Patent ID: 7261522
Filing Date: 2007-08-28
Classification: B23K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An air compressor system for providing a stream of compressed air substantially free of oil to an end use means, said air compressor system comprising: an air compressor for providing a stream of compressed air laden with oil; an oil separator having an inlet for receiving the stream of compressed air laden with oil from said air compressor and an outlet for discharging air having oil separated therefrom; an oil coalescing filter having an inlet for receiving air from said oil separator for removing additional oil therefrom and having an outlet for discharging air substantial free of oil; and a unitary manifold block having a first fluid communication system comprising a first main inlet port for receiving the stream of air discharged from said oil separator, a first main outlet port for discharging said stream of air, and a first main passageway formed in said unitary manifold block communicating between said first main inlet port and said first main outlet port, a first air conduit for communicating said air discharged from said first main outlet port to said inlet of said coalescing filter, a second air conduit for communicating said stream of air discharged from said outlet of said coalescing filter to a second fluid communication system formed in said unitary manifold block, said second fluid communication system comprising a second main inlet port for receiving the stream of air from said second air conduit, a second main outlet port formed in said unitary manifold for delivering the stream of air to the end use means, and a second main passageway formed in said unitary manifold block communicating between said second main inlet port and said second main outlet port, said unitary manifold blocking fluid communication between said first fluid communication system and said second fluid communication system, said unitary manifold further having at least one auxiliary port communicating with one of said first fluid communication system and said second fluid communication system and wherein said at least one auxiliary port comprises a first auxiliary port formed in said unitary manifold block in communication with said first fluid communication system and oriented 90 degrees with respect to said first main inlet port.