US3912000A

US3912000A - Multi-cooling housing for a multi-stage compressing system

Info

Publication number: US3912000A
Application number: US432658A
Authority: US
Inventors: Zoltan P Nyeste
Original assignee: WORTHINGTON CEI
Current assignee: WORTHINGTON CEI; WORTHINGTON-CEI Inc; Dresser Rand Co
Priority date: 1972-04-19
Filing date: 1974-01-11
Publication date: 1975-10-14
Anticipated expiration: 1992-10-14

Abstract

A multi-cooler housing for compressing systems has a rectilinear box like structure having an inlet and a discharge outlet and means between said inlet and discharge outlet forming a plurality of complex cavities and flow channels or passages which provide cooling or conditioning loops for fluid introduced or lead from the associated compressing system to the various flow channels of the multi-cooler housing. The cooling or conditioning loops are characterized by the fact that they lie one within the other, so as to permit compressed air or gas to be passed through the multi-cooler housing a plurality of times. The cooling or conditioning loops are formed by a corresponding plurality of common walls in the housing so that the longest and outermost cooling or conditioning loop will receive compressed air at the lowest pressure and the innermost cooling or conditioning loop will receive compressed air at the highest pressure. Additionally, the structure of the multi-cooler housing disclosed may incorporate a lubricant sump and flow passages for lubricant used in the compressing systems, its gear train and accessories.

Description

[4 1 Oct. 14, 1975 MULTl-COOLING HOUSING FOR A MULTI-STAGE COMPRESSING SYSTEM Zoltan P. Nyeste, Grand Island, NY.

[73] Assignee: Worthington-Cei Incorporated,

West Springfield, Mass.

22 Filed: Jan. 11, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 432,658

Related U.S. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 245,578, April 19, 1972, Pat.

{75] Inventor:

[52] U.S. Cl. 165/47; 165/111; 415/179; 62/93 [51] Int. Cl. F2411 3/00 [58] Field of Search 415/179; 62/93; 165/47, 165/111 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,001,692 9/1961 Schierl 415/179 3,355,096 11/1967 Hornschuch 415/179 3,476,485 11/1969 Kunderman 415/179 3,644,054 2/1972 Pilarczyk 165/47 Primary ExaminerAlbert W. Davis, Jr. Assistant Examiner.lames D. Liles Attorney, Agent, or FirmDaniel H. Bobis [57] ABSTRACT A multi-cooler housing for compressing systems has a rectilinear box like structure having an inlet and a discharge outlet and means between said inlet and discharge outlet forming a plurality of complex cavities and fiow channels or passages which provide cooling or conditioning loops for fluid introduced or lead from the associated compressing system to the various flow channels of the multi-cooler housing. The cooling or conditioning loops are characterized by the fact that they lie one within the other, so as to permit compressed air or gas to be passed through the multicooler housing a plurality of times. The cooling or conditioning loops are formed by a corresponding plurality of common walls in the housing so that the longest and outermost cooling or conditioning loop will receive compressed air at the lowest pressure and the innermost cooling or conditioning loop will receive compressed air at the highest pressure.

Additionally, the structure of the multi-cooler housing disclosed may incorporate a lubricant sump and flow passages for lubricant used in the compressing systems, its gear train and accessories.

12 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures a laob 2'2 232 2205 l I90 201.. \L 32= m I 4 v g 200? E 236 E 223 E zorc' '86 l I I 1 2z| Z' 231 2|9 j 4 21 230 i k z f 1 233 t 222 2 a zu 23 J I92 i I zzob 22 93 us. Patent 0ct.14,1975 sheet 1 GM 3,912,000

FIG-.2.

US. Patent Oct. 14, 1975 Sheet 2 of4 3,912,000

FIG. 5

U.S. Patent Oct. 14, 1975 Sheet 3 of4 3,912,000

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FIG. ID

MULTI-COOLING HOUSING FOR A MULTI-STAGE COMPRESSING SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This application is a division of copending application Ser. No. 245,578 filed Apr. I9, 1972 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,802,795.

In the copending application, the prior art of multistage compression assemblies having a multi-cooler as the base for the compressor, its driver and speed increasing gear is set forth indicating that various types of combined bases and multi-cooler housing assemblies are known and indicated by U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,001,692

and 3,476,485.

In said copending application, a more compact and efficient multi-stage compressor assembly and multicooler housing was disclosed and the present application more particularly relates to the improved base and multi-cooler housing shown and described therein.

The multi-cooler housing of the present invention, when taken in combination with the compressor, gear train and accessories of the copending parent application, Ser. No. 245,578 filed on Apr. 19, I972, permits achievement of the same results as prior art devices by providing a single base for the associated equipment, forming a complete assembly which is smaller, lighter and more compact.

The compact arrangement of the present invention eliminates the need for a special foundation. Further, since all normally required components and accessories are incorporated into the one unit or package, only the simplest of air, water and electrical connections are made after the unit is deposited at the site where it will be used.

Thus, the present invention meets and overcomes the problems of the prior art coolers supporting centrifugal compressors by permitting the compressor, its gear train and the associated driving means to be mounted on an improved multi-cooler housing which coacts with the compressor to provide for the compression system the advantages of intercooling between the stages of compression, the end conditioning of the compressed air or gas before it is delivered to use and the cooling of the lubricant used in the system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention covers a multi-cooler type heat exchanger which includes, a housing having a plurality of inlets and outlets, said housing having means forming a plurality of heat exchange loops, and at least one heat exchange means in each of said heat exchange loops, each of said heat exchange loops communicating with a given one of said inlets and a given one of said outlets, and said meansforming the plurality of heat exchange loops disposed so that the heat exchange loops lie substantially one within the other.

Additionally, the multi-cooler type heat exchanger as above described having at least one inlet for lubricant, sump means for collecting said lubricant, and heat exchange means associated with said sump for cooling said collectedlubricant.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-cooler housing with a plurality of heat exchange loops disposed one within the other.

It is another object to provide a multi-cooler housing with a plurality of heat exchange loops disposed one within the other which permits saving in cost of manufacture, material and weight and is more compact in size.

It is'another object to provide a multi-cooler housing with a plurality of heat exchange loops which lie one within the other which includes, a lubricant sump and cooler means. 1

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by references to one of the preferred forms as hereinafter described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front isometric view showing the inlet end of a compression system assembly incorporating a multi-cooler housing in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear isometric view from the driver end of the assembly shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the multi-cooler housing partly broken away to show the first stage intercooler section.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the multi-cooler housing shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the multi-cooler housing shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the multi-cooler housing shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a right side elevational view of the multicooler'housing shown in FIG. 3 partly broken away to show the first stage inter cooler passage from the multistage compressor to the multi-cooler and the second stage return passage from the multi-cooler housing to the multi-stage compressor.

FIG. 8 is a left side elevational view of the multicooler housing shown in FIG. 3 partly broken away to show the first stage inter-cooler passage from the multistage compressor to the multi-cooler housing, the second stage return passage from the multi-cooler housing to the multi-stage compressor, the third stage inlet passage from the multi-stage compressor to the multicooler and the discharge outlet for the assembly.

FIG. 9 is a vertical section taken on line 99 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a vertical section taken on line 10--l0 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a vertical section taken on line ll1l of FIG. 6.

FIG. 12 is a vertical section taken on line 1212 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 13 is a horizontal section taken on line l3--l3 of FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF GENERAL ARRANGEMENT Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, one preferred form ot the multi-cooler housing in accordance with the present invention, generally designated 7 is shown supporting a multi-stage in-line centrifugal compressor generally designated 1 connected through a compound epicyclic gear train section generally designated 2 to a suitable driving means enclosed in a substantially sound-proof housing 5, all of which are described in copending U.S. application Ser. No. 257,578 filed on Apr. 19, 1972 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,802,795.

The compressor 1 receives its air or other gas to be compressed through an inlet, f lter and noise suppressor assembly generally designated 6 and shown in more detail in U.S. Pat.No. 3,736,074. The air or other gas to be compressed will be passed from the compressor to the multi-cooler housing 7. The air or gas in the compressor passes through a plurality of compression stagesin the compressor and through a plurality of intercoolers and finally an end'cooler in the multi-cooler housing all of which is more fully described hereinafter, and from the multi-cooler is discharged through a discharge line 8 which is provided with a check valve 9, to any desired use. I

Compressor 1, its associated compound epicyclic gearing and driving means connected at one end and the inlet, filter and noise suppressor assembly 6 connected to the other end are respectively mounted on top of the multi-cooler housing 7.

Thus, multi-cooler housing 7 serves both as a base for the composite assembly and includes means specially arranged to coact with the compressor for interstage cooling of the air or gases compressed from stage to stage in the compressor and for the conditioning of the air or gas being delivered from the compressor. It includes cooling means for the lubricant which feeds the bearings and the epicyclic gearing for the compressor as will now be described.

MULTI-COOLER HOUSING Multi-cooler housing 7 is shown in detail at FIGS. 3 to 13 of the drawings as a generally elongated rectilinear box-like structure which in cross-section is substantially square. Housing 7 includes a top 181, a bottom 182,

sides

183 and 184, front end 185 and back end While'multi-coolers of various types are known in the prior art such as is shown in US. Pat. No. 3,355,096 and the above mentioned US. Pat. Nos. 3,001,692 and 3,476,485, the design of the multi-cooler housing of the present invention shown in one preferred application is a complexsystem of cavities, channels and inlet and discharge openings in communication therewith which permits compressed air or gas to be passed through the multi-cooler housing a plurality of times.

The basic concept of the design adapted for this complex system of cavities, channels and flow openings into and out of the multi-cooler housing 7 is to provide passages, cavities, or channels which form cooling or conditioning loops one inside of the other. The longest and outermost cooling or conditioning loop receiving compressed air or gas at the lowest pressure and the smallest and innermost cooling or conditioning loop having and receiving the compressed air or gas at the highest pressure.

Thus, air or gas discharged from the first compression stage will pass through a low pressure cooling loop to the second compression stage inlet. The same air or gas will be discharged at a higher pressure from the second compression stage into an intermediate pressure cooling loop and passed through the intermediate pressure cooling loop to the third compression stage inlet.

The intermediate pressure loop will be disposed inside the lower pressure loop. Finally, the sameair or gas will be discharged at the highest system pressure from the third compression stage outlet into the high pressure cooling loop where it passes to the discharge outlet for the system. The high pressure loop once again lies within the intermediate pressure loop, all of which will appear clear from the FIGS. 11 and 12 of the drawings.

Thus, the air and

gas transport openings

180a, 180b, 1800, 180d and 180a in the boss 158 of the multi-cooler housing provide the flow passage inlets and outlets, for passing the air or gas being compressed in the compressor to and from the multi-cooler housing 7 to permit interstage cooling of such air or gas between each stage of compression and for the end conditioning of the compressed air or gas. This is a known expedient which improves the efficiency of the multi-stage compressor and permits adjustment of the temperature and/or specific humidity of the air or gas being delivered for use.

The relationship between the various cooling loops and the transport openings a, 180b, 180a, 180d and 180e formed in the boss 158 is shown in FIGS. 6, 7, 8, l l l2 and 13 to include a plurality of convoluted partitions which extend transversely of the longitudinal line of the multi-cooler 7 and are in fluid-tight connection on each side of the respective partitions with the adjacent inner wall of the

respective side walls

183 and 184 of multi-cooler 7. The partitions at one or both ends commence at the boss 158 and act to define the

transport openings

180a, 180b 1806, 180d "and 180e and the lubricant transport opening 180f.

Referring to FIGS. 7, 11, 12 and 13, the first partition is convoluted design is disposed to extend from the boss 158 on the top wall 181 to the bottom wall 182 and is connected at its edges to the

side walls

183 and 184. It defines with the top wall, a connecting passage 191 which communicates with the lubricant transport opening 180f at one end and at the end remote therefrom with a cavity 192 which forms a lubricant sump as at 193.

FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 further show that lubricant from the multi-stage compressor 1 enters transport opening 180f passes through the connecting passage 191 into the cavity 192 and is collected in the sump 193. The main pump 124 driven by the driving means (not shown) is connected to the sump 193 and draws lubricant therefrom. This lubricant is then pumped through the oil cooler 126 and filter 127 and flows by suitable conduits and passages to the bearings (not shown) and the epicyclic gear train generally designated 2 as is shown and described in more detail in said copending U.S. application Ser. No. 245,578.

A second convoluted partition 200 is connected at its respective ends in the boss 158 to define the

transport openings

180a and 180d and at the respective edges to the

side walls

183 and 184. It is disposed relative top 181, bottom 182, end wall 186 and the first partition 190 to form the low pressure cooling loop generally designated 201. The low pressure loop 201 communicates at one end with the transport-opening 180a and at the end remote therefrom with the transport opening 180b. Thus, air or gas compressed in the first stage of compression and discharged from the compressor, will pass through the transport opening in the base of the compressorin alignment with the transport opening 180a in the boss 158 on the multi-cooler 7 into the low pressure cooling loop 201 as will be clear by reference to FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12.

Disposed in the low pressure cooling loop is a heat exchange means generally designated 202 which consists of conventional tube bundles diagrammatically indicated in FIG. 3 at 203. The tube bundles are connected to a header 204. The header 204 is provided with an inlet pipe 205 for passing cooling water to heat exchanger means 202 and an outlet pipe 206 for returning cooling water from the heat exchange means the common return conduit 208 for returning the heated cooling water to the course, as also'shown'in FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawings. l

Heat exchange means of the. type above described are well known and easily, purchasable on the open' market, with therefor. be well understood 'by those skilled inthe art and accordingly are not more fully de-" scribed. Further, all-the heat exchanger means is the various cooling loops will have a similar construction to that above described for heat-exchange means 202. Accordingly, when heat-exchange means is referred to in connecting with the intermediate pressure cooling loop andhigh pressure cooling loop it isintende'd to refer to heat exchangers of this type.

'In the multi-coole'r housing 7? each of the respective cooling loops will be constructedand arranged to receivethe respective heat exchange means. Thus, in the low pressure cooling loop 201, a lower bracket'member 210 connected respectively to-front wall l85'the

side walls

183 and 184 and the partition 200, a spaced distance from the bottom wall 182 and forms a centrally disposed flow opening 21 1. Similarly, an upper bracket member2l2 with a centrally disposed flow opening is formeda spaced distance from the upperwall l81and the heat exchange means 202 can'be mounted in the space defined'between these brackets through the heat exchange mounting opening 214' and 215 in the sides' 184 and -l83respectively of the multi-cooler housing 7. The

openings

214 and 215 are'provided with a mounting flange 216 and- 217 about each of the openings. A corresponding mounting'flange 218 is provided about the header 204v for connecting the heat exchange means 202 in assembled position, all of which is shown in FIGS. 3, 7 and 8 of the drawings.

In FIGS. 9, 10, 11 and 12, the low pressurejcooling loop 201 defined by the partition 200 has an inlet section 201a in communication with the transport opening 180a. The inlet section 201a receives the heat exchange means 202 as above described, the' loop 201 also has a constricted or narrow section as at lb and an'expansion section as at 2010.

Thus, compressed air or gas which first enters the low pressure cooling loop 201 through the communicating transport opening 180a flows down across the heat exchange means 202 in the inlet section 201a-and will be cooled. It then turns approximately 90 to pass through,

the narrow or constricted section 20lb and then it is turned against 90 to pass upwardly through the expansion section 201C and exits from the multi-cooler housing 7 through the transport openirig 180b, for return to the second stageof compression for the multi-stage.

compressor 1 as is described in said copending applica tion.

The effect of this system of chambers andchannels in the cooling loop 201 is to provide an inertial type moisture separator for the compressed air flowing therethrough. However; it "'willbe understood that -a wire-mesh type separator could cooling loop if required.

A third convoluted partition 2'19 e tends fro'rnthe be mounted in the Partition 219 is disposed in spaced relation tov the partition 200 and forms therewith an intermediate pressure-cooling loop 220 which is disposed inwardly of and approximately concentric tothe low pressure cooling loop .201. p I y The intermediate pressure cooling loop 220 also includes an inlet section as at 220a which defines a heat exchange space 221' with lower support brackets 222 and upper" support brackets 223 for receiving a heat exchange means not shown which is mounted transversely through the side wall as indicated by the

openings

224 and 225.

Openings

224 and 225 are also provided with a composite mounting

flange

226 and 227 which is common to the next adjacent

heat exchange openings

228 and 229 in the high pressure cooling loop to be described below.

,The intermediate pressure cooling loop 220 has a constricted or narrow section 22011 and an expansion section 2200 which has a'separator space at 230 if it is desired to mount a wire mesh separator in the flow path as above described. The expansion section 220C communicates with and passesthe compressed air or gas out of the intermediate pressure cooling loop through transport opening 180d for return to the third stage of compression in said multi stage centrifugal compressor 1 as is described in said copending application.

Once again the'effect of the system of chambers and channels which turn and expand the compressed air or gas as it is cooled during movement through the interrne diate pressure cooling l'oop 220 also provides inertial separation for moisture in the'moving air.

FlGS. 8, 11, 12 and 13 showa fourth ll-shap'ed partition 231 connected across the third partition 219 to define therewith'high pressure coolingloop' '23 2 which lies within and substantialconcentricjto the intermediate pressure cooling loop 220. The high pressure cool- I ing loop 232 has an inlet section 232a which communicates with the transport opening l80e.Formed between the partition 231 and 239 to define a hea't exchange space are the lower bracket means 233 and upper shouldenmeans '234 which have flow opening therethrough asat 235 in the lower bracket means and 236 in the upper shoulder medn'see that a heat exchange means not Shown "ca"n be'mounted therein through the openings228g'an'd 229'in the

sides

183 and 184 respectively of the mum-cooler housing 7.

The inlet section 232a communicates with the naris connected in thetop 18-1 at the boss 188 on the multi-cooler housing 7.

Air or. gas compressed in the third stage of compression of the multi-stage compressor 1 will enter the multi-cooler housing 7 through the transport opening 180a into the high'pressure cooling loop 232. In the high pressure cooling loop 232, it will be conditioned as it passed over 't he end conditioning heat exchange means not shown in the inlet section 232a and then will be passed through'thenarrow section 232b, the expansion section 232b -and exit from the high pressure cool- "ing loop 232 through thedischarge outlet or pipe 8 to use.

In the above description, a,. multi-cooler housing of a partieular construction and design has been disclosed for operative coaction with a multi-stage in-line centrifother parts to be made of cast iron which helps'to silence or reduce noise transmission between the elements and in and by the multi-stage compression system as a whole.

In particular, in the multi-cooler housing 7 the transverse heat exchange receiving openings are shown as disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal line of the housing so that in the casting of this intricate and complex combination of channels and cavities the core boxes are easily removable to provide the desired cores in the casting.

In addition to serving as a base or support for the compressor, its driving means and the accessory equipment the multi-cooler housing 7 as above described provides other advantages.

' First, it provides an ideal arrangment of pressurized passages and cavities to form the cooling loops for a multi-stage compressing system of the type disclosed in said copending application in that compressed air at its lowest pressure is in the outermost cooling loop and the innermost and shortest cooling loop is exposed to compressed air at its highest system pressure. The advantage of this arrangement is that the partitions which segregate the respective loops can be relatively thin because they are never subjected to the pressure acting in the cooling loops but only to the difference in pressure between the pressures in the respective cooling loops on opposite sides of any given partition.

Second, the distribution of the compressed air or gas as it approaches the face of each heat exchange means in a given cooling loop is substantially uniform across the entire face of the heat exchange means and thus the arrangement is able to meet the required conditions for proper interstage cooling and end conditioning of the compressed air or gas.

Third, the design is sufficiently flexible to permit the inclusion of other components for example moisture ,separatorsand it provides a section which is used as an 'ponents may be substituted for those described and of course the multi-stage housing is also adaptable to other complex cooling or heating systems requiring multiple cooling or heating stages all within the invention as defined by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a multi-cooler for compressed air or gas,

a. a heat exchange housing comprising, a box-like member having a plurality of inlets and outlets for passing compressed air or gas into and out of the heat exchange housing,

b. said box-like member having a plurality of heat exchange loops and at least one exchange means in each of said heat exchange loops,

0. each of said plurality of heat exchange loops communicating with one of the inlets at one end and one of the outlets at the opposite,

-d.-.said plurality of heat exchange loops disposed substantially one within the other. 2. In a multi-cooler as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of heat exchange loops are disposed so that compressed air or gas at the lowest pressure flows .through the outer of said heat exchange loops and the compressed air or gas at the highest pressure flows through the inner of the said heat exchange loops.

3. In a mult'i-cooler as claimed in claim 1 wherein the heat exchange means in each of the plurality of heat exchange loops is transverse to the longitudinal line of the multi-cooler housing.

4. In a multi-cooler-as claimed in claim 1 wherein the innermost of the plurality of heat exchange loops includes, a discharge outlet for the compressing system.

5. In a multi-cooler as claimed in claim 1 wherein a. at least one separator supporting means is formed in said housing and is disposed for operative coaction in one of the plurality of heat exchange loops and a separator to be mounted in said separator supporting means.

6. In a multi-cooler as claimed in claim 1 wherein,

a. the heat exchange housing has an inlet for lubricant to be cooled,

b. said heat exchange housing having, a sump means,

and a connecting passage means at one end connected to the inlet for lubricant and the other end connected with the sump means.

7. In a multi-cooler for compressing air or gas,

a. a heat exchange housing comprising, a box-like member having a top, a bottom, a left side, a right side, a front end and a back end,

b. means in said top forming a plurality of inlets and outlets for passing compressed air or gas into and out of the heat exchange housing,

c. a first partition disposed in spaced relation to said top and at least one end and connected in fluid tight engagement'with said right side and left side to delineate a first heat exchange loop having a heat exchange means therein,

d. said first heat exchange loop connected to one of the inlets to receive compressedair or gas at relatively low pressure and connected at the opposite end to an outlet for passing the treated compressed air or gas from the heat exchange housing,

e. at least one other partition disposed in spaced relation to said first partition and connected in fluid tight engagement with said right side and left side to form at least one other heat exchange loop having a heat exchange means therein substantially concentric to and inwardly of the first heat exchange loop,

f. said other heat exchange loop connected to another of the inlets to receive compressed air or gas at a higher pressure than said first heat exchange loop and connected at the opposite end to another of the outlets for passing the treated compressed air and gas from the heat exchange housing.

8. In a multi-cooler as claimed in claim 7 wherein the first partition and said other partition are connected at their respective ends to the top of the box-like member and are spaced so as to provide the associated one of said inlets and the associated one of said outlets.

of the longitudinal line of the multi-cooler housing,

b. and means are formed between the first partition and said other partition to support second heat exchange means in said other heat exchange loop transversely of the longitudinal line of the heat exchange housing and parallel to said first heat exchange means.

10. In a multi-cooler as claimed in claim 7 wherein,

a. the heat exchange housing has an inlet for lubricant to be cooled,

b. the heat exchange housing having, a sump means,

and connecting passage means connected at one end to the inlet for lubricant and at the opposite end to the sump means.

11. In a multi-cooler as claimed in claim 7 wherein the first partition and said other partition are convoluted to provide a plurality of cavities and channels designed to also provide inertial type separation of moisture from compressed air or gas flowing therethrough.

12. In a multi-cooler as claimed in claim 7 wherein,

a. said heat exchange housing has at least two other b. at least one heat exchange means connected in said heat exchange housing and disposed in each of said respective heat exchange loops,

c. said other heat exchange loops disposed to receive compressed air or gas at pressures higher than delivered to the first heat exchange loop,

d. and a discharge outlet formed in said multi-cooler housing for discharging compressed air or gas connected to the innermost of the concentric other heat exchange loops.

Claims

1. In a multi-cooler for compressed air or gas, a. a heat exchange housing comprising, a box-like member having a plurality of inlets and outlets for passing compressed air or gas into and out of the heat exchange housing, b. said box-like member having a plurality of heat exchange loops and at least one exchange means in each of said heat exchange loops, c. each of said plurality of heat exchange loops communicating with one of the inlets at one end and one of the outlets at the opposite, d. said plurality of heat exchange loops disposed substantially one within the other.

2. In a multi-cooler as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plurality of heat exchange loops are disposed so that compressed air or gas at the lowest pressure flows through the outer of said heat exchange loops and the compressed air or gas at the highest pressure flows through the inner of the said heat exchange loops.

3. In a multi-cooler as claimed in claim 1 wherein the heat exchange means in each of the plurality of heat exchange loops is transverse to the longitudinal line of the multi-cooler housing.

4. In a multi-cooler as claimed in claim 1 wherein the innermost of the plurality of heat exchange loops includes, a discharge outlet for the compressing system.

6. In a multi-cooler as claimed in claim 1 wherein, a. the heat exchange housing has an inlet for lubricant to be cooled, b. said heat exchange housing having, a sump means, and a connecting passage means at one end connected to the inlet for lubricant and the other end connected with the sump means.

7. In a multi-cooler for compressing air or gas, a. a heat exchange housing comprising, a box-like member having a top, a bottom, a left side, a right side, a front end and a back end, b. means in said top forming a plurality of inlets and outlets for passing compressed air or gas into and out of the heat exchange housing, c. a first partition disposed in spaced relation to said top and at least one end and connected in fluid tight engagement with said right side and left side to delineate a first heat exchange loop having a heat exchange means therein, d. said first heat exchange loop connected to one of the inlets to receive compressed air or gas at relatively low pressure and connected at the opposite end to an outlet for passing the treated compressed air or gas from the heat exchange housing, e. at least one other partition disposed in spaced relation to said first partition and connected in fluid tight engagement with said right side and left side to form at least one other heat exchange loop having a heat exchange means therein substantially concentric to and inwardly of the first heat exchange loop, f. said other heat exchange loop connected to another of the inlets to receive compressed air or gas at a higher pressure than said first heat exchange loop and connected at the opposite end to another of the outlets for passing the treated compreSsed air and gas from the heat exchange housing.

9. In a multi-cooler as claimed in claim 7 wherein, a. means are formed between the housing and said first partition to support the first heat exchange means in said first heat exchange loop transversely of the longitudinal line of the multi-cooler housing, b. and means are formed between the first partition and said other partition to support second heat exchange means in said other heat exchange loop transversely of the longitudinal line of the heat exchange housing and parallel to said first heat exchange means.

10. In a multi-cooler as claimed in claim 7 wherein, a. the heat exchange housing has an inlet for lubricant to be cooled, b. the heat exchange housing having, a sump means, and connecting passage means connected at one end to the inlet for lubricant and at the opposite end to the sump means.

12. In a multi-cooler as claimed in claim 7 wherein, a. said heat exchange housing has at least two other partitions in operative association with the first partition and disposed concentric to the first partition in said heat exchange housing and to each other to form at least two other heat exchange loops in the heat exchange housing also concentric to the first heat exchange loop therein and to each other, b. at least one heat exchange means connected in said heat exchange housing and disposed in each of said respective heat exchange loops, c. said other heat exchange loops disposed to receive compressed air or gas at pressures higher than delivered to the first heat exchange loop, d. and a discharge outlet formed in said multi-cooler housing for discharging compressed air or gas connected to the innermost of the concentric other heat exchange loops.