Pistol-grip style electric air pump tools

Abstract

A pistol-grip style tool that includes an air pump driven by an electric motor, and a trigger operably coupled to the motor to operate the motor. The tool may also include a reservoir that removably couples to the air pump, and be adapted to receive a removable power source, such as a battery pack. The tool may be used to perform tests and diagnostics on systems or parts within a vehicle or other machine.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tool comprising:
 a pistol-grip style housing adapted to receive a removable power source;   a motor disposed in the housing;   a trigger operably coupled to the motor and adapted to control operation of the motor;   an air pump operably coupled to the motor; and   a reservoir removably coupled to the air pump.   
     
     
         2 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the air pump includes a pump connection. 
     
     
         3 . The tool of  claim 2 , wherein the pump connection is in fluid communication with the reservoir. 
     
     
         4 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is adapted to couple to a fluid system. 
     
     
         5 . The tool of  claim 4 , wherein when the reservoir is coupled to the fluid system, the tool and fluid system cooperatively form a pressure-closed environment. 
     
     
         6 . The tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a tube adapted to fluidly connect the air pump and the reservoir. 
     
     
         7 . The tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a tube coupled to the reservoir and adapted to releasably couple to a fluid system. 
     
     
         8 . The tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a switching valve adapted to selectively control the air pump between vacuum and pressure states. 
     
     
         9 . The tool of  claim 8 , wherein the switching valve is coupled to the reservoir by a fitting. 
     
     
         10 . The tool of  claim 8 , wherein the switching valve is disposed between the reservoir and the air pump. 
     
     
         11 . The tool of  claim 8 , wherein the reservoir is disposed between the switching valve and air pump. 
     
     
         12 . The tool of  claim 8 , wherein the switching valve is coupled to the reservoir by a tube. 
     
     
         13 . The tool of  claim 10 , wherein the switching valve is coupled to the air pump by a tube. 
     
     
         14 . The tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a bleeder valve. 
     
     
         15 . The tool of  claim 14 , wherein the bleeder valve is disposed between the reservoir and air pump. 
     
     
         16 . The tool of  claim 14 , wherein the reservoir is disposed between the bleeder valve and air pump. 
     
     
         17 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir includes a chamber for collecting material. 
     
     
         18 . The tool of  claim 17 , wherein the reservoir includes a first connector adapted to couple to the air pump, and a second connector adapted to couple to a fluid system to cooperatively form a pressure-closed environment. 
     
     
         19 . The tool of  claim 18 , wherein the first connector is coupled to a tube, and the tube is coupled to a pump connection of the air pump. 
     
     
         20 . The tool of  claim 18 , wherein the second connector is coupled to a tube, and the tube is adapted to couple to the fluid system. 
     
     
         21 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is connected in series with the air pump and a fluid system to cooperatively form a pressure closed environment. 
     
     
         22 . A tool comprising:
 a housing including a trigger in electrical communication with a motor, the housing is adapted to receive a removable power source;   an air pump adapted to be powered by and removably coupled to the motor and including a pump connection; and   a reservoir having a chamber and first and second connectors;   wherein the first connector is coupled to the pump connection and the second connector is adapted to couple to a fluid system to cooperatively form a pressure closed environment.   
     
     
         23 . The tool of  claim 22 , further comprising a switching valve adapted to selectively control an output of the air pump to either one of either a vacuum or a pressure building states. 
     
     
         24 . The tool of  claim 22 , further comprising a bleeder valve adapted to modify pressure produced by the air pump without disconnecting the tool from the fluid system and maintaining the pressure closed environment.