GB2398280A

GB2398280A - Vehicle engine driven air compressor

Info

Publication number: GB2398280A
Application number: GB0303060A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Russell Dean Legood
Original assignee: Syltone UK Ltd
Current assignee: Gardner Denver UK Ltd
Priority date: 2003-02-11
Filing date: 2003-02-11
Publication date: 2004-08-18
Also published as: GB0303060D0

Abstract

Compressor apparatus 10 comprises an air compressor 12 driven by a crankshaft 23 of a vehicle engine 20. The compressor 12 is typically an integral oil flooded screw machine driven via a pulley 30 and a tensioned belt 22 which is additional to a fan belt. Since a prop shaft is not used to drive the compressor 12, the apparatus 10 may be used in front wheel drive or in rear wheel drive vehicles. It may be connected to tyre inflation equipment via an air outlet 16 and may be selectively powered via a clutch 32. Outlet air pressure is regulated by control means 40. Air is typically compressed to 2 to 14.2 bar and flows at 2.25 cubic metres per minute.

Description

Improvements in and relating to Compressors

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to compressor apparatus, a vehicle comprising compressor apparatus and a method of driving compressor apparatus.

Background to the Invention

Air compressors may be provided in adapted specialist vans, for example vehicle repair vans. Such compressors are used to power pneumatic tools and, in particular, air jacks for quickly and easily raising vehicles off the ground. These prior art air compressors are driven by the prop shaft which usually delivers the drive to the rear wheels of the vehicle. Accordingly, in order to use air compressor whilst the vehicle is stationery the prop shaft must include a separation portion to disengage the drive being transmitted to the rear wheels. This, therefore, requires major alteration to a standard vehicle and is expensive. In addition, the resale value of the vehicle may be reduced due to the alteration. Furthermore, transmission of the drive to the rear wheels may be effected and such vehicles may have an increased risk of failure.

Such prior art compressors for vehicles cannot be used with front wheel drive vehicles since, there is no accessible prop shaft with which to drive the air compressor.

À . ....

À.e À À À Àe À À À À À . . . Àe À À.. À It is an aim of the present invention to overcome at last one problem associated with the prior art whether referred to herein or otherwise.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided compressor apparatus for driving pneumatic equipment comprising an air compressor, the air compressor lo being arranged, in use, to be driven by a crank shaft of a vehicle engine.

Preferably, the air compressor is arranged, in use, to be directly driven by a crank shaft of the vehicle engine.

Preferably, the air compressor is driven by a belt engaged with the crank shaft of the vehicle engine.

The belt may be a drive belt and preferably is an auxiliary drive belt.

Preferably the belt engages with a pulley associated with the air compressor.

The auxiliary drive belt may be arranged to drive further apparatus, for example the auxiliary drive belt may be arranged to drive air conditioner apparatus and/or an alternator and/or a power steering pump.

Preferably the belt is driven by the crank shaft of the vehicle engine.

À À À . À..

À À À À À À À À.e À À À ... À . . . . À . . À À . À.

The belt may engage with a tensioner pulley and preferably with an automatic tensioner pulley. The belt may engage with an idler pulley.

The compressor apparatus may comprise a clutch.

Preferably the clutch is arranged to selectively transmit the drive from the crank shaft to the air compressor.

Preferably the clutch comprises a magnetic clutch.

lo Preferably the compressor apparatus comprises control means. The control means may control the clutch.

Preferably the control means is arranged to selectively turn the air compressor on or off. The control means may control the pressure of the compressed air supplied by the air compressor. The control means may control the volume of compressed air supplied per minute.

The compressor apparatus may be arranged, in use, to supply compressed air at a pressure of greater than 1.5 bar and preferably greater than 2 bar. The compressor apparatus may be arranged, in use, to supply compressed air at a pressure of less than 20 bar and preferably less than 15 bar. The compressor apparatus may be arranged, in use, to supply compressed air at a pressure substantially in the region of 2 to 14.2 bar.

The compressor apparatus may be arranged, in use, to supply compressed air at a rate of greater than lm3 per minute and preferably at a rate of greater than 2m3 per minute. The compressor apparatus may be arranged, in use, to supply compressed air at a rate of less than 5m3 per minute and preferably at a rate of less than 3m3 per minute. The compressor apparatus may be arranged, in use, À a À ..e À À e À À À À À À ., À À À À À À À À À À À À À e À.e À^ to supply compressed air at a rate of substantially 2.25m3 per minute.

The air compressor may comprise an inlet. The inlet may include a valve. The valve may be a close coupled inlet valve. The inlet may comprise an air filter.

The air compressor may comprise an outlet. The outlet may include a port. Preferably the port comprises engagement lo means to releasably engage a supply pipe and preferably a supply pipe of pneumatic equipment or apparatus. The outlet may comprise a valve and preferably comprises a shut off valve.

The compressor apparatus may be arranged, in use, to supply compressed air to pneumatic apparatus. The pneumatic apparatus may comprise a pneumatic tool. The pneumatic tool may comprise a pneumatic jack, pneumatic nut turning apparatus, Lyre inflating apparatus a pneumatic drill, a pump, ground or asphalt breaking apparatus, an impact gun, a pneumatic drill or any other pneumatic tool, implement or apparatus.

The compressor apparatus may comprise mounting means. The mounting means may be arranged, in use, to mount the air compressor adjacent to a vehicle engine and preferably mounts the air compressor to the vehicle engine.

The mounting means may comprise a bracket. Preferably the bracket comprises a metal bracket. The bracket may be arranged to be attached to a part of a vehicle engine.

The bracket may be attached to a part of a vehicle by screw fasteners.

À À À . . . À À À e À e À. - e Àee À e e e À e ee À e e-e À-.

The compressor apparatus may comprise a pulley.

Preferably the pulley engages with the belt in order to drive the air compressor.

The compressor apparatus may comprise a gear set or gearbox. The gear set or gearbox is preferably a compact gear set or gearbox.

lo The air compressor may be arranged to be located at a position intended for or suitable for the position of vehicle air conditioner apparatus.

Preferably the compressor apparatus is arranged for use with a front wheel drive vehicle.

The compressor apparatus may be suitable for use with both front wheel and rear wheel drive vehicles.

The compressor apparatus may be arranged for use with a van.

The compressor apparatus may be arranged for use with a vehicle recovery vehicle. The compressor apparatus may be arranged for use with a Lyre inflating vehicle. The compressor apparatus may be arranged for use with a road surface maintenance vehicle.

The compressor apparatus may be driven whilst the vehicle engine is idling and preferably whilst the vehicle engine is idling at greater than 1000 rpm and may be less than 3000 rpm. The compressor apparatus may be driven whilst À À ..e À À À À À À . À. À À.e À À À À À À À À À À À À - À ee. eee the vehicle engine idling substantially in the region of 1500 rpm to 2500 rpm.

Preferably the apparatus comprises control means to increase the idling speed of the vehicle engine.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle including compressor apparatus, the compressor apparatus being in accordance lo with the first aspect of the present invention.

The vehicle may comprise a vehicle recovery vehicle.

The vehicle may comprise a tyre inflating vehicle.

The vehicle may comprise a maintenance vehicle, and, in particular, a road surface maintenance vehicle.

The vehicle may comprise a van.

The vehicle may comprise a front wheel drive vehicle.

The vehicle may comprise either a front wheel or rear wheel drive vehicle.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of driving compressor apparatus comprising engaging a crank shaft of a vehicle engine with an air compressor.

Preferably the method comprises engaging the air compressor with a belt engaged with the crank shaft.

À À À . ...

À À À À À À À À . À-. À À À À À À . . À À .. - À-.

Preferably the method comprises engaging the air compressor with an auxiliary drive belt.

Preferably the method comprises selectively transmitting the drive from the auxiliary drive belt with the air compressor through a clutch and more preferably through a magnetic clutch.

The method may comprise mounting the air compressor lo adjacent to a vehicle engine and preferably directly to the vehicle engine. The method may comprise attaching a bracket to a part of the vehicle engine. The method may comprise attaching the bracket with screw fasteners to a part of the vehicle engine.

The method may comprise engaging a supply pipe of pneumatic equipment with an outlet of the compressor apparatus.

The method may comprise idling the vehicle engine greater than lOOOrpm and preferably less than 3000 rpm. The method may comprise idling the vehicle engine substantially in the region of 1500 rpm to 2500 rpm.

The method may comprise mounting the compressor apparatus in a conventional vehicle.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings that follow, in which: À . . ...

À À À À À À À À. - e À. À À À À À À . À - À À ee À eee.-.

Figure 1 is a schematic drawing of an embodiment of compressor apparatus.

Figure 2 is a schematic drawing showing an embodiment of an auxiliary drive belt.

Figure 3 is a front view of an embodiment of compressor apparatus.

lo Figure 4 is an end view of an embodiment of compressor apparatus.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

As shown in Figure 1, an embodiment of the compressor apparatus 10 comprises an air compressor 12. The air compressor 12 is an industrial oil flooded screw machine specially modified for automotive applications in order to accept a close coupled gearbox or gear set which is compact and is easily accepted within the confined engine space. In addition, the gearbox is arranged to be engaged with a standard pulley including a standard centre distance in order to be driven by a standard drive belt.

Accordingly, such equipment is readily available as spare parts. The air compressor 12 comprises an air inlet 14 and an air outlet 16. The air inlet 16 has an opening which is located in the engine bay but may be located at any suitable position. The air inlet includes an air filter and also a valve. The valve is a close coupled inlet valve which is arranged to shut the air supply to the compressor down if required, for example, when there is a condition where the demand for compressed air is achieved. The air outlet 14 includes a pipe which extends À À À ee.

À À À À À À - À À À À À À À À ee e.e e - to a port (not shown). The port enables the supply pipe from any air powered tool or pneumatic equipment to be engaged therein in order for the air compressor 12 of the compressor apparatus 10 to power the air powered tool.

The port or outlet cock is located at a side or rear of the vehicle but may be located at any suitable position.

The port incorporates a shut off valve.

In one embodiment, the compressor apparatus 10 is mounted lo in a vehicle recovery vehicle and the air compressor 12 provides power to a pneumatic jack. The air compressor 12 may also be used to power an impact gun which may be used to remove road vehicle wheel securing nuts on commercial and/or private cars and/or light commercial vehicles.

Furthermore, the air compressor 12 may provide the pneumatic power for the inflation of Lyres on commercial and/or private vehicles. The compressor apparatus 10 may be mounted on a vehicle in order to power any other compressed air implement, for example to provide pneumatic power for the use of ground and asphalt breaking tools in the utility sector.

The air compressor 12 is directly powered by the crank shaft of the vehicle engine 20 through a belt 22 and preferably through the auxiliary drive belt 22 for example a drive belt additional to a conventional fan belt. As shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2, an auxiliary drive belt 22 may already be present on the vehicle to power other components on the vehicle, for example air conditioners, vehicle alternator 24, power steering pump 26 etc. However, the conventional auxiliary drive belt may have to be replaced by a new auxiliary drive belt 22 in order to accommodate the extra pulley 30 to power the air À-. e ae.

À À À À À he e.,. e.e compressor 12. The auxiliary drive belt may also extend around an automatic tensioner pulley 28 and an idler pulley 29.

The auxiliary drive belt 22 is driven by the crank shaft 23 of the vehicle engine 20. Movement of the auxiliary drive belt 22 causes rotation of the air compressor pulley 30. As shown in Figure 1 and Figure 3, the air compressor 12 includes a clutch 32 in order for the drive from the lo auxiliary drive belt 22 to be selectively transmitted to the air compressor 12. The clutch 32 is a magnetic clutch 21 which is controlled by control means 40. The control means 40 is electrically operated and enables the user to turn the power on and off to the air compressor 12. The control means 40 also controls the pressure of the air supplied by the outlet and may also control the volumetric flow rate. However, the flow rate may be set depending on the application of the compressor apparatus 10. In addition, the control means may also automatically stop the air compressor 12 if the pressure falls below a critical level or if no air is being supplied.

The air compressor uses an increased idle regime in the range of 1500 to 2500 rpm. The control means 40 incorporates a pneumatic or electric speed device in order to speed the engine up when the compressor apparatus 10 is operable.

The magnetic clutch 32, when engaged, drives a shaft which extends to a gear set 34. The gear set 34 then variably transmits the drive to the air compressor 12.

À À À e e.

À À À À . Àe. .-e À À . À . À À . À .- À À - À Accordingly, the air compressor 12 is driven by the crankshaft 21 of the vehicle engine 20 through the auxiliary drive belt 22. The compressor apparatus 10 can be quickly and easily fitted to existing vehicles and can be quickly and easily removed if no longer required. In addition, since the prop shaft is not used to drive the air compressor, the compressor apparatus can be used with either rear wheel or front wheel drive vehicles.

lo As shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 and Figure 4, the compressor apparatus 10 includes mounting means in the form of a bracket 18. The bracket 18 is provided on the rear of the air compressor 12 and is secured to the vehicle engine 20 by screw fasteners or by any other suitable means. In particular, the air compressor 12 may be mounted at a location where major motor manufacturers usually locate an air conditioning unit although other suitable locations may be used.

The compressor apparatus 10 is capable of delivering up to cubic feet per minute or up to 2.25 metres cubed per minute (m3minl) of compressed air at pressures in the range of 2 to 14.2 bar or 25 to 205 psi.

The compressor apparatus 10 does not effect or interfere with the actual transmission of power to the vehicle wheels and can be easily fitted to existing vehicles.

Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this À À e À- À À . . . À. - À À. e À - À À e e e À À ee. À.

specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features

disclosed in this specification (including any

accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

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Claims

Claims 1. Compressor apparatus for driving pneumatic equipment comprising

an air compressor, the air compressor being arranged, in use, to be driven by a crank shaft of a vehicle engine.
2. Compressor apparatus according to claim 1 in which the air compressor is arranged, in use, to be directly driven by a crank shaft of the vehicle engine. À..

a.
3. Compressor apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 À e.- À . in which the air compressor is driven by a belt engaged with the crank shaft of the vehicle engine. À À À À A.
4. Compressor apparatus according to claim 3 in which the . belt is an auxiliary drive belt. À - À.- À
5. Compressor apparatus according to claim 3 or claim 4 in which the belt engages with a pulley associated with the air compressor.
6. Compressor apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 5 in which the belt engages with a tensioner pulley.
7. Compressor apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the compressor apparatus comprises a clutch.
8. Compressor apparatus according to claim 7 in which the clutch is arranged to selectively transmit the drive from the crank shaft to the air compressor.
9. Compressor apparatus according any preceding claim in which the compressor apparatus is arranged, in use, to supply compressed air at a pressure substantially in the region of 2 to 14.2 bar.
10. Compressor apparatus according any preceding claim in which the compressor apparatus is arranged, in use, to supply compressed air at a rate of substantially 2.25m3 per minute.
11. Compressor apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the air compressor comprises an outlet. À:. À.- À...

À .
12. Compressor apparatus according to claim 11 in which the outlet includes a port. À À À À. Àe
13. Compressor apparatus according to claim 12 in which À the port comprises engagement means to releasably engage a supply pipe of pneumatic equipment or apparatus.
14. Compressor apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the compressor apparatus comprises mounting means.
15. Compressor apparatus according to claim 14 in which the mounting means is arranged, in use, to mount the air compressor adjacent to a vehicle engine.
16. Compressor apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the air compressor is arranged to be located at a position intended for or suitable for the position of vehicle air conditioner apparatus.
17. Compressor apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the compressor apparatus is arranged for use with a front wheel drive vehicle.
18. Compressor apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 16 in which the compressor apparatus is suitable for use with both front wheel and rear wheel drive vehicles.
19. Compressor apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the compressor apparatus is arranged for use with a vehicle recovery vehicle. À.

À.
20. Compressor apparatus according to any preceding claim Ace À . in which the compressor apparatus is driven whilst the vehicle engine is idling À Àe
21. A vehicle including compressor apparatus, the À À compressor apparatus being in accordance with any one of À. - : claims 1 to 20. À
22. A vehicle according to claim 21 in which the vehicle comprises a vehicle recovery vehicle.
23. A vehicle according to claim 21 or claim 22 in which the vehicle comprises a Lyre inflating vehicle.
24. A vehicle according to claim 21 in which the vehicle comprises a road surface maintenance vehicle.
25. A vehicle according to any one of claims 21 to 24 in which the vehicle comprises a front wheel drive vehicle.
26. A vehicle according to any one of claims 21 to 24 in which the vehicle comprises either a front wheel or rear wheel drive vehicle.
27. A method of driving compressor apparatus comprising engaging a crank shaft of a vehicle engine with an air compressor.
28. A method according to claim 27 in which the method comprises engaging the air compressor with a belt engaged with the crank shaft. - . -
29. Compressor apparatus for driving pneumatic equipment . substantially as herein described, with reference to, and as shown in any of the accompanying drawings. À e ^
30. A vehicle substantially as herein described, with À .' reference to, and as shown in, any of the accompanying I drawings.
31. A method of driving compressor apparatus as herein described, with reference to, and as shown in, any of the accompanying drawings.