Compressor ID?

[Peter BellParticipant @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

[Peter BellParticipant @peterbell11509]

[Peter BellParticipant @peterbell11509]

Sorry, looks like I need more practice!

[RJWParticipant @rjw]

Westinghouse perhaps?
John.

[Will DoggettParticipant @willdoggett95799]

Hi David

Yes it is a Westinghoues compressor.

Will

[Will DoggettParticipant @willdoggett95799]

Hi Peter

The compressor was manufactured by Westinghouse.

Will

[Ian S CParticipant @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

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

The logo would seem to belong to the Westinghouse Brake and Signal Company so may be part of a train braking system.

Mike

[Roger HartParticipant @rogerhart88496]

FWIW I reckon a refrigeration compressor – by Westinghouse maybe.

[Peter BellParticipant @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

[Neil WyattModerator @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

[Michael GilliganParticipant @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.

[John Stevenson 1Participant @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.

[Peter BellParticipant @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

[Pat BraveryParticipant @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

[Michael GilliganParticipant @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

[Ian S CParticipant @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

[Peter BellParticipant @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

[Ian S CParticipant @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

[Author]

Posts