Method for controlling a compressor which provides the drive of a pneumatic tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12460628-B2
Application number	US-202218274000-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2022
Priority date	Mar 22, 2021
Publication date	Nov 4, 2025
Grant date	Nov 4, 2025

Abstract

Method for controlling a compressor which drives a pneumatic tool, with a maximum allowed pressure (p_max) and an associated compressed air consumption (q_max). The method includes the step of regulating the operating pressure (p_compr) of the compressor, and: if the operating pressure (p_compr) is lower than p_max minus a value (Z), controlling the compressor such that the flow rate supplied by the compressor is not limited; and if the operating pressure (p_compr) is higher than or equal to p_max, controlling the compressor such that the flow rate supplied by the compressor does not exceed the compressed air consumption (q_max) at p_max; and if the operating pressure (p_compr) is higher than p_max minus the value (Z) and is lower than p_max, controlling the compressor such that the operating pressure (p_compr) remains lower than p_max.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A method for controlling a compressor which provides the drive of a pneumatic tool, the pneumatic tool having a maximum allowed pressure (p_max) and an associated compressed air consumption (q_max), the method comprising a basic step of regulating the operating pressure (p_compr) of the compressor by regulating the flow rate supplied by the compressor (q_compr), wherein the method further comprises the following steps:
if the operating pressure (p_compr) of the compressor is lower than the maximum allowed pressure (p_max) of the pneumatic tool minus a predetermined value (Z), controlling the compressor according to said basic step wherein the flow rate supplied by the compressor (q_compr) is not limited by the method; if the operating pressure (p_compr) of the compressor is higher than or equal to the maximum allowed pressure (p_max) of the pneumatic tool, controlling the compressor according to said basic step wherein the flow rate supplied by the compressor (q_compr) does not exceed the compressed air consumption (q_max) of the pneumatic tool at the maximum allowed pressure (p_max); if the predetermined value Z is greater than zero, the operating pressure (p_compr) of the compressor is higher than the maximum allowed pressure (p_max) of the pneumatic tool minus the predetermined value (Z), and the operating pressure (p_compr) is lower than the maximum allowed pressure (p_max) of the pneumatic tool, controlling the compressor according to said basic step wherein the operating pressure (p_compr) of the compressor remains lower than the maximum allowed pressure (p_max) of the pneumatic tool.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein, if the operating pressure (p_compr) of the compressor is higher than the maximum allowed pressure (p_max) of the pneumatic tool minus the predetermined value (Z) and lower than the maximum allowed pressure (p_max) of the pneumatic tool, the flow rate (q_compr) of compressed air of the compressor will not decrease with increasing operating pressure (p_compr) of the compressor.

3 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein, if the operating pressure (p_compr) of the compressor is higher than the maximum allowed pressure (p_max) of the pneumatic tool minus the predetermined value (Z) and lower than the maximum allowed pressure (p_max) of the pneumatic tool, the flow rate (q_compr) of the compressed air of the compressor is reduced as a function of the operating pressure (p_compr) of the compressor according to a linear relationship.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein, for regulating the flow rate supplied by the compressor (q_compr) of the compressor, the method comprises the following step(s):
regulating the rotational speed of a drive of the compressor; and/or regulating an inlet valve of the compressor.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined value (Z) is equal to 0.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the pneumatic tool is a pneumatic drilling hammer, which forms part of a pneumatic drilling device, which drilling device is provided with a drilling tower, a drilling rod with the drilling hammer coupled thereto, and wherein the compressor ensures the drive of the drilling hammer.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the basic step comprises the step of regulating the operating pressure (p_compr) of the compressor such that the operating pressure (p_compr) of the compressor is always regulated to a desired operating pressure (p_set).

8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the basic step comprises the step of regulating the operating pressure (p_compr) of the compressor such that the compressor will supply a flow rate as long as the operating pressure (p_compr) of the compressor is lower than a desired operating pressure (p_set), wherein, once the operating pressure (p_compr) of the compressor has reached the desired operating pressure (p_set), the compressor will no longer supply a flow rate until the operating pressure (p_compr) of the compressor decreases below a certain value which is lower than the desired operating pressure (p_set).

9 . A pneumatic tool driven by a compressor, the pneumatic tool having a maximum allowed pressure (p_max) and an associated compressed air consumption (q_max), wherein the compressor is provided to be controlled by a method comprising a basic step of regulating the operating pressure (p_compr) of the compressor by regulating the flow rate supplied by the compressor (q_compr), wherein the method further comprises the following steps:
if the operating pressure (p_compr) of the compressor is lower than the maximum allowed pressure (p_max) of the pneumatic tool minus a predetermined value (Z) that is greater than zero, controlling the compressor according to said basic step wherein the flow rate supplied by the compressor (q_compr) is not limited by the method; if the operating pressure (p_compr) of the compressor is higher than or equal to the maximum allowed pressure (p_max) of the pneumatic tool, controlling the compressor according to said basic step wherein the flow rate supplied by the compressor (q_compr) does not exceed the compressed air consumption (q_max) of the pneumatic tool at the maximum allowed pressure (p_max); if the predetermined value Z is greater than zero, the operating pressure (p_compr) of the compressor is higher than the maximum allowed pressure (p_max) of the pneumatic tool minus the predetermined value (Z), and the operating pressure (p_compr) is lower than the maximum allowed pressure (p_max) of the pneumatic tool, controlling the compressor according to said basic step wherein the operating pressure (p_compr) of the compressor remains lower than the maximum allowed pressure (p_max) of the pneumatic tool.

10 . A pneumatic drilling device, which drilling device is provided with a drilling tower, a drilling rod with a drilling hammer and a compressor which provides the drive of the drilling hammer, wherein the drilling hammer has a maximum allowed pressure (p_max) and an associated compressed air consumption (q_max), and wherein the compressor is provided to be controlled by a method comprising a basic step of regulating the operating pressure (p_compr) of the compressor by regulating the flow rate supplied by the compressor (q_compr), wherein the method further comprises the following steps:
if the operating pressure (p_compr) of the compressor is lower than the maximum allowed pressure (p_max) of the pneumatic tool minus a predetermined value (Z) that is greater than zero, controlling the compressor according to said basic step wherein the flow rate supplied by the compressor (q_compr) is not limited by the method; if the operating pressure (p_compr) of the compressor is higher than or equal to the maximum allowed pressure (p_max) of the pneumatic tool, controlling the compressor according to said basic step wherein the flow rate supplied by the compressor (q_compr) does not exceed the compressed air consumption (q_max) of the pneumatic tool at the maximum allowed pressure (p_max); if the predetermined value Z is greater than zero, the operating pressure (p_compr) of the compressor is higher than the maximum allowed pressure (p_max) of the pneumatic tool minus the predetermined value (Z), and the operating pressure (p_compr) is lower than the maximum allowed pressure (p_max) of the pneumatic tool, controlling the compressor according to said basic step wherein the operating pressure (p_compr) of the compressor remains lower than the maximum allowed pressure (p_max) of the pneumatic tool.

Assignees

• Atlas Copco Airpower Nv

Inventors

• Snels Guy

Classifications

• F04B2207/0421

  maximum · CPC title

• E21B44/06

  in response to the flow or pressure of the motive fluid of the drive · CPC title

• E21B4/14

  Fluid operated hammers · CPC title

• B25D9/08

  comprising a built-in air compressor {, i.e. the tool being driven by air pressure} · CPC title

• F04B2205/05

  Pressure after the pump outlet · CPC title