U.S. patent application number 11/048637 was filed with the patent office on 2006-05-18 for elastomeric base for pressure vessels.
Invention is credited to Stephen D. Fields.
Application Number | 20060104830 11/048637 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36386518 |
Filed Date | 2006-05-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060104830 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fields; Stephen D. |
May 18, 2006 |
Elastomeric base for pressure vessels
Abstract
An elastomeric base for a pressure vessel is configured to be
adhesively secured to the bottom of the vessel in order to
eliminate the problems caused by welding of steel legs. The base
includes a surface configured to correspond with a curved surface
of the compressor vessel. Advantageously, the base may be formed of
an elastomeric material, a plastic, or of an elastomeric material
co-molded with a ridged plastic.
Inventors: |
Fields; Stephen D.;
(Bradford, TN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE BLACK & DECKER CORPORATION
701 EAST JOPPA ROAD, TW199
TOWSON
MD
21286
US
|
Family ID: |
36386518 |
Appl. No.: |
11/048637 |
Filed: |
January 31, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60540847 |
Jan 30, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
417/360 ;
417/361; 417/410.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04B 41/02 20130101;
F05C 2225/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/360 ;
417/361; 417/410.1 |
International
Class: |
F04B 35/00 20060101
F04B035/00; F04B 17/00 20060101 F04B017/00 |
Claims
1. A portable air compressor, comprising: a air storage tank
forming a generally hemispherical shape, the air storage tank for
containing air at an elevated pressure; a base coupled to the
compressor vessel, the base comprising a plurality of feet
configured to be adhesively secured to the air storage tank,
wherein the pedestal includes a surface configured to correspond
with the shape of the surface of the air storage tank.
2. The portable air compressor as described in claim 1, wherein
each of the plurality of feet is secured to the air storage tank
generally equidistant from an adjacent foot in the pedestal.
3. The portable air compressor as described in claim 1, wherein the
pedestal includes vibration dampening material.
4. The portable air compressor as described in claim 1, further
comprising a valve for draining condensate.
5. The portable air compressor as described in claim 4, wherein the
pedestal is constructed to at least partially extend around the
valve for protection.
6. The portable air compressor as described in claim 3, wherein the
pedestal includes outer-coating material which has high coefficient
of friction for preventing the portable air compressor from
skidding.
7. The portable air compressor as described in claim 1, wherein the
pedestal is molded with ridged plastic.
8. The portable air compressor as described in claim 7, wherein the
pedestal is co-molded with at least partially elastomeric
material.
9. The portable air compressor as described in claim 1, wherein the
air storage tank defines a footprint and the pedestal is configured
to be within the footprint.
10. The portable air compressor as described in claim 1, wherein
each of the plurality of feet is an elongated foot connected to
form the pedestal.
11. A pressure vessel, comprising: a pedestal coupled to the
pressure vessel, the pedestal including a plurality of base members
configured to be adhesively secured to the pressure vessel, each of
the plurality of base members including a first surface configured
to correspond with a curved form surface of the pressure
vessel.
12. The pressure vessel as described in claim 11, wherein each of
the plurality of base members includes vibration dampening
material.
13. The pressure vessel as described in claim 11, wherein each of
the plurality of base members is molded with ridged plastic.
14. The pressure vessel as described in claim 11, wherein each of
the plurality of base members includes a second surface with a
recess.
15. A base for a pressure vessel, comprising: a pedestal for
supporting the pressure vessel, the pedestal including a plurality
of feet configured to be adhesively secured to the pressure vessel,
wherein the pedestal includes a surface configured to correspond
with a generally curved surface of the pressure vessel.
16. The base for a pressure vessel as described in claim 16,
wherein the pedestal is constructed to support the pressure vessel
to rest on a flat surface.
17. The base for a pressure vessel as described in claim 16,
wherein each of the plurality of feet is secured to the pressure
vessel substantially equidistant from an adjacent foot included in
the plurality of feet.
18. An air compressor, comprising: means for containing air at an
elevated pressure; and means for supporting the air containing
means, wherein the supporting means is secured to the air
containing means via a adhesive.
19. The air compressor as described in claim 18, wherein the
supporting means includes a first surface configured to correspond
with a generally curved surface of the containing air means and a
second surface with a recess.
20. The air compressor as described in claim 18, wherein the
supporting means is configured to have a circular shape.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn. 119 to the U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/540,847,
filed on Jan. 30, 2004, which is herein incorporated by reference
in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to the field of
pressure vessels used to store a fluid under pressure, including
pressure vessels used in portable air compressors, and more
particularly to an elastomeric base that is adhered to the pressure
vessel.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Many portable air compressors include a compressor mounted
to an air storage tank supported by a steel pedestal having a
plurality of legs welded to the bottom surface of the tank. The
compressor compresses air which is stored in the air storage tank
for use in powering air-powered tools, inflating tires, or the
like. Typically, the air storage tank comprises a pancake-style
pressure vessel having a generally flattened spherical shape.
Alternately, the pressure vessel could comprise a vertical or
horizontal pressure vessel, which comprises cylindrical vessels
having hemispherical ends.
[0004] Welding of the legs to the air storage tank is inefficient
for several reasons. Welding may cause leak points in the tank if
the weld burns through the tank wall. In such cases, the pressure
tank would fail pressure testing and may have to be discarded.
Further, the welded steel legs may be damaged or bent during
manufacturing or shipping or while being used. Damaged legs must be
repaired or replaced by new legs re-welded to the air storage tank.
Further, steel legs can scratch or mar floor surface requiring that
each of the legs be provided with a protective foot or pad of
non-abrasive material such as rubber or plastic, resulting in added
cost in manufacturing the air compressor.
[0005] Consequently, it would be desirable to provide an air
compressor including an air storage tank having a base which is not
welded to the tank and which does not require protective pads or
the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a base for
a pressure vessel such as the air storage tank of an air
compressor, which is adhesively secured to the pressure vessel
thereby eliminating many of the problems caused by welding steel
lets to such vessels. The base may be formed of an elastomeric
material such as rubber, synthetic rubber, a plastic, an
elastomeric material co-molded over a hard plastic, or the
like.
[0007] In exemplary embodiments, the base comprises a single piece
pedestal including a plurality of elongated legs. The single piece
pedestal may have a surface contoured to fit the curved (e.g.,
hemispherical or cylindrical) surface of the pressure vessel so
that the pedestal can be securely attached to the vessel via
adhesive. In one specific embodiment, the single piece pedestal may
comprise three or more prongs which are attached to feet for
supporting the pressure vessel. In another specific embodiment, the
single piece pedestal may comprise a ring shaped pedestal.
[0008] In other embodiments, the base comprises a pedestal having a
plurality of individual base members or feet which are adhered to
the pressure vessel. Each individual base member may include a
surface configured to correspond with a curved form surface of the
compressor tank.
[0009] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are exemplary
and explanatory only and are not necessarily restrictive of the
invention as claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are
incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification,
illustrate an embodiment of the invention and together with the
general description, serve to explain the principles of the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The numerous advantages of the present invention may be
better understood by those skilled in the art by reference to the
accompanying figures in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an air compressor having a
base in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of an air compressor having a
base wherein a compressor tank of the air compressor has a
footprint;
[0013] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the air compressor shown in
FIG. 2;
[0014] FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are illustrations of the base shown in
FIG. 2;
[0015] FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are illustrations of a second base in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
and
[0016] FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of an air compressor having the
base in FIG. 5A in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] Reference will now be made in detail to the presently
preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
[0018] The present invention provides a base for a pressure vessel
such as the air storage tank of an air compressor. The base is
adhesively secured to the pressure vessel thereby eliminating many
of the problems caused by welding steel legs to such vessels. In
exemplary embodiments, the base may be formed of an elastomeric
material such as rubber, synthetic rubber, a plastic, an
elastomeric material co-molded over a hard plastic, or the like. In
the following description, numerous specific descriptions are set
forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present
invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art
that the present invention may be practiced without some or all of
these specific details. In some instances, well known process
operations have not been described in detail in order not to
obscure the present invention.
[0019] Referring now to FIG. 1, an air compressor 100 in accordance
with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. The
air compressor 100 includes a compressor 102, an air storage tank
104 and a base 106. The compressor 102 is mounted on the air
storage tank 104 and provides compressed air, which is stored in
the tank 104 for powering air-powered tools (e.g., nailers, paint
sprayers, impact wrenches and the like). In accordance with the
present invention, the base 106 is secured to the compressor tank
104 with an adhesive. It will be appreciated that various types of
adhesives may be used for securing the base 106 to the steel
surface of the air storage tank. For example, the adhesive may be
applied to the tank 104 and/or the base 106 as a liquid or paste
and allowed to dry after the base 106 is positioned on the tank
104. Alternately, the adhesive may comprise a two-sided tape which
is applied to the base 104, and then used for adhering the base 106
to the tank 104. In exemplary embodiments, the base 106 may be
formed of an elastomeric material such as rubber, synthetic rubber,
a plastic, an elastomeric material co-molded over a hard plastic,
or the like. In this manner, the base may enhance vibration
dampening of the air compressor 100. The base 106 may also prevent
scratching or marring of surfaces (e.g., floors, tabletops, or the
like) supporting the air compressor and may prevent the air
compressor 100 from sliding on such surfaces since the elastomeric
material has a high coefficient of friction.
[0020] In an advantageous aspect of the present invention, the base
106, because it does not need to be welded to the air storage tank
104 during manufacture of the tank 104, may be attached to the tank
with adhesive at any stage of the manufacturing process.
[0021] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, an air compressor 200 having
a base comprised of a single-piece pedestal in accordance with the
present invention is described. As shown in FIG. 2, the air
compressor 200 includes a compressor 202 mounted on a pancake-style
air storage tank 204. The air storage tank 204 may be formed of
steel and is preferably suitable for containing air at an elevated
pressure. In exemplary embodiments, the compressor 202 may include
an electric motor, an internal combustion engine, or the like for
powering the compressor 202.
[0022] As shown, a condensate valve 208 may be located on the
bottom of the air storage tank 204 for draining water from the tank
204. The base 206, which is secured to the air storage tank 204
with adhesive, may be configured to protect the condensate valve
208 from damage. For example, the base may include a foot member
which extends at least partially around the condensate valve 208.
In this embodiment, the base 206 may be molded with ridged plastic
and at least partially elastomeric material such as natural rubber,
synthetic rubber or the like, which is suitable for outer coating
of a molded ridged plastic base. As a result, the base may be made
more robust and less likely to be damaged or separated from the air
storage tank 204.
[0023] As shown in FIG. 2, the air storage tank defines a footprint
210 for the air compressor 200. Preferably, the base 206 is
configured to fit within the footprint. This configuration allows
the overall size of the air compressor 200 to be reduced compared
with air compressor having welded steel legs.
[0024] Referring now to FIG. 4A, a base 400 in accordance with an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. The base
400 comprises a single-piece pedestal with having a plurality of
feet. For example, in the embodiment illustrated, the base may
include three elongated feet which are generally equidistant from
each other. In the example, at least one elongated foot may include
a C-shaped portion 402. The C-shaped portion 402 may extend
generally around a condensate valve for protecting the condensate
valve from damage. The base 400 may be constructed to have an upper
surface contoured to fit the outer surface of a pressure vessel
such as the air storage tanks 104, 204 shown in FIGS. 1 through
3.
[0025] Referring now to FIG. 4B, a bottom side view of a foot of
the base 400 shown in FIG. 4A is illustrated. As shown, each foot
404 of the base 400 may have a bottom surface which includes a
recess formed therein thereby reducing the material used for
forming the foot 404. In this manner, less material is required for
molding of the base 400.
[0026] In another embodiment of the present invention, the base may
alternatively include a plurality of individual base members.
Referring now to FIG. 5A through 5B, an individual base member 500
in accordance with the present invention is shown. The individual
base member 500 has all the advantages of the single piece base
discussed above. However, the individual base member 500 may be
more cost effective because it requires less material to
manufacture. Each base member 500 may be configured to have an
upper surface contoured to fit an outside surface of the
corresponding compressor tank via a suitable adhesive. Each base
member 500 may be configured to have a bottom surface with a
recess.
[0027] Referring now to FIG. 6, an air compressor 600 having a base
including a plurality of individual base members such as the base
members shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B is described. The air compressor
600 comprises a compressor unit 602, an air storage tank 604 to
which individual base members 606 are attached. In accordance with
the present invention, the individual base members 606 are
preferably secured to the compressor tank 604 via an adhesive.
[0028] In FIGS. 1 through 6, the air compressors illustrated
comprise portable air compressor having a pancake-style air storage
tanks. However, it is contemplated that bases in accordance with
the present invention may be provided for air compressors having
other types of air storage tanks, including vertical and horizontal
tanks. It is further contemplated that in an alternative
embodiment, the base of the present invention may be used for
supporting other types of pressure vessel such as propane tanks,
water tanks, gasoline tanks, and the like, without departing from
the scope and spirit of the present invention.
[0029] It is believed that the present invention and many of its
attendant advantages will be understood by the forgoing
description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that
various changes may be made in the form, construction and
arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the
scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its
material advantages. The form herein before described being merely
an explanatory embodiment thereof, it is the intention of the
following claims to encompass and include such changes.
* * * * *