Compressed gas supplier for a pneumatic tool

A compressed gas supplier has a power-free decompression device and an expansion chamber. The power-free decompression device decompresses a gas in a high-pressure source into a decompressed gas. The expansion chamber connects to the power-free decompression device and receives and stores the decompressed gas. The pneumatic tool is driven by the decompressed gas in the expansion chamber. Thus, the compressed gas supplier for the pneumatic tool is small and easy to be carry. In addition, the decompressed gas stored in the expansion chamber is also benefit for supplying decompressed gas to the pneumatic tool that needs much gas to drive.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a compressed gas supplier, especially to a compressed gas supplier for a pneumatic tool.

2. Description of the Prior Arts

Pneumatic tools are widely used and are driven by compressed air. Comparing with the electric power tools, the pneumatic tools are safer to operate and to maintain since there is no risk of sparks, short circuit, electrocution and so on. The compressed air is usually provided by an air compressor. However, the air compressor is heavy and takes a certain space. When the user needs to work at places that are not convenient for bringing such a heavy and large things such as working at height or narrow places, the user cannot use the air compressor. Then the user may have to give up the pneumatic tools and prepare the electric power tools for working in such places. Preparing both the pneumatic tools and the electric power tools is not economic for the users. Therefore, the conventional way to supply the compressed air to the pneumatic tools needs to be modified.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a compressed gas supplier for a pneumatic tool to mitigate or to obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a compressed gas supplier for a pneumatic tool. The compressed gas supplier has a power-free decompression device and an expansion chamber. The power-free decompression device decompresses a gas in a high-pressure source into a decompressed gas. The expansion chamber connects to the power-free decompression device and receives and stores the decompressed gas. The pneumatic tool is driven by the decompressed gas in the expansion chamber. Thus, the compressed gas supplier for the pneumatic tool is small and easy to be carry. In addition, the decompressed gas stored in the expansion chamber is also benefit for supplying decompressed gas to the pneumatic tool that needs much gas to drive.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

With reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, a compressed gas supplier for a pneumatic tool in accordance with the present invention comprises a power-free decompression device10and an expansion chamber20.

The power-free decompression device10connects to a high-pressure source30to decompress the gas in the high-pressure source30into a decompressed gas that is at the desired pressure for the pneumatic tool40. For example, the pressure of the gas in the high-pressure source30may be 3000 psi, and the desired pressure for the pneumatic tool40may be 90 psi. The expansion chamber20connects to the power-free decompression device10to receive and to preserve the decompressed gas. Then the decompressed gas is output from the expansion chamber20to a pneumatic tool40so that the pneumatic tool40can be driven by the decompressed gas. In one embodiment, the power-free decompression device10may be a regulator.

With further reference toFIGS. 3 and 4. in one embodiment, power-free decompression device10may comprise a shell11and a decompression assembly12.

With reference toFIGS. 3, 5 and 6, the housing11has an inlet111, an outlet112, an inlet channel113, an outlet channel114and a decompression room115. The inlet channel113and the outlet channel114are formed inside the housing11. The inlet channel113communicates with the inlet111. The outlet channel114communicates with the outlet112. The decompression room115is formed inside the housing11and is formed between and communicates with the inlet channel113and the outlet channel114. In one embodiment, a pressure meter116is mounted through the housing11and extends into the outlet channel114to measure the gas pressure in the outlet channel114so that the user may monitor the gas pressure of the output gas.

With reference toFIGS. 7 and 8, the decompression assembly12is mounted in the decompression room115of the housing11, selectively blocks the communication between inlet channel113and the decompression room115, and comprises a piston121, a first resilient member122, a sealing member123and an optional pressure setting member124.

The piston121is mounted slidably in the decompression room115, selectively blocks the communication between inlet channel113and the decompression room115, and has a first end, a second end, a head121a, and a central opening121b. The head121ais formed on the second end of the piston121and has a first side and a second side. The central opening121bis formed through the first and second ends, selectively communicates with the inlet channel113and communicates with the outlet channel114.

The first resilient member122is mounted in the decompression room115and abuts against the second side of the head121ato push the piston121to slide away from the outlet channel114.

The sealing member123is mounted in the decompression room115and selectively abuts against the first end of the piston121to selectively block the communication between inlet channel113and the decompression room115. In one embodiment, the sealing member123comprises a washer123aand a screw123b. The washer123aselectively abuts against the first end of the piston121to selectively block the communication between inlet channel113and the decompression room115. The screw123bis mounted through the housing11, holds the washer123ato selectively moves the washer123aaxially.

The pressure setting unit124is mounted in the decompression room115, is clamped between the piston121and the sealing member123to selectively block the communication between inlet channel113and the decompression room115. In one embodiment, the pressure setting member124comprises an adjusting element124aand a second resilient member124b. The adjusting element124aselectively abuts against the sealing member123to selectively block the communication between inlet channel113and the decompression room115. The second resilient member124bis clamped between the adjusting element124aand the first side of the head121aof the piston121to push the adjusting element124ato abut against the sealing member123.

In one embodiment, the first and second resilient elements122,124bmay be springs, a plurality of resilient washers and so on. In one embodiment, a plurality of airproof elements may be mounted in the decompression room115to keep the gas from leaking. The airproof elements may be O-rings and may be mounted around the piston121and the pressure setting member124.

With reference toFIGS. 1 and 4, in one embodiment, the expansion chamber20has a first end, a second end, an entry201and a releasing hole202. The entry201is formed on the first end of the expansion chamber20and communicates with the outlet112of the housing11. The releasing hole202is formed on the first end of the expansion chamber20. The housing11may have a releasing channel117formed on the housing11and communicates with the releasing hole202of the expansion chamber20. The pneumatic tool40connects to the releasing channel117to receive the decompressed gas.

Since the entry201and the releasing hole202are both on the first end of the expansion chamber20, the decompressed gas may directly flow out the releasing hole202without entering deeper into the expansion chamber20. If the high-pressure source30provides some gas that contains liquid after decompressing such as carbon dioxide, the aforementioned flow path may cause the liquid to enter the pneumatic tool40. Thus, an elongated tube21may connects to and communicates with the outlet112of the housing11, protrudes through the entry201and protrudes toward the second end of the expansion chamber20. Thus, the decompressed gas output from the outlet112of the housing11flows through the elongated tube21to be distant from the releasing hole202.

The expansion chamber20may have different embodiments. In one embodiment as shown inFIG. 9, the expansion chamber20is defined in a detachable bottle22, and the user may choose different sizes of the bottle22as desired. In one embodiment as shown inFIG. 10, the expansion chamber20is formed on the housing11.

With reference toFIG. 4, in one embodiment, the housing11may connect to the high-pressure source30and the expansion chamber20through connectors118.

With reference toFIGS. 4 and 8, when the high-pressure source30is not connected yet, the piston121is pushed by the first resilient element122to abut against the washer123aof the sealing member123, and the adjusting element124ais also pushed by the second resilient element124bto abut against the washer123aof the sealing member123. At this status, the communication between the inlet channel113and the decompression room115is blocked.

With reference toFIGS. 11A and 11B, when the high-pressure source30is connected to the inlet111of the housing11, the high-pressure gas inside the high-pressure source30pushes the adjusting element124ato slide axially so that the adjusting element124aleaves the washer123ato allow the high-pressure gas flow into the decompression room115. Then the high-pressure gas pushes the piston121to slide axially so that the piston121leaves the washer123ato allow the high-pressure gas flow into the central opening121bof the piston121. Thus, the high-pressure gas flows through the central opening121band the outlet channel114and is stored in the expansion chamber20.

Since the second resilient element124bprovide predetermined resilient force, the adjusting element124aare pushed back by the gas in the outlet channel114when the pressure of the gas in the outlet channel114and the expansion chamber20adding the predetermined resilient force of the second resilient element124bis larger than the pressure in the high-pressure source30, which is shown inFIGS. 4 and 7. Then the gas flowing from the high-pressure source30is blocked again so that no gas pushes the piston121. Thus, the piston121is pushed back by the first resilient element122.

The desired pressure of the gas in the expansion chamber20may be different according to the need of the pneumatic tool40. The screw123bmay be screwed deeper or shallower to adjust the pressure of the gas in the expansion chamber20. When the screw123bis screwed deeper or shallower, the axial position of the washer123ais adjusted so that the initial position of the adjusting element124ais changed accordingly. Then the predetermined resilient force of the second resilient element124bis changed accordingly. With reference toFIG. 7, the screw123ais screwed deeper into the housing11. The second resilient element124bis compressed more to provide larger predetermined resilient force so that the required pressure in the expansion chamber20is smaller. With reference toFIG. 12, the screw123ais screwed shallower into the housing11. The second resilient element124bis compressed less to provide smaller predetermined resilient force so that the required pressure in the expansion chamber20is larger.

In another embodiment, the decompression assembly12may not comprise the pressure setting member124. The desired pressure of the gas in the expansion chamber20may be determined by the first resilient element122.

The compressed gas supplier in accordance with the present invention has the following advantages. With the compressed gas supplier as described, carrying the high-pressure source30and the compressed gas supplier as described is enough to provide sufficient pneumatic power to the pneumatic tool40. Since the high-pressure source30and the compressed gas supplier as described are way smaller and lighter than an air compressor, the user could use the pneumatic tool40with the high-pressure source30and the compressed gas supplier as described at much more places that may be high, narrow or small. Moreover, since some pneumatic tool40needs much gas to drive the decompressed gas is enough to drive the pneumatic tool40with the expansion chamber20to store the decompressed gas.