Fluid powered air compressor

Claim 2

In a fluid powered air compressor receiving pressurized fluid from a source, a cyclically operable control valve, first and second interconnected pistons operating in respective first and second cylindrical chambers, means supplying fluid from said control valve to the first and second pistons respectively, first and second air compressor assemblies each including a diaphragm, said diaphragm dividing each compressor into fluid and air chambers on opposite sides thereof, means connecting said first and second pistons with the fluid chambers of said first and second air compressor assemblies respectively so as to define complementary connected volumes for the pairs of pistons and compressors respectively, means connecting said air chambers of said compressor assemblies with a receiver storing compressed air, one-way discharge valves connected in said means controlling flow from each of said compressor assemblies to said receiver, a source of inlet air, means connecting said air source to said air chambers, one-way inlet valves connected between the air chambers of said air compressor assemblies respectively and said air source supplying air thereto as required and means biasing said control valve to a first position wherein the pressurized fluid flows through said control valve from said supply means against said first piston shifting the same pressurizing fluid on the opposite side thereof and discharging into said first air compressor fluid chamber flexing the diaphragm therein, said diaphragm thereby compressing air passing through said discharge valve for storage in said receiver, said second piston moving to withdraw fluid from said second air compressor fluid chamber flexing its diaphragm drawing air from said air source, means selectively connecting the source of pressurized fluid with an end of said control valve and exhausting the fluid therefrom, sufficient piston movement connecting said control valve to the pressurized fluid through said selective connecting means, said control valve moving in response to the pressurized fluid to a position directing the pressurized fluid through said valve against said second piston, said second piston moving to flex the diaphragm in said second compressor assembly pressurizing air in its air chamber which exits through its discharge valve to the receiver while said first piston simultaneously flexes the diaphragm in said first compressor assembly drawing inlet air into its air chamber from said air source, movement of said first piston ultimately reaching a position exhausting the pressurized fluid from the end of said control valve through said means selectively connecting the source of pressurized fluid with the end of said valve thereby allowing the valve to return to its normal position for initiation of a new cycle of operation.

Claim 3

In a fluid powered air compressor including a housing receiving pressurized fluid from a source, a cyclically operable control valve, means biasing said valve to a first position, first and second cylinders in said housing, first and second interconnected pistons respectively received in said cylinders, means connecting said control valve independently to one of said first and second cylinders so as to apply pressurized fluid against one of said pistons, first and second air compressor assemblies each including a cavity, a diaphragm in each of said cavities defining a fluid chamber on one side thereof and an air chamber on the other side thereof, means connecting said first and second cylinders on one side of said pistons respectively with the fluid chambers of said first and second air compressor assemblies defining complementary connected volumes for the pairs of pistons and compressors respectively, means connecting each of said compressor air chambers with a receiver storing compressed air, one-way discharge valves connected in said means connecting said air chambers with said receiver controlling flow of compressed air from each of said compressors to said receiver, a source of inlet air, means controlling flow of air between said source and said respective air chambers, said first and second pistons moving in their respective cylinders cyclically between air pressurizing strokes reducing said complementary connected volumes and air inlet strokes expanding said volumes, one piston pressurizing air by pumping fluid against and flexing the diaphragm in its respective compressor air chamber discharging the air to said receiver through said discharge valve when said control valve supplies pressurized fluid to said one piston while the other said piston simultaneously draws fluid from its respective compressor fluid chamber flexing the diaphragm drawing air into its respective air chamber, a diaphragm fluid reservoir, conduit means connecting said compressor fluid chambers with said reservoir, fluid pressure limiting valves in said conduit means opening to relieve the pressure in each of said fluid chambers when the respective diaphragms have been actuated to their limit of movement and pressurized fluid continues to be supplied thereto, fluid inlet valves also in said conduit means between said diaphragm fluid reservoir and each of said compressor fluid chambers, said fluid inlet valves each opening admitting fluid to its respective fluid chamber when a respective diaphragm has been moved to its maximum limit during the inlet stroke of its associated piston thereby preventing excessive negative pressure on said diaphragms, said control valve first applying pressurized fluid against said first piston moving it on its air pressurizing stroke pumping fluid to the fluid chamber of said first air compressor compressing air discharged to the receiver, said second piston simultaneously moving on its intake stroke withdrawing fluid from said second air compressor fluid chamber drawing inlet air into said second air compressor, a control valve fluid reservoir, first means connecting said first cylinder to one end of said control valve and to said control valve fluid reservoir, and second means connecting said second cylinder to said control valve and to said control valve fluid reservoir, sufficient movement of said first piston supplying the pressurized fluid in said first cylinder to one end of said control valve through said first means, said control valve moving directing pressurized fluid to said second cylinder against said second piston moving it on its pressurizing stroke while said second piston moves on its air inlet stroke, sufficient movement of said first piston connecting the pressurized fluid on the one end of said control valve to said control valve flUid reservoir through said first connecting means causing said control valve to move to its first position connecting said second cylinder to said control valve fluid reservoir removing the pressurized fluid from said second piston and again supplying the pressurized fluid to said first cylinder beginning a new cycle.

Claim 4

In a fluid powered air compressor including a housing receiving pressurized fluid from a source, a cyclically operable control valve, means biasing said valve to a first position, first and second cylinders in said housing, first and second interconnected pistons respectively received in said cylinders, means connecting said control valve independently to one of said first and second cylinders so as to apply pressurized fluid against one of said pistons, first and second air compressor assemblies each including a cavity, a diaphragm in each of said cavities defining a fluid chamber on one side thereof and an air chamber on the other side thereof, means connecting said first and second cylinders on one side of said pistons respectively with the fluid chambers of said first and second air compressor assemblies defining complementary connected volumes for the pairs of pistons and compressors respectively, means connecting each of said compressor air chambers with a receiver storing compressed air, one-way discharge valves connected in said means connecting said air chambers with said receiver controlling flow of compressed air from each of said compressors to said receiver, a source of inlet air, means controlling flow of air between said source and said respective air chambers, said first and second pistons moving in their respective cylinders cyclically between air pressurizing strokes reducing said complementary connected volumes and air inlet strokes expanding said volumes, one piston pressurizing air by pumping fluid against and flexing the diaphragm in its respective compressor air chamber discharging the air to said receiver through said discharge valve when said control valve supplies pressurized fluid to said one piston while the other said piston simultaneously draws fluid from its respective compressor fluid chamber flexing the diaphragm drawing air into its respective air chamber, a diaphragm fluid reservoir, conduit means connecting said compressor fluid chambers with said reservoir, fluid pressure limiting valves in said conduit means opening to relieve the pressure in each of said fluid chambers when the respective diaphragms have been actuated to their limit of movement and pressurized fluid continues to be supplied thereto, fluid inlet valves also in said conduit means between said diaphragm fluid reservoir and each of said compressor fluid chambers, said fluid inlet valves each opening admitting fluid to its respective fluid chamber when a respective diaphragm has been moved to its maximum limit during the inlet stroke of its associated piston thereby preventing excessive negative pressure on said diaphragms, said control valve first applying pressurized fluid against said first piston moving it on its air pressurizing stroke pumping fluid to the fluid chamber of said first air compressor compressing air discharged to the receiver, said second piston simultaneously moving on its intake stroke withdrawing fluid from said second air compressor fluid chamber drawing inlet air into said second air compressor, a control valve fluid reservoir, first means connecting said first cylinder to one end of said control valve and to said control valve fluid reservoir, and second means connecting said second cylinder to said control valve and to said control valve fluid reservoir, sufficient movement of said first piston supplying the pressurized fluid in said first cylinder to one end of said control valve through said first means, said control valve moving directing pressurized fluid to said second cylinder against said second piston moving it on its pressurizing stroke while said second piston moves on its air inlet stroke, sufficient movement of said first piston connecting the pressurized fluid on the one end of said control valve to said control valve flUid reservoir through said first connecting means causing said control valve to move to its first position connecting said second cylinder to said control valve fluid reservoir removing the pressurized fluid from said second piston and again supplying the pressurized fluid to said first cylinder beginning a new cycle.