Compressor

[cvb141]

Hey Eric,
I seem to remember reading somewhere that you used to rebuild hermetic compressors. If you did, do you happen to have any photos of any that you did, while apart? Never seen the inside of one and was curious as to how you did it. Anyway, excuse me if my thinking was out in left field.
Jerry

[globalcompressors]

Hi Jerry,

I did.

We built the larger machines though. We did a/c compressors ranging from 18,000 btu (1.5 ton) thru 100 ton screw compressors. We were the only company set up for cutting and re-welding these hermetic machines, in the State. I had 2 companies, in the Dallas area, who made dies and gaskets for around 40 or so different machines. I designed and built a rotating cutting machine for getting into these compressors including the huge ones that weighed in excess of 1200lbs. We would re-weld using a wire fed, MIG welder with Argon sheilding. Made for a nice bead. At the end of my "rebuilding" career, and my partner stepping out, we scrapped all remainging compressors we had. The figure was around 240,000 lbs of scrap iron, 14,000 lbs copper, and 5000lbs of aluminum. That was a lot!

Since you can't buy parts for a "sealed" compressor (designed as a throw away) you have to accumulate enough of the same, exact, brand, size, etc. to build just one or two, rob Peter to pay Paul if you will. I thought about getting back into it, for the collectors, but there just isn't enough of a supply of scrap compressors to make it worthwhile.

I used to have pictures, of the insides, of a couple of compressors around. I had done some speaking, for the a/c students at ITT Tech here in Houston. Let me see what I have and if not, I can pull one apart, in pieces, showing all the workings inside and what happens to them in certain cases, valves, burn, lockup, etc.

If you guys are interested, I'll put something together.

Eric '>

[collecture]

Eric,
I would be interested if you have the time!
I also have two compressor assemblies here that are just sitting -
one is for a Cav51 and the other for a late model V39.
Both of them work, but only the 51 cools; however, there are no fans with either of them.
If anyone is interested in them, let me know.

[Slacker]

I would also like to see what the "guts" look like and how they work.

[cvb141]

Thats a lot of scrap. Would like to have seen operations when things were in full swing. Thats to bad it had to end that way, seems like you picked up the pieces and moved on well though. Looking forward to any pics you may find.
Jerry