AIR COMPRESSOR HAVING A REMOVABLE AIR TANK
A portable air compressor assembly includes a compressor component unit and a tank unit removably coupled to the compressor component unit. The compressor component unit includes a prime mover, a pump operably coupled to the prime mover, and a first tank fluidly connected to the pump to receive pressurized air from the pump when operated by the prime mover. The tank unit includes a second tank fluidly connected to the pump to receive pressurized air, and a manifold assembly fluidly and mechanically coupled to the second tank such that the second tank and the manifold assembly are removable from the compressor component unit together.
Latest Techtronic Power Tools Technology Limited Patents:
The present invention relates to air compressors and, more particularly, to portable air compressors.
Conventional portable air compressors include a movable structure fixed to the air compressor having a multiple wheels and supports that allows a user to easily transfer the entire air compressor around a worksite. However, an air compressor is used with a wide range of pneumatic tools and the location around a worksite can change dramatically depending on the pneumatic tool used. For example, a pneumatic nail gun used on a rooftop and a pneumatic paint spray gun used in a lower level of a house are presented with completely different space limitations.
In current portable air compressors, all or most components (e.g., air tank(s), pump, frame, etc.) are typically fixed together as one air compressor unit. This causes the air compressor to be cumbersome and difficult to move around the worksite. It is advantageous to position the air compressor proximate to the worksite to minimize pressure loss as a result of excess air hose line connecting an air storage tank to the pneumatic tool. Therefore, returning to the example, the user must position the air compressor near the roof top to optimally use the pneumatic nail gun, and the user must transport the air compressor throughout floor levels to optimally use the pneumatic paint spray gun.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one aspect, the invention provides a portable air compressor assembly. The portable air compressor assembly includes a compressor component unit and a tank unit removably coupled to the compressor component unit. The compressor component unit includes a prime mover, a pump operably coupled to the prime mover, and a first tank fluidly connected to the pump to receive pressurized air from the pump when operated by the prime mover. The tank unit includes a second tank fluidly connected to the pump to receive pressurized air, and a manifold assembly fluidly and mechanically coupled to the second tank such that the second tank and the manifold assembly are removable from the compressor component unit together.
In another aspect, the invention provides a portable air tank unit. The portable air tank unit includes an air tank for storing compressed air, an inlet fluidly coupled to the air tank, a quick-disconnect fitting fluidly coupled to the inlet, an outlet fluidly coupled to the air tank, and a manifold assembly fixedly coupled to the air tank and fluidly coupled to the outlet of the air tank. The manifold assembly includes a pressure gauge operably coupled to the air tank for displaying a pressure of the compressed air in the air tank, and a pressure regulator for regulating a supply pressure of air released from the air tank.
Other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Before any constructions of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other constructions and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONThe rigid structure 16 includes a frame 26, wheels 28, and support members 30. The frame 26 is preferably constructed from a tubular metallic material able to provide sufficient strength and rigidity to the rigid structure 16. In other constructions, the frame 26 may be constructed from other suitable materials, such as polymeric or ceramic material and may be tubular, non-tubular, solid, hollow, etc. The wheels 28 are rotationally coupled to the frame 26 by an axle 32 defining a rotational axis A (
The rigid structure 16 also includes a rotatable handle member 40 fixed to at least two brackets 42, 44, the rotatable handle member 40 having a substantially elongated section 46 transitioning into a bent section 48 defining a transport handle 50. The substantially elongated section 46 extends generally in a direction between the first and second ends 36, 38 of the frame 26, the direction being substantially perpendicular to the axis A. In the illustrated construction, the rotatable handle member 40 is formed from one continuous tubular metallic material generally formed in a U-shaped configuration, but in other constructions, the rotatable handle member 40 includes two or more components attached together. The brackets 42, 44 are fixed to the rotatable handle member 40 proximate to a pivoting end 52 by a standard welding process or the like and also include a radial aperture 54, 55 having an arc length. In the illustrated construction, the arc length is about 90 degrees such that the rotatable handle member 40 is rotatable by about 90 degrees with respect to the frame 26. In other constructions, the arc length may be less than or greater than 90 degrees such that the rotatable handle member 40 is rotatable by a different desired amount. Each distal end of the radial apertures 54, 55 includes a substantially larger diameter hole 56 (
The brackets 42, 44 are pivotably coupled to the frame 26 at the pivoting end 52 of the rotatable handle member 40. The rotatable handle member 40 is movable between at least two orientations relative to the frame 26 and lockable in the two orientations by way of a spring loaded pin 58 and a removable pull pin 60 (
In a storage orientation 66, the rotatable handle member 40 is substantially parallel with the elongated section 46 of the frame 26 and is locked in place by the spring loaded pin 58 and the removable pull pin 60 engaging the respective brackets 42, 44. In this orientation 66, the portable air compressor assembly 10 is more compact and better suited for temporary storage or compactness during operation. From the storage orientation 66, the spring loaded pin 58 and the removable pull pin 60 are disengaged from the frame 26 enabling the rotatable handle member 40 to rotate about 90 degrees to a mobile orientation 70 (shown in phantom in
With reference to
The rotatable handle member 40 further includes a protective mesh 64. The protective mesh 64 includes relatively small gauge wire configured in a grid pattern to protect a top region of the portable air compressor assembly 10 from damage. In the illustrated construction, the protective mesh 64 primarily covers the elongated section 46 of the rotatable handle member 40, but in other constructions, the protective mesh 64 transitions into the bent section 48 of the rotatable handle member 40.
With reference to
The pump 20 and the fixed air tank 22 are in fluid communication via an inlet conduit 80 disposed between the pump 20 and the fixed air tank 22 for conveying compressed air from the pump 20 to the fixed air tank 22. Furthermore, the fixed air tank 22 is in fluid communication with the portable air tank 78 by way of an outlet conduit 88 coupled between the fixed air tank 22 and the portable air tank 78 (
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
The manifold body 108 is substantially planar and is disposed at an angle D with respect to the support plane 34 (e.g., with respect to the support feet 132 substantially aligned in the support plane 34). In the illustrated construction, the angle D is about 45 degrees (
In operation, the portable air compressor assembly 10 is transported to a worksite (e.g., via a truck). The user uses the protective strips 62 to orientate and safely move the portable air compressor assembly 10 to not damage the portable air compressor assembly 10 or the truck. The user rotates the rotatable handle member 40 from the storage orientation 66 to the mobile orientation 70 by disengaging the spring loaded pin 58 and the removable pull pin 60, rotating the rotatable handle member 40 upwards, and reengaging the spring loaded pin 58 and the removable pull pin 60 to lock the rotatable handle member 40 in the mobile orientation 70. The user manipulates the transport handle 50 to move the portable air compressor assembly 10 to a desired location, e.g., by grasping the transport handle 50, pivoting the portable air compressor assembly 10 about the axis A such that the supports 30 disengage the support surface 34, and pulling or pushing the transport handle 50.
To start filling both air tanks 22, 78 with compressed air from the pump 20, the user opens the control valve 90 to fluidly connect the compressor component unit 12 to the tank unit 14. Once the user starts the prime mover 18, rotational power is supplied to the pump 20 by the flywheel 24. Compressed air then moves from the pump 20 through the inlet conduit 80 and the outlet conduit 88 into the fixed air tank 22 and the portable air tank 78. The pump 20 supplies both air tanks 22, 78 with compressed air in a parallel relationship until the air tanks 22, 78 reach a maximum pressure threshold. If the compressor component unit 12 is activated while the control valve 90 is closed, then only the fixed air tank 22 will fill with compressed air.
To remove the tank unit 14 from the compressor component unit 12, the user closes the control valve 90 and disconnects the outlet conduit 88 from the quick-disconnect fitting 106, causing the tank unit 14 to be fluidly separated from the compressor component unit 12. Then, the user grasps the handle 124 to pull the tank unit 14 up and away from the compressor component unit 12 to overcome the elastic compression forces of the compression retainers 96 that secure the portable air tank 78 to the fixed air tank 22. With the tank unit 14 positioned away from the compressor component unit 12, the tank unit 14 rests on and is supported by the support feet 132.
To replace the tank unit 14 on the compressor component unit 12 (
The user may use the portable air compressor assembly 10 in three distinct configurations.
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
The user may use the tank unit 14 in any of these configurations by connecting a pneumatic tool(s) to at least one of the dual quick-disconnects 122 by way of an air hose (not shown) and controlling the regulator knob 110 to provide a desired supply pressure to the pneumatic tool(s).
Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. A portable air compressor assembly comprising:
- a compressor component unit including a prime mover, a pump operably coupled to the prime mover, and a first tank fluidly connected to the pump to receive pressurized air from the pump when operated by the prime mover; and
- a tank unit removably coupled to the compressor component unit, the tank unit including a second tank fluidly connected to the pump to receive pressurized air, and a manifold assembly fluidly and mechanically coupled to the second tank such that the second tank and the manifold assembly are removable from the compressor component unit together.
2. The portable air compressor of claim 1, further comprising a rigid structure configured to support the compressor component unit and the tank unit.
3. The portable air compressor of claim 2, wherein the rigid structure includes at least one wheel, a frame, and a rotatable handle member rotatably coupled to the frame.
4. The portable air compressor of claim 1, further comprising at least one retainer configured to removably secure the second tank with respect to the compressor component unit.
5. The portable air compressor of claim 4, wherein the at least one retainer is configured as a compressive retainer for applying a compressive force to secure the second tank to the compressor component unit.
6. The portable air compressor of claim 5, wherein the at least one retainer is substantially semicircular.
7. The portable air compressor of claim 4, wherein the first tank defines a first longitudinal axis, wherein the second tank defines a second longitudinal axis, wherein the at least one retainer is coupled to the first tank such that the second tank is removably coupled the first tank, and wherein the first longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to the second longitudinal axis when the second tank is coupled to the first tank.
8. The portable air compressor of claim 1, wherein the manifold assembly further comprises:
- at least one pressure gauge for displaying a pressure of at least one of the first tank and the second tank, and
- a pressure regulator.
9. The portable air compressor of claim 8, further comprising of a pressure relief valve fluidly coupled between the manifold assembly and the second tank.
10. The portable air compressor of claim 8, wherein the at least one pressure gauge is a first pressure gauge, and wherein the manifold assembly further includes a second pressure gauge, wherein the first pressure gauge is configured to display a pressure of the first tank, and wherein the second pressure gauge is configured to display a supply pressure of air supplied by the pressure regulator.
11. The portable air compressor of claim 1, further comprising a handle coupled to the tank unit.
12. The portable air compressor of claim 11, wherein the handle is rotatably coupled to the second tank.
13. The portable air compressor of claim 11, further comprising a grip coupled to the handle.
14. The portable air compressor of claim 1, wherein the tank unit further comprises at least one support foot for supporting the tank unit on a support surface when the tank unit is removed from the compressor component unit.
15. The portable air compressor of claim 14, wherein the at least one support foot is coupled to the manifold assembly.
16. The portable air compressor of claim 15, wherein the at least one support foot is a first support foot, and wherein the portable air compressor further comprises a second support foot coupled to the second tank.
17. The portable air compressor of claim 1, wherein the first tank defines a first longitudinal axis and the second tank defines a second longitudinal axis, wherein the first longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to the second longitudinal axis when the tank unit is coupled to the compressor component unit.
18. A portable air tank unit comprising:
- an air tank for storing compressed air;
- an inlet fluidly coupled to the air tank;
- a quick-disconnect fitting fluidly coupled to the inlet;
- an outlet fluidly coupled to the air tank; and
- a manifold assembly fixedly coupled to the air tank and fluidly coupled to the outlet of the air tank, the manifold assembly including a pressure gauge operably coupled to the air tank for displaying a pressure of the compressed air in the air tank, and a pressure regulator for regulating a supply pressure of air released from the air tank.
19. The portable air tank unit of claim 18, further comprising a second pressure gauge configured to display the supply pressure regulated by the pressure regulator.
20. The portable air tank unit of claim 18, further comprising a handle coupled to the air tank for transporting the portable air tank unit.
21. The portable air tank unit of claim 20, wherein the handle is rotatably coupled to the air tank.
22. The portable air tank unit of claim 21, wherein the handle further includes a grip.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 19, 2014
Publication Date: Aug 20, 2015
Applicant: Techtronic Power Tools Technology Limited (Tortola)
Inventor: Charles John Luby (Hardy, VA)
Application Number: 14/184,200