Patent · US Expired

Balanced reciprocating machines

US4966042A · kind A · utility

32Cited by
6References
22Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 6, 1989
Grant dateOct 30, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 6, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T74/2184
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A large compressor has a four throw crankshaft, four connecting rods, four crossheads, and four horizontally opposed pistons. As usual, each piston is offset from its opposing piston and this causes the usual inertia force couples (primary couples and secondary couples). The crankshaft has counterweights thereon. A parallel oppositely rotating countershaft has balance weights thereon. These rotating weights balance the two primary inertia force couples. The crank sequence and the crosshead/piston locations are such that the two secondary inertia force couples counteract each other and no other secondary balancing device is needed. Further, the same counterweights also serve to balance the four crankpins and the large ends of the four connecting rods. Thus, the whole machine has near perfect balance with no unbalanced reciprocating primaries, reciprocating secondaries, primary couples, secondary couples, or rotating unbalance. The balancer parts can be retrofitted to existing compressor machines without removing the crankshaft from its frame or disturbing other compressor parts. Also, set forth is a lower cost partial balancing system with the same parts as above except the counters…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.