Compressor Seal Replacement Using Linear Magazine Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional high-pressure compressors face challenges in seal replacement due to limited space for replacement seals, increased service operations, and positioning accuracy issues, particularly in rotary and sliding magazine designs.
Innovation Solution
The replacement seals are arranged with aligned center axes along a longitudinal axis of the magazine, allowing for a larger number of seals to be stored efficiently, and a feed drive and slider mechanism facilitate seamless replacement by aligning and transferring seals between operating and exchange positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If replacement seals are arranged in a rotary magazine design, then seal replacement is automated, but the number of replacement seals is limited due to space constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a rotary magazine arrangement to a linear magazine design where replacement seals are arranged along the longitudinal axis. This dimensional change from radial (rotary) to linear arrangement allows for increased storage capacity while maintaining automated replacement functionality through the feed drive mechanism.
2Ease of operation
If a sliding magazine design is used, then seal replacement is simplified, but positioning accuracy is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the sliding mechanical magazine design with a linear magazine combined with a feed drive system. This substitution maintains operational simplicity while improving positioning accuracy through the controlled feed mechanism that precisely positions replacement seals along the longitudinal axis.
3Loss of time
If the magazine size is increased to store more replacement seals, then service intervals can be extended, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic feed drive system that actively manages the linear arrangement of replacement seals. This dynamic mechanism allows the magazine to efficiently store multiple seals along the longitudinal axis while maintaining controlled access and replacement operations, balancing storage capacity with operational simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a compressor and to a method for compressing a working medium, having: a compressor piston that compresses a working medium, a seal for sealing off the compressor piston, a magazine which contains a plurality of replacement seals, a changing device for exchanging the seal with one of the replacement seals in the magazine, wherein the central axes of the replacement seals are arranged so as to be substantially aligned along a longitudinal axis of the magazine.