COMPRESSED AIR SUPPLY SYSTEM

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a compressed air supply system, in particular for supplying air to the tires of a motor vehicle.

[0002] Compressed air supply systems are known in the prior art. For example, compressed air supply systems are known that can be connected to a pneumatic tire to be sealed via a sealant reservoir. The sealant reservoir is connected, for example, to a compressor of the compressed air supply system via an air inlet and to the tire via an outlet through which an air / sealant mixture can escape. When the compressor is operating, sealant enters the tire while connected to it, which can seal a puncture and thus allow driving to continue after a flat tire without having to mount a spare tire. In particular, such compressed air supply systems eliminate the need to carry spare tires, thereby improving the available space, for example, in the trunk of a vehicle.A compressed air supply system is known, for example, from document CN 201 671 788 U.

[0003] The compressor, in particular a compressor unit of the compressor, is driven, for example, by an electric motor, wherein the compressor unit has a piston guided in a cylinder which is coupled to the electric motor via a gearbox, wherein an eccentrically coupled gear wheel is provided with balancing weights to drive the piston in its stroke movement to compress the air.

[0004] It is known in the prior art to provide a balancing weight that is held in a recess of the gear by means of a weld. For this purpose, the balancing weight has, for example, an opening through which a journal of the gear passes, and which is then deformed by heat so that the balancing weight is fixed in the recess. A disadvantage of such a design is that a number of different balancing weights must be kept in stock, or the selection is rather inflexible. In particular, these balancing weights must be manufactured specifically for the application.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and flexible solution for balancing gear teeth in compressed air supply systems.

[0006] This problem is solved by a compressed air supply system with the features of claim 1. It is provided that the at least one balancing weight is detented in at least one recess of the gear, wherein the at least one balancing weight is a ball bearing ball. In this way, a significantly simpler connection is possible, which is achieved simply by joining the two parts and does not require an additional process step such as welding.

[0007] The compressor is driven by an electric motor, which, via its motor shaft, drives a gear that engages with the compressor's gearbox gear. The piston is eccentrically mounted to this gearbox gear, so that the rotation of the gearbox gear causes the piston to reciprocate within the cylinder with each revolution, thus compressing the air inside the cylinder. This compressed air is then forced through a sealant bottle, carrying the sealant with it, and is then injected into the tire, where it seals the opening.

[0008] According to the invention, the at least one balancing weight is spherical. This offers the advantage that it can be easily locked into position without having to consider its shape during locking, since every installation position is the same. Incorrect installations are avoided.

[0009] According to the invention, at least one balancing weight is a ball bearing ball. In particular, ball bearing balls that do not meet the requirements for use in ball bearings can be used. This allows for a wider range of applications, and the balancing weights used are comparatively inexpensive. Balancing is particularly effective when several balancing weights, especially three, are used. The use of multiple balancing weights further increases flexibility. In particular, the weights can be combined and arranged to achieve the desired effect. It is also particularly advantageous that only one type of balancing weight of the same type and weight, especially ball bearing balls, can be used.In this case, it is particularly useful to use balancing weights that do not meet the stringent requirements for use in ball bearings. This also reduces installation errors. Alternatively, different balancing weights can be used together.

[0010] It is preferable for the at least one balancing weight to be arranged opposite the axis of the gear at the piston's pivot point, thus forming a counterweight. It is particularly preferable for the at least one balancing weight to be arranged symmetrically opposite the piston's pivot point and / or around this position if multiple balancing weights are used and are preferably arranged symmetrically to this symmetrical position. This allows for a particularly uniform distribution of the counterweight.

[0011] Particularly easy mounting of the balancing weights can be achieved if at least one recess is trapezoidal (pie-shaped) and equipped with locking elements. Spherical balancing weights, in particular, can be securely and easily mounted and held in such geometric recesses. The locking elements can preferably be provided on the two non-converging sides of the recess.

[0012] Furthermore, it is preferred that each balancing weight has a recess in which it is held in place by a locking mechanism. This allows for further increased flexibility, as the individual balancing weights are independent of each other.

[0013] The gear can preferably be made of plastic and the detent elements for the at least one balancing weight can be integrally connected to the gear.

[0014] The balancing weights preferably consist of a metallic material, preferably steel.

[0015] Finally, the gear may be designed with ribs that define the recesses and extend from one of the gear's end faces. This further improves the guidance of the at least one balancing weight and ensures that the at least one balancing weight is held securely.

[0016] For weight or static reasons, further recesses may be provided in the gear, or ribs or grooves in the end faces, which may extend completely or partially through the gear.

[0017] Further advantages and features will become apparent from the following description of an exemplary embodiment, which is illustrated in the single figure.

[0018] The single figure shows a gear 10 with a conventional toothing 12 on its outer surface. The gear 10 also has a central opening 14 through which it interacts with a motor shaft (not shown) of an electric motor and is driven by it. Furthermore, the gear 10 has another opening 16, which may house a piston (not shown) for compressing air in a compressed air supply system. The gear 10 is part of the compressor of the compressed air supply system. The piston is pivoted off-center, i.e., eccentrically.

[0019] Furthermore, the gear 10 has a series of recesses 18 and 20, with three recesses 20 being arranged symmetrically opposite each other with respect to the central opening 14 of the receptacle 16 for the piston, or on both sides of the line of symmetry. The recesses 20 are pie-shaped or trapezoidal and each has detent elements 22 and 24 on their radially inward and radially outward facing, respectively, which do not converge. Spherical balancing weights 26 can be detented in the recesses 20 by means of these detent elements 22 and 24. Ball bearing balls, which may be made of steel, are used as balancing weights 26. The gear 10 itself is made of plastic. The balancing weights 26 can be manually clipped into the recesses 20 and are then held in place by the detent elements 22 and 24.

[0020] By arranging the points on and both sides of the point symmetry line, a particularly uniform balancing of the eccentricity is provided.

[0021] Furthermore, the upward-facing end face 28 of the gear 10, as shown in the drawing plane, has ribs 30 arranged on both sides of the recesses 20. These ribs provide stabilizing support and also assist in holding the balancing weights 26. The ribs 30 can be of varying widths, also to optimize the stability of the gear 10.

[0022] In the described manner, balancing of the gear 10 in a compressed air supply system can be implemented particularly easily, whereby individual and flexible adjustment of the balancing weights 26 can be easily achieved and, in particular, rejected ball bearing balls can be used cost-effectively for this purpose.

Claims

1. A compressed-air supply system, in particular for supplying air for tires of a motor vehicle, comprising a compressor having an electric motor, in particular for driving a compressor unit of the compressor, wherein herein the compressor unit has a piston guided in a cylinder, which piston is coupled to the electric motor via a gearing, wherein a gearwheel (10) which is coupled eccentrically to the piston is provided with balancing weights (26), wherein the at least one balancing weight (26) is snap-fitted in at least one recess (20) of the gearwheel (10), characterized in that the at least one balancing weight (26) is a bearing ball.

2. The compressed-air supply system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of balancing weights (26), in particular three balancing weights (26), are provided.

3. The compressed-air supply system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one balancing weight (26) is arranged opposite the axis of the gearwheel (10) of the linkage (16) of the piston.

4. The compressed-air supply system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one balancing weight (26) is arranged point-symmetrically opposite the linkage (16) of the piston and / or is arranged around this position, preferably symmetrically to the point-symmetrical position.

5. The compressed-air supply system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one recesses (20) is pie-slice-shaped and is equipped with latching elements (22, 24).

6. The compressed-air supply system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that one recess (20) is provided per balancing weight (26), in which recess said weight is held in a latching manner.

7. The compressed-air supply system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gearwheel (10) consists of plastics material, and the latching elements (22, 24) for the at least one balancing weight (26) are integrally connected to the gearwheel (10).

8. The compressed-air supply system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gearwheel (10) has ribs (30) which delimit the recesses (20) and rise from the end face (28) of the gearwheel (10).