,

5.

V. P. TerskSkh, Method of Circulating Fractions [in Russian], Vol. 1 and 2, Sudpromgiz, Leningrad (1955). O. T. Storozhenko and I. N. Mukhin, Effect of low-frequency vibrations on the centrifuge p~ocess, in: reference collection "Deposited Manuscripts" [in Russian], No. 3, Vsesoyuznyi Institut Nauchnoi i Tekhnicheskoi Informatsii, Moscow (1980), p. 5.

IMPROVED DESIGN FOR THE CROSSHEAD AND CONNECTING ROD ASSEMBLY IN 6M 40 COMPRESSORS D. V~ Murikov, V. G. Pestov, L. A. Romanenko, and G. A. Belanov UDC 621.512-242.4.004.69

Experience with compressors [i] has shown that one of the frequenct causes of breakdown is fracture of the connecting rod at the threaded portion which mates with the crosshead. It is therefore of practical interest to optimize the design of this assembly from the point of view of improved analytical methods, adequate fatigue strength, and proper tightening procedures with control of stress conditions~ The latter factor is particularly important during assembly and operation as excessive or inadequate tightening can lead to improper functioning of the assembly and failure of the parts. The existing methods of measuring the stress conditi=ns in such joints (direct measurements of rod elongation, angle of rotation of the nut, tightening torque on the nut) are either complicated or not sufficiently reliable. The improved design for the crosshead and conne=ting rod assembly in 6M40 compressors [2] makes it possible to create a controlled stress condition besides facilitating assembly and maintenance. The improved assembly (see Fig. I) consists of a nut 4, connecting rod 3, coupling 5 made of two halves connected by bolts through the holes 2, crosshead 9, membranetype dynamometer 7, pipe connection i for supplying liquid, and intermediate sleeve 6o The coupling engages the shoulders on the crosshead and the connecting-rod nut. The dynamometer is made in the form of a torus. The working of the assembly is described below. The shank of the crosshead, intermediate bush, nut, and connecting rod are initially in an unstressed condition within the coupling. A liquid (like oil) is supplied under pressure ~o the dynamometer. The expansion force developed by the dynamometer is transmitted on one side through the crosshead shoulder, and on the other side through the intermediate sleeve to the shoulders of the coupling. This causes the coupling to stretch in the longitudinal direction and the elongation can be adjusted to the desired level by means of the liquid pressure in the dynamometer. After adjusting the desired stress condition in the coupling, the ~an between the shoulders on the nut and coupling is reduced by rotating the nut. The liquid pressure within the dynamometer is then released, but the assembly remains in a stressed condition. In this state the face of the connecting-rod shank 8 is pressed against the body of the crosshead. The existing design of the assembly in a 6 M 40 compressor does not have the membranetype dynamometer, connecting pipe, and intermediate sleeve. The tightening force is regulated by measuring the torque on the nut. The new assembly design was tested for reliability. A model made on a 1:4 scale was inis calibrated on a hydraulic press. The stress condition in the assembly was measured by means of resistance strain gauges bonded to the connecting-rod end and a TsTM-3 bridge circuit. The model was tested at loads up to 20,000 N which corresponded to full-scale loads of 300 kNo The test results were used to determine the basic dimensions of a prototype assembly for the 6M 40 compressor. Tests were done on a full-scale membrane-type dynamometer (Fig. 2) in two stages to determine the low-cycle fatigue strength. In the first stage the load was increased in steps of I0 MPa from zero to 85 MPa. This corresponded to an expansion force Translated from Khimicheskoe i Neftyanoe Mashinostroenie, No. i0, pp. 9-10, October, 1983.

0009-2355/83/0910-0423507.50

9 1984 Plenum Publishing Corporation

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