Air compressor

Abstract

Air compressor (100), including: an air reservoir (120) with an air inlet (120a) and an air outlet (120b); a motor (180); and a piston mechanism (130) arranged in the air reservoir (120) comprising a cylinder (132) and a piston (134), wherein the cylinder (132) has a front end (132a) and a rear end (132b) opposite each other, the front end (132a) being adjacent to the air inlet (120a) and the piston (134) being movably arranged in the cylinder (132) and projecting from the rear end (132b) to be coupled to the motor (180), wherein the motor (180) is adapted to drive the piston (134) so ​​that it moves back and forth along the cylinder (132) so that air can flow successively through the air inlet (120a), the front end (132a), the rear end (132b) and the air outlet (120b).

Description

BACKGROUNDTechnical field

[0001] The disclosure relates to an air compressor, in particular a piston air compressor. Description of the state of the art

[0002] The vehicle-mounted air compressor can be used together with a tire sealant bottle to repair and inflate the vehicle's tires, but it can also be used to inflate the vehicle's tires without the tire sealant bottle. The air compressor can be a piston air compressor. In a general piston air compressor, the piston moves forward in the cylinder to compress the air in the cylinder, causing the high-pressure air to flow from the front end of the cylinder to the air reservoir and be discharged. As the piston in the cylinder retracts, the space in the cylinder gradually increases, and the air pressure inside the cylinder decreases. The air is compressed the next time the piston advances, thus forming a continuous cycle.

[0003] Existing piston air compressors have the following technical problems. The air tank and the piston mechanism, including the piston and cylinder, each occupy the configuration space in the piston air compressor, and it is difficult to reduce the volume of the piston air compressor. Furthermore, excessive noise during the operation of the piston mechanism can easily affect the customer's user experience. Furthermore, in the limited configuration space of the piston air compressor, it is difficult to provide sufficient heat dissipation space to dissipate heat from the piston mechanism, and it is difficult to protect the piston mechanism from impact damage with adequate protective structures. SUMMARY

[0004] The disclosure provides an air compressor that can reduce the volume of the air compressor, reduce the noise of the piston mechanism, provide a sufficient heat dissipation area for the piston mechanism, and protect the piston mechanism well.

[0005] The air compressor of the present disclosure includes an air tank, a motor, and a piston mechanism. The air tank has an air inlet and an air outlet. The piston mechanism is disposed within the air tank and includes a cylinder and a piston. The cylinder has a front end and a rear end opposite each other. The front end is located adjacent to the air inlet, and the piston is movably disposed within the cylinder and protrudes from the rear end to be coupled to the motor. The motor is adapted to drive the piston to reciprocate along the cylinder so that air flows sequentially through the air inlet, front end, rear end, and air outlet.

[0006] In one embodiment of the disclosure, the piston includes a piston head and a piston rod that are connected to each other. The piston head divides the interior of the cylinder into a first space and a second space. The first space is located between the front end and the piston head, the second space is located between the piston head and the rear end, and the piston rod is coupled to the engine.

[0007] In one embodiment of the disclosure, when the engine drives the piston head to move toward the rear end, the air outside the air reservoir flows into the first space through the air inlet so that the air pressure in the first space is lower than the air pressure outside the air reservoir.

[0008] In one embodiment of the disclosure, the air compressor further includes a check valve, wherein the check valve is disposed in the air inlet, and the check valve allows the air outside the air tank to flow into the first space through the air inlet and prevents the air in the first space from flowing out of the air tank through the air inlet.

[0009] In one embodiment of the disclosure, the piston head includes an opening. When the engine drives the piston head to move toward the front end, and the air pressure in the first chamber is greater than the air pressure in the second chamber, the air in the first chamber flows through the opening into the second chamber.

[0010] In one embodiment of the disclosure, the air compressor further includes a check valve, wherein the check valve is disposed in the opening and allows the air in the first space to flow through the opening into the second space and prevents the air in the second space from flowing through the opening into the first space.

[0011] In one embodiment of the disclosure, the air compressor further includes a pressure gauge, wherein the pressure gauge is connected to the air tank.

[0012] In one embodiment of the disclosure, the air compressor further includes an air outlet pipe, wherein the air outlet pipe is disposed outside the air tank and connected to the air outlet.

[0013] In one embodiment of the disclosure, the air compressor further includes a housing, the housing accommodating the air tank, the piston mechanism, and the motor, and the air outlet pipe extending outside the housing.

[0014] In one embodiment of the disclosure, the air reservoir includes a first housing portion and a second housing portion, and the second housing portion is joined to the first housing portion such that the piston mechanism is concealed between the first housing portion and the second housing portion.

[0015] Based on the above, in the air compressor of the disclosure, the piston mechanism is arranged in the air tank. Accordingly, the piston mechanism does not occupy the configuration space outside the air tank and can reduce the volume of the air compressor. Furthermore, the noise generated during the operation of the piston mechanism is contained in the air tank, thereby reducing the noise of the piston mechanism. Furthermore, the heat generated during the operation of the piston mechanism is dissipated in the air tank and can be released through the sufficiently large outer surface of the air tank. In addition, the piston mechanism is located in the air tank and is well protected from impact damage. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an air compressor according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of some components of the air compressor in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the air compressor in Fig. 2 from a different perspective. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of some components of the air compressor in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of some components of the air compressor in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a partial structure of an air tank and some components of a piston mechanism in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a cylinder and a piston in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the cylinder and piston in Fig. 7 from a different perspective. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the partial structure of the air tank in Fig. 6 from a different perspective. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the piston in Fig. 8. DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an air compressor according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of some components of the air compressor in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the air compressor in Fig. 2 from a different perspective. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of some components of the air compressor in Fig. 2. It will be Fig. 1 to Fig. 4. An air compressor 100 of this embodiment is, for example, a vehicle-mounted air compressor used to provide high-pressure air required for inflating and / or repairing vehicle tires. However, the disclosure is not limited thereto. The air compressor 100 includes a housing 110, an air tank 120, a piston mechanism 130, an air outlet pipe 140, and a motor 180. The housing 110 accommodates the air tank 120, the piston mechanism 130, and the motor 180. The piston mechanism 130 is disposed in the air tank 120 and includes a cylinder 132 and a piston 134. As shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the air tank 120 has an air inlet 120a and an air outlet 120b. The air outlet pipe 140 is located outside the air tank 120 and is connected to the air outlet 120b. The air outlet pipe 140 extends outside the housing 110.

[0017] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the cylinder 132 has a front end 132a and a rear end 132b that are opposite each other. The front end 132a is adjacent to the air inlet 120a of the air reservoir 120, and the piston 134 is movably disposed within the cylinder 132 and protrudes from the rear end 132b of the cylinder 132 to couple to the motor 180. The motor 180 is adapted to drive the piston 134 to reciprocate along the cylinder 132 in the directions D1 and D2 so that the air flows sequentially through the air inlet 120a of the air tank 120, the front end 132a of the cylinder 132, the rear end 132b of the cylinder 132 and the air outlet 120b of the air tank 120 and exits via the air outlet pipe 140.

[0018] As described above, in the air compressor 100 of this embodiment, the piston mechanism 130 is disposed within the air tank 120. Accordingly, the piston mechanism 130 does not occupy the configuration space outside the air tank 120 and can reduce the volume of the air compressor 100. Moreover, the noise generated during the operation of the piston mechanism 130 is contained within the air tank 120, thereby reducing the noise of the piston mechanism 130. Furthermore, the heat generated during the operation of the piston mechanism 130 is dissipated within the air tank 120 and can be released through the sufficiently large outer surface of the air tank 120. In addition, the piston mechanism 130 is located within the air tank 120 and is well protected from impact damage.

[0019] The operation of the air compressor 100 of this embodiment will be described below.

[0020] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of some components of the air compressor in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a partial structure of an air tank and some components of a piston mechanism in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a cylinder and a piston in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the cylinder and piston in Fig. 7 from a different perspective. It is based on the Fig. 5 to Fig. 8. The piston 134 of this embodiment includes a piston head 1341 and a piston rod 1342 that are connected to each other. The piston head 1341 divides the interior of the cylinder 132 into a first space S1 and a second space S2. The first space S1 is located between the front end 132a of the cylinder 132 and the piston head 1341, the second space S2 is located between the piston head 1341 and the rear end 132b of the cylinder 132, and the piston rod 1342 is coupled to the motor 180. In this embodiment, the piston rod 1342 is connected to the motor 180 via a structure such as a gear set G (in Fig. 2, Fig. 4 and Fig. 5) and can be reciprocated by the drive of the motor 180, thereby driving the piston head 1341 to reciprocate along the cylinder 132. The method and principle of the reciprocating movement of the piston 134 are known in the art, so details will not be repeated here.

[0021] When the motor 180 drives the piston head 1341 to move toward the rear end 132b of the cylinder 132, so that the first space S1 expands and thus the air pressure in the first space S1 is lower than the air pressure outside the air tank 120, the air outside the air tank 120 flows into the first space S1 through the air inlet 120a of the air tank 120 due to the pressure difference between the first space S1 and the outside of the air tank 120. Furthermore, the piston head 1341 has an opening 1341a. When the motor 180 drives the piston head 1341 to move toward the front end 132a of the cylinder 132 so that the first space S2 is reduced and thus the air pressure in the first space S1 is greater than the air pressure in the second space S2, the air in the first space S1 flows into the second space S2 through the opening 1341a due to the pressure difference between the first space S1 and the second space S2.By continuously circulating in this way, the high-pressure air can be continuously discharged to the air outlet 120b of the air tank 120 through the second space S2 by the operation of the piston mechanism 130.

[0022] Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the partial structure of the air tank in Fig. 6 from a different perspective. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the piston in Fig. 8. It is Fig. 9 and Fig. 10. In addition, the air compressor 100 of this embodiment includes two check valves 150, 160. The check valve 150 is provided in the air inlet 120a of the air tank 120 (shown in Fig. 6) and the check valve 160 is arranged in the opening 1341a of the piston head 1341 (shown in Fig. 7). The check valve 150 allows the air outside the air tank 120 to flow through the air inlet 120a of the air tank 120 into the first space S1 and prevents the air in the first space S1 from flowing out of the air tank 120 through the air inlet 120a of the air tank 120. The check valve 160 allows the air in the first space S1 to flow through the opening 1341a of the piston head 1341 into the second space S2 and prevents the air in the second space S2 from flowing through the opening 1341a of the piston head 1341 into the first space S1. The detailed structure and function of the check valve are known in the art, so a repetition of the details will be omitted here.

[0023] It will be Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. In this embodiment, the air compressor 100 further includes a pressure gauge 170. The pressure gauge 170 is connected to the air tank 120 and serves to measure and display the air pressure in the air tank 120. The user can view the pressure value displayed by the pressure gauge 170 to know the pressure change of the air tank 120 during the operation of the piston mechanism 130. In addition, the air compressor 100 of this embodiment may include a heat dissipation fan 190 (in Fig. 1 to Fig. 5). The heat dissipation fan 190 is connected to the motor 180 and driven by the motor 180 to generate a heat dissipation airflow to the piston mechanism 130 and the air tank 120 for heat dissipation.

[0024] It will be Fig. 2 and Fig.4. The air tank 120 of this embodiment includes a first housing portion 1201, a second housing portion 1202, and an end portion 1203. The second housing portion 1202 is joined to the first housing portion 1201 so that the piston mechanism 130 is concealed between the first housing portion 1201 and the second housing portion 1202. The end portion 1203 is joined to the first housing portion 1201 and the second housing portion 1202, and the air inlet 120a is formed in the end portion 1203. In other embodiments, the air tank 120 may be formed in other suitable ways, and the disclosure is not limited thereto. Furthermore, the air outlet pipe 140 may be connected at any suitable position on the outer surface of the air tank 120 according to the configuration and design requirements, and the disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0025] In the embodiment, sealing elements may be arranged between the first housing portion 1201, the second housing portion 1202, the end portion 1203, and the cylinder 132, as well as between the first housing portion 1201 and the transmission shaft of the gear set G, to prevent air from escaping from the air reservoir 120. The specific type and arrangement of the sealing element are well known in the art, so details will not be repeated here.

[0026] In summary, in the air compressor of the disclosure, the piston mechanism is arranged in the air tank. Accordingly, the piston mechanism does not occupy the configuration space outside the air tank and can reduce the volume of the air compressor. Moreover, the noise generated during the operation of the piston mechanism is contained in the air tank, which can reduce the noise of the piston mechanism. Furthermore, the heat generated during the operation of the piston mechanism is dissipated in the air tank and can be discharged through the sufficiently large outer surface of the air tank. In addition, the piston mechanism is located inside the air tank and is well protected from impact damage. Furthermore, the air outlet pipe can be connected to any location on the outer surface of the air tank, allowing greater freedom in configuration. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS: 100 air compressor 110 housings 120 air tanks 120a an air inlet 120b Air outlet 1201 first housing section 1202 second housing section 1203 final section 130 Piston mechanism 132 cylinders 132a front end 132b rear end 134 pistons 1341 piston head 1341a Opening 1342 piston rod 140 Air outlet pipe 150, 160 check valve 170 pressure gauges 180 engine 190 heat dissipation fan D1, D2 direction G gear set S1 first room S2 second room

Claims

[1] Air compressor (100), comprising: an air tank (120) with an air inlet (120a) and an air outlet (120b); an engine (180); and a piston mechanism (130) arranged in the air tank (120) and comprising a cylinder (132) and a piston (134), the cylinder (132) having a front end (132a) and a rear end (132b) opposite each other, the front end (132a) adjacent to the air inlet (120a) and the piston (134) being movably arranged in the cylinder (132) and protruding from the rear end (132b) to be coupled to the motor (180), wherein the motor (180) is adapted to drive the piston (134) to reciprocate along the cylinder (132) so that air can flow sequentially through the air inlet (120a), the front end (132a), the rear end (132b) and the air outlet (120b). [2] The air compressor (100) according to claim 1, wherein the piston (134) comprises a piston head (1341) and a piston rod (1342) connected to each other, the piston head (1341) dividing an interior of the cylinder (132) into a first space (S1) and a second space (S2), the first space (S1) being located between the front end (132a) and the piston head (1341), the second space (S2) being located between the piston head (1341) and the rear end (132b), and the piston rod (1342) being coupled to the motor (180). [3] The air compressor (100) according to claim 2, wherein, in response to the motor (180) driving the piston head (1341) to move toward the rear end (132b) such that an air pressure in the first space (S1) is lower than an air pressure outside the air tank (120), air outside the air tank (120) flows through the air inlet (120a) to the first space (S1). [4] The air compressor (100) according to claim 2, further comprising a check valve (150), wherein the check valve (150) is disposed in the air inlet (120a), and the check valve (150) allows air outside the air tank (120) to flow into the first space (S1) through the air inlet (120a) and prevents air in the first space (S1) from flowing out of the air tank (120) through the air inlet (120a). [5] The air compressor (100) according to claim 2, wherein the piston head (1341) has an opening (1341a), wherein in response to the motor (180) driving the piston head (1341) to move toward the front end (132a) such that an air pressure in the first space (S1) is greater than an air pressure in the second space (S2), air in the first space (S1) flows through the opening (1341a) to the second space (S2). [6] The air compressor (100) according to claim 5, further comprising a check valve (150), wherein the check valve (150) is disposed in the opening (1341a), and the check valve (150) allows the air in the first space (S1) to flow into the second space (S2) through the opening (1341a) and prevents air in the second space (S2) from flowing into the first space (S1) through the opening (1341a). [7] The air compressor (100) according to claim 1, further comprising a pressure gauge, the pressure gauge being connected to the air tank (120). [8] The air compressor (100) according to claim 1, further comprising an air outlet pipe (140), wherein the air outlet pipe (140) is located outside the air tank (120) and is connected to the air outlet (120b). [9] The air compressor (100) according to claim 8, further comprising a housing (110), wherein the housing (110) accommodates the air tank (120), the piston mechanism (130) and the motor (180), and the air outlet pipe (140) extends outside the housing (110). [10] The air compressor (100) according to claim 1, wherein the air tank (120) comprises a first housing portion (1201) and a second housing portion (1202), the second housing portion (1202) being joined to the first housing portion (1201) such that the piston mechanism (130) is hidden between the first housing portion (1201) and the second housing portion (1202).

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