US 12,468,321 B2
Pneumatic inlet/blowdown valve assembly
Sajesh Poolathody, Malappuram (IN); and Dhananjaya Ambula Lingappa, Bengaluru (IN)
Assigned to Ingersoll-Rand Industrial U.S., Inc., Davidson, NC (US)
Filed by Ingersoll-Rand Industrial U.S., Inc., Davidson, NC (US)
Filed on Nov. 2, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/500,609.
Application 18/500,609 is a continuation of application No. 17/860,499, filed on Jul. 8, 2022, granted, now 11,841,718.
Prior Publication US 2024/0061454 A1, Feb. 22, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G05D 16/20 (2006.01); F15B 15/14 (2006.01)
CPC G05D 16/2022 (2019.01) [F15B 15/14 (2013.01); G05D 16/2033 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fluid compressor system for compressing a working fluid comprising:
a first air-end operable to receive and compress the working fluid;
a second air-end operable to receive the working fluid from the first air-end and further compress the working fluid; and
a pneumatic inlet/blowdown valve assembly including:
an inlet valve configured to regulate a flow of the working fluid into the first air-end,
a blowdown valve configured to release a pressure within the fluid compressor system, and
a piston-cylinder actuator in communication with the inlet valve and the blowdown valve, the piston-cylinder actuator including:
a first piston housed within a first cylinder,
a second piston housed within a second cylinder, the first piston connected to the second piston, and
a blowdown valve piston cap disposed within the blowdown valve, the blowdown valve piston cap coupled to the piston shaft and configured to open and close the blowdown valve,
the first piston and the second piston configured to be actuated between an idle state wherein the inlet valve is closed to stop the flow of the working fluid into the fluid compressor system and the blowdown valve is open to depressurize the fluid compressor system, and an actuated state wherein the inlet valve is open to allow the flow of the working fluid into the first air-end and the blowdown valve is closed to allow a pressure buildup in the fluid compressor system.