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A modular radial compressor for compressing fluids includes a compression vessel having a collapsible vessel internal space having expanded and a compressed sizes, the compression vessel having an intake structure for passing fluid into the vessel internal space from a fluid source and an output str

A modular radial compressor for compressing fluids includes a compression vessel having a collapsible vessel internal space having expanded and a compressed sizes, the compression vessel having an intake structure for passing fluid into the vessel internal space from a fluid source and an output structure for passing fluid out of the vessel internal space; a rotatable arm structure having an arms structure rotational axis and at least one radial arm protrusion positioned to periodically about one or multiple compression vessels and compress the vessel internal spaces; a rotational drive mechanism drivably connected to the rotatable arm structure for rotatably driving the arm structure and the arm protrusion about the arm structure rotational axis; and a compression vessel expansion mechanism for expanding the vessel internal space to its expanded size subsequent to each vessel internal space compression.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A modular radial compressor for compressing fluids, comprising: a cylinder and piston assembly comprising a cylinder having a cylinder head and a tubular cylinder side wall and a piston structure slidably retained within said cylinder and constrained by said cylinder to move along a piston struct

1. A modular radial compressor for compressing fluids, comprising: a cylinder and piston assembly comprising a cylinder having a cylinder head and a tubular cylinder side wall and a piston structure slidably retained within said cylinder and constrained by said cylinder to move along a piston structure central axis of reciprocation, said cylinder having an intake port fitted with an intake valve for passing fluid into said cylinder from a fluid source and an output port fitted with an output valve for passing fluid out of said cylinder;a rotatable arm structure for one of a single arm and multiple arms having an arm structure rotational axis and an arm wheel with an arm wheel minimum radius outward from said arm structure rotational axis and at least one radial arm protrusion extending radially outward from said arm wheel and positioned to periodically abut and displace through movement of said at least one arm protrusion said piston structure inwardly toward said cylinder head;rotational drive means drivably connected to said rotatable arm structure for rotatably driving said arm structure and said arm protrusion along a circular path about said arm structure rotational axis, said arm structure being positioned relative to said cylinder and piston assembly such that said piston structure central axis of reciprocation is spaced radially from said arm structure rotational axis a distance greater than said arm wheel minimum radius;a return means for the piston structure for displacing said piston structure outwardly and away from said cylinder head subsequent to each piston structure inward displacement;support structure means comprising a housing having a housing wall to which said cylinder and piston assembly is mounted;at least a second cylinder and piston assembly having a second intake valve and a second output valve;said support structure means comprising assembly mounting means for removably mounting said second cylinder and piston assembly to said housing wall. 2. The modular radial compressor of claim 1, wherein said support structure means comprises an apparatus framework to position said assemblies and said arm structure in operational relation with each other. 3. The modular radial compressor of claim 1, wherein said assembly mounting means comprises registering fastener passing holes in said cylinder and piston assembly and in said housing wall, and a fastener for passing through said registering fastener passing holes. 4. The modular radial compressor of claim 3, wherein said fastener passing holes are bolt holes and said fastener is a bolt. 5. The modular radial compressor of claim 1, wherein said at least one arm protrusion is at least one arm and wherein said arm wheel is substantially circular and has an arm wheel circumferential surface to which said at least one arm is mounted. 6. The modular radial compressor of claim 1, additionally comprising a flywheel mounted to rotate in unison with said arm structure to provide smooth arm structure rotation. 7. The modular radial compressor of claim 1, wherein said piston structure comprises a piston connected to a piston rod extending out of said cylinder opposite said cylinder head having a piston rod abutment end. 8. The modular radial compressor of claim 1, wherein said piston is fitted with at least one piston ring seated in a circumferential piston ring groove to slide sealingly along said cylinder side wall. 9. The modular radial compressor of claim 7, wherein said cylinder comprises a cup-shaped cylinder bottom wall opposite said cylinder head with a central piston rod passing port for funneling blow-by oil to said piston rod such that said piston rod is lubricated by the oil and carries oil out of the cylinder with each cylinder and piston assembly cycle. 10. The modular radial compressor of claim 9, wherein said piston rod comprises at least one oil receiving depression for receiving and retaining oil to carry oil out of said cylinder through said piston rod passing port. 11. The modular radial compressor of claim 1, wherein said rotational drive means comprises an electric drive motor connected to said arm structure with a drive connection. 12. The modular radial compressor of claim 11, wherein said drive connection comprises a drive belt engaging a motor pulley mounted on a motor drive shaft and an arm structure pulley mounted on an arm structure axle. 13. The modular radial compressor of claim 2, wherein the return means for said piston structure comprises a piston rod biasing spring mounted to be compressed between a framework and said piston structure. 14. The modular radial compressor of claim 13, wherein said piston rod biasing spring is a coil spring encircling said piston rod and having a progressively narrowing, conical configuration. 15. The modular radial compressor of claim 1, wherein said arm protrusions are selectively movable out of rotational alignment with said piston structure such that a desired number of said arm protrusions can be selected to displace said piston structure for each arm structure rotation; such that the volume of fluid compressed per arm structure rotation can be altered. 16. The modular radial compressor of claim 5, wherein each said arm comprises an expanded mounting end which fits engagingly into any of a plurality of arm channels, each arm channel having a channel opening of a certain width and widening with channel depth to correspond generally with the configuration of and thereby engagingly receive the expanded mounting ends of the arms and extending laterally across the width of and spaced periodically around said arm wheel circumferential surface; such that each arm is slidably retained within a corresponding said arm channel. 17. The modular radial compressor of claim 1, wherein said at least one arm protrusion is at least one arm and wherein said rotatable arm structure comprises an arm wheel having an arm wheel circumferential surface to which said at least one arm is mounted; wherein each said arm comprises an arm mounting end which fits engagingly into any of a plurality of arm channels, each having a channel opening with arm engaging means, said plurality of arm channels extending in a lateral series spaced periodically across the width of said arm wheel circumferential surface, such that each arm is slidably retained within a corresponding said arm channel;wherein said arm wheel circumferential surface is sufficiently wide and said arm channels therefore sufficiently long that one said arm can be slid to a first channel end of one of said arm channels and thus to a first side of said arm wheel circumferential surface to align with and abut said piston structure during rotation of the arm wheel, and slid to a second channel end and thus to a second side of said arm wheel circumferential surface to be out of registration with said piston structure during rotation of the arm wheel;such that one or more of said at least one arm can be slid to said first channel end to register with said piston structure as needed for a given modular radial compressor application. 18. The modular radial compressor of claim 17, wherein said at least one arm is each configured to be moved to one of said first side of said arm wheel circumferential surface and said second side of said arm wheel circumferential surface by electro magnets mounted adjacent opposing faces of said arm wheel and adjacent to the arm wheel circumferential surface; such that activation of either said electro magnet pulls each immediately adjacent arm to the adjacent said side of said arm wheel circumferential surface, and the electromagnets can be activated as said arm wheel is rotated by said drive means such that only selected said at least one arm is moved to a given side of said arm wheel circumferential surface to provide a desired number of said at least one arm in registration with said at least one cylinder and piston assembly associated with said arm wheel. 19. The modular radial compressor of claim 1, comprising a plurality of said cylinder and piston assemblies positioned to extend radially and equidistantly from said arm structure, such that said at least one arm protrusion abuts and displaces each said piston structure in sequence with each said arm structure rotation. 20. The modular radial compressor of claim 1, additionally comprising: a plurality of said arm structure and cylinder units mounted on a common axle and each comprising a cylinder and piston assembly, and each cylinder and piston assembly comprising a cylinder having a cylinder head and a tubular cylinder side wall and a piston structure slidably retained within said cylinder and constrained by said cylinder to move along an axis of reciprocation, said cylinder having an intake port fitted with an intake valve for passing fluid into said cylinder from a fluid source and an output port fitted with an output valve for passing fluid out of said cylinder;a plurality of said rotatable arm structures each having an arm structure rotational axis and at least one radial arm protrusion positioned to periodically abut and displace a plurality of said piston structures inwardly toward said cylinder heads of said arm structure and cylinder units, and individual clutch means for each said arm structuresaid rotational drive means comprising said common axleand wherein said return means for said piston structure for each said piston structure displaces a corresponding said piston structure outwardly and away from a corresponding said cylinder head subsequent to each piston structure inward displacement. 21. A modular radial compressor, comprising: at least one cylinder and piston assembly comprising a cylinder having a cylinder head and a tubular cylinder side wall and a piston structure slidably retained within said cylinder and constrained by said cylinder to move along a piston structure central axis of reciprocation said cylinder having an intake port fitted with an intake valve for passing fluid into said cylinder from a fluid source and an output port fitted with an output valve for passing fluid out of said cylinder; a rotatable arm structure having an arm structure rotational axis and an arm wheel with an arm wheel minimum radius outward from said arm structure rotational axis and at least one radial arm protrusion having a longitudinal aim protrusion curved guide surface and extending radially outward from said arm wheel and positioned such that at least a portion of said curved longitudinal arm protrusion guide surface periodically transmits force to and thereby displaces said piston structure inwardly toward said cylinder head;rotational drive means drivably connected to said rotatable arm structure for rotatably driving said arm structure and said arm protrusion along a circular path about said arm structure rotational axis, said arm structure being positioned relative to said cylinder and piston assembly such that said piston structure central axis of reciprocation is spaced radially from said arm structure rotational axis a distance greater than said arm wheel minimum radius;and a return means for said piston structure for displacing said piston structure outwardly and away from said cylinder head subsequent to each piston structure inward displacement;and wherein each said cylinder and piston assembly and said rotatable arm structure are fastened to an apparatus framework to position each said cylinder and piston assembly in operational relation with said rotatable arm structure.