EP3581799B1 - Air compression device - Google Patents
Air compression device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3581799B1 EP3581799B1 EP19187990.7A EP19187990A EP3581799B1 EP 3581799 B1 EP3581799 B1 EP 3581799B1 EP 19187990 A EP19187990 A EP 19187990A EP 3581799 B1 EP3581799 B1 EP 3581799B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- cooling
- housing
- air
- compressor
- fan device
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Links
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 title claims description 79
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 title claims description 79
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 claims description 171
- 238000009423 ventilation Methods 0.000 claims description 15
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 38
- 230000008961 swelling Effects 0.000 description 8
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 7
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 6
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 6
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000004575 stone Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000017525 heat dissipation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000005192 partition Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000002274 desiccant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000428 dust Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002708 enhancing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000020169 heat generation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012510 hollow fiber Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000002955 isolation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000012528 membrane Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000149 penetrating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004080 punching Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
- F04B39/00—Component parts, details, or accessories, of pumps or pumping systems specially adapted for elastic fluids, not otherwise provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F04B25/00 - F04B37/00
- F04B39/06—Cooling; Heating; Prevention of freezing
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
- F04B39/00—Component parts, details, or accessories, of pumps or pumping systems specially adapted for elastic fluids, not otherwise provided for in, or of interest apart from, groups F04B25/00 - F04B37/00
- F04B39/12—Casings; Cylinders; Cylinder heads; Fluid connections
- F04B39/121—Casings
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
- F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
- F04B41/00—Pumping installations or systems specially adapted for elastic fluids
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an air compression device which generates compressed air.
- An air compression device which generates compressed air is used for various uses.
- the compressed air generated by the air compression device mounted to a vehicle may be supplied to a brake device which applies braking force to the vehicle or a pneumatic apparatus used for opening and closing a door of the vehicle.
- Patent Literature 1 proposes an air compression device mounted to a railroad vehicle.
- the air compression device includes a housing which houses various inner devices such as a compressor and an after cooler.
- the housing can appropriately protect the inner device from a flipped stone or the like when the vehicle is travelling.
- the housing has a soundproof function against sound generated by the inner device and a dustproof function for the inner device.
- the housing has the protection function described above, while the heat is confined in the housing. Accordingly, a conventional air compression device cannot cool the compressed air efficiently.
- JPS5553648 A further compression device is disclosed in JPS5553648.
- Patent Literature I JP 3150077 U
- An object of the present invention as defined by claim 1 is to provide an air compression device capable of cooling compressed air efficiently.
- An air compression device is provided with a compressor which generates compressed air, a housing which forms a housing space in which the compressor is housed, a cooling portion which is arranged at and cools the compressed air an outside of the housing, and a protection cover which at least partially covers the cooling portion.
- the air compression device described above can cool the compressed air efficiently while protecting the cooling portion from a flipped stone or the like when a vehicle is travelling, by arranging the cooling portion covered by the protection cover at the outside of the housing, compared to a configuration in which the cooling portion is arranged in the housing space which is apt to be high in temperature.
- the present inventors found that cooling efficiency of compressed air is deteriorated when a compressor is continuously driven.
- a technique capable of keeping high compression efficiency in various driving environments will be described.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an air compression device 100.
- the air compression device 100 will be described with reference to FIG. 1 .
- the air compression device 100 is provided with a compressor 200, a housing 300, a cooling portion 400, and a protection cover 500.
- the compressor 200 may be formed as a general scroll compressor.
- the compressor 200 may be formed as a general rotary compressor.
- the compressor 200 may be formed as a general swing compressor.
- the compressor 200 may be formed as a general reciprocating type compressor. The principle of the present embodiment is not limited to a specific structure of the compressor 200.
- the housing 300 forms a housing space 310 in which the compressor 200 is housed.
- the compressor 200 compresses air and thereby generates compressed air, and therefore the compressor 200 becomes high in temperature.
- the compressed air discharged from the compressor 200 is also high in temperature.
- the housing space 310 including the compressor 200, covered by the housing 300 is apt to be higher in temperature than an outer environment of the housing 300. It is disadvantageous to arrange the cooling portion 400 in the housing space 310 for enhancing cooling efficiency of the cooling portion.
- the cooling portion 400 which cools the compressed air is arranged at an outside of the housing 300.
- the cooling portion 400 may be held by the housing 300 directly.
- the cooling portion 400 may be held by other holding member.
- the principle of the present embodiment is not limited to a specific holding structure for the cooling portion 400.
- the compressed air generated by the compressor 200 flows into the cooling portion 400.
- the outer environment outside of the housing 300 is lower in temperature than the housing space 310, and thereby the cooling portion 400 arranged at the outside of the housing 300 can cool the compressed air efficiently compared to a configuration in which the cooling portion is arranged in the housing space 310 of the housing 300.
- the cooling portion 400 may be provided with a pipe which allows the compressed air to pass therethrough and is extended in a meandering manner.
- the pipe may be formed of a material having high heat conductivity to enhance a heat dissipation property.
- many heat dissipation fins may be mounted to the pipe.
- the cooling portion 400 may have other structure capable of cooling the compressed air. The principle of the present embodiment is not limited to a specific structure of the cooling portion 400.
- the protection cover 500 is formed to cover at least partially the cooling portion 400. Accordingly, the cooling portion 400 is appropriately protected from a substance (for example, a stone) flipped toward the cooling portion 400.
- the protection cover 500 may be formed to hold the cooling portion 400.
- the protection cover 500 may have an air permeable structure which allows air flow to pass through. A designer which designs the air compression device 100 may adopt various structures in the protection cover 500. Accordingly, the principle of the present embodiment is not limited to a specific structure of the protection cover 500.
- FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an air compression device 100A according to the invention.
- the air compression device 100A will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 .
- the air compression device 100A is provided with a housing 300A, a cooling portion 400A, a protection cover 500A, a dehumidifying portion 610, a controller 620, and a guide pipe 700.
- compressor (not shown) is arranged in the housing 300A.
- the guide pipe 700 is formed to guide compressed air generated by the compressor to the cooling portion 400A.
- the housing 300A corresponds to the housing 300 described with reference to FIG. 1 .
- the housing 300A includes a second wall portion 320 formed in a substantially rectangular shape.
- the protection cover 500A, the dehumidifying portion 610 and the controller 620 are mounted to an outer side of the second wall portion 320 (outside of the housing 300A).
- the cooling portion 400A is held by the protection cover 500A.
- the second wall portion 320 partitions an inner space of the housing 300A in which the compressor is arranged to separate a space in which the cooling portion 400A is arranged (namely, a space surrounded by the protection cover 500A), and thereby the cooling portion 400A hardly receives an influence of heat generation of the compressor.
- a cooling function of the cooling portion 400A is kept in a high level compared to a configuration in which the cooling portion is arranged at the inner space of the housing 300A.
- the second wall portion 320 may be formed stronger than the protection cover 500A because the second wall portion 320 is used for holding various devices.
- the guide pipe 700 is connected to the compressor arranged in the housing 300A.
- the compressed air generated by the compressor is guided to the cooling portion 400A arranged at the outside of the housing 300A by the guide pipe 700.
- the cooling portion 400A includes a cooling pipe 410 which distributes the compressed air, an upstream connection end 420 located at an upstream side of the cooling pipe 410 and a downstream connection end 440 located at a downstream side of the cooling pipe 410.
- the upstream connection end 420 is connected to the guide pipe 700 at the outside of the housing 300A.
- the compressed air guided by the guide pipe 700 flows into the cooling pipe 410 from the upstream connection end 420.
- the cooling pipe 410 forms a flow section for the compressed air elongated in a horizontal direction.
- the cooling pipe 410 is formed to guide the compressed air toward a lower side gradually in a meandering manner.
- the downstream connection end 440 arranged below the upstream connection end 420 is connected to a downstream end of the cooling pipe 410 and the dehumidifying portion 610.
- the compressed air is cooled while flowing along the cooling pipe 410.
- the compressed air sufficiently cooled flows into the dehumidifying portion 610 from the downstream connection end 440.
- the cooling portion 400A corresponds to the cooling portion 400 described with reference to FIG. 1 .
- the dehumidifying portion 610 is arranged below the cooling portion 400A.
- the dehumidifying portion 610 includes a connection pipe 611 extended from the cooling portion 400A, a dehumidifying mechanism 612 arranged at a downstream side of the connection pipe 611 and a delivery port 613 arranged at a further downstream side.
- the connection pipe 611 is connected to the downstream connection end 440 of the cooling portion 400A.
- the connection pipe 611 is formed to guide the cooled compressed air toward a lower side from the downstream connection end 440.
- the compressed air flows into the dehumidifying mechanism 612 through the connection pipe 611.
- the dehumidifying mechanism 612 is formed to dehumidify the compressed air.
- the dehumidifying mechanism 612 may have various structures (for example, a structure having a drying agent or a hollow fiber membrane) applied to a known dehumidifying portion which dehumidifies the compressed air.
- the principle of the present embodiment is not limited to a specific structure of the dehumidifying mechanism 612.
- the compressed air is delivered to a pneumatic device at a downstream side through the delivery port 613 after the compressed air is dehumidified by the dehumidifying mechanism 612.
- the delivery port 613 may be connected to a storage tank designed to store the compressed air.
- the controller 620 is arranged below the cooling pipe 410 extended in a meandering manner.
- the controller 620 is electrically connected to various devices arranged in the housing 300A.
- the controller 620 is formed to control the compressor or other device arranged in the housing 300A.
- FIG. 3 is another schematic perspective view of the air compression device 100A.
- the air compression device 100A will be described with reference to FIG.2 and FIG. 3 .
- the cooling portion 400A and the protection cover 500A arc removed from the air compression device 100A shown in FIG. 3 for the sake of convenience.
- the air compression device 100A is further provided with four outer fan devices 430 arranged at the outside of the housing 300A.
- the four outer fan devices 430 are formed to generate a cooling air flow directed to the cooling pipe 410 of the cooling portion 400A.
- the compressed air in the cooling pipe 410 is cooled by the cooling air flow delivered from the four outer fan devices 430.
- the air compression device may be provided with one outer fan device 430. Alternatively, the air compression device may be provided with two or three outer fan devices 430.
- the air compression device may be provided with more than four outer fan devices 430.
- the designer can determine the number of the outer fan devices 430 to be installed into the air compression device based on a length of the cooling pipe 410 in a lateral direction and a width of the outer fan device 430. Accordingly, the principle of the present embodiment is not limited to the number of the outer fan devices 430 mounted to the air compression device.
- the second wall portion 320 of the housing 300A includes an outer duct portion 321 elongated in a horizontal direction.
- the outer duct portion 321 is surrounded by the protection cover 500A as a whole.
- the outer duct portion 321 forms a rectangular opening area elongated in the horizontal direction.
- the heat generated in the housing 300A (a cooling air flow after cooling the compressor by means of a function of a cooling mechanism arranged in the housing 300A) is discharged to the outside of the housing 300A through the outer duct portion 321.
- the outer duct portion 321 includes an upper wall 322, a lower wall 323, a support wall 324 and a side wall 325.
- the upper wall 322 is extended in the horizontal direction.
- the lower wall 323 is extended in the horizontal direction below the upper wall 322.
- the guide pipe 700 which guides the compressed air to the cooling portion 400A is extended from the housing 300A between the upper wall 322 and the lower wall 323 so as to pass through the outer duct portion 321.
- the guide pipe 700 extended from the housing 300A is bent toward the support wall 324 to penetrate the support wall 324.
- the support wall 324 is formed to support the guide pipe 700. As shown in FIG.
- the guide pipe 700 is connected to the upstream connection end 420 of the cooling portion 400A at a position near the support wall 324 after penetrating the support wall 324.
- the side wall 325 of the outer duct portion 321 is arranged at a side opposite to the support wall 324.
- the four outer fan devices 430 which generate the cooling air directed to the cooling portion 400A are arranged below the outer duct portion 321 so as to be aligned in the horizontal direction along the lower wall 323 of the outer duct portion 321.
- the four outer fan devices 430 are arranged between the lower wall 323 and a group of the dehumidifying portion 610 and the controller 620.
- FIG 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the protection cover 500A.
- the protection cover 500A will be described with reference to FIG. 2 through FIG. 4 .
- the protection cover 500A includes a baffle plate 510 and a ventilation plate 520.
- the baffle plate 510 is arranged below the cooling pipe 410 so as to be laid substantially horizontally.
- the ventilation plate 520 is arranged substantially vertically from the baffle plate 510 so as to face the outer fan device 430.
- the second wall portion 320 of the housing 300A includes a mount plate 326 to which the protection cover 500A and the outer fan device 430 are mounted.
- a substantially rectangular opening area 328 elongated in the horizontal direction is formed in the mount plate 326.
- the outer duct portion 321 is arranged to surround the opening area 328 formed in the mount plate 326 (see FIG. 3 ).
- the outer fan device 430 is arranged between the mount plate 326 and the cooling pipe 410. Relating to a height position of the outer fan device 430, the outer fan device 430 is arranged between the lower wall 323 of the outer duct portion 321 and the baffle plate 510 of the protection cover 500A.
- the outer fan device 430 is formed to deliver the cooling air toward the ventilation plate 520. As a result, the compressed air in the cooling pipe 410 located between the outer fan device 430 and the ventilation plate 520 is appropriately cooled.
- a part of the cooling air delivered from the outer fan device 430 is collided with the cooling pipe 410 and the ventilation plate 520 and then the part of the cooling air flows downward.
- the dehumidifying portion 610 and the controller 620 can be driven appropriately without receiving an influence of the cooling air from the outer fan device 430.
- the ventilation plate 520 includes a rectangular frame plate 521 and an expanded metal 522.
- the expanded metal 522 is surrounded by the rectangular frame plate 521. Since many ventilation holes are formed in the expanded metal 522, most of the cooling air generated by the outer fan device 430 is discharged to the outside of the protection cover 500A through the expanded metal 522. Accordingly, the compressed air in the cooling pipe 410 is cooled efficiently.
- a punching metal or other plate member having a ventilation structure may be used instead of the expanded metal 522.
- the principle of the present embodiment is not limited to a specific ventilation structure of the protection cover 500A.
- the outer fan device 430 is separated from the mount plate 326 of the housing 300A in the horizontal direction. Accordingly, a suction space 431 (see FIG. 4 ) is formed between the outer fan device 430 and the mount plate 326. The outer fan device 430 is formed to suck air from the suction space 431 to deliver the cooling air toward the cooling pipe 410 and the ventilation plate 520.
- the lower wall 323 of the outer duct portion 321 forms an upper side boundary of the suction space 431.
- the inner space of the outer duct portion 321 is used for discharging the air heated in the housing 300A. Since the lower wall 323 partitions the inner space of the outer duct portion 321 to define the suction space 431, the outer fan device 430 does not suck the air heated in the housing 300A.
- the outer duct portion 321 may be formed of a material having a heat isolation property more superior than that of the material of the mount plate 326 of the housing 300A.
- the baffle plate 510 of the protection cover 500A includes a facing edge 511 facing the mount plate 326 of the housing 300A.
- the facing edge 511 is separated from the mount plate 326 of the housing 300A. Accordingly, the facing edge 511 forms an opening area 432 (see FIG. 4 ) continued to the suction space 431 below the outer fan device 430, in cooperation with the mount plate 326 of the housing 300A. Accordingly, the outer fan device 430 sucks outer air of the space below the cooling portion 400A through the opening area 432 and the suction space 431 to deliver the cooling air toward the cooling pipe 410 and the ventilation plate 520.
- the outer fan device described in connection with the invention can also contribute to cooling of a controller.
- a cooling technique of a controller will be described.
- FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a controller 620.
- the controller 620 will be described with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 5 .
- the controller 620 is provided with a control box 621 formed in a rectangular box shape and various electronic devices 622.
- the electronic devices 622 are housed in the control box 621.
- At least one of the electronic devices 622 is used for controlling a compressor (not shown) arranged in a housing 300A.
- the control box 621 includes a top plate 623, an input connector wall 624 and an output connector wall 625. As shown in FIG. 3 , the top plate 623 is located below an outer fan device 430.
- the input connector wall 624 includes a vertical plate 626 and two input connectors 627. The vertical plate 626 is arranged substantially vertically. The input connector 627 is protruded toward an outer side from the vertical plate 626. Electric power may be supplied to the electronic devices 622 through the input connector 627.
- the electronic devices 622 may be formed to generate various signals for controlling and driving the compressor while receiving the electric power through the input connector 627.
- the output connector wall 625 includes a mount plate 628 and five output connectors 629.
- the mount plate 628 includes an upper edge which forms a corner portion in cooperation with the top plate 623, the corner portion being extended in the horizontal direction, and a side edge which forms a corner portion in cooperation with the vertical plate 626 of the input connector wall 624, the corner portion being extended in the vertical direction.
- the mount plate 628 is mounted to the housing 300A.
- the output connector 629 is protruded from the mount plate 628.
- the output connector 629 is used for electrical connection with various devices arranged in the housing 300A. Some of the five output connectors 629 may be used for outputting a control signal to a driving source (not shown) which drives the compressor. Other(s) of the five output connectors 629 may be used for transmitting a detection signal from a detection element which detects a driving state of the compressor, to the electronic device 622.
- the top plate 623 of the control box 621 includes a first opening edge 631, a second opening edge 632, a third opening edge 633 and a fourth opening edge 634.
- the first opening edge 631, the second opening edge 632, the third opening edge 633 and the fourth opening edge 634 form a rectangular opening 630,
- the first opening edge 631 and the second opening edge 632 are substantially parallel to the mount plate 628 of the output connector wall 625.
- the first opening edge 631 is located between the second opening edge 632 and the mount plate 628 of the output connector wall 625.
- the third opening edge 633 and the fourth opening edge 634 are substantially parallel to the vertical plate 626 of the input connector wall 624.
- the third opening edge 633 is located between the fourth opening edge 634 and the vertical plate 626 of the input connector wall 624.
- the control box 621 includes a first rib 641, a second rib 642, a third rib 643 and a fourth rib 644.
- Each of the first rib 641, the second rib 642, the third rib 643, and the fourth rib 644 is protruded upward from the top plate 623.
- the first rib 641 is formed in a substantially C-shape.
- the first rib 641 includes an intermediate portion 645, a first bent portion 646 and a second bent portion 647.
- the intermediate portion 645 is extended along the first opening edge 631.
- Each of the first bent portion 646 and the second bent portion 647 is bent from the intermediate portion 645 so as to be extended toward the second opening edge 632 from the first opening edge 631.
- the first bent portion 646 is located closer to the third rib 643 than the fourth rib 644.
- the second bent portion 647 is located closer to the fourth rib 644 than the third rib 643.
- the second rib 642 is different from the first rib 641 and is extended substantially linearly along the second opening edge 632.
- the third rib 643 is formed in a substantially J-shape.
- the third rib 643 includes a first portion 651, a second portion 652 and a third portion 653.
- the first portion 651 is extended along the third opening edge 633.
- the second portion 652 is bent from the first portion 651 so as to be extended along the first opening edge 631.
- the third portion 653 is bent from the second portion 652 so as to be extended toward the second opening edge 632 from the first opening edge 631.
- the third portion 653 of the third rib 643 is arranged to face the first bent portion 646 of the first rib 641.
- the third portion 653 is separated from the first bent portion 646. Accordingly, a passage 654 is formed between the first bent portion 646 and the third portion 653.
- the fourth rib 644 is formed in a substantially L-shape.
- the fourth rib 644 includes a first portion 655, a second portion 656 and a third portion 657.
- the first portion 655 is extended along the fourth opening edge 634.
- the second portion 656 is bent from the first portion 655 so as to be extended along the first opening edge 631.
- the third portion 657 is bent from the second portion 656 so as to be extended toward the second opening edge 632 from the first opening edge 631.
- the third portion 657 of the fourth rib 644 is arranged to face the second bent portion 647 of the first rib 641.
- the third portion 657 is separated from the second bent portion 647. Accordingly, a passage 658 is formed between the second bent portion 647 and the third portion 657.
- FIG. 6 is another schematic perspective view of the controller 620.
- the controller 620 will be further described with reference to FIG. 3 through FIG. 6 .
- the control box 621 includes a cover 659 and a suction wall 660.
- the cover 659 is formed to cover the rectangular opening 630 described with reference to FIG. 5 .
- the suction wall 660 is arranged vertically at a side opposite to the input connector wall 624 described with reference to FIG. 5 .
- the suction wall 660 includes a suction window 661.
- the suction window 661 allows air to pass through.
- the cover 659 forms an end opening 662 of the passage 654 (see FIG. 5 ) in cooperation with the first rib 641 (see FIG. 5 ) and the third rib 643 (see FIG. 5 ). Accordingly, the passage 654 is opened toward the housing 300A.
- the cover 659 forms an end opening 663 of the passage 658 (see FIG. 5 ) in cooperation with the first rib 641 and the fourth rib 644 (see FIG. 5 ). Accordingly, the passage 658 is opened toward the housing 300A.
- the outer fan device 430 sets the suction space 431 to be a negative pressure environment. Since the end openings 662, 663 (see FIG. 6 ) of the passages 654, 658 arc located at a lower side of the suction space 431, air in the control box 621 is sucked to the suction space 431 through the passages 654, 658. After that, the air sucked from the control box 621 is delivered as cooling air toward the cooling pipe 410 (see FIG. 4 ) by the outer fan device 430. Accordingly, the designer may not arrange cooling equipment having an excessively high cooling capability in the control box 621. In a case in which the outer fan device 430 can suck the air in the control box 621 sufficiently, the designer may not arrange the cooling equipment in the control box 621.
- the outer fan device 430 can suck the air in the control box 621. During this time, outer air flows in through the suction window 661. Accordingly, in the control box 621, an inner air flow from the suction window 661 directed to the end openings 662, 663 of the passages 654, 658 is generated.
- the electronic device 622 (see FIG. 5 ) arranged in the control box 621 is appropriately cooled by the inner air flow.
- FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating an inner structure of a controller 620.
- the controller 620 will be described with reference to FIG. 3 , FIG. 6 , and FIG. 7 .
- the controller 620 may be provided with two drivers 671 and a sequencer 672 as electronic devices 622.
- the driver 671 is formed to generate a driving signal for driving a compressor or other device arranged in a housing 300A (see FIG. 3 ).
- the sequencer 672 may be formed to receive a detection signal generated by various sensors mounted to an air compression device 100A (see FIG. 3 ).
- the sequencer 672 may be formed to receive various signals from other device used with the air compression device 100A.
- the sequencer 672 may be formed to process these signals so as to control the driver 671.
- the driver 671 dissipates heat having a temperature higher than that of heat dissipated by the sequencer 672. As shown in FIG. 7 , since the driver 671 is arranged above the sequencer 672, the heat dissipated by the driver 671 hardly gives an influence to the sequencer 672. Accordingly, the sequencer 672 can be driven stably.
- the driver 671 is arranged near a cover 659 of a control box 621. As shown in FIG. 6 , since the cover 659 forms end openings 662, 663 as outflow ports of air sucked by an outer fan device 430, the air around the driver 671 is sucked from the control box 621 effectively.
- the driver 671 may be arranged at a height position crossing a virtual horizontal plane intersecting a suction window 661. In this case, the driver 671 is exposed directly to an inner air flow (a flow of air from the suction window 661 directed to the end openings 662, 663) generated in the control box 621 when the outer fan device 430 is driven. Accordingly, the driver 671 is cooled efficiently.
- the cooling portion, the controller and the dehumidifying portion are mounted to the outer side of the housing. Accordingly, the operator can reach these devices easily.
- a connection structure of these devices to a housing will be described.
- FIG. 8 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a frame structure of a housing 300A.
- the housing 300A will be described with reference to FIG. 8 .
- the housing 300A includes a bottom plate 330, a support plate 340, a first column 351, a second column 352, a third column 353, a fourth column 354, an intermediate column 355, a first beam member 356 and a second beam member 357.
- the bottom plate 330 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape.
- Each of the first column 351, the second column 352, the third column 353 and the fourth column 354 is extended upward from each of four corner portions of the bottom plate 330.
- the first column 351 and the third column 353 are arranged on one diagonal line of the bottom plate 330.
- the second column 352 and the fourth column 354 are arranged on another diagonal line of the bottom plate 330.
- the first column 351 and the second column 352 are used for mounting a second wall portion 320 (see FIG. 2 ) on which a dehumidifying portion 610 (see FIG. 2 ), a controller 620 (see FIG. 2 ) and an outer duct portion 321 are formed.
- the first beam member 356 is extended substantially horizontally between the first column 351 and the second column 352.
- the second beam member 357 is extended substantially horizontally between the third column 353 and the fourth column 354.
- the support plate 340 is supported by the first beam member 356 and the second beam member 357 so as to be laid above the bottom plate 330.
- the intermediate column 355 is extended substantially vertically from the bottom plate 330 to the first beam member 356 between the first column 351 and the second column 352.
- the dehumidifying portion 610 is mounted to close a substantially rectangular space surrounded by the second column 352, the intermediate column 355, the bottom plate 330 and the first beam member 356.
- the controller 620 is mounted to close a substantially rectangular space surrounded by the first column 351, the intermediate column 355, the bottom plate 330 and the first beam member 356.
- the second wall portion 320 on which the outer duct portion 321 is formed is mounted to close a substantially rectangular space surrounded by the first column 351, the second column 352 and the first beam member 356.
- Each of the dehumidifying portion 610, the controller 620 and the second wall portion 320 may be fixed by using a screw. In this case, the operator can remove each of the dehumidifying portion 610, the controller 620 and the second wall portion 320 from the housing 300A easily. Accordingly, the operator can perform check and/or repair of an air compression device 100A easily.
- FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of the air compression device 100A.
- the structure of the housing 300A will be further described with reference to FIG. 2 , FIG. 8 , and FIG. 9 .
- the housing 300A further includes side panels 361, 362 (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 9 ), a top plate 370 (see FIG. 9 ), a rotation cover 380 (see FIG. 9 ) and a first wall portion 390 (see FIG. 9 ).
- the top plate 370 is connected to upper ends of the first column 351 (see FIG. 8 ), the second column 352 (see FIG. 8 ), the third column 353 (see FIG. 8 ), and the fourth column 354 (see FIG. 8 ) so as to be laid above the support plate 340 (see FIG. 8 ).
- the side panel 361 is arranged to close a space surrounded by the second column 352, the third column 353, the bottom plate 330 and the top plate 370.
- the side panel 362 opposite to the side panel 361 is arranged to close a space surrounded by the first column 351, the fourth column 354, the bottom plate 330 and the top plate 370.
- the rotation cover 380 is mounted to the second beam member 357 in a rotation manner.
- the rotation cover 380 is arranged to close a space surrounded by the second beam member 357, the bottom plate 330, the third column 353 and the fourth column 354.
- the first wall portion 390 is arranged above the rotation cover 380.
- the first wall portion 390 is arranged to close a space surrounded by the second beam member 357, the top plate 370, the third column 353, and the fourth column 354.
- the side panels 361, 362, the top plate 370 and the first wall portion 390 may be fixed by using a screw. In this case, the operator can detach each of the side panels 361, 362, the top plate 370, and the first wall portion 390 and can reach various devices arranged in the housing 300A easily. Accordingly, the operator can perform check and/or repair of the air compression device 100A easily.
- the rotation cover 380 Since the rotation cover 380 is mounted to the second beam member 357 in a rotation manner, the operator can push up a lower end portion of the rotation cover 380 and can reach a space between the bottom plate 330 and the support plate 340 easily. Accordingly, the operator can perform check and/or repair of the air compression device 100A easily.
- FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of an air compression device 100A.
- the air compression device 100A will be described with reference to FIG. 1 , FIG. 2 , and FIG. 8 through FIG. 10 .
- the air compression device 100A is provided with a compression mechanism 110 and a cooling mechanism 120.
- the compression mechanism 110 is formed to generate compressed air.
- the cooling mechanism 120 is formed to cool the compression mechanism 110.
- the compression mechanism 110 includes a compressor 200A, a motor 210 and a transmission mechanism 220.
- the compressor 200A corresponds to the compressor 200 described with reference to FIG. 1 .
- the compressor 200A is fixed to an upper surface of a support plate 340.
- the motor 210 is mounted to a lower surface of the support plate 340.
- the motor 210 is controlled by a controller 620 (see FIG. 2 ) to generate driving force for driving the compressor 200A. Since the compressor 200A and the motor 210 are aligned in the vertical direction, the designer can set an area in a horizontal section of the housing 300A to be small.
- the transmission mechanism 220 is formed to transmit the driving force from the motor 210 to the compressor 200A.
- a side panel 362 described with reference to FIG 9 is arranged vertically at a position next to the transmission mechanism 220. Since the side panel 362 is detached easily as described in connection with the fifth embodiment, the operator can reach the transmission mechanism 220 easily and therefore the operator can perform check and repair of the transmission mechanism 220 easily.
- the transmission mechanism 220 includes an upper pulley 221, a lower pulley 222, an endless belt 223 and a tension pulley 224.
- the upper pulley 221 is mounted to the compressor 200A.
- the lower pulley 222 is mounted to the motor 210.
- the endless belt 223 is looped over the upper pulley 221, the lower pulley 222, and the tension pulley 224.
- the tension pulley 224 is formed to apply appropriate tensile force to the endless belt 223.
- a rotation cover 380 includes a plurality of slats 381 extended in the horizontal direction.
- the plurality of slats 381 are aligned in the vertical direction.
- Outer air can flow into the housing 300A through a gap formed between the slats 381 adjacent to each other.
- the outer air flowing into the housing 300A is used as a cooling air flow by the cooling mechanism 120.
- the cooling mechanism 120 includes an inner fan device 121 and a cooling air flow adjusting box 122.
- a first wall portion 390 includes a flat plate 391 and a swelling wall 392.
- the flat plate 391 is formed to partially close a space surrounded by a third column 353 (see FIG. 8 ), a fourth column 354 (see FIG. 8 ), a second beam member 357 (see FIG. 8 ) and a top plate 370.
- the swelling wall 392 is mounted to the flat plate 391 by appropriate fixing tool such as a lever lock and a screw available on the market.
- the swelling wall 392 is swollen toward an outer side from the flat plate 391.
- the inner fan device 121 is mounted to the swelling wall 392 through an opening area (not shown) formed in the flat plate 391.
- the swelling wall 392 can be detached from the flat plate 391. The operator can detach the inner fan device 121 from the housing 300A after detaching the swelling wall 392.
- the inner fan device 121 may be driven by being controlled by the controller 620.
- the inner fan device 121 When the inner fan device 121 is activated, air in the housing 300A is sucked by the inner fan device 121. During this time, air outside the housing 300A flows in the housing 300A through the rotation cover 380.
- the cooling air flow adjusting box 122 is arranged between the inner fan device 121 and the compressor 200A.
- the cooling air flow adjusting box 122 is formed to adjust a shape of a flow region of the cooling air blown from the inner fan device 121.
- FIG. 11A is a schematic perspective view of the cooling air flow adjusting box 122.
- FIG. 11B is a schematic back view of the cooling air flow adjusting box 122.
- the cooling air flow adjusting box 122 will be described with reference to FIG. 10 through FIG. 11B .
- the cooling air flow adjusting box 122 includes a front plate 131, a rear plate 132 and an outer circumferential plate 133.
- the front plate 131 is arranged to face the inner fan device 12) (see FIG. 10 ).
- the front plate 131 includes an outer edge 134 and an inner edge 135.
- the outer edge 134 forms a substantially rectangular outline of the front plate 131.
- the inner edge 135 forms a substantially circular opening area.
- a diameter of the opening area formed by the inner edge 135 is substantially equal to a rotation diameter of a fan blade of the inner fan device 121.
- the diameter of the opening area is set to be slightly larger than the rotation diameter of the fan blade. Accordingly, the cooling air generated by the inner fan device 121 can flow into the cooling air flow adjusting box 122 efficiently.
- the rear plate 132 is arranged vertically between the front plate 131 and the compressor 200A (see FIG. 10 ).
- the rear plate 132 includes an outer edge 136 and an inner edge 137. Similar to the outer edge 134 of the front plate 131, the outer edge 136 of the rear plate 132 forms a substantially rectangular outline of the rear plate 132.
- the compressor 200A Similar to other general compressors, the compressor 200A has a substantially rectangular outline in a section on a vertical virtual plane including a rotation axis of the compressor 200A.
- the inner edge 137 of the rear plate 132 forms a substantially rectangular opening area formed to be matched with the sectional shape and the sectional size of the compressor 200A.
- the outer circumferential plate 133 is connected to the outer edges 134, 136 of the front plate 131 and the rear plate 132. Accordingly, the cooling air flowing into the substantially circular opening area formed by the inner edge 135 of the front plate 131 flows out from the substantially rectangular opening area formed by the inner edge 137 of the rear plate 132, and thereby the cooling air hits the compressor 200A efficiently. Accordingly, the compressor 200A is cooled efficiently.
- the cooling air generated by the inner fan device 121 flows toward the compressor 200A through the cooling air flow adjusting box 122.
- the cooling air is collided with the compressor 200A. As a result, the cooling air can absorb heat from the compressor 200A.
- the compressor 200A is arranged between the cooling air flow adjusting box 122 and a second wall portion 320 arranged vertically at a side opposite to the first wall portion 390. Accordingly, the cooling air generated by the inner fan device 121 flows toward the second wall portion 320 after absorbing the heat from the compressor 200A.
- the second wall portion 320 includes an inner duct portion 327 arranged in the housing 300A.
- the inner duct portion 327 forms an opening 328 in cooperation with an outer duct portion 321 arranged at an outside of the housing 300A.
- the cooling air flow generated by the inner fan device 121 is discharged from the housing 300A through the opening 328.
- an exhaust duct is exemplary described by the outer duct portion 321 and the inner duct portion 327.
- a cooling pipe 410 is extended in a meandering manner from a first cooling section to a second cooling section.
- the outer duct portion 321 is protruded toward the first cooling section.
- the cooling pipe 410 faces the opening 328.
- the cooling pipe 410 faces the outer fan device 430.
- the cooling pipe 410 is exposed to the cooling air generated by the inner fan device 121 in the first cooling section. Accordingly, the compressed air, which flows along the cooling pipe 410 in the first cooling section, is cooled by the cooling air generated by the inner fan device 121. Since the cooling pipe 410 faces the outer fan device 430 in the second cooling section, the cooling pipe 410 is exposed to the cooling air generated by the outer fan device 430 in the second cooling section. Accordingly, the compressed air, which flows along the cooling pipe 410 in the second cooling section, is cooled by the cooling air generated by the outer fan device 430.
- the inner fan device 121 described with reference to FIG. 10 may be formed as an axial fan device which rotates a fan blade around a rotation center axis extended along a virtual horizontal plane formed below the opening 328. In this case, most of the cooling air generated by the inner fan device 121 is collided with the second wall portion 320.
- the inner duct portion 327 is provided with a lining member 329 lining a mount plate 326 of the second wall portion 320 facing the inner fan device 121.
- the lining member 329 may have a sound absorbing property more superior than that of the mount plate 326.
- the lining member 329 is arranged below the opening 328.
- the lining member 329 is extended substantially horizontally along a lower edge of the opening 328. Since most of the cooling air collided with the second wall portion 320 flows along the lining member 329, a noise discharged from the opening 328 is reduced.
- a sound absorbing area is exemplary described by an area in which the lining member 329 is arranged.
- the designer may arrange a plurality of compressors in a housing.
- the air compression device can generate a large amount of compressed air in a short period of time.
- an air compression device provided with a plurality of compressors will be described.
- FIG. 12 is a schematic plane view illustrating an inner structure of an air compression device 100A.
- the air compression device 100A will be further described with reference to FIG. 12 .
- the air compression device 100A is provided with a compression mechanism 140 and a cooling mechanism 150.
- the compression mechanism 140 is formed to generate compressed air.
- the cooling mechanism 150 is formed to cool the compression mechanism 140.
- the compression mechanism 140 is in a mirror image relation with the compression mechanism 110 described in connection with the sixth embodiment. Accordingly, the description of the compression mechanism 110 in the sixth embodiment is used for describing the compression mechanism 140.
- the cooling mechanism 150 has the same structure as that of the cooling mechanism 120 described in connection with the sixth embodiment. Accordingly, the description of the cooling mechanism 120 in the sixth embodiment is used for describing the cooling mechanism 150.
- the compression mechanism 140 includes a compressor 230. Similar to the compressor 200A of the compression mechanism 110, the compressor 230 is formed to generate compressed air.
- the compressor 200A includes a port wall 201.
- the compressor 230 includes a port wall 231.
- the port wall 201 of the compressor 200A is arranged to face the port wall 231 of the compressor 230.
- a suction port (not shown) into which an outer air outside of the housing 300A flows and a delivery port (not shown) from which the compressed air is delivered are formed in each of the port walls 201, 231.
- the air compression device 100A is further provided with a suction guide structure 800 arranged between the port walls 201 and 231.
- the outer air outside the housing 300A flows into each of the compressors 200A, 230 through the suction guide structure 800.
- Each of the compressors 200A, 230 is formed to compress the outer air flowing in through the suction guide structure 800 and generate the compressed air.
- the compressed air is delivered toward the outside of the housing 300A through the guide pipe 700 described in connection with the second embodiment.
- FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the suction guide structure 800.
- the suction guide structure 800 will be described with reference to FIG. 9 , FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 .
- a first wall portion 390 includes a filter covcr 393.
- the filter cover 393 is arranged in a recessed region formed in a chevron-shape formed by a swelling wall 392. Similar to the swelling wall 392, the filter cover 393 is mounted to a flat plate 391. The operator can detach the filter cover 393 from the flat plate 391.
- the suction guide structure 800 includes a suction duct 810, a filter device 820 and a trim seal 831.
- the filter device 820 is arranged between the filter cover 393 and the suction duct 810.
- the trim seal 831 is formed as a rubber ring member which connects the filter device 820 to the suction duct 810 in an airtight manner.
- the suction duct 810 is formed as a hollow box member formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape.
- a negative pressure environment is generated in the suction duct 810.
- the outer air outside the housing 300A flows into the housing 300A through the filter cover 393.
- the filter device 820 removes dust floating in the outer air flowing in.
- the air purified by the filter device 820 flows into the suction duct 810.
- FIG. 14 is a schematic enlarged cross-sectional view of the suction guide structure 800 around the suction duct 810.
- the suction guide structure 800 will be further described with reference to FIG. 14 .
- the suction guide structure 800 further includes two supply pipes 811, 812, and two trim seals 832, 833.
- the trim seal 832 is used for the connection between the supply pipe 811 and the suction duct 810.
- the trim seal 833 is used for the connection between the supply pipe 812 and the suction duct 810.
- the supply pipe 811 is connected to the port wall 201 of the compressor 200A from the trim seal 832 mounted to the suction duct 810.
- the outer air purified by the filter device 820 flows into the compressor 200A through the suction duct 810 and the supply pipe 811.
- the supply pipe 812 is connected to the port wall 231 of the compressor 230 from the trim seal 833 mounted to the suction duct 810.
- the outer air purified by the filter device 820 flows into the compressor 230 through the suction duct 810 and the supply pipe 812.
- FIG. 15 is a schematic enlarged perspective view of a part of the guide pipe 700.
- the guide pipe 700 will be described with reference to FIG. 2 through FIG. 4 , FIG. 12 and FIG. 15 .
- the guide pipe 700 includes two discharge pipes 710, 720, a confluence portion 730 and a confluence pipe 740.
- the discharge pipe 710 is formed to guide the compressed air generated by the compressor 200A to the confluence portion 730 arranged near the first wall portion 390.
- the discharge pipe 720 is formed to guide the compressed air generated by the compressor 230 to the confluence portion 730.
- the confluence pipe 740 is extended from the confluence portion 730 toward a second wall portion 320 at a side opposite to the first wall portion 390.
- the confluence pipe 740 is connected to a cooling pipe 410 at the outside of the housing 300A.
- the guide pipe 700 forms a long flow path for the compressed air in the housing 300A.
- the cooling air generated by the cooling mechanisms 120, 150 flows within the housing 300A until the cooling air is discharged from an opening 328 (see FIG. 4 ). Accordingly, the compressed air can be cooled in the housing 300A by the cooling air generated by the cooling mechanisms 120, 150 for a long period of time.
- the confluence portion 730 includes a manifold 731 and two check valves 732, 733.
- Each of the check valves 732, 733 is mounted to the manifold 731.
- the discharge pipe 710 is connected to the check valve 732.
- the compressed air flowing along the discharge pipe 710 flows into the manifold 731 through the check valve 732.
- the check valve 732 is formed to interrupt a flow of the compressed air returned from the manifold 731 to the discharge pipe 710.
- the discharge pipe 720 is connected to the check valve 733.
- the compressed air flowing along the discharge pipe 720 flows into the manifold 731 through the check valve 733.
- the check valve 733 is formed to interrupt a flow of the compressed air returned from the manifold 731 to the discharge pipe 720.
- a confluence inner pipe (not shown), which joins two flows of the compressed air, is formed in the manifold 731.
- the compressed air joined by the confluence inner pipe is discharged from the manifold 731 through the confluence pipe 740.
- the confluence pipe 740 is inserted into the opening 328 through an inner duct portion 327.
- the confluence pipe 740 is bent inside an outer duct portion 321 and is extended toward a support wall 324 of the outer duct portion 321.
- the confluence pipe 740 is formed to penetrate the support wall 324 and is connected to an upstream connection end 420 of a cooling portion 400A described with reference to FIG. 2 .
- the designer can design various air compression devices based on the design principle described in connection with various embodiments described above. A part of various features described in connection with one embodiment among the various embodiments described above may be applied to the air compression device described in connection with other variations.
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Description
- The present invention relates to an air compression device which generates compressed air.
- An air compression device which generates compressed air is used for various uses. The compressed air generated by the air compression device mounted to a vehicle (for example, a railroad vehicle) may be supplied to a brake device which applies braking force to the vehicle or a pneumatic apparatus used for opening and closing a door of the vehicle.
- Patent Literature 1 proposes an air compression device mounted to a railroad vehicle. The air compression device includes a housing which houses various inner devices such as a compressor and an after cooler. The housing can appropriately protect the inner device from a flipped stone or the like when the vehicle is travelling. In addition, the housing has a soundproof function against sound generated by the inner device and a dustproof function for the inner device.
- When the compressor compresses air, a large amount of heat is generated from the compressor and the compressed air. The housing has the protection function described above, while the heat is confined in the housing. Accordingly, a conventional air compression device cannot cool the compressed air efficiently.
- A further compression device is disclosed in JPS5553648.
- Patent Literature I:
JP 3150077 U - An object of the present invention as defined by claim 1 is to provide an air compression device capable of cooling compressed air efficiently.
- An air compression device according to one aspect of the present invention is provided with a compressor which generates compressed air, a housing which forms a housing space in which the compressor is housed, a cooling portion which is arranged at and cools the compressed air an outside of the housing, and a protection cover which at least partially covers the cooling portion.
- The air compression device described above can cool the compressed air efficiently while protecting the cooling portion from a flipped stone or the like when a vehicle is travelling, by arranging the cooling portion covered by the protection cover at the outside of the housing, compared to a configuration in which the cooling portion is arranged in the housing space which is apt to be high in temperature.
- The objects, features, and advantageous effects of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
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FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an air compression device -
FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an air compression device according to the invention. -
FIG. 3 is another schematic perspective view of the air compression device shown inFIG. 2 . -
FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a protection cover of the air compression device shown inFIG. 2 . -
FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a controller of the air compression device shown inFIG. 3 . -
FIG. 6 is another schematic perspective view of the controller shown inFIG. 5 . -
FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating an inner structure of the controller shown inFIG. 6 . -
FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a frame structure of a housing of the air compression device shown inFIG. 2 -
FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of the air compression device shown inFIG. 2 . -
FIG 10 is a schematic perspective view of the air compression device shown inFIG. 2 . -
FIG. 11A is a schematic perspective view of a cooling air flow adjusting box of the air compression device shown inFIG. 10 . -
FIG. 11B is a schematic back view of the cooling air flow adjusting box shown inFIG. 11A . -
FIG. 12 is a schematic plane view illustrating an inner structure of the air compression device shown inFIG. 2 -
FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a suction guide structure of the air compression device shown inFIG. 12 . -
FIG. 14 is a schematic enlarged cross-sectional view of the suction guide structure shown inFIG. 13 . -
FIG. 15 is a schematic enlarged perspective view of a part of a guide pipe of the air compression device shown inFIG. 12 . - The present inventors found that cooling efficiency of compressed air is deteriorated when a compressor is continuously driven. In a first embodiment, a technique capable of keeping high compression efficiency in various driving environments will be described.
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FIG. 1 is a schematic view of anair compression device 100. Theair compression device 100 will be described with reference toFIG. 1 . - The
air compression device 100 is provided with acompressor 200, ahousing 300, acooling portion 400, and aprotection cover 500. Thecompressor 200 may be formed as a general scroll compressor. Alternatively, thecompressor 200 may be formed as a general rotary compressor. Further alternatively, thecompressor 200 may be formed as a general swing compressor. Further alternatively, thecompressor 200 may be formed as a general reciprocating type compressor. The principle of the present embodiment is not limited to a specific structure of thecompressor 200. - The
housing 300 forms ahousing space 310 in which thecompressor 200 is housed. Thecompressor 200 compresses air and thereby generates compressed air, and therefore thecompressor 200 becomes high in temperature. In addition, the compressed air discharged from thecompressor 200 is also high in temperature. Accordingly, thehousing space 310 including thecompressor 200, covered by thehousing 300 is apt to be higher in temperature than an outer environment of thehousing 300. It is disadvantageous to arrange thecooling portion 400 in thehousing space 310 for enhancing cooling efficiency of the cooling portion. - The
cooling portion 400 which cools the compressed air is arranged at an outside of thehousing 300. Thecooling portion 400 may be held by thehousing 300 directly. Alternatively, thecooling portion 400 may be held by other holding member. The principle of the present embodiment is not limited to a specific holding structure for thecooling portion 400. - The compressed air generated by the
compressor 200 flows into thecooling portion 400. As described above, the outer environment outside of thehousing 300 is lower in temperature than thehousing space 310, and thereby thecooling portion 400 arranged at the outside of thehousing 300 can cool the compressed air efficiently compared to a configuration in which the cooling portion is arranged in thehousing space 310 of thehousing 300. - The
cooling portion 400 may be provided with a pipe which allows the compressed air to pass therethrough and is extended in a meandering manner. In order to cool the compressed air more efficiently, the pipe may be formed of a material having high heat conductivity to enhance a heat dissipation property. In addition, many heat dissipation fins may be mounted to the pipe. Alternatively, the coolingportion 400 may have other structure capable of cooling the compressed air. The principle of the present embodiment is not limited to a specific structure of the coolingportion 400. - The
protection cover 500 is formed to cover at least partially the coolingportion 400. Accordingly, the coolingportion 400 is appropriately protected from a substance (for example, a stone) flipped toward the coolingportion 400. Theprotection cover 500 may be formed to hold the coolingportion 400. In addition, theprotection cover 500 may have an air permeable structure which allows air flow to pass through. A designer which designs theair compression device 100 may adopt various structures in theprotection cover 500. Accordingly, the principle of the present embodiment is not limited to a specific structure of theprotection cover 500. -
FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of anair compression device 100A according to the invention. Theair compression device 100A will be described with reference toFIG. 1 andFIG. 2 . - The
air compression device 100A is provided with ahousing 300A, a coolingportion 400A, aprotection cover 500A, adehumidifying portion 610, acontroller 620, and aguide pipe 700. compressor (not shown) is arranged in thehousing 300A. Theguide pipe 700 is formed to guide compressed air generated by the compressor to the coolingportion 400A. Thehousing 300A corresponds to thehousing 300 described with reference toFIG. 1 . - The
housing 300A includes asecond wall portion 320 formed in a substantially rectangular shape. Theprotection cover 500A, thedehumidifying portion 610 and thecontroller 620 are mounted to an outer side of the second wall portion 320 (outside of thehousing 300A). The coolingportion 400A is held by theprotection cover 500A. Thesecond wall portion 320 partitions an inner space of thehousing 300A in which the compressor is arranged to separate a space in which thecooling portion 400A is arranged (namely, a space surrounded by theprotection cover 500A), and thereby the coolingportion 400A hardly receives an influence of heat generation of the compressor. - Accordingly, a cooling function of the cooling
portion 400A is kept in a high level compared to a configuration in which the cooling portion is arranged at the inner space of thehousing 300A. Thesecond wall portion 320 may be formed stronger than theprotection cover 500A because thesecond wall portion 320 is used for holding various devices. - The
guide pipe 700 is connected to the compressor arranged in thehousing 300A. The compressed air generated by the compressor is guided to the coolingportion 400A arranged at the outside of thehousing 300A by theguide pipe 700. - The cooling
portion 400A includes acooling pipe 410 which distributes the compressed air, anupstream connection end 420 located at an upstream side of thecooling pipe 410 and adownstream connection end 440 located at a downstream side of thecooling pipe 410. Theupstream connection end 420 is connected to theguide pipe 700 at the outside of thehousing 300A. The compressed air guided by theguide pipe 700 flows into thecooling pipe 410 from theupstream connection end 420. Thecooling pipe 410 forms a flow section for the compressed air elongated in a horizontal direction. Thecooling pipe 410 is formed to guide the compressed air toward a lower side gradually in a meandering manner. Thedownstream connection end 440 arranged below theupstream connection end 420 is connected to a downstream end of thecooling pipe 410 and thedehumidifying portion 610. The compressed air is cooled while flowing along thecooling pipe 410. The compressed air sufficiently cooled flows into thedehumidifying portion 610 from thedownstream connection end 440. The coolingportion 400A corresponds to the coolingportion 400 described with reference toFIG. 1 . - The
dehumidifying portion 610 is arranged below the coolingportion 400A. Thedehumidifying portion 610 includes aconnection pipe 611 extended from the coolingportion 400A, adehumidifying mechanism 612 arranged at a downstream side of theconnection pipe 611 and adelivery port 613 arranged at a further downstream side. Theconnection pipe 611 is connected to thedownstream connection end 440 of the coolingportion 400A. Theconnection pipe 611 is formed to guide the cooled compressed air toward a lower side from thedownstream connection end 440. The compressed air flows into thedehumidifying mechanism 612 through theconnection pipe 611. Thedehumidifying mechanism 612 is formed to dehumidify the compressed air. Thedehumidifying mechanism 612 may have various structures (for example, a structure having a drying agent or a hollow fiber membrane) applied to a known dehumidifying portion which dehumidifies the compressed air. The principle of the present embodiment is not limited to a specific structure of thedehumidifying mechanism 612. - The compressed air is delivered to a pneumatic device at a downstream side through the
delivery port 613 after the compressed air is dehumidified by thedehumidifying mechanism 612. Thedelivery port 613 may be connected to a storage tank designed to store the compressed air. - Similar to the
dehumidifying portion 610, thecontroller 620 is arranged below thecooling pipe 410 extended in a meandering manner. Thecontroller 620 is electrically connected to various devices arranged in thehousing 300A. Thecontroller 620 is formed to control the compressor or other device arranged in thehousing 300A. -
FIG. 3 is another schematic perspective view of theair compression device 100A. Theair compression device 100A will be described with reference toFIG.2 andFIG. 3 . - In order to facilitate understanding of the
air compression device 100A, the coolingportion 400A and theprotection cover 500A arc removed from theair compression device 100A shown inFIG. 3 for the sake of convenience. As shown inFIG. 3 , theair compression device 100A is further provided with fourouter fan devices 430 arranged at the outside of thehousing 300A. The fourouter fan devices 430 are formed to generate a cooling air flow directed to thecooling pipe 410 of the coolingportion 400A. The compressed air in thecooling pipe 410 is cooled by the cooling air flow delivered from the fourouter fan devices 430. The air compression device may be provided with oneouter fan device 430. Alternatively, the air compression device may be provided with two or threeouter fan devices 430. Further alternatively, the air compression device may be provided with more than fourouter fan devices 430. The designer can determine the number of theouter fan devices 430 to be installed into the air compression device based on a length of thecooling pipe 410 in a lateral direction and a width of theouter fan device 430. Accordingly, the principle of the present embodiment is not limited to the number of theouter fan devices 430 mounted to the air compression device. - As shown in
FIG. 3 , thesecond wall portion 320 of thehousing 300A includes anouter duct portion 321 elongated in a horizontal direction. As shown inFIG. 2 , theouter duct portion 321 is surrounded by theprotection cover 500A as a whole. Theouter duct portion 321 forms a rectangular opening area elongated in the horizontal direction. The heat generated in thehousing 300A (a cooling air flow after cooling the compressor by means of a function of a cooling mechanism arranged in thehousing 300A) is discharged to the outside of thehousing 300A through theouter duct portion 321. - As shown in
FIG. 3 , theouter duct portion 321 includes anupper wall 322, alower wall 323, asupport wall 324 and aside wall 325. Theupper wall 322 is extended in the horizontal direction. Thelower wall 323 is extended in the horizontal direction below theupper wall 322. Theguide pipe 700 which guides the compressed air to the coolingportion 400A is extended from thehousing 300A between theupper wall 322 and thelower wall 323 so as to pass through theouter duct portion 321. Theguide pipe 700 extended from thehousing 300A is bent toward thesupport wall 324 to penetrate thesupport wall 324. Thesupport wall 324 is formed to support theguide pipe 700. As shown inFIG. 2 , theguide pipe 700 is connected to theupstream connection end 420 of the coolingportion 400A at a position near thesupport wall 324 after penetrating thesupport wall 324. Theside wall 325 of theouter duct portion 321 is arranged at a side opposite to thesupport wall 324. - The four
outer fan devices 430 which generate the cooling air directed to the coolingportion 400A are arranged below theouter duct portion 321 so as to be aligned in the horizontal direction along thelower wall 323 of theouter duct portion 321. The fourouter fan devices 430 are arranged between thelower wall 323 and a group of thedehumidifying portion 610 and thecontroller 620. -
FIG 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of theprotection cover 500A. Theprotection cover 500A will be described with reference toFIG. 2 through FIG. 4 . - As shown in
FIG. 4 , theprotection cover 500A includes abaffle plate 510 and aventilation plate 520. Thebaffle plate 510 is arranged below thecooling pipe 410 so as to be laid substantially horizontally. Theventilation plate 520 is arranged substantially vertically from thebaffle plate 510 so as to face theouter fan device 430. - The
second wall portion 320 of thehousing 300A includes amount plate 326 to which theprotection cover 500A and theouter fan device 430 are mounted. A substantiallyrectangular opening area 328 elongated in the horizontal direction is formed in themount plate 326. Theouter duct portion 321 is arranged to surround theopening area 328 formed in the mount plate 326 (seeFIG. 3 ). Theouter fan device 430 is arranged between themount plate 326 and thecooling pipe 410. Relating to a height position of theouter fan device 430, theouter fan device 430 is arranged between thelower wall 323 of theouter duct portion 321 and thebaffle plate 510 of theprotection cover 500A. Theouter fan device 430 is formed to deliver the cooling air toward theventilation plate 520. As a result, the compressed air in thecooling pipe 410 located between theouter fan device 430 and theventilation plate 520 is appropriately cooled. - A part of the cooling air delivered from the
outer fan device 430 is collided with thecooling pipe 410 and theventilation plate 520 and then the part of the cooling air flows downward. However, since a flow of the cooling air flowing downward is interrupted by thebaffle plate 510 of theprotection cover 500A, thedehumidifying portion 610 and thecontroller 620 can be driven appropriately without receiving an influence of the cooling air from theouter fan device 430. - The
ventilation plate 520 includes arectangular frame plate 521 and an expandedmetal 522. The expandedmetal 522 is surrounded by therectangular frame plate 521. Since many ventilation holes are formed in the expandedmetal 522, most of the cooling air generated by theouter fan device 430 is discharged to the outside of theprotection cover 500A through the expandedmetal 522. Accordingly, the compressed air in thecooling pipe 410 is cooled efficiently. A punching metal or other plate member having a ventilation structure may be used instead of the expandedmetal 522. The principle of the present embodiment is not limited to a specific ventilation structure of theprotection cover 500A. - The
outer fan device 430 is separated from themount plate 326 of thehousing 300A in the horizontal direction. Accordingly, a suction space 431 (seeFIG. 4 ) is formed between theouter fan device 430 and themount plate 326. Theouter fan device 430 is formed to suck air from thesuction space 431 to deliver the cooling air toward thecooling pipe 410 and theventilation plate 520. - The
lower wall 323 of theouter duct portion 321 forms an upper side boundary of thesuction space 431. As described above, the inner space of theouter duct portion 321 is used for discharging the air heated in thehousing 300A. Since thelower wall 323 partitions the inner space of theouter duct portion 321 to define thesuction space 431, theouter fan device 430 does not suck the air heated in thehousing 300A. Theouter duct portion 321 may be formed of a material having a heat isolation property more superior than that of the material of themount plate 326 of thehousing 300A. - The
baffle plate 510 of theprotection cover 500A includes a facingedge 511 facing themount plate 326 of thehousing 300A. - The facing
edge 511 is separated from themount plate 326 of thehousing 300A. Accordingly, the facingedge 511 forms an opening area 432 (seeFIG. 4 ) continued to thesuction space 431 below theouter fan device 430, in cooperation with themount plate 326 of thehousing 300A. Accordingly, theouter fan device 430 sucks outer air of the space below the coolingportion 400A through theopening area 432 and thesuction space 431 to deliver the cooling air toward thecooling pipe 410 and theventilation plate 520. - Third variation of a compressor
- The outer fan device described in connection with the invention can also contribute to cooling of a controller. In a third variation, a cooling technique of a controller will be described.
-
FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of acontroller 620. Thecontroller 620 will be described with reference toFIG. 3 andFIG. 5 . - As shown in
FIG. 5 , thecontroller 620 is provided with acontrol box 621 formed in a rectangular box shape and variouselectronic devices 622. Theelectronic devices 622 are housed in thecontrol box 621. At least one of theelectronic devices 622 is used for controlling a compressor (not shown) arranged in ahousing 300A. - As shown in
FIG. 5 , thecontrol box 621 includes atop plate 623, aninput connector wall 624 and anoutput connector wall 625. As shown inFIG. 3 , thetop plate 623 is located below anouter fan device 430. Theinput connector wall 624 includes avertical plate 626 and twoinput connectors 627. Thevertical plate 626 is arranged substantially vertically. Theinput connector 627 is protruded toward an outer side from thevertical plate 626. Electric power may be supplied to theelectronic devices 622 through theinput connector 627. Theelectronic devices 622 may be formed to generate various signals for controlling and driving the compressor while receiving the electric power through theinput connector 627. - The
output connector wall 625 includes amount plate 628 and fiveoutput connectors 629. Themount plate 628 includes an upper edge which forms a corner portion in cooperation with thetop plate 623, the corner portion being extended in the horizontal direction, and a side edge which forms a corner portion in cooperation with thevertical plate 626 of theinput connector wall 624, the corner portion being extended in the vertical direction. Themount plate 628 is mounted to thehousing 300A. Theoutput connector 629 is protruded from themount plate 628. Theoutput connector 629 is used for electrical connection with various devices arranged in thehousing 300A. Some of the fiveoutput connectors 629 may be used for outputting a control signal to a driving source (not shown) which drives the compressor. Other(s) of the fiveoutput connectors 629 may be used for transmitting a detection signal from a detection element which detects a driving state of the compressor, to theelectronic device 622. - As shown in
FIG. 5 , thetop plate 623 of thecontrol box 621 includes afirst opening edge 631, asecond opening edge 632, athird opening edge 633 and afourth opening edge 634. Thefirst opening edge 631, thesecond opening edge 632, thethird opening edge 633 and thefourth opening edge 634 form arectangular opening 630, Thefirst opening edge 631 and thesecond opening edge 632 are substantially parallel to themount plate 628 of theoutput connector wall 625. Thefirst opening edge 631 is located between thesecond opening edge 632 and themount plate 628 of theoutput connector wall 625. Thethird opening edge 633 and thefourth opening edge 634 are substantially parallel to thevertical plate 626 of theinput connector wall 624. Thethird opening edge 633 is located between thefourth opening edge 634 and thevertical plate 626 of theinput connector wall 624. - The
control box 621 includes afirst rib 641, asecond rib 642, athird rib 643 and a fourth rib 644. Each of thefirst rib 641, thesecond rib 642, thethird rib 643, and the fourth rib 644 is protruded upward from thetop plate 623. - The
first rib 641 is formed in a substantially C-shape. Thefirst rib 641 includes anintermediate portion 645, a firstbent portion 646 and a secondbent portion 647. Theintermediate portion 645 is extended along thefirst opening edge 631. Each of the firstbent portion 646 and the secondbent portion 647 is bent from theintermediate portion 645 so as to be extended toward thesecond opening edge 632 from thefirst opening edge 631. The firstbent portion 646 is located closer to thethird rib 643 than the fourth rib 644. The secondbent portion 647 is located closer to the fourth rib 644 than thethird rib 643. - The
second rib 642 is different from thefirst rib 641 and is extended substantially linearly along thesecond opening edge 632. - The
third rib 643 is formed in a substantially J-shape. Thethird rib 643 includes afirst portion 651, asecond portion 652 and athird portion 653. Thefirst portion 651 is extended along thethird opening edge 633. Thesecond portion 652 is bent from thefirst portion 651 so as to be extended along thefirst opening edge 631. Thethird portion 653 is bent from thesecond portion 652 so as to be extended toward thesecond opening edge 632 from thefirst opening edge 631. - The
third portion 653 of thethird rib 643 is arranged to face the firstbent portion 646 of thefirst rib 641. Thethird portion 653 is separated from the firstbent portion 646. Accordingly, apassage 654 is formed between the firstbent portion 646 and thethird portion 653. - The fourth rib 644 is formed in a substantially L-shape. The fourth rib 644 includes a
first portion 655, a second portion 656 and athird portion 657. Thefirst portion 655 is extended along thefourth opening edge 634. The second portion 656 is bent from thefirst portion 655 so as to be extended along thefirst opening edge 631. Thethird portion 657 is bent from the second portion 656 so as to be extended toward thesecond opening edge 632 from thefirst opening edge 631. - The
third portion 657 of the fourth rib 644 is arranged to face the secondbent portion 647 of thefirst rib 641. Thethird portion 657 is separated from the secondbent portion 647. Accordingly, apassage 658 is formed between the secondbent portion 647 and thethird portion 657. -
FIG. 6 is another schematic perspective view of thecontroller 620. Thecontroller 620 will be further described with reference toFIG. 3 through FIG. 6 . - As shown in
FIG. 6 , thecontrol box 621 includes acover 659 and asuction wall 660. Thecover 659 is formed to cover therectangular opening 630 described with reference toFIG. 5 . - The
suction wall 660 is arranged vertically at a side opposite to theinput connector wall 624 described with reference toFIG. 5 . Thesuction wall 660 includes asuction window 661. Thesuction window 661 allows air to pass through. - The
cover 659 forms anend opening 662 of the passage 654 (seeFIG. 5 ) in cooperation with the first rib 641 (seeFIG. 5 ) and the third rib 643 (seeFIG. 5 ). Accordingly, thepassage 654 is opened toward thehousing 300A. Thecover 659 forms anend opening 663 of the passage 658 (seeFIG. 5 ) in cooperation with thefirst rib 641 and the fourth rib 644 (seeFIG. 5 ). Accordingly, thepassage 658 is opened toward thehousing 300A. - As described with reference to
FIG. 4 , theouter fan device 430 sets thesuction space 431 to be a negative pressure environment. Since theend openings 662, 663 (seeFIG. 6 ) of thepassages suction space 431, air in thecontrol box 621 is sucked to thesuction space 431 through thepassages control box 621 is delivered as cooling air toward the cooling pipe 410 (seeFIG. 4 ) by theouter fan device 430. Accordingly, the designer may not arrange cooling equipment having an excessively high cooling capability in thecontrol box 621. In a case in which theouter fan device 430 can suck the air in thecontrol box 621 sufficiently, the designer may not arrange the cooling equipment in thecontrol box 621. - As described above, the
outer fan device 430 can suck the air in thecontrol box 621. During this time, outer air flows in through thesuction window 661. Accordingly, in thecontrol box 621, an inner air flow from thesuction window 661 directed to theend openings passages FIG. 5 ) arranged in thecontrol box 621 is appropriately cooled by the inner air flow. - Fourth Variation
- In the design principle described in connection with the third variation, much air is sucked around the top plate of the housing of the controller. Accordingly, in a case in which an electronic device which dissipates a large amount of heat is arranged near the top plate, the controller is cooled effectively. In a fourth variation, a technique for cooling a controller effectively will be described.
-
FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating an inner structure of acontroller 620. - The
controller 620 will be described with reference toFIG. 3 ,FIG. 6 , andFIG. 7 . - The
controller 620 may be provided with twodrivers 671 and asequencer 672 aselectronic devices 622. Thedriver 671 is formed to generate a driving signal for driving a compressor or other device arranged in ahousing 300A (seeFIG. 3 ). Thesequencer 672 may be formed to receive a detection signal generated by various sensors mounted to anair compression device 100A (seeFIG. 3 ). In addition, thesequencer 672 may be formed to receive various signals from other device used with theair compression device 100A. Thesequencer 672 may be formed to process these signals so as to control thedriver 671. - The
driver 671 dissipates heat having a temperature higher than that of heat dissipated by thesequencer 672. As shown inFIG. 7 , since thedriver 671 is arranged above thesequencer 672, the heat dissipated by thedriver 671 hardly gives an influence to thesequencer 672. Accordingly, thesequencer 672 can be driven stably. - The
driver 671 is arranged near acover 659 of acontrol box 621. As shown inFIG. 6 , since thecover 659 forms endopenings outer fan device 430, the air around thedriver 671 is sucked from thecontrol box 621 effectively. - The
driver 671 may be arranged at a height position crossing a virtual horizontal plane intersecting asuction window 661. In this case, thedriver 671 is exposed directly to an inner air flow (a flow of air from thesuction window 661 directed to theend openings 662, 663) generated in thecontrol box 621 when theouter fan device 430 is driven. Accordingly, thedriver 671 is cooled efficiently. - As described in connection with above various variations, the cooling portion, the controller and the dehumidifying portion are mounted to the outer side of the housing. Accordingly, the operator can reach these devices easily. In a fifth variation, a connection structure of these devices to a housing will be described.
-
FIG. 8 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a frame structure of ahousing 300A. Thehousing 300A will be described with reference toFIG. 8 . - The
housing 300A includes abottom plate 330, asupport plate 340, afirst column 351, asecond column 352, athird column 353, afourth column 354, anintermediate column 355, afirst beam member 356 and asecond beam member 357. Thebottom plate 330 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape. Each of thefirst column 351, thesecond column 352, thethird column 353 and thefourth column 354 is extended upward from each of four corner portions of thebottom plate 330. Thefirst column 351 and thethird column 353 are arranged on one diagonal line of thebottom plate 330. Thesecond column 352 and thefourth column 354 are arranged on another diagonal line of thebottom plate 330. Thefirst column 351 and thesecond column 352 are used for mounting a second wall portion 320 (seeFIG. 2 ) on which a dehumidifying portion 610 (seeFIG. 2 ), a controller 620 (seeFIG. 2 ) and anouter duct portion 321 are formed. - The
first beam member 356 is extended substantially horizontally between thefirst column 351 and thesecond column 352. Thesecond beam member 357 is extended substantially horizontally between thethird column 353 and thefourth column 354. Thesupport plate 340 is supported by thefirst beam member 356 and thesecond beam member 357 so as to be laid above thebottom plate 330. Theintermediate column 355 is extended substantially vertically from thebottom plate 330 to thefirst beam member 356 between thefirst column 351 and thesecond column 352. - The
dehumidifying portion 610 is mounted to close a substantially rectangular space surrounded by thesecond column 352, theintermediate column 355, thebottom plate 330 and thefirst beam member 356. Thecontroller 620 is mounted to close a substantially rectangular space surrounded by thefirst column 351, theintermediate column 355, thebottom plate 330 and thefirst beam member 356. Thesecond wall portion 320 on which theouter duct portion 321 is formed is mounted to close a substantially rectangular space surrounded by thefirst column 351, thesecond column 352 and thefirst beam member 356. - Each of the
dehumidifying portion 610, thecontroller 620 and thesecond wall portion 320 may be fixed by using a screw. In this case, the operator can remove each of thedehumidifying portion 610, thecontroller 620 and thesecond wall portion 320 from thehousing 300A easily. Accordingly, the operator can perform check and/or repair of anair compression device 100A easily. -
FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of theair compression device 100A. The structure of thehousing 300A will be further described with reference toFIG. 2 ,FIG. 8 , andFIG. 9 . - The
housing 300A further includesside panels 361, 362 (seeFIG. 2 andFIG. 9 ), a top plate 370 (seeFIG. 9 ), a rotation cover 380 (seeFIG. 9 ) and a first wall portion 390 (seeFIG. 9 ). Thetop plate 370 is connected to upper ends of the first column 351 (seeFIG. 8 ), the second column 352 (seeFIG. 8 ), the third column 353 (seeFIG. 8 ), and the fourth column 354 (seeFIG. 8 ) so as to be laid above the support plate 340 (seeFIG. 8 ). Theside panel 361 is arranged to close a space surrounded by thesecond column 352, thethird column 353, thebottom plate 330 and thetop plate 370. Theside panel 362 opposite to theside panel 361 is arranged to close a space surrounded by thefirst column 351, thefourth column 354, thebottom plate 330 and thetop plate 370. Therotation cover 380 is mounted to thesecond beam member 357 in a rotation manner. Therotation cover 380 is arranged to close a space surrounded by thesecond beam member 357, thebottom plate 330, thethird column 353 and thefourth column 354. Thefirst wall portion 390 is arranged above therotation cover 380. Thefirst wall portion 390 is arranged to close a space surrounded by thesecond beam member 357, thetop plate 370, thethird column 353, and thefourth column 354. - The
side panels top plate 370 and thefirst wall portion 390 may be fixed by using a screw. In this case, the operator can detach each of theside panels top plate 370, and thefirst wall portion 390 and can reach various devices arranged in thehousing 300A easily. Accordingly, the operator can perform check and/or repair of theair compression device 100A easily. - Since the
rotation cover 380 is mounted to thesecond beam member 357 in a rotation manner, the operator can push up a lower end portion of therotation cover 380 and can reach a space between thebottom plate 330 and thesupport plate 340 easily. Accordingly, the operator can perform check and/or repair of theair compression device 100A easily. - The designer can arrange various devices in the housing described in connection with the fifth variation In a sixth variation, an exemplary inner structure of an air compression device will be described.
-
FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of anair compression device 100A. Theair compression device 100A will be described with reference toFIG. 1 ,FIG. 2 , andFIG. 8 throughFIG. 10 . - The
air compression device 100A is provided with acompression mechanism 110 and acooling mechanism 120. Thecompression mechanism 110 is formed to generate compressed air. Thecooling mechanism 120 is formed to cool thecompression mechanism 110. - The
compression mechanism 110 includes acompressor 200A, amotor 210 and atransmission mechanism 220. Thecompressor 200A corresponds to thecompressor 200 described with reference toFIG. 1 . Thecompressor 200A is fixed to an upper surface of asupport plate 340. Themotor 210 is mounted to a lower surface of thesupport plate 340. Themotor 210 is controlled by a controller 620 (seeFIG. 2 ) to generate driving force for driving thecompressor 200A. Since thecompressor 200A and themotor 210 are aligned in the vertical direction, the designer can set an area in a horizontal section of thehousing 300A to be small. - The
transmission mechanism 220 is formed to transmit the driving force from themotor 210 to thecompressor 200A. Aside panel 362 described with reference toFIG 9 is arranged vertically at a position next to thetransmission mechanism 220. Since theside panel 362 is detached easily as described in connection with the fifth embodiment, the operator can reach thetransmission mechanism 220 easily and therefore the operator can perform check and repair of thetransmission mechanism 220 easily. - The
transmission mechanism 220 includes anupper pulley 221, alower pulley 222, anendless belt 223 and atension pulley 224. Theupper pulley 221 is mounted to thecompressor 200A. Thelower pulley 222 is mounted to themotor 210. Theendless belt 223 is looped over theupper pulley 221, thelower pulley 222, and thetension pulley 224. Thetension pulley 224 is formed to apply appropriate tensile force to theendless belt 223. - A
rotation cover 380 includes a plurality ofslats 381 extended in the horizontal direction. The plurality ofslats 381 are aligned in the vertical direction. Outer air can flow into thehousing 300A through a gap formed between theslats 381 adjacent to each other. The outer air flowing into thehousing 300A is used as a cooling air flow by thecooling mechanism 120. - The
cooling mechanism 120 includes aninner fan device 121 and a cooling airflow adjusting box 122. Afirst wall portion 390 includes aflat plate 391 and a swellingwall 392. Theflat plate 391 is formed to partially close a space surrounded by a third column 353 (seeFIG. 8 ), a fourth column 354 (seeFIG. 8 ), a second beam member 357 (seeFIG. 8 ) and atop plate 370. The swellingwall 392 is mounted to theflat plate 391 by appropriate fixing tool such as a lever lock and a screw available on the market. The swellingwall 392 is swollen toward an outer side from theflat plate 391. Theinner fan device 121 is mounted to the swellingwall 392 through an opening area (not shown) formed in theflat plate 391. The swellingwall 392 can be detached from theflat plate 391. The operator can detach theinner fan device 121 from thehousing 300A after detaching the swellingwall 392. - Similar to the
motor 210, theinner fan device 121 may be driven by being controlled by thecontroller 620. When theinner fan device 121 is activated, air in thehousing 300A is sucked by theinner fan device 121. During this time, air outside thehousing 300A flows in thehousing 300A through therotation cover 380. - The cooling air
flow adjusting box 122 is arranged between theinner fan device 121 and thecompressor 200A. The cooling airflow adjusting box 122 is formed to adjust a shape of a flow region of the cooling air blown from theinner fan device 121. -
FIG. 11A is a schematic perspective view of the cooling airflow adjusting box 122.FIG. 11B is a schematic back view of the cooling airflow adjusting box 122. The cooling airflow adjusting box 122 will be described with reference toFIG. 10 through FIG. 11B . - As shown in
FIG 11A andFIG. 11B , the cooling airflow adjusting box 122 includes afront plate 131, arear plate 132 and an outercircumferential plate 133. Thefront plate 131 is arranged to face the inner fan device 12) (seeFIG. 10 ). Thefront plate 131 includes anouter edge 134 and aninner edge 135. Theouter edge 134 forms a substantially rectangular outline of thefront plate 131. Theinner edge 135 forms a substantially circular opening area. A diameter of the opening area formed by theinner edge 135 is substantially equal to a rotation diameter of a fan blade of theinner fan device 121. Or alternatively, the diameter of the opening area is set to be slightly larger than the rotation diameter of the fan blade. Accordingly, the cooling air generated by theinner fan device 121 can flow into the cooling airflow adjusting box 122 efficiently. - The
rear plate 132 is arranged vertically between thefront plate 131 and thecompressor 200A (seeFIG. 10 ). Therear plate 132 includes anouter edge 136 and aninner edge 137. Similar to theouter edge 134 of thefront plate 131, theouter edge 136 of therear plate 132 forms a substantially rectangular outline of therear plate 132. Similar to other general compressors, thecompressor 200A has a substantially rectangular outline in a section on a vertical virtual plane including a rotation axis of thecompressor 200A. Theinner edge 137 of therear plate 132 forms a substantially rectangular opening area formed to be matched with the sectional shape and the sectional size of thecompressor 200A. The outercircumferential plate 133 is connected to theouter edges front plate 131 and therear plate 132. Accordingly, the cooling air flowing into the substantially circular opening area formed by theinner edge 135 of thefront plate 131 flows out from the substantially rectangular opening area formed by theinner edge 137 of therear plate 132, and thereby the cooling air hits thecompressor 200A efficiently. Accordingly, thecompressor 200A is cooled efficiently. - The cooling air generated by the
inner fan device 121 flows toward thecompressor 200A through the cooling airflow adjusting box 122. The cooling air is collided with thecompressor 200A. As a result, the cooling air can absorb heat from thecompressor 200A. - As shown in
FIG. 10 , thecompressor 200A is arranged between the cooling airflow adjusting box 122 and asecond wall portion 320 arranged vertically at a side opposite to thefirst wall portion 390. Accordingly, the cooling air generated by theinner fan device 121 flows toward thesecond wall portion 320 after absorbing the heat from thecompressor 200A. - As shown in
FIG. 4 , thesecond wall portion 320 includes aninner duct portion 327 arranged in thehousing 300A. Theinner duct portion 327 forms anopening 328 in cooperation with anouter duct portion 321 arranged at an outside of thehousing 300A. The cooling air flow generated by theinner fan device 121 is discharged from thehousing 300A through theopening 328. In the present embodiment, an exhaust duct is exemplary described by theouter duct portion 321 and theinner duct portion 327. - As shown in
FIG. 4 , acooling pipe 410 is extended in a meandering manner from a first cooling section to a second cooling section. Theouter duct portion 321 is protruded toward the first cooling section. In the first cooling section, thecooling pipe 410 faces theopening 328. In the second cooling section, thecooling pipe 410 faces theouter fan device 430. - As described above, since the cooling air generated by the
inner fan device 121 is discharged from theopening 328, thecooling pipe 410 is exposed to the cooling air generated by theinner fan device 121 in the first cooling section. Accordingly, the compressed air, which flows along thecooling pipe 410 in the first cooling section, is cooled by the cooling air generated by theinner fan device 121. Since thecooling pipe 410 faces theouter fan device 430 in the second cooling section, thecooling pipe 410 is exposed to the cooling air generated by theouter fan device 430 in the second cooling section. Accordingly, the compressed air, which flows along thecooling pipe 410 in the second cooling section, is cooled by the cooling air generated by theouter fan device 430. - The
inner fan device 121 described with reference toFIG. 10 may be formed as an axial fan device which rotates a fan blade around a rotation center axis extended along a virtual horizontal plane formed below theopening 328. In this case, most of the cooling air generated by theinner fan device 121 is collided with thesecond wall portion 320. - As shown in
FIG. 4 , theinner duct portion 327 is provided with a liningmember 329 lining amount plate 326 of thesecond wall portion 320 facing theinner fan device 121. The liningmember 329 may have a sound absorbing property more superior than that of themount plate 326. The liningmember 329 is arranged below theopening 328. The liningmember 329 is extended substantially horizontally along a lower edge of theopening 328. Since most of the cooling air collided with thesecond wall portion 320 flows along the liningmember 329, a noise discharged from theopening 328 is reduced. In the present embodiment, a sound absorbing area is exemplary described by an area in which thelining member 329 is arranged. - The designer may arrange a plurality of compressors in a housing. In a case in which an air compression device is provided with a plurality of the compressors, the air compression device can generate a large amount of compressed air in a short period of time. In a seventh variation, an air compression device provided with a plurality of compressors will be described.
-
FIG. 12 is a schematic plane view illustrating an inner structure of anair compression device 100A. Theair compression device 100A will be further described with reference toFIG. 12 . - The
air compression device 100A is provided with acompression mechanism 140 and acooling mechanism 150. Thecompression mechanism 140 is formed to generate compressed air. Thecooling mechanism 150 is formed to cool thecompression mechanism 140. Thecompression mechanism 140 is in a mirror image relation with thecompression mechanism 110 described in connection with the sixth embodiment. Accordingly, the description of thecompression mechanism 110 in the sixth embodiment is used for describing thecompression mechanism 140. Thecooling mechanism 150 has the same structure as that of thecooling mechanism 120 described in connection with the sixth embodiment. Accordingly, the description of thecooling mechanism 120 in the sixth embodiment is used for describing thecooling mechanism 150. - The
compression mechanism 140 includes acompressor 230. Similar to thecompressor 200A of thecompression mechanism 110, thecompressor 230 is formed to generate compressed air. Thecompressor 200A includes aport wall 201. Thecompressor 230 includes aport wall 231. Theport wall 201 of thecompressor 200A is arranged to face theport wall 231 of thecompressor 230. A suction port (not shown) into which an outer air outside of thehousing 300A flows and a delivery port (not shown) from which the compressed air is delivered are formed in each of theport walls - The
air compression device 100A is further provided with asuction guide structure 800 arranged between theport walls housing 300A flows into each of thecompressors suction guide structure 800. Each of thecompressors suction guide structure 800 and generate the compressed air. - The compressed air is delivered toward the outside of the
housing 300A through theguide pipe 700 described in connection with the second embodiment. -
FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of thesuction guide structure 800. Thesuction guide structure 800 will be described with reference toFIG. 9 ,FIG. 12 andFIG. 13 . - As shown in
FIG. 9 , afirst wall portion 390 includes afilter covcr 393. Thefilter cover 393 is arranged in a recessed region formed in a chevron-shape formed by a swellingwall 392. Similar to the swellingwall 392, thefilter cover 393 is mounted to aflat plate 391. The operator can detach thefilter cover 393 from theflat plate 391. - As shown in
FIG. 13 , thesuction guide structure 800 includes asuction duct 810, afilter device 820 and atrim seal 831. Thefilter device 820 is arranged between thefilter cover 393 and thesuction duct 810. Thetrim seal 831 is formed as a rubber ring member which connects thefilter device 820 to thesuction duct 810 in an airtight manner. - The
suction duct 810 is formed as a hollow box member formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. When thecompressors suction duct 810. As a result, the outer air outside thehousing 300A flows into thehousing 300A through thefilter cover 393. After that, the outer air passes through thefilter device 820. Thefilter device 820 removes dust floating in the outer air flowing in. The air purified by thefilter device 820 flows into thesuction duct 810. -
FIG. 14 is a schematic enlarged cross-sectional view of thesuction guide structure 800 around thesuction duct 810. Thesuction guide structure 800 will be further described with reference toFIG. 14 . - The
suction guide structure 800 further includes twosupply pipes trim seals trim seal 832 is used for the connection between thesupply pipe 811 and thesuction duct 810. Thetrim seal 833 is used for the connection between thesupply pipe 812 and thesuction duct 810. - The
supply pipe 811 is connected to theport wall 201 of thecompressor 200A from thetrim seal 832 mounted to thesuction duct 810. The outer air purified by thefilter device 820 flows into thecompressor 200A through thesuction duct 810 and thesupply pipe 811. - The
supply pipe 812 is connected to theport wall 231 of thecompressor 230 from thetrim seal 833 mounted to thesuction duct 810. The outer air purified by thefilter device 820 flows into thecompressor 230 through thesuction duct 810 and thesupply pipe 812. -
FIG. 15 is a schematic enlarged perspective view of a part of theguide pipe 700. Theguide pipe 700 will be described with reference toFIG. 2 through FIG. 4 ,FIG. 12 andFIG. 15 . - As shown in
FIG. 12 , theguide pipe 700 includes twodischarge pipes confluence portion 730 and aconfluence pipe 740. Thedischarge pipe 710 is formed to guide the compressed air generated by thecompressor 200A to theconfluence portion 730 arranged near thefirst wall portion 390. Thedischarge pipe 720 is formed to guide the compressed air generated by thecompressor 230 to theconfluence portion 730. Theconfluence pipe 740 is extended from theconfluence portion 730 toward asecond wall portion 320 at a side opposite to thefirst wall portion 390. Theconfluence pipe 740 is connected to acooling pipe 410 at the outside of thehousing 300A. - The
guide pipe 700 forms a long flow path for the compressed air in thehousing 300A. The cooling air generated by the coolingmechanisms housing 300A until the cooling air is discharged from an opening 328 (seeFIG. 4 ). Accordingly, the compressed air can be cooled in thehousing 300A by the cooling air generated by the coolingmechanisms - As shown in
FIG. 15 , theconfluence portion 730 includes a manifold 731 and twocheck valves check valves manifold 731. Thedischarge pipe 710 is connected to thecheck valve 732. The compressed air flowing along thedischarge pipe 710 flows into the manifold 731 through thecheck valve 732. Thecheck valve 732 is formed to interrupt a flow of the compressed air returned from the manifold 731 to thedischarge pipe 710. Thedischarge pipe 720 is connected to thecheck valve 733. The compressed air flowing along thedischarge pipe 720 flows into the manifold 731 through thecheck valve 733. Thecheck valve 733 is formed to interrupt a flow of the compressed air returned from the manifold 731 to thedischarge pipe 720. - A confluence inner pipe (not shown), which joins two flows of the compressed air, is formed in the
manifold 731. The compressed air joined by the confluence inner pipe is discharged from the manifold 731 through theconfluence pipe 740. - As shown in
FIG. 4 , theconfluence pipe 740 is inserted into theopening 328 through aninner duct portion 327. As shown inFIG. 3 , theconfluence pipe 740 is bent inside anouter duct portion 321 and is extended toward asupport wall 324 of theouter duct portion 321. Theconfluence pipe 740 is formed to penetrate thesupport wall 324 and is connected to anupstream connection end 420 of a coolingportion 400A described with reference toFIG. 2 . - The designer can design various air compression devices based on the design principle described in connection with various embodiments described above. A part of various features described in connection with one embodiment among the various embodiments described above may be applied to the air compression device described in connection with other variations.
Claims (6)
- An air compression device comprising:a compressor (200A) which generates compressed air,a housing (300A) which forms a housing space in which the compressor (200A) is housed,a cooling portion (400A) which is arranged at an outside of the housing (300A) and cools the compressed air,a protection cover (500A) which at least partially covers the cooling portion (400A), characterized by comprising an outer fan device (430) which generates a cooling air flow toward the cooling portion (400A) by using air outside the housing (300A), andan inner fan device (121) which generates cooling air flow toward the compressor (200A), whereinthe housing (300A) includes an exhaust duct arranged above the outer fan device (430);the cooling portion (400A) includes a cooling pipe (410) having a first cooling section facing the exhaust duct and a second cooling section facing the outer fan device (430); andthe cooling air flow from the inner fan device (121) is discharged to an outside from the housing (300A) through the exhaust duct.
- The air compression device according to claim 1, further comprising:a controller (620) which controls the compressor (200A), anda dehumidifying portion (610) which dehumidifies the compressed air passed through the cooling portion (400A), whereinthe controller (620) and the dehumidifying portion (610) are arranged below the cooling portion (400A);the protection cover (500A) includes a baffle plate (510) laid below the cooling portion (400A); andthe baffle plate (510) is configured to interrupt an air flow from the cooling portion (400A) toward the controller (620) and the dehumidifying portion (610).
- The air compression device according to claim 2, wherein
the protection cover (500A) includes a ventilation plate (520) arranged vertically from the baffle plate (510);
the cooling portion (400A) is arranged between the ventilation plate (520) and the outer fan device (430); and
a ventilation hole is formed in the ventilation plate (520). - The air compression device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein
the baffle plate (510) includes a facing edge facing the housing (300A); and
the facing edge forms, below the outer fan device (430), an opening area in cooperation with the housing (300A). - The air compression device according to claim 1, wherein
the housing includes a first wall portion (390) to which the inner fan device (121) is mounted and a second wall portion (320) at a side opposite to the first wall portion (390);
the exhaust duct includes an inner duct portion (327) arranged in the housing space and an outer duct portion (321) protruded toward the first cooling section from an opening formed in the second wall portion (320); and
the inner duct portion (327) includes a sound absorbing area arranged below the opening to face the inner fan device (121). - The air compression device according to claim 5, further comprising a guide pipe (700) which guides the compressed air from the compressor (200A) to the cooling portion (400A).
wherein the guide pipe (700) is connected to the cooling portion (400A) through the exhaust duct.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2015110705 | 2015-05-29 | ||
EP16803185.4A EP3306087B1 (en) | 2015-05-29 | 2016-05-26 | Air compression device |
PCT/JP2016/065533 WO2016194750A1 (en) | 2015-05-29 | 2016-05-26 | Air compression device |
Related Parent Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP16803185.4A Division EP3306087B1 (en) | 2015-05-29 | 2016-05-26 | Air compression device |
EP16803185.4A Division-Into EP3306087B1 (en) | 2015-05-29 | 2016-05-26 | Air compression device |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP3581799A1 EP3581799A1 (en) | 2019-12-18 |
EP3581799B1 true EP3581799B1 (en) | 2020-10-07 |
Family
ID=57440480
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19187990.7A Active EP3581799B1 (en) | 2015-05-29 | 2016-05-26 | Air compression device |
EP16803185.4A Active EP3306087B1 (en) | 2015-05-29 | 2016-05-26 | Air compression device |
Family Applications After (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP16803185.4A Active EP3306087B1 (en) | 2015-05-29 | 2016-05-26 | Air compression device |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (2) | EP3581799B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP6770954B2 (en) |
CN (1) | CN107614873B (en) |
SG (1) | SG11201709423WA (en) |
TW (1) | TWI621775B (en) |
WO (1) | WO2016194750A1 (en) |
Family Cites Families (14)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2264950A (en) * | 1939-11-20 | 1941-12-02 | Waukesha Motor Co | Engine-generator unit |
JPS5553648A (en) * | 1978-10-17 | 1980-04-19 | Mitsui Seiki Kogyo Kk | Compressed air purifying apparatus for air compressor |
JPH0110454Y2 (en) * | 1985-02-08 | 1989-03-24 | ||
JPS6315265U (en) * | 1986-07-17 | 1988-02-01 | ||
JPH10176668A (en) * | 1996-12-19 | 1998-06-30 | Kobe Steel Ltd | Air cooled package type oil feeding compressor |
DE10117791A1 (en) * | 2001-04-10 | 2002-10-17 | Boge Kompressoren | Compressor system for producing compressed air comprises a compressor stage arranged in a sound-proof compressor chamber (26) within a housing but spatially removed from a drive motor |
JP3951697B2 (en) * | 2001-12-14 | 2007-08-01 | 株式会社デンソー | Screw type compressor |
US20040191085A1 (en) * | 2003-03-26 | 2004-09-30 | Ingersoll-Rand Company | Fluid cooling assembly and method |
JP3150077U (en) | 2009-01-29 | 2009-04-30 | 三菱重工業株式会社 | Air compressor for railway vehicles |
CN201461332U (en) * | 2009-08-07 | 2010-05-12 | 上海斯可络压缩机有限公司 | Wind cooling module structure of compressor |
US9393972B2 (en) * | 2012-05-09 | 2016-07-19 | Wabtec Holding Corp. | Modular support frame for railway vehicle equipment |
JP6004961B2 (en) * | 2013-02-06 | 2016-10-12 | 三菱重工業株式会社 | Compressed air supply device |
CN203441708U (en) * | 2013-08-13 | 2014-02-19 | 上海发电设备成套设计研究院 | Gas turbine compressed air module device |
CN204140325U (en) * | 2014-08-18 | 2015-02-04 | 青阳县天平机械制造有限公司 | A kind of air compressor sink |
-
2016
- 2016-05-26 TW TW105116511A patent/TWI621775B/en active
- 2016-05-26 WO PCT/JP2016/065533 patent/WO2016194750A1/en unknown
- 2016-05-26 EP EP19187990.7A patent/EP3581799B1/en active Active
- 2016-05-26 JP JP2017521867A patent/JP6770954B2/en active Active
- 2016-05-26 EP EP16803185.4A patent/EP3306087B1/en active Active
- 2016-05-26 SG SG11201709423WA patent/SG11201709423WA/en unknown
- 2016-05-26 CN CN201680031507.0A patent/CN107614873B/en active Active
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
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None * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JPWO2016194750A1 (en) | 2018-03-15 |
SG11201709423WA (en) | 2017-12-28 |
EP3306087B1 (en) | 2020-01-29 |
TW201704640A (en) | 2017-02-01 |
CN107614873A (en) | 2018-01-19 |
EP3306087A1 (en) | 2018-04-11 |
JP6770954B2 (en) | 2020-10-21 |
EP3306087A4 (en) | 2018-12-19 |
CN107614873B (en) | 2019-11-12 |
EP3581799A1 (en) | 2019-12-18 |
WO2016194750A1 (en) | 2016-12-08 |
TWI621775B (en) | 2018-04-21 |
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