An air pump with an electromechanical switch assembly

Abstract

An air pump for an inflatable product may include an inflation-and-deflation control assembly, a pump assembly, a pressure valve assembly, and a linkage assembly. The pressure valve assembly may detect the pressure inside an inflatable chamber of the inflatable product. Once a pressure threshold is reached within the inflatable chamber, the pressure valve assembly may activate the linkage assembly. The linkage assembly may cause the inflation-and-deflation control assembly to deactivate the air pump and place the air pump in a closed or sealed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air pump for an inflatable product having an inflatable chamber, the air pump comprising:
 a body,   a panel, and   an inflation-and-deflation control assembly, the panel is provided with an air inlet-and-outlet port, the body is provided with an inflation-and-deflation port, the panel is coupled to the body, and the body and the panel cooperate to form a body chamber, wherein the body is further provided with a pressure-sensing port in communication with the inflatable chamber of the inflatable product;   the inflation-and-deflation control assembly comprises a handwheel, an air pump assembly, a clamp ring, and a bidirectional torsional spring having a pair of ends, the handwheel is rotatably arranged on the panel, the air pump assembly is operatively coupled to the handwheel, and the air pump assembly selectively opens or closes the inflation-and-deflation port, the clamp ring is arranged outside the air pump assembly, and both ends of the bidirectional torsion spring are coupled to the clamp ring;   the air pump further comprises a pressure valve assembly and a linkage assembly arranged in the body chamber, the pressure valve assembly comprises a pressure valve body, a pressure valve plate, a pressure ejector rod, and a pressure spring, and a valve chamber in communication with pressure-sensing port is formed in the pressure valve body; the pressure valve plate is arranged in the valve chamber, a lower end face of the pressure valve plate faces the pressure-sensing port, and an upper end face of the pressure valve plate is coupled to the pressure ejector rod; the pressure spring is located in the valve chamber and is arranged on the pressure ejector rod; the pressure ejector rod is movably arranged in the valve chamber, and is cooperated with the linkage assembly to trigger the linkage assembly to start when the pressure ejector rod moves up or down; the linkage assembly is arranged on the pressure valve body, and the linkage assembly selectively locks the clamp ring, when the linkage assembly is locked with the clamp ring, the air pump assembly is in an inflating position or the deflating position; when the pressure ejector triggers the linkage assembly, the linkage assembly and the clamp ring are unlocked, and the air pump assembly is restored to a closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The air pump of  claim 1 , wherein the linkage assembly comprises an air pressure microswitch, a pin, a pin spring, a signal switch, a reversing motor having an output shaft, and a cam, the air pressure microswitch is arranged on the pressure valve body and is movably coupled with the pressure ejector rod, the signal switch is connected to the reversing motor, and the air pressure microswitch is actuated by the pressure ejector rod; the cam is coupled to the output shaft of the reversing motor and is cooperated with the pin, one end of the pin is arranged with the pin spring, and the other end is provided with a locking part for locking the clamp ring. 
     
     
         3 . The air pump of  claim 2 , wherein the pin is provided with a shoulder, when the cam rotates, the cam pushes the pin to move by pushing the shoulder, at this time, the locking part unlocks the clamp ring. 
     
     
         4 . The air pump of  claim 2 , wherein the clamp ring is provided with an inflation locking surface and a deflation locking surface cooperated with the locking part of the pin, when the inflation locking surface and the locking part are locked, the air pump assembly is in the inflating position; and when the deflation locking surface is locked with the locking part, the air pump assembly is in the deflating position. 
     
     
         5 . The air pump of  claim 2 , wherein the pressure ejector rod is provided with a linkage arm cooperated with the pressure microswitch, the linkage arm is provided with an upper touch tab and a lower touch tab; when the pin and the clamp ring are locked, the air pressure microswitch is arranged between the upper touch tab and the lower touch tab; when the pin and the clamp ring are unlocked, the upper touch tab or the lower touch tab is contacts the air pressure microswitch. 
     
     
         6 . The air pump of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure valve body comprises a valve body and a valve base coupled to the valve body and disposed under the valve body. 
     
     
         7 . The air pump of  claim 1 , wherein an upper end of the pressure valve body is operatively coupled to a pressure regulator joint, and an upper end of the pressure spring is abutted below the pressure regulator joint. 
     
     
         8 . The air pump of  claim 7 , wherein a pressure regulating handwheel is operatively coupled to the pressure regulating joint, and the pressure regulating handwheel is rotatably arranged on the panel. 
     
     
         9 . The air pump of  claim 1 , wherein the air pump assembly comprises a motor, a pump body, an impeller, rotary disc, and a microswitch, an upper end of the motor is coupled to the handwheel, a lower end of the motor is coupled to the pump body; a lower end of the pump body is coupled with the rotary disc, and cooperates with the rotary disc to form a pump chamber; the impeller is arranged in the pump chamber and operatively coupled with the motor; the rotary disc is provided with an air inlet and an air outlet connected with the pump chamber; as the air pump assembly rotates, the air inlet and the air outlet on the rotary disc are selectively communicates with the air inlet-and-outlet port of the body; the microswitch is fixed in the body and connected with the motor for activating or deactivating the motor; and at least one of the motor, the pump body or the rotary disc is provided with a touch block matched with the microswitch, or, the microswitch is fixed on the motor, the pump body or the rotary disc, and is operatively coupled with the motor for activating or deactivating the motor, and the body is provided with a touch block matched with the microswitch. 
     
     
         10 . The air pump of  claim 9 , wherein the air pump assembly further comprises a fixed part, the fixed part is fixed in the body, the motor is set in the fixed part, the bidirectional torsion spring sleeve is sleeved outside the fixed part. 
     
     
         11 . An air pump for an inflatable product having an inflatable chamber, the air pump comprising:
 a body comprising an inflation-and-deflation port in communication with the inflatable chamber and a pressure-sensing port in communication with the inflatable chamber;   a panel coupled to the body and comprising an air inlet-and-outlet port in selective communication with the inflation-and-deflation port, the panel and the body defining a body chamber;   an inflation-and-deflation control assembly arranged substantially within the body chamber and configured to selectively place the inlet-and-outlet port of the panel in communication with the inflation-and-deflation port of the body, the inflation-and-deflation control assembly comprising a user actuatable controller rotatably disposed on the panel, and a collar operatively coupled to the user actuatable controller for rotation therewith and comprising a first locking surface and a second locking surface;   the inflation-and-deflation control assembly further comprising a pump assembly operatively coupled to the user actuatable controller for rotation therewith, the pump assembly comprising a pump motor, a pump body, and a pump cover, the pump body and the pump cover forming a pump chamber, the pump cover comprising an inlet and outlet in communication with the pump chamber, and the pump assembly further comprising an impeller operatively coupled to the pump motor and disposed within the pump chamber;   a pressure valve assembly arranged within the body chamber and comprising a pressure valve body including a duct in communication with the pressure-sensing port of the body, a pressure valve plate movably disposed within the pressure valve body in a first direction and a second direction, the pressure valve plate having a first side and a second side, the first side facing the pressure-sensing port, and a pressure ejector rod coupled to the second side of the pressure valve plate, the pressure ejector rod movable with the pressure valve plate in the first direction and the second direction; and   a linkage assembly operatively coupled to the pressure valve assembly and the inflation-and-deflation control assembly, the linkage assembly selectively activated by the pressure ejector rod and comprising a lock configured to selectively engage the first locking surface of the collar when the inflation-and-deflation control assembly is in a first position or the second locking surface of the collar when the inflation-and-deflation control assembly is in a second position, and a cam configured to selectively disengage the lock from the first locking surface or the second locking surface,   wherein movement of the pressure valve plate in the first direction or the second direction causes the pressure ejector rod to activate the linkage assembly to disengage the lock from the first locking surface or the second locking surface of the collar.   
     
     
         12 . The air pump of  claim 11 , wherein the pressure valve assembly further comprises a pressure spring sleeved on the pressure ejector rod. 
     
     
         13 . The air pump of  claim 12 , wherein the pressure valve assembly further comprises a second user actuatable controller rotatably disposed on the panel and operatively coupled to the pressure spring, and wherein rotation of the second user actuatable controller manipulates the pressure spring to set a pressure threshold for the pressure valve assembly, the pressure ejector rod activating the linkage assembly when a pressure in the inflatable chamber reaches the pressure threshold. 
     
     
         14 . The air pump of  claim 12 , wherein the pressure valve assembly further comprises a pressure regulating joint rotatably disposed in the valve body and between the second user actuatable controller and the pressure spring, the pressure regulating joint operatively coupling the second user actuatable controller to the pressure spring. 
     
     
         15 . The air pump of  claim 14 , wherein the pressure regulating joint comprises a pressure regulating gear operatively coupled to the second user actuatable controller and a joint body threadably engaged with the valve body. 
     
     
         16 . The air pump of  claim 11 , wherein the linkage assembly further comprises a cam motor comprising an output shaft operatively coupled to the cam and a switch configured to selectively activate the cam motor, wherein movement of the pressure ejector rod in the first direction or the second direction activates the switch of the linkage assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The air pump of  claim 11 , wherein the lock of the linkage assembly comprises a spring pin and a spring sleeved on the spring pin, the spring pin having a locking end and a shoulder, the locking end selectively engaging with the first locking surface of the collar or the second locking surface of the collar to prevent rotation of the collar, the cam selectively engaging the shoulder of the spring pin to disengage the locking end from the first locking surface or the second locking surface to permit rotation of the collar. 
     
     
         18 . The air pump of  claim 11 , wherein the inflation-and-deflation control assembly further comprises a torsion spring operatively coupled to the collar, the torsion spring accumulating a restoring force when the inflation-and-deflation control assembly is in the first position or the second position and configured to bias the inflation-and-deflation control assembly to a third position when the lock of the linkage assembly disengages from the first locking surface of the collar or the second locking surface of the collar. 
     
     
         19 . The air pump of  claim 18 , wherein, when the pressure ejector rod activates the linkage assembly, the collar rotates to the third position under the restoring force of the torsion spring. 
     
     
         20 . The air pump of  claim 11 , wherein, when the inflation-and-deflation control assembly is in the first position, the inlet of the pump cover is in communication with the air inlet-and-outlet port of the panel and the outlet of the pump cover is in communication with the inflation-and-deflation port of the body. 
     
     
         21 . The air pump of  claim 11 , wherein, when the inflation-and-deflation control assembly is in the second position, the inlet of the pump cover is in communication with the inflation-and-deflation port of the body and the outlet of the pump cover is in communication with the air inlet-and-outlet port of the panel. 
     
     
         22 . The air pump of  claim 11 , wherein the inflation-and-deflation control assembly is rotatable to a third position wherein the inlet of the pump cover is sealed relative to the inflation-and-deflation port of the body. 
     
     
         23 . The air pump of  claim 11 , wherein the pump assembly further comprises a rotatable disc positioned between pump cover and the inflation-and-deflation port of the body, the rotatable disc comprising an inlet in communication with the inlet of the pump cover and an outlet in communication with the outlet of the pump cover. 
     
     
         24 . The air pump of  claim 11 , wherein the pump assembly further comprises a selectively actuatable switch configured to activate and deactivate the pump motor, and the pump body comprises an engagement feature configured to activate the switch. 
     
     
         25 . An air pump for an inflatable product having an inflatable chamber, the air pump comprising:
 a body comprising an inflation-and-deflation port in communication with the inflatable chamber and a pressure-sensing port in communication with the inflatable chamber;   a panel coupled to the body and comprising an air inlet-and-outlet port in selective communication with the inflation-and-deflation port, the panel and the body defining a body chamber;   an inflation-and-deflation control assembly arranged substantially within the body chamber and configured to selectively place the inlet-and-outlet port of the panel in communication with the inflation-and-deflation port of the body, the inflation-and-deflation control assembly having a first position and a second position and comprising a user actuatable controller disposed on the panel, a first stop, and a second stop;   the inflation-and-deflation control assembly further comprising a pump assembly operatively coupled to the user actuatable, the pump assembly comprising a pump motor, an impeller operatively coupled to the pump motor, a pump body, and a pump cover coupled to the pump body, the air pump assembly having an inlet and outlet;   a pressure valve assembly comprising a pressure valve plate having a first side in fluid communication with the pressure-sensing port and a second side in fluid communication with the environment, and an actuator movable by the pressure valve plate from a first position to a second position; and   a linkage assembly operatively coupled to the pressure valve assembly and the inflation-and-deflation control assembly, the linkage assembly selectively activated by the actuator and comprising a lock configured to selectively engage the first stop of the inflation-and-deflation control assembly when the inflation-and-deflation control assembly is in the first position or the second stop of the inflation-and-deflation control assembly when the inflation-and-deflation control assembly is in the second position,   wherein the actuator of the pressure valve assembly selectively engages with the first stop when the actuator is in the second position and the inflation-and-deflation control assembly is in the first position to maintain the inflation-and-deflation control assembly in the first position and selectively engages with the second stop when the actuator is in the second position and the inflation-and-deflation control assembly is in the second position to maintain the inflation-and-deflation control assembly in the second position, the actuator being spaced apart from the first stop and the second stop when the actuator is in the first position.   
     
     
         26 . The air pump of  claim 25 , wherein the user actuatable controller is rotatably disposed on the panel. 
     
     
         27 . The air pump of  claim 26 , wherein the inflation-and-deflation control assembly further comprises a collar operatively coupled to the user actuatable controller for rotation therewith, the first stop and the second stop being disposed on the collar. 
     
     
         28 . The air pump of  claim 25 , wherein the inlet and the outlet of the pump assembly are formed in the pump cover. 
     
     
         29 . The air pump of  claim 25 , wherein the actuator of the pressure valve assembly comprises a pressure ejector rod coupled to the second side of the pressure valve plate. 
     
     
         30 . The air pump of  claim 25 , wherein, when the inflation-and-deflation control assembly is in the first position, the air pump assembly provides fluid to the inflation-and-deflation port of the body. 
     
     
         31 . The air pump of  claim 25 , wherein, when the inflation-and-deflation control assembly is in the second position, the air pump assembly receives fluid from the inflation-and-deflation port of the body. 
     
     
         32 . The air pump of  claim 25 , wherein the inflation-and-deflation control assembly has a third position wherein the inflation-and-deflation port of the body is sealed relative to the inlet-and-outlet port of the panel. 
     
     
         33 . The air pump of  claim 25 , wherein the second side of the pressure valve plate is in communication with the environment through the body chamber.