Claims:1. A drive mechanism (100) for an air compressor (101) integrated to an internal combustion engine (200) of a vehicle, the mechanism (100) comprising:
a pulley (102), coupled to an input shaft (103) of the air compressor (101), wherein the pulley (102) is configured to drive the input shaft (103); and
a driving element (104), connecting the pulley (102) of the air compressor (101) with a crankshaft pulley (105), the driving element (104) transmits rotational movement of the crankshaft pulley (105) to the pulley (102) of the air compressor (101) for driving the air compressor (101).

2. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein diametrical ratio of the pulley (102) of the air compressor (101) and the crankshaft pulley (105), ranges from about 0.9 to 1.

3. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the diametrical ratio ranging from about 0.9 to 1, facilitates in imparting high rotational speeds to the input shaft (103) of the air compressor (101).

4. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving element (104) is configured to extend from the crankshaft pulley (105) to a plurality of peripheral devices of the internal combustion engine (200), to drive the peripheral devices.

5. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving element (104) is one of a belt, and a rope.

6. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, comprises one or more tensioners (106), to maintain tension of the driving element (104) extending between the pulley (102) of the air compressor (101), the crankshaft and the plurality of peripheral devices.

7. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air compressor (101) is a water cooled air compressor.

8. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air compressor (101) comprises a plurality of ports (107) to receive coolant and lubricant.

9. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, cubic capacity of the air compressor (101) ranges from about 200cc to 250 cc.

10. The mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, cubic capacity of the internal combustion engine (200) ranges from about 2500cc to 3500cc.
, Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
Present disclosure in general relates to a field of automobile engineering. Particularly but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to an air compressor for an automobile. Further, embodiments of the disclosure discloses a drive mechanism for the air compressor, which is integrated to an internal combustion engine of a vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Generally, heavy vehicles such as commercial vehicles including trucks, busses and the like, comprises a plurality of devices, which may be pneumatically operated. The pneumatically operated devices may utilize compressed air for operation. The pneumatically operated devices may include gear transmission units, parking brakes, service brakes, height adjustable suspension systems, pneumatic doors, and the like. Some of the crucial devices such as air operated brakes, gear transmissions and the like, may require continuous supply of compressed air for functioning. Therefore, a pneumatic source, which caters compressed air to these devices is necessary. Continuous supply of pneumatic power i.e. compressed air is provided by the air compressor, which is specifically chosen based on the requirement to cope up with pneumatic needs of the vehicle. The air compressor may include a reciprocating piston compressor and is therefore of the positive displacement type. The air compressor is driven by routing power from the internal combustion engine which drives the wheels of the vehicle through a driveline. Therefore, the speed of the compressor and its flow output are linearly linked to the engine speed and increases with increase in engine speed. Usually, the compressed air from the air compressor is stored in one or more accumulators or storage tanks.

With the advancement in technology, vehicles are being equipped with more number of pneumatically operated devices, to cater to various needs of the user. With increase in number of pneumatic devices, a high capacity air compressor is required for supplying sufficient compressed air to all the pneumatic devices, irrespective of the capacity of the internal combustion engine. Generally, water cooled air compressors having a cubic capacity of about 200 cc to 250cc (also termed as, high capacity air compressors) are utilized for supplying sufficient amount of compressed air. However, usage of such air compressor are restricted only for high capacity internal combustion engines having a cubic capacity of about 5000cc to 6000cc (high capacity engines), since the necessary power to drive the high capacity compressor may not be catered by a small capacity internal combustion engine having a cubic capacity of about 2500cc to 3500cc (low capacity engines). Moreover, space constraints in internal combustion engines outputs, limits the usage of 200cc to 250cc air compressor for only high capacity internal combustion engines.

Conventionally, gear drives are adapted for driving the air compressor. Gear drive includes a plurality of individual gears, for transmitting engine power from the crankshaft to the air compressor. The gear drives have a fixed gear ratio and thus the air delivery is fixed. Further, the plurality of gear drives may require more space for accommodation and thus limits the usage of 200cc to 250 cc air compressor to only high capacity internal combustion engines of about 5000cc to 6000cc, which provide ample space for mounting the gear drives.

The present disclosure is directed to overcome one or more limitations stated above and any other limitations associated with the prior arts.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

One or more shortcomings of the conventional system are overcome, and additional advantages are provided through the provision of system as claimed in the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed disclosure.

In one non-limiting embodiment of the disclosure, a drive mechanism for an air compressor integrated to an internal combustion engine of a vehicle is disclosed. The mechanism comprises a pulley, which is coupled to an input shaft of the air compressor. The pulley is configured to drive the input shaft. Further, the mechanism comprises a driving element, which connects the pulley of the air compressor with a crankshaft pulley. The driving element transmits rotational movement of the crankshaft pulley to the pulley of the air compressor for driving the air compressor.

In an embodiment, diametrical ratio of the pulley of the air compressor and the crankshaft pulley, ranges from about 0.9 to 1. The diametrical ratio ranging from about 0.9 to 1, facilitates in imparting high rotational speeds to the input shaft of the air compressor.

In an embodiment, the driving element is configured to extend from the crankshaft pulley to a plurality of peripheral devices of the internal combustion engine, to drive the peripheral devices.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the driving element is one of a belt and a rope.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the drive mechanism comprises one or more tensioners, to maintain tension of the driving element extending between the pulley of the compressor, the crankshaft and the plurality of peripheral devices.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the air compressor is a water cooled air compressor.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the air compressor comprises a plurality of ports to receive coolant and lubricant.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, cubic capacity of the air compressor ranges from about 200cc to 250 cc.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, cubic capacity of the internal combustion engine ranges from about 2500cc to 3500cc.

It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined together to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:

Figure. 1 illustrates a front view of a drive mechanism for an air compressor, in accordance to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the internal combustion engine, with a drive mechanism for the air compressor, integrated to the internal combustion engine, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure. 3 illustrates a front view of an internal combustion engine of Figure. 2.

The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While the embodiments in the disclosure are subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the figures and will be described below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the scope of the disclosure.

It is to be noted that a person skilled in the art would be motivated from the present disclosure and modify various constructions of the drive mechanism to drive an air compressor, integrated with an internal combustion engine. However, such modifications should be construed within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings show only those specific details that are pertinent to understand the embodiments of the present disclosure, so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.

The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof used in the disclosure, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that assembly that comprises a list of components does not include only those components but may include other components not expressly listed or inherent to such assembly. In other words, one or more elements in the assembly proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the assembly.

Embodiments of the present disclosure discloses a drive mechanism for an air compressor integrated to an internal combustion engine. Generally, air compressors having a cubic capacity of about 200cc to 250cc are used in internal combustion engines having cubic capacity of about 5000cc to 6000cc. The air compressor integrated to such internal combustion engines are driven by gear drives, which includes a plurality of gears. The gears extend from a crankshaft of the internal combustion engine to an input shaft of the air compressor. With the increase in the number of pneumatic components in the vehicle, a demand for a high capacity air compressor, generally a water cooled air compressor, in a smaller capacity internal combustion engine of about 2500cc to 3500cc may be required. However, high capacity air compressors demand or consume more driving power and hence usage of such high capacity air compressors in small capacity internal combustion engines is hindered. Also, space constraints in the small capacity internal combustion engines, mitigates from being using the high capacity air compressors. In addition, since the gear drives have a fixed gear ratio, the low capacity engine may be incompetent for driving the air compressor, and it is a tedious task to configure the power distribution of the engine, for propelling the vehicle.

In an embodiment, high capacity internal combustion engines may be referred to internal combustion engines having cubic capacity of about 5000cc to 6000cc and low capacity engine may be referred to engines having cubic capacity of about 2500cc to 3500cc. Further, the high capacity air compressor may be referred to have a cubic capacity of about 200cc to 250cc, and the same should not be construed as limitation.

Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure discloses a drive mechanism for an air compressor integrated to an internal combustion engine (hereinafter referred as engine), of a vehicle. The drive mechanism may facilitate in driving a high capacity air compressor having a cubic capacity of about 200cc to 250cc, integrated to the internal combustion engine having a cubic capacity of about 2500cc to 3500cc. The drive mechanism comprises a pulley, which may be coupled to an input shaft of the air compressor. The pulley may be configured to drive the input shaft of the air compressor. Further, the drive mechanism may include a driving element, which connects the pulley of the air compressor to a crankshaft pulley, of the engine. Further, the driving element may extend from the crankshaft pulley to a plurality of peripheral device, for driving the peripheral devices. In an embodiment, the driving element may be configured to transmit rotational movement of the crankshaft pulley to the pulley of the air compressor for driving the air compressor. Further, the driving element may also transmit the rotational movement of the crankshaft pulley to the peripheral devices, for driving the peripheral devices. As an example, the driving element may be one of a belt and a rope. Furthermore, the drive mechanism may comprise one or more tensioners. The one or more tensioners may help in maintaining or adjusting tension on the driving element during operation. Thus, it may facilitate in maintaining sufficient contact of the driving element with the pulley.

In an embodiment, diametrical ratio of the pulley of the air compressor and the crankshaft pulley, may be configured to be in a range of about 0.9 to 1. This diametrical ratio may help in optimizing size of the pulley of the air compressor and, thus may facilitate in imparting high rotational speed of the input shaft of the air compressor, without affecting performance of the internal combustion engine. In an embodiment the air compressor may be a water cooled air compressor.

The drive mechanism for the air compressor of the present disclosure may be used in various types of vehicles including, commercial vehicles and passenger vehicles, and the like.

The following paragraphs describe the present disclosure with reference to Figures. 1 to 3. In the Figures, the same element or elements which have similar functions are indicated by the same reference signs. In the figures, vehicle is not illustrated for the purpose of simplicity.

Figure. 1, is a front view of a drive mechanism (100) for an air compressor (101). The air compressor (101) may be integrated to an internal combustion engine (200) (as seen on Figure. 2). As an example, the air compressor (101) may be positioned on a bracket (not shown in figures) of the internal combustion engine (200). In an embodiment, the air compressor (101) may be a water cooled air compressor, having a cubic capacity ranging from about 200cc to 250cc. Particularly, the cubic capacity of the water cooled air compressor (101) may be 230cc. Further the air compressor (101) may be defined with a plurality of ports (107), which may be configured to receive coolant and lubricant for efficient working of pistons (not shown in figures) within the air compressor (101). The drive mechanism (100) may comprise a pulley (102), which may be configured to couple to an input shaft (103) of the air compressor (101). The pulley (102) may be adapted to drive the input shaft (103) of the air compressor (101), which results in driving a piston arrangement for generating compressed air. Further, the drive mechanism (100) includes a driving element (104), which connects the pulley (102) of the air compressor (101) with a crankshaft pulley (105). In an embodiment, the driving element (104) may be one of a belt and a rope. As an example, the belt may be a multi-groove belt. The driving element (104) may be configured to transmit rotational movement of the crankshaft pulley (105), to the pulley (102) of the air compressor (101) and, thus facilitates in driving the air compressor (101). In an embodiment, the cubic capacity of the engine (200) to which the air compressor (101) is integrated ranges from about 2500cc to 3500cc. Particularly, the cubic capacity of the internal combustion engine may be 2956cc.

As apparent from Figure. 2, the drive mechanism (100) may include one or more tensioners (106), to maintain sufficient tension of the driving element (104), extending between the crankshaft pulley (105), the pulley (102) of the air compressor (101) and the peripheral devices. In an embodiment, providing necessary tension to the driving element (104) may help in maintaining necessary frictional contact between the driving element (104) and the pulleys (102, 105) and thus, reduces the chances of the driving element (104) disengaging from the pulley (102) or slacking of the driving element (104), which may lead to loss in power transmitted from the crankshaft pulley (105) to the pulley (102) of the air compressor (101).

Now referring to Figure. 3 in conjunction with Figure. 2, an outer peripheral surface of the pulley (102) of the air compressor (101) and the crankshaft pulley (105) may be defined with a plurality of grooves. The plurality of grooves defined on an outer peripheral surface of the pulleys may be configured to accommodate and guide the driving element (104). In an embodiment, the driving element (104) may further extend from the crankshaft pulley (105) to a plurality of peripheral devices for transmitting rotational movement of the crankshaft pulley (105) to the peripheral devices, for driving the peripheral devices. As an example, the peripheral devices may be but not limiting to alternator, air conditioning unit compressor, timing belt pulley and the like. Thus, a single driving element (104) may be adapted to transmit rotational movement of the crankshaft pulley (105) to all the devices connected or drawing power from the crankshaft of the engine (200).

In an embodiment, diametrical ratio of the pulley (102) of the air compressor (101) and the crankshaft pulley (105) may be configured in the range of about 0.9 to 1. This diametrical ratio ranging from about 0.9 to 1, may result in imparting high rotational speeds to the input shaft (103) of the air compressor (101), without affecting performance of the engine (200) i.e. the optimized size of the pulley (102) of the air compressor (101) may facilitate in distribution of power of the engine to various components, particularly wheels and thus does not affect mobility of the vehicle, when traversing inclined paths. Further, high rotational speeds of the input shaft (103) of the air compressor (101) may result in delivering high amount of compressed air, which may be required for pneumatic devices of the vehicle such as pneumatic doors, gear transmission systems and the like. In an embodiment, the optimized size of the pulley (102) of the air compressor (101) may also be determined by considering parameters such as speed of the engine, pump up time (i.e. the time required for filling the compressed air tank), fuel economy of the engine, maximum speed of the air compressor (101) and the like, without affecting performance of the engine i.e. without compromising in the torque to be transmitted to the wheel for propelling the vehicle.

In an embodiment, adapting the drive system to drive the air compressor (101) may facilitate in integrating a high capacity water cooled air compressor (101) of about 200cc to 250cc in an engine with capacity ranging from 2500cc to 3500cc, where application of 200cc to 250cc range water cooled air compressor (101) was restricted only to 5000cc to 6000cc engines, conventionally.

It is to be noted that use of the drive mechanism (100) for driving the air compressor (101) of 200cc to 250cc integrated to the engine of about 2500cc to 3500cc is an exemplary embodiment, and the same may be adapted to drive the air compressor (101) integrated to the engines of about 5000cc to 6000cc, without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.

In an embodiment, sprocket wheel may be coupled to the input shaft of the air compressor, and to the crankshaft of the internal combustion engine, such that the input shaft of the air compressor may be driven by a chain drive i.e. the rotational movement of the crankshaft may be transmitting to the input shaft of the air compressor by chain drives.

Equivalents:

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.
It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or "an" should typically be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances, where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B."

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

Referral Numerals:
Referral numeral Description
Drive mechanism 100
Air compressor 101
Pulley of air compressor 102
Input shaft 103
Driving element 104
Crankshaft pulley 105
Tensioners 106
Ports 107
Internal combustion engine 200