Hybrid gas bearing, planar spring clearance seal compressors and methods

Abstract

Hybrid gas bearing, planar spring clearance seal compressors and methods that provide a hybrid planar spring supported/gas bearing supported piston. In accordance with the method, a gas bearing is energized to center the piston in the cylinder prior to rigidly attaching the planar spring or springs between the piston and the compressor frame. This automatically and very accurately centers the piston in the cylinder to provide the added stiffness of a planar spring and gas bearing in an easily manufactured configuration. Various exemplary embodiments are disclosed, including embodiments having the piston cantilevered from one end using a single or multiple springs, an embodiment having a spring on each end of the piston, a double piston embodiment and embodiments using and not using the gas bearing during operation of the compressors.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a typical gas bearing implementation of a compressor utilizing clearance seals and incorporating an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a graph illustrating the pressures in various volumes in the compressor of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a compressor gas bearing with the piston being located off axis.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are illustrations showing a face view of one typical planar spring fabricated from sheet metal.

FIG. 7 illustrates one possible configuration of gas bearing and planar spring hybrid useable with the present invention.

FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 11 illustrate exemplary compressor embodiments that may be fabricated using the present invention.

Claims

1. A method of fabricating a planar spring clearance seal compressor comprising: providing a piston having an outer diameter and a cylinder having an inner diameter within which the piston is to reciprocate;providing gas bearing pads on one of a) the outer diameter of the piston and b) the inner diameter of the cylinder, the gas bearing pads having associated gas flow passageways and gas flow restrictors;providing a gas under pressure to the gas flow passageways and gas flow restrictors before permanently fastening at least one planar spring to the compressor to fix the relative radial positions of the piston and the cylinder;while maintaining the gas pressure, rigidly fastening at least one planar spring so that the planar springs fix the relative radial position of the piston and the cylinder; and,terminating the gas pressure to the gas flow passageways and gas flow restrictors.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the number of planar springs is one and the planar spring is located at a first end of the piston and fixes the relative radial position of the piston and the cylinder adjacent the planar spring.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the gas bearing pads and the gas flow restrictors are used in an operating compressor to maintain the centering of the piston within the cylinder.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the gas bearing pads and flow restrictors are on the piston.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the number of planar springs is two, each being fastened to a respective end of the piston.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the gas flow passageways in the planar spring clearance seal compressor are sealed after the gas pressure is terminated.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the piston is a double acting piston.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein a plurality of planar springs are spaced apart and fastened to one end of the piston.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the gas flow passageways in the planar spring clearance seal compressor are sealed after the gas pressure to the gas flow passageways and gas flow restrictors is terminated.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the gas flow restrictors are associated with apparatus for providing a gas under pressure to the gas flow passageways and not the planar spring clearance seal compressor.

11. The method claim 1 wherein the planar spring is rigidly fixed relative to one of the piston or cylinder before gas pressure is provided.

12. A method of fabricating a planar spring clearance seal compressor comprising: providing a piston having an outer diameter and a cylinder having an inner diameter within which the piston is to reciprocate;providing gas bearing pads on the outer diameter of the piston distributed around the periphery of the piston in at least two spaced apart locations, the gas bearing pads having associated gas flow passageways and gas flow restrictors;providing a gas under pressure to the gas flow passageways and gas flow restrictors before permanently fastening at least one planar spring to the compressor to fix the relative radial positions of the piston and the cylinder;while maintaining the gas pressure, rigidly fastening at least one planar spring so that the planar springs fix the relative radial position of the piston and the cylinder; and,terminating the gas pressure to the gas flow passageways and gas flow restrictors.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the number of planar springs is one and the planar spring is located at a first end of the piston and fixes the relative radial position of the piston and the cylinder adjacent the planar spring.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the gas bearing pads and the gas flow restrictors are used in an operating compressor to maintain the centering of the piston within the cylinder.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the number of planar springs is two, each being fastened to a respective end of the piston.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein gas flow passageways in the planar spring clearance seal compressor are sealed after the gas pressure is terminated.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the piston is a double acting piston.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein a plurality of planar springs are spaced apart and fastened to one end of the piston.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the gas flow passageways are sealed after the gas pressure is terminated.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the gas flow restrictors are associated with apparatus for providing a gas under pressure to the gas flow passageways and not the planar spring clearance seal compressor.

21. The method claim 12 wherein the planar spring is rigidly fixed relative to one of the piston and cylinder before gas under pressure is provided to the gas flow passageways and the gas flow restrictors.