| 
                     
                        
                           | (19) |  |  | (11) | EP 2 955 381 B1 | 
         
            
               | (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION | 
         
            
               | 
                     
                        | (45) | Mention of the grant of the patent: |  
                        |  | 10.01.2018 Bulletin 2018/02 |  
 
 
                     
                        | (22) | Date of filing: 07.02.2013 |  | 
                     
                        | (51) | International Patent Classification (IPC): |  
                     
                        | (86) | International application number: |  
                        |  | PCT/CN2013/071532 |  
                     
                        | (87) | International publication number: |  
                        |  | WO 2014/121497 (14.08.2014 Gazette 2014/33) |  | 
         
            
               | (54) | AIR COMPRESSOR APPARATUS LUFTKOMPRESSORVORRICHTUNG APPAREIL DU TYPE COMPRESSEUR D'AIR | 
         
            
               | 
                     
                        | (84) | Designated Contracting States: |  
                        |  | AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL
                           NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR |  
 
                     
                        | (43) | Date of publication of application: |  
                        |  | 16.12.2015 Bulletin 2015/51 |  
 
                     
                        | (73) | Proprietor: Chou, Wen-San |  
                        |  | Tainan City 745 (TW) |  
 | 
                     
                        | (72) | Inventor: |  
                        |  | 
                              Chou, Wen-SanTainan City 745 (TW)
 |  
 
                     
                        | (74) | Representative: Lang, Christian |  
                        |  | LangPatent Anwaltskanzlei 
                           IP Law Firm 
                           Rosenheimer Straße 139 81671 München
 81671 München (DE)
 |  
 
 
                     
                        | (56) | References cited: : 
                              
                                 | CN-A- 1 473 242 CN-A- 102 465 860
 FR-A1- 2 793 284
 US-A1- 2007 065 311
 US-B2- 7 462 018
 
 | CN-A- 1 680 158 DE-A1-102008 057 826
 US-A- 2 329 401
 US-A1- 2007 098 583
 
 |  |  
                        |  |  |  
                        |  |  |  | 
            
               |  |  | 
         
         
            
               
                  | Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
                     patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
                     the European patent
                     granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
                     not be deemed to
                     have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
                     Convention). | 
            
          
         
            
            (a) Technical Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to an air compressor, which allows air supply to keep
               less than a safety pressure without using a mechanical safety valve, so that a tire
               can be inflated without exceeding a safety pressure thereof.
 
            (b) Description of the Prior Art
[0002] The applicant has been dedicated to developing air compressors for a long time. At
               the early days, the applicant successfully converted a labor-intensive and complicated
               air compressor into an air compressor that is simple in structure and can be quickly
               assembled. In 
US Pat. No. 7,462,018, an outlet header is provided with a plurality of ducts or outlets, one of which
               can be connected with a mechanical safety valve. When a piston body, which conducts
               reciprocating motion in a cylinder, reaches top dead center, the head of the piston
               body almost contacts the top wall of the cylinder. Consequently, almost all the compressed
               air produced in the cylinder will enter the outlet header. However, in operating the
               air compressor, the pressure of the compressed air may exceed a safety pressure set
               for a tire to be inflated. For preventing an over-inflation, the air compressor should
               be installed with a safety valve which can automatically release air into the environment
               upon detecting a high pressure. However, after the safety valve has served for a period
               of time, the valve may be stuck, so that it cannot work properly when a high pressure
               of compressed air occurs. Thus, a tire may be excessively inflated to cause a blowout.
 
            SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] One object of the present invention is to provide an air compressor, which allows
               its air supply to keep less than a safety pressure without using a mechanical safety
               valve, so that a tire can be inflated without exceeding a safety pressure thereof
               and thus prevent a blowout.
 
            [0004] To achieve the above object, the present invention offers a solution as follows:
               
               
The air compressor includes a box and an electrically operated compressor unit installed
                  in the box, wherein a motor drives a piston body to conduct reciprocating motion in
                  a cylinder to produce compressed air, which can be transferred into an air storage
                  container provided with a plurality of outlets; a tube is formed integrally with the
                  air storage container and on the cylinder, the tube defining therein an auxiliary
                  air chamber communicating with the inner space of the cylinder but not communicating
                  with the inner space of the air storage container; when the piston body reaches top
                  dead center, the head of the piston body almost contacts the top wall of the cylinder,
                  whereby part of the compressed air produced in the cylinder may flow into the auxiliary
                  air chamber, so that the piston body can conduct downward strokes more smoothly, and
                  the compressed air can be prevented from exceeding a safety pressure set for an object
                  to be inflated, without using a safety valve.
 
            [0005] As described above, one feature of the present invention is that a tube is formed
               integrally with the air storage container and on the cylinder, and it defines therein
               the auxiliary air chamber communicating with the inner space of the cylinder but not
               communicating with the inner space of the air storage container; when the piston body
               reaches top dead center, the head of the piston body almost contacts the top wall
               of the cylinder, so that part of the compressed air produced in the cylinder may flow
               into the auxiliary air chamber, and thus downward strokes of the piston body can be
               conducted more smoothly, and furthermore, the pressure of the compressed air can be
               prevented from exceeding a safety pressure set for an object to be inflated, without
               using a mechanical safety valve.
 
            [0006] As compared with conventional technology, the air compressor of the present invention
               allows its air supply to keep less than a safety pressure without using a mechanical
               safety valve, so that a tire can be inflated without exceeding a safety pressure thereof;
               at the same time, the manufacturing cost of the air compressor can be reduced, and
               the piston body can conduct downward strokes more smoothly.
 
            BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] 
               
               FIG. 1 shows a 3-dimensional view of an air compressor, including a box and a compressor
                  unit, according to one embodiment of the present invention.
               FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the compressor unit.
               FIG. 3 shows another exploded view of the compressor unit.
               FIG. 4 shows a schematically sectional view of the air compressor.
               FIG. 5 shows an enlarged, partially sectional view of the air compressor shown in
                  FIG 4.
               FIG. 6 shows a schematically sectional view of the air compressor, wherein a relief
                  valve is actuated for releasing air into ambient environment.
               FIG. 7 shows a schematically sectional view of the air compressor, wherein an adjusting
                  bolt is turned for adjusting the volume of an auxiliary air chamber.
               FIG 8 shows another schematically sectional view of the air compressor.
 
            DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0008] For further illustrating the technical contents of the present invention, one embodiment
               is provided in the following paragraphs.
 
            [0009] Referring first to FIGS. 1 through 4, an air compressor according one embodiment
               of the present invention is shown, which generally includes a box 1 and a compressor
               unit installed in the box 1, wherein the box 1 is provided with a switch 11, a button
               12, and a transparent window 13. The compressor unit includes a cylinder 3, which
               allows a piston body 25 to operate therein, and a main frame 20, which is formed integrally
               with the cylinder 3 and used to mount a motor 21.
 
            [0010] The main frame 20 also mounts a transmission mechanism, which includes a pinion 22
               and a gear 23 provided with a counterweight 28 and a crankpin 24. The motor 21 is
               fitted with a cooling fan 27. The motor 21 can drive the transmission mechanism to
               have the piston body 25 conduct reciprocating motion along an inner surface 34 of
               the cylinder 3 to produce compressed air, which can overcome a compression spring
               42 and thus push a plug 41 up, so that the compressed air can be transferred into
               an air storage container 5 via a main exit hole 32.
 
            [0011] The air storage container 5 is provided with a plurality of outlets 52, 53, 55 (see
               also FIG 8), wherein the outlet 52 is connected with a hose 91; the outlet 53 is connected
               with a relief valve 7; the outlet 55 is connected with a pressure gauge 9. One primary
               feature of the present invention is that a tube 54 is formed integrally with the air
               storage container 5 and on the cylinder 3, wherein the tube 54 defines therein an
               auxiliary chamber 541 communicating with the inner space 33 of the cylinder 3 via
               an auxiliary exit hole 35. However, the auxiliary air chamber 541 of the tube 54 does
               not communicate with the inner space 51 of the air storage container 5. An adjusting
               bolt 8 is threadedly fitted into the tube 54 for adjusting the volume of the auxiliary
               chamber 541.
 
            [0012] Referring now to FIGS. 4 through 7, the bottom 50 of the air storage container 5
               is joined to the top wall 31 of the cylinder 3. The top wall 31 defines the main exit
               hole 32 and the auxiliary exit hole 35. The main exit hole 32 allows the inner space
               33 of the cylinder 3 to communicate with the inner space 51 of the air storage container
               5. The auxiliary exit hole 35 allows the inner space 33 of the cylinder 3 to communicate
               with the auxiliary chamber 541 of the tube 54. The plug 41 is placed on the main exit
               hole 32 defined on the top wall 31. A rectangular top cover 6 has a rotating handle
               61 at its outer surface and a central column 62 extending from its inner surface (see
               FIG. 5). The central column 62 has a base portion and a reduced portion 64 extending
               from the base portion, wherein a step 63 is formed between the base portion and the
               reduced portion 64. The base portion of the central column 62 is provided with a plurality
               of annular protrusions 621 and defines a plurality of annular grooves 622 at its outer
               surface. A plurality of seal rings 65 are fitted into the annular grooves 622 of the
               central column 62.
 
            [0013] As shown in FIG 2, the top cover 6 can be coupled to the air storage container 5
               by turning the rotating handle 61 for sealing the air storage container 5. One end
               of the compression spring 42 is engaged with the plug 41, while an opposite end of
               the compression spring 42 is engaged with a lowest one of the annular protrusions
               621 of the central column 62.
 
            [0014] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, the relief valve 7 includes a hollow soft cap 71 having
               a tip 711 and an annular portion provided with a plurality of spaced protrusions 712
               at its outer surface. Between two adjacent protrusions 712 defines a gap 713. A mounting
               bolt 72 defines a central through hole 722 extending from an opening 721 at one end
               of the mounting bolt 72, wherein the central through hole 722 of the mounting bolt
               72 has a diameter smaller than the opening 721 of the mounting bolt 72. The soft cap
               71 is fitted in the outlet 53. The mounting bolt 72 is fitted into the outlet 53 to
               have an opposite end of the mounting bolt 72 located near the soft cap 71. The annular
               portion of the soft cap 71 is engaged with an inner surface of the outlet 53. The
               tip 711 of soft cap 71 is located near the opposite end of the mounting bolt 72. A
               push bar 121 of the button 12 is inserted through the central through hole 722 of
               the mounting bolt 72 to touch the tip 711 of the soft cap 71. The button 12 may be
               depressed to allow its push bar 121 to compress the soft cap 71 and thus deform the
               soft cap 71, so that excessive air in an object to be inflated can be released into
               ambient environment via the outlet 53 which connects the relief valve 7, as shown
               in FIGS. 5 and 6. The adjusting bolt 8 is threadedly fitted into the tube 54 for adjusting
               the volume of the auxiliary air chamber 541.
 
            [0015] When the piston body 25 has conducted an upward stroke to reach top dead center,
               as shown in FIG. 7, the top surface 260 of the head 26 of the piston body 25 almost
               contacts the top wall 31 of the cylinder 3. As a result, a large amount of the compressed
               air produced in the cylinder 3 can overcome the compression spring 42 to push the
               plug 41 up and thus flow into the inner space 51 of the air storage container 5 via
               the main exit hole 32 defined on the top wall 31 of the cylinder 3, and then can flow
               into an object to be inflated via one of the outlets 52, 53, 55. However, part of
               the compressed air may flow into the auxiliary air chamber 541 via the auxiliary exit
               hole 35. Therefore, the compressed air produced in the cylinder 3 will not exceed
               a safety pressure set for the object to be inflated; furthermore, this design allows
               downward strokes of the piston body 25 to be conducted more smoothly. Also, the upward
               movement of the plug 41 can be limited by the reduced portion 64 of the central column
               62 of the top cover 6, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.
 
            [0016] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in case the air pressure in an inflated object exceeds
               a safety pressure thereof is noticed, a user may depress the relief valve 7 to release
               air into ambient environment to reduce the pressure.
 
            [0017] In light of the foregoing, one feature of the present invention is that the cylinder
               3 is provided with the tube 54 defining the auxiliary air chamber 541 which communicates
               with the inner space 33 of the cylinder 3 via the auxiliary exit hole 35; the inner
               space 51 of the air storage container 5 communicates with the inner space 33 of the
               cylinder 3 via the main exit hole 32, while the auxiliary air chamber 541 of the tube
               54 does not communicate with the inner space 51 of the air storage container 5; therefore,
               a large amount of the compressed air produced in the cylinder 3 can flow into the
               inner space 51 of the air storage container 5 via the main exit hole 32, and then
               can flow into an object to be inflated via one of the outlets provided at the air
               storage container 5; part of the compressed air produced in the cylinder 3 can flow
               into the auxiliary air chamber 541 via the auxiliary exit hole 35. This design can
               prevent the pressure of the compressed air from exceeding a safety pressure set for
               an object to be inflated, without using a mechanical safety valve; furthermore, downward
               strokes of the piston body 25 can be conducted more smoothly. These features render
               the present invention inventive.
 
            [0018] The above embodiment and drawings are not for limiting the shape and style of the
               present invention. Persons with ordinary skills in the art can make variations or
               modifications to the embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention.
 
          
         
            
            1. An air compressor including a box (1) and an electrically operated compressor unit
               installed in the box (1), wherein a motor (21) drives a piston body (25) to conduct
               reciprocating motion in a cylinder (3) to produce compressed air, which is transferred
               into an air storage container (5) provided with a plurality of outlets (52, 53, 55);
               the air compressor characterized in that: a tube (54) is formed integrally with the air storage container (5) and on the cylinder
               (3), wherein the tube (54) defines therein an auxiliary air chamber (541) communicating
               with an inner space (33) of the cylinder (3) but not communicating with an inner space
               (51) of the air storage container (5); when the piston body (25) reaches top dead
               center, a head (26) of the piston body (25) almost contacts a top wall (31) of the
               cylinder (3), whereby part of the compressed air produced in the cylinder (3) flows
               into the auxiliary air chamber (541), so that the piston body (25) can conduct downward
               strokes more smoothly, and the compressed air can be prevented from exceeding a safety
               pressure set for an object to be inflated, without using a mechanical safety valve.
 
            2. The air compressor of claim 1, further characterized in that: the box (1) is provided with a button (12); one of the outlets (52, 53, 55) is connected
               with a relief valve (7), which includes a hollow soft cap (71) having a tip (711)
               and an annular portion provided with multiple spaced protrusions (712) at its outer
               surface, between two adjacent protrusions (712) defining a gap (713); a mounting bolt
               (72) defining a central through hole (722) extending from an opening (721) at one
               end of the mounting bolt (72), the central through hole (722) of the mounting bolt
               (72) having a diameter smaller than the opening (721) of the mounting bolt (72), wherein
               the soft cap (71) is fitted in the outlet that connects the relief valve (7), the
               mounting bolt (72) is fitted into the outlet that connects the relief valve (7) to
               have an opposite end of the mounting bolt (72) located near the soft cap (71), the
               annular portion of the soft cap (71) is engaged with an inner surface of the outlet
               that connects the relief valve (7), the tip (711) of soft cap (71) is located near
               the opposite end of the mounting bolt (72), and a push bar (121) of the button (12)
               is inserted through the central through hole (722) of the mounting bolt (72) to touch
               the tip (711) of the soft cap (71); whereby the button (12) may be depressed to allow
               its push bar (121) to compress the soft cap (71) and thus deform the soft cap (71),
               so that excessive air in an object to be inflated may flow through the gaps (713)
               of the soft cap (71) and the central through hole (722) of the mounting bolt (72)
               to be released into ambient environment.
 
            3. The air compressor of claim 1, further characterized in that: an adjusting bolt (8) is threadedly fitted into the tube (54) to define the auxiliary
               air chamber (541), the volume of the auxiliary air chamber (541) being adjusted by
               turning the adjusting bolt (8).
 
            4. The air compressor of claim 1, further characterized in that: a bottom (50) of the air storage container (5) is joined to the top wall (31) of
               the cylinder (3), the top wall (31) defining a main exit hole (32) which allows the
               inner space (33) of the cylinder (3) to communicate with the inner space (51) of the
               air storage container (5); a plug (41) is placed on the main exit hole (32) of the
               top wall (31); a rectangular top cover (6) has a rotating handle (61) at its outer
               surface and a central column (62) extending from its inner surface, the central column
               (62) having a base portion and a reduced portion (64) extending from the base portion,
               wherein a step (63) is formed between the base portion and the reduced portion (64),
               the base portion of the central column (62) being provided with a plurality of annular
               protrusions (621) and defines a plurality of annular grooves (622) at its outer surface;
               a plurality of seal rings (65) are fitted into the annular grooves (622) of the central
               column (62); the top cover (6) is coupled to the air storage container (6) by turning
               the rotating handle (61) for sealing the air storage container (6); one end of a compression
               spring (42) is engaged with the plug (41), and an opposite end of the compression
               spring (42) is engaged with a lowest one of the annular protrusions (621) of the central
               column (62).
 
          
         
            
            1. Luftkompressor, der ein Gehäuse (1) und eine elektrisch betriebene Kompressoreinheit
               beinhaltet, die in dem Gehäuse (1) angebracht ist, wobei ein Motor (21) einen Kolbenkörper
               (25) zur Ausführung einer hin- und hergehenden Bewegung in einem Zylinder (3) antreibt,
               um Druckluft zu erzeugen, welche in einen Luftspeicherbehälter (5), der mit einer
               Mehrzahl von Auslässen (52, 53, 55) versehen ist, überführt wird,
               wobei der Luftkompressor dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, dass ein Rohr (54) einstückig mit dem Luftspeicherbehälter (5) und an dem Zylinder (3)
               ausgebildet ist, wobei das Rohr (54) im Inneren eine Zusatzluftkammer (541) definiert,
               die mit einem Innenraum (33) des Zylinders (3) in Verbindung steht, aber nicht mit
               einem Innenraum (51) des Luftspeicherbehälters (5) in Verbindung steht, wobei, wenn
               der Kolbenkörper (25) den oberen Totpunkt erreicht, ein Kopf (26) des Kolbenkörpers
               (25) beinahe eine obere Wand (31) des Zylinders (3) berührt, wobei ein Teil der in
               dem Zylinder (3) erzeugten Druckluft in die Zusatzluftkammer (541) strömt, sodass
               der Kolbenkörper (25) die Abwärtshübe reibungsloser ausführen kann und die Druckluft
               daran gehindert wird, einen für einen aufzupumpenden Gegenstand festgelegten Sicherheitsdruck
               zu übersteigen, ohne ein mechanisches Sicherheitsventil zu verwenden.
 
            2. Luftkompressor nach Anspruch 1, welcher ferner dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, dass das Gehäuse (1) mit einem Knopf (12) versehen ist, wobei einer der Auslässe (52,
               53, 55) mit einem Überdruckventil (7) verbunden ist, welches eine hohle weiche Kappe
               (71) mit einer Spitze (711) und einen ringförmigen Abschnitt umfasst, der an seiner
               Außenfläche mit mehreren beabstandeten Vorsprüngen (712) versehen ist, wobei zwischen
               zwei benachbarten Vorsprüngen (712) ein Spalt (713) ausgebildet ist, wobei eine Befestigungsschraube
               (72) vorgesehen ist, wobei ein zentrales Durchgangsloch (722) ausgebildet ist, das
               sich von einer Öffnung (721) an einem Ende der Befestigungsschraube (72) erstreckt,
               wobei das zentrale Durchgangsloch (722) der Befestigungsschraube (72) einen Durchmesser
               hat, der kleiner als die Öffnung (721) der Befestigungsschraube (72) ist, wobei die
               weiche Kappe (71) in dem Auslass montiert ist, der mit dem Überdruckventil (7) verbunden
               ist, wobei die Befestigungsschraube (72) derart in dem Auslass montiert ist, der mit
               dem Überdruckventil (7) verbunden ist, dass sich ein entgegengesetztes Ende der Befestigungsschraube
               (72) in der Nähe der weichen Kappe (71) befindet, wobei der ringförmige Abschnitt
               der weichen Kappe (71) mit einer Innenfläche des mit dem Überdruckventil (7) verbundenen
               Auslasses in Eingriff steht, wobei sich die Spitze (711) der weichen Kappe (71) in
               der Nähe des entgegengesetzten Endes der Befestigungsschraube (72) befindet, und wobei
               ein Druckstab (121) des Knopfs (12) durch das zentrale Durchgangsloch (722) der Befestigungsschraube
               (72) gesteckt ist, um die Spitze (711) der weichen Kappe (71) zu berühren, wobei der
               Knopf (12) gedrückt werden kann, um zu ermöglichen, dass dessen Druckstab (121) die
               weiche Kappe (71) zusammendrückt und somit die weiche Kappe (71) verformt, sodass
               überschüssige Luft in einem aufzupumpenden Gegenstand durch die Spalte (713) der weichen
               Kappe (71) und das zentrale Durchgangsloch (722) der Befestigungsschraube (72) strömen
               kann, um in die umliegende Umwelt entlassen zu werden.
 
            3. Luftkompressor nach Anspruch 1, welcher ferner dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, dass eine Einstellschraube (8) durch Verschrauben in dem Rohr (54) montiert ist, um die
               Zusatzluftkammer (541) zu definieren, wobei das Volumen der Zusatzluftkammer (541)
               durch Drehen der Einstellschraube (8) angepasst werden kann.
 
            4. Luftkompressor nach Anspruch 1, welcher ferner dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, dass ein Boden (50) des Luftspeicherbehälters (5) mit der oberen Wand (31) des Zylinders
               (3) verbunden ist, wobei die obere Wand (31) ein Hauptausgangsloch (32) aufweist,
               das ermöglicht, dass der Innenraum (33) des Zylinders (3) mit dem Innenraum (51) des
               Luftspeicherbehälters (5) kommuniziert, wobei ein Stopfen (41) an dem Hauptausgangsloch
               (32) der oberen Wand (31) angeordnet ist, wobei eine rechteckige obere Abdeckung (6)
               vorgesehen ist, die an ihrer Außenfläche einen Drehgriff (61) aufweist und sich eine
               Mittelsäule (62) von deren Innenfläche erstreckt, wobei die Mittelsäule (62) einen
               Basisabschnitt und einen sich von dem Basisabschnitt erstreckenden reduzierten Abschnitt
               (64) aufweist, wobei eine Stufe (63) zwischen dem Basisabschnitt und dem reduzierten
               Abschnitt (64) ausgebildet ist, wobei der Basisabschnitt der Mittelsäule (62) mit
               einer Mehrzahl von ringförmigen Vorsprüngen (621) versehen ist und eine Mehrzahl von
               ringförmigen Rillen (622) an seiner Außenfläche definiert, wobei eine Mehrzahl von
               Dichtungsringen (65) in den ringförmigen Rillen (622) der Mittelsäule (62) angebracht
               ist, wobei die obere Abdeckung (6) durch Drehen des Drehgriffs (61) mit dem Luftspeicherbehälter
               (5) gekoppelt wird, um den Luftspeicherbehälter (5) dicht zu verschließen, wobei ein
               Ende einer Kompressionsfeder (42) mit dem Stopfen (41) in Eingriff steht, und wobei
               ein entgegengesetztes Ende der Kompressionsfeder (42) mit dem untersten der ringförmigen
               Vorsprünge (621) der Mittelsäule (62) in Eingriff steht.
 
          
         
            
            1. Compresseur d'air incluant un boîtier (1) et une unité à compresseur électriquement
               actionnée installée dans le boîtier (1), dans lequel un moteur (21) entraîne un corps
               de piston (25) pour réaliser un mouvement en va-et-vient dans un cylindre (3) pour
               produire de l'air comprimé, qui est transféré dans un contenant de stockage d'air
               (5) pourvu d'une pluralité de sorties (52, 53, 55); le compresseur d'air étant caractérisé en ce que: un tube (54) est formé de façon monobloc avec le contenant de stockage d'air (5)
               et sur le cylindre (3), dans lequel le tube (54) définit dans celui-ci une chambre
               d'air auxiliaire (541) communiquant avec un espace intérieur (33) du cylindre (3)
               mais ne communiquant pas avec un espace intérieur (51) du contenant de stockage d'air
               (5); lorsque le corps de piston (25) atteint le point mort haut, une tête (26) du
               corps de piston (25) entre presqu'en contact avec une paroi supérieure (31) du cylindre
               (3), moyennant quoi une partie de l'air comprimé produit dans le cylindre (3) s'écoule
               dans la chambre d'air auxiliaire (541), pour que le corps de piston (25) puisse réaliser
               des courses descendantes plus facilement, et l'air comprimé puisse être empêché d'excéder
               une pression de sécurité définie pour un objet destiné à être gonflé, sans utiliser
               de soupape de sécurité mécanique.
 
            2. Compresseur d'air selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en outre en ce que : le boîtier (1) est pourvu d'un bouton (12); une des sorties (52, 53, 55) est raccordée
               avec une soupape de détente (7), qui inclut un chapeau souple creux (71) possédant
               un embout (711) et une portion annulaire pourvue de multiples protubérances espacées
               (712) à sa surface extérieure, entre deux protubérances adjacentes (712) définissant
               un écart (713); un boulon de montage (72) définissant un trou débouchant central (722)
               s'étendant à partir d'une ouverture (721) à une extrémité du boulon de montage (72),
               le trou débouchant central (722) du boulon de montage (72) possédant un diamètre plus
               petit que l'ouverture (721) du boulon de montage (72), dans lequel le chapeau souple
               (71) est ajusté dans la sortie qui raccorde la soupape de détente (7), le boulon de
               montage (72) est ajusté dans la sortie qui raccorde la soupape de détente (7) pour
               posséder une extrémité opposée du boulon de montage (72) située près du chapeau souple
               (71), la portion annulaire du chapeau souple (71) est en prise avec une surface intérieure
               de la sortie qui raccorde la soupape de détente (7), l'embout (711) du chapeau souple
               (71) est situé près de l'extrémité opposée du boulon de montage (72), et une barre
               de poussée (121) du bouton (12) est insérée à travers le trou débouchant central (722)
               du boulon de montage (72) pour toucher l'embout (711) du chapeau souple (71); moyennant
               quoi il est possible d'appuyer sur le bouton (12) pour permettre à sa barre de poussée
               (121) de comprimer le chapeau souple (71) et ainsi déformer le chapeau souple (71),
               pour qu'un excès d'air dans un objet destiné à être gonflé puisse s'écouler à travers
               les écarts (713) du chapeau souple (71) et du trou débouchant central (722) du bouton
               de montage (72) pour être libéré dans l'environnement ambiant.
 
            3. Compresseur d'air selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en outre en ce que: un boulon de réglage (8) est ajusté de façon fileté dans le tube (54) pour définir
               la chambre d'air auxiliaire (541), le volume de la chambre d'air auxiliaire (541)
               étant réglé en tournant le boulon d'ajustage (8).
 
            4. Compresseur d'air selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en outre en ce que: un fond (50) du contenant de stockage d'air (5) est joint à la paroi supérieure
               (31) du cylindre (3), la paroi supérieure (31) définissant un trou de sortie principal
               (32) qui permet à l'espace intérieur (33) du cylindre (3) de communiquer avec l'espace
               intérieur (51) du contenant de stockage d'air (5) ; un bouchon (41) est placé sur
               le trou de sortie principal (32) de la paroi supérieure (31); un couvercle supérieur
               rectangulaire (6) possède une poignée rotative (61) sur sa surface extérieure et une
               colonne centrale (62) s'étendant à partir de sa surface intérieure, la colonne centrale
               (62) possédant une portion de base et une portion réduite (64) s'étendant à partir
               de la portion de base, dans lequel un épaulement (63) est formé entre la portion de
               base et la portion réduite (64), la portion de base de la colonne centrale (62) étant
               pourvue d'une pluralité de protubérances annulaires (621) et définit une pluralité
               de rainures annulaires (622) sur sa surface extérieure ; une pluralité de bagues d'étanchéité
               (65) sont ajustées dans la rainure annulaires (622) de la colonne centrale (62) ;
               le couvercle supérieur (6) est accouplé au contenant de stockage d'air (6) en tournant
               la poignée rotative (61) pour rendre étanche le contenant de stockage d'air (6) ;
               une extrémité d'un ressort de compression (42) est en prise avec le bouchon (41),
               et une extrémité opposée du ressort de compression (42) est en prise avec une protubérance
               annulaire la plus basse parmi les protubérances annulaires (621) de la colonne centrale
               (62).
 
          
            
            REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
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            It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has
            been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and
            the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description