Pneumatic lighting apparatus

• US 5,267,129 A
• Filed: 07/24/1992
• Issued: 11/30/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Air Tight LLC, Martech (Honeywell International Inc.), Pro-Dex, Inc.
• Original Assignee: PNU-Light Tool Works, Inc. (Pro-Dex, Inc.)
• Inventors: Anderson, Marty J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cole, Richard R.
• Application Number:
  US07/919,530
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 362/119, 362/120, 362/192, 362/193, 362/96
• US Class Current: 362/96
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/088 Illuminating devices or attachments for examination of the mouth A61B1/24 and A61B1/06
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/021 with guiding devices guiding devices for hand tools on stands or supports B25H1/0078
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 13/02 with fluid drive
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/04 the power supply being a generator

Abstract

A pneumatic lighting apparatus for use with a pneumatically driven tool includes a pneumatic motor driven by compressed air, and an electrical generator that is driven by the mechanical output of the motor for generating an electrical current. A lamp is provided in a circuit with the generator for emitting light adapted to be directed onto an area in which the tool is being used. A conduit is provided which is connected between the outlet of the motor and an inlet of the tool in order to deliver compressed air from the apparatus to the tool. In order to permit control of the lighting apparatus independent of operation of the tool, a control valve is provided for controlling the flow of compressed air through the motor, and an exhaust valve controls the flow of compressed air between the conduit and an exhaust.

Claims

1. A pneumatic lighting apparatus comprising:

a lamp;

an electrical generator for generating electrical current in response to a mechanical input;

an electrical circuit connecting the generator with the lamp for energizing the lamp when current is available from the generator;

a pneumatic motor for providing the mechanical input to the generator;

a valve means for selectively directing compressed air through the motor to drive the motor; and

a ventilation manifold for exhausting compressed air from the apparatus after the compressed air has passed through the pneumatic motor, the ventilation manifold including a plurality of holes for directing the air exhausted from the apparatus, and being movable relative to the lamp so that the direction in which the air is exhausted may be changed.

2. A pneumatic lighting apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the pneumatic motor includes a turbine provided with an axial shaft and a plurality of turbine blades extending radially outward from the shaft, the apparatus further comprising drive means for directing compressed air across the blades to carry out rotary drive of the axial shaft.

3. A pneumatic lighting apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the electrical generator includes at least one stator coil and a rotor shaft movable relative to the coil and provided with a permanent magnet for generating a current in the coil during rotation of the rotor shaft.

4. A pneumatic lighting apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the pneumatic motor includes a turbine provided with an axial shaft and a plurality of turbine blades radially outward from the shaft, and the electrical generator includes at least one stator coil and a rotor shaft that is rotatable relative to the coil, the axial shaft of the motor and the rotor shaft of the electrical generator being collinear.

5. A pneumatic lighting apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein the axial shaft of the motor and the rotor shaft are unitary.

9. A pneumatic lighting apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the pneumatic motor includes a turbine provided with an axial shaft and a plurality of turbine blades extending radially outward from the shaft, and the electrical generator includes at least one stator coil that is fixed relative to the generator housing and a rotor shaft that is rotatable relative to the coil, the axial shaft of the motor and the rotor shaft of the electrical generator being collinear.

10. A pneumatic lighting apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein the axial shaft of the motor and the rotor shaft are unitary.

6. A pneumatic lighting apparatus for use with a pneumatically driven tool provided with an air inlet, the apparatus comprising:

a lamp for emitting light adapted to be directed onto an area in which the tool is being used;

generator housing including an inlet adapted for connection to a source of compressed air, an outlet, and an exhaust;

a conduit for connecting the outlet of the housing with the air inlet of the tool to deliver compressed air from the apparatus to the tool;

a pneumatic motor in the housing connected between

the inlet and the outlet, the motor being driven by compressed air passing through the apparatus and providing a mechanical output;

an electrical generator that is driven by the mechanical output of the motor for generating electrical current;

an electrical circuit including the generator and the lamp for supplying electricity to the lamp;

a control valve means for controlling the flow of compressed air through the motor; and

an exhaust valve means for controlling the flow of compressed air from the exhaust, the exhaust valve means permitting compressed air to flow from the exhaust when the tool is not in use so that the lighting apparatus may be used independent of the tool.

7. A pneumatic lighting apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the pneumatic motor includes a turbine provided with an axial shaft and a plurality of turbine blades extending radially outward from the shaft, the apparatus further comprising drive means for directing compressed air across the blades to carry out rotary drive of the axial shaft.

8. A pneumatic lighting apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the electrical generator includes at least one stator coil that is fixed relative to the generator housing, and a rotor shaft movable relative to the coil and provided with a permanent magnet for generating a current in the coil during rotation of the rotor shaft.

11. A pneumatic lighting apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the conduit is rigid and is adapted to provide mechanical support of the apparatus on the tool.

12. A pneumatic lighting apparatus as recited in claim 6, further comprising carrying means for permitting the apparatus to be carried by a user.

13. A pneumatic lighting apparatus as recited in claim 6, further comprising mounting means for mounting the apparatus on the tool and for permitting removal of the apparatus from the tool.

14. A pneumatic lighting apparatus as recited in claim 6, further comprising means for mounting the lamp on the tool and for directing light emitted by the light onto the area in which the tool is being used.

15. A pneumatic lighting apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the lamp is supported on the generator housing, the apparatus further comprising an elongated optic fiber having first and second ends, a connection means for connecting the first end of the optic fiber to the housing and coupling the fiber with the lamp so that light emitted by the lamp is transmitted through the optic fiber and a mounting means for mounting the second end of the optic fiber on the tool so that the light transmitted through the fiber may be directed onto the area in which the tool is being used.

16. A pneumatic lighting apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the mounting means includes a removable clip which allows attachment and detachment of the second end of the optic fiber on the tool.

17. A pneumatic lighting apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the mounting means includes a removable clip which allows attachment and detachment of the lamp on the tool.

18. A pneumatic lighting apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the circuit includes a transformer for converting the current generated by the electrical generator into direct current, and a battery for storing the direct current.

19. A pneumatic lighting apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the exhaust valve means includes a check valve that automatically releases compressed air from the housing when the pressure of the air exceeds a predetermined value.

20. A pneumatic tool comprising:

a housing including an inlet adapted for connection to a source of compressed air, and an exhaust means for exhausting compressed air from the housing;

a first pneumatic motor in the housing connected between the inlet and the exhaust means, and being driven by compressed air;

an output shaft supported on the housing and driven by the first pneumatic motor;

a second pneumatic motor in the housing connected between the inlet and the exhaust means, and being driven by compressed air to provide a mechanical output;

an electrical generator that is driven by the mechanical output of the motor for generating electrical current;

a lamp supported on the housing;

an electrical circuit connecting the generator and the lamp for supplying electricity to the lamp; and

a control valve means for controlling the flow of compressed air through the first and second motors.

21. A pneumatic tool as recited in claim 20, wherein the second pneumatic motor includes a turbine provided with an axial shaft and a plurality of turbine blades extending radially outward from the shaft, the apparatus further comprising drive means for directing compressed air across the blades to carry out rotary drive of the axial shaft.

22. A pneumatic tool as recited in claim 20, wherein the electrical generator includes at least one stator coil that is fixed relative to the housing, and a rotor shaft movable relative to the coil and provided with a permanent magnet for generating a current in the coil during rotation of the rotor shaft.

23. A pneumatic tool as recited in claim 20, wherein the second pneumatic motor includes a turbine provided with an axial shaft and a plurality of turbine blades extending radially outward from the shaft, and the electrical generator includes at least one stator coil that is fixed relative to the housing and a rotor shaft that is rotatable relative to the coil, the axial shaft of the motor and the rotor shaft of the electrical generator being collinear.

24. A pneumatic tool as recited in claim 23, wherein the axial shaft of the second motor and the rotor shaft are unitary.

25. A pneumatic tool as recited in claim 20, wherein the circuit includes a transformer for converting the current generated by the electrical generator into direct current, and a battery for storing the direct current.

26. A pneumatic tool as recited in claim 20, wherein the exhaust means includes a check valve that automatically releases compressed air from the housing when the pressure of the air exceeds a predetermined value.