Patent Publication Number: US-2007098583-A1

Title: Air compressor having detachable structure

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to an air compressor, and more particularly to an air compressor having a detachable or changeable structure for allowing an outlet tube of the air compressor to be adjusted to different angular positions or directions, and for allowing the air compressor to be attached to or received within various receptacles.  
      2. Description of the Prior Art  
      Typical air compressors comprise a cylinder housing attached or secured to a base and having a piston slidably disposed therein, and a motor secured to the base and coupled to the piston of the cylinder housing for actuating or driving the piston of the cylinder housing in a reciprocating action.  
      The applicant has developed various kinds of typical air compressors, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,846,162 to Chou, which also comprises a piston slidably disposed within a cylinder housing and slidable along or relative to the cylinder housing in a reciprocating action and in a great speed, and an outlet tube extended from and formed integral with the cylinder housing and having one or more ducts extended outwardly from the outlet tube for receiving the pressurized air from the outlet tube.  
      The ducts may be coupled to various kinds of facilities that require pressurized air supplied thereto, such as pressure gauges, air nozzles, safety valves, relief valves, etc. However, the outlet tube and the ducts are formed integral with the cylinder housing, such that the outlet tube and the ducts may include a large volume altogether, and may not be adjusted to different directions or positions relative to the cylinder housing, such that the cylinder housing and the outlet tube and the ducts may not be suitably engaged into or received within some of the outer receptacles or packages, or the like.  
      The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional air compressors.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an air compressor including a detachable or changeable structure for allowing an outlet tube of the air compressor to be adjusted to different angular positions or directions, and for allowing the air compressor to be attached to or received within various receptacles.  
      In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided an air compressor comprising a cylinder housing including a chamber formed therein, and defined by a peripheral wall, a piston slidably received in the chamber of the cylinder housing, and having a piston rod extended therefrom, a motor coupled to the piston rod, for moving the piston relative to the cylinder housing in a reciprocating action, in order to generate pressurized air, and a cover detachably secured on top of the cylinder housing, and including an outlet tube having a compartment formed therein and communicating with the chamber of the cylinder housing, for receiving the pressurized air from the chamber of the cylinder housing, the outlet tube including a port extended therefrom, and communicating with the compartment of the outlet tube, for receiving the pressurized air from the compartment of the outlet tube.  
      The cylinder housing includes at least two studs provided on an outer peripheral portion thereof, and the cover includes at least two ears formed therein and selectively aligned with the at least two studs of the cylinder housing, for receiving fasteners which may be used for adjustably securing the cover on top of the cylinder housing.  
      The cover includes a check valve to control the inner air of the chamber of the cylinder housing to flow into the compartment of the outlet tube when the piston moves toward the cover, and to prevent the inner air from flowing out of the compartment of the outlet tube when the piston moves away from the cover.  
      The outlet tube includes a valve seat provided therein, and the check valve is disposed in the outlet tube and engaged with the valve seat, to control the pressurized air to flow from the chamber of the cylinder housing into the compartment of the outlet tube, and to prevent the pressurized air from flowing backwardly from the compartment of the outlet tube into the chamber of the cylinder housing.  
      The cover includes a valve device to control the outside air to flow into the chamber of the cylinder housing when the piston moves away from the cover, and to prevent the inner air from flowing out of the chamber of the cylinder housing through the valve device when the piston moves toward the cover.  
      The cover includes an inlet formed therein, and the valve device is secured to the cover, for blocking the inlet of the cover, and for controlling the outside air to flow into the chamber of the cylinder housing. The cover includes a recess formed therein and communicating with the inlet thereof, for receiving the valve device. The cover includes a catch extended therefrom, the valve device includes a first end secured to the catch of the cover.  
      The cover includes a peripheral slot formed therein, for receiving a sealing ring and for partially receiving the peripheral wall of the cylinder housing, and for making an air tight seal between the cover and the cylinder housing.  
      A supporting base may further be provided and includes a plate having an arm extended therefrom to support the cylinder housing, the motor is attached to the plate and including a spindle extended through the plate, and an eccentric member is coupled to the spindle of the motor and has a pin extended therefrom and coupled to the piston rod, to move the piston relative to the cylinder housing in reciprocating action. The plate includes a gear rotatably attached thereto and rotatably attached to the plate with such as a shaft, the eccentric member is secured to the shaft and has the pin extended therefrom.  
      The cylinder housing includes an upper wall provided thereon for enclosing an upper portion of the chamber thereof, the upper wall includes a center opening formed therein and defined by a peripheral fence, and the cover is secured on top of the cylinder housing and includes a check valve engaged into the compartment of the outlet tube and biased to engage with the peripheral fence, for controlling the inner air to flow from the chamber of the cylinder housing into the compartment of the outlet tube.  
      The upper wall includes an inlet formed therein, and a valve device secured to the upper wall, for blocking the inlet of the upper wall, and for controlling the outside air to flow into the chamber of the cylinder housing.  
      The piston includes a bore formed therein, and a valve device secured to the piston, for blocking the bore of the piston, and for controlling the outside air to flow into the chamber of the cylinder housing.  
      A coupler may further be provided and coupled to the port of the outlet tube, and includes a first duct, a second duct, and at least one third duct extended outwardly therefrom and communicating with the compartment of the outlet tube, for receiving the pressurized air from the compartment of the outlet tube, a pressure gauge is attached to the first duct, a nozzle is coupled to the second duct, and a valve is attached to the third duct.  
      Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an air compressor in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a partial exploded view of the air compressor;  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 1 , in which one half of the air compressor is cut off for showing an inner structure of the air compressor;  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 3 , illustrating the operation of the air compressor;  
       FIG. 5  is a partial perspective view of the air compressor, in which some of the parts or elements have been removed from the air compressor;  
       FIG. 6  is a partial exploded view as seen from the bottom of a cover of the air compressor;  
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 1 , illustrating the operation of the air compressor;  
       FIG. 8  is a further partial exploded view of the air compressor;  
       FIG. 9  is a partial exploded view similar to  FIG. 2 , illustrating the other arrangement of the air compressor;  
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the air compressor as shown in  FIG. 9 , in which one half of the air compressor is cut off for showing an inner structure of the air compressor;  
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 10 , illustrating the operation of the air compressor as shown in  FIGS. 9-10 ;  
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view illustrating another arrangement of the air compressor;  
       FIG. 13  is a partial exploded view of the air compressor as shown in  FIG. 12 ;  
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the air compressor as shown in  FIGS. 12-13 , in which one half of the air compressor is cut off for showing an inner structure of the air compressor;  
       FIG. 15  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 14 , illustrating the operation of the air compressor as shown in  FIGS. 12-15 ;  
       FIG. 16  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 12 , illustrating the further arrangement of the air compressor; and  
       FIG. 17  is a partial exploded view illustrating the air compressor as shown in  FIG. 16 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Referring to the drawings, and initially to  FIGS. 1-8 , an air compressor in accordance with the present invention comprises a supporting base  10  including a plate  11  having an aperture  12  formed in a lower portion  13  thereof, and having an orifice  14  formed in an upper portion  15  thereof ( FIGS. 5, 8 ), and having an arm  16  laterally extended from the upper portion  15  thereof, and a cylinder housing  17  provided on or extended from the arm  16  and preferably formed integral with the arm  16  and the plate  11 , but the cylinder housing  17  may also be separated from the plate  11  and detachably secured to the plate  11  with such as fasteners  99  ( FIG. 8 ).  
      The cylinder housing  17  includes a chamber  18  formed therein ( FIGS. 2-4 ) and having an open top ( FIG. 2 ) and an open bottom ( FIGS. 3, 4 ), and defined by a peripheral wall  19  ( FIGS. 2 ), for slidably receiving a piston  70  therein. The piston  70  is slidably received in the chamber  18  of the cylinder housing  17 , and includes an extension or piston rod  71  extended therefrom, for allowing the piston  70  to slide in reciprocating action in the chamber  18  of the cylinder housing  17 , and to generate pressurized air. The piston  70  includes a sealing ring  72  attached or secured onto the outer peripheral portion thereof and slidably engaged with the cylinder housing  17 , for making an air tight seal between the piston  70  and the cylinder housing  17 .  
      The cylinder housing  17  includes a cover  20  detachably secured on top thereof with such as fasteners  90 , for enclosing or blocking the open top of the chamber  18  thereof ( FIGS. 2-4 ), and a sealing ring  91  is disposed and engaged between the cover  20  and the cylinder housing  17 , for making an air tight seal between the cover  20  and the cylinder housing  17 . For example, the cover  20  includes a peripheral slot  92  formed in the bottom portion thereof ( FIG. 6 ), for receiving the sealing ring  91  and for partially receiving the peripheral wall  19  of the cylinder housing  17 . The cover  20  includes an outlet tube  21  extended upwardly or outwardly from the top thereof, and having a compartment  22  formed therein and communicating with the chamber  18  of the cylinder housing  17 , for receiving the pressurized air from the chamber  18  of the cylinder housing  17 .  
      A spring-biased check valve  24  ( FIGS. 2-4 ) may be disposed in the outlet tube  21 , and engaged with a valve seat  26  that is formed or provided between the outlet tube  21  and the cover  20  or the cylinder housing  17 , for controlling the inner air to flow from the chamber  18  of the cylinder housing  17  into the compartment  22  of the outlet tube  21  only, and for preventing the inner air from flowing backwardly from the compartment  22  of the outlet tube  21  into the chamber  18  of the cylinder housing  17 . A cap  27  may further be provided and attached to the outer or free end of the outlet tube  21  with such as threading engagements, for blocking or enclosing the compartment  22  of the outlet tube  21 , and for stably retaining the spring-biased check valve  24  within the compartment  22  of the outlet tube  21 .  
      A relief valve or safety valve (not shown) may further be provided and attached to the outlet tube  21  when the cap  27  is disengaged from the outer or free end of the outlet tube  21 , for relieving the pressurized air when the air pressure within the cylinder housing  17  and the outlet tube  21  is over-pressurized, or when the air pressure reaches a predetermined value. The spring-biased check valve  24  may thus be used as a control means to control the pressurized air to flow from the chamber  18  of the cylinder housing  17  into the compartment  22  of the outlet tube  21 , and to prevent the pressurized air from flowing backwardly from the compartment  22  of the outlet tube  21  into the chamber  18  of the cylinder housing  17 .  
      The cover  20  further includes a port  25  extended therefrom, and communicating with the compartment  22  of the outlet tube  21 , for receiving the pressurized air from the compartment  22  of the outlet tube  21 . A coupler  85  is further provided and includes one or more ducts  28 ,  29 ,  30 ,  31  extended outwardly therefrom, for coupling to various kinds of facilities that require pressurized air supplied thereto. One or more lids (not shown) may further be provided and attached or secured to either of the ducts  28 ,  29 ,  30 ,  31  with such as threading or force-fitting engagements, for selectively enclosing or blocking the ducts  28 ,  29 ,  30 ,  31 , when the ducts  28 ,  29 ,  30 ,  31  are not required to be used.  
      For example, one of the ducts  31  of the coupler  85  may be coupled to the port  25  of the cover  20  with such as a hose  88 , for receiving the pressurized air from the compartment  22  of the outlet tube  21  via the port  25  of the cover  20 . A pressure gauge  33  may be provided and attached to the other duct  28 , for detecting and showing the air pressure within the cylinder housing  17  and/or the outlet tube  21 . A nozzle  34  may be provided and attached to another duct  29 , for allowing the pressurized air to be supplied from the chamber  18  of the cylinder housing  17  and the compartment  22  of the outlet tube  21  to various facilities that require pressurized air supplied thereto, with the nozzle  34 .  
      A relief valve  32  may further be provided and attached to the other duct  30 , for relieving the pressurized air when the air pressure within the cylinder housing  17  and/or the outlet tube  21  reaches a predetermined pressure or the highest pressure, and thus for preventing the cylinder housing  17  and/or the outlet tube  21  from being over-pressurized, and/or for safety purposes. The pressure gauge  33  and the nozzle  34  and the relief valve  32  may thus be easily and readily attached to or coupled to the outlet tube  21  with the ducts  28 ,  29 ,  30 ,  31  of the coupler  85 , without additional or specialized coupling members or tools.  
      A gear  40  is rotatably attached to the lower portion  13  of the plate  11  with one or more bearings and a shaft  42 , and an eccentric member  45  is secured to the shaft  42  of the gear  40  and rotated in concert with the gear  40  and includes a crank or an eccentric pin  47  extended therefrom and coupled to the piston rod  71  of the piston  70 , in order to actuate or to move the piston  70  relative to the cylinder housing  17  in reciprocating actions.  
      A motor  50  may be attached or secured to the upper portion  15  of the plate  11  with such as fasteners  51  ( FIGS. 1, 2 ,  7 ), and includes a spindle  52  extended into the upper orifice  14  of the plate  11  ( FIGS. 3, 4 ), and includes a pinion  53  secured to the spindle  52  thereof, and engaged with the gear  40 , for allowing the gear  40  to be rotated or driven by the motor  50  via the pinion  53 , and thus for allowing the piston  70  to be actuated or moved relative to the cylinder housing  17  in reciprocating actions by the eccentric member  45  and the eccentric pin  47 . A fan device  54  may further be provided and coupled to the motor  50  for being rotated or driven by the motor  50  to generate circulating or ventilating air.  
      In operation, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the piston  70  may be actuated or moved relative to the cylinder housing  17  in reciprocating actions by the motor  50  via pinion  53 , the gear  40 , the eccentric member  45  and the eccentric pin  47 , in order to generate a pressurized air, and to allow the pressurized air to flow into the compartment  22  of the outlet tube  21 , and then to flow out through either or all of the ducts  28 ,  29 ,  30  of the coupler  85 , and thus to allow the air pressure within the cylinder housing  17  and/or the outlet tube  21  to be detected and shown by the pressure gauge  33 , and to allow the pressurized air to be supplied into the facilities that require pressurized air supplied thereto, with the nozzle  34 , and/or to the pressurized air to be relieved via the relief valve  32  when the cylinder housing  17  and/or the outlet tube  21  is over-pressurized or reaches the predetermined pressure or the highest pressure.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 2-4  and  6 , the cover  20  further includes an inlet  36  formed therein and communicating with the chamber  18  of the cylinder housing  17 , for allowing outside air to flow into the chamber  18  of the cylinder housing  17 , and includes a recess  37  formed in the bottom portion thereof and communicating with the inlet  36  thereof, and includes a catch  38  extended therefrom or extended into the recess  37  thereof. A valve device  80  includes one or first end  81  engaged with or attached to the catch  38  of the cover  20 , for attaching or securing the one or first end  81  of the valve device  80  to the cover  20 .  
      The valve device  80  includes a spring blade structure or is a spring blade for biasing and blocking or enclosing the inlet  36  of the cover  20 , and for forming or acting as a check valve means or device to control the outside air to flow into the chamber  18  of the cylinder housing  17  when the piston  70  moves away from the cover  20 , and to prevent the inner air from flowing out of the chamber  18  of the cylinder housing  17  through the inlet  36  of the cover  20  when the piston  70  moves toward the cover  20 .  
      The cylinder housing  17  includes one or more, such as four studs  23  formed or provided on the outer peripheral portion thereof, and the cover  20  further includes one or more, such as four holes or ears  39  formed therein and selectively aligned with the studs  23  of the cylinder housing  17 , for receiving the fasteners  90  which may secure the cover  20  on top of the cylinder housing  17 .  
      It is to be noted that the cover  20  may be rotated or adjusted relative to the cylinder housing  17  to different angular position, before the fasteners  90  secure the cover  20  on top of the cylinder housing  17 , and thus to allow the inlet  36  and the outlet tube  21  of the cover  20  to be rotated or adjusted relative to the cylinder housing  17  to different angular position or location, for example, the status of different positions of the cover  20  relative to the cylinder housing  17  are shown in  FIGS. 1 and 7 , and thus for allowing the air compressor to be attached to or received within various receptacles or packages.  
      Alternatively, as shown in  FIGS. 9-11 , the cylinder housing  17  includes an upper wall  60  provided thereon for enclosing the upper portion of the chamber  18  thereof, and includes the inlet  36  formed therein, and includes a center opening  61  formed therein and defined by a peripheral fence  62 , and includes a peripheral groove  63  formed therein and located around the peripheral fence  62 , for receiving a sealing ring  64 .  
      The cover  20  may be secured on top of the cylinder housing  17 , and the spring-biased check valve  24  may be engaged into the compartment  22  of the outlet tube  21  via the lower or bottom portion thereof, and biased to engage with the peripheral fence  62 , for controlling the inner air to flow from the chamber  18  of the cylinder housing  17  into the compartment  22  of the outlet tube  21  when the piston  70  moves toward the cover  20 , and for preventing the inner air from flowing backwardly from the compartment  22  of the outlet tube  21  into the chamber  18  of the cylinder housing  17  when the piston  70  moves away from the cover  20 .  
      The compartment  22  of the outlet tube  21  is preferably a blind compartment  22 , and the outlet tube  21  includes a peg  66  extended therefrom, or extended into the compartment  22  thereof, for engaging with the spring-biased check valve  24 , and for stably anchoring or positioning the spring-biased check valve  24  within the compartment  22  of the outlet tube  21 . The sealing ring  64  is engaged between the upper wall  60  of the cylinder housing  17  and the cover  20 , for making an air tight seal between the cover  20  and the upper wall  60  of the cylinder housing  17 .  
      It is also to be noted that the upper wall  60  of the cylinder housing  17  is spaced away from the cover  20 , and the inlet  36  of the upper wall  60  of the cylinder housing  17  may thus be kept out of the other objects or receptacles or packages, such that the inlet  36  of the upper wall  60  of the cylinder housing  17  may be prevented from being blocked or shielded when the air compressor is attached to or received within various receptacles or packages. In addition, the outlet tube  21  of the cover  20  may also be rotated or adjusted relative to the cylinder housing  17  to different angular position or location, for allowing the air compressor to be attached to or received within various receptacles or packages.  
      Further alternatively, as shown in  FIGS. 12-15 , the cover  20  of the cylinder housing  17  includes no inlet formed therein. Instead, the piston  70  includes a bore  73  formed therein, and the valve device  80  includes one or first end  81  engaged with or attached to the piston  70 , for biasing and blocking or enclosing the bore  73  of the piston  70 , and for forming a check valve means or device to control the outside air to intake or to flow into the chamber  18  of the cylinder housing  17  when the piston  70  moves away from the cover  20 , and to prevent the inner air from flowing backwardly or outwardly from the chamber  18  of the cylinder housing  17  through the bore  73  of the piston  70  when the piston  70  moves toward the cover  20 .  
      Further alternatively, as shown in  FIGS. 16-17 , the cover  20  of the cylinder housing  17  includes no inlet formed therein, and the upper wall  60  of the cylinder housing  17  also includes no inlet formed therein, but also spaced away from the cover  20 . Instead, the piston  70  includes a bore  73  formed therein, and the valve device  80  includes one or first end  81  engaged with or attached to the piston  70 , for biasing and blocking or enclosing the bore  73  of the piston  70 , and for forming a check valve means or device to control the outside air to intake or to flow into the chamber  18  of the cylinder housing  17  when the piston  70  moves away from the cover  20 , and to prevent the inner air from flowing backwardly or outwardly from the chamber  18  of the cylinder housing  17  through the bore  73  of the piston  70 , or from flowing out of the chamber  18  of the cylinder housing  17  when the piston  70  moves toward the cover  20 .  
      It is to be noted that the cylinder housing  17  as shown in  FIGS. 9-17  may also be separated from the plate  11 , and may also be detachably secured to the plate  11  with such as fasteners  99 , similar to that shown in  FIG. 8 , to allow different cylinder housings  17  of different structures or contours to be detachably or changeably secured to the plate  11  with such as the fasteners  99  ( FIG. 8 ).  
      Accordingly, the air compressor in accordance with the present invention includes a detachable or changeable structure for allowing the outlet tube of the air compressor to be adjusted to different angular positions or directions, and for allowing the air compressor to be attached to or received within various receptacles or packages.  
      Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.