Compressor ID?

This topic has 18 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 4 September 2014 at 13:37 by Ian S C.

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2 September 2014 at 08:07 #162437
Peter Bell
Participant
@peterbell11509
Hello,

Recently bought this compressor and wondered if anyone can identify it from the pics? Quite well made, 40mm bore x 35mm stroke, splash lubrication but pumped from a lower reservoir by an oil pump on the end with what looks like an adjustable oil pump. The compressor isd in good condition, sized as the oli appears to have turned to varnish!

Thanks Peter
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2 September 2014 at 08:07 #23482
Peter Bell
Participant
@peterbell11509
2 September 2014 at 08:14 #162439
Peter Bell
Participant
@peterbell11509
Sorry, looks like I need more practice!
2 September 2014 at 08:30 #162442
RJW
Participant
@rjw
Westinghouse perhaps?
John.
2 September 2014 at 09:02 #162444
Will Doggett
Participant
@willdoggett95799
Hi David

Yes it is a Westinghoues compressor.

Will
2 September 2014 at 09:11 #162445
Will Doggett
Participant
@willdoggett95799
Hi Peter

The compressor was manufactured by Westinghouse.

Will
2 September 2014 at 11:55 #162458
Ian S C
Participant
@iansc
Peter, my guess would be German, I think that's the top patent number, I can't see it properly. If it were Westinghouse, there would be a US patent at least.

Ian S C
2 September 2014 at 13:29 #162469
Mike Poole
Participant
@mikepoole82104
The logo would seem to belong to the Westinghouse Brake and Signal Company so may be part of a train braking system.

Mike
2 September 2014 at 17:22 #162497
Roger Hart
Participant
@rogerhart88496
FWIW I reckon a refrigeration compressor – by Westinghouse maybe.
2 September 2014 at 20:37 #162511
Peter Bell
Participant
@peterbell11509
Thanks for the replies. I thought it was a bit odd with British, Belgian, French & Italian patent numbers, no USA or Germany. Also there seems to be a lot of pattern numbers all over. Is the patent date the last part of the digits? ie 22

Could be Westinhouse but isn it a bit small for a train compressor? Dont know anything about refrigeration compressors, what gas would it be compressing of that era,

A better pic of the end, rather strange logo?

Peter
2 September 2014 at 21:12 #162513
Neil Wyatt
Moderator
@neilwyatt
In those days they would use almost anything as a refrigerator gas, even sulphur dioxide!

From http://www.refrigeration-engineer.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-5917.html

"An old timer who used to work on Cental refrigeration systems that were popular in apartment buildings, told me a story where there was a leak in a coil in an apartment refrigerator, the Sulfur Dioxide bleached all the veggies and fruit white, preserved them quite well, but took out all the coloring."

"Many years ago my Dad had a old refrigerator that failed. He went and bought a new one.
Being as the old one was all metal he thought it would make a good smokehouse.
In my ignorance I took and chopped the lines with a axe in order to remove the compressor.
How was I to know that the S02 would kill off the strawberry patch?:D"

Other gems at that link!

Neil
2 September 2014 at 21:21 #162516
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
Posted by Peter Bell on 02/09/2014 20:37:29:

… Is the patent date the last part of the digits? ie 22

.

Peter,

Typically, yes

… and this appears to be the relevant GB patent.

MichaelG.
2 September 2014 at 21:57 #162518
John Stevenson 1
Participant
@johnstevenson1
OK guys it's a basic standard Westinghouse twin cylinder compressor, fitted in the tens of thousands to Fodens, AEC's Gardner's, Leylands, Scammell's etc as an air brake compressor but in that guise they didn't have the sump part, just a plate with a return path to the engine sump and the oil pump was also omitted and it relied on a feed from the main oil gallery on the engine.

So quite what this one was used for I personally don't know but I have worked on many of these truck derived units.
3 September 2014 at 09:23 #162538
Peter Bell
Participant
@peterbell11509
Thanks for the replies.

The patent is an individuals name(Charles Henry Dyke) rather than a company. Is that standard practice? But it does describe the oil pump fitted to transfer oil between the chambers.

Agree John it does look like an automotive compressors but the familiar ones are larger and use the engine lubrication system rather than splash, also have unloader valves in the head. I have a water cooled version on my lorry.

I have seen Gardner engines from the 1930's and 40's with small single cyl compressors for the air assisted braked fitted then before full air brakes came in in the 1960's so it looks like its probably an early Westinhouse automotive compressor and from the patent 20's or 30's

Peter
3 September 2014 at 10:22 #162543
Pat Bravery
Participant
@patbravery
This could well be Routemaster or RT/RF compressor which had remote unloader valves and were splash fed with SAE30 oil, these vehicles were mainly fitted with Westinghouse air systems. I worked on these vehicles for many years. The compressors were belt driven from the carden shaft between engine and gearbox with 2 or 3 belts so the pulley may not be the original one. Ah memories
3 September 2014 at 10:38 #162548
Michael Gilligan
Participant
@michaelgilligan61133
Posted by Peter Bell on 03/09/2014 09:23:42:

Thanks for the replies.

The patent is an individuals name(Charles Henry Dyke) rather than a company. Is that standard practice?

.

Peter,

It's by no means uncommon

In many cases, however, the inventor is named but the applicant is a company.

If you find patents interesting, it's well worth playing with the advanced search facility on espacenet.

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 03/09/2014 10:39:50

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 03/09/2014 10:40:24
3 September 2014 at 13:17 #162568
Ian S C
Participant
@iansc
Just had a look on Google, plenty there. It's an automotive compressor. designed by Louis Broussouse (France), for Bendix Westinghouse in 1921, first used by International Harvester on a coach/bus.

Ian S C
3 September 2014 at 17:35 #162602
Peter Bell
Participant
@peterbell11509
Thanks Ian very interesting. Your googling is better than mine! can only find a very basic link to use in IH bus. Do you still have the links?

Peter
4 September 2014 at 13:37 #162674
Ian S C
Participant
@iansc
Peter, sorry no, but I just put in Google, compressor by Westinghouse brake and signal co ltd, I think you'll find just about all there is to know on the first page.

Ian S C

Edited By Ian S C on 04/09/2014 13:49:04
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