Tractor driven air compressor

July 11, 1961

2,991,925

P. W. BROWNE

TRACTOR DRIVEN AIR COMPRESSOR

Filed Jan. 16, 1958

Sheets-Sheet 1

<img file="US2991925A_D0001.tif" />

July 11, 1961

2,991,925

P. W. BROWNE

TRACTOR DRIVEN AIR COMPRESSOR

Filed Jan. 16, 1958

Sheets-Sheet 2

<img file="US2991925A_D0002.tif" />

BY

Qacfiau * V Attorneys

United States Patent Office

2,991,925

Patented July 11, 1961

2,991,925

TRACTOR DRIVEN AIR COMPRESSOR

Paul W. Browne, R.F.D. 2, Roodhouse, III., assignor of fifty-one percent to himself and John C. Andras, jointly, 5 and forty-nine percent to Lloyd Martin and Frank A. Thomas, jointly, all of Winchester, Bl.

Filed Jan. 16, 1958, Ser. No. 709,358 4 Claims. (Cl. 230—38)

The present invention generally relates to an air com- 10 pressor and more particularly to an air compressor which is driven from the power take-off of a conventional tractor or similar vehicle and which is air cooled.

The primary object of the present invention is to- provide an air compressor of the two cylinder type with the ¹⁵cylinders arranged in horizontal position with the compressor adapted to be mounted directly to the tractor and including a structural arrangement which permits air cooling thereof.

A further object of the present invention is to provide ²θ an air compressor in which the intake air of one cylinder is employed for cooling the opposite cylinder.

Yet another feature of the present invention is to provide an air compressor in which a pressure control or pressure relief valve is communicated with the cooling ²⁵chambers for the cylinders for further cooling the compressor and also cleaning out the filters for the incoming air when excessive pressure is released.

Other objects of the present invention will reside in its simplicity of construction, compactness, adaptation for its ³⁰particular purposes and its relatively inexpensive manufacturing and maintenance cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the compressor of the present invention mounted on the drawbar of a tractor together with the pressure tank and an arrangement of tools powered thereby;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the com- pressor; ₄₅

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 3—3 of FIGURE 2 illustrating the details of the compressor;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 4—4 of κθ FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 5—5 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 6 is a detailed sectional view taken substan- 53 tially upon a plane passing along section line 6—6 of FIGURE 3 illustrating the construction of one of the check valves.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the air compressor of the present gp invention which is provided with a supporting bracket 12 adapted to be supported upon a drawbar 14 of a conventional tractor having a power take-off 16. Other support mechanisms may be provided which may be either directly attached to or articulately connected with the trac- @5 tor. The air compressor 10 is communicated with a pressure tank 18 which may be stationarily mounted in any manner and the pressure tank 18 is provided with pressure conduits 20 and 22 which may be connected to a work rotating device designated by the numeral 24 and γθ a sharpening grinder designated by the numeral 26 whereby a disk assembly generally designated by the numeral may be rotated by the work rotator 24 and sharpened by the sharpening device 26. The air compressor may be used with any -type of air motor or for any purpose in which compressed air is desired.

Referring now specifically to FIGURE 3, the numeral 30 designates a crankcase housing having a pair of oppositely extending cylinders 32 and 34 thereon. The crankcase 30 is divided by a vertical line of separation 36 and secured together by fastening bolts 38. Journaled in the crankcase 30 is a crankshaft 40 which is counterbalanced as designated by the numeral 42 and provided with an eccentric crank 44 for connecting to a pair of oppositely extending connecting rods 46 and 48 respectively. The connecting rods 46 and 48 are connected at their outer ends to pistons 50 and 52 each of which are provided with suitable sealing means 54. Each of the cylinders 32 and 34 is provided with a cylinder head 56 secured to the cylinder 32 by cap screws 58 which extend through a peripheral flange on the cylinder head 66 and a peripheral flange on the cylinder 32 or 34.

Adjacent the end of the cylinder 32, there is provided an inlet conduit 60 having a pipe or hose 62 connected thereto and -the other cylinder 34 is provided with a like inlet conduit 64 having a pipe or hose 66 connected thereto. The conduits 60 and 64 are provided with check valves which will permit inflow of air but will prevent exit of air through the conduits.

For permitting exit of air, the cylinder heads 56 are each provided with an adapter conduit 68 connected with a high pressure line 70 with the high pressure line 70 being interconnected at one end of the compressor as clearly shown in FIGURE 1. The tubular adapter 68 is clearly shown in FIGURE 6 and includes a valve seat 72 with the spring urged ball check valve 74 engaged therewith. The check valve 74 will permit exit of air from the cylinder when the pistons move towards the cylinder heads but will prevent reentry of air into the cylinder when the pistons move away from the cylinder heads thus effectively providing a compressor.

Each of the cylinders 32 and 34 is provided with an outer jacket 76 which may be secured -to the cylinder 32 in any suitable and sealed manner and the outer end of the outer jacket 76 is provided with a screw threaded cap 78 which may be attached thereto by any suitable means with the cap 78 being perforated as indicated by the numeral 80. Disposed between the cap 78 and the outer end of the jacket 76 is a pair of copper filters 82 for preventing entry of foreign material with the air into the outer jacket 76 which completely surrounds the cylinders 32 and 34 respectively. As clearly seen in FIGURE 2, the conduit 62 connected with the tubular member 60 is communicated with the outer jacket 76 which surrounds the cylinder 34 while the conduit 66 communicates with the outer jacket 76 which surrounds the cylinder 32. Thus, intake air will be drawn through the aper- tures 80 and filters 82 -into the area between the outer jacket and the cylinders after which the same intake aitwill be drawn into -the intake of the opposite cylinder thus cooling the cylinder as well as providing intake air for' the opposite cylinder.

Mounted on the crankcase 30 or in any desired position;, is a dome shaped pressure relief or control valve designated by the numeral 84 which has a conduit 86 extending to the pressure tank and an inlet conduit 88 extending from the discharge conduit 70. Also provided on the pressure relief valve 84 is a cross over conduit 90 communicating with the chamber between the outer jacket 36 and the cylinders for further cooling the cylinders by forcing air therethrough when a predetermined pressure has been exceeded and also for blowing out or cleaning the filters by causing reverse air flow therethrough. For

2,901,925 purposes of assembly, the crankcase 30 is provided with a pair of removable circular end plates 92 which journal the crank shaft 40 in bearings 94 and also a grease retainer or seal 96 may be provided in encircling relation to the crankshaft 40.

For driving the crankshaft 40, there is provided a conventional telescopic drive shaft 97 equipped with a pair of universal joints 98 and 100 respectively. Various minor structural details have not been illustrated since they may vary in each individual installation. 10

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, 15 and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.