EP2088321A1 - Compressor device with a condensate release valve - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (10) has a compressor unit (12) for compressing and producing compressed air (15). A compressed air storage container (20) is connected with the compressor unit by a compressed air connector (43), and stores the compressed air. A condensate discharge valve (32) for discharging condensate (30) from the container in dispensing processes at a time interval, and a controller (31) actuates the valve between an outlet position and a blocked position based on the dispensing processes to discharge the condensate from the container.

Description

The invention relates to a compressor device for generating compressed air for compressed air tools, with a compressor device for compressing and generating the compressed air, with a connected to the compressor device via a compressed air connection compressed air storage tank for storing the compressed air in spaced temporal filling operations and with a Condensate drain valve for draining condensate from the compressed air storage tank.

A condensate drain valve is used e.g. from time to time opened by the operator to drain the condensate into a condensate collector. The condensate collector must be emptied. Further, operated by floats condensate drain valves are known, wherein when a predetermined condensate level within the compressed air storage tank is exceeded, a float switch opens the condensate drain valve, so that the condensate can flow from the compressed air storage tank. If the float switch becomes dirty, it can not operate the condensate drain valve, resulting in malfunction of the compressor device.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a reliable, easy-to-handle compressor device for the production of compressed air for compressed air tools, such as pneumatic screwdrivers, sprayers and the like, to provide.

In a compressor device of the type mentioned is provided for solving the problem that it has a drive means for actuating the condensate drain valve between a condensate passage passage and a blocking position, and that the drive means the condensate drain valve depending on the Befüllvorgängen to a discharge of the condensate from the Compressed air storage tank actuated.

The driver actuates the condensate drain valve in response to the fill operations, i. preferably in each filling operation or every other, every third, every fourth or further filling operation, so that the condensate is actuated in time-defined, associated with the filling of the compressed air storage tank time intervals. If many filling operations take place, the control device opens the condensate drain valve correspondingly frequently, while in the case of a few filling operations a condensate drain is required correspondingly less frequently, which takes into account the activation device. In any case, the invention ensures that then condensate is drained reliably, though it is incurred, namely in connection with the filling of the compressed air storage tank.

The invention is particularly advantageous in mobile compressor devices, such as workshop compressors. The compressor device has, for example, a chassis. But it is also possible that the compressor device is portable. The compressed air tools are, for example, sprayers, compressed air screwdrivers, compressed air drills and the like.

To actuate the condensate drain valve, a fluid-technical, for example, pneumatic variant or alternatively an electrical variant is proposed. Thus, for example, a fluid line from the drive device to the condensate drain valve is provided for the pneumatic or hydraulic control of the condensate drain valve. This advantageous fluid-technical, in particular pneumatic procedure has the advantage that extensive electrical fuses are not required. On the other hand, an electrical connection, which is advantageously required by the drive device to the condensate drain valve for electrically actuating the Kondensatablassventils, relatively easy to implement. The cable routing is simple.

In connection with the fluidic control of the condensate drain valve, the control device expediently has a pressure relief valve for pressure relief of the compressor. The pressure relief valve relieves before or after a respective filling a compressed air line from the compressor to the compressed air storage tank. Thus, the compressor can restart easier, since he does not have to work against the compressed air in the compressed air line pent-up. The resulting in the pressure relief exhaust air of the pressure relief valve is advantageously performed via an exhaust duct connection from the pressure relief valve to the condensate drain valve. There, the exhaust air is used to operate the condensate drain valve. Thus, the pressure relief exhaust air forms, so to speak, a pilot pressure medium for the condensate drain valve.

The condensate drain valve is suitably biased in its blocking position. Thus, the depressurization exhaust air actuates another one provided by the drive means Pressure medium or a driven by a switching pulse of the control device electric drive of the condensate drain valve, the condensate drain valve against the bias in its release position.

The pressure relief valve may for example form part of a pressure switching device for pressure-dependent switching of the compressed air during filling of the compressed air storage tank. The compressed air switching device switches the compressor device pressure-dependent on and off, so that at the output of the compressed air storage tank compressed air in a corridor between a compressed air upper limit and a compressed air lower limit is available.

A switching signal of the pressure switching device for a motor driving the compressor device may e.g. serve as a switching pulse for an electric drive for switching the condensate drain valve between the passage position and the blocking position. The switching pulse controls the condensate drain valve, e.g. at or after a respective filling a predetermined time in its open position.

At the exhaust air line connection between the pressure relief valve and the condensate drain valve, a throttle is expediently provided, which serves for the throttled discharge of the exhaust air from the exhaust air line connection. If the exhaust air falls below a threshold pressure, the condensate drain valve switches to its blocking position. Here, an active switching can be provided, ie that the exhaust air also takes over the switching of the condensate drain valve in the blocking position. Furthermore, it is possible that the condensate drain valve in its above-described manner already biased in its blocking position, for example, spring-loaded, is.

The throttle is suitably adjustable to set an opening time of the condensate drain valve. Thus, for example, a passage cross section of the throttle can be adjusted. But it is also possible that the throttle has a fixed setting, for example, an exhaust port is disposed on the exhaust duct connection or the condensate drain valve. When condensate drain valve, it is advantageous if the exhaust port is located directly at or near the inlet port.

The control device expediently comprises a pressure switching device for pressure-dependent switching of the compressed air during filling of the compressed air storage tank. Furthermore, it is possible for the condensate drain valve to receive a switching signal from such a pressure switching device with its actuation. The switching signal may be an electrical or pneumatic switching signal.

Although it is in principle possible to collect the accumulating condensate in a conventional manner in a collection container. However, it is advantageous if the compressor device has a condensate evaporation device for evaporating the condensate. A time-consuming emptying of a condensate tank is then no longer necessary.

The condensate evaporator device can be heated electrically, for example. It is particularly advantageous if the condensate evaporator device is heated, for example, by the compressor device itself or by compressed air which generates the compressor device. For this purpose, a line section of a compressed air connection from the compressor device to the compressed air storage tank in thermal communication with the condensate evaporator. For example, the line section to a collecting container for the condensate over or passed through the sump. Electrical energy is not necessary for the evaporation of the condensate in the latter two variants.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Schrägansicht einer teilweise geöffneten Kompressorvorrichtung,

Fig. 2

eine Kondensatverdampfereinrichtung der Kompressorvorrichtung gemäß Fig. 1 schräg von vorn oben,

Fig. 3

eine Explosionsdarstellung der Kondensatverdampfer-, einrichtung gemäß Fig. 2 schräg seitlich,

Fig. 4

ein teilweise schematisches pneumatisches Schaltbild der Kompressorvorrichtung gemäß Fig. 1, und

Fig. 5

ein pneumatisches Blockschaltbild der Kompressorvorrichtung gemäß Fig. 1.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be explained with reference to the drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1

an oblique perspective view of a partially opened compressor device,

Fig. 2

a condensate evaporator device of the compressor device according to Fig. 1 diagonally from the top,

Fig. 3

an exploded view of the Kondensatverdampfer-, device according to Fig. 2 obliquely laterally,

Fig. 4

a partially schematic pneumatic circuit diagram of the compressor device according to Fig. 1 , and

Fig. 5

a pneumatic block diagram of the compressor device according to Fig. 1 ,

A compressor device 10 is used to generate compressed air 15 for the operation of compressed air tools, such as nailers, spray guns or the like. A motor 11, e.g. an internal combustion engine or in the present case an electric motor, drives via a drive belt 13 a compressor device 12, for example a piston processor, to a compressor assembly 14 which generates compressed air 15.

The compressor assembly 14 is arranged in a front region 17 of a frame 18 of the compressor device 10. The compressor assembly 14 generates the compressed air 15, which in a arranged in a rear portion 19 of the frame 18 compressed air storage tank 20 is stored.

The frame 18 offers at its top storage options. On the side, an operating area 21 is provided on which operating elements and maintenance devices 22, for example a dryer 23 and an oiler, are arranged.

The compressor device 10 is mobile. It has a chassis 26 with wheels 25, and can be easily driven to a job site. Handles 24, formed for example by the frame 18, facilitate handling.

The frame 18 further forms a support structure for a housing 27, which substantially encapsulates the compressor device 10, in particular the compressor assembly 14. The compressor assembly 14 is preferably arranged in a wall elements 28 and 29 having capsule housing 36. A front wall element is shown in FIG Fig. 1 removed, so that the compressor assembly 14 is visible.

The compressor device 10 can be used as a kind of workshop car, where it can be easily driven to the site due to their mobility. In addition, the noise encapsulation by the capsule housing 36 contributes to the ease of use. Furthermore, the compressor assembly 14 is mounted on a spring assembly 16 with coil springs substantially free spring, which reduces noise and vibration of the compressor device 10.

The compressor device 10 also facilitates the handling of condensate, which accumulates, for example, in the maintenance devices 22 and the compressed-air storage tank 20 during cooling of the compressed air 15.

For controlling a discharge of the condensate 30, a drive device 31 is provided, which actuates a condensate drain valve 32 as a function of filling operations of the compressed-air storage tank 20 by the compressor device 12. The condensate drain valve 32 is connected to a condensate outlet or condensate drain 33 via a line 34. The condensate drain 33 is arranged in a region of the compressed air storage tank 20, where the condensate 30 collects, for example, below.

Unlike the prior art, the condensate 30 is not collected in the compressor device 10 as in a collecting container, which must be emptied from time to time, but evaporated by means of a condensate evaporator 35. Although one could in principle for heating the condensate evaporator 35 and thus for the evaporation of the condensate 30 electrical heating elements (not shown) use. Further, it would be possible to arrange the condensate evaporator 35 in the vicinity of the compressor device 12 in order to utilize its waste heat for heating and evaporating the condensate 30. In the condensate evaporator 35, however, an innovative concept is chosen in which no electrical energy is necessary and in which the condensate evaporator 35 can be placed freely in the housing 27:

For heating the condensate 30 compressed air 15, which is warm, is used by the compressor device 12. Thus, the condensate evaporator 35 may be located away from the spring assembly 16 resiliently mounted, vibrating compressor assembly 14, for example below the compressor assembly 14 at the bottom 37 of the capsule housing 36. The condensate evaporator 35 is advantageously protected by the capsule housing 36, but for maintenance purposes after removal of a front wall element of the capsule housing 36, as in FIG Fig. 1 done, freely accessible for maintenance purposes. Within the capsule housing 36, it is also due to the engine 11 and the compressor device 12 is relatively warm, which favors the evaporation of the condensate 30. Furthermore, the capsule housing 36 is well ventilated. For example, the compressor device 12 drives a fan wheel 38.

A pressure switching device 40 controls the filling of the compressed air storage tank 20 by means of the compressor device 12 in a conventional manner. When a pressure sensor 41, which is connected via a line 42 to the pressure level of the compressed-air storage tank 20, a lower limit pressure in the compressed air storage tank 20, the pressure switching device 40 turns on in motor 11, so that the compressor device 12 produces compressed air 15 and via a compressed air connection 43 and a check valve 44 in the compressed air storage tank 20 as long as fed until the pressure sensor 41 detects an upper pressure limit and the motor 11 turns off. The check valve 44 then prevents a backflow of compressed air 15 from the compressed air storage tank 20 in the direction of the compressor device 12th

At the end of a filling operation is thus pressurized air in the compressed air connection 43 between the check valve 44 and the compressor device 12, so that the compressor device 12 would have to work against the pressure at the next start up. For pressure relief of the compressed air connection 43, however, the pressure switching device 40 includes an integrated pressure relief valve 45. Instead of the integrated pressure relief valve 45 and a separate from a pressure switching device pressure relief valve could be provided. The pressure relief valve 45, for example a 3/2-way valve, vented after each filling operation of the compressed air storage tank 20, the compressed air connection 43, wherein exhaust air 46 can flow away via an exhaust air connection 47 of the compressed air connection 43. However, the exhaust air 46 does not flow into the atmosphere, but is used to operate the condensate drain valve 32 in accordance with the invention.

The condensate drain valve 32 is disposed between a fluid-blocking position (in Fig. 5 shown) and a fluid-passing passage position switchable. For example, the condensate drain valve 32 is a switching valve, for example, a 3/2-way valve. The condensate drain valve 32 is biased in its blocking position. Against this bias the condensate drain valve 32 can be actuated by the exhaust air 46 in its passage position. In the passage position, the condensate drain valve 32 connected on the input side to the line 34 allows the condensate 30 to pass in the direction of a drain line 48, via which the condensate 30 can flow to the condensate evaporator device 35.

To limit a pressure loss when draining the condensate 30, a throttle 49 is advantageously arranged in or on the drain line 48.

Now, the compressed air 15 present in the exhaust air connection 47 would, as it were, permanently actuate the condensate drain valve 32. To limit the time of the condensate drain, however, a throttle 50 is provided, which discharges in the exhaust air line connection 47 pending exhaust 46 controlled in the environment. The throttle 50 could be an adjustable throttle 50 so that an operator can adjust the duration of the condensate drain by adjusting the throttle 50. However, in the compressor device 10 is another Concept chosen. Instead of an adjustable throttle 50, an exhaust port 51 is provided with a suitably calibrated diameter. The exhaust air opening 51 is arranged, for example, on a control connection 52 of the condensate drain valve 32, to which the exhaust air line connection 47 is connected. It is understood that at least one suitable throttle exhaust port is also possible elsewhere in the exhaust air line connection 47.

The drive device 31 can also be used for discharging condensate from further compressed air storage tanks, for example an additional compressed air storage tank 53. The compressed air storage tank 53 is optionally connectable to the compressor device 10 and is fed via a compressed air line connection, not shown, by the compressor device 12 with compressed air 15. On the discharge side of the compressed air storage tank 53 is connected to the line 34, so that at a respective discharge of condensate, which drives the drive means 31, condensate can also flow from the compressed air storage tank 53 via line 34.

The control device 31 includes, for example, in addition to the pressure switching device 40 and the pressure relief valve 45 and the fluid-operated condensate drain valve 32nd

The condensate evaporator device 35 described in detail below can be used not only for the condensate 30 from one or both compressed air storage tanks 20, 53, but also for condensate 54 of the maintenance devices 22 and an optional additional maintenance device 55, for example a cold dryer 56 , which is connectable to the compressor device 10. The maintenance devices 22, 55 are connected via a connecting piece 57, for example a T-connector, connected together with the drain line 48 for the condensate 30 to an inlet line 58 of the condensate evaporator 35.

The inlet line 58 is performed by the wall element 29 of the capsule housing 36 and opens into an interior 59 of a collecting container 60 for the condensate 30, 54th

The sump 60 has a substantially cubic shape and has a bottom 61 and front and rear side walls 62, 63 and side walls 64, 65 extending therebetween.

The collecting container 60 is covered by a covering device 66, which is permeable to water vapor. The covering device 66 contains a fleece 67, which is arranged between holding lattices 68, 69 of a holding device 70. The holding grid 68 forms a support holding grid, which is placed on the collecting container 60. The support grid 68 rests on support projections 71, which project inwardly in front of the side walls 62-65. For example, the support projections 71 are formed by a kind of frame 72, which rests on the bottom 61 facing away from sides of the side walls 62-65 and there is, for example, welded or glued. Furthermore, it would be possible that at least one of the support projections 71 is formed by an inwardly folded portion of the side walls 62-65.

The upper holding grid 69 is stretched by the resting on the lower support grid 68 fleece 67 against retaining projections 73, 74 on the front and rear side wall 62, 63. The retaining projections project inward of wall portions 75, 76 of the side walls 62, 63 corresponding to the support projections 71, so that the retaining projections 73, 74 are toward the support projections 71 are spaced. In the resulting space between the two grids 68, 69 with the intervening fleece 67th

Replacing the fleece 67, which protects the interior 59 from contamination, is easy. For example, to remove the mat 67, an operator presses on the top 77 of the cover support grid 69 and pushes it back down towards the rear side wall 63. Further, it would be possible for the operator to remove the cover support grid 69 at handle protrusions 78 engages that protrude laterally in front of the front wall portion 75 in the assembled state of the holding grid 69. When pushing or pushing the holding grid 69 to the rear in the direction of the rear side wall 63 slides the rear, narrow side 79 along an inclined surface 80 along. The inclined surface 80 is formed by the wall portion 76 which slopes inwards, i. to the interior 59 out, is inclined. By moving the holding grid 69 along the inclined surface 80, this moves away from the front retaining projection 73 until it finally comes free of this holding projection 73, so that the holding grid 69 can be pivoted upward and the fleece 67 can be removed. A clamping of the fleece 67 runs correspondingly reversed.

For heating the condensate 30, 54, a line section 81 of the compressed air connection 43 is guided from the compressor device 12 to the storage container 20 through the interior 59 of the collecting container 60, so that the condensate 30, 54 located there is heated and evaporated. The resulting water vapor can escape through the fleece 67 and the two grids 68, 69 from the interior 59.

The line section 81 is formed by a tube 82 in the interior 59, which advantageously forms an integral part of Condensate evaporator 35 forms. At the two ends of the tube 82 ports 83 for pipes 84, 85 of the compressed air connection 43 are provided. The terminals 83 are arranged, for example, on the upper wall forming support projections 71 of the two side walls 64, 65. On one of these support projections 71, a passage opening 86 for the condensate inlet line 58 is further provided.

Claims (14)

Compressor device for the production of compressed air (15) for compressed air tools, comprising a compressor device (12) for compressing and generating the compressed air (15), with a compressed air storage container connected to the compressor device (12) via a compressed air connection (43) ( 20) for storing the compressed air (15) in spaced-apart filling operations and with a condensate drain valve (32) for discharging condensate (30) from the compressed air storage tank (20), characterized in that it comprises a drive means (31) for actuating the Condensate drain valve (32) between a condensate (30) passing through position and a condensate (30) non-blocking position, and that the drive means (31) the condensate drain valve (32) in dependence on the filling operations to a discharge of the condensate (30) from the Compressed air storage tank (20) actuated. Compressor device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a fluid line from the drive means (31) to the condensate drain valve (32) for the fluidic, in particular pneumatic, actuation of the condensate drain valve (32). Compressor device according to claim 2, characterized in that the drive means (31) comprises a pressure relief valve (45) for depressurizing the compressor before or after a respective filling operation, and that for actuating the condensate drain valve (32) leads to an exhaust air line connection (47) from the pressure relief valve (45) to the condensate drain valve (32) with exhaust air (46) of the pressure relief valve (45) arising during the pressure relief. Compressor device according to claim 3, characterized in that the pressure relief valve (45) forms part of a pressure switching device (40) for the pressure-dependent switching of the compressed air (15) during filling of the compressed air storage tank (20). Compressor device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that it comprises a throttle (50) at the exhaust air line connection (47) to the condensate drain valve (32) for throttled discharge of the exhaust air (46) from the exhaust air connection (47), wherein the condensate drain valve (32 ) is switched to below the limit pressure of the exhaust air (46) in the blocking position. Compressor device according to claim 5, characterized in that the throttle (50) for setting an opening time of the condensate drain valve (32) is adjustable. Compressor device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the throttle (50) has a particularly calibrated exhaust air opening (51). Compressor device according to claim 7, characterized in that the exhaust air opening (51) is arranged on the condensate drain valve (32). Compressor device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the condensate drain valve (32) is biased in its blocking position. Compressor device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an electrical connection from the drive means (31) to the condensate drain valve (32) for electrically actuating the condensate drain valve (32). Compressor device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive device (31) comprises a pressure switching device (40) for pressure-dependent switching of the compressed air (15) during filling of the compressed-air storage tank (20) or by a pressure switching device (40) a switching signal for actuating the condensate drain valve (32) receives. Compressor device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a condensate evaporator device (35) for evaporating the condensate (30). Compressor device according to claim 12, characterized in that a line section (81) of a compressed air connection (43) from the compressor device (12) to the compressed air storage tank (20) for heating the Kondensatverdunstereinrichtung (35) by the compressor device (12) compressed Compressed air (15) in thermal communication with the condensate evaporator (35). Compressor device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a mobile, in particular a chassis (26) having, compressor device (10).

Images