Patent ID: 9322406
Filing Date: 2016-04-26
CPC Classification: F04D

Claim Text:
1. A portable axial compressor assembly adapted to output a low-pressure airflow for inflating an air bladder, said axial compressor assembly comprising: a body defining a cylindrical, elongated airflow chamber and including a central axis extending therethrough, said body presenting an inlet-side axial margin, and an opposite outlet-side axial margin, and a shiftable cover; a plurality of air manipulation elements disposed within the airflow chamber and axially in line with one another, said plurality of air manipulation elements comprising a first stator and a rotor, said first stator being disposed within the body and including a first plurality of substantially radially-extending fixed vanes, said rotor being disposed between the first stator and a second stator and including a plurality of radially-extending rotatable blades; a driving mechanism drivingly engaging the rotor for causing the rotor to rotate about the axis, said driving mechanism comprising an electric motor, an electrical charge source in electrical communication with the electric motor, and a switch operable to permit or prevent the flow of electrical energy from the electrical charge source to the electric motor so as to turn to the electric motor on or off; and a nozzle operably coupled with the body and defining an air outlet adapted to connect with a valve on the air bladder, said blades having an angle of attack between zero and thirty degrees, said nozzle being shiftable into an operating position in which the air outlet extends beyond the outlet-side axial margin of the body said shiftable cover being shiftable into and out of a closed position in which the cover is disposed adjacent the outlet-side axial margin in a covering relationship therewith, and said shiftable cover being configured to engage the switch when in the closed position such that the motor is turned off when the cover is in the closed position, and to release the switch when moved out of the closed position such that the motor is turned on when the cover is out of the closed position.