PISTOL-GRIP STYLE ELECTRIC AIR PUMP TOOLS

Abstract

A pistol-grip style tool that includes an air pump driven by an electric motor, and a trigger operably coupled to the motor to operate the motor. The tool may also include a reservoir that removably couples to the air pump, and be adapted to receive a removable power source, such as a battery pack. The tool may be used to perform tests and diagnostics on systems or parts within a vehicle or other machine.

Claims

1. A tool comprising: a pistol-grip style housing adapted to receive a removable power source; a motor disposed in the housing; a trigger operably coupled to the motor and adapted to control operation of the motor; an air pump operably coupled to the motor; and a reservoir removably coupled to the air pump.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein the air pump includes a pump connection.

3. The tool of claim 2, wherein the pump connection is in fluid communication with the reservoir.

4. The tool of claim 1, wherein the reservoir is adapted to couple to a fluid system.

5. The tool of claim 4, wherein when the reservoir is coupled to the fluid system, the tool and fluid system cooperatively form a pressure-closed environment.

6. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a tube adapted to fluidly connect the air pump and the reservoir.

7. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a tube coupled to the reservoir and adapted to releasably couple to a fluid system.

8. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a switching valve adapted to selectively control the air pump between vacuum and pressure states.

9. The tool of claim 8, wherein the switching valve is coupled to the reservoir by a fitting.

10. The tool of claim 8, wherein the switching valve is disposed between the reservoir and the air pump.

11. The tool of claim 8, wherein the reservoir is disposed between the switching valve and air pump.

12. The tool of claim 8, wherein the switching valve is coupled to the reservoir by a tube.

13. The tool of claim 10, wherein the switching valve is coupled to the air pump by a tube.

14. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a bleeder valve.

15. The tool of claim 14, wherein the bleeder valve is disposed between the reservoir and air pump.

16. The tool of claim 14, wherein the reservoir is disposed between the bleeder valve and air pump.

17. The tool of claim 1, wherein the reservoir includes a chamber for collecting material.

18. The tool of claim 17, wherein the reservoir includes a first connector adapted to couple to the air pump, and a second connector adapted to couple to a fluid system to cooperatively form a pressure-closed environment.

19. The tool of claim 18, wherein the first connector is coupled to a tube, and the tube is coupled to a pump connection of the air pump.

20. The tool of claim 18, wherein the second connector is coupled to a tube, and the tube is adapted to couple to the fluid system.

21. The tool of claim 1, wherein the reservoir is connected in series with the air pump and a fluid system to cooperatively form a pressure closed environment.

22. A tool comprising: a housing including a trigger in electrical communication with a motor, the housing is adapted to receive a removable power source; an air pump adapted to be powered by and removably coupled to the motor and including a pump connection; and a reservoir having a chamber and first and second connectors; wherein the first connector is coupled to the pump connection and the second connector is adapted to couple to a fluid system to cooperatively form a pressure closed environment.

23. The tool of claim 22, further comprising a switching valve adapted to selectively control an output of the air pump to either one of either a vacuum or a pressure building states.

24. The tool of claim 22, further comprising a bleeder valve adapted to modify pressure produced by the air pump without disconnecting the tool from the fluid system and maintaining the pressure closed environment.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0006] For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected, there is illustrated in the accompanying drawing embodiments thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with the following description, the subject matter sought to be protected, its construction and operation, and many of its advantages, should be readily understood and appreciated.

[0007] FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplar pistol-grip style electric air pump tool, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0008] FIG. 2 is a top view of the exemplar tool of FIG. 1.

[0009] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the exemplar tool of FIG. 1.

[0010] FIG. 4 is a side view of an exemplar pistol-grip style electric air pump tool with components connected via tubing, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] FIG. 5 is a side view of an exemplar pistol-grip style electric air pump tool including one or more valves, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] While the present invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, embodiments of the invention, including a preferred embodiment, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the present invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to any one or more embodiments illustrated herein. As used herein, the term present invention is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but is instead used to discuss exemplary embodiments of the invention for explanatory purposes only.

[0013] The present invention relates broadly to a pistol-grip style tool that includes an air pump driven by an electric motor, and a trigger operably coupled to the motor to operate the motor. The tool may also include a reservoir that selectively and removably couples, one at a time, to first and second pump connections of the air pump, and that is adapted to receive a removable power source, such as a battery pack. The tool may be used, for example, to perform tests and diagnostics on systems or parts within a vehicle or other machine. For example, the tool may be used to perform diagnostics on a manifold or wastegate of an automobile, and/or bleed fluid systems of an automobile. The reservoir of the tool limits contamination of the motor and/or the air pump by collecting fluid. The tool also reduces hand fatigue, and increases the number of vehicles or other machines that can be tested and/or inspected in a set period of time.

[0014] In use, the tool 100 may couple to a fluid system and form a pressure closed environment, which is capable of receiving fluid (such as air/gas or liquid) to form a pressure state (i.e., localized increase in fluid pressure) or lacking fluid to form a vacuum state. The fluid system may be any component of a machine containing a hollow body and may contain gas, fluid, solid debris, or a combination thereof, where the fluid system can be isolated from an outside/exterior environment when releasably coupled to the tool. The machine may be without limitation an automobile, a plane, a lawn mower, an engine, an HVAC, a refrigerator, or the like. Without limitation, examples of a fluid system include a manifold, a brake system, and the like.

[0015] When the tool is used to generate a pressure state in the fluid system, the air pump pumps air into and locally increases pressure within the fluid system. When the tool is used to generate a vacuum state in the fluid system, the air pump pulls air out of the fluid system along with any locally contained material content (e.g., gas, fluids, debris, or a combination thereof). As examples, the tool may be used to diagnose problems relating to an intake manifold or a wastegate, and bleed automotive fluids (e.g., brake fluid) from a brake system.

[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a tool 100 includes a housing 102 (also referred to as a tool housing), a motor 104 disposed in the housing 102, an air pump 106 coupled to the housing 102 at a front or working end of the tool 100 and operably coupled with the motor 104, a reservoir 110 operably coupled with the air pump 106, and a trigger 108 electrically coupled with the motor 104 and adapted to operate the motor 104 and thereby the air pump 106.

[0017] The housing 102 is illustrated as a pistol-grip style housing. In an embodiment, the housing 102 is a clamshell-type housing having first and second housing portions that are mirror images of each other and coupled together via fasteners to cooperatively form the housing 102. In another embodiment, the housing 102 (including the first and second housing portions) may be a single integrated or monolithic piece. When the housing is a pistol-grip style housing, the housing 102 may include a motor housing portion 112 and a handle housing portion 114. The handle housing portion 114 may extend from the motor housing portion 112 to a power source receiving end 116 adapted to receive and couple to a power source, such as a removable battery pack 118, for providing power to the tool 100. In an embodiment, the motor housing portion 112 and handle housing portion 114 may be disposed at an angle relative to each other, thus forming a pistol-grip type tool. For example, in an embodiment, a longitudinal axis of the motor housing portion 112 and a longitudinal axis of the handle housing portion 114 may be disposed at an angle of about 100 to about 120 degrees, and preferably about 110 degrees relative to each other.

[0018] To operably couple to a removable battery pack 118, the tool 100 may include power receiving terminals 122 that are accessible within the power source receiving end 116 and adapted to electrically couple to corresponding power terminals of the removable battery pack 118 when the removable battery pack 118 is disposed or received in the power source receiving end 116 of the tool 100. The power source receiving end 116 may be adapted to receive a removable battery pack 118 and retain the removable battery pack 118 in place, such as via a latching mechanism as known in the art, until the removable battery pack 118 is selectively released from the power source receiving end 116. In other embodiments, power source receiving end 116 may contain a power source adapter such as a male or female end of a power cord to allow the tool 100 to connect to an external electrical outlet.

[0019] The motor 104 is disposed in and supported in the motor housing portion 112, and operably coupled to the trigger 108 via control electronics and/or a switching mechanism. The motor 104 may be a brushless DC (BLDC) or a brushed-type motor, or any other suitable motor (e.g., pneumatically or hydraulically operated or AC operated motor). The motor 104 may be operably coupled to the air pump 106. Thus, actuation of the trigger 108 by a user (such as depression of the trigger 108) causes the motor 104 to operate and operate the air pump 106.

[0020] The tool 100 may also include additional components. For example, and without limitation, the tool 100 may include electronic components, such as control electronics and a switching mechanism that are operably coupled to and adapted to control the motor 104. For example, the control electronics may include a printed circuit board (PCB) including one or more switching elements disposed thereon. The switching elements may be field-effect transistors (FETs), such as, for example, metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs). In an embodiment, the switching elements may include three high-side switching elements, H1, H2, and H3, and three low-side switching elements, L1, L2, and L3, each being operable in either one of a first or conducting state and a second or non-conducting state. The switching elements are controlled by the PCB to selectively apply power from a power source (e.g., a battery pack) to the motor 104 to achieve desired commutation. By selectively activating particular high-side and low-side switching elements, the motor 104 is operated by having the control electronics send a current signal through coils located on a stationary part of the motor 104 called a stator. The coils cause a magnetic force to be applied to a rotating part of the motor 104, called a rotor, when current runs through the coils. The rotor contains permanent magnets that interact with the magnetic forces caused by the windings of the stator. By selectively activating successive combinations of high and low-side switching elements in a particular order, thereby sending a particular order of current signals through the windings of the stator, the stator creates a rotating magnetic field which interacts with the rotor causing it to rotate.

[0021] The switch mechanism, such as switch mechanism 120, may be disposed in the motor housing portion 112 or handle housing portion 114, and is operably coupled to the power source (such as a battery), the trigger 108, and the motor 104 via the control electronics. In an embodiment, the trigger 108 is disposed substantially at an intersection of the handle and motor housing portions 112 and 114, and is operably coupled to the switch mechanism 120. Actuation of the trigger 108 (such as depression of the trigger 108) causes the motor 104 to operate. In an embodiment, the trigger 108 may also be biased such that the trigger 108 is depressible inwardly, relative to the tool 100, to cause the tool 100 to operate, and a release of the trigger 108 causes the trigger 108 to move outwardly, relative to the tool 100, to cease operation of the tool 100 via the biased nature of the trigger 108.

[0022] The trigger 108 and switch mechanism 120 may also be a variable speed type mechanism. In this regard, actuation or depression of the trigger 108 can cause the motor 104 to operate at a faster speed the further the trigger 108 is depressed. In this manner, the trigger 108 and switch mechanism 120 may be used to control a strength of an output of the air pump 106 in either one of a vacuum building state or a pressure building state.

[0023] The air pump 106 is adapted to be powered by and removably coupled to the motor 104 and includes first and second pump connections 124, 126. The air pump 106 may be physically coupled to or separated from the motor 104. In some embodiments, the air pump 106 is operably coupled to and in fluid communication with the reservoir 110. For example, each of the first and second pump connections 124, 126 may be removably coupled, one at a time, to the reservoir 110, either directly, via tubing (such as via tubing 128 (which may include one or more tubes) shown in FIG. 4), via a switching and/or bleeder valve (such as valve 130 shown in FIG. 5), or via the tubing 128 and valve 130, or any combination thereof.

[0024] One of the first and second pump connections 124, 126 may be adapted to output air (i.e., pump air out), and the other of the first and second pump connections 124, 126 may be adapted to pull air in. The tool 100 may also be selectively switched between which one of the first and second pump connections 124, 126 is operably coupled to the reservoir 110. For example, in a vacuum building state, the first or second pump connection 124, 126 that is adapted to pull air in may be operably coupled to the reservoir 110. Similarly, in a pressure building state, the first or second pump connection 124, 126 that is adapted to output air may be operably coupled to the reservoir 110.

[0025] The reservoir 110 may be adapted to couple to the air pump 106 and to a fluid system to cooperatively form a pressure-closed environment. The reservoir 110 may be removably coupled to the air pump 106 and includes a chamber 132, a first reservoir connector 134, and a second reservoir connector 136. For example, the first reservoir connector 134 may be removably coupled to the first or second pump connection 124, 126 of the air pump 106, either directly, via tubing (such as via tubing 128 shown in FIG. 4), via a switching and/or bleeder valve (such as valve 130 shown in FIG. 5), or via the tubing 128 and valve 130, or any combination thereof. In an example, the first pump connection 124 is adapted to pull air in, and the second pump connection 126 is adapted to output air. Thus, in this example, when the tool 100 is used in the vacuum building state, the first reservoir connector 134 is removably coupled to the first pump connection 124. When the tool 100 is to be switched to use in the pressure building state, the first reservoir connector 134 is removed from the first pump connection 124 and removably coupled to the second pump connection 126.

[0026] The second connector 136 may be adapted to couple to the fluid system, either directly, via tubing (such as via tubing 138 shown in FIG. 4), via a switching and/or bleeder valve (such as valve 140 shown in FIG. 5), or via the tubing 138 and valve 140, or any combination thereof to cooperatively form a pressure closed environment. When the reservoir 110 is operably connected with the air pump 106 via the tubing 128, the reservoir 110 may be movable independently of the air pump 106. Similarly, when the reservoir 110 is operably connected with the fluid system via the tubing 138, the tool 100 and reservoir 110 may be movable independently of the fluid system.

[0027] As illustrated, the reservoir 110 is coupled in series with the air pump 106 and adapted to be coupled to the fluid system to cooperatively form a pressure-closed environment. The chamber 132 of the reservoir 110 may be a hollow bodied space for collecting material from the fluid system, and may be located below the first and second connectors 134, 136. In this manner, when the tool 100 is operated is a vacuum state, and material (e.g., fluid, gas, debris, or a combination thereof) is collected from the fluid system, the material is collected in the chamber 132 and does not flow into the air pump 106. This reduces a risk of the air pump 106 becoming contaminated during use. In some embodiments, at least one filter may be coupled to the first connector 134 or the second connector 136 to further reduce the risk of the air pump 106 becoming contaminated during use. The chamber 132 may be formed of inert material and may be removable to allow for any material collected in the chamber 132 to be emptied and properly disposed of.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 5, the tool 100 may further include a first valve 130 adapted to selectively control the air pump 106 between vacuum and pressure building states. In this manner, the first valve 130 may include first and second valve inputs, with one of the valve inputs coupled to the first pump connection 124 and the other of the valve inputs coupled to the second pump connection 126, and a valve output coupled to the reservoir 110. The first valve 130 may include a selector type of switch or lever that is movable between vacuum and pressure building states. For example, using the example described above where the first pump connection 124 is adapted to pull air in and the second pump connection 126 is adapted to output air, the selector type of switch or lever may be moved to operably couple the first pump connection 124 to the reservoir 110 when in the vacuum building state, and moved to operably couple the second pump connection 126 to the reservoir 110 when in the pressure building state.

[0029] The first valve 130 may be coupled to the reservoir 110 by a fitting or other known connection means. The first valve 130 may be disposed between the reservoir 110 and the air pump 106. In some embodiments, the reservoir 110 is disposed between the first valve 130 and the air pump 106. The first valve 130 may be coupled to the reservoir 110 either directly or via tubing. Similarly, the first valve 130 may be coupled to the air pump 106 either directly or via tubing.

[0030] The tool 100 may also include a second valve 140 that may act as a bleeder-type of valve, and include one or more valve inputs and one or more valve outputs,. The second valve 140 may be adapted to modify pressure formed by the air pump 106 without disconnecting the tool 100 from the fluid system and the created pressure closed environment. The second valve 140 may be coupled to the reservoir 110 by a fitting or other known connection means. The second valve 140 may be disposed between the reservoir 110 and the fluid system. In some embodiments, the second valve 140 is disposed between the reservoir 110 and the air pump 106. The second valve 140 may be coupled to the reservoir 110 and/or air pump 106 either directly or via tubing.

[0031] In the present disclosure, two or more components (such as the air pump 106, reservoir 110, and valves 130, 140) may be coupled together using one or more tubes. The tube(s) may be rigid or flexible and may be made of a metal, a polymer, or any combination thereof.

[0032] As used herein, the term coupled and its functional equivalents are not intended to necessarily be limited to direct, mechanical coupling of two or more components. Instead, the term coupled and its functional equivalents are intended to mean any direct or indirect mechanical, electrical, magnetic, or other type of connection between two or more objects, features, work pieces, and/or environmental matter. Coupled is also intended to mean, in some examples, one object being integral with another object. As used herein, the term a or one may include one or more items unless specifically stated otherwise.

[0033] The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. While particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects of the inventors'contribution. The actual scope of the protection sought is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.