Compressor Operating Position & Compressor Drive

Compressor Operating Position

occacionally compressor failures will occur due to loss of lubrication caused by parking the truck on too steep a slope. The resulting tilt of the compressor may cause the oil level to fall below the pick-up point of the oil flinger or oil pump.

operation of the unit whilethe truck is parked on steep inclines should be avoided. if this is unavoidable, the compressor so that oil will tend to flow to the oil pick-up  point. Since this will vary on disfferent model compressor, and the individual parking arrangement will affect the direction of the compressor pitch, each aplication must be considered individually.

In  severe cases, consult eith the compressor manufacturer.


Compressor Drive

Direct drive from an engine, either gasoline or diesel, to a compressor requires very careful attention to the coupling design. Alignment between the engine drive shaft and the compressor crankshaft is critical both in parallel and angular planes. Even slight angular misalignment can cause repetitive compressor crankshaft breakage. Because of the sharp impulses from the engine firing, a flexible coupling giving some resiliency is required. The coupling should be capable of compensating for slight parallel or angular misalignment and should also allow some slight endplay movement of the crankshafts. Nylon splines, neoprene bushings, and flexible disc type couplings have all been used successfully.

For a compressor driven from a power takeoff by means of a shaft and two iniversal joints, the crosses in the U-joints must be kept parallel to each other. Where possible, the compressor rotation should be in the same direction whether on electric standby or driven from the engine.

In driving a compressor with V-belts, care must be taken to avoid excessive belt tension and belt slap. A means for easily asjusting belt tension should be provided. It may be necessary to provide an idler pulley to dampen belt movement an long belt drives. Care should be taken to mount the compressor so that the compressor ahaft is parallel with the engine crankshaft.