Crank gearing with a special crosshead for high pressure reciprocating compressors

Claim 1

In crank gearing mechanism for operating a pair of opposed pistons adapted to reciprocate in a corresponding pair of opposed cylinders of a high-pressure reciprocating compressor or the like, including a housing structure supporting each of said opposed cylinders, the compressor crankshaft, a reciprocating crosshead actuating said opposed pistons, and a connecting rod connecting said crankshaft with said crosshead, the improvement therein which comprises: said crosshead comprising a pair of identical upper and lower frame sections fixedly removably secured together in opposed relationship to form a rigid crosshead frame structure extending longitudinally over a major portion of the length of said housing structure, each of said upper and lower frame sections including a pair of spaced, vertically extending sidewalls, said sidewalls of said frame sections having identical, opposed first and second openings therein, whereby when said upper and lower frame sections are secured together in opposed relationship the spaced sidewalls of said frame structure are adapted to receive said connecting rod therebetween, the opening formed by said first openings is adapted to rotatably receive the connecting rod gudgeon therein, and the opening formed by said second openings is adapted to receive said compressor crankshaft therein and to accommodate the movement thereof, each of said upper and lower frame sections further including reinforcing spacing block means secured between said sidewalls at the opposite ends thereof; and a pair of plate members secured between said upper and lower frame sections, each of said plate members having an enlarged central portion enclosed by said frame sidewalls and flat wing portions extending horizontally outwardly from each of said frame sidewalls, said central portions of said plate members adapted to fixedly house the respective piston rods of said opposed pistons in the horizontal plane defined by said wing portions of said plate members, and said plate wing portions extend along the length of said crosshead frame structure from the ends thereof to said opening receiving said compressor crankshaft.