Patent ID: 7048000
Filing Date: 2006-05-23
Classification: G05D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An air compressor comprising: a compressor housing having an inlet passage therein adapted to receive pressurized air; a pressure reducing valve disposed within the inlet passage in said compressor housing, said pressure reducing valve comprising a valve body statically mounted within the inlet passage in said compressor housing and a piston slideably disposed within the inlet passage in said compressor housing, said pressure reducing valve dividing the inlet passage in said compressor housing into an input side and an output side; wherein fluid pressure at the input side acts on the piston and biases the piston toward the output side and wherein fluid pressure at the output side acts on the piston and biases the piston toward the input side; wherein when a ratio of pressure at the input side as compared to pressure at the output side is below a threshold value, the piston is biased by pressure at the output side so as to cause the piston to seal against the valve body such that the input side is isolated from the output side; and wherein when a ratio of pressure at the input side as compared to pressure at the output side is above the threshold value, the piston is biased by pressure at the input side so as to cause the piston to unseal from the valve body such that the input side is in communication with the output side and fluid flows from the input side through said pressure reducing valve to the output side.