Air pump with air flow control

Abstract

An air pump includes a housing, a motor, an impeller and an air flow controller. The housing confines a receiving space, and has a first end portion formed with a first port unit, an opposite second end portion formed with a second port unit, and an intermediate portion between the first and second end portions and formed with a third port unit. The motor is mounted in the receiving space. The impeller is coupled to and driven rotatably by the motor, and includes a base plate and first and second blade sets provided respectively on opposite sides of the base plate. The first and second blade sets face toward the first and second port units, respectively. The air flow controller is mounted on the second end portion of the housing, and is operable so as to block selectively fluid communication between the second port unit and the receiving space.

1 . An air pump comprising: 
 a housing confining a receiving space, and having a first end portion formed with a first port unit, a second end portion opposite to said first end portion and formed with a second port unit, and an intermediate portion between said first and second end portions and formed with a third port unit, each of said first and third port units being in fluid communication with said receiving space;    a motor mounted in said receiving space;    an impeller coupled to and driven rotatably by said motor, said impeller including a base plate and first and second blade sets provided respectively on opposite sides of said base plate, each of said first and second blade sets facing toward a corresponding one of said first and second port units; and    an air flow controller mounted movably on said second end portion of said housing and operable so as to block selectively fluid communication between said second port unit and said receiving space.    
   
   
       2 . The air pump as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said air pump is operable in one of first and second modes, 
 when said air pump is operated in the first mode, said air flow controller is operated to permit fluid communication between said second port unit and said receiving space, and said motor is operated to drive rotation of said impeller such that air is drawn into said receiving space through said first and second port units and such that air exits said receiving space through said third port unit, and    when said air pump is operated in the second mode, said air flow controller is operated to block fluid communication between said second port unit and said receiving space, and said motor is operated to drive rotation of said impeller such that air is drawn into said receiving space through said first port unit and such that air exits said receiving space through said third port unit.    
   
   
       3 . The air pump as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said second end portion of said housing is formed with a plurality of vent holes that serve as said second port unit, 
 said air flow controller including a rotary disc disposed in said receiving space, formed with a plurality of openings, retained rotatably at and disposed to abut against said second end portion of said housing, and operable so as to rotate in said receiving space between a first position, where said openings in said rotary disc are registered with said vent holes in said second end portion of said housing to permit fluid communication between said second port unit and said receiving space, and a second position, where said openings in said rotary disc are offset from said vent holes in said second end portion of said housing to block fluid communication between said second port unit and said receiving space.    
   
   
       4 . The air pump as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said air flow controller further includes: 
 a rotary knob disposed outwardly of said receiving space; and    first and second engaging members provided respectively on said rotary disc and said rotary knob, said first and second engaging members being interconnected to retain rotatably said rotary disc and said rotary knob at said second end portion of said housing.    
   
   
       5 . The air pump as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said first engaging member is a post that extends from the respective one of said rotary disc and said rotary knob and through said second end portion of said housing, and said second engaging member is a socket that is formed in the respective one of said rotary disc and said rotary knob and that engages said post.  
   
   
       6 . The air pump as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said rotary disc is formed with a positioning stud that is extendable removably into one of said vent holes in said second end portion of said housing to position releasably said rotary disc is at one of the first and second positions.  
   
   
       7 . The air pump as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first port unit is formed as an air duct that extends from said first end portion of said housing and that is formed with a plurality of vent holes.  
   
   
       8 . The air pump as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said third port unit is formed as an air duct that extends from said intermediate portion of said housing at a location proximate to said impeller.  
   
   
       9 . The air pump as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said impeller is disposed proximate to said third port unit in said receiving space.  
   
   
       10 . The air pump as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said housing includes a first housing part for mounting said motor therein and formed with said first port unit, and a second housing part for closing said first housing part and formed with said second port unit  11 . The air pump as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein each of said first and second housing parts has a surrounding wall formed with a respective peripheral extension, said peripheral extensions of said first and second housing parts cooperating to define an air duct that serves as said third port unit.