Vilter Manufacturing LLC

Robert C Hikade

Glen Swift

A gas compressor has cylinders in which gas is compressed by pistons. Each cylinder has a suction valve and an exhaust valve to admit uncompressed gas and expel compressed gas. The suction valve includes a suction valve plate which repeatedly moves toward and away from the top end of the cylinder between closed and open positions, respectively. Apparatus to control compressor capacity includes an unloader mechanism to selectively prevent the suction valve plate moving to fully closed position to thereby unload the cylinder and reduce compressor capacity. The unloader mechanism comprises an unloader piston movable in an unloader cylinder in response to system conditions to move a linkage which determines the closure position of the suction valve plate. The linkage includes a pivotable lift arm biased toward a position which allows full closure of the suction valve plate and is movable by the unloader piston to another position which prevents full closure of the suction valve plate. The unloader piston, which merely rests on the lift arm and is relatively massive so as to reduce chatter caused by reciprocation of the suction valve plate, is accessible for removal and service of a piston ring thereon merely by removal of the cylinder cover.

Compressor capacity control apparatus

A large manually operated leak-proof corrosion-proof low-cost shut-off or stop valve for handling high pressure refrigerant liquids and/or gases comprises a valve body formed of two sheet metal hemispheres welded to the periphery of a circular metal valve plate having a fluid passage therethrough and hollow cylindrical metal tubes welded to the hemispheres along the edges of circular holes cut in the hemispheres. One tube on each hemisphere serves for fluid flow. Another internally and externally threaded tube on one hemisphere serves as a valve sleeve through which a rotatable and axially shiftable externally threaded valve spindle extends. The cylindrical inner end of the valve spindle extends into a cylindrical recess in a valve disc which releasably engages a valve seat around a fluid flow passage in the valve plate. The valve disc is secured to the valve spindle by a C-ring which engages an annular groove formed in the periphery of the cylindrical inner end of the valve spindle and a registering annular groove formed in the peripheral wall of the cylindrical recess in the valve disc. The outer end of the valve spindle is secured to the hub of a hand-wheel which is rotatable to open and close the valve. A hollow bonnet secured to the outer end of the valve sleeve entraps sealing materials to prevent fluid leakage between the valve spindle and the valve sleeve.

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Sussex, WI, United States of America

Robert C Hikade