An air pump

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of gas delivery pump structures, in particular to a gas pump which comprises a pump shell, the pump shell is provided with a general interface for connecting an inflated product, the pump shell is internally provided with a low-pressure pump assembly and a high-pressure pump assembly which are both communicated with the general interface; a control valve assembly which comprises a valve shell, a valve body which is arranged in the valve shell in an axially movable mode and a driving mechanism for driving the valve body to move axially; the valve shell is communicated with the pump shell and is provided with at least one air hole for communicating the inside of the pump shell with the outside, the valve shell is axially provided with a first position and a second position, and the driving mechanism drives the valve body to move between the first position and the second position; when the valve body moves to the first position, the valve body opens the air hole and starts the low-pressure pump assembly to work; when the valve body moves to the second position, the valve body closes the air hole and starts the high-pressure pump assembly to work, so as to solve the problem that the double-pressure system single-interface gas pump in the prior art cannot automatically switch between low-pressure rapid inflation and high-pressure precise inflation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the technical field of gas delivery pump structures, and more particularly to a gas pump. Background Technology

[0002] Air pumps, as core auxiliary equipment combining inflation and deflation functions, are widely used in large-volume inflatable products such as SUP paddleboards, air mattresses, and inflatable tents. For large-volume products like SUP paddleboards and large inflatable tents, the inflation process exhibits significant "stage-specific characteristics": in the initial inflation stage, a large amount of air needs to be filled quickly to shorten the overall inflation time, at which point the core requirement for airflow is "high flow rate, low pressure"; while in the later stages of inflation, as the internal air pressure gradually increases, a "low flow rate, high pressure" pressurization mode needs to be switched. This stage-specific requirement has directly driven the application of air pumps with dual-pressure systems (low and high pressure) in the market.

[0003] Currently, most mainstream dual-pressure system single-inlet air pumps on the market rely entirely on manual control for switching between low-pressure and high-pressure modes. For example, users need to manually activate the low-pressure mode at the beginning of inflation, and then manually switch to the high-pressure mode to complete precision inflation once the product has inflated to a certain extent. This switching process is cumbersome and provides a poor user experience.

[0004] Therefore, how to overcome the limitations of existing manual control and develop a single-interface air pump that can automatically switch between low-pressure rapid inflation and high-pressure fine inflation has become a core technical requirement that urgently needs to be addressed in the field of gas delivery pump structure. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this application is to provide an air pump to solve the problem that the existing dual-pressure system single-interface air pump cannot automatically switch between low-pressure rapid inflation and high-pressure fine inflation.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this application provides the following technical solution:

[0007] Firstly, an air pump includes:

[0008] The pump housing has a universal interface for connecting the product being inflated, and the pump housing contains a low-pressure pump assembly and a high-pressure pump assembly, both of which are connected to the universal interface.

[0009] A control valve assembly, the control valve assembly including a valve housing, a valve body axially movably disposed within the valve housing, and a drive mechanism for driving the valve body to move axially.

[0010] The valve housing is connected to the pump housing and has at least one vent hole that allows the inside of the valve housing to communicate with the outside. The valve housing has a first position and a second position in the axial direction. The drive mechanism drives the valve body to move between the first position and the second position.

[0011] When the valve body moves to the first position, the valve body opens the vent and starts the low-pressure pump assembly.

[0012] When the valve body moves to the second position, the valve body closes the vent and starts the high-pressure pump assembly.

[0013] Furthermore, an axially extending mounting bracket is provided on the outer side of the valve body, the mounting bracket covering the area corresponding to the valve body in the first position and the second position, a first limit switch is provided in the first position, and a second limit switch is provided in the second position.

[0014] Furthermore, the valve body is provided with a radially protruding contact portion; the valve housing is provided with a clearance groove for the contact portion to move within it, and the mounting bracket is located at the opening of the clearance groove. When the valve body moves to the corresponding position, the contact portion can activate the corresponding limit switch.

[0015] Furthermore, the control valve assembly also includes a sealing ring;

[0016] The connection between the pump housing and the valve housing has a through hole, and a gas flow channel is formed between the through hole and the vent hole. The sealing ring is disposed on the valve body and moves axially synchronously with the valve body to seal or open the gas flow channel.

[0017] Furthermore, the outer side of the valve housing extends radially to form a first assembly connection portion;

[0018] The control valve assembly includes a valve end cap;

[0019] The sidewall of the valve end cover extends radially to form a second assembly connection portion, and the first assembly connection portion and the second assembly connection portion together enclose an assembly area for assembling the drive mechanism.

[0020] Furthermore, one end of the valve housing is connected to the pump housing, and the other end of the valve housing is open, with the valve end cap covering the open end.

[0021] Furthermore, the drive mechanism includes a motor, a gear set that is drively connected to the motor shaft, and a drive shaft;

[0022] The gear set includes a pinion and a large gear that mesh with each other.

[0023] One end of the drive shaft is threaded to the valve body, and the other end is fixedly connected to the large gear.

[0024] Furthermore, the large gear has more teeth than the small gear.

[0025] Furthermore, a bearing is fitted around the outer periphery of the drive shaft, and the outer wall of the bearing is connected to the inner wall of the valve end cover.

[0026] Furthermore, the low-pressure pump assembly is located in the first cavity of the pump housing, and the first cavity is connected to the general interface;

[0027] The high-pressure pump assembly is located in the second cavity of the pump housing. The second cavity is equipped with a one-way valve. The second cavity is connected to the first cavity through the one-way valve. The opening direction of the one-way valve is from the second cavity to the first cavity.

[0028] The technical solutions provided in this application have the following advantages compared with the prior art:

[0029] This technical solution provides an air pump that, through a control valve assembly structure, solves the problem of cumbersome operation caused by the need for manual switching between low-pressure and high-pressure charging modes in existing dual-pressure system single-port air pumps. Specifically, a drive mechanism moves the valve body axially. When the valve body moves to the first position, the low-pressure pump automatically starts; when it moves to the second position, it automatically switches to high-pressure pump operation. This design achieves automatic switching between low-pressure and high-pressure charging modes, solving the problem of cumbersome manual operation required for switching between low-pressure and high-pressure charging modes in existing single-port air pumps. Attached Figure Description

[0030] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application.

[0031] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0032] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example with reference numerals in the accompanying drawings. These illustrations do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements with the same reference numerals in the drawings are denoted as similar elements. Unless otherwise stated, the figures in the drawings are not to be limited by scale.

[0033] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the external structure of the air pump provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0034] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal cross-sectional structure of the air pump provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0035] Figure 3 A cross-sectional structural schematic diagram of the control valve assembly provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0036] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the airflow direction of the air pump provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0037] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the control logic structure of the air pump provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0038] Figure 6 This is an exploded view of the control valve assembly provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0039] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0040] 1. Pump housing; 11. First chamber; 12. Second chamber; 13. Universal interface; 14. Through hole; 15. Through hole; 2. Low-pressure pump assembly; 21. Low-pressure pump motor; 22. Fan; 3. High-pressure pump assembly; 31. High-pressure pump motor; 32. Connecting rod piston; 4. Control valve assembly; 41. Valve housing; 411. Vent hole; 412. First position; 413. Second position; 414. Mounting bracket; 415. Clearance groove; 416. First assembly connection; 417. Opening; 42. Valve body; 421. Contact part; 43. Drive mechanism; 431. Motor; 432. Large gear; 433. Small gear; 434. Drive shaft; 44. Sealing ring; 45. Valve end cover; 451. Second assembly connection; 5. First limit switch; 6. Second limit switch; 7. Airflow channel; 8. Bearing; 9. Check valve. Detailed Implementation

[0041] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0042] The following disclosure provides numerous different embodiments or examples for implementing various structures of this application. To simplify the disclosure, specific examples of components and arrangements are described below. These are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of this application. Furthermore, reference numerals and / or letters may be repeated in different examples. Such repetition is for simplification and clarity and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various embodiments and / or arrangements discussed.

[0043] For ease of description, spatial relative terms may be used in the text to describe the relative position or movement of one element or feature relative to another element or feature, as shown in the figure. These relative terms include, for example, "inside," "outside," "middle," "outer," "below," "below," "above," "front," "back," etc. Such spatial relative terms are intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation, other than those depicted in the figure. For example, if the device in the figure undergoes a positional flip, orientation change, or change of motion, these directional indications will change accordingly. For instance, an element described as "below other elements or features" or "below other elements or features" will subsequently be oriented "above other elements or features" or "above other elements or features." Therefore, the example term "below" can include both upper and lower orientations. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or in other directions), and the spatial relative descriptors used in the text will be interpreted accordingly.

[0044] To address the problem that existing dual-pressure systems with single-interface air pumps cannot automatically switch between low-pressure rapid inflation and high-pressure fine inflation.

[0045] like Figures 1 to 5 As shown, this technical solution provides an air pump suitable for inflating or deflating equipment such as paddleboards (SUP), inflatable tents, and inflatable mattresses.

[0046] This type of air pump includes a pump housing 1, which includes a first cavity 11 and a second cavity 12. The first cavity 11 is connected to a universal interface 13 for connecting to the product being inflated.

[0047] The pump casing 1 houses a low-pressure pump assembly 2 and a high-pressure pump assembly 3, wherein:

[0048] The low-pressure pump assembly 2 is located in the first cavity 11 of the pump housing 1. The low-pressure pump assembly 2 is used to realize the low-pressure inflation and deflation functions of the air pump. The low-pressure pump assembly 2 includes a low-pressure pump motor 21 and a fan 22 located at the end of the low-pressure pump motor and rotating synchronously with the motor. The motor is electrically connected to an external control unit, which can control the low-pressure pump motor to rotate forward or backward to realize the inflation and deflation functions of the low-pressure pump assembly 2.

[0049] In detail, when the low-pressure pump motor rotates in the forward direction, external gas flows into the first chamber 11 and then into the universal interface 13 to inflate the equipment connected to the universal interface 13.

[0050] In a vacuuming scenario, the low-pressure pump motor is set to rotate in reverse, and the gas in the inflated product is pushed to the outside by the rotation of the fan blades, so as to achieve vacuuming of the equipment connected to the universal interface.

[0051] In this embodiment, the high-pressure pump assembly 3 is located in the second cavity 12 of the pump housing 1. The second cavity 12 is provided with a one-way valve 9, which covers the through hole 15 at the connection between the first cavity 11 and the second cavity 12. The second cavity 12 is connected to the first cavity 11 through the one-way valve 9, and the opening direction of the one-way valve 9 is from the second cavity 12 to the first cavity 11.

[0052] The high-pressure pump assembly 3 includes a high-pressure pump motor 31 and a connecting rod piston 32. The output shaft of the high-pressure pump motor 31 is connected to the connecting rod piston 32, which is located inside the second chamber 12. Driven by the high-pressure pump motor, the connecting rod piston 32 can reciprocate axially within the second chamber 12 to push the high-pressure airflow in the second chamber 12 toward or away from the through hole 15. The through hole 15 and the one-way valve 9 mentioned above are located on the moving path of the connecting rod piston to control the flow or blockage of airflow between the second chamber 12 and the first chamber 11.

[0053] When the high-pressure pump motor starts working under the control of the external control unit, its output shaft drives the connecting rod piston to make axial reciprocating motion in the second chamber 12. For example, when the connecting rod piston moves towards the through hole, the high-pressure airflow in the second chamber 12 pushes open the one-way valve 9 covering the through hole 15 under the action of the connecting rod piston, so that the high-pressure airflow enters the first chamber 11 from the second chamber 12. Under the guidance of the cavity wall of the first chamber 11, the high-pressure airflow enters the product to be inflated from the universal interface 13, and then the product to be inflated is inflated under high pressure.

[0054] When the connecting rod piston moves away from the through hole, the high-pressure airflow in the second chamber 12 is pushed away from the through hole under the action of the connecting rod piston. Since the air pressure in the second chamber 12 is lower than that in the first chamber 11, the one-way valve 9 tightly covers the through hole 15, preventing the airflow in the first chamber 11 from flowing into the second chamber 12. This design enables high-pressure inflation of the product while allowing the low-pressure pump assembly 2 and the high-pressure pump assembly 3 in the first chamber 11 and the second chamber 12 to operate independently without interference.

[0055] Furthermore, the first cavity 11 is a cavity with three ports. The first port connects to a general-purpose interface 13, the second port communicates with the second cavity 12, and the location where the second port communicates with the second cavity 12 is equipped with the through-hole and one-way valve 9 described above, as described above. The third port connects to a control valve assembly 4. This control valve assembly 4 is used to control whether the first cavity 11 is connected to or disconnected from external airflow and can provide an external control unit with a position signal to switch the operation of the low-pressure pump assembly 2 or the high-pressure pump assembly 3.

[0056] Detailed, such as Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the control valve assembly 4 includes a valve housing 41, a valve body 42 axially movable within the valve housing 41, and a drive mechanism 43 for driving the valve body 42 axially. The valve housing 41 communicates with the pump housing 1 and has at least one vent 411 that allows communication between the interior and exterior of the valve housing 41. This vent 411 is used for intake during low-pressure inflation and exhaust during deflation. The valve housing 41 has a first position 412 and a second position 413 in the axial direction. The drive mechanism 43 drives the valve body 42 to move between the first position 412 and the second position 413. When the user selects the low-pressure inflation mode, the external control unit controls the valve body 42 to move to the first position 412. Alternatively, when switching from the low-pressure inflation mode to the high-pressure inflation mode, the valve body 42 moves to the second position 413, at which point the valve body 42 closes the vent 411 and the external control unit starts the high-pressure pump assembly 3, thereby achieving the entry into the high-pressure inflation mode.

[0057] During the movement of the valve body 42, the drive mechanism 43 provides power for the axial movement of the valve body 42. The axial movement of the valve body 42 is directly converted into the mechanical opening and closing action of the vent 411. When the valve body 42 moves to the first position 412, the vent 411 is opened to provide low-pressure charging or evacuation support for the air pump. When the valve body 42 moves to the second position 413, the vent 411 is closed to provide high-pressure charging support for the air pump.

[0058] In other specific embodiments, this technical solution sends a signal to the control system by means of mechanical linkage (e.g., Embodiment 1 below) or by setting a corresponding sensor at the first position 412 or the second position 413 (e.g., Embodiment 2 below), thereby automatically starting the corresponding pump group (low-pressure pump assembly 2 or high-pressure pump assembly 3).

[0059] This technical solution solves the problem in existing technologies where users need to manually switch between low-pressure pump component 2 and high-pressure pump component 3, which is cumbersome. This solution allows the air pump to automatically enter low-pressure inflation, high-pressure inflation, or vacuum mode according to user needs (e.g., the user presses the low-pressure inflation, high-pressure inflation, or vacuum function on the panel), greatly improving operational convenience and user experience.

[0060] In addition, by completely closing the vent 411 at the second position 413 by valve body 42, the high-pressure pump assembly 3 is isolated from the outside world, forming a closed high-pressure working environment, ensuring the stability and efficiency of high-pressure output, and preventing mutual aerodynamic interference between the two pump sets during operation.

[0061] It should also be noted that this technical solution only requires a single universal interface 13 to implement the inflation and deflation functions for the connected device.

[0062] In detail, when the air pump is inflating, the control valve assembly 4 controls the valve body 42 to be in the open vent 411 position, so that the external control unit can control the motor in the low-pressure pump assembly 2 to rotate forward or backward, thereby realizing the inflation or deflation function. For example, when performing the deflation function, due to the pressure difference between the first chamber 11 and the second chamber 12, the one-way valve 9 blocks the airflow between the first chamber 11 and the second chamber 12. Therefore, the operation of the low-pressure pump assembly 2 and the high-pressure pump assembly 3 does not interfere with each other. When deflation is in progress, the external control unit only needs to control the direction of the motor in the low-pressure pump assembly 2 to switch between inflation and deflation functions. This design eliminates the need for an additional interface on the air pump to realize inflation and deflation functions. This technical solution uses a single interface for inflation and deflation, which can effectively save operation steps and avoid frequent plugging and unplugging and replacement of different connectors to achieve different functions.

[0063] The following describes the technical solution in detail using two embodiments, the contents of which are as follows:

[0064] Example 1

[0065] In this embodiment, the drive mechanism 43 includes a motor, such as a stepper motor. The stepper motor is electrically connected to an external control unit. When the external control unit receives a user's command, it outputs a drive command to the drive mechanism 43, causing the output shaft of the stepper motor to start rotating.

[0066] It should be understood that during factory setup, the air pump needs to establish a baseline correspondence between the physical position of the valve body 42 and the number of steps of the stepper motor as a prerequisite for all function switching. During factory debugging or each initialization, the external control unit will drive the stepper motor to move the valve body 42 axially until the valve body 42 touches the preset mechanical limit block inside the valve housing 41. This mechanical limit block corresponds to the "first position 412" adapted for low-pressure inflation and deflation in the technical solution. At this time, the external control unit records the cumulative number of steps of the stepper motor as the "baseline number of steps (e.g., 0 steps)". It should be noted that the "baseline number of steps" is only used as a status indicator of the valve body 42 being in the initial base position "first position 412", not the driving target of the stepper motor. The core function of the stepper motor is to ensure that the valve body 42 is stably in or returns to the initial base position during function switching through precise step control, providing a reliable positional basis for matching the air circuit status with the pump body action.

[0067] When the air pump is in low-pressure inflation mode, if the user needs to switch to the suction function, the specific operation and control process is as follows: First, the user presses the "Suction" button on the air pump panel to send a suction switching command to the external control unit; after receiving the command, the external control unit performs position detection and calibration in the first step: first, it reads the current cumulative number of steps of the stepper motor and compares it with the "reference number of steps (0 steps)": if the current number of steps is consistent with the reference number of steps, it means that the valve body 42 is in the first position 412, and the vent 411 is in a state of communication with the outside. There is no need to adjust the position of the valve body 42, and it can directly proceed to the next step; if If there is a deviation between the current step count and the reference step count (for example, due to previous operations, the stepper motor has accumulated 3 steps, and the valve body 42 has deviated from the initial reference position), the control unit will automatically calculate the "reset required steps" based on the deviation value (e.g., 3 steps of reverse rotation), and then output a drive command to the stepper motor to control its reverse rotation of the corresponding number of steps. Through gear transmission, the drive shaft 434 will rotate, thereby driving the valve body 42 to move axially until the stepper motor's accumulated steps return to the reference step count (0 steps). After the external control unit confirms that the valve body 42 has been reset to the initial reference position, it sends a stop command to stop the stepper motor. After the position calibration is completed, the external control unit first outputs a stop command. After the low-pressure pump motor has completely stopped, the external control unit outputs a "vacuum control command" to drive the low-pressure pump motor to rotate in the reverse direction. The air flow direction is then switched to "connected device → general interface 13 → pump housing 1 first chamber 11 → vent 411 → outside", and the gas inside the connected device is extracted.

[0068] When the air pump needs to perform low-pressure inflation, the correspondence between the cumulative number of steps of the stepper motor and the position of the valve body 42 is as follows: During the low-pressure inflation stage, the valve body 42 is initially in the initial reference position (first position 412, stepper motor 0 steps), the vent 411 is open, and the low-pressure pump motor rotates in the forward direction to inflate the product with a large amount of low-pressure gas, thereby realizing the process of low-pressure inflation for the connected equipment.

[0069] However, when the air pump needs to switch from low-pressure inflation to high-pressure inflation, that is, as the inflation process progresses, when the external control unit determines that it needs to switch to high-pressure inflation based on a preset program, such as the pressure sensor feedback that the air pressure reaches 2psi, the external control unit will output a stop drive command to the low-pressure pump motor, causing the low-pressure pump motor to stop working, and drive the stepper motor to move the valve body 42 from the first position 412 to the second position 413, so that the valve body 42 closes the vent 411. At this time, the external control power supply outputs a command to the high-pressure pump to start working, so that the high-pressure pump assembly 3 starts working to perform high-pressure inflation for the connected equipment.

[0070] Example 2

[0071] In this embodiment, as Figure 6 As shown, a mounting bracket 414 is axially extended on the outer side of the valve housing 41. The mounting bracket 414 extends along the axial direction of the valve housing 41 and covers the area corresponding to the valve body 42 when it is in the first position 412 and the second position 413. A first limit switch 5 is provided in the first position 412 and a second limit switch 6 is provided in the second position 413.

[0072] It should be noted that the first limit switch 5 and the second limit switch 6 are electrically connected to the external control unit, and can transmit the position signal of the valve body 42 to the external control unit in real time to realize the switching of the inflation mode. The motor in the drive mechanism 43 can be a stepper motor or a DC motor, etc. In this embodiment, a DC motor is used as an example: when the motor rotates in the forward direction, it drives the valve body 42 to move axially to the first position 412 through the transmission of the gear set and the transmission shaft 434; when it rotates in the reverse direction, it drives the valve body 42 to move to the second position 413.

[0073] When the valve body 42 moves to the first position 412 and touches the first limit switch 5, the first limit switch 5 sends a signal to the external control unit indicating that the vent 411 is in a state of communication with the outside, which can be adapted for low-pressure inflation or deflation functions. If the user presses the inflation button in this state, the external control unit receives the instruction and outputs a first drive command to the low-pressure pump motor, causing it to rotate forward and quickly inflate the connected device with low-pressure gas through the communication path between the first cavity 11 and the universal interface 13.

[0074] When switching from low-pressure inflation to high-pressure inflation, the external control unit drives the DC motor to rotate in the opposite direction, moving the valve body 42 from the first position 412 to the second position 413 to close the vent 411. When the valve body 42 touches the second limit switch 6, the second limit switch 6 sends a signal to the external control unit, indicating that the vent 411 is now closed. The external control unit then outputs a stop command to the low-pressure pump assembly 2, causing the motor of the low-pressure pump assembly 2 to stop working. After the low-pressure pump stops, the control unit outputs a third drive command to the high-pressure pump assembly 3, starting the high-pressure pump motor. High-pressure gas enters the first chamber 11 through the one-way valve 9 in the second chamber 12, and then performs high-pressure inflation on the equipment through the universal interface 13. This design achieves automatic switching between high and low-pressure inflation modes, effectively solving the problem of cumbersome operation caused by manual switching.

[0075] In the air extraction scenario, if the valve body 42 is in the first position 412 (the first limit switch 5 has been activated), it means that the vent 411 has been opened. After the user presses the air extraction button, the external control unit will output a second drive command to the low-pressure pump assembly 2, causing its motor to rotate in the opposite direction. The gas in the connected equipment will be extracted to the outside through the reverse air passage, thus completing the air extraction operation.

[0076] A further improvement based on Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2 is that the valve body 42 is provided with a radially protruding contact portion 421; the valve housing 41 is provided with a clearance groove 415 for the contact portion 421 to move within it. When the valve body 42 moves to the corresponding position, the contact portion 421 can activate the corresponding limit switch.

[0077] It should be understood that the clearance groove 415 defines a precise movement trajectory for the contact part 421, ensuring the fixed stroke of the valve body 42. When the external drive mechanism 43 drives the valve body 42 to move axially to the first position 412 or the second position 413, the contact part 421 moves with the valve body 42 and eventually makes physical contact and activates the corresponding limit switch, thereby generating a clear electrical signal. This allows the external control unit to automatically determine the specific position of the valve body 42 and output the corresponding control signal, avoiding the problem of switching failure between the low-pressure pump assembly 2 and the high-pressure pump assembly 3.

[0078] Furthermore, the control valve assembly 4 also includes a sealing ring 44; the connection between the pump housing 1 and the valve housing 41 has a through hole 14, and a gas flow channel is formed between the through hole 14 and the vent hole 411. The sealing ring 44 is disposed on the valve body 42 and moves axially synchronously with the valve body 42 to seal or open the gas flow channel. This gas channel is part of the airflow channel 7.

[0079] The sealing ring 44 ensures that the airflow channel 7 from the vent 411 to the first cavity 11 can be reliably sealed or opened during the operation of the air pump. In this technical solution, the sealing ring 44 moves axially synchronously with the valve body 42 to control the opening and closing of the gas flow channel formed by the through hole 14 of the pump housing 1 and the vent 411 of the valve housing 41. During this sealing process, the sealing ring 44 material (such as rubber) fills the gap between the parts when compressed, forming an effective seal. Furthermore, since the sealing ring 44 is mounted on the valve body 42, it can move axially synchronously with the valve body 42. The axial movement directly translates into the sealing ring 44 "blocking" or "opening" action of the vent 411, thereby realizing the flow or blockage of airflow between the inside and outside of the pump housing 1, avoiding airflow leakage during inflation, and achieving a large amount of exhaust during pumping.

[0080] Additionally, the outer side of the valve housing 41 extends radially to form a first assembly connection portion 416; one end of the valve housing 41 is connected to the pump housing 1, and the other end of the valve housing 41 is an opening 417; the control valve assembly 4 includes a valve end cover 45, which covers the opening 417; the side wall of the valve end cover 45 extends radially to form a second assembly connection portion 451, and the second assembly connection portion 451 and the first assembly connection portion 416 together enclose the assembly area of ​​the assembly drive mechanism 43.

[0081] It should be understood that the first assembly connection 416 extending radially outward from the outer side of the valve housing 41 and the second assembly connection 451 extending radially from the side wall of the valve end cover 45 together constitute a platform for placing the drive mechanism 43. During assembly, one end of the valve housing 41 is connected to the pump housing 1, and the other end is sealed with the valve end cover 45. Finally, through the cooperation of the first assembly connection 416 and the second assembly connection 451, the drive mechanism 43 is firmly fixed and enclosed within the enclosed space. This achieves a high degree of modularity and integration of the air pump, making the air pump structure more compact and smaller. In addition, the valve end cover 45 is also provided to prevent dust from entering the interior of the valve housing 41 and to avoid dust affecting the smoothness of the movement of the valve body 42 during long-term use.

[0082] Furthermore, the drive mechanism 43 includes a motor 431, a gear set driven by the motor shaft of the motor 431, and a drive shaft 434; the gear set includes a pinion 433 and a gear 432 meshing with each other; one end of the drive shaft 434 is threadedly connected to the valve body 42, and the other end is fixedly connected to the gear 432. The gear 432 has more teeth than the pinion 433.

[0083] In this technical solution, the pinion 433 is located at the output end of the motor shaft. One end of the large gear 432 meshes with the pinion 433, and the other end is connected to the transmission shaft 434 located in the valve body 42. This design effectively solves the problem of high drive motor speed but low torque; the large gear 432 converts the high-speed rotation of the drive motor into a lower speed suitable for driving the axial movement of the valve body 42.

[0084] Specifically, by using a gear ratio where the large gear 432 has more teeth than the small gear 433, the output speed of the large gear 432 decreases while its output torque increases proportionally when the small gear 433 drives the large gear 432 to rotate. This effectively amplifies the torque output from the motor to the drive shaft 434, ensuring that the valve body 42 can be smoothly and reliably driven even under significant resistance (such as the clamping force of the sealing ring 44 or internal air pressure differences), thus avoiding the risk of motor stalling and damage due to excessive load. Simultaneously, the deceleration makes the valve body 42's movement slower and more controllable, facilitating precise control of the valve's opening and closing position and improving the control accuracy and stability of the dual-pressure air pump system.

[0085] Furthermore, to address the wear problem that occurs in the drive shaft 434 under long-term high-speed rotation, a bearing 8 is fitted around the outer circumference of the drive shaft 434, providing radial support. The outer wall of the bearing 8 is connected to the inner wall of the valve end cover 45. Therefore, when the drive shaft 434 rotates with the gear, relative rolling friction occurs between the inner and outer rings of the bearing 8, greatly reducing rotational resistance and constraining the radial runout of the drive shaft 434. It should be understood that during this operation, the sliding friction between the drive shaft 434 and the valve end cover 45 is transformed into rolling friction within the bearing 8, thus solving the wear problem of the drive shaft 434 under long-term high-speed rotation.

[0086] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts that are not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions in other embodiments.

[0087] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0088] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0089] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0090] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can include direct contact between the first and second features, or contact between the first and second features through another feature between them. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature includes the first feature being directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature includes the first feature being directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0091] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. The illustrative expressions of the above terms in this specification should not be construed as necessarily referring to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. In addition, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification.

[0092] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this application without departing from the spirit and scope of this application. Since these modifications and variations fall within the scope of the claims and their equivalents, this application also intends to include these modifications and variations.

[0093] The above description describes specific embodiments of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily conceive of various equivalent modifications or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in this application, and these modifications or substitutions should all be covered within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An air pump, characterized in that, include: The pump housing has a universal interface for connecting the product being inflated, and the pump housing contains a low-pressure pump assembly and a high-pressure pump assembly, both of which are connected to the universal interface. A control valve assembly, the control valve assembly including a valve housing, a valve body axially movably disposed within the valve housing, and a drive mechanism for driving the valve body to move axially. The valve housing is connected to the pump housing and has at least one vent hole that allows the inside of the valve housing to communicate with the outside. The valve housing has a first position and a second position in the axial direction. The drive mechanism drives the valve body to move between the first position and the second position. When the valve body moves to the first position, the valve body opens the vent and starts the low-pressure pump assembly. When the valve body moves to the second position, the valve body closes the vent and starts the high-pressure pump assembly.

2. The air pump according to claim 1, characterized in that: A mounting bracket is axially extended on the outer side of the valve body, and the mounting bracket covers the area corresponding to the valve body when it is in the first position and the second position. A first limit switch is provided in the first position and a second limit switch is provided in the second position.

3. The air pump according to claim 2, characterized in that: The valve body is provided with a radially protruding contact portion; the valve housing is provided with a clearance groove for the contact portion to move within it, and the mounting bracket is located at the opening of the clearance groove. When the valve body moves to the corresponding position, the contact portion can activate the corresponding limit switch.

4. The air pump according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control valve assembly also includes a sealing ring; The connection between the pump housing and the valve housing has a through hole, and a gas flow channel is formed between the through hole and the vent hole. The sealing ring is disposed on the valve body and moves axially synchronously with the valve body to seal or open the gas flow channel.

5. The air pump according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer side of the valve housing extends radially to form a first assembly connection portion; The control valve assembly includes a valve end cap; The sidewall of the valve end cover extends radially to form a second assembly connection portion, and the first assembly connection portion and the second assembly connection portion together enclose an assembly area for assembling the drive mechanism.

6. The air pump according to claim 5, characterized in that: One end of the valve housing is connected to the pump housing, and the other end of the valve housing is open, with the valve end cap covering the open end.

7. The air pump according to claim 5, characterized in that: The drive mechanism includes a motor, a gear set that is driven to the motor shaft of the motor, and a drive shaft; The gear set includes a pinion and a large gear that mesh with each other. One end of the drive shaft is threaded to the valve body, and the other end is fixedly connected to the large gear.

8. The air pump according to claim 7, characterized in that: The large gear has more teeth than the small gear.

9. The air pump according to claim 7, characterized in that: The outer circumference of the drive shaft is fitted with a bearing, and the outer wall of the bearing is connected to the inner wall of the valve end cover.

10. The air pump according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that: The low-pressure pump assembly is located in the first cavity of the pump housing, and the first cavity is connected to the general interface; The high-pressure pump assembly is located in the second cavity of the pump housing. The second cavity is equipped with a one-way valve. The second cavity is connected to the first cavity through the one-way valve. The opening direction of the one-way valve is from the second cavity to the first cavity.

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