DE-112024002475-T5 - METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A COMPRESSOR INDICATOR FOR INFLATING AND REPAIRING TIRES AND CORRESPONDING COMPRESSOR

Abstract

A portable hand compressor for inflating the tires of a motorized land vehicle, comprising an electronic control unit programmed to provide visual and/or audible indications of the compressor's operating status, e.g., inflation or injection of sealing fluid, based on a pressure sensor.

Inventors

• Maurizio Marini
• Alessandro Buzzoni

Assignees

• TEK GROUP SAGL

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20240610

Priority Date

20230609

Claims (9)

1. A method for controlling the operating state of a compressor, comprising a light (54) and/or audible device to signal the operating state of an inflation device to a user, a compressor unit (C), and a detachable connection for fluidically connecting a sealant reservoir to the compressor, wherein the inflation device can be configured in a first operating state only for inflation and in a second operating state for injecting the sealant fluid via the action of the compressor to repair an inflatable object, comprising the following steps: - Detecting a pressure value P between the compressor and the detachable connection via a pressure sensor after a predefined non-zero time interval (T) from the activation of the compressor, the interval being defined by a counter; - If the pressure value does not exceed a first predetermined threshold (S2) within a predetermined time (T) defined by the counter, configuring the light (54) and/or audible device in a first signal configuration; or - if the pressure value exceeds the first predetermined threshold (S2) within the predetermined time (T), the light (54) and/or audible device will be switched on in a second signal configuration different from the first signal configuration to inform the user of the ongoing injection of the sealing fluid.
2. The control method according to the preceding claim, wherein the second signal configuration further comprises the following steps: - Calculating a time interval corresponding to a predetermined period (PT), starting with the activation of the illuminating (54) and/or acoustic device in the second signal configuration; - Detecting a second pressure value P2 at the end of the predetermined period (PT);
3. If the pressure value exceeds a second threshold (S3), the light (54) and/or the acoustic device will be switched on in a fourth signal configuration, which differs from the first and second signal configurations, to inform the user that the compressor is in an inflation mode after sealant injection.
4. Compressor for inflating tires of a motorized land vehicle, comprising a light (54) and/or acoustic device to signal to a user the operating state of an inflation device, a compressor unit (C) and a detachable connection to fluidically connect a sealant reservoir to the compressor, wherein the inflation device in a first operating state is used only for inflation and in a second operating state for injecting the sealant via the The compressor's operation can be configured to repair an inflatable object, the compressor further comprising an electronic control unit programmed to: - detect a pressure value P between the compressor and the detachable connection via a pressure sensor after a predefined non-zero time interval (T) from the activation of the compressor, the interval being defined by a counter; - if the pressure value does not exceed a first predetermined threshold (S2) within a predetermined time (T) defined by the counter, to configure the luminous (54) and/or audible device in a first signal configuration; or - if the pressure value exceeds the first predetermined threshold (S2) within the predetermined time (T), to activate the luminous (54) and/or audible device in a second signal configuration, different from the first signal configuration, to inform the user of the ongoing injection of the sealing fluid.
5. compressor after Claim 4 , configured as a handheld device and comprising: - an outer housing (2); - a compressor unit (C), preferably with an electric motor, housed in the housing (2); - a screen (12) attached to the housing, comprising: - at least one seven-segment LED (50) for displaying a number or letter, with one LED provided for each segment; - a layer arranged above the at least one seven-segment LED, having an uncovered area corresponding to the LED segments below and an uncovered area elsewhere, such that when the segments are illuminated and emit light towards the protective material layer, the screen is illuminated in the uncovered areas to display at least one alphanumeric character on the screen; - a pressure sensor connected to an inflation line connected to the outlet of the compressor unit; - a control device for the LEDs to control the illumination of the LED segments based on the temporal profile of a signal received from the pressure sensor.
6. compressor after Claim 5 , wherein the screen (12) further comprises at least one circular LED segment (51) next to the at least one seven-segment LED (50) to represent a decimal point.
7. compressor after Claim 5 or 6 , wherein the screen (12) further comprises a group of LEDs (52) representing the possible units of pressure measurement in which the numerical value is expressed, and a selection button (53) configured to convert the measurement according to several reference systems.
8. Compressor according to the preceding claims, further comprising an acoustic device, wherein the control device is programmed to signal to a user via the acoustic device when the compressor is in operation, the first or second operating state during inflation and/or repair operations.
9. compressor after one of the Claims 5 until 8 , wherein the screen (12) comprises nine, fourteen or sixteen segment LEDs that can display all alphanumeric characters to generate complex text messages in addition to or as an alternative to acoustic and/or visual signals.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA OF INVENTION The present invention relates to a compressor for inflating and repairing inflatable objects and an associated method for monitoring the operating status of the compressor. More specifically, the invention relates to a compressor for inflating and repairing tires of motorized land vehicles, which includes a display. STATE OF THE ART Devices for inflating and repairing tires of motorized land vehicles are known in the art and comprise an electrically operated compressor unit, a reservoir for a sealant fluid which, when required, is injected into the tire via a fluid line from the compressor unit using a compressed air stream, and a display for showing pressure values. However, these devices are unreliable in displaying pressure values at extreme temperatures. Furthermore, when these devices are operated in repair mode, i.e., when the sealant fluid is injected simultaneously with inflation, the display cannot show accurate pressure values until the pressure signal has stabilized. OBJECTIVES AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The objective of the present invention is to overcome at least some of the aforementioned disadvantages by providing a compressor for inflating and repairing tires, which includes a display that is functional at extreme temperatures and provides an indication of the operating status of the device during use, including during the transition phase associated with the injection phase of the sealing fluid. The objective of the present invention is achieved by a portable hand compressor for inflating vehicle tires, comprising the following: - an outer casing; - a compressor unit, preferably with an electric motor, which is housed in the casing; - a display attached to the housing, comprising: - at least one seven-segment LED configured to represent a number or letter, with one LED for each segment; - a layer arranged above the at least one seven-segment LED, having an unobscured area corresponding to the LED segments below and an obscured area elsewhere, such that when the segments are illuminated and emit light towards the protective material layer, the display is illuminated in the unobscured areas to show at least one alphanumeric character on the screen; - a pressure sensor connected to an inflation line attached to an outlet of the compressor unit; - An LED control device designed to control the illumination of the LED segments based on the temporal signal profile received from the pressure sensor. This makes it possible to equip a portable compressor and vehicle accessories, for example for a car or van, with an illuminated display that is perfectly legible even at night and in low temperatures (e.g., down to -40 °C), as required for the approval of vehicle accessories. According to a preferred embodiment, the compressor is provided in a kit that also includes a container for sealant fluid with an inlet for compressed air and an outlet for the sealant fluid to be injected into a tire to be repaired. In this case, the compressor includes an additional light device, which may or may not correspond to the LED indicator, positioned on the housing, a timer, and an additional control device, which may or may not be integrated with the LED control device and is programmed to configure the additional light device in a first light mode, representing a first operating state of the kit; and in a second light mode, representing a second operating state of the kit, the first and second light modes being defined based on a signal from the pressure sensor and the timer. In this way, the user is informed about the compressor's operating mode. For example, during tire repair, the pressure shows an irregular curve with high peak values when the sealant is injected; after the sealant is injected, the pressure gradually increases during tire inflation until it reaches values below the peak values measured during sealant injection. Through the Monitoring pressure values over time during the kit's operation while repairing a tire makes it possible to identify at least two operating states: the injection of sealant and the subsequent inflation. It is also possible to detect a fault if the compressor remains active for longer than the average injection and inflation time, which can be calculated, for example, based on the compressor's flow rate, preferably a fixed value. Furthermore, the use of LEDs extends the possibility of obtaining pressure information even in extreme temperature environments. Additionally, the visual and/or audible signaling system informs the user about the compressor's operation, even during transitional phases when the pressure is irregular and therefore no reading can be displayed. Preferably, the compressor display includes at least one circular LED segment for displaying a decimal point. Preferably, the compressor display also includes a group of LEDs representing possible units of measurement for the pressure in which the numerical value is expressed, and a sel