Air compressor assembly

Abstract

A compressor assembly including a motor, a compressor operably driven by the motor to discharge a compressed fluid, a tank in fluid communication with the compressor to receive compressed fluid discharged from the compressor, and at least one fluid chamber positioned between the compressor and a support surface, the at least one fluid chamber being configured to receive a portion of the compressed fluid discharged from the compressor to generate a desired fluid pressure within the fluid chamber to support the compressor relative to the support surface.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A compressor assembly comprising: 
 a motor;    a compressor operably driven by the motor to discharge a compressed fluid;    a tank in fluid communication with the compressor to receive compressed fluid discharged from the compressor; and    at least one fluid chamber positioned between the compressor and a support surface, the at least one fluid chamber being configured to receive a portion of the compressed fluid discharged from the compressor to generate a desired fluid pressure within the fluid chamber to support the compressor relative to the support surface.    
     
     
         2 . The compressor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fluid chamber includes at least one airbag.  
     
     
         3 . The compressor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fluid chamber includes 
 a housing defining an interior chamber above the support surface, and    a compressor supporting platform positioned in the housing such that the platform substantially seals the housing interior chamber to define a substantially confined fluid area between the platform and the support surface, the substantially confined fluid area configured to receive the portion of the compressed fluid discharged from the compressor to generate a desired fluid pressure within the fluid chamber.    
     
     
         4 . The compressor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid chamber receives the portion of the compressed fluid via a conduit fluidly connecting a compressor outlet to the fluid chamber.  
     
     
         5 . The compressor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid chamber receives the portion of the compressed fluid via a conduit fluidly connecting the tank to the fluid chamber.  
     
     
         6 . The compressor assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a pressure regulator configured to regulate the amount of compressed fluid received by the at least one fluid chamber to maintain the desired pressure within the fluid chamber.  
     
     
         7 . The compressor assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the pressure regulator is a non-adjustable pressure regulator.  
     
     
         8 . The compressor assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the pressure regulator is an adjustable pressure regulator operable to vary the desired pressure accumulated in the at least one fluid chamber.  
     
     
         9 . The compressor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the motor and the compressor are supported by the at least one fluid chamber.  
     
     
         10 . The compressor assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the motor and the compressor are supported on the tank which is supported by the at least one fluid chamber.  
     
     
         11 . The compressor assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a pressure regulator configured to regulate the amount of compressed fluid received by the fluid chamber to maintain the desired pressure within the fluid chamber; and    a controller electrically connected with the pressure regulator and one of the motor and the compressor, the controller being operable to receive a speed signal from the one of the motor and the compressor and adjust the pressure regulator in response to the speed signal.    
     
     
         12 . The compressor assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a valve fluidly connected between the compressor and the fluid chamber, the valve being selectively operable by the controller to discharge fluid from fluid chamber.  
     
     
         13 . The compressor assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a pressure sensor fluidly connected with the fluid chamber, the pressure sensor being operable to send a pressure signal to the controller.  
     
     
         14 . A compressor assembly comprising: 
 a motor;    a compressor operably driven by the motor to discharge a compressed fluid;    a tank in fluid communication with the compressor to receive compressed fluid discharged from the compressor; and    at least one inflatable airbag positioned between the compressor and a support surface, the at least one inflatable airbag being configured to receive a portion of the compressed fluid discharged from the compressor to generate a desired fluid pressure within the at least one inflatable airbag to support the compressor relative to the support surface.    
     
     
         15 . The compressor assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one inflatable airbag receives the portion of the compressed fluid via a conduit fluidly connecting a compressor outlet to the at least one airbag.  
     
     
         16 . The compressor assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one inflatable airbag receives the portion of the compressed fluid via a conduit fluidly connecting the tank to the at least one inflatable airbag.  
     
     
         17 . The compressor assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising a pressure regulator configured to regulate the amount of compressed fluid received by the at least one airbag to maintain the desired pressure within the airbag.  
     
     
         18 . The compressor assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the pressure regulator is a non-adjustable pressure regulator.  
     
     
         19 . The compressor assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the pressure regulator is an adjustable pressure regulator operable to vary the desired pressure accumulated in the at least one inflatable airbag.  
     
     
         20 . The compressor assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the motor and the compressor are supported by the at least one inflatable airbag.  
     
     
         21 . The compressor assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the motor and the compressor are supported on the tank which is supported by the at least one inflatable airbag.  
     
     
         22 . A compressor assembly comprising: 
 a motor;    a compressor operably driven by the motor to discharge a compressed fluid;    a tank in fluid communication with the compressor to receive compressed fluid discharged from the compressor; and    a support assembly to support the compressor, the support assembly including 
 a housing defining an interior chamber, the housing being supported by a support surface, and  
 a compressor supporting platform positioned in the housing such that the platform substantially seals the housing interior chamber to define a substantially confined fluid area between the platform and the support surface, the substantially confined fluid area configured to receive a portion of the compressed fluid discharged from the compressor to generate a desired fluid pressure within the fluid area.  
   
     
     
         23 . The compressor assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the fluid area receives the portion of the compressed fluid via a conduit fluidly connecting a compressor outlet to the fluid area.  
     
     
         24 . The compressor assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the fluid area receives the portion of the compressed fluid via a conduit fluidly connecting the tank to the fluid area.  
     
     
         25 . The compressor assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the fluid area receives the portion of the compressed fluid via a fluid passage through the platform.  
     
     
         26 . The compressor assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the fluid passage includes at least one divergent fluid passage to distribute the compressed fluid into the fluid area.  
     
     
         27 . The compressor assembly of  claim 22 , further comprising a pressure regulator configured to regulate the amount of compressed fluid received by the fluid area to maintain the desired pressure within the fluid area.  
     
     
         28 . The compressor assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the pressure regulator is a non-adjustable pressure regulator.  
     
     
         29 . The compressor assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the pressure regulator is an adjustable pressure regulator operable to vary the desired pressure accumulated in the fluid area.  
     
     
         30 . The compressor assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the motor and the compressor are supported by the fluid area.  
     
     
         31 . The compressor assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the motor and the compressor are supported on the tank which is supported by the fluid area.  
     
     
         32 . The compressor assembly of  claim 22 , further comprising a seal around the platform to fluidly plug the housing interior chamber.  
     
     
         33 . A compressor assembly comprising: 
 a motor;    a compressor operably driven by the motor to discharge a compressed fluid;    a tank in fluid communication with the compressor to receive compressed fluid discharged from the compressor; and    a support platform to support the compressor relative to a support surface, the support platform being configured to receive a portion of the compressed fluid discharged from the compressor to generate a fluid cushion between the support platform and the support surface, the fluid cushion providing a desired gap between the support platform and the support surface.    
     
     
         34 . The compressor assembly of  claim 33 , wherein the support platform receives the portion of the compressed fluid via a conduit fluidly connecting a compressor outlet to the support platform.  
     
     
         35 . The compressor assembly of  claim 33 , wherein the support platform receives the portion of the compressed fluid via a conduit fluidly connecting the tank to the support platform.  
     
     
         36 . The compressor assembly of  claim 33 , further comprising at least one fluid passage through the support platform, the compressed fluid from the compressor being routed through the fluid passage and discharged below the support platform.  
     
     
         37 . The compressor assembly of  claim 33 , further comprising a pressure regulator configured to regulate the amount of compressed fluid received by the support platform to maintain the desired gap provided by the air cushion.  
     
     
         38 . The compressor assembly of  claim 33 , further comprising a solenoid fluidly connected between the compressor and the support platform, the solenoid being selectively operable to disrupt fluid flow between the compressor and the support platform.  
     
     
         39 . The compressor assembly of  claim 33 , wherein the motor and the compressor are supported by the support platform on the fluid cushion.  
     
     
         40 . The compressor assembly of  claim 33 , wherein the motor and the compressor are supported on the tank which is supported by the support platform on the fluid cushion.