Lightweight Inflation Device

Abstract

An inflator for inflating an air mattress or the like may include a housing, a rotor, a stator, an electric motor, and at least one battery. The rotor may be contained within the housing and include a first circuit of fan blades and a second circuit of fan blades. The first and second circuits of fan blades may respectively generate centrifugal and axial flows of air when the electric motor rotates the rotor with respect to the stator. The stator may be contained within the housing and include a third circuit of fan blades. The at least one battery may power the electric motor. The at least one battery and the electric motor may also be contained within the housing.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is: 
     
         1 . An inflator comprising:
 a housing;   a rotor contained within the housing, the rotor defining a central axis and comprising a first circuit of fan blades and a second circuit of fan blades, the first and second circuits of fan blades respectively generating centrifugal and axial flows of air when the rotor is rotated about the central axis;   a stator contained within the housing, the stator comprising a third circuit of fan blades extending radially away from the central axis;   an electric motor contained within the housing, the electric motor generating relative rotation of the rotor with respect to the stator about the central axis; and   at least one battery contained within the housing, the at least one battery powering the electric motor.   
     
     
         2 . The inflator of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises an inlet and an outlet. 
     
     
         3 . The inflator of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first circuit of fan blades is downstream from the inlet;   the second circuit of fan blades is downstream of the first circuit of fan blades;   the third circuit of fan blades is downstream of the second circuit of fan blades; and   the outlet is downstream of the third circuit of fan blades.   
     
     
         4 . The inflator of  claim 3 , further comprising a restrictor positioned between the inlet and the first circuit of fan blades, the restrictor requiring that air flowing from the inlet to the outlet pass through a central aperture. 
     
     
         5 . The inflator of  claim 4 , wherein the central aperture has a diameter that is less than or equal to an outer diameter of the first circuit of fan blades. 
     
     
         6 . The inflator of  claim 4 , wherein the central aperture has a diameter that is less than or equal to an inner diameter of the second circuit of fan blades. 
     
     
         7 . The inflator of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the rotor further comprises a central hub having a circumference;   the first circuit of fan blades is located inboard of the circumference; and   the second circuit of fan blades is located outboard of the circumference.   
     
     
         8 . The inflator of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the rotor further comprises a central hub having a front face and a side wall;   the first circuit of fan blades extends axially from the front face; and   the second circuit of fan blades extends radially from the side wall.   
     
     
         9 . An inflator comprising:
 an inlet;   a rotor defining a central axis and comprising a first circuit of fan blades and a second circuit of fan blades;   the rotor wherein the first circuit of fan blades is downstream of the inlet and the second circuit of fan blades is downstream of the first circuit of fan blades;   the rotor wherein the first circuit of fan blades are shaped to generate a primarily centrifugal flow of air when the rotor is rotated about the central axis;   the rotor wherein the second circuit of fan blades are shaped to generate a primarily axial flow of air when the rotor is rotated about the central axis;   a stator comprising a third circuit of fan blades extending radially away from the central axis;   the stator wherein the third circuit of fan blades is downstream of the second circuit of fan blades; and   an outlet downstream of the third circuit of fan blades.   
     
     
         10 . The inflator of  claim 9 , further comprising an electric motor connected to generate relative rotation of the rotor with respect to the stator about the central axis. 
     
     
         11 . The inflator of  claim 9 , further comprising a restrictor positioned between the inlet and the first circuit of fan blades, the restrictor requiring that air flowing from the inlet to the outlet pass through a central aperture. 
     
     
         12 . The inflator of  claim 11 , wherein the central aperture has a diameter that is less than or equal to an outer diameter of the first circuit of fan blades. 
     
     
         13 . The inflator of  claim 11 , wherein the central aperture has a diameter that is less than or equal to an inner diameter of the second circuit of fan blades. 
     
     
         14 . The inflator of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the rotor further comprises a central hub having a circumference;   the first circuit of fan blades is located inboard of the circumference; and   the second circuit of fan blades is located outboard of the circumference.   
     
     
         15 . The inflator of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the rotor further comprises a central hub having a front face and a side wall;   the first circuit of fan blades extends axially from the front face; and   the second circuit of fan blades extends radially from the side wall.   
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 obtaining an inflator comprising
 an inlet, 
 a rotor defining a central axis and comprising a first circuit of fan blades and a second circuit of fan blades, 
 a stator comprising a third circuit of fan blades extending radially away from the central axis, 
 an electric motor configured to provide relative rotation of the rotor with respect to the stator about the central axis, and 
 an outlet; 
   powering the electric motor to generate a flow of air from the inlet to the outlet;   effecting, by the first circuit of fan blades during the powering, a centrifugal compression on the flow of air; and   effecting, by the second circuit of fan blades during the powering, an axial compression on the flow of air.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the centrifugal compression precedes the axial compression. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the rotor further comprises a restrictor positioned between the inlet and the first circuit of fan blades; and   the restrictor comprises a central aperture having a diameter that is less than a minimum inner diameter of the inlet.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising requiring the flow of air to pass through a central aperture. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the central aperture has a diameter that is (1) less than or equal to an outer diameter of the first circuit of fan blades or (2) less than or equal to an inner diameter of the second circuit of fan blades.