Compressor assembly

Abstract

An improved, preferably oil-less, air compressor assembly includes a frame and at least a first rotatable cam member mounted to the frame for selective rotation relative thereto. The first cam member has a cam profile. A motor is operatively interconnected with the first cam member for rotating the first cam member. A dual-acting piston assembly includes first and second rods operatively interconnected with a piston received in a piston housing, wherein the piston assembly is mounted relative to the cam profile whereby the piston is stroked upon rotation of the first cam member.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An air compressor assembly comprising:
 a frame;   at least a first rotatable cam member mounted to the frame for selective rotation relative thereto, the first cam member having a cam profile;   a motor operatively interconnected with the first cam member for rotating the first cam member; and   a piston assembly including at least one rod operatively interconnected with a piston received in a piston housing, wherein the piston assembly is mounted relative to the cam profile whereby the piston is stroked upon rotation of the first cam member.   
     
     
         2 . The air compressor assembly of  claim 1  wherein the piston assembly includes first and second rods extend from opposite ends of the piston housing and are secured to opposite faces of the piston, the cam profile urging opposite movement of the rods relative to the piston housing as the first cam member rotates. 
     
     
         3 . The air compressor assembly of  claim 1  wherein the piston housing is mounted to the frame. 
     
     
         4 . The air compressor assembly of  claim 1  wherein the piston housing is mounted to an axle on which the first cam member rotates. 
     
     
         5 . The air compressor assembly of  claim 1  further comprising first and second followers mounted on each of the first and second rods, the followers each configured to abut the cam profile whereby the rods move relative to the piston housing as the first cam member rotates. 
     
     
         6 . The air compressor assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a second cam member mounted for synchronized, rotational movement with the first cam member. 
     
     
         7 . The air compressor assembly of  claim 6  further comprising a second, dual-acting piston assembly including first and second rods operatively interconnected with a second piston received in a second piston housing, wherein the second piston assembly is mounted relative to the cam profile whereby the second piston is stroked upon rotation of the second cam member. 
     
     
         8 . The air compressor assembly of  claim 7  wherein the first and second piston assemblies are the same size. 
     
     
         9 . The air compressor assembly of  claim 7  further comprising a clutch interposed between the first and second cam members wherein the second cam member is selectively operated with the first cam member. 
     
     
         10 . The air compressor assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a flywheel rotatably mounted to the frame for selective rotation relative thereto. 
     
     
         11 . The air compressor assembly of  claim 10  wherein the flywheel is mounted for rotation with the first cam member. 
     
     
         12 . The compressor assembly of  claim 1  wherein the cam profile of the first cam member includes a preselected number of repeated cam profile portions wherein the preselected number of repeated cam profile portions equals one-half of a total number of piston assemblies. 
     
     
         13 . The compressor assembly of  claim 1  wherein the cam member includes a groove formed therein that captures a follower, and facing radial surfaces of the groove form first and second cam profiles that engage the follower. 
     
     
         14 . The compressor assembly of  claim 1  wherein rotational axes of a drive shaft of the motor and a rotational axis of the rotatable cam member are disposed in offset, parallel relation. 
     
     
         15 . The compressor assembly of  claim 1  wherein each piston assembly has only a single rod extending from the piston. 
     
     
         16 . A method of making an air compressor assembly comprising:
 providing a frame;   mounting at least a first rotatable cam member to the frame for selective rotation relative thereto;   providing the first cam member with a cam profile;   operatively interconnecting a motor with the first cam member to rotate the first cam member; and   mounting a piston assembly, that includes at least one rod interconnected with a piston in a piston housing, relative to the cam profile whereby the piston is stroked upon rotation of the first cam member.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further including providing first and second rods on the piston, and first and second followers on each of the first and second rods, wherein the followers are configured to abut the cam profile so that the rods move relative to the piston housing as the first cam member rotates.