U.S. patent application number 16/757457 was filed with the patent office on 2021-06-03 for air compressor cylinder, air compressor, vehicle seat, and vehicle.
The applicant listed for this patent is Active Tools International (HK) Ltd.. Invention is credited to David HONG, Koon Fung Lam.
Application Number | 20210164463 16/757457 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005406533 |
Filed Date | 2021-06-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210164463 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HONG; David ; et
al. |
June 3, 2021 |
AIR COMPRESSOR CYLINDER, AIR COMPRESSOR, VEHICLE SEAT, AND
VEHICLE
Abstract
The invention relates to an air compressor cylinder, an air
compressor, an automobile seat and an automobile. The air
compressor cylinder is suitable for a piston type air compressor, a
cavity is defined in a cylinder block of the cylinder, a liner is
attached to an inner sidewall of the cavity, the liner is securely
bonded to the inner sidewall, and the liner defines a compression
cavity of the air compressor.
Inventors: |
HONG; David; (Hong Kong,
CN) ; Lam; Koon Fung; (Hong Kong, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Active Tools International (HK) Ltd. |
Hong Kong |
|
CN |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005406533 |
Appl. No.: |
16/757457 |
Filed: |
October 19, 2017 |
PCT Filed: |
October 19, 2017 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CN2017/106823 |
371 Date: |
April 20, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04B 39/122 20130101;
F04B 39/126 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F04B 39/12 20060101
F04B039/12 |
Claims
1. A cylinder for a piston type air compressor, wherein a cavity is
defined in a cylinder block of the cylinder, a liner is attached to
an inner sidewall of the cavity, the liner is securely bonded to
the inner sidewall, and the liner defines a compression cavity of
the air compressor.
2. The cylinder of claim 1, wherein a smoothness of an inner
surface of the liner is greater than the smoothness of a surface of
the cylinder block itself.
3. The cylinder of claim 1, wherein the liner is die cast together
with the cylinder block.
4. The cylinder of claim 1, wherein securing between the liner and
the cylinder block is achieved by a threaded connection.
5. The cylinder of claim 1, wherein the inner sidewall of the liner
is in a straight cylindrical shape and shape and size of a
cross-section of the liner at both ends are the same.
6. The cylinder of claim 1, wherein the liner is a deep drawn tube
made of aluminum or aluminum alloy.
7. The cylinder of claim 6, wherein the cylinder is die cast by
zinc or zinc alloy with the liner.
8. A piston type air compressor, wherein a cylinder of the air
compressor is the cylinder of claim 1.
9. An automobile seat, wherein the piston type air compressor of
claim 8 is provided in the automobile seat.
10. An automobile, wherein the automobile is provided with the
piston type air compressor of claim 8.
11. An automobile, wherein the automobile is provided with the
automobile seat of claim 9.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of air
compressors; specifically, the invention relates to an air
compressor cylinder, an air compressor comprising the air
compressor cylinder, and further relates to an automobile seat and
an automobile comprising such air compressor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Air compressors are used in multiple places in modern
automobiles as driving or braking apparatus. For example, a piston
type air compressor is employed in some automobile seats for
adjustment of moving, lumbar support and the like thereof.
[0003] The piston type air compressor is a positive displacement
compressor, the compression element thereof comprises a piston, the
piston reciprocates in the cylinder thereby operating by way of
causing the working volume to constantly change. As can be seen,
the manufacturing of the piston and cylinder has a direct effect on
the operating performance of the air compressor.
[0004] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a piston type air compressor
in the prior art. Such piston type air compressor has a driving
portion 100 and an air compression execution portion 200. The
driving apparatus internal to the driving portion 100 may be a
motor or the like, and a piston and a cylinder are disposed at the
compression execution portion 200.
[0005] The Patent Application Publication No. WO2004/011804A1 of
VENTREX AUTOMOTIVE GMBH, discloses an improvement to the piston
structural design in a piston type air compressor.
[0006] For cylinder block manufacturing of the cylinder, commonly
the prior art mainly comprises two modes: one is to machine a
cylinder block firstly, and then connect the cylinder block with
the outer housing of the air compressor; another is to produce the
outer shell (including the cylinder) of the air compressor through
die-casting molding, so that the processing requirement for the
cylinder block is directly achieved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is an object of one aspect of the present invention to
provide an improved air compressor cylinder.
[0008] It is an object of another aspect of the present invention
to provide an air compressor comprising the foregoing cylinder.
[0009] It is an object of yet another aspect of the present
invention to provide an automobile seat and an automobile
comprising the foregoing air compressor.
[0010] To achieve the foregoing object, a first aspect of the
present invention provides a cylinder for a piston type air
compressor, wherein a cavity is defined in a cylinder block of the
cylinder, a liner is attached to an inner sidewall of the cavity,
the liner is securely bonded to the inner sidewall, and the liner
defines a compression cavity of the air compressor.
[0011] Optionally, in the cylinder as previously described, a
smoothness of an inner surface of the liner is greater than the
smoothness of a surface of the cylinder block itself.
[0012] Optionally, in the cylinder as previously described, the
liner is die cast together with the cylinder block.
[0013] Optionally, in the cylinder as previously described,
securing between the liner and the cylinder block is achieved by a
threaded connection.
[0014] Optionally, in the cylinder as previously described, the
inner sidewall of the liner is in a straight cylindrical shape, and
shape and size of a cross-section of the liner at both ends are the
same.
[0015] Optionally, in the cylinder as previously described, the
liner is a deep drawn tube made of aluminum or aluminum alloy.
[0016] Optionally, in the cylinder as previously described, the
cylinder is die cast by zinc or zinc alloy with the liner.
[0017] To achieve the foregoing object, a second aspect of the
present invention provides a piston type air compressor, wherein a
cylinder of the air compressor is the cylinder of any of the
foregoing first aspects.
[0018] To achieve the foregoing object, a third aspect of the
present invention provides an automobile seat, wherein the piston
type air compressor of the foregoing second aspect is provided in
the automobile seat.
[0019] To achieve the foregoing object, a fourth aspect of the
present invention provides an automobile, wherein the automobile is
provided with the piston type air compressor of the foregoing
second aspect, and/or the automobile is provided with the
automobile seat of the foregoing third aspect.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The disclosure of the present invention will become more
apparent with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be
understood that these drawings are for illustrative purposes only
and are not intended to limit the protective scope of the present
invention. In the drawings:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a piston type air compressor
of the prior art; and
[0022] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a cylinder-piston mechanism of
an air compressor according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S) OF THE INVENTION
[0023] Specific embodiments of the invention are illustrated in
detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the
drawings, like reference numerals designate like or corresponding
technical features, and the drawings are not necessarily drawn to
scale.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a cylinder-piston mechanism of
an air compressor according to one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0025] Also shown in the illustrated embodiment is a housing 1 of
an air compressor that, along with a housing cover 2, collectively
constitutes a chamber 10, within which a crank 3 and a piston 5
connected with a push rod 4 may be housed. An integral cylinder 7
is formed at one end of the housing 1. A cylinder block as a body
part of the cylinder 7 is used for forming a compression cavity,
and a sealing ring 6 is disposed on the piston 5 and fits within
the cylinder block part of the cylinder 7. The cylinder 7 is
connected at the end with an air outlet 8.
[0026] To facilitate assembly and disassembly of the various
internal components of the chamber 10, such as the crank 3, the
push rod 4, and the piston 5, the housing cover 2 and the air
outlet 8 are secured to the housing 1 in a removable manner. For
example, they may be threaded or snapped onto the housing 1. In the
illustrated embodiment, the air outlet 8 is in threaded connection
with one end portion of the cylinder 7. It will be understood that
the manner of connection in the illustrated embodiments is
exemplary only.
[0027] The center hole 31 of the crank 3 in the figure is adapted
to be connected on a drive shaft of a drive motor (not shown). The
opposite end of the push rod 4 from the position of the piston 5
may be connected to the eccentric hole 32 of the crank 3. It should
be noted that the connection of the push rod 4 at the eccentric
hole 32 is an movable connection, for example, a bearing 41 may be
disposed at this end of the push rod 4 to reduce rotational
resistance.
[0028] The piston 5 may be secured at the other end of the push rod
4, and a sealing ring 6 may be disposed on the outer periphery of
the piston 5, and the piston 5 will reciprocate with the push rod 4
to change the volume of the compression cavity 71. The presence of
the sealing ring 6 prevents excessive gas leakage from the
compression cylinder toward the rear of the piston 5.
[0029] Specifically, in accordance with the illustrated embodiment,
when the air compressor is operating, the motor drives the crank 3
to rotate along the axis O, and one end of the push rod 4 rotates
with the eccentric hole 32 of the crank 3, the other end connected
to the piston 5 push the piston 5 to reciprocate within the
cylinder 7 and change the volume of the compression cavity. When
the air volume of the compression cavity decreases, the gas is
discharged from the air outlet 8 to be used for different purposes
depending on different applications.
[0030] It may also be seen from the illustrated embodiment, a liner
9 is attached to the inner wall at the cylinder block portion
defining a cavity within the cylinder 7. It should be further
illustrated herein that while the cylinder 7 is an integral part of
the housing 1 of the air compressor in the illustrated embodiment,
it is not necessary for the cylinder to have a integrally molded
housing; the cylinder 7 may absolutely be manufactured separately
in other embodiments and then secured to housing 1 in an
appropriate manner. These appropriate manners include, but not
limited to, various existing manners such as threading, snapping,
welding, gluing, and the like. In an additional optional
embodiment, the housing 1 may also be die cast onto the cylinder 7
after separate manufacturing of the cylinder 7.
[0031] In an optional embodiment, the liner 9 may be made of a
different material than the cylinder block portion of the cylinder
7. The liner 9 may be made independently of the cylinder 7, the
manufacturing method of which may also be different from the
cylinder 7. For example, in an optional embodiment, the liner 9 may
be a deep drawn tube made of aluminum or aluminum alloy; while the
cylinder 7 may be cast, for example, the cylinder may be die cast
by zinc or zinc alloy with a manufactured liner, i.e., a secondary
injection molding using aluminum or an aluminum alloy within the
zinc mold, thereby the aluminum can have a smoother surface than
the die cast zinc or zinc alloy. Achieving a smooth surface by
polishing the die cast zinc or zinc alloy parts is costly.
[0032] In an optional embodiment, the cylinder 7 may be integrally
cast with the housing 1 of the air compressor.
[0033] The liner 9 may be securely bonded to the inner sidewall of
the cavity within the cylinder 7 in an appropriate manner. In an
optional embodiment, the liner 9 may be connected to the inner
sidewall by threads; specifically, matched threads may be formed on
the outer sidewall of the liner 9 and the inner sidewall of the
cavity to perform engagement, such bonding manner has flexibility,
may separately replace the liner 9 when needed, and is advantageous
for maintenance and extending the service life of the product. In
the illustrated embodiment, the cylinder 7 (or along with the
housing 1) may be die cast together with the liner 9 after the
inner liner 9 is made; it is also possible to have a shape mating
at the same time, for example, a protrusion 71 is formed on the
inner sidewall of the cylinder block, bonded into a recess 91 on
the outer sidewall of the liner 9, further enhancing axial
position-limiting performance of the two. It may be appreciated
that the protrusion 71 and the recess 91 may extend over the entire
circle respectively in a respective circumferential direction; they
may also distribute dispersedly in a circumferential direction
thereby also enhancing the circumferential position limiting
performance of the two. In additional embodiments, it may also be
considered to use structural adhesive to adhere the cylinder and
the liner together.
[0034] Overall considering the various embodiments described above,
as the liner 9 may be separately manufactured and then bonded into
the cylinder 7, this facilitates machining of the inner surface of
the liner 9 in a low cost manner to achieve higher surface
precision, i.e., smoothness, reducing the difficulty of the
process, and make the defect rate easy to be controlled.
[0035] As can be seen from the figure, the liner 9 defines a
compression cavity 92 of the air compressor. It can be seen that it
will be easy to, by independent process in advance, make the
smoothness of the inner surface of the inner liner 9, i.e., the
compression cavity, be able to be at least greater than the surface
smoothness of the cylinder's cylinder block itself. Such
improvement of the smoothness of the inner surface of the
compression cavity effectively increases the service life of the
air compressor, significantly increases the number of working
cycles, improves the working efficiency, reduces the production
cost, and can avoid the high local performance requirements of the
material of the molded part.
[0036] Such separately manufactured liner may be machined from deep
drawn tube having the advantage that the inner sidewalls of the
compression cavities no longer have draft angles like in casting.
Specifically, in an optional embodiment, the inner sidewall of such
separately manufactured liner may be in a straight cylindrical
shape, and the shape and size of the cross-section of the liner at
both ends are the same. Due to the elimination of draft angle, this
straight cylindrical design is advantageous for increasing the
degree of matching of the piston within the compression cavity,
avoiding the degradation of its performance and durability due to
the friction and angle of the inner sidewalls of the compression
cavity, and making the product more compact and make the work
efficiency higher.
[0037] Another aspect of the invention also provides a piston type
air compressor, wherein the cylinder of the air compressor is the
cylinder of any of the foregoing embodiments. It is discovered in
one aspect of the present invention, using separately manufactured
liner in a cylinder of a piston type air compressor can not only
increase the flexibility of cylinder manufacturing and air
compressor manufacturing, but also makes it easy to achieve higher
surface precision inside the liner when the liner is manufactured
separately, improves the working efficiency of the air compressor,
and can greatly prolong the service life of the air compressor.
Such piston type air compressor may have a wide application in the
field of automobiles. For example, it may be used in the automobile
for driving the automobile seat move forward and backward,
adjusting lumbar support or the support of body by the seat, and
the like. The air compressor may also be used for different
occasions such as coffee machines, massage chairs and the like.
[0038] Yet another aspect of the present invention provides an
automobile seat having a piston type air compressor in accordance
with the foregoing aspects of the present invention. As previously
described, the piston type air compressor may be used in the
automobile seat for driving the automobile seat move forward and
backward, adjusting the lumbar support, the wrap of body by the
seat or to provide the function of massage chairs and the like.
Still another aspect of the present invention further provides an
automobile that may have a piston type air compressor of the
foregoing aspects, and/or that may have the automobile seat of the
foregoing aspect. It can be seen that the arrangement of the air
compressor in the automobile thus provided is not limited to being
in the automobile seat. It will be appreciated that the automobile
seats and automobiles in these aspects of the present invention
will have the advantages respective to the foregoing air
compressors.
[0039] The technical scope of the present invention is not limited
to the content in the above description, those skilled in the art
may make a variety of alterations and modifications to the
above-described embodiments without departing from the
technological thoughts of the invention, and all these alternations
and modifications are intended to be within the scope of the
invention.
* * * * *