Air supply apparatus for stable air supply

Abstract

An air supply apparatus supplies atmospheric air to an external apparatus such as an air demander. The air supply apparatus comprises a pump, an actuator, a power consumption detector, an air pressure detector, and a controller. The pump takes in atmospheric air and discharges the atmospheric air to the external apparatus. The actuator actuates the pump. The power consumption detector detects a measurement value corresponding to a power consumption of the actuator. The air pressure detector detects a discharge pressure of the atmospheric air discharged by the pump. The controller calculates a criterion value of the measurement value when the pump takes in the atmospheric air at 1 atmospheric pressure and discharges the atmospheric air at the discharge pressure based on the rotational frequency of the pump and the measurement value. The controller also adjusts the rotational frequency based on the measurement value and the criterion value.

1 . An air supply apparatus for supplying air to an air demander comprising: 
 a pump taking in atmospheric air and discharging the air to the air demander;    an actuator for actuating the pump;    a power consumption detector for detecting a measurement value corresponding to an amount of power consumed by the actuator;    an air pressure detector for detecting a discharge pressure of the air discharged by the pump; and    a controller for calculating a criterion value of the measurement value when the pump takes in the air from the atmosphere at 1 atmospheric pressure and discharges the air at the discharge pressure based on the rotational frequency of the pump and the measurement value, and    adjusting the rotational frequency based on the measurement value and the criterion value.    
   
   
       2 . The air supply apparatus according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein the controller increases the rotational frequency of the pump when the measurement value is greater than the criterion value.    
   
   
       3 . The air supply apparatus according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein the actuator is an electric motor and the measurement value is a current value flowing through the electric motor.    
   
   
       4 . The air supply apparatus according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein the pump is a compressor.    
   
   
       5 . The air supply apparatus according to  claim 4 , 
 wherein the compressor has an airtight structure reducing an amount of flow loss of air therein.    
   
   
       6 . The air supply apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a pressure valve adjusting the air discharged from the pump, and    wherein the controller further adjusts an opening degree of the pressure valve.    
   
   
       7 . An air supply apparatus for supplying air to an air demander comprising: 
 a pump taking in atmospheric air and discharging the air to the air demander;    an actuator actuating the pump;    a power consumption detector detecting a measurement value corresponding to an amount of power consumed by the actuator;    an air pressure detector for detecting a discharge pressure of the air discharged by the pump;    a pressure valve for adjusting a pressure of the air discharged by the pump; and    a controller for calculating a criterion value of the measurement value when the pump takes in the air from the atmosphere at 1 atmospheric pressure and discharges the air at the discharge pressure based on the rotational frequency of the pump and the measurement value, and    adjusting an opening degree of the pressure valve based on the measurement value and the criterion value.    
   
   
       8 . An air supply apparatus for supplying air to an air demander comprising: 
 a pump having an air inlet for taking in atmospheric air and an air outlet for delivering the air to the air demander;    an actuator for actuating the pump;    a power consumption detector for detecting a measurement value corresponding to an amount of power consumed by the actuator;    an air pressure detector for detecting a discharge pressure of the air delivered from the pump; and    a controller for calculating a criterion value of the measurement value when the pump takes in the air from the atmosphere at 1 atmospheric pressure and discharges the air at the discharge pressure based on the rotational frequency of the pump and the measurement value, and    adjusting a pressure of the sir discharged by the pump toward the air demander based on the measurement value and the criterion value.    
   
   
       9 . The air supply apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the controller adjusts the pressure of the air delivered to the air demander by adjusting the rotational frequency of the pump.  
   
   
       10 . The air supply apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the controller adjusts the pressure of the air delivered to the air demander by adjusting an opening value of a pressure valve disposed between the pump and the air demander.