Portable air/gas compressor

Abstract

A portable air/gas compressor capable of manufacturing compressed or pressurized air/gas. In at least one embodiment, compressors capable of producing clean, dry, compressed air/gas (e.g., either in naturally occurring atmospheric nitrogen/oxygen ratios or as purified nitrogen or in alternative ratios therebetween) employing atmospheric air as a starting material. In at least one additional embodiment, compressors which are compact, lightweight, portable and/or mechanically non-complex.

Description

IN THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional, perspective view of one embodiment of a compressor according to the subject invention.

FIG. 2 is an alternative, three-dimensional, perspective view of the embodiment of the compressor illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a two-dimensional, diagrammatic view of one embodiment of a compressor according to the subject invention.

FIG. 4 is an alternative, two-dimensional, diagrammatic view of the embodiment of the compressor illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional, perspective view of one embodiment of a compressor according to the subject invention shown housed in a free-standing portable casing and with a separate air/gas vessel to be filled by the compressor.

FIG. 6 is a three-dimensional, perspective view of one embodiment of a compressor according to the subject invention shown housed in a free-standing, portable, wheeled cart.

FIG. 7 is two-dimensional, diagrammatic view of one embodiment of a filtration system according to the subject invention useful in connection with the herein described compressors.

Claims

1. An air/gas compressor comprising: a motor operably connected to a flywheel and capable of rotating said flywheel;a linearly actuated pump having a first end and a second end, said first end pivotally connected to said flywheel at a pump mount location and said second end pivotally connected to a frame member, said pump including a piston which is linearly actuated when said flywheel is caused to rotate;a counterweight connected to said flywheel at a location on said flywheel generally opposite said pump mount location, said counterweight being so located such that when said flywheel is caused to rotate, said counterweight imparts momentum to said flywheel;said linearly actuated pump including an air/gas pump input for receiving air/gas and an air/gas pump output for outputting air/gas which is pressurized by said linearly actuated pump when said piston is linearly actuated.

2. The air/gas compressor according to claim 1 wherein said compressor further comprises a drive wheel and a drive belt, said drive belt being trained about said drive wheel and said flywheel; and wherein said motor is connected to said drive wheel such that when said motor is in operation, said drive wheel is caused to rotate, and wherein when said drive wheel is caused to rotate, said drive wheel drives said drive belt causing said flywheel to directionally rotate thus causing alternating push and pull strokes of said piston of said linearly actuated pump.

3. The air/gas compressor according to claim 2 wherein, during operation, said flywheel has a rotational direction which causes alternating push and pull strokes of said piston and wherein said counterweight is connected to said flywheel in such a location generally opposite said pump mount location such that when said flywheel is rotating to cause a push stroke of said piston, said counterweight is located such that gravity acts on said counterweight in a direction which is generally co-directional with said rotational direction of said flywheel; and when said flywheel is rotating to cause a pull stroke of said piston, said counterweight is located such that gravity acts on said counterweight in a direction which is generally opposite said rotational direction of said flywheel.

4. The air/gas compressor according to claim 3 wherein during a push stroke of said piston, said counterweight assists in effecting a completion of said push stroke and during a pull stroke of said piston, said counterweight adds resistance to effecting a completion of said pull stroke.

5. The air/gas compressor according to claim 4 wherein said position and location of counterweight causes said counterweight, during directional motion of said flywheel, to alternately assist and resist push and pull strokes of said piston thereby to effect a generally consistent rotational velocity of said flywheel during compressor operation.

6. The air/gas compressor according to claim 5 wherein said linearly actuated pump comprises a shell housing and a linearly extendable and retractable piston, said piston being linearly translatable to effect a pressurization of air/gas in an air/gas compression chamber.

7. The air/gas compressor according to claim 6 further comprising a coolant fluid path through which a coolant can be transmitted thereby to temperature regulate said air/gas compressor during operation.

8. The air/gas compressor according to claim 7 wherein said coolant path extends proximal the perimeter of said piston thereby to cool said piston during pump operation.

9. The air/gas compressor according to claim 7 wherein said coolant fluid path is a fluid passageway located internal to said shell housing and in proximity to said linearly extendable and retractable piston thereby to cool said pump during operation.

10. The air/gas compressor according to claim 9 wherein said air/gas pump output is selectively connectable and disconnectable to one or more filters.

11. The air/gas compressor according to claim 10 wherein said one or more filters are selected from the group consisting of: a coalescent filter, a desiccant filter, a carbon dioxide filter, and a molecular sieve.

12. The air/gas compressor according to claim 9 further including a filtration system comprising: a hermetically sealed desiccant filter in fluid communication with said air/gas pump output;a hermetically sealed coalescent filter in fluid communication with said air/gas pump output and in fluid communication with said desiccant filter;an air/gas filtration system output in fluid communication with a manifold, said manifold being fluidly connected to an air/gas compressor output for connecting to an air/gas vessel for storing pressurized air/gas;a pressure gauge in communication with said manifold capable of detecting an air/gas vessel fill pressure;a pressure selector mechanism which permits a compressor operator to pre-select a desired end fill pressure for filling an air/gas vessel; anda compressor shut-off switch; andwherein, during compressor operation, when said pressure gauge detects an air/gas fill pressure which approximately equals a pre-selected desired end fill pressure, pre-selected with said pressure selector mechanism, said compressor shut-off switch stops compressor operation.

13. The air/gas compressor according to claim 12 further comprising a vent port selectively openable to vent excess pressurized air/gas from said filtration system, said vent port being in fluid communication with said hermetically sealed desiccant filter and said hermetically sealed coalescent filter; and wherein when said vent port is operated to vent excess pressurized air/gas from said filtration system, said excess pressurized air/gas purges from said vent port and causes said hermetically sealed desiccant filter and said hermetically sealed coalescent filter to purge collected/filtered condensation and particulate matter, respectively.

14. The air/gas compressor according to claim 13 wherein said hermetically sealed desiccant filter is physically connected to said air/gas pump output, and wherein said hermetically sealed coalescent filter is in-line connected between said hermetically sealed desiccant filter and said air/gas filtration system output.

15. A high pressure air/gas compressor employing a single, linearly actuated pump comprising: a motor operably connected to a flywheel and capable of rotating said flywheel during motor operation;a single, linearly actuated pump having a first end and a second end, said first end pivotally connected to said flywheel at a pump mount location and said second end pivotally connected to a frame member, said pump including a piston which is linearly actuated to compress air/gas in an air/gas compression chamber when said flywheel is caused to rotate by said motor operation;said linearly actuated pump including an air/gas pump input for inspiring gas at an initial input pressure and an air/gas pump output for expiring gas at a pressure increased relative to said initial input pressure; andwherein said single, linearly actuated pump, operated by said flywheel and motor combination, is capable of independently powering pressurization of air/gas up to pressures of at least 3000 psi.

16. The high pressure air/gas compressor according to claim 15 further including a drive wheel and a drive belt, said drive belt being trained about said drive wheel and said flywheel; and wherein said motor is connected to said drive wheel such that when said motor is in operation, said drive wheel is caused to rotate, and wherein when said drive wheel is caused to rotate, said drive wheel drives said drive belt causing said flywheel to directionally rotate thus causing alternating push and pull strokes of said piston of said linearly actuated pump.

17. The high pressure air/gas compressor according to claim 16 wherein, during operation, said flywheel has a rotational direction which causes alternating push and pull strokes of said piston and wherein said counterweight is connected to said flywheel in such a location generally opposite said pump mount location such that when said flywheel is rotating to cause a push stroke of said piston, said counterweight is located such that gravity acts on said counterweight in a direction which is generally co-directional with said rotational direction of said flywheel; and when said flywheel is rotating to cause a pull stroke of said piston, said counterweight is located such that gravity acts on said counterweight in a direction which is generally opposite said rotational direction of said flywheel.

18. The high pressure air/gas compressor according to claim 17 wherein during a push stroke of said piston, said counterweight assists in effecting a completion of said push stroke and during a pull stroke of said piston, said counterweight adds resistance to effecting a completion of said pull stroke.

19. The high pressure air/gas compressor according to claim 18 wherein said position and location of counterweight causes said counterweight, during directional motion of said flywheel, to alternately assist and resist push and pull strokes of said piston thereby to effect a generally consistent rotational velocity of said flywheel during compressor operation.

20. The high pressure air/gas compressor according to claim 19 wherein said linearly actuated pump comprises a shell housing and a linearly extendable and retractable piston, said piston being linearly translatable to effect a pressurization of air/gas in an air/gas compression chamber.

21. The high pressure air/gas compressor according to claim 20 further comprising a coolant fluid path through which a coolant can be transmitted thereby to temperature regulate said air/gas compressor during operation.

22. The high pressure air/gas compressor according to claim 21 wherein said coolant path extends proximal the perimeter of said piston thereby to cool said piston during pump operation.

23. The high pressure air/gas compressor according to claim 21 wherein said coolant fluid path is a fluid passageway located internal to said shell housing and in proximity to said linearly extendable and retractable piston thereby to cool said pump during operation.

24. The high pressure air/gas compressor according to claim 23 wherein said air/gas pump output is selectively connectable and disconnectable to one or more filters.

25. The high pressure air/gas compressor according to claim 24 wherein said one or more filters are selected from the group consisting of: a coalescent filter, a desiccant filter, a carbon dioxide filter, and a molecular sieve.

26. The high pressure air/gas compressor according to claim 23 further including a filtration system comprising: a hermetically sealed desiccant filter in fluid communication with said air/gas pump output;a hermetically sealed coalescent filter in fluid communication with said air/gas pump output and in fluid communication with said desiccant filter;an air/gas filtration system output in fluid communication with a manifold, said manifold being fluidly connected to an air/gas compressor output for connecting to an air/gas vessel for storing pressurized air/gas;a pressure gauge in communication with said manifold capable of detecting an air/gas vessel fill pressure;a pressure selector mechanism which permits a compressor operator to pre-select a desired end fill pressure for filling an air/gas vessel; anda compressor shut-off switch; andwherein, during compressor operation, when said pressure gauge detects an air/gas fill pressure which approximately equals a pre-selected desired end fill pressure, pre-selected with said pressure selector mechanism, said compressor shut-off switch stops compressor operation.

27. The high pressure air/gas compressor according to claim 26 further comprising a vent port selectively openable to vent excess pressurized air/gas from said filtration system, said vent port being in fluid communication with said hermetically sealed desiccant filter and said hermetically sealed coalescent filter; and wherein when said vent port is operated to vent excess pressurized air/gas from said filtration system, said excess pressurized air/gas purges from said vent port and causes said hermetically sealed desiccant filter and said hermetically sealed coalescent filter to purge collected/filtered condensation and particulate matter, respectively.

28. The high pressure air/gas compressor according to claim 27 wherein said hermetically sealed desiccant filter is physically connected to said air/gas pump output, and wherein said hermetically sealed coalescent filter is in-line connected between said hermetically sealed desiccant filter and said air/gas filtration system output.

29. The high pressure air/gas compressor according to claim 15 wherein said compressor is capable of pressuring air up to a pressure of at least approximately 5000 psi.