Portable Compressor Flutter Valve for Compact Long-Life Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Compressor units for portable systems face a conflict between compact design and long service life, as spring-loaded valves result in poor flow dynamics and potential damage due to natural frequencies close to stroke frequencies.
Innovation Solution
Employing reed valves with natural frequencies greater than 250 s⁻¹, preferably made of elastic materials like spring steel or rubber, to improve durability and compactness, and incorporating a sealing segment and mounting segment for stable construction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If a portable compressor system is designed to be compact and lightweight, then portability is improved, but the compression mechanism becomes confined and difficult to clean
Solution Approach 1:
The compressor unit is divided into separate modular components: a removable compression mechanism that can be detached from the housing, allowing the housing to be cleaned separately while the compression mechanism can be accessed and maintained independently. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling cleaning accessibility in a compact design.
Solution Approach 2:
A removable intermediate component (compression mechanism) is introduced between the power source and the air outlet, allowing this component to be detached for cleaning while the rest of the compact housing remains intact. This intermediary element enables maintenance access without compromising the overall compact portable design.
2Reliability
If the compression mechanism is enclosed in a housing for protection, then reliability is improved, but access for cleaning and maintenance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The housing design incorporates a removable or openable section that transitions from a fully enclosed protective state to an accessible maintenance state. This dynamic design allows the housing to provide protection during operation while enabling easy access to the compression mechanism for cleaning and maintenance when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is segmented into a protective outer shell and an accessible interior section, or the compression mechanism itself is segmented to be removable. This allows the protective function to be maintained while providing controlled access points for cleaning and maintenance operations.
3Productivity
If air passages are made wide for efficient airflow, then compression efficiency is improved, but the overall device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air passages are designed to utilize three-dimensional space efficiently within the compact housing, employing curved or multi-directional flow paths that maximize airflow volume without increasing the external footprint of the device. This dimensional optimization allows efficient airflow in a constrained volume.
Solution Approach 2:
Curved air passages and spiral compression chambers are employed to maximize the flow path length and surface area within a compact volume, enabling efficient airflow and compression without requiring large linear dimensions. The curved geometry allows better space utilization compared to straight passages.
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 reed valves provide improved durability and compact design, reducing pressure fluctuations and extending the service life of compressor units while maintaining efficient airflow control.
Implementation Method 1
a diaphragm (4) having two extreme positions between which the diaphragm (4) is movable for compressing air contained in the compression chamber (2.2)
Implementation Method 2
a flutter valve (2.3) arranged within the compression chamber (2.2) and co-operable with the compression mechanism (2.1) for directing compressed air from the compression chamber (2.2) to the outlet (2.5)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a compressor unit for compressing air within portable/transportable systems, wherein the compressor unit (1) comprises at least one motor (2) and at least one reciprocating piston compressor (4) having a cylinder (9) and a piston (7), characterized in that the cylinder (9) has a flutter valve component (11), with the flutter valve component (11) having at least one flutter valve (12) as an outlet valve from the cylinder (9). The invention also relates to a use of a flutter valve and a portable/transportable system for sealing and inflating vehicle pneumatic tyres.