Compressor unit for air compression within portable / transportable systems, use of a flutter valve in such a compressor unit, and portable / transportable system for sealing and inflating vehicle tires

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a compressor unit for air compression within portable / transportable systems, wherein the compressor unit comprises at least one motor and at least one reciprocating compressor with one cylinder and one piston. The invention also relates to the use of a reed valve and a portable / transportable system for sealing and inflating vehicle tires.

[0002] Compressor units for air compression within portable systems, such as those found in breakdown repair kits for cars, must meet two key requirements. Firstly, they must be very compact to minimize space and weight in the vehicle, for example, in the trunk. Secondly, they must have a long service life, meaning they must be usable for extended periods. These two requirements often create a conflict, as they cannot be improved simultaneously or to the same degree.

[0003] Various compressors are known in the prior art: DE 102013 107 850 A1 discloses a "compressor unit in a portable compressed air source which has a reciprocating piston compressor driven by a crank mechanism with a piston moving oscillating in a cylinder" (see claim 1).

[0004] The document with the international publication number WO 96 / 05430 discloses "piston compressor for gaseous media, preferably air, with a piston rod movable back and forth within a cylinder (60) with a rigidly connected piston (58) which has a passage (80) for the gaseous medium to be drawn in from the underside of the piston with an inlet valve (80) which opens when the piston moves downwards and closes when the piston moves upwards" (see claim 1).

[0005] DE 20 2016 101104 U1 discloses a compressor unit according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0006] Another objective underlying the invention is to provide a compressor unit for air compression within portable / transportable systems that has an extended service life and / or a more compact design.

[0007] This problem is solved according to the invention by a compressor unit for air compression within portable / transportable according to claim 1.

[0008] Within the scope of the present invention, a reed valve comprises at least one reed element; preferably, the reed valve consists of a single reed element. Due to their compact design, compressor units for air compression within portable / transportable systems are frequently built with small-volume, high-frequency sacrificial compressors to deliver the required flow volume per unit of time. Typically, spring-loaded valves are used as inlet and outlet valves in the cylinder of such a compressor unit. These have the disadvantage that, due to their design, they result in poorer flow dynamics because of a non-linear flow pattern. Furthermore, these spring-loaded valves have a natural frequency, dependent on the spring strength, in the range of 100 to 500 s⁻¹, which is very close to the stroke frequency of a compressor unit for air compression within portable / transportable systems.If a spring valve reaches its natural frequencies due to the movement of the copper seal, the system can and, in most cases, will suffer irreparable damage and is therefore no longer usable.

[0009] In contrast, the natural frequencies of reed valves are far above the stroke frequencies of compressor units for air compression within portable / transportable systems and are therefore, despite their compact design, also more durable. A compressor unit according to the invention with one or more reed valves as the inlet and / or outlet valve of the cylinder is therefore particularly preferred, wherein the reed valve(s) have a natural frequency greater than 250 s -1<, preferably greater than 500 s -1<, and / or have natural frequencies at least two or three times greater than the stroke frequency of the compressor unit.

[0010] Within the scope of the present invention, the reed valve component comprises at least the reed valve. Optionally, the reed valve component may further comprise subcomponents, such as a self-tapping screw as described below. Preferably, the reed valve component consists exclusively of the reed valve.

[0011] Within the scope of the present invention, a compressor unit according to the invention, hereinafter also referred to as the device according to the invention, comprises a device according to the invention as described above. A device according to the invention is preferably as described above, wherein the cylinder additionally has a reed valve as the inlet valve of the cylinder.

[0012] According to the invention, the flapper valve component has a fastening element and one or more flapper elements made of elastic material for sealing an air duct and for returning airflows.

[0013] An advantage of the aspect of the present invention described above is that, in particular, an elastic material advantageously performs the function of the reed valve and has the advantageous natural frequencies described above.

[0014] Particularly advantageous as elastic materials as described above are spring steels with a modulus of elasticity in the range of 0.05 Pa to 250 GPa and rubbers with a modulus of elasticity in the range of 0.05 Pa to 250 GPa, most preferably exclusively rubbers with a modulus of elasticity in the range of 0.1 GPa to 10 GPa, and especially preferably exclusively rubbers with a modulus of elasticity in the range of 0.15 to 4 GPa. Within the scope of the present invention, the elasticity is preferably determined using the modulus of elasticity E according to DIN EN ISO 527-2 at room temperature.

[0015] A device according to the invention is preferably as described above or below, or as described above or below as preferred, wherein the sealing segment consists of a material different from the mounting segment, wherein the mounting segment preferably consists of a rubber with a modulus of elasticity in the range of 5 GPa to 10 GPa and the sealing segment preferably consists of a rubber with a modulus of elasticity in the range of 0.1 GPa to 5 GPa, wherein the transition from the elastic material of the mounting segment to the elastic material of the sealing segment is particularly preferably gradual.The advantage of such a flutter element is that, unlike flutter elements consisting of only one material, this flutter element adheres particularly well to the mounting component of the reed valve component, exhibits particularly advantageous natural frequencies, and simultaneously seals the cylinder outlet channel of a compressor unit according to the invention particularly well. The particularly advantageous natural frequencies, as described above, are achieved through the gradual transition from the single rubber to the elastic rubber of the sealing segment.

[0016] According to the invention, one or at least one of the several fluttering elements comprises The assembly comprises a sealing segment for sealing the cylinder's exhaust port and a mounting segment for attaching it to the fastening element of the reed valve component. Preferably, one or at least one of the several reed elements is a disc with the same shape as the cross-section of the cylinder's exhaust port.

[0017] An advantage of the aspect of the present invention described above is that the natural frequencies of the reed valve of a compressor unit according to the invention can be determined more easily if the reed element is divided into a sealing segment and a mounting segment, and thus suitable stroke frequencies for the compressor unit can be determined.

[0018] A device according to the invention as described above, or as described above as preferred, is preferred, wherein one or at least one of the several fluttering elements The device has the shape of a perforated disc with a central hole. According to the invention, the sealing segment is arranged downstream of the mounting segment in the flow direction. wherein preferably the radially outer section of the one or the at least one fluttering element is the sealing segment and the radially inner section of the one or the at least one fluttering element is the mounting segment.

[0019] An advantage of the aspect of the present invention described above is that such flutter elements are particularly well suited for sealing radially symmetrical exhaust or intake channels of the cylinder.

[0020] A preferred device according to the invention is one as described above, or as described above as preferred, wherein one or at least one of the several flutter elements is mounted in a cylinder outlet channel of the compressor unit, wherein the elastic material is preferably selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, fluororubbers, chlorinated rubbers, silicone rubbers, polyurethane rubbers, and spring steel. Particularly preferred are fluororubbers such as FKM, FVMQ, FFPM (abbreviated according to DIN ISO 1629), chlorinated rubbers such as CM, CIIR, CR, CSM (all abbreviated according to DIN ISO 1629), silicone rubbers such as VMQ (all abbreviated according to DIN ISO 1629), polyurethane rubber (AU) (abbreviated according to DIN ISO 1629), and / or spring steel according to DIN EN 10089:2003-04.

[0021] An advantage of the aspect of the present invention described above is that, in particular, the materials described above have suitable natural frequencies as flutter elements.

[0022] A device according to the invention is preferably one as described above or as described above as preferred, wherein the mounting segment of the flutter element is positively connected or materially connected, preferably materially connected, to the fastening element of the flutter valve component.

[0023] An advantage of the aspect of the present invention described above is that this preferred embodiment of the present invention has a particularly simple and therefore also stable construction, which further increases the service life of a compressor unit according to the invention. A material-bonded connection allows for an even more stable construction compared to a form-fit connection, enabling particularly strong rebound pressures to be absorbed and the natural frequency band of the reed valve to be narrowed.

[0024] Within the scope of the present invention, the natural frequency band of a valve is preferably the vibration range during the use of the valve, in which the valve itself balances and thus breaks out.

[0025] A preferred device according to the invention is one as described above, or as described above as preferred, wherein at least one of the sealing segments of the one or more fluttering elements has a transverse and a longitudinal extent, wherein the ratio of longitudinal to transverse extent is in the range of 500:1 to 1:1, wherein the longitudinal extent of the at least one sealing segment preferably has a sealing angle β to the flow direction in the range of 10° to 80°, most preferably in the range of 30° to 60°. This is preferably the case in combination with the various fluttering elements of a compressor unit described above as preferred, and is particularly preferred if, as described above, one or more of the fluttering elements has the form of a disc or perforated disc.

[0026] An advantage of the aspect of the present invention described above is that the design of a compressor unit according to the invention can be made even more compact compared to other compressor units according to the invention.

[0027] A device according to the invention as described above or as described above as preferred is preferred, wherein the displacement of the cylinder is in the range of 1 to 1000 cm³, preferably in the range of 2 to 200 cm³, particularly preferably in the range of 3 to 50 cm³, and / or the reciprocating compressor is configured to achieve a stroke frequency in the range of 1 to 1000 s⁻¹, preferably in the range of 10 to 500 s⁻¹, particularly preferably in the range of 140 to 450 s⁻¹.

[0028] An advantage of the aspect of the present invention described above is that, due to the use of the father valve, in particular compressor units with the properties described above can be built, which have a longer service life and a more compact design than those from the prior art.

[0029] A device according to the invention is preferably as described above or as described above as preferred, wherein the compressor unit does not have any spring elements, in particular no metal-containing spring for use in a valve.

[0030] An advantage of the aspect of the present invention described above is that, due to the avoidance of all spring valves, i.e. springs for use in a valve, the guidance in the airflow within the compressor unit according to the present invention can be designed to be even more variable.

[0031] A preferred device according to the invention is one as described above, or as described above as preferred, wherein the compressor unit comprises means for measuring air pressure, wherein the means for measuring air pressure are designed to measure the air pressure downstream of the reed valve component of the cylinder. The said means for measuring air pressure are specifically configured to measure the air pressure in the vehicle tire to be sealed during compressor operation. Therefore, the air pressure measurement is always performed downstream of the cylinder's outlet valve.

[0032] An advantage of the aspect of the present invention described above is that, due to the reduced oscillating mass, particularly of the fluttering element described above, the air pressure after the outlet valve can be kept more constant, thus allowing for better determination of the target air pressure. The target air pressure can, for example, be 2 bar or more, in order to then transition from an inflation mode to a sealing mode of the portable system for sealing and inflating vehicle tires. Alternatively, this method can also be used to determine more accurately whether the vehicle tire to be sealed was sufficiently sealed during the sealing mode.

[0033] Previously, the vibrations of the piston and the conventional exhaust valves always overlapped in the exhaust port behind the exhaust valve, resulting in particularly high pressure fluctuations. The vibrations of a reed valve are lower during operation compared to conventional exhaust valves.

[0034] This allows for better control of the pressure setting in the tire being sealed.

[0035] A device according to the invention is preferably as described above or as described above as preferred, wherein the reed valve component has a self-tapping screw for attaching the one or the at least one reed element, wherein the self-tapping screw preferably represents the fastening element of the reed valve component.

[0036] An advantage of the aspect of the present invention described above is that an even more compact and economical design of the reed valve component can be achieved compared with other compressor units according to the invention.

[0037] A device according to the invention is preferably as described above or as described above as preferred, wherein the fastening element of the reed valve component is welded to an inner wall of the cylinder.

[0038] An advantage of the aspect of the present invention described above is that this preferred embodiment of the present invention has a particularly simple and therefore also stable construction, which further increases the service life of a compressor unit according to the invention. A welded connection allows for an even more stable construction compared to a positive-locking connection, enabling particularly strong rebound pressures to be absorbed and the natural frequency band of the reed valve to be narrowed.

[0039] A particularly preferred device according to the invention is one as described above, wherein the compressor unit comprises at least one motor and at least one reciprocating compressor with one cylinder and one piston, characterized in that the cylinder has a reed valve component, wherein the reed valve component has at least one reed valve as the exhaust valve of the cylinder, wherein The reed valve component comprises a fastening element and one or more reed elements made of elastic material for sealing an air duct and for restoring airflows, one or at least one of the reed elements comprising a sealing segment for sealing the cylinder outlet duct and an attachment segment for attaching to the fastening element of the reed valve component, one or at least one of the reed elements having the shape of a perforated disc with a central hole, and the sealing segment being arranged downstream of the attachment segment in the flow direction, the radially outer section of the one or at least one reed element being the sealing segment and the radially inner section of the one or at least one reed element being the attachment segment, one or at least one of the reed elements being installed in a cylinder outlet duct of the compressor unit.wherein the elastic material is spring steel with a modulus of elasticity in the range of 0.05 Pa to 250 GPa or rubber with a modulus of elasticity in the range of 0.05 Pa to 250 GPa, wherein the elastic material is preferably a rubber selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene and polyurethane, fluororubbers, chlorinated rubbers, the mounting segment of the flapping element is bonded to the fastening element of the flapping valve component, one or at least one of the several flapping elements has a transverse and a longitudinal extension, wherein the ratio of longitudinal to transverse extension is in the range of 50:1 to 10:1, wherein the longitudinal extension of the flapping valve has a sealing angle β to the flow direction in the range of 30 to 60°, the displacement of the cylinder is in the range of 3 to 50 cm³, and the stroke frequency of the reciprocating compressor is in the range of 140 to 450 s -1< lies. ,

[0040] The advantageous aspects of a compressor unit according to the invention for air compression within portable / transportable systems described above also apply to all aspects of a use of a reed valve described below, and the advantageous aspects of uses of reed valves according to the invention discussed below apply accordingly to all aspects of a compressor unit according to the invention for air compression within portable / transportable systems.

[0041] The disclosure also relates to the use of a reed valve, preferably a reed valve as described above or as described above as preferred, as an outlet valve in a compressor unit, preferably in a compressor unit as described above or as described above as preferred, wherein the reed valve is particularly preferably used to improve the measurement accuracy of the pressure measurement in the outlet channel and / or to increase the generated volume flow and / or to avoid the excitation of natural frequencies of the outlet valve.

[0042] A use as described above, or as described above as preferred, or as described above as particularly preferred, is preferred, wherein the displacement of the cylinder is in the range of 1 to 1000 cm³, preferably in the range of 2 to 200 cm³, particularly preferably in the range of 3 to 50 cm³, and / or the stroke frequency of the reciprocating compressor is preferably in the range of 1 to 1000 s⁻¹, preferably in the range of 10 to 500 s⁻¹, particularly preferably in the range of 140 to 450 s⁻¹.

[0043] The advantageous aspects of a compressor unit according to the invention for air compression within portable / transportable systems and an inventive use of a reed valve described above also apply to all aspects of a portable / transportable system described below, and the advantageous aspects of portable / transportable systems according to the invention discussed below apply accordingly to all aspects of a compressor unit according to the invention for air compression within portable / transportable systems and inventive uses of a reed valve.

[0044] The invention also relates to a portable / transportable system for sealing and inflating vehicle tires, comprising at least one compressor unit as described above or as preferably described above, and at least one sealant container for receiving a sealant and / or a gas, and optionally at least one distribution unit for generating and distributing a dispersion consisting of sealant and gas into a vehicle tire Character description:

[0045] It shows: Figure 1: Cross-sectional view of a reed valve component in a compressor unit according to the invention in closed mode; Figure 2: Cross-sectional view of a reed valve component in a compressor unit according to the invention in open mode; Figure 3: Cross-sectional view of a schematically represented compressor unit according to the invention; Figure 4: Cross-sectional view of a reed valve component with a welded reed element in a compressor unit according to the invention. Figure 5: Schematic representation of a reed valve component of a compressor unit according to the invention.

[0046] Figure 1Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of an outlet valve 13 on the outlet channel 21 of a cylinder of a compressor unit 1 according to the invention, comprising a reed valve component 11 with a fastening element 15 and a reed element 16, wherein the reed element 16 has a mounting segment 18 and a sealing segment 19 made of an elastic material 17. The Figure 1 The schematically represented reed valve component 11 is in the closed state, i.e., air is being drawn into the cylinder 9 and the reed element 16 thus prevents air from entering the cylinder 9 via the exhaust channel 21 by returning to its original position.

[0047] Figure 2Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of an outlet valve 13 on the outlet channel 21 of a cylinder of a compressor unit 1 according to the invention, comprising a reed valve component 11 with a fastening element 15 and a reed element 16, wherein the reed element 16 has a mounting segment 18 and a sealing segment 19 made of an elastic material 17. The Figure 1 The schematically represented reed valve component 11 is in the open state, i.e., air is being pumped out of the cylinder 9 in the flow direction 20 and the reed element 16 is thus forced through the outlet channel 21 via a distribution unit to generate and distribute a dispersion consisting of sealant and gas into a vehicle pneumatic tire (not shown).

[0048] Figure 3Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a compressor unit 1 with a reciprocating compressor 4 comprising a schematically represented motor 2, which, via a very schematically represented connecting rod 8, can move a piston 7 up and down in a displacement 10 of a cylinder 9. Also shown is the cylinder intake port 22 with an intake valve 14, through which air flows in the direction of flow 20 first into the displacement 10 and, upon the subsequent downward movement of the piston 7, to the exhaust valve 13 in the cylinder exhaust port 21. Figure 3 The cylinder exhaust port 21 has a centrally located bracket in which the reed valve 12 is attached by means of the fastening element 15 of the reed valve component 11, here, for example, a self-tapping screw 6. The reed valve is located in Figure 3in the form of a perforated disc, which is compressed between a screw 6 and the aforementioned bracket, thereby pressing the sealing segment 18 of the flutter element 16, made of the elastic material 17, against the walls of the cylinder outlet channel 21 and thus performing its return and sealing functions. The sealing segment 18 and the mounting segment 19 are in Figure 3 made from the same elastic material 17.

[0049] Figure 4Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a compressor unit 1 with a reciprocating compressor 4 comprising a schematically represented motor 2, which, via a very schematically represented connecting rod 8, can move a piston 7 up and down in a displacement 10 of a cylinder 9. Also shown is the cylinder intake port 22 with an intake valve 14, through which air flows in the direction of flow 20 first into the displacement 10 and, upon the subsequent downward movement of the piston 7, to the exhaust valve 13 in the cylinder exhaust port 21. Figure 4 The cylinder exhaust port 21 has two weld points 5, through which the fastening element 15 of the reed valve component 11 is materially bonded to the walls of the cylinder exhaust port 21 and thus firmly attached. The reed valve is located in Figure 4in the form of a perforated disc, which is fitted around the thinnest point of the mounting segment 15 and rests against the walls of the cylinder outlet port 21, thus performing its return and sealing functions. The sealing segment 18 and the mounting segment 19 are in Figure 3 made from the same elastic material 17.

[0050] Figure 5 shows a schematic representation of a reed valve component 11 of a compressor unit according to the invention, for example in Figure 4 depicted. In Figure 5The reed valve component 11 comprises the reed valve 12 and a fastening element 15 with connection points to the cylinder outlet port 21 indicated by the weld point 5. The reed valve 12 comprises two reed elements 16, each consisting of a mounting segment 19 and a sealing segment 18, the sealing segment 18 being made of an elastic material. The mounting segment 19 can also be made of an elastic material, for example, spring steel, or another material suitable for holding the sealing segment 18 of the reed element 16 to the reed valve 12 or the fastening element 15 during operation of the compressor unit 1. The transition from the material of the mounting segment 19 to the elastic material of the sealing segment 18 can be gradual or abrupt, for example, by bonding the two segments 18 and 19 together. Reference symbol list:

[0051] 1 Compressor unit for air compression 2 Engine 3 Spring element; spring 4 Reciprocating compressor 5 Weld point 6 Self-tapping screw 7 Piston 8 Connecting rod 9 Cylinder 10 Cylinder displacement 11 Reed valve component 12 Reed valve 13 Cylinder exhaust valve 14 Cylinder intake valve 15 Reed valve component mounting element 16 Reed valve component reed element 17 Elastic material for sealing an air duct and for restoring airflow 18 Reed element sealing segment 19 Reed element mounting segment 20 Flow direction 21 Cylinder exhaust port 22 Cylinder intake port 23 Sealing angle β 24 Longitudinal extent of the reed element sealing segment 25 Transverse extent of the reed element sealing segment

Claims

1. Compressor unit for compressing air within portable / transportable systems, wherein the compressor unit (1) has at least one motor (2) and at least one reciprocating-piston compressor (4) with a cylinder (9) and with a piston (7), wherein the cylinder (9) has a flutter-valve component (11), wherein the flutter-valve component (11) has at least one flutter valve (12) as an outlet valve of the cylinder (9), wherein the flutter-valve component (11) has a fastening element (15) and one or more flutter elements (16), consisting of elastic material (17), for sealing of an air channel and for resetting for air streams, wherein the one or at least one of the multiple flutter elements (16) comprises a sealing segment (18), for sealing of an outlet channel (21) of the cylinder (9), and an attachment segment (19), for attachment to the fastening element (15) of the flutter-valve component (11), characterized in that the sealing segment (18) is arranged after the attachment segment (19) in the flow direction (20).

2. Compressor unit according to Claim 1, wherein the one or at least one of the multiple flutter elements (16) - is a disc which has the same shape as the cross section of an outlet channel (21) of the cylinder (9).

3. Compressor unit according to Claim 2, wherein the one or at least one of the multiple flutter elements (16) - has the shape of a perforated disc with a central hole, wherein the radially outer portion of the one or the at least one flutter element (16) is the sealing segment and the radially inner portion of the one or the at least one flutter element (16) is the attachment segment (19).

4. Compressor unit according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or at least one of the multiple flutter elements (16) is attached in a cylinder outlet channel (21) of the compressor unit (1), wherein the elastic material (17) is preferably selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, fluoro rubbers, chlorinated rubbers, silicone rubbers, polyurethane rubbers and spring steel.

5. Compressor unit according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the attachment segment (19) of the flutter element (16) is connected in a form-fitting or materially bonded, preferably materially bonded, manner to the fastening element (15) of the flutter-valve component (11).

6. Compressor unit according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the sealing segments (18) of the one or the multiple flutter elements (16) has a transverse extent and a longitudinal extent (25, 24), wherein the ratio of longitudinal extent to transverse extent (24, 25) lies in the range of 500:1 to 1:1, wherein the longitudinal extent (24) of the at least one sealing segment (18) preferably has a sealing angle ß (23) to the flow direction (20) in the range of 10 to 80°, very particularly preferably in the range of 30 to 60°.

7. Compressor unit according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the displacement volume (10) of the cylinder (9) lies in the range of 1 to 1000 cm3, preferably in the range of 2 to 200 cm3, particularly preferably in the range of 3 to 50 cm3, and / or - the reciprocating-piston compressor (4) is configured to attain a stroke frequency in the range of 1 to 1000 s-1, preferably in the range of 10 to 500 s-1, particularly preferably in the range of 140 to 450 s-1.

8. Compressor unit according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the compressor unit (1) has no spring elements (3), in particular no metal-containing spring for use in a valve.

9. Compressor unit according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the compressor unit (1) comprises means for measuring air pressure, wherein the means for measuring air pressure are designed in such a way that they are able to measure the air pressure behind the flutter-valve component (11) of the cylinder (9) in the flow direction (20).

10. Compressor unit according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the flutter-valve component (11) has a self-tapping screw (6) for attachment of the one or the at least one flutter element (16).

11. Compressor unit according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the fastening element (15) of the flutter-valve component (11) is welded to an inner wall of the cylinder (9) or of the cylinder outlet channel (21).

12. Portable / transportable system for sealing and inflating pneumatic vehicle tyres, comprising - at least one compressor unit (1) as defined in one of Claims 1 to 11, and - at least one sealant container for accommodating a sealant and / or a gas, and optionally - at least one distributor unit for generating a dispersion consisting of sealant and gas and distributing it into a pneumatic vehicle tyre.