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Compressor for a tire repairing kit

Compressor for a tire repairing kit description/claims

This is a continuing application, under 35 U.S.C. § 120, of copending International application PCT/EP2006/004748, filed May 19, 2006, which designated the United States; this application also claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of German patent application DE 10 2005 029 523.1, filed Jun. 25, 2005; the prior applications are herewith incorporated by reference in their entirety.

The invention relates to a compressor for a tire puncture kit, which contains the following elements: a drive motor which drives a first gearwheel, a second gearwheel which is mounted rotatably about a shaft and which is operatively connected to the first gearwheel, a stub which is arranged with a parallel offset to the shaft of the second gearwheel and which rotates about the shaft when the second gearwheel rotates, a piston with a piston rod which is connected to the stub in such a way that the piston moves up and down during a rotation of the second gearwheel, and a balancing weight which balances the inertia forces of the piston moving up and down.

Such a compressor for a tire puncture kit is known, for example, from German utility model DE 200 01 815 U1. In the compressor known from this publication, the second gearwheel contains a central circular hole by which it is mounted rotatably on a hollow shaft which is fixedly connected to the housing of the drive motor. The balancing weight contains a shaft which is guided centrally through the hole in the second gearwheel and through the housing-secured hollow shaft and is mounted rotatably therein. The balancing weight further contains a stub which is connected to the piston rod of a piston in the aforementioned manner. The second gearwheel has a plurality of positioning pins by which the balancing weight is positioned in a defined position with respect to the second gearwheel. Therefore, the balancing weight is always in the correct position during an up and down movement of the piston, in order to be able to balance the inertia forces of the piston.

The compressor known from the stated publication has a compact structure, since the second gearwheel and the balancing weight are disposed directly one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the compressor. However, it should be pointed out that the compressor has a complex structure. Moreover, it has to be ensured that the second gearwheel and the balancing weight match one another exactly so that the balancing weight can be positioned without play between the positioning pins of the second gearwheel, since desirable noise might otherwise occur when actuating the compressor. Furthermore, any play between the second gearwheel and the balancing weight could result in the balancing weight not always balancing the inertia forces of the piston in an optimum manner.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a compressor for a tire repairing kit that overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art devices of this general type, which generates little noise and allows the inertia forces of the piston to be balanced in an optimum manner.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a compressor for a tire puncture kit. The compressor contains a first gearwheel, a drive motor driving the first gearwheel, a shaft, a second gearwheel mounted rotatably about the shaft and operatively connected to the first gearwheel, and a stub disposed with a parallel offset to the shaft mounting the second gearwheel and rotates about the shaft when the second gearwheel rotates. A piston is provided and has a piston rod connected to the stub such that the piston moves up and down during a rotation of the second gearwheel. A balancing weight is provided for balancing inertia forces of the piston moving up and down, the balancing weight is connected nondetachably to the second gearwheel.

Accordingly, the object of the invention is achieved in that the balancing weight is an element of the second gearwheel and is connected nondetachably thereto. The term “nondetachable connection” and the text below is to be understood as now described. The second gearwheel and the balancing weight can be manufactured, for example, as a single component in order to provide the nondetachable connection. However, the nondetachable connection can also be produced, for example, by adhesive bonding or welding, etc.

One advantage of the invention can be seen in that there can be no play between the second gearwheel and the balancing weight, since the balancing weight is a fixed element of the second gearwheel. A further advantage of the invention can be seen in that the balancing weight is fixed securely in a defined position relative to the second gearwheel, with the result that the inertia forces of the piston moving up and down can be balanced in an optimum manner. A further advantage of the invention can be seen in that the compressor can be produced in a simple manner, since the second gearwheel and the balancing weight can be formed as a single component, and therefore the number of parts is reduced.

In a development of the invention, the stub and the shaft for the second gearwheel are elements of the second gearwheel and are connected nondetachably thereto. The advantage of this development can be seen in that further components of the compressor are combined on the second gearwheel, with the result that the number of parts of the compressor is further reduced and the manufacture of the compressor is further simplified. This is particularly applicable if the second gearwheel is formed as a single component with the stated elements.

In a further development of the invention, the second gearwheel has a cavity which is disposed annularly around the shaft. The advantage of this development can be seen in that the bearing which is used to mount the second gearwheel in the compressor can engage in the cavity, and therefore the overall length of the compressor is shortened. A further advantage of this development can be seen in that the second gearwheel is securely mounted.

In another development of the invention, the bearing of the shaft, by which the second gearwheel is mounted, is embodied as a ball bearing or rolling bearing. The advantage of this development can be seen in that a ball bearing or a rolling bearing allows a bearing configuration with low friction losses.

In an added development of the invention, the second shaft is embodied as a hollow shaft and connected to the bearing of the shaft in such a way that the second gearwheel is secured in the axial direction. The advantage of this development can be seen in that the axial securing for the second gearwheel can be accommodated in a space-saving manner in the hollow shaft.

In an additional development of the invention, the shaft is connected to the bearing with the aid of a screw, which is inserted into the hollow shaft, or by flanging the hollow shaft. The advantage of using a screw can be seen in that the screw can be released simply (for example for exchanging the gearwheel). The advantage of flanging can be seen in that no separate component is required for producing the connection.

In another further development of the invention, the stub is embodied as a hollow stub to which the piston rod is connected in such a way that the piston rod is secured in the axial direction.

In another added development of the invention, the connection is produced with the aid of a screw, which is inserted into the stub, or by flanging the stub.

In another further development of the invention, the second gearwheel is embodied as a cup with an outer cup and an inner cup. The balancing weight is disposed in the outer cup, the shaft is fastened concentrically on the end wall of the inner cup, and the stub is disposed on the end wall of the cup. The advantage of this development can be seen in that the second gearwheel has a compact structure, but nevertheless the balancing weight, the shaft and the stub can be incorporated in the second gearwheel in a space-saving manner.

In a concomitant development of the invention, the second gearwheel is produced by a casting method. The advantage of this development can be seen in that the second gearwheel can be mass-produced in a simple and cost-effective manner by the casting method. A further advantage of this development can be seen in that the second gearwheel can be formed simply as a single component by the casting method. A castable lightweight metal (for example aluminum) is preferably used to produce the second gearwheel.

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• Utility Patent

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