Fluid compressor with movable hose reel assembly

• US 6,027,320 A
• Filed: 02/24/1998
• Issued: 02/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Clark Equipment Company (Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Smith, Donald G., Rowe, David F. Jr., Keaton, William G., Hendrix, Dean P.
• Primary Examiner(s): FREAY, CHARLES GRANT
• Application Number:
  US09/028,967
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 417/234, 417/313, 417/577, 248/79, 248/82, 239/195, 239/197, 137/355.12, 137/355.26
• US Class Current: 417/572
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 41/00 Pumping installations or systems specially adapted for elastic fluids free-piston pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids or systems incorporating such pumps F04B31/00; piston pumps specially adapted for elastic fluids and characterised by the driving means to their working members, or by combination with, or adaptation to, specific driving engines or motors, not otherwise provided for F04B35/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6954 Reel with support therefor

Abstract

A fluid compressor comprising a compression module for producing a compressed fluid, said compression module being enclosed in a compressor housing having a first side; and a hose reel assembly movably attached to the compressor housing, the hose reel assembly movable between a first position where the hose reel is adjacent the first side of the compressor housing and a second position wherein the hose reel assembly is located away from the first compressor housing side. The hose reel assembly may be moved to the second position away from the first housing side by swinging the hose reel assembly up away from the first side or pivoting the hose reel assembly to the side of the compressor.

Claims

1. A fluid compressor comprising:

a) a compression module for producing a compressed fluid, said compression module being enclosed in a compressor housing having a first side; and

b) a hose reel assembly movably attached to the compressor housing, the hose reel assembly movable between a first position where the hose reel is adjacent the first side of the compressor housing and a second position wherein the hose reel assembly is located away from the first compressor housing side.

2. The fluid compressor as claimed in claim 1 wherein the compressor housing includes a second housing side, the hose reel assembly being attached to the second compressor housing side.

3. The fluid compressor as claimed in claim 2 wherein the second compressor housing side is a longitudinal side of the housing.

4. The fluid compressor as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hose reel assembly is attached to the first housing side.

5. The fluid compressor as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hose reel assembly is attached to the housing by a hinge means for attachment.

6. The fluid compressor as claimed in claim 5 wherein the hose reel assembly is comprised of a reel fixed to a frame, the hinge means attaching the frame and compressor housing.

7. The fluid compressor as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first housing side is located at the end of the housing, the hose reel assembly being in front of the first housing side when the hose reel assembly is in the first position.

8. The fluid compressor as claimed in claim 1, the first housing side defining a first plane, the hose reel assembly comprising a reel, fixed to a frame, the frame being attached to the compressor housing, the frame further defining a second plane, the first and second planes being substantially parallel when the hose reel assembly is in the first position and the first and second planes being separated by at least ninety degrees when the hose reel assembly is in the second position.

9. The fluid compressor as claimed in claim 8 wherein the first and second planes are separated by 180 degrees.

10. The fluid compressor as claimed in claim 4 wherein the hose reel assembly is held in the second position by support means.

11. The fluid compressor as claimed in claim 10 wherein the hose reel assembly is supported by a pair of gas springs.

12. A fluid compressor comprising:

a) a compression module for producing a compressed fluid, said compression module being enclosed in a compressor housing having a first housing side and a second housing side; and

b) a hose reel assembly comprising a frame and a reel fixed to the frame, the frame is attached to the housing side by hinge means and the hose reel assembly is movable between a first position where the hose reel is located in front of the first compressor housing side, and a second position wherein the hose reel assembly is located away from the first compressor housing side.

13. The fluid compressor as claimed in claim 12 wherein the frame is fixed to the second housing side, and wherein the first housing side is an end of the housing and the second housing side is a longitudinally extending side of the compressor housing.

14. The fluid compressor as claimed in claim 12 wherein the first housing side is an end of the housing and the frame is fixed to the first housing side.

15. The fluid compressor as claimed in claim 13 wherein the first and second hose reel assembly positions are separated by 180 degrees.

16. The fluid compressor as claimed in claim 14 wherein the first and second hose reel assembly positions are separated by 90 degrees.

17. The fluid compressor as claimed in claim 16, the fluid compressor further comprising support means for maintaining the hose reel assembly in the second position.

18. The fluid compressor as claimed in claim 17, the fluid compressor comprising a third housing side, and wherein the support means is comprised of a first gas spring joining the frame and the second compressor housing side and a second gas spring joining the frame and the third compressor housing side.