COMPRESSED-AIR GENERATOR COMPRISING AN INJECTOR AND A PRESSURE TANK

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a compressed-air generator.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Equipment of the kind referred to above is known from US-A-899820, US-A-2702664, GB-A-2042080, US-A-2524703 and WO-A-87/01770.

[0003] In the apparatus according the above-mentioned publications, every component of each apparatus solely serves to fulfil the pumping function of the apparatus itself. Thus, the apparatus according to the three first-mentioned publications constitute units being permanently assembled for the purpose, whilst the technology according to the WO-publication especially relates to the functional optimization of the injector used for the pumping function.

[0004] Further, these publications do not mention the use of any components of the equipment for other independent functions than the pumping function itself.

[0005] Now, in recent years, high-pressure cleaners, as known from GB-A-2225612, have become highly estimated as tools for cleaning surfaces within both the manufacturing industry and the building industry, as well as in agriculture, the manual crafts and various services. The cleaning process may constitute ordinary cleaning, or it may - which is frequently the case - be carried out in preparation to further finishing work.

[0006] All depending of the nature of the work to be carried out by the high-pressure cleaner, it is possible to effect a simultaneous addition of chemicals or abrasives in dosable quantities to the mains water, with which the high-pressure cleaner normally operates. The addition is carried out in a mixing element, being a component of the high-pressure cleaner and constituting a flow element with pumping effect, that may well be in the form of an injector, e.g. comprising. a Venturi passage.

[0007] If the high-pressure cleaner is used to prepare a workpiece or a surface of same for further finishing work, the latter is frequently associated with the use of compressed-air-driven tools and/or spray guns for applying paint of some kind.

[0008] Through the appearance of smaller and lighter high-pressure cleaners for home use, the use of high-pressure cleaning is now also spreading to the large market for do-it-yourself activities. Thus, a substantial and steadily growing number of high-pressure cleaners may now already be found in private households.

[0009] The widespread use of high-pressure cleaning is relatively recent. Among the consumers on the do-it-yourself market mentioned above, there is, however, also an extensive need for access to compressed air in the private households for various applications, e.g. spanning from inflating rubber tires to supplying driving power both to the tools and spray guns mentioned above and to light compressed-air tools in general.

[0010] The average household will, however, consider a conventional motor compressor, even with a capacity satisfying lesser needs, as relatively expensive, due to the - after all - limited applicability. For this reason, a substantial proportion of the buyers in the do-it-yourself market will only accept expenses for the purchase of either a high-pressure cleaner or an air compressor, having to do without the apparatus not having been purchased, and in the case of need having to hire such apparatus or substitute for it other, less effective tools or other, less ideal processes.

[0011] To this may be added that the conventional air compressor, due to its great weight, and even when provided with wheels is rather unmanageable when it is to be transported to the place of work and back. Further, it occupies space, both during transportation and when being stored in the inoperative state.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0012] On this background, it is the object of the present invention to provide a compressed-air generator of the kind referred to initially, with which the disadvantages referred to above may be overcome in a new and surprising manner, and this object is achieved by means of a compressed-air generator according to the invention exhibiting the features set forth in the characterizing clause of claim 1. With this arrangement, the high-pressure cleaner with its associated injector is used, by being connected to a compressed-air tank, to compress air and inject it into the tank, from which the compressed air then may be drawn off in the conventional manner.

[0013] Thus, what is new and characteristic for the compressed-air generator according to the present invention is that the liquid pump and the injector belong to a high pressure cleaner with a separate, independent function, and that it is possible, when need arises, to form the compressed-air generator merely by connecting a high pressure cleaner with a pressure tank in the form of a loose reservoir tank.

[0014] Surprisingly with this arrangement, a series of new advantages, unknown prior to the present invention, are achieved.

[0015] Thus, with the compressed-air generator according to the invention, the conventional compressed-air equipment with its heavy, bulky and expensive compressor, motor, mains connections and hoses may be omitted with concomitant economical advantage, whereas according to the invention, the hoses and hose connectors associated with the high-pressure cleaner are constructed in a manner allowing them to be used in connection with the compressed-air tank.

[0016] Thus, as will be evident from the above, the compressed-air generator according to the invention is set up according to need when compressed air is required, by merely adding to the high-pressure cleaner a light, handy and inexpensive auxiliary equipment component in the form of the special portable reservoir tank. When there is no longer a need for compressed air, the reservoir tank is disconnected, after which the high-pressure cleaner is immediately ready for use in its independent function of high-pressure cleaning.

[0017] In this manner, the compressed-air generator according to the present invention provides both present and future owners of high-pressure cleaners access to compressed air in an easy, space-saving, handy and inexpensive manner, that would otherwise not be available to them.

[0018] Further: with the present invention, for each high-pressure cleaner previously leading to the purchase of an air compressor, it is possible to achieve hitherto unattainable savings in resources, viz. those relating to the manufacturing of the motor, the compressor and the connecting elements, with the consequent environmental advantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0019] In the following detailed portion of the present description, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the exemplary embodiment of a compressed-air generator according to the invention shown in the drawing in which the references listed in the list of parts at the end of this description have been used.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0020] The compressed-air generator according to the invention is formed by coupling together the apparatus 1, in this case being a high-pressure cleaner 1, and the reservoir tank 2, which is a pressure tank, by means of coupling members 3i and 3r, and the generator functions as follows:

[0021] The pump 4 of the high-pressure cleaner 1 forces a pumping liquid, notably ordinary mains water, through the injector 5 of the high-pressure cleaner 1. The high flow velocity of the pumping water determined by the pump 4 produces in the usual manner a substantial partial vacuum in the Venturi passage of the injector 5, hence also in the side bore 7 adapted for supplying additives during high-pressure cleaning operations, so that atmospheric air 8a is aspirated through the non-return valve 9. The atmospheric air 8a is entrained by the pumping water, compressed during the passage through the compression section 10 of the injector 5, and is injected together with the water through the delivery tube or hose 11 and the input coupling member 3i into the reservoir tank 2. In the latter, the air separates out from the water in the form of air bubbles 8b and collects as compressed air 8p in the upper part of the tank 2, while the pumping water 12 collects in the bottom of the tank 2, from where it flows through the return coupling member 3r and the return tube or hose 13 back to the inlet side of the pump 4. The compressed air 8p so formed may be drawn off through the drawing-off tube or hose 14. Thus, the compressed-air generator operates with a constant quantity of circulating pumping water 12 and under the static compressor pressure at any time prevailing in the reservoir tank 2. The latter is provided with a safety valve 15 and a pressure gauge 16 showing the compressor pressure.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment of the compressed-air generator, the reservoir tank 2 is provided with a filter 17 situated above the upper level of the pumping liquid in the reservoir tank 2, said filter filtering off and retaining suspended water particles and droplets from the compressed air 8p.

[0023] The coupling members 3i and 3r shown, as well as any coupling members not shown, may be in the form of spanner-operable threaded couplings or - in a preferred embodiment of the invention - in the form of manually operable quick-action couplings facilitating the operation and re-arrangement of both the high-pressure cleaner 1 and the compressed-air generator.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment, the coupling members 3i and 3r are of the type adapted to close the connection to the reservoir tank 2 before connection or disconnection of the hoses 11 and 13, either automatically or by a simple manipulation. This makes it possible to join or separate the high-pressure cleaner 1 and the reservoir tank 2 without loss of pumping water 12 or compressed air 8p.

[0025] The connecting hoses 11, 13 and 18 of the high-pressure cleaner 1, as well as any extension hoses not shown, may advantageously be fully interchangeable with each other and with the connecting hoses 11, 13, 14 and 18 of the compressed-air generator, as well as with any of the latter's connecting and extension hoses not shown.

[0026] In order to further facilitate the handling of both the high-pressure cleaner 1 and the compressed-air generator as a whole, the apparatus components may be provided with one or more coupling members and/or switching valves in such an arrangement, that the reservoir tank 2 constitutes a conceptually functionally completely integrated auxiliary equipment for the high-pressure cleaner 1.

LIST OF PARTS

[0027] 

1

High-pressure cleaner

2

Reservoir tank

3i

Input coupling member

3r

Return coupling member

4

Pump

5

Injector

6

Venturi passage

7

Side bore

8a

Atmospheric air

8b

Air bubbles

8p

Compressed air

9

Non-return valve

10

Compression section

11

Delivery tube/delivery hose

12

Pumping water

13

Return tube/return hose

14

Drawing-off tube/drawing-off hose

15

Safety valve

16

Pressure gauge

17

Filter

18

Connecting tube/connecting hose

Claims

1. Compressed-air generator comprising a liquid pump (4), an injector (5) and a reservoir tank (2) in the form of a pressure tank, said elements being connected in said sequence to form a flow circuit, in which atmospheric air (8a) is compressed so as to form compressed air (8p) by being drawn into a flow element with inherent pumping effect which forms the injector (5), preferably having a Venturi passage, by a pumping-liquid current circulating in said flow circuit, an by the air drawn into the injector being injected together with said pumping liquid into the reservoir tank (2), from which the pumping liquid via a return conduit (13) flows back to the liquid pump (4) driving the circulating pumping-liquid current, while in the reservoir tank (2), the air having thus been injected is separated from the pumping liquid and collected in the upper part of the tank (2), from where it may be drawn off (14) in the form of compressed air (8p), whereby that said liquid pump (4) and said injector (5) constitute components of a high pressure cleaner (1) with a second, independent function, and that said high pressure cleaner (1) and the reservoir tank (2) together constitute the compressed-air generator.

2. Compressed-air generator according to claim 1, characterized in that the high-pressure cleaner (1) according to need may be connected to and disconnected from the reservoir tank (2) by means of simple coupling members (3i, 3r), so that the two in their interconnected state constitute the compressed-air generator.

3. Compressed-air generator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the reservoir tank (2) comprises a filter (11) situated above the level of the surface of the pumping liquid (12) and the compressed air (8p).

4. Compressed-air generator according to any one or any of the claims 1-3, characterized in that the coupling members (3i, 3r) are constituted by manually operable quick-action couplings.

5. Compressed-air generator according to any one or any of the claims 1-4, characterized in that the coupling members (3i, 3r) are of a type closing the reservoir tank (2) before the hoses (11, 13) can be connected or disconnected, either automatically or by simple manipulation.

6. Compressed-air generator according to any one or any of the claims 1-5, characterized in that all hoses (11, 13, 14, 18 etc.) and hose connections are interchangeable and adapted for use between the high-pressure cleaner (1) and the compressed-air generator.

7. Compressed-air generator according to any one or any of the claims 1-6, characterized in that the high-pressure cleaner (1) and the reservoir tank (2) are provided with such further interconnecting means and/or valve means, that in practical operation, the reservoir tank constitutes a conceptually functionally completely integrated auxiliary equipment for the high-pressure cleaner.

8. Use of a high-pressure cleaner comprising a liquid pump (4), a flow element with an inherent pumping effect in the form of an injector (5), preferably having a venturi passage, and a return conduit (13) to constitute a compressed-air generator, by connecting a reservoir tank (2) to the high-pressure cleaner (1) so that the liquid pump (4), the flow element (5), the reservoir tank (2) and the return conduit (13) form a flow circuit in which atmospheric air is compressed so as to form compressed air by being drawn into the flow element (5), by pumping-liquid current circulating in said flow circuit, and by being injected together with said pumping-liquid into the reservoir tank (2), from which the pumping-liquid via the return conduit (13) flows back to the liquid pump (4) driving the circulating pumping-liquid current, while in the reservoir tank (2), the air having thus been injected is separated from the pumping-liquid and collected in the upper part of the tank (2), from where it may be drawn off (14) in the form of compressed-air (8p).

Ansprüche

1. Druckluftgenerator mit einer Flüssigkeitspumpe (4), einer Einspritzeinrichtung (5) und einem Reservoirtank (2) in der Form eines Drucktanks, wobei die Elemente in der Folge verbunden sind, um einen Strömungskreis zu bilden, in dem atmosphärische Luft (8a) zur Bildung von Druckluft (8p) dadurch komprimiert wird, daß diese in ein Strömungselement mit innerer Pumpenwirkung, das die Einspritzeinrichtung (5), die vorzugsweise einen Venturidurchgang aufweist, bildet, durch einen Pumpflüssigkeitsstrom gezogen wird, der in dem Strömungskreis zirkuliert, und die in die Einspritzeinrichtung gezogene Luft zusammen mit der Pumpflüssigkeit in den Reservoirtank (2) eingespritzt wird, von dem die Pumpflüssigkeit über eine Rückführleitung (13) zurück zu der Flüssigkeitspumpe (4) strömt, die den zirkulierenden Pumpenflüssigkeitsstrom antreibt, während in dem Reservoirtank (2) die Luft, die somit eingespritzt worden ist, von der Pumpflüssigkeit getrennt wird und sich in dem oberen Teil des Tanks (2) sammelt, von dem sie in der Form von Druckluft (8p) abgezogen (14) werden kann, wobei die Flüssigkeitspumpe (4) und die Einspritzeinrichtung (5) Komponenten eines Hochdruckreinigers (1) mit einer zweiten unabhängigen Funktion bilden, und daß der Hochdruckreiniger (1) und der Reservoirtank (2) zusammen den Druckluftgenerator bilden.

2. Druckluftgenerator nach Anspruch 1,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Hochdruckreiniger (1) bedarfsgemäß mit dem Reservoirtank (2) mittels einfacher Kopplungselemente (3i, 3r) verbunden und von diesem entkoppelt werden kann, so daß die beiden in ihrem miteinander verbundenen Zustand den Druckluftgenerator bilden.

3. Druckluftgenerator nach Anspruch 1 oder 2,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Reservoirtank (2) einen Filter (11) umfaßt, der oberhalb des Niveaus der Oberfläche der Pumpflüssigkeit (12) und der Druckluft (8p) angeordnet ist.

4. Druckluftgenerator nach einem der Ansprüche 1 - 3,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Kopplungselemente (3i, 3r) durch manuell betätigbare Schnellverschlußkopplungen gebildet sind.

5. Druckluftgenerator nach einem der Ansprüche 1 - 4,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Kopplungselemente (3i, 3r) von einem Typ sind, der den Reservoirtank (2) schließt, bevor die Schläuche (11, 13) entweder automatisch oder durch einfache Betätigung verbunden oder entkoppelt werden können.

6. Druckluftgenerator nach einem der Ansprüche 1 - 5,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß alle Schläuche (11, 13, 14, 18 etc.) und Schlauchverbindungen gegenseitig austauschbar sind und zum Gebrauch zwischen dem Hochdruckreiniger (1) und dem Druckluftgenerator ausgebildet sind.

7. Druckluftgenerator nach einem der Ansprüche 1 - 6,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Hochdruckreiniger (1) und der Reservoirtank (2) mit solchen weiteren Verbindungseinrichtungen und/oder Ventileinrichtungen versehen sind, daß im praktischen Betrieb der Reservoirtank eine konzeptuell funktionell vollständig integrierte Zusatzausrüstung für den Hochdruckreiniger bildet.

8. Verwendung eines Hochdruckreinigers mit einer Flüssigkeitspumpe (4), einem Strömungselement mit einer inneren Pumpenwirkung in der Form einer Einspritzeinrichtung (5), die vorzugsweise einen Venturidurchgang aufweist, und einer Rückführleitung (13), um einen Druckluftgenerator durch Verbindung eines Reservoirtanks (2) mit dem Hochdruckreiniger (1) zu bilden, so daß die Flüssigkeitspumpe (4), das Strömungselement (5), der Reservoirtank (2) und die Rückführleitung (13) einen Strömungskreis bilden, in dem atmosphärische Luft zur Bildung von Druckluft dadurch komprimiert wird, daß diese in das Strömungselement (5) durch den Pumpflüssigkeitsstrom, der in dem Strömungskreis zirkuliert, gezogen wird und zusammen mit der Pumpflüssigkeit in den Reservoirtank (2) eingespritzt wird, von dem die Pumpflüssigkeit über die Rückführleitung (13) zurück zu der Flüssigkeitspumpe (4) strömt, die den zirkulierenden Pumpflüssigkeitsstrom antreibt, während in dem Reservoirtank (2) die Luft, die somit eingespritzt worden ist, von der Pumpflüssigkeit getrennt wird und sich in dem oberen Teil des Tanks (2) sammelt, von dem sie in der Form von Druckluft (8p) abgezogen (14) wird.

Revendications

1. Générateur d'air comprimé comprenant une pompe à liquide (4), un injecteur (5) et une cuve de retenue (2) sous la forme d'un réservoir sous pression, lesdits éléments étant reliés dans ladite séquence pour former un circuit d'écoulement, dans lequel l'air atmosphérique (8a) est comprimé afin de former de l'air comprimé (8p) en étant aspiré dans un élément d'écoulement avec un effet de pompage inhérent qui forme l'injecteur (5), de préférence doté d'un passage Venturi. par un courant de liquide de pompage circulant dans ledit circuit d'écoulement et par l'air aspiré dans l'injecteur qui est injecté dans l'injecteur en même temps que ledit liquide de pompage dans la cuve de retenue (2), d'où le liquide de pompage, en passant par une conduite de retour (13), s'écoule de nouveau vers la pompe à liquide (4) en entraînant le courant de liquide de pompage en circulation, tandis qu'il se trouve dans la cuve de retenue (2), l'air ayant été ainsi injecté est séparé du liquide de pompage et recueilli dans la partie supérieure de la cuve (2), d'où il peut être évacué (14) sous forme d'air comprimé (8p), de telle manière que ladite pompe à liquide (4) et ledit injecteur (5) constituent des composants d'un nettoyeur haute pression (1) avec une deuxième fonction indépendante, et que ledit nettoyeur haute pression (1) et la cuve de retenue (2) constituent ensemble le générateur d'air comprimé.

2. Générateur d'air comprimé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le nettoyeur haute pression (1), selon les besoins, peut être connecté à la cuve de retenue (2) et déconnectée de celle-ci à l'aide d'éléments de raccordement simples (3i, 3r), de sorte que les deux éléments constituent, à l'état interconnecté, le générateur d'air comprimé.

3. Générateur d'air comprimé selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que la cuve de retenue (2) comprend un filtre (11) situé au-dessus du niveau de la surface du liquide de pompage et de l'air comprimé (8p).

4. Générateur d'air comprimé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que les éléments de raccordement (3i, 3r) sont formés par des accouplements à action rapide pouvant être actionnés manuellement.

5. Générateur d'air comprimé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, caractérisé en ce que les éléments de raccordement (3i, 3r) sont du type à fermer la cuve de retenue (2) avant que les tuyaux (11, 13) ne puissent être connectés ou déconnectés, automatiquement ou bien par simple manipulation.

6. Générateur d'air comprimé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisé en ce que tous les tuyaux (11, 13, 14, 18, etc.) et raccords de tuyaux sont interchangeables et adaptés pour être utilisés entre le nettoyeur haute pression (1) et le générateur d'air comprimé.

7. Génératuer d'air comprimé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, caractérisé en ce que le nettoyeur haute pression (1) et la cuve de retenue (2) sont pourvus d'autres moyens d'interconnexion et/ou moyens de vanne de ce type, permettant en fonctionnement, à la cuve de retenue de constituer un équipement auxiliaire complètement intégré, de manière conceptuelle et fonctionnelle, pour le nettoyeur haute pression.

8. Utilisation d'un nettoyeur haute pression comprenant une pompe à liquide (4) un élément d'écoulement avec un effet de pompage inhérent sous la forme d'un injecteur (5). de préférence doté d'un passage Venturi, et une conduite de retour (13) pour constituer un générateur d'air comprimé, en reliant une cuve de retenue (2) au nettoyeur haute pression (1) afin que la pompe à liquide (4), l'élément d'écoulement (5), la cuve de retenue (2) et la conduite de retour (13) forment un circuit d'écoulement dans lequel l'air atmosphérique est comprimé afin de former de l'air comprimé en étant aspiré dans l'élément d'écoulement (5), par le courant de liquide de pompage qui circule dans ledit circuit d'écoulement, et en étant injecté en même temps que ledit liquide de pompage dans la cuve de retenue (2), d'où le liquide de pompage, en passant par la conduite de retour (13), s'écoule de nouveau vers la pompe à liquide (4), entraînant le courant de liquide de pompage en circulation, tandis qu'il est dans la cuve de retenue (2), l'air ayant été ainsi injecté est séparé du liquide de pompage et recueilli dans la partie supérieure de la cuve (2), d'où il peut être évacué (14) sous forme d'air comprimé (8p).

Drawing