Air compressor assembly having a condensate management system

Abstract

An air compressor assembly including a condensate management system that removes condensate from an air storage tank. Condensate inside the storage tank descends to the lowest point in the tank, where a single port is located. The port can serve as both an inlet for compressed air to the storage tank and an outlet of compressed air from the storage tank. The condensate is drawn from the storage tank to the manifold assembly through an air conduit and out of the air compressor assembly through a connected tool when the tool is activated.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An air compressor assembly comprising:
 at least one storage tank configured to store compressed air;   an air compressor that includes a pump assembly configured to supply the compressed air to the at least one storage tank and a motor configured to drive the pump assembly;   a manifold assembly including an inlet for receiving the compressed air from the pump assembly, a tank pressure gauge configured to display a pressure of the compressed air entering the manifold assembly, a pressure regulator configured to regulate a pressure of the compressed air being output from the manifold assembly, and an outlet configured to deliver an output of the compressed air to a pneumatic tool; and   an air conduit connected between the manifold assembly and the at least one storage tank to deliver the compressed air and a condensate from the at least one storage tank to the manifold assembly; and   a port disposed in the at least one storage tank, the port admitting the compressed air into, and releasing the compressed air and the condensate from, the at least one storage tank to the air conduit and the manifold assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The air compressor assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a housing encasing the at least one storage tank, the pump assembly, and the motor and at least partially encasing the manifold assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The air compressor assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second storage tank for storing additional compressed air. 
     
     
         4 . The air compressor assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a handle coupled to the housing to assist in transporting the air compressor assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The air compressor assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the air conduit comprises a hose. 
     
     
         6 . The air compressor assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the port is integral with the at least one storage tank. 
     
     
         7 . The air compressor assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the port is valve-free. 
     
     
         8 . The air compressor assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the port is arranged between a lower portion of the at least one storage tank and the manifold assembly. 
     
     
         9 . A condensate management system for removing a condensate from a compressed air storage tank, the system comprising:
 an air storage tank having a condensate removal member disposed below a plane passing through a horizontal center portion of the air storage tank; and   an air conduit connected to the condensate removal member.   
     
     
         10 . The condensate management system according to  claim 9 , wherein the condensate removal member is valve-free. 
     
     
         11 . The condensate management system according to  claim 9 , wherein the condensate removal member comprises an outlet port in a bottom of the air storage tank.