Patent Application
20070137710
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a swiveling overhead air supply.
2. Description of the Related Art
Air supplied through air lines can be used to power tools such as impact wrenches and air hammers. These tools are used in a great many settings, from manufacturing to vehicle service.
The air lines typically are mounted at a fixed position. Sometimes the air lines are mounted near a floor, sometimes at a ceiling. In these cases, maneuvering an air line around a work area can be problematic. The air line can hit or rub against other items in the work area, for example a car or vehicle, and can damage or knock over those items. Even if care is used, maneuvering the air line around the work area adds to an amount of time needed to perform any given task using an air powered tool.
In addition, even when an air powered tool is not being used, the air line can be in an inconvenient place. The air line can create a safety hazard, for example a tripping hazard.
One partial solution is to mount the air line in a retracting housing so that the air line retracts out of the way when not being used. However, this partial solution does not address problems associated with maneuvering an air line around a work area when an air powered tool is being used.
One embodiment of the invention is a swiveling overhead air supply for an air powered tool, including at least a mounting structure, a swivel attached to or incorporated into the mounting structure, an arm attached to the swivel, and an air line or air line connector attached to or extending from the arm. The air line or air line connector preferably is located at or near an end of the arm opposite the swivel. A result of this arrangement is that the air line can be more easily maneuvered around a work area.
In a preferred embodiment, the mounting structure mounts to a ceiling, a beam in the ceiling, a wall, or a beam in the wall. Examples of a suitable mounting structure include, but are not limited to, the following: at least one plate and one or more bolts that bolt the plate to the ceiling, the beam in the ceiling, the wall, or the beam in the wall; at least one clamp that clamps to the ceiling, the beam in the ceiling, the wall, or the beam in the wall; and at least one U-bolt that bolts to the ceiling, the beam in the ceiling, the wall, or the beam in the wall.
The swivel preferably includes a bearing housing within a sleeve and one or more bearings and/or bushings that permit the bearing housing to rotate within the sleeve. Other types of swivels can be used.
The arm can be any length, but at least a three foot or six foot length is preferred.
In some embodiments, air flows through the swivel, the arm, or both to the air line or air line connector. In other embodiments, air flows through an air line that can be wholly or partially internal or external to the swiveling overhead air supply.
In preferred embodiments, a retracting housing is attached to the arm. This retracting housing is for the air line or for an external air line attached to the air line connector. Alternatively, the air line or external air line can simply hang down or extend from the arm.
The invention also encompasses methods of using the swiveling overhead air supply to supply air to a power tool.
This brief summary has been provided so that the nature of the invention may be understood quickly. A more complete understanding of the invention may be obtained by reference to the following description of the preferred embodiments thereof in connection with the attached drawings.
FIGS. 7 to 9 show embodiments of a swiveling overhead air supply that include a retracting housing for an air line.
Briefly, one embodiment of the invention is a swiveling overhead air supply for an air powered tool, including at least a mounting structure, a swivel attached to or incorporated into the mounting structure, an arm attached to the swivel, and an air line or air line connector attached to or extending from the arm. The term “attached” encompasses both attached directly and attached indirectly through another structure. The air line or air line connector preferably is located at or near an end of the arm opposite the swivel. The air line is “near” an end of the arm if it is located at a last tenth of the arm. The arm can be any length, but at least a three foot or six foot length is preferred. In some embodiments, air flows through the swivel, the arm, or both to the air line or air line connector. In other embodiments, air flows through an air line that can be wholly or partially internal or external to the swiveling overhead air supply.
Mounting structure 2 in
As shown in
In
In this embodiment, arm 4 and extension 11 preferably are airtight, for example made of copper or PVC pipe, T-fittings, and 45 degree elbows of the type used in plumbing. One inch diameter pipe is suitable, but other sizes of pipe can be used. Furthermore, other designs of arms and extensions made from other materials can be used.
Bottom portion 14 of arm 4 provides extra rigidity and support to the arm. In some embodiments, this bottom portion is omitted or a different type of support is used.
Overhead air supply 21 includes mounting structure 22, swivel 23, and arm 24 attached (indirectly) to swivel 23. Air line 25 for a power tool hangs down or extends from an end of arm 24 opposite swivel 23.
Mounting structure 22 in
As shown in
In
The internal air line runs through extension 31 and arm 24 to air line 25. In some embodiments, internal air line 33 and air line 25 comprise one air line. In other embodiments, these are separate air lines that are joined, for example at an end of arm 24.
Because an internal air line is used, arm 24 and extension 31 need not be air tight. However, they can be air tight to provide an additional seal for air flowing through the swiveling overhear air supply. Arm 24 and extension 31 can be made, for example, from copper or PVC pipe, T-fittings, and 45 degree elbows of the type used in plumbing. One inch diameter pipe is suitable, but other sizes of pipe can be used. Furthermore, other designs of arms and extensions made from other materials can be used.
Bottom portion 34 of arm 24 provides extra rigidity and support to the arm. In some embodiments, this bottom portion is omitted.
Internal air line 33 in
FIGS. 7 to 9 show embodiments of a swiveling overhead air supply that include a retracting housing for an air line. These figures also illustrate a different arrangement for supporting the arm of the air supply.
In
Air is supplied through air intake 46, for example from an air compressor or other air source, and flows into air line 47. The air intake can include any suitable connection for an air line, for example a poly tubing connector, pipe nipple, pipe tee, or air line connector (shown).
Air line 47 in
The retracing housing is attached to the swiveling overhear air supply by U-bolts in
The embodiment shown in
Overhead air supply 61 includes mounting structure 62, swivel 63, and arm 64 attached to swivel 63. Air line 65 for a power tool extends from an end of arm 64 opposite swivel 63.
Mounting structure 62 in
As shown in
In
Air line 73 in
The retracing housing is attached to the swiveling overhear air supply by U-bolts in
The embodiment shown in
In one embodiment, arm 64 is 2″ copper tubing, bearing housing 68 is made of 2″ copper tubing, extension 70 is made of ¾″ black pipe, sleeve 71 is made of a 2″ copper pipe tee, and air intake 74 is a ¾″ pipe tee. Alternatively, plastic tubing, pipe, and tees can be used, as can other materials (not necessarily tubing, pipes, and tees) of different sizes.
The invention is in no way limited to the specifics of any particular embodiments and examples disclosed herein. For example, the terms “preferably,” “preferred embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “this embodiment,” “alternative embodiment,” “alternatively” and the like denote features that are preferable but not essential to include in embodiments of the invention. All given specific examples (i.e., “for example” or “e.g.”) are illustrative and not limiting. In addition, each of the features discussed in reference to any of the figures can be used with or instead of any features discussed with reference to any of the other figures. Many other variations are possible which remain within the content, scope and spirit of the invention, and these variations would become clear to those skilled in the art after perusal of this application.
