Variable volume clearance pocket for a reciprocating compressor cylinder

1. In a reciprocating compressor, a device for varying the clearance volume of a variable volume clearance pocket, the device comprising:

a) a main housing having a gear end and a piston end, and a threaded bore having first threads;

b) a gear housing mounted to the gear end of the main housing, the gear housing including a drive gear;

c) a head mounted to the piston end of the main housing and adapted to sealably fit within the outer end of a reciprocating compressor cylinder, the compressor cylinder including a compressor piston and a variable volume clearance pocket, the clearance pocket formed between the compressor piston and the outer end of the compressor cylinder;

d) a clearancing piston located within the head of the device and adapted to be movable therein, movement of the clearancing piston operable to vary the clearance volume within the compressor cylinder;

e) a threaded stem having a drive engagement end and a piston end, the drive engagement end of the threaded stem having a bore therein, the piston end of the threaded stem rigidly connected to the clearancing piston, wherein the threaded stem is supported and aligned by a sleeve bearing, the threaded stem having second threads on the outer diameter of the threaded stem that engage the first threads of the threaded bore, wherein rotation of the threaded stem and the rigidly connected piston causes the second threads to rotate in the first threads, thereby axially withdrawing or advancing the piston within the head;

f) a telescoping drive shaft having a gear end and a drive engagement end and adapted to be turned by the drive gear, the gear end of the drive shaft attached to the drive gear, the drive engagement end of the drive shaft adapted to drivably engage the bore in the drive engagement end of the threaded stem to rotate the threaded stem and the rigidly connected piston, wherein the drive engagement end of the drive shaft axially slides into or retreats out of the drive engagement end of the threaded stem as the drive shaft is turned by the drive gear thereby causing the threaded stem to rotate;

g) a pressure amplifier configured to amplify pressure from a pressurized fluid source; and

h) a pressure-actuated jam nut for biasing the threaded stem in a static position and for unbiasing the threaded stem to allow movement thereof, the jam nut including at least one pressure disc defining a sealed interior region of the jam nut, the interior region configured to accept liquid pressurized by the pressure amplifier, wherein application of the pressurized liquid in the interior region causes the jam nut to lock the threaded stem in a fixed position, wherein when the jam nut is unbiased the threaded stem and the clearancing piston can be rotated to advance axially outward and inward within in the head, and wherein movement of the clearancing piston within the head allows the volume of the clearance pocket to be varied in a controlled manner.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the drive gear includes a drive motor and a pinion gear and shaft assembly, and wherein the drive shaft is attached near its gear end to the drive motor via the pinion gear and shaft assembly.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the head is constructed either as a single piece or as an assembly of more than one piece.

4. The device of claim 1 , further including a controller programmed to automatically operate the drive motor, and a position encoder for tracking the position of the clearancing piston and providing a feedback signal to the controller.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein rotation of the pressure-actuated jam nut is prevented by at least one anti-rotation pin.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is configured for use either in conjunction with a variable clearance volume unloader operating typically on the outer or head end of a reciprocating compressor cylinder, or over a reciprocating compressor valve pocket or a special port in a reciprocating compressor body.

7. A reciprocating compressor having a controllable variable volume clearance pocket, the compressor comprising:

a) at least one reciprocating compressor cylinder, each of the at least one compressor cylinders including a compressor piston and a variable volume clearance pocket, the clearance pocket formed between the compressor piston and the outer end of the compressor cylinder; and

b) a device for varying the clearance volume of the variable volume clearance pocket, the device comprising:

i) a main housing including a gear end and a piston end, and a threaded bore having first threads;

ii) a gear housing mounted to the gear end of the main housing, the gear housing including a drive gear;

iii) a head mounted to the piston end of the main housing and adapted to sealably fit within the outer end of the compressor cylinder;

iv) a clearancing piston located within the head of the device and adapted to be movable therein, movement of the clearancing piston operable to vary the volume of the clearance pocket within the compressor cylinder;

v) a threaded stem having a drive engagement end and a piston end, the drive engagement end of the threaded stem having a bore therein, the piston end of the threaded stem rigidly connected to the clearancing piston, wherein the threaded stem is supported and aligned by a sleeve bearing, the threaded stem having second threads on the outer diameter of the threaded stem that engage the first threads of the threaded bore, wherein rotation of the threaded stem and the rigidly connected piston causes the second threads to rotate in the first threads, thereby axially withdrawing or advancing the piston within the head;

vi) a telescoping drive shaft having a gear end and a drive engagement end and adapted to be turned by the drive gear, the gear end of the drive shaft attached to the drive gear, the drive engagement end of the drive shaft adapted to drivably engage the bore in the drive engagement end of the threaded stem to rotate the threaded stem and the rigidly connected piston, wherein the drive engagement end of the drive shaft axially slides into or retreats out of the bore in the drive engagement end of the threaded stem as the drive shaft is turned by the drive gear, thereby causing the threaded stem to rotate;

vii) a pressure amplifier configured to amplify pressure from a pressurized fluid source; and

viii) a pressure-actuated jam nut for locking the threaded stem in a static position and for unlocking the threaded stem to allow movement thereof, wherein the jam nut includes at least one pressure disc defining a sealed interior region of the jam nut, the interior region configured to accept liquid pressurized by the pressure amplifier, wherein application of the pressurized liquid in the interior region causes the jam nut to lock the threaded stem in a fixed position, wherein when the jam nut is unlocked the threaded stem and the clearancing piston can be rotated to advance axially outward and inward within in the head, and wherein movement of the clearancing piston within the head allows the volume of the clearance pocket to be varied in a controlled manner.

8. The reciprocating compressor of claim 7 , wherein the drive gear includes a drive motor and a pinion gear and shaft assembly, and wherein the drive shaft is attached near its gear end to the drive motor via the pinion gear and shaft assembly.

9. The reciprocating compressor of claim 7 , further including a controller programmed to automatically operate the drive motor, and a position encoder for tracking the position of the clearancing piston and providing a feedback signal to the controller.

10. The reciprocating compressor of claim 7 , wherein rotation of the pressure-actuated jam nut is prevented by at least one anti-rotation pin.

11. The reciprocating compressor of claim 7 , wherein the device is configured for use either in conjunction with a variable clearance volume unloader operating typically on the outer or head end of a reciprocating compressor cylinder, or over a reciprocating compressor valve pocket or a special port in a reciprocating compressor body.

12. The device of claim 7 , wherein the head is constructed as a single piece.

13. The device of claim 7 , wherein the head is constructed as an assembly of more than one piece.

14. A reciprocating compressor having a controllable variable volume clearance pocket, the compressor comprising:

a) at least one reciprocating compressor cylinder, each of the at least one compressor cylinders including a compressor piston and a variable volume clearance pocket, the clearance pocket formed between the compressor piston and the outer end of the compressor cylinder; and

b) a device for varying the clearance volume of the variable volume clearance pocket, the device comprising:

i) a housing including a gear end, a piston end, and a threaded bore having first threads, the housing including a drive gear;

ii) a head mounted to the piston end of the housing and adapted to sealably fit within the outer end of the compressor cylinder;

iii) a clearancing piston that creates a seal and is movable within the head, movement of the clearancing piston operable to vary the volume of the clearance pocket within the compressor cylinder;

iv) a threaded stem having a drive engagement end and a piston end, the drive engagement end of the threaded stem having a bore therein, the piston end of the threaded stem rigidly connected to the clearancing piston, wherein the threaded stem is supported and aligned by a sleeve bearing, the threaded stem having second threads on the outer diameter of the threaded stem that engage the first threads of the threaded bore, wherein rotation of the threaded stem and the rigidly connected piston causes the second threads to rotate in the first threads, thereby axially withdrawing or advancing the piston within the head;

v) a telescoping drive shaft having a gear end and a drive engagement end and adapted to be turned by the drive gear, the gear end of the drive shaft attached to the drive gear, the drive engagement end of the drive shaft adapted to drivably engage the bore in the drive engagement end of the threaded stem to rotate the threaded stem and the rigidly connected piston, wherein the drive engagement end of the drive shaft axially slides into or retreats out of the drive engagement end of the threaded stem as the drive shaft is turned by the drive gear, thereby causing the threaded stem to rotate;

vi) a pressure amplifier configured to amplify pressure from a pressurized fluid source; and

vii) a pressure-actuated jam nut for biasing the threaded stem in a static position and for unbiasing the threaded stem to allow movement thereof, wherein the jam nut includes at least one pressure disc defining a sealed interior region of the jam nut, the interior region configured to accept liquid pressurized by the pressure amplifier, wherein application of the pressurized liquid in the interior region causes the jam nut to lock the threaded stem in a fixed position, wherein when the jam nut is unbiased the threaded stem and the clearancing piston can be rotated to advance axially outward and inward within in the head, and wherein movement of the clearancing piston within the head allows the volume of the clearance pocket to be varied in a controlled manner.

15. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a pressure compensation system for changing the pressure behind the clearancing piston, the pressure compensation system including a compensating gas chamber for connecting the space behind the clearancing piston to discharge pressure when the clearancing piston is to be moved inward toward the compressor cylinder and to suction pressure when the clearancing piston is to be moved outward away from the compressor cylinder.

16. The reciprocating compressor of claim 7 , wherein device for varying the clearance volume of the variable volume clearance pocket further comprises a pressure compensation system for changing the pressure behind the clearancing piston, the pressure compensation system including a compensating gas chamber for connecting the space behind the clearancing piston to discharge pressure when the clearancing piston is to be moved inward toward the compressor cylinder and to suction pressure when the clearancing piston is to be moved outward away from the compressor cylinder.