Abstract: A method allows for controlling the amount of electric current from an electrical circuit used by an electric motor in an electric motor driven reciprocating air compressor unit. A piston is reciprocated with a portable electric motor while air is channeled through an inlet into a compression cylinder, allowing the piston to draw on compressed amounts of air during each reciprocation. A valve mechanism is mounted to the inlet and is adjustable to a plurality of positions, each position allowing for one of a plurality of predeterminable amounts of air to be permitted to be drawn into the compression cylinder and compressed. The valve mechanism is manually adjusted to control the amount of air drawn into the compression cylinder and compressed by the piston to control the amount of electric current used by the electric motor.

Abstract: A check valve includes a valve body having an inlet end through which air enters the valve and a valve cavity extending through the valve body and leading to an outlet end. A valve assembly is located at a position that enables control of the flow of air through the valve cavity. The valve assembly includes a tapered section having a cross section that increases in diameter in a direction that is downstream from the inlet end of the valve and which may be included as part of a plug. An elastomeric seal is mounted around the tapered section to reciprocate on the tapered section, with the tapered section biasing the elastomeric seal to a normal position at which the seal comes into sealing contact with both the valve body and tapered section to prevent the downstream flow of air from the inlet end out the outlet end.

Abstract: A check valve is for use in a fluid system. A valve body has an inlet end, a valve cavity, and an outlet end. A valve enables a valve assembly to control the flow of fluid therethrough. A plug of the valve assembly includes tapered and non-tapered sections, the tapered section having a cross section that increases in diameter in a direction that is downstream from the inlet end of the valve body. A sealing ring is mounted to reciprocate on the non-tapered section and an elastomeric actuation ring is mounted along the tapered section. The tapered section biases the actuation ring to a normal position, at which the actuation ring contacts and positions the sealing ring in contact with the valve body and the valve assembly to prevent fluid from flowing out the outlet end of the valve body.

Abstract: A cylinder arrangement for a reciprocating air compressor system includes a compressor pump having a compression cylinder and piston. An inlet valve moves to an open position and allows air to enter the compression cylinder through an inlet valve clearance during intake strokes of the piston. The inlet valve moves to a closed position and prevents air from exiting the compression cylinder through the inlet valve clearance during compression strokes of the piston. An orifice has a minimum cross sectional area smaller than the inlet valve clearance. The orifice allows air to enter the compression cylinder during intake strokes of the piston and allows air to exit the compression cylinder during piston compression strokes. The amount of air passing through the orifice is significantly less than the amount of air passing through the inlet valve clearance during each intake stroke. The orifice relieves backpressure within the compression cylinder.

Abstract: A portable electric motor driven reciprocating air compressor unit has a compression cylinder having a piston that reciprocates in the cylinder. The piston is driven by an electric motor that is attached to an electrical circuit having a predeterminable current capacity. A manually controllable valve mechanism is mounted to an inlet to allow for the channeling of air into the compression cylinder. The manually controllable valve mechanism allows for control of the amount of air that the piston draws and compresses for each reciprocation. The amount of electric current used by the electric motor to drive the piston depends on the amount of air drawn and compressed. A user can therefore control the amount of electric current that the compressor unit uses by using the valve mechanism to control the amount of air that is drawn into the compression cylinder and compressed during each reciprocation of the piston.

Abstract: An automatic inlet control mechanism and air compressor unit include a valve cavity and valve outlet. The valve cavity includes a valve control chamber and valve inlet chamber. A valve piston assembly is positioned between the valve control chamber and the valve inlet chamber to prevent the flow of air between therebetween. The valve outlet allows air to flow from the valve inlet chamber into the compressor unit. The valve piston assembly prevents air from flowing from the valve inlet chamber to the valve outlet when the compressor unit is not drawing air. A vent passageway allows air to flow between the valve control chamber and the compression cylinder inlet when compression is begun at the start-up of the compressor unit or at the loading of the idling compressor unit. A vent orifice restricts the flow of air from the valve control chamber to the compression cylinder inlet.

Abstract: An automatic inlet control mechanism and air compressor unit include a valve cavity and valve outlet. The valve cavity includes a valve control chamber and valve inlet chamber. A valve piston assembly is positioned between the valve control chamber and the valve inlet chamber to prevent the flow of air between therebetween. The valve outlet allows air to flow from the valve inlet chamber into the compressor unit. The valve piston assembly prevents air from flowing from the valve inlet chamber to the valve outlet when the compressor unit is not drawing air. A vent passageway allows air to flow between the valve control chamber and the compression cylinder inlet when compression is begun at the start-up of the compressor unit or at the loading of the idling compressor unit. A vent orifice restricts the flow of air from the valve control chamber to the compression cylinder inlet.

Abstract: A portable electric motor driven reciprocating air compressor unit has a compression cylinder having a piston that reciprocates in the cylinder. The piston is driven by an electric motor that is attached to an electrical circuit having a predeterminable current capacity. A manually controllable valve mechanism is mounted to an inlet to allow for the channeling of air into the compression cylinder. The manually controllable valve mechanism allows for control of the amount of air that the piston draws and compresses for each reciprocation. The amount of electric current used by the electric motor to drive the piston depends on the amount of air drawn and compressed. A user can therefore control the amount of electric current that the compressor unit uses by using the valve mechanism to control the amount of air that is drawn into the compression cylinder and compressed during each reciprocation of the piston.

Abstract: A check valve with an elongated body and a hole extending from an inlet end to an outlet end. A piston assembly is mounted within the body and can include a piston, a check valve seal and a piston spring. The piston spring biases the piston to a first piston location preventing air from flowing from the inlet toward the outlet end. The check valve seal can be positioned on the piston assembly to seal against either a check valve seat or the inside diameter of the hole to restrict air flow when the piston is in the first piston location. Movement of the piston to a downstream piston location can remove the check valve seal from the check valve seat and/or from the inside diameter of the hole, allowing air to flow from the inlet end toward to outlet end.

Abstract: A check valve with an elongated body and a hole extending from an inlet end to an outlet end. A piston assembly is mounted within the body and can include a piston, a check valve seal and a piston spring. The piston spring biases the piston to a first piston location preventing air from flowing from the inlet toward the outlet end. The check valve seal can be positioned on the piston assembly to seal against either a check valve seat or the inside diameter of the hole to restrict air flow when the piston is in the first piston location. Movement of the piston to a downstream piston location can remove the check valve seal from the check valve seat and/or from the inside diameter of the hole, allowing air to flow from the inlet end toward to outlet end.

Abstract: A fitting for retaining a cylindrical tube includes a fitting body having a hole extending through it. The hole includes a cylindrical main cavity located at one end of the body into which an end of the tubing can be inserted. A circular retaining shoulder is located on the tubing so that the shoulder is within the main cavity when the tubing is placed in the fitting. A closure, such as a snap ring, is installed at the open end of the main cavity to hold the shoulder within the main cavity. The closure has a circular hole within it to receive the tubing. An elastomeric seal is mounted within the main cavity between the shoulder and the closure. The inner diameter and the outer diameter of the seal cause the seal to be compressed between the tubing and the wall of the main cavity.

Abstract: A drain valve removes liquid from a compressed air system whenever cycling pressure of the system reaches either a preselected high drain pressure or a preselected low drain pressure at an inlet port of the valve. An inlet face of a piston of an adjustable pressure valve assembly within a valve body normally seals the inlet port when there is no pressure. The piston is located within a portion of a central cavity of the valve. The piston's inlet face is of a size which allows the force of the adjustable pressure valve assembly to be overcome by a pre-selected high drain pressure at the inlet port. The area of a vent face on the other side of the piston has a size which, when the vent face is sealing the vent passageway, prevents the force exerted by the adjustable pressure valve assembly from overcoming the pressure of the compressed air system until a pre-selected low drain pressure is reached at the inlet port.