Air Compressor Audible Alarm Device for Overpressure Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing air compressors lack effective means to alert users to overpressure conditions, especially in dark environments, and the incorporation of safety valves increases costs and can fail over time, leading to potential damage from overinflation or overheating.

Innovation Solution

An air compressor equipped with an audible alarm device mounted to the outlet of the storage container, driven by compressed air to produce a high-frequency sound when pressure exceeds a predetermined value, eliminating the need for a safety valve.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a safety valve is installed to protect against overpressure, then the reliability of the air compressor is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoverpressure protectionVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical safety valve system with an acoustic alarm system. Instead of using a mechanical component (safety valve) to physically release pressure, the invention uses an acoustic alarm to detect and alert users to overpressure conditions, allowing users to manually respond. This substitution eliminates the mechanical safety valve while maintaining protection functionality through user awareness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an acoustic alarm as an intermediary between the pressure system and the user. Rather than directly releasing pressure through a safety valve, the system uses the acoustic alarm as a mediator to communicate pressure status to the user, who then takes appropriate action. This intermediary approach achieves protection without adding mechanical complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If a pressure gauge is used to indicate air pressure, then the measurement precision is improved, but the ease of operation in dark environments deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepressure measurementVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs acoustic vibration as a signaling mechanism. The acoustic alarm generates audible vibrations/sounds that can be detected by users in any lighting condition. This vibrational/acoustic approach complements the visual pressure gauge by providing tactile and auditory feedback, making the system operable in dark environments while maintaining precise pressure measurement capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Solution Approach 2:

The acoustic alarm serves as an intermediary that translates pressure status into audible signals. Instead of relying solely on visual inspection of the pressure gauge, the system introduces an acoustic mediator that communicates pressure conditions through sound, enabling users to monitor pressure levels regardless of lighting conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a safety valve is installed to prevent overinflation damage, then the protection against harmful factors is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoverinflation damageVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple ducts with safety valves are added to improve function, then the versatility is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the acoustic alarm system serve multiple functions: it alerts users to overpressure conditions, enables operation in dark environments, and provides continuous pressure monitoring feedback. By making the alarm system multi-functional, the invention avoids adding separate components for each function, thereby maintaining versatility while minimizing the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The air compressor provides a cost-effective solution for safely alerting users to overpressure conditions through a high-frequency sound, preventing damage from overinflation and overheating without the need for additional safety valves.

Implementation Method 1

driven by the compressed air to perform a quick, slight back-and-forth movement of high frequency

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompressed air pressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS10107278B2Air compressor with audible alarm device

Publication Date: 2018.10.23 CHOU WEN SAN

AI summary

An air compressor includes an audible alarm device mounted to an outlet of a storage container thereof to produce a high-frequency sound for alerting users when compressed air produced in a cylinder thereof exceeds a predetermined value, wherein the sliding cap of the audible alarm device can be driven by the compressed air to perform a quick, slight back-and-forth movement of high frequency, so that the sliding cap can be partially moved out of the opening of an external enclosure and thus exposed to the outside. Through the audible alarm device, users can be alerted effectively to overpressure conditions of the air compressor.