JP2003254254A - Air compressor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To notify a standby state to stop a motor of an air compressor during an operation. <P>SOLUTION: An operation panel 48 of the air compressor is provided with: a power ON switch 90; a power OFF switch 92; red LEDs 88<SB>1</SB>to 88<SB>6</SB>(1 to 6) for pressure displays for displaying pressure changes within tanks 14 and 16; a red LED 88<SB>7</SB>(7) for an energizing display for displaying the presence or absence of energizing; and a green LED 88<SB>8</SB>(8) for an operation state display for displaying the operation state. A control part of the air compressor 10 stops the motor when pressure values P within the tanks 14 and 16 measured by a pressure sensor 98 reaches upper limit pressure P1. By continuously flickering the green LED 88<SB>8</SB>(8) for the operation state display, the standby state (a state for stopping the motor during the operation) of the air compressor is displayed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air compressor,
In particular, the present invention relates to an air compressor configured to drive or stop a drive unit according to the pressure of a tank that stores compressed air generated by the air compression unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, at a construction site or the like, a nail driving machine for driving a nail into wood or the like by the pressure of compressed air is used. As described above, the nail driving machine used outdoors is configured to be driven by compressed air generated by a transportable air compressor to drive the nail loaded in the nail loading portion by air pressure.

This type of air compressor has a piston / cylinder portion (air compression portion) for sucking and compressing air, a motor (driving portion) for driving the piston, and a cover for covering the piston / cylinder portion and the motor. And a tank for storing compressed air.

The control unit mounted on the air compressor is
The tank pressure is monitored, and the motor is driven until the pressure in the tank reaches the upper limit value to fill the tank with compressed air.When the pressure in the tank reaches the upper limit value, the motor is temporarily stopped. When the pressure in the tank drops to the lower limit value, the motor is activated again to fill the tank with compressed air.

The state in which the air compressor is not operating may be that the power is turned off or the operation of the motor is stopped because the tank internal pressure has reached the upper limit value. The standby state in which the operating state of the air compressor continues refers to a state in which the power is turned on, the tank internal pressure reaches the upper limit value, and the motor operation is stopped.

[0006]

For example, when the nailing machine is used at a construction site or the like and the pressure in the tank reaches the upper limit value, the motor stops and enters the standby state. However, since the operating condition of the air compressor continues, the pressure in the tank is reduced to the lower limit value, so that the operation of the motor is restarted.

However, when the motor stops during operation of the air compressor and enters a standby state, a worker near the air compressor assumes that the air compressor has failed and repairs the manufacturer. Have been contacted.

[0008] In this case, when the maintenance staff of the manufacturer, who has been contacted by the user, goes to the construction site and examines the presence or absence of a failure of the air compressor, there is no abnormality and the pressure in the tank reaches the lower limit value. The standby state is released and the motor restarts when it falls.

As described above, conventionally, there is a problem that the user mistakenly thinks that the air compressor is out of order even if the air compressor is in a standby state during operation.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an air compressor that solves the above problems.

[0011]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following features. The invention according to claim 1 is an air compressor for sucking and compressing air,
The drive unit that drives the air compression unit, the tank that stores the compressed air generated by the air compression unit, the pressure detection unit that detects the pressure in the tank, and the pressure in the tank that is detected by the pressure detection unit are the upper limits. In the air compressor, the drive unit is stopped when the value reaches a value, and the control unit starts the drive unit when the pressure in the tank drops to the lower limit value. Notification means for starting notification when the internal pressure exceeds the lower limit and reaches a predetermined pressure equal to or lower than the upper limit, and stops the notification by the notification means when the pressure in the tank drops to the lower limit. The notification control means is provided, and it is possible to make the surrounding people recognize that the current driving condition is in the standby state and is not a malfunction.

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the predetermined pressure is set to the upper limit value of the pressure in the tank, and when the pressure in the tank reaches the upper limit value, the notification is started, thereby It becomes possible for a person to recognize that the current driving situation is a standby state.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an air compressor according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the cover 22 is removed. FIG. 3 is a side view of the air compressor. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the air compressor. FIG. 5 is a front view of the air compressor. FIG. 6 is a rear view of the air compressor.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the air compressor 10 is configured to supply compressed air to a pneumatic nailing machine (not shown) outdoors, for example, at a construction site. It is a small compressor.

In the air compressor 10, a pair of tanks 14 and 16 formed in a cylindrical shape are supported in parallel on a frame 12, and an air compression section for generating compressed air is provided above the tanks 14 and 16. 18 and a drive unit 20 that drives the air compression unit 18 are mounted. Furthermore, tank 1
A resin-made cover 22 integrally formed so as to cover the air compression unit 18 and the drive unit 20 is attached to the upper portions of the Nos. 4 and 16.

In addition, below the both ends of the tanks 14 and 16,
Legs 24 to 27 are provided. Furthermore, frame 1
At both ends of 2, the gripping portions 28, 30 formed in a U shape are provided.
Is stuck. The air compressor 10 includes grips 28, 3
0 is gripped and conveyed.

Further, the air compressor 10 includes an air compression section 18
Air discharge parts 32 and 34 are provided on both sides of the. The air discharge units 32 and 34 are pressure adjusting valves 36 and 38 connected to the take-out pipelines (not shown) of the tanks 14 and 16, and pressures indicating the discharge pressure values adjusted by the pressure adjusting valves 36 and 38. Discharge ports 44 to 47 for discharging compressed air having a pressure adjusted by the pressure adjusting valves 36 and 38 and a total of 40 and 42.
Have and.

The pressure adjusting valves 36 and 38 are provided on the handle 36.
a and 38a are rotated to adjust the discharge pressure. Further, the discharge ports 44 to 47 are provided with a quick coupler to which a hose (not shown) connected to the nail driving machine is connected.

Further, an operation panel 48 is provided above the cover 22. The operation panel 48 is provided with a power switch and various display lamps, but is provided in the recess 23 of the cover 22 so as not to turn off the power even when an object is placed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cover 22 is detachably attached, and is removed from the frame 12 during maintenance of the air compression section 18 and the drive section 20. Thus, when the cover 22 is removed, the tank 1
In addition to the air compression section 18 and the drive section 20 provided on the upper portions of the pressure gauges 4, 16, pressure control valves 36, 38, pressure gauges 40, 42,
The discharge ports 44 to 47 are exposed.

The structures of the compression unit 18 and the drive unit 20 will be described. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal configurations of the compression unit 18 and the drive unit 20.

As shown in FIG. 7, the compression section 18 has piston / cylinder mechanisms 62 and 64 arranged on both sides of the casing 60. This piston / cylinder mechanism 6
2, 64 are formed in different directions by 180 °.

The piston / cylinder mechanisms 62 and 64 include pistons 62a and 64a, cylinders 62b and 64b, and
Connecting rods 62c and 64c and cylinder heads 62d and 64
d and. Incidentally, in FIG. 7, the piston 64a is
Hidden and invisible.

Further, the casing 60 has a first chamber 60a for accommodating the rotating portion of the compression unit 18, a second chamber 60b for accommodating a filter 66 provided in the introduction path of the compressed air, and a drive unit 20. And a third chamber 60c accommodating the motor 68 of.

The compression section 18 compresses the air to a high pressure by a two-stage compression system, compresses the air introduced from the air introduction port 22m by the first-stage piston / cylinder mechanism 62, and then the second-stage. It is further compressed by the piston / cylinder mechanism 64 and stored in the tanks 14, 16. Incidentally, the tanks 14 and 1
Since 6 are communicated with each other, they are kept at the same pressure.

Further, the first stage piston / cylinder mechanism 6
2 and the second stage piston / cylinder mechanism 64 are connected via a communication pipe (not shown).

One end of each of the connecting rods 62c and 64c is formed integrally with the pistons 62a and 64a, and the other end thereof is a bearing 7.
It is supported by the rotary shaft 74 via 0 and 72. The rotating shaft 74 is rotatably supported by a bearing 76 held by the partition wall 60 d of the casing 60 and a bearing 78 held inside the motor cover 79.

A first fan (impeller) 80 for sucking compressed air from the first air inlet 22m is fixed to one end 74a of the rotary shaft 74. Also, the rotating shaft 7
The other end 74b of No. 4 has a second fan (impeller) 82 for sucking air for cooling the motor from the air inlet 22n.
Is stuck.

The air inlet 22m by the first fan 80
The air sucked from is blown onto the surfaces of the casing 60 and the piston / cylinder mechanisms 62 and 64 to cool, and a part of the air is filtered through the filter 66 and then compressed by the first stage cylinder 62b. After the second
It is supplied to the stage cylinder 64b and further compressed.

The second fan 82 is provided at the inlet 79a of the motor cover 79, sucks in air for cooling the motor 68, and blows the air around the motor 68. The motor 68 includes a magnet (rotor) 68a fixed to the rotating shaft 74, a stator 68b arranged on the outer periphery of the magnet 68a, and a coil 68c wound inside the stator 68b. This motor 6
The reference numeral 8 is small and lightweight, and reciprocates the pistons 62a and 64a through the rotary shaft 74 and rotationally drives the fans 80 and 82.

Further, in the drive unit 20, since the fan 82 and the motor 68 are housed inside the cylindrical motor cover 78, the rotation of the fan 82 causes the air inlet 22 to rotate.
The outside air is sucked from n, passes through the inside of the motor cover 79, and is exhausted from the plurality of exhaust holes 22s. Inside the motor cover 79, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 8, the flow velocity of the air flow generated by the rotation of the fan 82 is increased, and this air flow efficiently removes heat generation of the motor 68 and the motor 6
8 is cooled.

Here, the configuration of the operation panel 48 will be described. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the configuration of the operation panel 48,
(A) is a plan view, (B) is a diagram showing a procedure of lighting, extinguishing, and blinking of the LED. As shown in FIG. 8A, the operation panel 48 has a power ON switch 90 and a power OFF.
A switch 92, a pressure display for red LED 88 ₁ to 88 ₆ for displaying the pressure change in the tank 14, 16 (-)
When energization display red LED 88 ₇ for displaying the presence or absence of energization
() And green LE for operating status display that displays operating status
D88 ₈ () is provided.

The power-on switch 90 and the power-off switch 92 are membrane switches (momentary switches) that switch from off to on when pressed, and remain off when not pressed.

The LEDs 88 _{1 to} 88 ₈ (~) are
The light emitting diode is soldered on a substrate (not shown) arranged below the operation panel 48, and a rectangular lens is exposed on the operation panel 48. Incidentally, the red LED88 ₁ ~88 ₆ (~) is a tank 14,1
It is turned on or off step by step according to the pressure change in 6,
The pressure values in the tanks 14 and 16 are displayed according to the number of lights.

As shown in FIG. 8B, in step 1,
The plug of the power cord (not shown) of the air compressor 10 is A
Once plugged in the C100V, and displays that the current state by lighting the current display red LED 88 ₇ ().

In the following procedure 2, the power ON switch 90 is pressed to turn off the energization display red LED and turn on the operating state display green LED 88 ₈ () so that the motor 68 causes the piston / cylinder mechanism to operate. 62,
64 is driven to display that the compression operation is in progress.

In the next procedure 3, when the pressure value in the tanks 14 and 16 reaches the upper limit pressure P1, the operating condition display green LED 88 ₈ () as an informing means blinks to make the air compressor 10 stand by ( It is displayed that the motor 68 is in operation, but the motor 68 is stopped.

In the following procedure 4, when the pressure value in the tanks 14 and 16 reaches the lower limit pressure P2, the operating state display green L
ED88 ₈ () turns on the air compressor 10 to display that the compressed state (restarts the operation of the motor 68).

In the next step 5, the power OFF switch 92
Red LED 88 for energizing display when is pressed
₇ () is turned on and the green LE for operating status display
D is extinguished to stop the motor 68 and stop the compression operation by the piston / cylinder mechanisms 62 and 64.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of each electric system provided in the air compressor 10. As shown in FIG. 9, the control unit 94 of the air compressor 10 includes the LED 8
8 _{1-88 8} (~), the motor 68, the power ON switch 90, in addition to the pressure sensor 98 of the power OFF switch 92
And are connected. The control unit 95 controls ON / OFF of the motor 68 according to the pressure value detected by the pressure sensor 98 and each of the LEDs 88 _{1 to} 88 ₈ (as will be described later).
Display control is performed by turning on, turning off, and blinking (-).

Further, the pressure sensor 98 is composed of the tanks 14, 1
It is a pressure detecting means for detecting the pressure in 6, and is configured to output a signal (voltage) according to the change in pressure.

FIGS. 10A to 10G are timing charts showing an example of pressure change due to the operation of the air compressor 10 and an example of control operation of each device. As shown in FIG. 10 (A), the tanks 14 and 16 are activated when the operation of the air compressor 10 is started.
When the internal pressure gradually rises and the internal pressures of the tanks 14 and 16 reach a preset upper limit pressure P1, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the motor 68 is stopped and put in a standby state, during which the compressed air in the tanks 14 and 16 is consumed by a nailing machine (not shown) or the like connected thereto, and the tank pressure drops.

Then, as shown in FIG.
When the pressure in the tanks 14 and 16 drops to a preset lower limit pressure, as shown in FIG.
8 is restarted, and compressed air is supplied to the tanks 14 and 16. As a result, the pressure inside the tanks 14 and 16 gradually rises as the compressed air is supplied.

After that, when the pressure in the tanks 14 and 16 rises to the upper limit pressure P1, the motor 68 stops again and enters the standby state. As described above, in the normal operation mode of the air compressor 10, the compression operation state and the standby state are alternately performed.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 10 (B), current display red LED 88 ₇ (), if the power cord of the air compressor 10 (not shown) is inserted into the outlet AC100V (FIG. 10 ( (See G)), it is turned on to indicate that it is in the energized state, and is turned off by pressing the power ON switch 90 (procedure 1).

As shown in FIG. 10 (C), the green LED 88 ₈ () for displaying the operating state is the power ON switch 9
It is turned on when 0 is pressed, and indicates that the motor 68 is driving the piston / cylinder mechanisms 62 and 64 (procedure 2). In addition, the green LED 88 for displaying the operating state
₈ () indicates that the pressure value in the tank 14 or 16 is the upper limit pressure P.
When it reaches 1, it blinks to indicate that the air compressor 10 is in a standby state (procedure 3). Then, the operating state display green LED 88 ₈ (), if the pressure value in the tank 14, 16 reaches the lower limit pressure P2, lit air compressor 10
Indicates that it is in the compression operation state (procedure 4).

As shown in FIG. 10D, the power is turned on.
The switch 90 is turned on by being pressed by an operator and outputs an on signal to the control unit 94. The control unit 94 turns on the power when an ON signal is output from the power ON switch 90.

As shown in FIG. 10E, the power source OF
The F switch 92 is turned on when the operator presses it, and outputs an off signal to the control unit 94. In the control unit 94, when there is an OFF signal from the power OFF switch 92,
Switch to the power off state.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the control processing executed by the control unit 94. In FIG. 11, the control unit 9
Step 4 is step S11 (hereinafter “step” is omitted)
In the plug of the power cord of the air compressor 10 (not shown) is plugged in the AC100V, turns on the power display red LED 88 ₇ ().

At the next step S12, it is checked whether or not the power ON switch 90 has been turned on. In S12, if the power ON switch 90 is not operated to be turned on, the process returns to S11, and the energization display red LED is turned on. Therefore, it can be seen visually that the power ON switch 90 is not operated on by the current display red LED 88 7 ₍₎ is on.

When the power ON switch 90 is turned on in S12, the process proceeds to S13, in which the motor 68 is driven to start the compression operation by the piston / cylinder mechanisms 62 and 64. Subsequently, in S14, current display red LED 88 ₇ () and to turn off the power ON switch 9
In addition to displaying that 0 has been pressed, the green LED 88 ₈ () for operating state display is turned on to display that the motor 68 drives the piston / cylinder mechanisms 62 and 64 to perform compression operation.

In the next step S15, it is checked whether the pressure value in the tanks 14 and 16 has reached the upper limit pressure P1 or more. In S15, when the pressure value P in the tanks 14 and 16 measured by the pressure sensor 98 reaches the upper limit pressure P1, the process proceeds to S16 and the motor 68 is stopped. continue,
In S17, the operating state display green LED 88 ₈ () is blinked to display that the air compressor 10 is in a standby state (in operation, but the motor 68 is stopped) (informing means).

In S15, the pressure sensor 9
When the pressure value P in the tanks 14 and 16 measured in 8 does not reach the upper limit pressure P1, the process returns to S13 and S1.
The processes after 3 are repeated.

[0054] Thus, the operator is in the standby state of the air compressor 10 is stopped the motor 68 by flashing operating state display green LED 88 8 _(), it can be confirmed that it is not a malfunction.

In the next S18, the power OFF switch 92
Check if is turned on. In S18, when the power OFF switch 92 is turned on, the process proceeds to S22, which will be described later, and the motor 68 is stopped. Further, in S18, the power OFF switch 92
If is not turned on, the process proceeds to S19 and the tank 1
It is checked whether the pressure values in 4 and 16 have dropped below the lower limit pressure P2. In S19, the pressure sensor 98
When the pressure value P measured in the tanks 14 and 16 does not reach the lower limit pressure P2, the process returns to S18 and it is checked again whether the power OFF switch 92 is turned on.

In S19, the pressure value P in the tanks 14 and 16 measured by the pressure sensor 98 is the lower limit pressure P2.
When it reaches, the process proceeds to S20, and the operating state display green L
ED88 ₈ () with turning on the, to start operation of the motor 68 to restart the compression operation with a piston-cylinder mechanism 62, 64 (notification control means).

Subsequently, in S21, it is checked whether or not the power OFF switch 92 has been turned on. S2
In 1, the power OFF switch 92 is not turned on, the process returns to S15 and repeats the processing from S15.

Further, in S21, the power supply is turned off.
If the switch 92 is turned on, the process proceeds to S22,
Green LED for operating status display
88 ₈() Is turned off and the air compressor 10 is stopped.
Display that there is.

The control process is performed by the power OFF switch 92.
Is turned on, the motor 68 is stopped and the S
Returning to 11, the energization display red LED 88 ₇ () is turned on to indicate that the energization state is set. The air compressor 10 has a power cord (not shown) plug AC1.
When it is pulled out of the 00V outlet, the power is turned off. As a result, the red LED 88 for energization display
₇ () goes out, and it becomes possible to confirm that the plug of the power cord (not shown) is pulled out from the AC100V outlet.

In this way, when the operating state of the air compressor 10 changes, the worker can see the operating state display green LED 8
If 8 ₈ () is lit, it is known that the vehicle is in the operating state, and if the operating state display green LED 88 ₈ () is blinking, it is the vehicle is in the standby state.

Therefore, when the motor 68 is stopped during the operation of the air compressor 10, the green LED 88 for displaying the operation state is displayed.
_{If 8} () is flashing, it is in a standby state, and it can be determined that there is no abnormality. Also, green LED for operating status display
When the motor 68 is stopped in a state in which 88 8 ₍₎ is lit, performs a request for repair manufacturer determines that some abnormality has occurred.

Therefore, since the maintenance staff of the manufacturer receives the request for repair only when the air compressor 10 has a failure, the maintenance staff does not mistake the standby state as a failure and receives the request for repair. Waste of maintenance work is eliminated.

In the above embodiment, the case of displaying the standby state by blinking the green LED 88 ₈ () for displaying the operating state has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and display other than such LEDs is also possible. A device (for example, a liquid crystal display) or a buzzer sound or a voice message may be used for notification.

In the above embodiment, the structure in which the piston / cylinder mechanisms 62 and 64 perform two-stage compression is given as an example. However, the invention is not limited to this, and one or three or more piston / cylinder mechanisms may be provided. Anything is fine.

In the above embodiment, the pair of tanks 1
Although the configuration having 4, 16 is described as an example, the configuration is not limited to this, and one having one tank or three or more tanks may be provided.

[0066]

As described above, according to the present invention, an air compression unit for sucking and compressing air, a drive unit for driving the air compression unit, and a tank for storing the compressed air generated by the air compression unit. , The pressure detection means for detecting the pressure in the tank, and when the pressure in the tank detected by the pressure detection means reaches the upper limit value, the drive unit is stopped, and when the pressure in the tank drops to the lower limit value, In an air compressor provided with a control unit that activates a drive unit, the pressure in the tank detected by the pressure detection unit exceeds a lower limit value, and
Since the notification means for starting the notification when the predetermined pressure below the upper limit value is reached and the notification control means for stopping the notification by the notification means when the pressure in the tank is lowered to the lower limit value, the surrounding It becomes possible for a person to recognize that the current driving situation is in a standby state and is not a malfunction.
Therefore, the maintenance staff of the manufacturer receives a request for repair only when a failure occurs in the air compressor. Disappears.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the predetermined pressure is set to the upper limit of the pressure in the tank.
By starting the notification when the pressure in the tank reaches the upper limit value, it becomes possible to let the surrounding people recognize that the current operating condition is the standby state.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an air compressor according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where a cover 22 of the air compressor is removed.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the air compressor.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the air compressor.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the air compressor.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the air compressor.

FIG. 7 is a transverse cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the compression unit 18 and the drive unit 20.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of an operation panel 48, (A)
Is a plan view, and (B) is a diagram showing a procedure of turning on, turning off, and blinking the LED.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of each electric system provided in the air compressor 10.

FIG. 10 is a timing chart showing an example of pressure change due to the operation of the air compressor 10 and a control operation example of each device.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a control process executed by a control unit 94.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Air Compressor 12 Frames 14 and 16 Tank 18 Air Compressor 20 Drive 22 Cover 24 to 27 Legs 28 and 30 Grips 32 and 34 Air Discharges 36 and 38 Pressure Control Valves 40 and 42 Pressure Gauges 44 to 47 Discharge outlet 48 operation panel 60 casing 62, 64 the piston-cylinder mechanism 66 filter 68 motor 79 motor cover 80 first fan 82 second fan ₈₈ 1-88 for ₆ pressure display red LED 88 ₇ current display for the red LED 88 ₈ operation Green LED for status display 90 Power ON switch 92 Power OFF switch 94 Control unit 98 Pressure sensor

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An air compression unit that sucks and compresses air, a drive unit that drives the air compression unit, a tank that stores compressed air generated by the air compression unit, and a pressure in the tank that is detected. Pressure detecting means, and when the pressure in the tank detected by the pressure detecting means reaches an upper limit value, the driving unit is stopped, and when the pressure in the tank decreases to a lower limit value, the driving unit. In an air compressor comprising: a control unit for activating, a notification is given when the pressure in the tank detected by the pressure detection means exceeds a lower limit value and reaches a predetermined pressure equal to or lower than the upper limit value. An air compressor, comprising: an informing means for starting the operation, and an informing control means for stopping the informing by the informing means when the pressure in the tank is lowered to a lower limit value. 2. The air compressor according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined pressure is the upper limit value.