arrangement comprising at least one ridge located around an inner edge of the flanged ring, and being configured to limit the disk to movement between the first position and the second position;

a straining device disposed adjacent the cylindrical body and being configured to trap dirt particles and debris to prevent the dirt particles and debris from passing through the cylindrical body; and

wherein the disk moves between the first position and second position in response to the direction of fluid entering the cylindrical body.

27. The anti-backflow system of claim 26 wherein the eccentric mounting includes a shaft disposed in a groove in the disk.

28. The anti-backflow system of claim 26 wherein the eccentric mounting is disposed on the disk at a distance of about ⅓

of a radius of the disk.