Air Compressor Detachable Cylinder and Pressure Indicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air compressors face difficulties in assembling the valve plug and spring, are prone to pressure gauge damage, and often require additional pressure relief valves to prevent over-inflation, which can cause damage to objects being inflated.
Innovation Solution
An air compressor design allowing detachable assembly of the air storage container and cylinder with an air passage for reduced piston motion resistance, incorporating a metal seat for sealing and an elongated pressure indicator to release excess air without additional valves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the air storage container and cylinder are integrally formed, then the structure is simplified, but the valve plug and spring are difficult to assemble
Solution Approach 1:
The air storage container is divided into an upper container body and a lower container body that can be separately assembled. The valve plug and spring are assembled into the upper container body first, then the upper container body is connected to the lower container body through threaded engagement. This segmentation allows easy assembly of internal components while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Measurement precision
If a circular pressure gauge with Bourdon tube is used, then pressure measurement is accurate, but the gauge is prone to damage from impact
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a traditional circular pressure gauge with Bourdon tube, the patent employs a linear pressure indicator that displays pressure through a simple linear scale with a movable indicator. This copied design achieves pressure measurement functionality while eliminating the fragile Bourdon tube mechanism, making the device much more resistant to impact and damage.
3Reliability
If additional pressure relief valves are installed, then over-inflation is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air outlet serves multiple functions: it acts as both the discharge port for compressed air during normal operation and as the pressure relief mechanism when pressure exceeds safe limits. The pressure indicator is integrated with the air outlet structure, and when pressure becomes excessive, the indicator automatically opens to release pressure. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate pressure relief valves, maintaining reliability while reducing device complexity.
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
Facilitates smoother piston motion, ensures effective sealing, and prevents over-inflation by indicating and releasing excess air, enhancing the safety and functionality of the air compressor.
Implementation Method 1
a valve plug is urged by a spring to normally seal the air port, one end of the spring being engaged with the valve plug
Implementation Method 2
a piston body can conduct reciprocating motion more smoothly within the cylinder for producing compressed air
Implementation Method 3
releasing excess compressed air into the ambient environment without additional pressure relief valves, so that objects will not be excessively inflated to cause damages
Data Source
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AI summary
An improved air compressor includes a cylinder fitted with a piston body and an air storage container. The cylinder and the air storage container are detachably assembled to define an air chamber. A metal seat with a through hole is provided on top of the cylinder. A valve plug is spring-biased against the metal seat. The air storage container is provided with an elongated pressure indicator, which includes a transparent tube defining therein a first bore and a second bore, between which a tapered annular surface is formed. When the air pressure within the air storage container exceeds a predetermined pressure set for the air compressor, the elongated pressure indicator allows excess air to flow into the first bore of the transparent tube and pass through the tapered annular surface to be released to the ambient environment, so that objects can be prevented from damages due to excessive inflations.