Claims
- 1. A portable air compressor assembly comprising:
a generally tubular frame having a pair of substantially parallel side sections defining a forward end, a rearward end, and an enclosed spatial volume; a support plate disposed between said side sections, said support plate horizontally positioned in a normal operating position of said air compressor assembly; a plurality of operating components connectably disposed on said support plate adjacent said frame rearward end, said operating components defining a combined outer envelope completely contained within said enclosed spatial volume; a fluid pressure tank connectably disposed on said support plate adjacent said frame forward end; and an angularly extending portion of said frame at said frame rearward end operably forming a frame rotation stop, such that said angularly extending portion contacts a ground surface when said compressor assembly is rotated to said rotation stop, thereby limiting further rotation of said compressor assembly.
- 2. The air compressor of claim 1 further comprising a front handle section releasably connected to said forward end of said frame, said front handle section connectably joining said side sections.
- 3. The air compressor of claim 1 wherein said frame having a grasping location disposed on each of said parallel side sections proximate to said forward end of said frame.
- 4. The air compressor of claim 1 wherein said operating components further includes at least one of an engine and a motor supported on said support plate; and a compressor pump co-supported with said at least one engine and motor on said support plate and operably driven by said at least one engine and motor.
- 5. The air compressor of claim 4 wherein an arrangement of said at least one engine and motor and said compressor having said at least one engine and motor positioned adjacent said frame rearward end and said compressor positioned forward of said at least one engine and motor; and a plurality of mechanical fasters connectably supporting each of said at least one engine and motor and said compressor to said support plate.
- 6. The air compressor of claim 1 further comprises:
an axle slidably disposed through a lower tubular portion of each side section that is proximate to said frame rearward end, said axle having opposed distal ends and a longitudinal axis; and a wheel disposed disposed on each of said distal ends of said axle, said wheel having a center of rotation coaxially aligned with said longitudinal axis of said axle.
- 7. The air compressor of claim 6 having a center-of-gravity disposed forward of said axle in the normal operating position and remains forward of an axis extending vertically from said axle when said compressor is rotated about said axle.
- 8. The air compressor of claim 1 further comprising:
a fluid pressure tank drain valve operably disposed on a lower surface of said fluid pressure tank; a support structure having support feet disposed proximate to said frame forward end; and a raised area extending from said support structure having said drain valve completely disposed therein.
- 9. A support framework for a portable air compressor comprising:
a frame having a pair of approximately parallel side sections and a support plate horizontally disposed between said side sections; a plurality of components connectably disposed on said support plate; an axle slidably disposed through a lower tubular portion of both said side sections, said axle having distal ends operably forming opposed outer planar envelopes of said portable air compressor; an instrument support plate connectably disposed on said frame and positioned adjacent one of said outer planar envelopes; and a plurality of instruments mounted on said instrument support plate such that each of said plurality of instruments and said instrument support plate are entirely disposed within said one outer planar envelope, said plurality of instruments including at least one pressure gage, at least one quick-disconnect fitting and an engine on/off switch.
- 10. The support framework of claim 9 further comprises at least one mechanically fastened joint connectably joining said support plate to each of said side sections.
- 11. The support framework of claim 9 further comprises a handle slidably connected to said frame, said handle having a fully extended and locked position during use of said support structure and a fully retracted position in said shipping configuration.
- 12. The support framework of claim 9 further comprises:
said side sections each having a tubular body formed in a generally parallelogram configuration having rounded corners; and a connector flange joined to each said tubular body; and a fluid pressure tank having a pair of mating tabs mechanically joined to an outer surface of said fluid pressure tank, each said mating tab mechanically connectable to one of said connector flanges.
- 13. The support framework of claim 9 further comprises at least two apertures formed in said support plate, one of said apertures aligned with an engine fluid drain port and another of said apertures aligned with a compressor fluid drain port.
- 14. The support framework of claim 9 further comprises a structural member releasably attached to said support plate, said structural member having at least one ground contacting extension; and a wheel rotatably disposed on each of said distal ends of said axle; wherein said at least said structural member, said wheels and said axle are removed in a shipping configuration.
- 15. The support framework of claim 9 further comprises at least one of an engine and a motor; and at least one mechanical joint disposed between said at least one engine and motor and said support plate.
- 16. The support framework of claim 9 further comprises a fluid pressure tank having a longitudinal axis, said fluid pressure tank mounted to the support plate such that the longitudinal axis of the fluid pressure tank is oriented substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said support framework.
- 17. A self stabilizing portable air compressor assembly comprising:
a frame having a pair of approximately parallel, tubular side sections including a forward end and a rearward end, said frame having an angularly extending portion positioned adjacent said rearward end; a support plate horizontally disposed between said side sections in a normal operating position; a plurality of components connectably disposed on said support plate; an axle slidably disposed through a lower tubular portion of said side sections at said rearward end and having a pair of rotatably supported wheels thereon; and a center-of-gravity of said assembly disposed forward of said axle in the normal operating position and remains forward of an axis extending vertically from said axle when said compressor assembly is rotated about said axle.
- 18. The air compressor assembly of claim 17 further comprises a pair of rigid support feet removably connected to said frame proximate to said frame forward end.
- 19. The air compressor assembly of claim 18 further comprises an elastomeric pad disposed on each of said support feet.
- 20. The air compressor assembly of claim 17 further comprises a rotation stop point formed between said angularly extending portion and said ground surface wherein said compressor assembly is gravity biased to return to said normal horizontal operating position from said rotated position.
- 21. The air compressor assembly of claim 17 wherein said frame defining a longitudinal axis, such that said plurality of components are arranged along the longitudinal axis in a manner that substantially distributes weight of said plurality of components thereabout.
- 22. The air compressor assembly of claim 21 further comprises at least one support handle formed at said frame forward end, wherein said at least one support handle having a central lift point with said longitudinal axis disposed therethrough.
- 23. The air compressor assembly of claim 21 wherein said frame includes a forward facing radial bend in each of said side sections equidistantly spaced from said longitudinal axis.
- 24. A method to bias a portable air compressor assembly toward a horizontal operating position, comprising the steps of:
calculating a center-of-gravity of the compressor assembly; positioning a pair of wheels having a common rotation axis aft of the center-of-gravity; extending a frame contact surface aft of the common rotation axis of the wheels; disposing a lifting handle forward of the center-of-gravity; defining a rotation path for the compressor assembly variable between a normal operating position and a rotated position; and prepositioning the frame contact surface to retain the center-of-gravity forward of the vertical axis in the normal operating position and forward of an axis extending vertically from the common rotation axis in the rotated position, thereby gravity biasing the compressor assembly to return from the rotated position to the normal operating position.
- 25. The method of claim 24, comprising:
rotatably supporting the wheels on distal ends of an axle; and mounting operating equipment of the air compressor within an operating envelope of the compressor assembly having boundaries formed at the axle distal ends.
- 26. The method of claim 25, comprising mounting an instrument panel from the compressor assembly having all instruments thereon positioned within the operating envelope.
- 27. The method of claim 24, comprising:
rotatably disposing the center-of-gravity about the common rotation axis; and limiting the rotated position within a maximum range bounded by the frame contact surface contacting a ground surface.
- 28. The method of claim 24, comprising disposing extendable and removable arms on the lifting handle.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/417,725 filed on Oct. 10, 2002, and entitled “Wheeled Portable Air Compressor” the specification and drawings of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60417725 |
Oct 2002 |
US |