Oil separation and gas pressure equalizer means for reciprocating gas

Abstract

A housing of a reciprocating gas compressor comprises a partition member separating an upper suction chamber through which gas passes and a lower crankcase chamber in which a crankshaft rotates and which has an oil sump at the bottom. The partition member is imperforate except for sealed openings through which cylinder sleeves and hydraulic fluid lines extend between the chambers. A conduit located on the housing exterior and connected between the chambers performs three functions, namely: enables gas flow in either direction to effect pressure equalization; enables oil to flow by gravity from low points in the upper chamber into the sump; and enables oil mist in the gas flow through the conduit to coalesce on the inner walls of the conduit and flow by gravity into the sump. The conduit includes two upper tubes, each having one end connected to a low point in the suction chamber adjacent the partition member where oil collects, and each having its other end connected by a T-connector to a third tube which has its lower end connected at a point in the lower chamber above the oil level in the oil sump and clear of the crankshaft rotation path.