Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a compressed air outputting apparatus for outputting compressed air of a compressor supplying compressed air to a tool driven by compressed air. 
     More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus of outputting compressed air in a compressor for supplying a high pressure exclusive pneumatic tool driven in a high air pressure region and a low pressure exclusive pneumatic tool driven in a low pressure region, with compressed air at pressures suitable for the respective exclusive pneumatic tools. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     According to a general portable air compressor for supplying compressed air to a tool driven by compressed air, there is stored compressed air at pressure of, for example, 10 through 30 kg/cm 2  produced by a compressing portion thereof driven by a motor in a tank and the compressed air is adjusted to pressure used by the tool by a reducing valve attached to the tank and supplied to a side of the tool via connecting means of a quick coupling unit or the like. 
     As a compressed air tool, there are a generally known a low pressure tool used at pressure equal to or lower than 10 kg/cm 2  and a high pressure tool used at high pressure equal to or higher than 10 kg/cm 2  for, for example, downsizing the tool or making the tool carry out high function operation. In order to be able to use the low pressure tool and the high pressure tool by one compressor, there is known a constitution in which compressed air at high pressure equal to or higher than 30 kg/cm 2  is stored in a tank, the tank is attached with a reducing valve exclusively used for low pressure (normal pressure) and a reducing valve exclusively used for high pressure, the respective reducing valves are connected with sockets of coupling units exclusively used for the low pressure tool and exclusively used for the high pressure tool and the respective tools can be supplied with compressed air at respectively adjusted pressures. Further, in order to prevent the two kinds of tools from being supplied with compressed air at inappropriate pressure by erroneous connection, there are used fluid couplings which are not compatible to each other in connecting to the tank of the compressor, further, also with regard to the reducing valves attached to the tank of the compressor, there are used the reducing valves for high pressure and for low pressure having different maximum output pressures such that compressed air at high pressure cannot erroneously be supplied to the low pressure tool. Further, according to the reducing valve used exclusively for low pressure, the maximum output pressure is restricted such that an upper limit of a pressure range used in the low pressure tool is not exceeded thereby. 
     According to the above-described compressor, both of the high pressure tool and the low pressure tool can be used, further, respective pieces of the two tools can simultaneously be used, the two tools can be connected via the exclusive sockets which are not compatible to each other and therefore, erroneous connection is eliminated and a phenomenon such as destruction of the low pressure tool or a deterioration in the function of the high pressure tool can be prevented. 
     As mentioned above, as a compressed air tool, there are a generally known a low pressure pneumatic tool used at pressure equal to or lower than 10 kg/cm 2  and a high pressure pneumatic tool used at high pressure equal to or higher than 10 kg/cm 2  for, for example, downsizing the tool or making the tool carry out high function operation. According to the low pressure pneumatic tool and the high pressure pneumatic tool, there are used fluid coupling units which are not compatible to each other in connecting to a supply source of compressed air such that compressed air at inappropriate pressure is not supplied by erroneous connection. 
     For example, as shown by JP-A-4-298691, there is known a constitution in which in order that a low pressure tool and a high pressure tool can be used by one compressor, compressed air at high pressure equal to or higher than 30 kg/cm 2  is stored in a tank, the tank is attached with a reducing valve used exclusively for low pressure and a reducing valve used exclusively for high pressure, the respective reducing valves are connected with sockets of quick coupling units exclusive for a low pressure pneumatic tool and a high pressure pneumatic tool and compressed air at pressures adjusted by the respective reducing valves is supplied to the respective tools. In this case, according to the reducing valve used exclusively for low pressure, a maximum output pressure is restricted to prevent from exceeding an upper limit of a pressure range used in the low pressure pneumatic tool. 
     According to the above-described compressor, both of the high pressure pneumatic tool and the low pressure pneumatic tool can be used. Further, respective pieces of the two tools can simultaneously be used, and the two tools can be connected via the exclusive sockets which are not compatible to each other. Therefore, erroneous connection is eliminated and a phenomenon such as destruction of the low pressure tool or a deterioration in the function of the high pressure tool can be prevented. 
     However, in order to use two pieces of either of the low pressure tool or the high pressure tool by the above-described compressor, it is necessary to newly install a unit of the exclusive reducing valve and the exclusive socket, or attach a plurality of pieces of sockets in parallel to the low pressure reducing valve or the high pressure reducing valve. In the former case, when respective two pieces of the high pressure tools and the low pressure tools are simultaneously used, it is necessary to install a total of four pieces of the reducing valves of respective two pieces of the high pressure reducing valves and the low pressure reducing valves. Further, in the latter case, although there may be provided two pieces, in total, of a single piece of the reducing valve, pressure supplied to the two tools used at low pressure or high pressure stays the same. Accordingly, when operation is carried out at pressures different for the respective tools, for example, when operation capable of being carried out at low pressure such as building an inner wall by one piece of a nailing machine and operation needing comparatively large striking force for an operated body of a pillar, a foundation or the like by other nailing machine, even the same low pressure tool cannot be used by setting adjusted pressure suitable for respective operation. 
     Further, according to an apparatus shown in JP-A-4-298691, the similar problem arises. That is, according to the apparatus of outputting compressed air of a compressor, in order to simultaneously use two pieces of either of the low pressure pneumatic tools or the high pressure pneumatic tools, it is necessary to newly install respectively exclusive units of reducing valves and sockets, or attach a plurality of pieces of sockets in parallel to the low pressure reducing valve or the high pressure reducing valve. That is, when two pieces of the high pressure tools are simultaneously used, two pieces of sockets for high pressure are needed. When two pieces of low pressure tools are used, two pieces of sockets for low pressure are needed. In consideration of using respective two pieces of the low pressure tools and the high pressure tools, it is necessary to install a total of four pieces of sockets and these must be arranged along an outer face of the compressor and therefore, there is constituted a factor of hampering to downsize formation of the compressor. Further, there are used sockets used respectively exclusively for high pressure and low pressure, which are not compatible to each other and outlooks of which are formed substantially in the same shape. Therefore, when a plug attached to a hose connected to the side of the tool is connected, the plug may be operated to connect to a wrong socket. Since the sockets are not compatible to each other, compressed air is not connected to the wrong one, however, operation in connection is made troublesome. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus of outputting compressed air of a compressor capable of simultaneously using each piece of a high pressure tool and a low pressure tool and capable of simultaneously using two pieces of the low pressure tool or the high pressure tool while reducing a number of attached reducing valves. 
     Further, it is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus of outputting compressed air of a compressor capable of simultaneously using single pieces of tools of high pressure and low pressure and simultaneously using two pieces of low pressure tools or high pressure tools. Further, resolving trouble of connecting operation with no necessity of ascertaining a socket to be connected when a plug on a side of a tool is connected by reducing a number of sockets for outputting compressed air. 
     In order to resolve the above-described problem, according to the invention, there is provided an apparatus of outputting compressed air of a compressor characterized in including an air tank for storing compressed air at a high pressure, a reducing valve attached to the tank and capable of arbitrarily adjusting a pressure value in a region from a high pressure to a low pressure, a socket used exclusively for the high pressure connected to a secondary side of the reducing valve, a socket used exclusively for the low pressure connected to the secondary side of the reducing valve via an opening/closing valve, and an opening/closing valve control apparatus for controlling to close the opening/closing valve when a secondary side adjusting pressure of the reducing valve exceeds a predetermined pressure value. 
     Further, it is preferable that the air tank is installed with a plurality of units each having the reducing valve, the sockets exclusively used for the high pressure and the low pressure, and the opening/closing valve control apparatus. 
     According to the invention, there may be constructed a constitution of an apparatus of outputting compressed air of a compressor, wherein a reducing valve capable of arbitrarily adjusting a pressure value at a region from a high pressure to a low pressure is attached to an air tank for storing compressed air at a high pressure, plugs of a low pressure tool and a high pressure tool are made to be able to be mounted to a socket connected to a secondary side of the reducing valve, the socket is installed with an opening/closing valve for opening and closing a path communicated to a side of the plug in accordance with a pressure of the compressed air supplied from the air tank and the opening/closing valve is made to operate to close when the pressure exceeds a limit pressure of using the low pressure tool. 
     Further, in order to resolve the problem in the above-described conventional technology, according to the invention, there is provided an apparatus of outputting compressed air of a compressor which is a compressor driven at compressed air pressures of a high pressure and a low pressure for supplying compressed air to respective compressed air tools of a high pressure and a low pressure respectively attached with exclusive plugs, the compressor characterized in including respective reducing valves used exclusively for the high pressure and used exclusively for the low pressure attached to an air tank stored with compressed air at a high pressure and a socket connected to secondary sides of the reducing valves for forming ports of outputting compressed air to the compressed air tools wherein the socket includes respective ports of the high pressure and the low pressure connected to the secondary sides of the two reducing valves and a plug receiving portion capable of mounting both of the respective exclusive plugs of the low pressure and the high pressure attached to the tools and the respective ports are selectively conducted to the respective exclusive plugs in a state of mounting the respective exclusive plugs to the plug receiving portion of the socket. 
     Further, according to the invention, the inside of the socket is arranged with a switch valve member operated by mounting the respective exclusive plugs and the switch valve selects to connect the ports of the high pressure and the low pressure communicated to the secondary sides of the respective reducing valves to a side of the plug receiving portion by making strokes of operating to move the switch valve member differ from each other by mounting the respective exclusive plugs. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an outline of an apparatus of outputting compressed air of a compressor. 
     FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a mode of opening an opening/closing valve of the compressed air outputting apparatus. 
     FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an outline of another example of an apparatus of outputting compressed air of a compressor. 
     FIG. 4 is an outline view of another example of an apparatus of outputting compressed air of a compressor. 
     FIGS.  5 ( a ) and  5 ( b ) are explanatory views of operational modes when a high pressure tool and a low pressure tool are connected respectively, and FIG.  5 ( c ) is an explanatory view of an operational mode when the low pressure tool is connected. 
     FIG. 6 is a conceptual view showing a system of a compressed air tool by a compressed air outputting apparatus according to the invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a side view showing an example of a plug used in the compressed air outputting apparatus according to the invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a socket of a compressed air outputting apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a sectional view the same as FIG. 8 in a state of mounting a low pressure plug. 
     FIG. 10 is a sectional view the same as FIG. 8 in a state of mounting a high pressure plug. 
     FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing a socket of a compressed air outputting apparatus according to a third embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 12 is a sectional view the same as FIG. 11 in a state of mounting a low pressure plug. 
     FIG. 13 is a sectional view the same as FIG. 11 in a state of mounting a high pressure plug. 
     FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing a socket of a compressed air outputting apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 15 is a sectional view the same as FIG. 14 in a state of mounting a low pressure plug. 
     FIG. 16 is a sectional view the same as FIG. 14 in a state of mounting a high pressure plug. 
     FIG. 17 is a sectional view showing a socket of a compressed air outputting apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 18 is a sectional view the same as FIG. 17 in a state of mounting a low pressure plug. 
     FIG. 19 is a sectional view the same as FIG. 17 in a state of mounting a high pressure plug. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 shows an outline of an apparatus of outputting compressed air of a compressor and the compressed air outputting apparatus, according to the first embodiment of the invention, is constituted by an air tank  102  connected to a compressor  101  for storing compressed air at high pressure, a reducing valve  103  attached to the air tank  102 , a socket  104   a  exclusively used for high pressure connected to a secondary side of the reducing valve  103 , a socket  104   b  exclusively used for low pressure (normal pressure) connected to the secondary side of the reducing valve  103  via an opening/closing valve  105  and an opening/closing valve control apparatus  106  for controlling to open or close the opening/closing valve  105 . 
     The tank  102  is stored with compressed air at high pressure, for example, exceeding 30 kg/cm 2  produced by the high pressure compressor  101 , the reducing valve  103  is attached to the tank  102  and is of a type by which a secondary side pressure value can arbitrarily be adjusted in a range of 130 through 0 kg/cm 2  and compressed air adjusted in a total region of the pressure range from low pressure to high pressure, can be output to the secondary side after the pressure has been reduced. 
     The socket  104   a  used exclusively for high pressure and the socket  104   b  used exclusively for low pressure are formed in shapes which are not compatible to each other to prevent from being connected erroneously to a high pressure tool  107   a  and a low pressure tool  107   b , respectively. 
     Next, the opening/closing valve  105  connected to the secondary side of the reducing valve  103  is a 3-ports electromagnetic valve. There is provided a pressure sensor  108  for detecting secondary side adjusted pressure of the reducing valve  103  between the reducing valve  103  and the electromagnetic valve  105 . Further, the opening/closing valve  105  is constituted to connect compressed air at secondary side pressure of the reducing valve  103  to the socket  104   b  used exclusively for low pressure or cut the compressed air therefrom. 
     The opening/closing valve control apparatus  106  is an electromagnetic valve drive circuit for controlling to open or close the opening/closing valve  105  by a detected value of the pressure sensor  108  for detecting the secondary side pressure and is operated to close the opening/closing valve  105  by the sensor  108  as shown by FIG. 2 when the secondary side pressure of the reducing valve  103  exceeds a predetermined pressure value in the range of low pressure, for example, 10 kg/cm 2 . 
     According to the compressed air outputting apparatus having the above-described constitution, the reducing valve  103  reduces pressure of compressed air adjusted in the total region of the pressure range from low pressure to high pressure and outputs the compressed air to the secondary side, and the secondary side of the reducing valve  103  is attached with the socket  104   a  used exclusively for high pressure and the socket  104   b  used exclusively for low pressure. The socket  104   a  exclusively used for high pressure is connected with a plug  109   a  of the high pressure tool  107   a , and the socket  104   b  used exclusively for low pressure is connected with a plug  109   b  of the low pressure tool  107   b  to thereby use the apparatus. Therefore, the apparatus can be used for low pressure and for high pressure. 
     Further, the plug  109   b  of the low pressure tool  107   b  can be supplied only with compressed air at limit pressure or lower via the opening/closing valve  105  by the opening/closing valve control apparatus  106 , and the low pressure tool  107   b  is not supplied with compressed air at proper pressure or higher. Therefore, destruction of the tool or a connection hose thereof can be prevented. 
     Next, FIG. 3 shows an example of installing two pieces of units A and B each having the reducing valve  103 , the sockets  104   a  and  104   b  used exclusively for high pressure and low pressure and the opening/closing valve control apparatus  106  at the tank. In this case, each of the units A and B can be connected with one of the high pressure tool  107   a  or the low pressure tool  107   b  and therefore, single pieces of the pressure tool  107   a  and the low pressure tool  107   b  can simultaneously be used for the respective units A and B. 
     Further, when each of the units A and B is constituted to be able to connect the high pressure tool  107   a  and the low pressure tool  107   b , respectively, two pieces of the low pressure tools or two pieces of the high pressure tools can simultaneously be used. Further, respective pressures used by two pieces of the low pressure tools or the high pressure tools can be adjusted and compressed air at pressure suitable for operating the tool can be output. 
     Further, according to the above-described constitution, only two of the common reducing valves are used for the expensive reducing valves and the compressor  101  having excellent way of use at low cost can be provided by only adding the simple opening/closing valve  105  and the control apparatus. 
     Next, FIG. 4 shows another example of an apparatus of outputting compressed air of a compressor. According to this example, there is attached a socket  204  installed with the opening/closing valve  205  for opening and closing a path of compressed air in response to the secondary side pressure of the reducing valve  203 . Further, as shown by FIGS.  5 ( a ) and  5 ( b ), the socket  204  is formed to be able to be mounted with either of the plugs  209   a  and  209   b  of the high pressure tool  207   a  and the low pressure tool  207   b  and the opening/closing valve  205  is constituted to operate to close only when the opening/closing valve  205  is mounted with the plug  209   b  of the low pressure tool  207   b.    
     That is, in the drawings, the socket  204  is common to the plug  209   b  of the low pressure tool  207   b  and the plug  209   a  of the high pressure tool  207   a , and a cut-off valve member  210  is slidably arranged at the inside of the socket  204 . The cut-off valve member  210  is formed in a shape of a bottomed cylinder and is opened to an opening side of the socket  204 . An opening portion  211  is formed to penetrate a side face of a closing side of the cut-off valve member  210  and the opening portion  211  is constituted to be able to be brought into contact with and separated from a seal portion  212  formed to project from an inner wall of the socket  204  when the opening portion  211  is slidingly moved. As mentioned later, by operating the cut-off valve member  210 , a path communicated to the side of the plug is opened and closed in accordance with pressure of compressed air supplied from the air tank  202 . 
     In contrast thereto, although shapes and dimensions of portions of the plug  209   b  of the low pressure tool  207   b  and the plug  209   a  of the high pressure tool  207   a  to be mounted to the socket  204  are constituted to be the same, positions and dimensions of portions thereof to be engaged with the cut-off valve member  210  are constituted to differ from each other. That is, as shown by FIG.  5 ( a ), a front end of the plug  209   b  of the low pressure tool  207   b  is formed to be larger than an inner diameter of the cut-off valve member  210  and in contrast thereto, as shown by FIG.  5 ( b ), a front end of the plug  209   a  of the high pressure tool  207   a  is formed to be smaller than the inner diameter of the cut-off valve member  210 . Further, the cut-off valve member  210  is urged to normally move to a movement end of the opening side of the socket  204  by a spring  213 . 
     Further, the inside of the socket  204  is arranged with the opening/closing valve  205  in a ring-like shape urged by spring force. The opening/closing valve  205  is formed with pressure receiving faces a and b for receiving compressed air supplied into the socket  204  from the compressor  201  via the reducing valve  203 , and the opening/closing valve  205  is moved against the spring force of the spring  213  by operating air at predetermined pressure or higher on the pressure receiving faces a and b. At this occasion, the opening/closing valve  205  is arranged engageably to the seal portion  212  provided at a surrounding of a front end portion of the cut-off valve member  210 . 
     According to the above-described constitution, as shown by FIGS.  5 ( a ) and  5 ( b ), the low pressure plug  209   b  and the high pressure plug  209   a  can be connected to the socket  204 , and the socket  204  is opened by the connection. Therefore, the compressed air can be output from the opening portion  211  of the cut-off valve member  210  to the respective plug by passing through the socket  204  from the reducing valve  203 . Further, since the front end of the plug  209   b  for low pressure is larger than the inner diameter of the cut-off valve member  210 , the front end of the plug  209   b  presses the cut-off valve member  210  while being engaged with a rear end of the cut-off valve member  210 . However, the front end of the plug  209   a  for high pressure presses the cut-off valve member  210  in a state of being brought into the inner side of the cut-off valve member  210 . Therefore, an amount of pressing the cut-off valve member  210  when connected to the socket  204  is larger in the case of the plug  207   b  for low pressure than in the case of the plug  207   a  for high pressure. 
     Meanwhile, in connecting low pressure plug  209   b , when air pressure of compressed air from the reducing valve  203  becomes equal to or higher than predetermined pressure (limit pressure in using low pressure tool), since an area of the pressure receiving face a of the opening/closing valve  205  is larger than an area of the pressure receiving face b, as shown by FIG.  5 ( c ), the opening portion  211  is operated against the spring force of the spring  214  and is engaged with the seal portion provided at the surrounding of the front end portion of the cut-off valve member  210 . Therefore, flow of air to the side of the plug  209   b  is closed. Therefore, pressure equal to or higher than the limit pressure is not supplied to the tool for low pressure. 
     In contrast thereto, even when the high pressure plug  209   a  is mounted, the opening/closing valve  205  is moved against the spring force in response to high supply pressure; however, the amount of moving the cut-off valve member  210  in this case is small, and the cut-off valve member  210  is not engaged. Therefore, the path of compressed air is not closed, and compressed air flows in the high pressure tool in the total region from low pressure to high pressure. 
     According to the above-described constitution, by a constitution in which the sensor for detecting pressure, an electromagnetic valve or the like is not used, compressed air at the limit pressure or higher can be made to stop supplying to the tool for low pressure. Further, by the constitution, the socket  204  can be constructed by a structure common to high pressure and to low pressure, cost can be reduced by reducing a number of the sockets  204  installed to the compressor  201 , and trouble of selecting the socket  204  in mounting the plug can be resolved. 
     Further, when the compressed air outputting apparatus having the above-described constitution is added with a sensor for detecting pressure and a control apparatus for operating the opening/closing valve  105  as shown by FIG. 1, pressure of driving the low pressure tool can be changed by changing the detected pressure of the sensor. 
     Hereinafter, other embodiments of the invention are described in detail. 
     FIG. 6 is a view conceptually showing a system of a pneumatic nailing machine as another example of a compressor and a compressed air tool embodying a compressed air outputting apparatus according to the invention. A tank  301  is stored with compressed air at high pressure exceeding 30 kg/cm 2  produced by a high pressure compressing portion, not illustrated. As reducing valves connected to the tank  301 , the tank  301  is connected with a high pressure reducing valve  302  used exclusively for high pressure having a secondary side pressure value adjustable in a range of 30 through 0 kg/cm 2  and a low pressure reducing valve  303  used exclusively for low pressure having maximum pressure of 10 kg/cm 2  respectively via tank sides  302   a  and  303   a  thereof. The respective reducing valves  302  and  303  used exclusively for low pressure and high pressure adjust to reduce pressure of compressed air arbitrarily adjusted to respective pressure ranges and output the compressed air to secondary sides  302   b  and  303   b  thereof. 
     A socket  304  forming ports of outputting compressed air are formed with ports  304   a  and  304   b  connected to the secondary sides  302   b  and  303   b  (adjusted pressure air) of the respective reducing valves  302  and  303 . A plug receiving portion of the socket  304  is constituted to be able to receive and mount both of respective plugs used exclusively for high pressure and used exclusively for low pressure. As shown by FIG. 7, plugs  307  and  308  used exclusively for high pressure and low pressure attached to respective nailing machines  305  and  306  of high pressure and low pressure, are constituted such that outer diameter shape of portions thereof mounted to the socket  304  are formed to be the same, lengths of front end portions projected in a front end direction are formed to differ, and lengths thereof projecting into the socket  304  differ from each other by an L dimension in a state of being mounted to the socket  304 . Compressed air of the secondary sides  302   b  and  303   b  of the respective reducing valves  302  and  303  are selectively connected to the plugs  307  and  308  in accordance with the respective exclusive plugs  307  and  308  mounted to the plug receiving portion. 
     An explanation will be given of a constitution of a socket  310  according to a second embodiment of the invention in reference to FIG.  8  through FIG.  10 . The inside of the socket  310  is provided with a cut-off valve  311  for cutting off air supplied from the reducing valves  302  and  303  in a state in which the plug is not mounted, and an end portion  312  of the cut-off valve  311  is arranged to be opposed to a plug mounting portion  313 . Other end side of the cut-off valve  311  is integrally formed with a hollow valve member  314  constituting a switch valve, and the hollow valve member  314  is slidably arranged at the inside of a valve cylinder  315  in a cylindrical shape forming the socket  310 . The valve cylinder  315  is formed with a high pressure port  316  and a low pressure port  317  connected to the secondary sides  302   a  and  303   a  of the two reducing valves  302  and  303  and a plurality of O-rings  318   a ,  318   b ,  318   c ,  318   d  and  318   e  formed at an outer periphery of the hollow valve member  314 , selectively communicate the respective ports  316  and  317  to a side of the plug. 
     In a normal state in which the plug is not mounted, as shown by FIG. 8, the hollow valve member  314  is arranged to a state in which both of the two ports  316  and  317  are cut off by a spring  319  operated to an end of the hollow valve member. When the low pressure plug  308  is mounted to the socket  310 , as shown by FIG. 9, the end portion  312  of the cut-off valve  311  is pressed to move by the front end of the low pressure plug  308  and opens the cut-off valve  311  to thereby communicate the inside of the socket  310  and the side of the low pressure plug  308 . At the same time, the hollow valve member  314  is moved by moving the cut-off valve  311 , the low pressure port  317  and the inside of the hollow valve member  314  are communicated via an opening  314   a  formed at the outer periphery of the valve member  314 , and the inside of the hollow valve member  314  and the inside of the socket  310  are communicated via an opening  314   b  formed at a vicinity of the end portion of the hollow valve member  314 . Thereby, the low pressure port  317  is connected to the side of the low pressure plug  308  and compressed air at pressure adjusted by the low pressure reducing valve  303  is supplied to the low pressure plug  308 . 
     As shown by FIG. 10, in the case of mounting the plug  307  used exclusively for high pressure to the socket  310 , since the length of projecting in the front end direction is set to be larger than that of the low pressure plug  308 , when the high pressure plug  307  is mounted, the cut-off valve  311  is moved by a larger amount. Accordingly, the opening  314   a  of the hollow valve member  314  communicates the high pressure port  316 , and the inside of the hollow valve member  314  and pressurized air adjusted by the high pressure reducing valve  302  is supplied to connect to the mounted high pressure plug  307  via the opening  314   b  formed at the hollow valve member  314 . Further, although in a procedure of mounting the high pressure plug  307 , the hollow valve member  314  is temporarily communicated to the low pressure port  317 , no problem is posed since compressed air at the low pressure is supplied to the high pressure pneumatic tool  305 . 
     Next, an explanation will be given of a third embodiment shown by FIG.  11  through FIG. 13. A socket  320  according to the embodiment is formed with a pilot valve  322  integrally formed with a cut-off valve  321  for cutting off air supplied from the reducing valve in a state in which neither of the plugs is mounted. Further, there is provided a switch valve  325  operated to switch to select a high pressure port  323  and a low pressure port  324  connected to the secondary sides of the two reducing valves  302  and  303  by air pressure supplied from the pilot valve  322  at the inside of the socket  320 . As shown by FIG. 11, in a normal state in which the plug is not mounted, the switch valve  325  is disposed at a position of communicating the low pressure port  324  to the inside of the socket by a spring  326  and is moved to a position at which the high pressure port  323  is connected to the inside of the socket  320  by pilot air supplied from the pilot valve  322 . 
     As shown by FIG. 12, by mounting the low pressure plug  308  to a plug mounting portion  327  of the socket  320 , the front end of the plug  308  presses an end portion  321   a  of the cut-off valve  321  to thereby open the cut-off valve  321  and communicates the inside of the socket  320  and the side of the plug  308 . When the low pressure plug  308  is mounted, the pilot valve  322  maintains a state the same as an initial state, and adjusted pressure of the low pressure reducing valve  303  supplied via the low pressure port  324  is supplied to the low pressure plug  308 . 
     As shown by FIG. 13, when the high pressure plug  307  having a long front end length is mounted to the plug mounting portion  327  of the socket  320 , the pilot valve  322  is operated to a position of connecting the side of the switch valve and the pilot valve  322  supplies pilot air to the switch valve. The switch valve  325  is operated to switch to a position of communicating the high pressure port  323  to the inside of the socket by pilot air pressure supplied from the pilot valve  322  to the switch valve  325  and pressure adjusted by the high pressure reducing valve  302  is supplied to the high pressure plug  307 . 
     Next, an explanation will be given of a fourth embodiment shown in FIG.  14  through FIG.  16 . The inside of a socket  330  according to the embodiment is provided with a hollow valve member  332  integrally formed with a cut-off valve  331  operated by mounting the plug and the inside of a hollow portion of the hollow valve member  332  is normally communicated to a low pressure port  333  connected to the secondary side of the low pressure reducing valve  303  via an opening  332   a  formed at one end side of the valve member. O-rings  335   a  and  335   b  is arranged at an outer peripheral face of the hollow valve member  332  spaced apart from each other by an interval, and O-rings  335   a  and  335   b  open and close a high pressure port  334  connected to the secondary side of the high pressure reducing valve  302  and the inside of the socket  330 . The O-ring  335   b  maintains a state of cutting off the high pressure port  334  at a moving amount thereof at a normal occasion in which the plug is not mounted and when the low pressure plug  308  is mounted. When the high pressure plug  307  is mounted, the cut-off valve  331  is moved by a large amount to thereby move the hollow valve member  332  to thereby communicate the high pressure port  334  to the inside of the plug  330 . 
     At a position of the hollow valve member  332  proximate to the cut-off valve  331 , there is formed an opening  336  for communicating the inside of the hollow valve member  332  and the inside of the socket  330  at a position proximate to the cut-off valve  331  of the hollow valve member  332 . The opening  336  is mounted with a check valve  337  constituted by a ring-like elastic member permitting compressed air to flow from the inside of the hollow valve member  332  to the inside of the socket  330 . 
     As shown by FIG. 15, when the low pressure plug  308  is mounted to a plug mounting portion  338 , the cut-off valve  331  is pressed to move by the front end of the plug and communicates the inside of the socket  330  and the side of the low pressure plug  308 . The O-ring  335   b  maintains the state of closing the high pressure port  334 , and compressed air from the low pressure port  333  is supplied to the side of the low pressure plug  308  via the check valve  337 . 
     As shown by FIG. 16, in the case of mounting the high pressure plug  307  having the longer length of the front end portion to the plug mounting portion, an amount of moving the cut-off valve moved by the front end of the plug is larger. Accordingly, the O-ring  335   b  of the hollow valve member  332  opens the high pressure port  334  to the inside of the socket  330 . At this occasion, the check valve is closed by a pressure difference between low pressure at the inside of the hollow valve member  332  and high pressure at the inside of the socket  330 . Therefore, air is prevented from flowing from the high pressure port  334  to the side of the low pressure port  333  and pressure adjusted by the high pressure reducing valve  302  is supplied to the high pressure plug  307  via the high pressure port  334 . 
     Next, an explanation will be given of a fifth embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 through 19. According to the embodiment, there is arranged a cut-off valve member  342  in a shape of a hollow ring opposedly to a plug mounting portion  341  of a socket  340 , and by mounting the plug, a valve member  342   b  formed at one end side of the cut-off valve member  342  is separated from a valve seat to thereby make air flow to the side of the plug. According to the embodiment, the valve member is moved by engaging an opening portion  342   a  formed at one end side of the cut-off valve member  342  and the low pressure plug. In the case of the high pressure plug  307 , a small diameter portion at the front end of the high pressure plug  307  is contained at the inside of the hollow member and an enlarged diameter portion at a middle of the plug is engaged with an end face of the opening  342   a  to thereby move. Therefore, contrary to the above-described embodiment, in mounting the low pressure plug  308 , the cut-off valve member  342  is moved by a larger amount. At a rear side portion of the socket  340 , there are formed a low pressure port  343  connected to the low pressure reducing valve  303  and a high pressure port  344  connected to the high pressure reducing valve  302 . The low pressure port  343  is arranged with a check valve  345  for permitting flow of air from the low pressure cut-off valve  303  into the socket  340  and cutting flow of air from the inside of the socket  340  to the side of the reducing valve. The high pressure port  344  is formed coaxially with the cut-off valve member  342  and is arranged to cut-off the high pressure port  344  by moving the valve member  342  of the cut-off valve member  342  by mounting the low pressure plug  308 . At a normal occasion in which the plug is not mounted to the plug mounting portion  341 , the high pressure port  344  is communicated to the inside of the socket  340 , the inside of the socket  340  is filled with high pressure air and the check valve  345  arranged at the low pressure port  343  is closed by the high pressure air. 
     When the low pressure plug  308  is mounted to the socket  340 , an end face of the opening  342   a  of the cut-off valve member  342  is engaged with an end face of the low pressure plug  308  and moved by a large distance, the valve member of the cut-off valve member  342  cuts off the high pressure port  344  and the inside of the socket  340 . Then, when the high pressure air filled at the inside of the socket  340  is discharged to the side of the plug and the pressure is reduced, the check valve  345  installed at the low pressure port  343  is opened and adjusted pressure from the low pressure reducing valve  303  is communicated to the inside of the socket  340  via the low pressure port  343 . The adjusted pressure is supplied to the low pressure plug  308  via an inner portion of the cut-off valve member  342  formed to be hollow. 
     When the high pressure plug  307  is mounted, the small diameter portion at the front end of the plug is brought into the opening of the cut-off valve member  342 , the large diameter portion is engaged with the end face of the opening  342   a  and is moved by a small distance, and the valve member at a rear end of the cut-off valve member  342  does not reach a position of cutting off the high pressure port  344 . Accordingly, the high pressure air is successively introduced into the socket  340  and pressurized air adjusted by the high pressure reducing valve  302  is supplied to the high pressure plug  307 . At this occasion, the check valve  345  of the low pressure port  344  is cut off by the high pressure air at the inside of the socket, and the high pressure air does not flow back to the side of the reducing valve  303  via the low pressure port  343 . 
     As described above, according to the invention, when exclusive plugs are installed for respective tools having different drive pressures used, since the socket is made to be able to mount any of the plugs, the plugs respectively used exclusively for high pressure and low pressure can be mounted to an opened socket without selecting the socket. Further, in the mounted state, the respective exclusive plugs are connected with compressed air at adjusted pressures respectively from the exclusive reducing valves. Therefore, compressed air at pressure different from pressure of driving the tool can be prevented from being supplied by erroneous connection or the like. Further, by arranging two of sockets commonly used to each of the reducing valves used exclusively for high pressure and low pressure, single pieces of the low pressure tool and the high pressure tool, or two pieces of the low pressure tools or the high pressure tools can simultaneously be used, and there can be provided a compressor providing a wide range of state of use by constituting of smaller numbers of reducing valves and sockets at low cost. 
     While only certain embodiments of the invention have been specifically described herein, it will be apparent that numerous modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Category: 4