Abstract:
The present invention provides methods and systems for a device for producing compressed air that allows for the expeditious adjustment of a drive belt that includes a base having a substantially triangular shape with at least a first side having a top portion and a bottom portion, a second side having a top portion and a bottom portion, and a third side having a top portion and a bottom portion. The first side, second side, and third side collectively form a cavity therein. A motor is disposed within the cavity of the base and engaged to the first side of the base. A first compressor is slidingly engaged to the second side of the base and a second compressor is slidingly engaged to the third side of the base.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The current application claims the benefit of the earlier priority filing date of the provisional application Ser. No. 61/365,076, that was filed on Jul. 16, 2010. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a compressed air device, and more particularly relates to a compressed air device that is compact and saves valuable space during operation and allows for the accurate, efficient, and expeditious adjustment of drive belts. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The adjustment of belts on a piece of machinery can be a time consuming operation. This is especially so on a piece of equipment that is vital to the operation of a system or a business. For example, when the piece of equipment is supplying compressed air to a hospital, the hospital needs the compressed air to be pumped throughout the hospital continuously. The compressed air is pumped throughout the hospital by compressors that utilize drive belts. Because of the nature of the drive belts, they need to be changed periodically and this changing of the drive belts must be accurate, efficient, and expeditious. The present invention provides a device that is compact and allows the accurate, efficient, and expeditious adjustment of drive belts. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, a device for expeditiously adjusting a drive belt is claimed that includes a base, a motor, at least one compressor mounted to the base, and an adjusting plate that is slidingly engaged to the base for adjusting the at least one compressor mounted to the base. 
         [0005]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, the device for expeditiously adjusting a drive belt includes a plurality of sides forming a cavity therein. 
         [0006]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the device for expeditiously adjusting a drive belt includes a base that is generally triangular in shape. 
         [0007]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the device for expeditiously adjusting a drive belt includes an adjusting plate that is positioned underneath the base and engaged to the base with at least one fastener, whereby the adjusting plate is adjusted by the movement of the fastener. 
         [0008]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the device for expeditiously adjusting a drive belt includes at least one compressor that is engaged to the adjusting plate. 
         [0009]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the device for expeditiously adjusting a drive belt includes at base that is generally trapezoidal in shape. 
         [0010]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a device for producing compressed air that expeditiously allows for the adjustment of a drive belt that includes a base having a plurality of sides, a motor, at least one compressor mounted to the base that is operated by the motor, an adjusting plate that is slidingly engaged to a side of the base and engaged to the base with a fastener, whereby the adjusting plate is adjusted along a side of the base by way of the fastener. 
         [0011]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a device for producing compressed air that expeditiously allows for the adjustment of a drive belt that includes a base that is generally triangular in shape and consists of three sides forming a cavity therein for receiving the motor. 
         [0012]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a device for producing compressed air that expeditiously allows for the adjustment of a drive belt that includes at least two sides of the base that each comprise at least two slots for receiving a portion of the at least one compressor. The adjusting plate is disposed beneath the at least two slots for receiving and engaging the portion of the at least one compressor and allowing the at least one compressor and the adjusting plate to move along the side of the base for adjusting the at least one compressor. 
         [0013]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a device for producing compressed air that expeditiously allows for the adjustment of a drive belt that includes a first compressor and a second compressor, whereby the first compressor is mounted to one of the plurality of sides of the base and the second compressor is mounted to one of the plurality of sides of the base, and the motor is mounted to one of the plurality of sides of the base. 
         [0014]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a device for producing compressed air that expeditiously allows for the adjustment of a drive belt that includes a belt that is disposed between the at least one compressor and the motor, whereby the belt is mounted to a drive wheel of the motor and a compressor wheel on the compressor for operating that at least one compressor. 
         [0015]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a device for producing compressed air that expeditiously allows for the adjustment of a drive belt that includes a base that is generally trapezoidal in shape having a planar top portion for receiving the motor. 
         [0016]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a device for producing compressed air that expeditiously allows for the adjustment of a drive belt that includes at least one mounting foot that is engaged to the base for selectively securing the device to a structure. 
         [0017]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a device for producing compressed air that allows for the expeditious adjustment of a drive belt that includes a base having a substantially triangular shape with at least a first side having a top portion and a bottom portion, a second side having a top portion and a bottom portion, and a third side having a top portion and a bottom portion. The first side, second side, and third side collectively form a cavity therein. A motor is disposed within the cavity of the base and engaged to the first side of the base. A first compressor is slidingly engaged to the second side of the base and a second compressor is slidingly engaged to the third side of the base. At least one pair of slots is disposed on the second side of the base and at least one pair of slots is disposed on the third side of the base for receiving a fastener engaged to the first compressor and the second compressor. A first adjusting plate positioned on the bottom portion of the second side of the base that is engaged to the first compressor, and a second adjusting plate positioned on the bottom portion of the third side of the base that is engaged to the second compressor. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The present invention is illustrated and described herein with reference to the various drawings, in which like reference numbers denote like method steps and/or system components, respectively, and in which: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the compressed air device; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the compressed air device; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the compressed air device; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the compressed air device depicting the translation of the compressors; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is another front view of the compressed air device depicting the translation of a compressor; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the compressed air device; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a view of several components of the compressed air device; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is view depicting the engagement of a compressor and adjusting plate to the compressed air device; 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an adjusting plate; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of an another exemplary embodiment of a base for the compressed air device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]    Referring now specifically to the drawings, an improved compressed air device is illustrated in  FIG. 1  and is shown generally at reference numeral  10 . The device  10  includes a base  12 , a motor  14 , and at least one compressor  16 , as shown in  FIGS. 1-6 . Preferably, the device  10  will include two compressors  16  that are mounted to the base  12 . The base  12  may have a plurality of sides. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the base has a first side  18 , a second side  20 , and a third side  22 . Each side ( 18 ,  20 , and  22 ) has a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion of the sides ( 18 ,  20 , and  22 ) is the exposed portion or the portion that is more easily accessible to a user when the device  10  is in the upright position. By way of example, the motor  14  is positioned on the top portion of the first side  18 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1  and the compressors  16  are positioned on the top portion of the second side  20  and third side  22 . The bottom portion of the sides ( 18 ,  20 , and  22 ) is the portion opposite the top portion. 
         [0030]    The base  12  may have any form, but as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the base has a substantially triangular form. The term substantially triangular form means that the base includes three primary sides that may be adjacent to one another. In other words, the sides may intersect. The term substantially triangular form may also mean that the three primary sides do not intersect, but the planes of the sides intersect at a point or are an asymptote. 
         [0031]    The sides ( 18 ,  20 , and  22 ) of the base  12  are in a spaced apart relationship forming a void  24  within. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the motor  14  is positioned within the void  24  and is engaged to the top portion of the first side  18 . The motor is fastened to the top portion of the first side by a bolt, screw, weld, or the like. 
         [0032]    The second side  20  of the base  12  includes at least one pair of slots  26 . The third side  22  of the base  12  includes at least one pair of slots  26 . Preferably and as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the second side  20  and third side  22  of the base  12  includes two pairs of slots  26  disposed on each side ( 20 ,  22 ). Each compressor  16  preferably contains a fastener that extends from the bottom of the compressor  16 . The fastener may be a belt, screw, threaded extension or the like. In the examples, a threaded extension is utilized as a fastener and extends from the compressor  16  and is inserted into the slots  26 . By way of example only and as shown in the figures, the compressor  16  includes four (4) threaded extensions or bolts that extend downward and are inserted into the slots  26 . Each bolt contains a threaded end for receiving a correspondingly threaded nut. The threaded extension also receives a correspondingly threaded nut. 
         [0033]    The compressors  16  are slidingly engaged to the top portion of the second side  20  and the top portion of the third side  22  of the base  12  with the use of an adjusting plate  28 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 10 , the adjusting plate  28  comprises a face  30 , a lip  32 , and a rib  34 . The face  30  of the adjusting plate  28  contains at least a pair of bores  36  for receiving the fastener that extends from the bottom of the compressor  16 . Preferably, the face  30  of the adjusting plate  28  contains two pairs of bores  36  for receiving the fastener that extends from the bottom of the compressor  16 . The lip  32  is positioned about 90° with respect to the face  30 . The lip  32  contains at least one threaded bore  38 . Preferably, the lip  32  contains two threaded bores  38 . The rib  34  of the adjusting plate  28  is optional, but can be added to provide strength and stability to the adjusting plate  28 . 
         [0034]    During use, an adjusting plate  28  is positioned on the bottom side of the second side  20  of the base  12 , and an adjusting plate  28  is positioned on the bottom of the third side  22  of the base  12 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . The bores  36  of the adjusting plate  28  are aligned with the slots  26  of the second side  20  and third side  22  of the base  12 . The fastener disposed on the bottom of the compressor  16  is received within the slot  26  of the sides ( 20 ,  22 ) and the bore  36  of the adjusting plate  28 . As set forth above and by way of example only, the fastener is a threaded fastener engaged to the bottom side of the compressor  16  and when the threaded fastener is inserted through the slot  26  and bore  36 ; a nut may be selectively secured to the threaded fastener, thus allowing the compressor  16  to be selectively secured or engaged to the adjusting plate  28 . 
         [0035]    The second side  20  and third side  22  of the base  12  contain a hole  40  positioned in close proximity to the area where the second side  20  and third side  22  are engaged, as shown in  FIG. 7 . A threaded fastener  42  is received within the hole  40 . The threaded fastener may be a bolt, screw, or the like. As illustrated in  FIGS. 3-8 , the threaded fastener  42  is designed to be inserted into the threaded bore  38  positioned on the lip  32  of the adjusting plate  28 . The threaded fastener  42  received within the hole  40  positioned on the second side  20  is received within the threaded bore  38  of an adjusting plate  28  positioned beneath the bottom side of the third side  22 . Likewise, the threaded fastener  42  received within the hole  40  positioned on the third side  22  is received within the threaded bore  38  of an adjusting plate  28  positioned beneath the bottom side of the second side  20 . 
         [0036]    During use, the threaded fastener  42  is rotated, causing the adjusting plate  28  to translate or adjust along the side ( 20 ,  22 ) of the base  12 . Preferably, the device  10  will include a pair of threaded fasteners  42  that are received within a pair of threaded bores  38  disposed on the lip  32  of the adjusting plate  28 . Therefore, when both of the threaded fasteners  42  are rotated, the adjusting plate  28  translates or adjusts along the side ( 20 ,  22 ) of the base  12 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . It should be noted that the term translates or adjust means that the adjusting plate  28  moves relative to the side ( 20 ,  22 ). By way of example only, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the adjusting plate  28  moves a distance “d”, causing the center point of the compressor to move a distance “x” from the motor  14 . The side ( 20 ,  22 ) is stationary and the adjusting plate  28  moves relative to the side ( 20 ,  22 ). In one embodiment, as the threaded fasteners  42  are rotated in the clockwise position, the adjusting plate  28  moves upwards or towards the juncture where the second side  20  and third side  22  are engaged. As the threaded fasteners  42  are rotated counterclockwise, the adjusting plate  28  moves downward or toward the first side  18 . Since the compressors  16  are engaged to the adjusting plates  28 , the position of the compressors  16  are adjusted by the movement of the adjusting plate  28 . 
         [0037]    As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the motor  14  includes a drive wheel  44  and each compressor  16  includes a slave wheel  46 . A belt  48 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , is positioned on the drive wheel  44  and the slave wheel  46 , allowing the motor  14  to supply rotational energy to the compressor  16  for operating the compressor  16 . For the device  10  to run efficiently, economically, and smoothly, the belts  48  must contain the optimum amount of tension. During the rotation of the threaded fasteners  42 , the compressors  16  are adjusted for providing the optimum amount of tension in the belts  48 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Additionally, a protection shield may be positioned over the drive wheel  44 , slave wheel  46 , and the belts  48  to protect the safety of user of the device from getting limbs, hair, or clothing tangled with the gears ( 44 ,  46 ) and belts  48 . The protection shield also reduces the amount of dirt or debris that enters the wheel ( 44 ,  46 ) and belts  48 . 
         [0038]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a mounting foot  52  may be engaged to the device  10  for selectively securing the device  10  to a structure. The mounting foot  52  may be selectively secured to the device  10  by fasteners, such as a bolt, and the mounting foot  52  may be selectively secured to the structure by a fastener, such as a bolt. As illustrated, the mounting foot  52  may be selectively secured to the first side  18 , second side  20 , or third side  22  of the base  12 . 
         [0039]    In another alternative embodiment of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 10 , the base  112  may have a generally trapezoidal shape. In other words, the base  112  may have four sides. The only difference between this embodiment and the embodiment described above is the fourth side  154 . The motor may be positioned on the fourth side  154  or within the cavity. 
         [0040]    Although the present invention has been illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present invention and are intended to be covered by the following claims.