Title: 1 09/97 CB-257
1LB161 LPG / NH3 Compressor
This presentation is a simplified description of
the disassembly of a Blackmer LB161. The current
production model is the LB161B (August 1997).
The largest difference affecting disassembly is
in the oil pump. The current oil pump is self
reversing and is not shown in this
presentation Select one of the following
Hilites Only
Detailed Text
2LB161 LPG / NH3 Compressor
3LB161 LPG / NH3 Compressor
- The LB161 compressor is suitable for many
applications, but the most common is the transfer
and vapor recovery of liquefied gases such as
propane, butane, and anhydrous ammonia. The
non-lubricated cylinder design of the LB161
allows the transfer of these products without
contamination of the products and is capable of
transferring up to 90 gallons per minute (340
lpm). Typically the LB161 is driven by a 5 or
7.5 HP driver in the 650 to 800 rpm range.
4LITERATURE
- Be sure you have the proper literature before
starting work on the compressor. Locate the
parts list and Installation, Operation and
Maintenance instructions. In addition, you may
have received additional instruction sheets with
your machine that further describe such items as
valves and packing. - Literature is available on the web at
- blackmercompressor.com
- or from your Blackmer distributor.
5Tools
- The tools normally required for small machine
service will be adequate. A small strap wrench
is useful as well as a good spanner. The Blackmer
spanner p/n 790316 has 1/4 pins and is used for
piston removal. Blackmer wrench p/n 790535 may
be used for the valve hold down screws. A flat
scraper and inside snap ring pliers are also
needed. - Blackmer offers a complete tool kit which has all
of the hand tools necessary to dismantle the
machine. - On larger machines a small hoist might be needed
for one man to do the job, depending on the
environment. Generally, two men can handle the
disassembly of any Blackmer machine.
6Nameplate
- On the side of every Blackmer compressor is a
nameplate which doubles as an access opening for
inspecting the piston rod. - The nameplate will show the compressors model
number, serial number, ID number, and oil
capacity. - The compressor ID is a coded number that fully
describes the compressors construction. - Make certain that you have these identifying
numbers when you call your Blackmer distributor
for parts or service assistance.
7LB161 Compressor
- Blackmer offers a variety of LPG transfer
compressors. - The LB162 is similar to the LB161 shown in this
presentation but has two seals separated by a
distance piece on each piston rod. -
- Larger models are
- LB361 / LB362 15 bhp (11 kw)
- LB601 / LB602 40 bhp (30 kw)
- LB942 50 bhp (37 kw)
8Pressure Gauges
- Blackmer compressors are typically fitted with a
pressure gauge on both the suction and discharge.
The gauges are fitted with a pulsation dampener
to eliminate much of the vibration of the gauge
needle making it easier to read and extending the
life of the pressure gauge. - Both suction and discharge pressure gauges should
be installed on every compressor.
9Valve Caps and Hold Down Screws
- Remove the valve caps to access the valves.
- After the valve caps have been removed, the
valve hold down screws can be removed with a
spanner wrench (such as a Blackmer p/n 790316 or
790535). - Note the O-ring under each cap these should be
replaced rather than reused. Older models will
have a metal gasket instead of an O-ring under
the valve cap.
10Valves
- With the hold down screws removed, the valve
post, valve and gasket may be taken out. - A liquid relief device in the suction valve post
helps protect the compressor in case liquid
enters the cylinder area. It consists of a ball
and spring relief valve which will allow liquid
to be returned to the suction piping if
necessary. - The discharge valve is held in place by a solid
post. - Make certain the valve gaskets are removed with
each valve as they may be difficult to see in the
head. The valve gaskets are normally aluminum
and must be replaced when the valves are removed.
11Cylinder Head
- To remove the cylinder head, unbolt the two
center head bolts from the top of the head and
the four head bolts from the corners of the head.
The two center head bolts have metal gaskets
which are normally not reusable. After the
cylinder head bolts have been removed, the head
may be lifted from the cylinder.
12Head O-rings and Piston Nut
- The head is sealed to the cylinder with four
O-rings (usually Buna-N). O-rings seal each
cylinder and both center head bolts and are not
normally reusable. - The piston nut is removed with an adjustable
spanner. This spanner has two 1/4 pins which
fit into holes in the top of the piston nut. Note
the nylon locking device on the piston nut.
13Piston Removal
- Once the piston nut has been removed, the spanner
is used to unscrew the piston from the rod.
Under each piston is a thick washer and one, or
more, shims. These shims adjust the height of
the piston in the cylinder. This is referred to
as the deck height. Unless a major part has
been changed, the deck height should not need
adjustment. Changing the piston, crosshead
assembly, cylinder body, main bearings or
crankshaft may require adjustment of the deck
height. - Rotate the crankshaft to bring the other piston
to top-dead-center for removal. Each piston is
fitted with three piston rings. Each ring has a
stainless steel expander between it and the
piston. Install each piston ring with the bevel
on the inside facing up. The ring and expander
gaps should be staggered at 180 intervals during
installation.
14Cylinder
- With the pistons removed, the cylinder can be
unbolted and removed to gain access to the
packing boxes. Two O-rings seal the bottom of the
cylinder. - Notice the passage in the bottom of the cylinder
between the bores. This allows gas to move from
one cylinder to the other as the pistons move up
and down.
15Packing Box Removal
- The packing boxes are secured by a hold down
screw which is removed with the same adjustable
spanner that was used on the piston nut and
piston. Note that the hold down screw also has a
nylon insert that keeps it in place. - The packing boxes may now be lifted off the rod.
O-rings seal the bottom side of the packing boxes.
16Packing Box disassembly
- To remove the seals (packing) from the box
- Remove the top snap ring with a pair of inside
snap ring pliers. Depress the spring with a
screwdriver handle to make this operation easier.
17Rod Seals
- With the snap ring removed, the top washer,
spring, middle washer, seal rings, bottom washer
and retainer ring can all be removed. - The seal consists of three types of rings. One
ring is a male ring, next a series of V-rings,
then a female ring. - On LB161 compressors, the spring and male ring
will be at the top and the female ring will be at
the bottom.
18Piston Rod Inspection
- The piston rods and the top on the crossheads are
visible through the opening when the nameplate is
removed. - The crosshead guide is secured to the crankcase
by six bolts.
19Crankcase and Crosshead
- With the crosshead guide removed, the crosshead /
piston rods are visible. The flat gasket on top
of the crankcase may require the use of a flat
scraper to remove completely. - The oil dipstick is located in the access cover.
On current models, it is located adjacent to the
access cover. The oil viscosity and capacity are
found in the Instruction Manual.
20Crosshead Connecting Rod Removal
- Removal of the crankcase access cover and gasket
permits access to the connecting rods. After the
bottom cap of the connecting rod has been
removed, the piston rod / crosshead and the top
half of the connecting rod may be lifted off from
above.
21Crosshead and Connecting Rod
- The connecting rod and crosshead assembly are
separated by removing the wrist pin in a bench
press. Note that the wrist pin has a plastic
retainer plug on each end. - The piston rod is permanently secured to the
crosshead at the factory and no attempt should be
made to separate them. Final machining is done to
the assembled crosshead / rod which precludes
their reassembly once separated. The grooves in
the crosshead are lubrication channels. - The small end of the connecting rod has a bronze
bushing and is lubricated via and internal port
running the length of the connecting rod.
22Crosshead and Connecting Rod (contd)
- A precision insert split shell bearing is located
at the big journal end. Tabs on the bearing
shells fit into slots in the rod and bearing cap.
These retain the shells and align the oil feed
holes. - The LB161 uses a bronze bushing on a steel wrist
pin at the small end of the conrod. The oil
admission hole in the bearing or bushing must
align with the oil supply hole in the connecting
rod small end. When the bronze wrist pin
bushing is replaced, it must be honed to final
dimension after being pressed into the connecting
rod - The rod and cap are matched sets, do not mix.
Match marks must align when assembling bearing
cap to connecting rod.
23Oil Pressure adjustment, Strainer
- The oil pressure adjustment screw includes an
O-ring, lock nut, spring and ball. Turn the
screw inward (clockwise) to increase the oil
pressure setting. - The oil pickup tube with washers, O-ring and
strainer fits in the crankcase under the bearing
carrier. If any foreign material is noticed in
the strainer, its source should be quickly
identified to prevent reoccurrence of the
problem. - The pipe plug next to the oil pickup tube opening
is the crankcase oil drain. - Some units will be fitted with an external oil
filter (not shown).
24Oil Pump
- This photo shows the oil pump used in the LB161.
The LB161B uses a different pump. - Remove the oil pump cover and O-ring to withdraw
the oil pump. Notice the small O-ring on the
pump shaft and the bronze bushing in the bearing
carrier. - The oil pump cover can be installed with either
left or right rotation arrow visible. When
installing the cover, make sure that the arrow at
the TOP of the cover indicates the desired
rotation direction.
25Bearing Carrier
- The photo shows the bearing carrier / oil pump
used in the LB161. The LB161B uses a different
style. - The entire bearing carrier / oil pump assembly,
with gasket, can be removed intact. This allows
the crankshaft to be removed. - Note the slot in the end of the oil pump drive
shaft. This slot must align with the drive tang
in the end of the crankshaft during installation.
26Crankshaft Removal
- Remove the crosshead and connecting rod
assemblies to proceed with the crankshaft
removal. Notice the lubrication holes on the
bearing journals. Also note the spray nozzles on
the crankshaft. The spray nozzles lubricate the
crosshead guide and the main roller bearings.
- The top of the crankcase is fitted with a
breather which prevents entry of foreign material
into the crankcase but allows the release of
crankcase pressure.
27Bearing Cover Plate
- The bearing cover plate is on the flywheel side
of the crankcase. Behind this plate are a series
of shims which adjust the preload on the main
bearings. These shims are normally reusable and
the shim thickness will not have to be adjusted
unless the crankshaft and / or main bearings are
replaced. The bearing cover plate also contains
a crankshaft oil seal.
28End ofPresentation
1809 Century Avenue Grand Rapids, MI, USA
49503 Ph 616-241-1611 Fax 616-241-3752 www.black
mer.com
29LB161 LPG / NH3 Compressor
30LB161 LPG / NH3 Compressor
- Liquid transfer / vapor recovery of
- propane
- butane
- anhydrous ammonia
- Transfer without contamination
- Up to 90 GPM
- (340 lpm)
- Usually driven by 5 or 7.5 HP driver at 650 to
800 rpm
31LITERATURE
- Have the proper literature at hand
- Parts lists
- Installation, Operation and Maintenance manual
- For literature
- blackmercompressor.com
- Call your Blackmer distributor
32Tools
- Use standard tools for small machines
- Blackmer adjustable spanner with 1/4 pins (p/n
790316) - Blackmer valve hold down screw wrench (790535)
- Inside snap ring pliers
- Blackmer tool kit available
33Nameplate
- Model number
- Serial number
- I.D. number
- Defines construction
- Oil capacity
- Rod inspection access
34LB161 Compressor
- Other Models Available
- LB162 double-seal
- LB361 / LB36215 bhp (11 kw)
- LB601 / LB60240 bhp (30 kw)
- LB942 50 bhp (37 kw)
35Pressure Gauges
- Always install!
- Suction Discharge
- Pulsation dampener- extends gauge life makes it
easier to read.
36Valve Caps and Hold Down Screws
- Cap O-ring (or metal gasket)
- Screws are removed with spanner
37Valves
- Liquid relief device - ball spring
- Post
- Valves
- Valve gaskets - usually aluminum
- Always replace gaskets
38Cylinder Head
- Two center head bolts have metal gaskets
39Head O-rings and Piston Nut
- Head O-rings - not normally reusable
- Remove piston nut with 1/4 pin spanner
- Piston nut has nylon locking insert
40Piston Removal
- Use spanner to unscrew piston
- Washer and shims adjust piston deck height
- Piston rings have expanders
- Bevel on inside of the ring faces up
- Install rings and expanders with staggered gaps
41Cylinder
- Two O-rings seal the cylinder to the crankcase
- Under-piston channel between bores
42Packing Box Removal
- Remove hold down screw with spanner
- Hold down screw has nylon locking insert
- O-rings seal bottom of packing box
43Packing Box disassembly
- Depress spring with screwdriver
- Remove retainer ring with inside snap ring pliers
44Rod Seals
- Female packing ring on bottom
- V - ring type
- Male packing ring on top
- Spring is on top of the packing
45Piston Rod Inspection
- Piston rods and tops of the crossheads are
visible through the nameplate opening
46Crankcase and Crossheads
- Gasket between crankcase and guide
- Oil level dipstick
47Crosshead Connecting Rod Removal
- Access cover and gasket
- Remove lower bearing caps, lift crosshead and
connecting rod assembly
48Crosshead and Connecting Rod
- Plastic retainer plugs
- Connecting rod has cast-in oil channel, big end
to small end - Connecting rod is Ductile Iron
- Cast iron crosshead
- Dont remove piston rod from crosshead
49Crosshead and Connecting Rod (contd)
- Wrist pin is pressed into the crosshead
- Wrist pin bushing is pressed in and honed to the
proper bore - Bushing oil hole must align with connecting rod
feed hole - Split bearings on the crankend
- Keep rod caps on the correct rod - use match marks
50Oil Pressure adjustment, Strainer
- Oil pressure adjustment screw and lock nut
- Clean the oil strainer
- Oil drain plug
- External oil filter on some units
51Oil Pump
- May be installed for either rotation direction
- The top arrow indicates rotation direction
- Rotate cover 180 for opposite rotation direction
52Bearing Carrier
- Carrier and oil pump are removed as an assembly
- Slot in carrier fits into tang at crankshaft end
53Crankshaft Removal
- Pressure lubrication holes at the journal
bearings - Oil spray nozzles on the crankshaft for the
crossheads - Crankcase breather vent
54Bearing Cover Plate
- Located at flywheel end
- Shims adjust main bearing preload
- Cover contains crankshaft oil seal
55End ofPresentation
1809 Century Avenue Grand Rapids, MI, USA
49503 Ph 616-241-1611 Fax 616-241-3752 www.black
mer.com