EP1229248A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Compressor system
Assignee: Ingersoll Rand Co
•
Filing: 2001-11-15
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2021-11-15
Abstract
Abstract An air compressor system having an air/oil separator for use with an air compressor, the air/oil separator including a separator tank having a side wall with an air exit port; a separator element hold down mechanism between the separator element and a lid mounted on the separator tank; and a separator element oil scavenge device which scavenges oil from the bottom of the separator element and passes the scavenged oil through the side wall of the separator tank. A method of replacing a separation element in a separation chamber of the air/oil separator including the steps of removing the separator element from the separation chamber without disconnecting the scavenge device attached thereto, and positioning a replacement separator element within the separation chamber, such that a scavenge device securely affixed thereto is caused to communicate with the side wall of the separator tank.
Inventors
- 👤 Roger Cook
- 👤 Jason J. Link
- 👤 Elizabeth B. Warner
- 👤 Roger A. Fallows
- 👤 Larry R. Stutts
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 11:47
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04C; F04C23/00; F04C29/00; F04C29/02; F04C29/026; F04C18/00; F04C18/08; F04C18/12; F04C18/14; F04C18/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
An air compressor system comprising: a compressor; a separator tank which receives an air/oil mixture from said compressor, said
separator tank having a side wall and defining a separation chamber having a lower
portion and an upper portion, said separator tank including an air exit port in said side wall
in said upper portion of said separation chamber, such that oil from the air/oil mixture
introduced into said separation chamber collects in said lower portion of said separation
chamber and air from the air/oil mixture flows into said upper portion and through said air
exit port in said side wall of said separator tank; and a lid mounted on said separator tank.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
30 words
An air compressor system according to claim 1, further comprising a
minimum pressure check valve operatively connected to said air exit port in said side wall
of said separator tank.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
An air compressor system according to claim 1, wherein said separator tank
further includes a boss having a channel therethrough, said boss extending outwardly from
said side wall of said separator tank so that said air exit port in said side wall of said
separator tank is aligned with said channel in said boss to provide an air exit passageway
out of said upper portion of said separation chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
An air compressor system according to claim 3, wherein said separator
tank is a cast separator tank and said boss is an integrally cast member of said separator
tank.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
An air compressor system according to claim 4, further comprising a
minimum pressure check valve operatively connected to said channel of said boss.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
174 words
An air compressor system comprising: a compressor; a separator tank which receives an air/oil mixture from said compressor, said
separator tank having a side wall and defining a separation chamber having a lower
portion and an upper portion, said separator tank including an air exit port in said side wall
in said upper portion of said separation chamber, such that oil from the air/oil mixture
introduced into said separation chamber collects in said lower portion of said separation
chamber and air from the air/oil mixture flows into said upper portion of said separation
chamber; a separator element placed within said upper portion of said separation chamber; a lid mounted on said separator tank; and a separator element hold down mechanism between said separator element and said
lid to position said separator element within said separation chamber and in spaced relation
from said lid, such that the air separated from the air/oil mixture flows through said
separator element, towards said lid, and out said air exit port in said side wall of said
separator tank.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
An air compressor system according to claim 6, wherein said separator
element hold down mechanism includes at least one bolt which threadably extends through
said lid and which engages said separator element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
An air compressor system according to claim 7, further comprising at least
one O-ring seal, one for each bolt, each O-ring seal placed around a respective bolt and in
contact with said lid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
An air compressor system according to claim 6, wherein said separator
element hold down mechanism is a spacer device having an aperture extending
therethrough, such that the air separated from the air/oil mixture flows through said
aperture of said spacer device on its way to said air exit port in said side wall of said
separator tank.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
97 words
An air compressor system according to claim 6, further comprising a ledge
which extends around an inner wall of said side wall of said separator tank in said upper
portion of said separation chamber, and wherein said separator element includes a top end,
a bottom end and a flange extending around said top end, said flange of said separator
element resting on said ledge on said inner wall of said side wall of said separator tank,
said separator element hold down mechanism engaging said flange of said separator
element to hold said separator element against said ledge.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
An air compressor system according to claim 10, wherein said separator
element hold down mechanism is a spacer device having an aperture extending
therethrough, such that the air separated from the air/oil mixture flows through said
aperture of said spacer device on its way to said air exit port in said side wall of said
separator tank.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
72 words
An air compressor system according to claim 11, wherein said ledge on said
inner wall of said side wall of said separator tank includes a groove for receiving an O-ring
seal, said O-ring seal being positioned between said flange of said separator element and
said ledge on said inner wall of said side wall of said separator tank to provide an
appropriate seal and to accommodate stack-up tolerances in said separator tank.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
An air compressor system according to claim 12, wherein said separator
tank is a cast separator tank and said ledge on said inner wall of said side wall of said
separator tank is an integrally cast member of said separator tank.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
An air compressor system according to claim 11, wherein said spacer
device is a solid cast annular ring.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
140 words
An air compressor system comprising: a compressor; a separator tank which receives an air/oil mixture from said compressor, said
separator tank having a side wall and defining a separation chamber having a lower
portion and an upper portion, said separator tank including a channel extending through
said side wall; a separator element placed within said upper portion of said separation chamber,
said separator element including an upper portion and a bottom portion; a lid mounted on said separator tank; and a separator element oil scavenge device adapted to retrieve oil which is separated
from the air/oil mixture introduced into said separation chamber and which passes through
said separator element and collects in said bottom portion of said separator element, said
scavenge device also adapted to transport the scavenged oil through said channel in said
side wall of said separator tank.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
An air compressor system according to claim 15, wherein said scavenge
device includes a tube having a first end and a second end, such that said scavenged oil
first flows into said first end of said tube and out of said second end of said tube.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
An air compressor system according to claim 16, wherein said tube is
securely attached to said separator element, so that said separator element and said tube
can be positioned into or removed from said upper portion of said separation chamber as a
single unit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
164 words
An air compressor system according to claim 17, further comprising a ledge
which extends circumferentially around an inner wall of said side wall of said separator
tank in said upper portion of said separation chamber, and wherein said channel in said
side wall of said separator tank opens through said ledge on said inner wall of said side
wall of said separator tank, and wherein said separator element includes a flange extending
around said upper portion, said flange of said separator element resting on said ledge on
said inner wall of said side wall of said separator tank, and wherein said tube extends from
said bottom portion of said separator element through said upper portion of said separator
element and back through said flange of said separator element, such that a portion of said
tube extending through said flange of said separator element is received by a portion of
said channel that opens through said ledge in said side wall of said separator tank.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
72 words
An air compressor system according to claim 18, wherein said ledge on said
inner wall of said side wall of said separator tank includes a groove for receiving an O-ring
seal, said O-ring seal being positioned between said flange of said separator element and
said ledge on said inner wall of said side wall of said separator tank to provide an
appropriate seal and to accommodate stack-up tolerances in said separator tank.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
An air compressor system according to claim 19, further comprising an O-ring
seal which is positioned around said portion of said tube extending through said
flange of said separator element and which is received by said channel in said side wall of
said separator tank.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
66 words
An air compressor system according to claim 15, wherein said scavenge
device includes a first fitting located in said bottom portion of said separator element and a
second fitting associated with said channel in said side wall of said separator tank, said
scavenge device further including a tube having a first end connected to said first fitting
and a second end connected to said second fitting.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
235 words
An air compressor system comprising: a compressor; a cast separator tank which receives an air/oil mixture from said compressor, said
cast separator tank having a side wall and defining a separation chamber having a lower
portion and an upper portion, said cast separator tank including an air exit port in said side
wall in said upper portion of said separation chamber, and said cast separator tank further
including a channel extending through said side wall; a separator element placed within said upper portion of said separation chamber,
said separator element including a top portion and a bottom portion; a lid mounted on said separator tank; a separator element hold down mechanism between said separator element and said
lid to position said separator element within said separation chamber and in spaced relation
from said lid, such that air separated from the air/oil mixture introduced into said
separation chamber flows into said upper portion of said separation chamber, through said
separator element, towards said lid, and out said air exit port in said side wall of said cast
separator tank; and a separator element oil scavenge device adapted to retrieve oil which is separated
from the air/oil mixture and which passes through said separator element and collects in
said bottom portion of said separator element, said scavenge device also adapted to
transport the scavenged oil through said channel in said side wall of said cast separator
tank.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
74 words
An air compressor system according to claim 22, wherein said cast
separator tank further includes an integrally cast boss having a channel therethrough, said
boss extending outwardly from said side wall of said cast separator tank so that said air
exit port in said side wall of said cast separator tank is aligned with said channel in said
boss to provide an air exit passageway out of said upper portion of said separation
chamber.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
An air compressor system according to claim 23, further comprising a
minimum pressure check valve operatively connected to said channel of said boss.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
207 words
An air compressor system according to claim 22, further comprising a ledge
which extends around an inner wall of said side wall of said cast separator tank in said
upper portion of said separation chamber, said ledge being an integrally cast member of
said cast separator tank and said ledge including a groove having an O-ring seal placed
therein, and wherein said separator element includes a flange extending around said top
portion, said flange of said separator element resting on said ledge on said inner wall of
said side wall of said cast separator tank, such that said O-ring seal is positioned between
said flange of said separator element and said ledge on said inner wall of said side wall of
said cast separator tank to provide an appropriate seal and to accommodate stack-up
tolerances in said cast separator tank, and wherein said separator hold down mechanism is
a spacer element having an aperture extending therethrough, said spacer element engaging
said flange of said separator element to hold said separator element against said ledge, and
wherein air separated from the air/oil mixture flows through said aperture of said spacer
device on its way to said air exit port in said side wall of said cast separator tank.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
230 words
An air compressor system according to claim 22, further comprising a ledge
which extends circumferentially around an inner wall of said side wall of said cast
separator tank in said upper portion of said separation chamber, and wherein said channel
in said side wall of said cast separator tank opens through said ledge on said inner wall of
said side wall of said cast separator tank, and wherein said separator element includes a
flange extending around said top portion, said flange of said separator element resting on
said ledge on said inner wall of said side wall of said cast separator tank, and wherein said
scavenge device includes a tube which is securely attached to said separator element and
which extends from said bottom portion of said separator element through said top portion
of said separator element and back through said flange of said separator element, such that
a portion of said tube extending through said flange of said separator element is received
by said channel in said side wall of said cast separator tank opening through said ledge,
and wherein said air/oil separator further includes an O-ring seal which is positioned
around said portion of said tub extending through said flange of said separator element and
which is received by a portion of said channel that opens through said ledge in said side
wall of said cast separator tank.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
216 words
A compressor system comprising: an oil-flooded air compressor having an airend discharge opening; a motor operatively connected to said compressor; a separator tank having a side wall and defining a separation chamber having a
lower portion and an upper portion, said separator tank including an airend inlet opening
which communicates with said airend discharge opening of said compressor to allow an
air/oil mixture exiting said airend discharge opening of said compressor to enter said
separation chamber, said separator tank further including an air exit port in said side wall
in said upper portion of said separation chamber, said separator tank configured such that
oil from the air/oil mixture introduced into said separation chamber collects in said lower
portion of said separation chamber and air from the air/oil mixture flows into said upper
portion of said separation chamber; a separator element placed within said upper portion of said separation chamber; a lid mounted on said tank; and a separator element hold down mechanism between said separator element and said
lid to position said separator element within said separation chamber and in spaced relation
from said lid, such that the air separated from the air/oil mixture flows through said
separator element, towards said lid, and out said air exit port in said side wall of said
separator tank.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
68 words
A compressor system according to claim 27, wherein said separator tank
further includes a boss having a channel therethrough, said boss extending outwardly from
said side wall of said separator tank so that said air exit port in said side wall of said
separator tank is aligned with said channel in said boss to provide an air exit passageway
out of said upper portion of said separation chamber.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
A compressor system according to claim 28, wherein said separator tank is
a cast tank and said boss is an integrally cast member of said tank.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
55 words
A compressor system according to claim 27, wherein said separator element
hold down mechanism is a spacer device having an aperture extending therethrough, such
that the air separated from the air/oil mixture flows through said aperture of said spacer
device on its way to said air exit port in said side wall of said tank.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
183 words
A compressor system comprising: an oil-flooded air compressor having an airend discharge opening; a motor operatively connected to said compressor; a separator tank having a side wall and defining a separation chamber having a
lower portion and an upper portion, said separator tank including an airend inlet opening
which communicates with said airend discharge opening of said compressor to allow an
air/oil mixture exiting said airend discharge opening of said compressor to enter said
separation chamber, said separator tank further including a channel extending through said
side wall of said separator tank; a separator element placed within said upper portion of said separation chamber,
said separator element including an upper portion and a bottom portion; a lid mounted on said separator tank; and a separator element oil scavenger device adapted to retrieve oil which is separated
from the air/oil mixture introduced into said separation chamber and which passes through
said separator element and collects in said bottom portion of said separator element, said
scavenger device also adapted to transport the scavenged oil through said channel in said
side wall of said separator tank.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
180 words
A compressor system according to claim 31, wherein said separator tank
further includes a ledge which extends circumferentially around an inner wall of said side
wall of said separator tank in said upper portion of said separation chamber, and wherein
said channel in said side wall of said separator tank opens through said ledge on said inner
wall of said side wall of said separator tank, and wherein said separator element includes a
flange extending around said upper portion, said flange of said separator element resting
on said ledge on said inner wall of said side wall of said separator tank, and wherein said
scavenger device includes a tube which is securely attached to said separator element, said
tube extending from said bottom portion of said separator element through said upper
portion of said separator element and back through said flange of said separator element,
such that a portion of said tube extending through said flange of said separator element is
received by a portion of said channel that opens through said ledge in said side wall of said
tank.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
A compressor system according to claim 32, wherein said tube provides a
handle for placing and removing said separator element into and from said separator tank.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of replacing a separator element in a separation chamber of a
separator tank which is used with an air compressor, wherein the separator element is
positioned within an interior space of the separation chamber, and wherein a lid closes the
separator tank, said method comprising the steps of: opening the lid to provide access to the interior space of the separation chamber; removing the separator element from the interior space of the separation chamber
without disconnecting a separator element scavenge device securely attached thereto; positioning a replacement separator element within the interior space of the
separation chamber, such that a separator element scavenge device securely attached
thereto communicates with a side wall of the separator tank; and closing the lid so that the replacement separator element is held within the
separation chamber.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 34, wherein said step of positioning a
replacement element within the interior space of the separation chamber includes causing
the separator element scavenge device to communicate with a channel extending through
the side wall of the separator tank.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
94 words
A gas/liquid separator comprising: a tank having a side wall and defining a separation chamber having a first portion
and a second portion, said tank including a gas exit port in said side wall in said first
portion of said separation chamber, such that liquid from the gas/liquid mixture introduced
into said separation chamber collects in said second portion of said separation chamber
and gas from the gas/liquid mixture flows into said first portion and through said gas exit
port in said side wall of said tank; and a lid mounted on said tank.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
65 words
A gas/liquid separator according to claim 36, wherein said tank further
includes a boss having a channel therethrough, said boss extending outwardly from said
side wall of said tank so that said gas exit port in said side wall of said tank is aligned with
said channel in said boss to provide a gas exit passageway out of said first portion of said
separation chamber.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
25 words
A gas/liquid separator according to claim 37, wherein said tank is a cast
tank and said boss is an integrally cast member of said tank.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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