Combination Power Plant/Fluid Compressor for Service Vehicles

Abstract

A combination power plant/fluid compressor is provided for service vehicles. A small displacement internal combustion engine can be used to drive a fluid compressor, both mounted on a platform that can be mounted on the vehicle. A coupler is used to directly couple power from a pulley mounted on the crankshaft of the engine to the fluid compressor. The engine can operate on fuel from the fuel tank on the vehicle. The engine can be water-cooled and be configured to circulate heated coolant to the engine cooling system on the vehicle. In another embodiment, the engine can be operatively coupled to a stand-alone air conditioning system. In a further embodiment, the engine can be operatively coupled to a stand-alone electrical charging system.

1 . A combination power plant/fluid compressor for a service vehicle having a fuel tank, comprising:
 a) a platform configured for mounting on the service vehicle;   b) a first water-cooled, internal combustion engine having a crankshaft, the first engine operatively disposed on the platform, the first engine configured to operate on fuel from the fuel tank;   c) a fluid compressor operatively disposed on the platform; and   d) a coupler operatively disposed between the first engine and the fluid compressor, the coupler configured to couple power directly from the crankshaft of the first engine to the fluid compressor.   
   
   
       2 . The combination power plant/fluid compressor as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the coupler comprises a first coupler half operatively coupled to the crankshaft, a second coupler half operatively coupled to the fluid compressor and a coupler shaft disposed between the first and second coupler halves, the coupler shaft configured to rotationally engage the first coupler half to the second coupler half. 
   
   
       3 . The combination power plant/fluid compressor as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the coupler halves and the coupler shaft both comprise splines. 
   
   
       4 . The combination power plant/fluid compressor as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the coupler halves and the coupler shaft comprise complementary cross-sectional shapes. 
   
   
       5 . The combination power plant/fluid compressor as set forth in  claim 4  wherein the cross-sectional shape is polygonal or D-shaped. 
   
   
       6 . The combination power plant/fluid compressor as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising means for circulating heated coolant from the first engine to a second engine disposed in the service vehicle. 
   
   
       7 . The combination power plant/fluid compressor as set forth in  claim 6  wherein the means further comprises hose means configured for circulating the heated coolant. 
   
   
       8 . The combination power plant/fluid compressor as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a stand-alone air conditioning system operatively coupled to the engine for use in cooling the interior of the service vehicle. 
   
   
       9 . The combination power plant/fluid compressor as set forth in  claim 8  further comprising an evaporator configured to be disposed in the service vehicle. 
   
   
       10 . The combination power plant/fluid compressor as set forth in  claim 9  wherein the evaporator is configured to be installed in a ventilation system disposed in the service vehicle. 
   
   
       11 . The combination power plant/fluid compressor as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a stand-alone electrical charging system operatively coupled to the first engine for charging a second charging system disposed in the service vehicle. 
   
   
       12 . The combination power plant/fluid compressor as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the stand-alone electrical charging system further comprises a solar panel system or an external power supply for charging the second charging system when the first engine is not running. 
   
   
       13 . The combination power plant/fluid compressor as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the fluid compressor comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of an air compressor and a hydraulic fluid pump. 
   
   
       14 . The combination power plant/fluid compressor as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the fluid compressor comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of an air compressor and a hydraulic fluid pump. 
   
   
       15 . The combination power plant/fluid compressor as set forth in  claim 6  wherein the fluid compressor comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of an air compressor and a hydraulic fluid pump. 
   
   
       16 . The combination power plant/fluid compressor as set forth in  claim 8  wherein the fluid compressor comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of an air compressor and a hydraulic fluid pump. 
   
   
       17 . The combination power plant/fluid compressor as set forth in  claim 11  wherein the fluid compressor comprises one or more selected from the group consisting of an air compressor and a hydraulic fluid pump.