Importance

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Abstract

Start up difficulties in gas compression systems due to undersized motors and/or low voltage conditions are avoided in a system including an electrically operated compressor (10, 36) including a compression chamber (34), a compressed gas reservoir (20) connected to the compression chamber (34) to receive gas therefrom, a pressure control switch (16) associated with the reservoir (20) and operable to control operation of the compressor (10, 36) in response to the pressure level of gas within the reservoir (20), and an unloader valve (42) connected to the compression chamber (34) and operable by the switch (16) by a valve construction including a valve body (50), an inlet (62) to the valve body (50) and in fluid communication with the compression chamber (34), and an outlet (68) from the valve body (50) to the ambient. A relatively large first passage (52) is located in the valve body (50) and extends between the inlet (62) and the outlet (68). A first valve seat (70) is located in the passage (52) and a first relatively large valve member (80) is movable within the passage (52) on the inlet side of the seat (70) and is operable to close against the seat (70). A second passage (88) is located within the valve (42) in bypass relation to the valve seat (70) and a second valve seat (90) is located in the passage (88). A second, relatively small valve (92) is movable in the second passage (88) and closable against the second valve seat (90) and includes an operator (116) extending exteriorly of the valve body (50) and connected to the second valve member (92) for operation via the pressure switch (16).

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First Claim