[0001] The present invention relates to an air compressor apparatus.
[0002] It is known that all reciprocating compressors are equipped with a tank to which
the air is sent before being delivered for use.
[0003] The presence of said tank allows an accumulation of air and a delivery thereof eliminating
the irregularities in the motion of the compressor.
[0004] The size of said tank is restricted by various parameters, among which are the power
of the compressor, the flow-rate of the air to be delivered for use, the various pressures
involved, as well as the applicable safety norms.
[0005] A disadvantage observed in such compressors resides in the fact that the air, after
undergoing compression, is warm and contains a certain percentage of humidity, so
that if its delivery to the user is immediate one runs the risk of also distributing
undesired amounts of water in the piping.
[0006] The main aim of the present invention is to provide an air compressor apparatus with
air accumulation having considerable capacity and characterized by a remarkable degree
of safety.
[0007] Within the above aim, an object of the invention is to provide an air compressor
apparatus with air accumulation, wherein the danger of distributing humid air for
use is eliminated.
[0008] Another object of the invention is to provide an air compressor apparatus with air
accumulation, which is composed of simple and easily producible elements.
[0009] Still another object of the invention is to provide an air compressor apparatus with
air accumulation which is equipped with means to facilitate its transport.
[0010] A not least object of the invention is to provide an air compressor apparatus with
air accumulation, which is obtainable at low costs with ordinary manufacturing plant.
[0011] This aim, as well as these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter,
are achieved by an air compressor apparatus characterized in that it comprises at
least one compressor, a plurality of tanks connected in series, and at least one air
filter interposed between said tanks, said plurality of tanks comprising at least
one first tank adapted for receiving air from said compressor, and at least one other
tank adapted for distributing accumulated air for use.
[0012] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from
the detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, illustrated only by way
of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
figure 1 is a perspective front view of the air compressor apparatus according to
the invention;
figure 2 is a perspective side view of the air compressor apparatus of figure 1;
figure 3 is a perspective rear view of the air compressor apparatus of figure 1.
[0013] With reference to the above described figures, the reference numeral 1 indicates
a reciprocating compressor which, through a delivery pipe 2, is connected to a first
curved end 3 of a first cylindrical tank 4. The compressor may have one or more cylinders
or one or more compression stages.
[0014] A connection pipe 5 connects a second curved end 6 of the first tank 4 to a corresponding
first curved end portion 7 of a second tank 8, advantageously identical and parallel
to said first tank.
[0015] Said connection pipe 5, in its middle position, is provided with an air filter 9.
[0016] A second curved end portion 10 opposite to said first curved end portion 7 of the
second tank 8 is provided with a delivery connection 11 and manometers 12 and 13 for
pressure control.
[0017] The entire assembly is advantageously mounted on a frame 14 downwardly comprising
wheels 15 and a handle 16, the whole assembly being adapted to facilitate transport.
[0018] As is apparent from the above description, the two tanks, which individually have
small dimensions but have a considerable total capacity, are mutually connected in
series with the interposition of an air filter, so that the warm air arriving from
the reciprocating compressor 1, before being delivered, undergoes a first condensation
in the tank 4, a filtering, and then a second condensation in the tank 8, while it
undergoes cooling at the same time.
[0019] It is therefore evident that the air delivered to the user is free from humidity
and therefore free from undesired condensation of water.
[0020] A further advantage deriving from the adoption of two tanks resides in an increased
degree of safety with respect to accumulation capacity.
[0021] In practice, the materials employed, as well as the dimensions, may be any according
to the requirements.
[0022] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs,
those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility
of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect
on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.
1. Air compressor apparatus, characterized in that it comprises at least one compressor
(1), a plurality of tanks (4,8) connected in series and at least one air filter (9)
interposed between said tanks (4,8), said plurality of tanks comprising at least one
first tank (4) adapted for receiving air from said compressor (1), and at least one
other tank (8), adapted for distributing accumulated air for use.
2. Air compressor apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said compressor
(1) is a reciprocating compressor, with one or more cylinders or with one or more
compression stages.
3. Air compressor apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said plurality
of tanks comprises two identical tanks (4,8).
4. Air compressor apparatus according to the preceding claims, characterized in that
said compressor (1), said plurality of tanks (4,8) and said air filter (9) are all
supported by a frame (14) having wheel means (15) and grip means (16) adapted to permit
transportation of said air compressor structure.
5. Air compressor apparatus according to the preceding claims, characterized in that
said two tanks (4,8) are arranged side by side.