US4307997A — Free piston inertia compressor

Claim 1

Independent Claim 243 words

In a free-piston inertia compressor comprising a cylinder and a free-floating piston assembly disposed for reciprocation therein, the improvement wherein said piston assembly includes a smoothly tapered connecting rod having pistons on both ends of the rod, wherein the connecting rod has end portions of relatively large diameter, which smoothly taper to a central portion of relatively small diameter, the central portion providing free play of the connecting rod through a single fixed seal at the longitudinal center of the cylinder for effecting a seal alternatively to the large diameter end portions of the rod and allowing the venting of fluid from one side of the seal to the other and the end portions providing tolerance of less than 1 mil between the relatively large diameter portions of the connecting rod and said seal to the large diameter portions preventing the passage of fluids; wherein the seal is constituted by a seal assembly having a cylindrical dampener plate of greater diameter than the cylinder, said dampener plate having recesses therein into which are sealed the two halves of the cylinder, said dampener plate having an axial opening therein which accepts the connecting rod, one face of the dampener plate having a deep recess therein located at the center of the dampener plate, a floating seal ring disposed in said deep recess, the same face of the dampener plate having a shallow recess therein and a seal retainer plate fastened in said shallow recess.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 243 words

In a free-piston inertia compressor comprising a cylinder and a free-floating piston assembly disposed for reciprocation therein, the improvement wherein said piston assembly includes a smoothly tapered connecting rod having pistons on both ends of the rod, wherein the connecting rod has end portions of relatively large diameter, which smoothly taper to a central portion of relatively small diameter, the central portion providing free play of the connecting rod through a single fixed seal at the longitudinal center of the cylinder for effecting a seal alternatively to the large diameter end portions of the rod and allowing the venting of fluid from one side of the seal to the other and the end portions providing tolerance of less than 1 mil between the relatively large diameter portions of the connecting rod and said seal to the large diameter portions preventing the passage of fluids; wherein the seal is constituted by a seal assembly having a cylindrical dampener plate of greater diameter than the cylinder, said dampener plate having recesses therein into which are sealed the two halves of the cylinder, said dampener plate having an axial opening therein which accepts the connecting rod, one face of the dampener plate having a deep recess therein located at the center of the dampener plate, a floating seal ring disposed in said deep recess, the same face of the dampener plate having a shallow recess therein and a seal retainer plate fastened in said shallow recess.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 24 words

Improvement of claim 1 wherein said seal ring is approximately square in cross section with the inner edges thereof being chamfered and rounded off.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 186 words

A multiple action free-piston inertia compressor comprising a cylinder capable of axial reciprocation by external means, said cylinder being split at its midpoint, a single fixed seal interposed between the two halves of the cylinder, a free-floating piston assembly consisting of a tapered connecting rod having pistons on both ends thereof disposed in the cylinder, each half of the cylinder being divided by its piston into a compression chamber and a gas spring chamber, the tapered connecting rod having end portions of relatively large diameter smoothly tapered to a relatively small diameter central portion, the central portion allowing free play of the connecting rod through the single fixed seal and the end portions of the connecting rods passing through the single fixed seal with a slip-fit engagement and means for introducing low-pressure fluid to the compression chambers prior to compression and for removing high pressure fluid from the compression chambers of the cylinder after compression; wherein the connecting rod is connected to the two pistons by connecting pins which are perpendicular to one another to provide for possible misalignment between the two halves of the cylinder.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 186 words

A multiple action free-piston inertia compressor comprising a cylinder capable of axial reciprocation by external means, said cylinder being split at its midpoint, a single fixed seal interposed between the two halves of the cylinder, a free-floating piston assembly consisting of a tapered connecting rod having pistons on both ends thereof disposed in the cylinder, each half of the cylinder being divided by its piston into a compression chamber and a gas spring chamber, the tapered connecting rod having end portions of relatively large diameter smoothly tapered to a relatively small diameter central portion, the central portion allowing free play of the connecting rod through the single fixed seal and the end portions of the connecting rods passing through the single fixed seal with a slip-fit engagement and means for introducing low-pressure fluid to the compression chambers prior to compression and for removing high pressure fluid from the compression chambers of the cylinder after compression; wherein the connecting rod is connected to the two pistons by connecting pins which are perpendicular to one another to provide for possible misalignment between the two halves of the cylinder.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 49 words

Compressor according to claim 3 wherein the seal ring assembly comprises a cylindrical dampener plate having recesses on both sides thereof into which recesses the two halves of the cylinder are sealed, said dampener plate having an axial opening therein which accepts the connecting rod of the piston assembly.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 45 words

Compressor according to claim 4 wherein the connecting rod has a central portion of relatively small diameter smoothly tapered to end portions of relatively large diameter, the tolerance between the seal ring and the end portions of the connecting rod being less than one mil.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 74 words

Compressor according to claim 4 wherein the connecting rod has a central portion of relatively small diameter and end portions of relatively large diameter, the tolerance between the seal ring and the end portions of the connecting rod being small enough to provide a seal against the passage of fluids while the tolerance between the seal ring and the central portion of the connecting rod being great enough to permit the passage of fluids.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1984-12-28	1985-06-29	1985-12-29	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1988-12-28	1989-06-29	1989-12-29	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1992-12-28	1993-06-29	1993-12-29	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Free piston inertia compressor

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