JPS6143556B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention allows water (or liquid such as oil) to be repeatedly put in and taken out of a closed tank, and when water comes out from the bottom of the tank, the tank is filled with water depending on the amount of water that flows out. Provided is an air compressor in which air is sucked in from the top, the air is compressed as water enters from the bottom of the tank in which the air is confined, and the compressed air is sent to a compressed air storage tank. It is something to do.

Unlike conventional air compressors, the present invention does not have a reciprocating piston or rotor, so
The structure is simple, the price of the entire machine is low, and the cost of maintenance and management is low. Furthermore, when water is used as the working fluid, there is no risk of oil being contained in the compressed air, making an oil separation device unnecessary.

Next, the structure of the present invention will be explained with reference to the embodiment shown in the drawings. 1 and 1 are tanks in which water and air are repeatedly exchanged, 2 is a rotary pump used to exchange water between pressure tanks 1 and 1, 3 is a motor that operates pump 2, and 4 is a pressure tank 1, 1 A storage tank in which compressed air is stored. The pressure tank 1 is sealed, and the top plate 5 is provided with an inlet 6 and a compressed air outlet 7, the bottom plate 8 is provided with a water inlet 9 and a water outlet 10, and the inlet 6 has a water outlet. An intake valve 11 is provided which opens inward due to the negative pressure in the pressure tank exiting from the compressed air outlet 7 , and the air sucked into the pressure tank is compressed by water entering from the water inlet 99 at the compressed air outlet 7 . Accordingly, an exhaust valve 12 is provided which opens outwards. Reference numeral 13 denotes an intake pipe connected to the intake port 6, which opens into the atmosphere and has a filter 14 provided at the opening.

15 is a compressed air pipe connecting the compressed air outlet 7 to the storage tank 4; 16 is a water outlet 17 of the rotary pump 2;
The water pipe 16 is branched, one branch pipe 18 is connected to the water inlet 9 of one pressure tank, and the other branch pipe 19 is connected to the water inlet 9 of the other pressure tank. Connected to the water inlet 9, each branch pipe 18, 19 is provided with a switching valve 20, 21, respectively. 22 is a water pipe that connects the water inlet 23 of the rotary pump 2 to the water outlet 10 of the pressure tank, and the water pipe 22 is branched into one branch pipe 24.
is connected to the water outlet 10 of one pressure tank, and the other branch pipe 25 is connected to the water outlet 10 of the other pressure tank.
and each branch pipe 24, 25 has a switching valve 2.
6 and 27 are provided, respectively. 28 is a pressure switch that opens when the pressure in the storage tank rises above a predetermined value and closes when the pressure falls below a predetermined value;
9 is an output cock for taking out compressed air, 30 is a drain, 31 is a motor 3 or a switching valve 20, 2.
This is a control device that controls 1, 26, and 27.

Next, the operation will be explained. First, fill one of the pressure tanks 1, 1, for example, the pressure tank 1 on the right side in the figure with water (it does not necessarily have to be completely filled with water), fill the pressure tank 1 on the left side with air, and then open the switching valve 26. , 21 are opened, and the switching valves 27,
20 is in a closed state and the rotary pump 2 is operated by the motor 3. The water in the pressure tank on the right passes through the switching valve 26, the rotary pump 2, and the switching valve 21, and moves to the pressure tank on the left.As the water moves through the switching valve 26, the rotary pump 2, and the switching valve 21, the pressure inside the pressure tank on the right becomes negative, the intake valve 11 opens, and the atmosphere changes to the pressure on the right. The air is compressed in the left pressure tank, and the compressed air opens the exhaust valve 12 and enters the storage tank 4. When the right pressure tank runs out of water, the rotary pump 2 becomes nearly idle, and the load current of the motor 3 decreases. When a decrease in the load current is sensed, the control device 31 commands to open the switching valves 20 and 27, and after a slight delay, commands to close the switching valves 21 and 26.

When the switching valves 20 and 27 are opened, the water in the pressure tank on the left momentarily flows to the branch pipes 19 and 18 and the branch pipes 25 and 2.
4 into the pressure tank on the right. Note that the switching valves 21 and 26 are closed by switching valve 2.
Although it is not necessarily necessary to delay the opening of 0.27 by a moment, it is effective in protecting the rotary pump. Next, due to the blockage of the switching valves 21 and 26, the water in the left pressure tank is moved to the right pressure tank by the rotary pump 2, and the intake valve 11 is opened in the left pressure tank (the exhaust valve 12 is already closed). (closed), atmospheric suction takes place, air compression takes place in the right pressure tank, and the compressed air enters the storage tank 4 by opening the exhaust valve 12. In this way, the exchange of water between the pressure tanks 1 and 1 is repeated, and both pressure tanks alternately suck in atmospheric air and perform compression, and the compressed air is sent to the storage tank 4. When the pressure inside the storage tank 4 rises above a predetermined pressure, the pressure switch 28 is activated to stop the movement of water by the rotary pump 2 and stop the operation of the compressor, and when the pressure falls below the predetermined value, the rotary pump starts operating again. 2, the movement of water is carried out. Although the motor of the rotary pump may be temporarily stopped as a means of temporarily stopping the operation of the compressor, it is also possible to open all of the switching valves 20, 21, 26, and 27, or to open the branch pipes 24, 25. Close the switching valves 26 and 27 of the branch pipes 18 and 19.
It is preferable to open 0,21.

In addition, in the above explanation, a switching timing command device was described that detects when the pressure tank is full or water-depleted, that is, when the switching valve is switched, from the decrease in motor load current due to idle running of the rotary pump 2. However, there are two points in the drawing. As shown by the chain line, a liquid level detector 32 is installed at the upper part of the pressure tank, or a liquid level detector 33 is installed at the lower part of the pressure tank to detect the upper limit or lower limit of the liquid level, and the detection signal is used to detect the upper limit or lower limit of the liquid level. The switching valve may be switched in the same manner as described above. Alternatively, the timing of switching may be commanded by a timer that is set in advance for the time required from full water to water shortage in accordance with the capacity of the pressure tank and the capacity of the rotary pump, without relying on detection.

Furthermore, if water is used as the working fluid and the pressure tank is operated continuously for a long period of time, it is conceivable that the water in the pressure tank will gradually evaporate and decrease. To prevent this, pressure tanks 1, 1, water pipes 16, 22, branch pipes 18, 19,
24, 25, or a portion thereof, is designed to increase heat radiation, or a water outlet 34 is provided at the bottom of the storage tank, a replenishment water port 35 is provided in the pressure tank, and both water ports 34, 35 are provided. They are connected by a water pipe 36, and a solenoid valve 37 is provided in the water pipe 36.
The solenoid valve 37 is normally closed, and each liquid level detector detects that there is no water in the liquid level detector 33 of the left pressure tank and that the liquid level has not reached the liquid level detector 32 of the right pressure tank. If confirmed, the solenoid valve 37 can be controlled to open through the control device, and the water (drainage) accumulated in the storage tank can be replenished into the pressure tank.

As explained above, the present invention is an air compressor that operates quietly and efficiently, and can obtain compressed air that does not contain any oil by using water, and is particularly suitable for medical food processing. be. Of course, it is possible to use a liquid other than water if necessary, and both high-pressure and low-pressure air compressors can be manufactured at low cost.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings are explanatory views for explaining embodiments of the present invention. 1...Pressure tank, 2...Rotary pump, 3...Motor, 4...Storage tank, 6...Intake port, 7...Compressed air outlet, 9...Water inlet, 10...Water outlet, 11...Intake valve, 12...Exhaust valve, 13...Intake pipe, 15...Compressed air pipe, 16...Water pipe, 17...Water outlet, 18, 19...
Branch pipe, 20, 21...Switching valve, 22...Water pipe, 23
...Water inlet, 24, 25... Branch pipe, 26, 27... Switching valve.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Pressure tanks 1, 1 in which water and air are repeatedly exchanged are provided, a rotary pump 2 is provided for use in exchanging water between both pressure tanks 1, 1, and both pressure tanks 1 are provided. , each top plate of 1 is provided with an intake port and a compressed air outlet, each bottom plate is provided with a water inlet and a water outlet, and the intake port is provided with an intake valve that opens inward due to negative pressure in the pressure tank,
The compressed air outlet is provided with an exhaust valve that opens outward due to the pressure in the pressure tank, the intake pipe connected to the intake port is opened to the atmosphere, and the compressed air pipe connected to the compressed air outlet is connected to the compressed air storage tank. , the rotary pump 2
Branch the water pipe connected to the water outlet, connect one branch pipe to the water inlet of one pressure tank 1, and connect the other branch pipe to the water inlet of the other pressure tank 1,
The water pipe connected to the water intake of the pump 2 is branched, one of the branch pipes is connected to the water outlet of one pressure tank 1, and the other branch pipe is connected to the water outlet of the other pressure tank 1. A switching valve is installed in each branch pipe,
A switching timing command device is provided to switch these four switching valves when the pressure tank is full or out of water, and between both pressure tanks 1, water in one pressure tank 1 is alternately replaced with the other pressure tank 1, The intake valve opens and air is sucked into the pressure tank 1 from which the water comes out, and the air being sucked into the pressure tank 1 from which the water enters is compressed, and the compressed air opens the exhaust valve. An air compressor, characterized in that the compressed air is delivered to a storage tank. 2. In the air compressor according to claim 1, the switching timing command device controls whether the pressure tank is full or not.
It operates when the load current decreases due to idle rotation of the rotary pump during water shortages. 3. The air compressor according to claim 1, in which the switching timing command device is provided in the pressure tank and is activated by a signal from a liquid level detector that detects the upper limit or lower limit of the liquid level.