air compressor

Abstract

An air compressor is provided 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 provide good protection for the piston mechanism. The air tank (120) has an air inlet and an air outlet. The piston mechanism (130) is disposed within the air tank and includes a cylinder and a piston. The cylinder has opposing front and rear ends (132a, 132b), the front end adjacent the air inlet, and the piston is movably disposed within the cylinder, protruding from the rear end and coupled to a motor (180). The motor is adapted to drive the piston to reciprocate along the cylinder, driving air sequentially through the air inlet, the front end, the rear end, and the air outlet.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an air compressor, and more particularly to a piston-type air compressor. [Background technology]

[0002] The on-board air compressor can be used to repair and inflate vehicle tires using a tire sealant bottle, or can be used to inflate vehicle tires without using a tire sealant bottle. The air compressor may be a piston-type air compressor. In a typical piston-type air compressor, the air in the cylinder is compressed as the piston moves forward inside the cylinder, and high-pressure air flows from the front end of the cylinder to be output into an air tank. As the piston moves back inside the cylinder, the space within the cylinder gradually increases, causing the air pressure in the cylinder to decrease. The next time the piston moves forward, the air is compressed, and this cycle continues.

[0003] Existing piston-type air compressors have the following technical challenges: Because the air tank and the piston mechanism, including the piston and cylinder, each occupy space within the piston-type air compressor, it is difficult to reduce the volume of the piston-type air compressor. Furthermore, excessive noise generated by the piston mechanism during operation can easily affect the user experience. Furthermore, the limited space available in piston-type air compressors makes it difficult to provide a sufficient heat dissipation area for the piston mechanism, and it is also difficult to provide a sufficient protective structure for the piston mechanism to protect it from damage due to collisions. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present invention 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 provide good protection for the piston mechanism. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The air compressor of the present invention 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 opposing front and rear ends, the front end being adjacent to the air inlet. The piston is movably disposed within the cylinder, protruding from the rear end and coupled to the motor. The motor is adapted to drive the piston to reciprocate along the cylinder, driving air through the air inlet, the front end, the rear end, and the air outlet in sequence.

[0006] In one embodiment of the present invention, the piston includes a piston head and a piston rod 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, and the second space is located between the piston head and the rear end, and the piston rod is coupled to a motor.

[0007] In one embodiment of the present invention, when the motor drives the piston head to move toward the rear end and the air pressure in the first space becomes smaller than the air pressure outside the air tank, the air outside the air tank flows through the air inlet into the first space.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present invention, the air compressor further includes a one-way valve disposed at the air inlet, the one-way valve allowing air outside the air tank to flow through the air inlet into the first space and preventing air in the first space from flowing through the air inlet out of the air tank.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, the piston head has an opening, and when the motor drives the piston head to move toward the front end and the air pressure in the first space becomes greater than the air pressure in the second space, the air in the first space flows through the opening into the second space.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the air compressor further includes a one-way valve, the one-way valve being disposed in the opening, the one-way valve allowing air in the first space to flow through the opening to the second space and preventing air in the second space from flowing through the opening to the first space.

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

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, the air compressor further includes an air outlet pipe, which is located outside the air tank and connected to the air outlet.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the air compressor further includes a housing, which houses the air tank, the piston mechanism, and the motor, and the air outlet pipe extends outside the housing.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the air tank includes a first shell portion and a second shell portion, the second shell portion being joined to the first shell portion so as to conceal the piston mechanism between the first shell portion and the second shell portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] Based on the above, in the air compressor of the present invention, the piston mechanism is disposed within the air tank. Therefore, the piston mechanism does not occupy any installation space outside the air tank, thereby reducing the volume of the air compressor. Furthermore, noise generated during operation of the piston mechanism is contained within the air tank, thereby reducing the noise of the piston mechanism. Furthermore, heat generated during operation of the piston mechanism is diffused within the air tank and can be dissipated through the sufficiently large outer surface of the air tank. Furthermore, because the piston mechanism is located within the air tank, it can be well protected from damage due to collisions. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1]1 is a three-dimensional view of an air compressor according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view of some components of the air compressor of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional view of the air compressor of FIG. 2 as seen from another viewing angle. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional view of some components of the air compressor of FIG. 2. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional view of some components of the air compressor of FIG. 4. [Figure 6] 6 is a three-dimensional view of the local structure of the air tank and some members of the piston mechanism in FIG. 5. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a three-dimensional view of the cylinder and piston of FIG. 6. [Figure 8] 8 is a three-dimensional view of the cylinder and piston of FIG. 7 seen from a different angle. [Figure 9] FIG. 7 is a three-dimensional view of the local structure of the air tank of FIG. 6, seen from a different angle. [Figure 10] FIG. 9 is a three-dimensional view of the piston of FIG. 8. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional view of an air compressor according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view of some components of the air compressor shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional view of the air compressor shown in FIG. 2 from a different perspective. FIG. 4 is a three-dimensional view of some components of the air compressor shown in FIG. 2. Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, an air compressor 100 according to this embodiment is an on-board air compressor used, for example, to provide high-pressure air necessary for inflating and / or repairing vehicle tires, although the present invention 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 houses the air tank 120, the piston mechanism 130, and the motor 180. The piston mechanism 130 is disposed within the air tank 120 and includes a cylinder 132 and a piston 134. The air tank 120 has an air inlet 120a and an air outlet 120b, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The air outlet pipe 140 is located outside the air tank 120 and is connected to the air outlet 120 b , and the air outlet pipe 140 extends outside the housing 110 .

[0018] 4 , the cylinder 132 has opposing front and rear ends 132a and 132b, with the front end 132a adjacent to the air inlet 120a of the air tank 120. The piston 134 is movably disposed within the cylinder 132, protruding from the rear end 132b of the cylinder 132 and coupled to the motor 180. The motor 180 is adapted to drive the piston 134 to reciprocate along the cylinder 132 in directions D1 and D2, thereby driving air to pass 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 in this order, and output from the air outlet pipe 140.

[0019] As described above, in the air compressor 100 of this embodiment, the piston mechanism 130 is disposed within the air tank 120. Therefore, the piston mechanism 130 does not occupy any installation space outside the air tank 120, thereby reducing the volume of the air compressor 100. Furthermore, noise generated during operation of the piston mechanism 130 is confined within the air tank 120, thereby reducing the noise of the piston mechanism 130. Furthermore, heat generated during operation of the piston mechanism 130 is diffused within the air tank 120 and can be dissipated via the sufficiently large outer surface of the air tank 120. Furthermore, because the piston mechanism 130 is disposed within the air tank 120, it can be well protected from damage due to a collision.

[0020] The operation method of the air compressor 100 of this embodiment will be described below.

[0021] FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional view of some components of the air compressor of FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a three-dimensional view of a local structure of the air tank and some components of the piston mechanism of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a three-dimensional view of the cylinder and piston of FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a three-dimensional view of the cylinder and piston of FIG. 7 from a different perspective. Referring to FIGS. 5 to 8, the piston 134 in 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, and the second space S2 is located between the piston head 1341 and the rear end 132b of the cylinder 132. The piston rod 1342 is connected to the motor 180. In this embodiment, the piston rod 1342 is coupled to the motor 180 via a structure such as a gear set G (shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5), and can be driven by the motor 180 to swing, thereby driving the piston head 1341 to reciprocate along the cylinder 132. The method and principle of the reciprocating motion of the piston 134 are well known in the art, and therefore will not be described here.

[0022] When the motor 180 drives the piston head 1341 to move toward the rear end 132b of the cylinder 132, the first space S1 expands, and the air pressure in the first space S1 becomes 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 air outside the air tank 120. The piston head 1341 also has an opening 1341a, and when the motor 180 drives the piston head 1341 to move toward the front end 132a of the cylinder 132, the first space S1 contracts, and the air pressure in the first space S1 becomes higher 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 continuing the circulation in this manner, the operation of the piston mechanism 130 allows the high-pressure air to be continuously output toward the air outlet 120b of the air tank 120 via the second space S2.

[0023] Figure 9 is a three-dimensional view of the local structure of the air tank of Figure 6 from a different angle. Figure 10 is a three-dimensional view of the piston of Figure 8. Referring to Figures 9 and 10, in more detail, the air compressor 100 of this embodiment further includes two one-way valves 150, 160. The one-way valve 150 is disposed at the air inlet 120a of the air tank 120 (shown in Figure 6), and the one-way valve 160 is disposed at the opening 1341a of the piston head 1341 (shown in Figure 7). The one-way valve 150 allows 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 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 one-way valve 160 allows air in the first space S1 to flow into the second space S2 through the opening 1341a of the piston head 1341, and prevents air in the second space S2 from flowing into the first space S1 through the opening 1341a of the piston head 1341. The detailed arrangement and operation of the one-way valve are well known in the art and will not be described here.

[0024] 1 and 2, in this embodiment, the air compressor 100 further includes a pressure gauge 170, which is connected to the air tank 120 and is used to measure and display the air pressure in the air tank 120. A user can know the pressure change in the air tank 120 during the operation of the piston mechanism 130 by looking at the pressure value displayed on the pressure gauge 170. In addition, the air compressor 100 of this embodiment further includes a heat dissipation fan 190 (shown in FIGS. 1 to 5), which is connected to and driven by the motor 180 to generate heat dissipation air to dissipate heat from the piston mechanism 130 and the air tank 120.

[0025] 2 and 4, the air tank 120 in this embodiment includes a first shell portion 1201, a second shell portion 1202, and an end portion 1203. The second shell portion 1202 is joined to the first shell portion 1201 so as to conceal the piston mechanism 130 between the first shell portion 1201 and the second shell portion 1202. The end portion 1203 is joined to the first shell portion 1201 and the second shell 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 present invention is not limited thereto. Furthermore, the air outlet pipe 140 may be disposed and connected to any suitable position on the outer surface of the air tank 120 according to the needs of the arrangement and design, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0026] In the above-described embodiment, in order to prevent air leakage from the air tank 120, sealing members may be disposed between the first shell part 1201, the second shell part 1202, the end part 1203, and the cylinder 132, and between the first shell part 1201 and the transmission shaft of the gear set G. The specific form and installation method of the sealing members are well known in the art, and therefore will not be described here.

[0027] In summary, in the air compressor of the present invention, the piston mechanism is disposed within the air tank. Therefore, the piston mechanism does not occupy any installation space outside the air tank, thereby reducing the volume of the air compressor. Furthermore, noise generated during operation of the piston mechanism is confined within the air tank, thereby reducing the noise of the piston mechanism. Furthermore, heat generated during operation of the piston mechanism is diffused within the air tank and can be dissipated through the sufficiently large outer surface of the air tank. Furthermore, because the piston mechanism is located within the air tank, it can be well protected from damage due to collisions. Furthermore, the air outlet pipe can be connected to any position on the outer surface of the air tank, allowing for a high degree of freedom in placement. [Industrial Applicability]

[0028] The present invention provides an air compressor applicable to vehicle inflation and / or tire repair equipment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0029] 100:Air compressor 110: Housing 120:Air tank 120a: Air inlet 120b: Air outlet 1201: First shell part 1202: Second shell part 1203:End 130: Piston mechanism 132: Cylinder 132a: Front end 132b: Rear end 134: Piston 1341: Piston head 1341a:Aperture 1342: Piston rod 140: Air outlet pipe 150, 160: One-way valve 170: Pressure gauge 180: Motor 190: Heat dissipation fan D1, D2: Direction G: Gear Set S1: First Space S2: Second Space

Claims

1. an air tank having an air inlet and an air outlet; A motor; a piston mechanism disposed within the air tank, the piston mechanism having a cylinder and a piston, the cylinder having opposite front and rear ends, the front end adjacent the air inlet, the piston movably disposed within the cylinder, protruding from the rear end and coupled to the motor; Equipped with the motor is adapted to drive the piston to reciprocate along the cylinder and to drive air sequentially through the air inlet, the front end, the rear end, and the air outlet. Air compressor.

2. the piston includes a piston head and a piston rod 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 motor.

2. The air compressor according to claim 1.

3. When the motor drives the piston head to move toward the rear end and the air pressure in the first space becomes smaller than the air pressure outside the air tank, air outside the air tank flows through the air inlet into the first space.

3. The air compressor according to claim 2.

4. a one-way valve disposed at the air inlet, the one-way valve allowing air outside the air tank to pass through the air inlet and into the first space and preventing air in the first space from passing through the air inlet and out of the air tank; 3. The air compressor according to claim 2.

5. further including a pressure gauge, the pressure gauge being in communication with the air tank; 2. The air compressor according to claim 1.

6. and an air outlet pipe, the air outlet pipe being located outside the air tank and connected to the air outlet.

2. The air compressor according to claim 1.

7. the air outlet pipe extends outside the housing, the housing containing the air tank, the piston mechanism, and the motor.

7. The air compressor according to claim 6.

8. the air tank includes a first shell portion and a second shell portion, the second shell portion being joined to the first shell portion so as to conceal the piston mechanism between the first shell portion and the second shell portion; 2. The air compressor according to claim 1.

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