The perfect description of the dental air compressor

Friday, April 30th, 2010 at 6:46 am

The perfect description of the dental air compressor

Disclosed is a combined water ring vacuum pump and dental air compressor, both mounted in a single cabinet. The vacuum pump is mounted in the base of the cabinet, the dental compressor is mounted on a vibration insulated platform suspended from the top of the cabinet and the compressor drive motor is attached to the underside of the support platform.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to apparatus for use in dental offices and the like, namely a single self-contained unit providing both the vacuum and compressed air needs of the dental office.Heretofore, compressors and vacuum pumps required by the dental practitioner were usually purchased separately and installed in some out of the way location such as a basement. Suitable utility lines then connected the dental compressors and vacuum pump to one or more dental operatories.

The vibration noise of the compressor was particularly a problem, requiring that the compressor be installed outside of the dental laboratory. Vibration noises of the vacuum pump, particularly of the water ring pump, are minimal, but the floor space requirements of separate compressor and vacuum pump apparatus dictated the necessity of installing these components outside of the confines of the dental laboratory, where floor space is at a premium.

A secondary problem with respect to the dental air compressors generally is the difficulty in adjusting the tension of the drive belts connecting the drive motor to the compressor.

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by combining a water ring vacuum pump, a compressor and a compressed air storage tank in a single cabinet, which occupies a minimum of floor space. To economize on floor space, the vacuum pump, compressor drive motor, and dental chairs are all arranged one above the other in the cabinet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention can be characterized in one aspect thereof by a generally upright cabinet, having a water ring vacuum pump mounted in the base thereof and a compressor mounted on a platform suspended from adjacent the top of the cabinet. The platform suspension is not rigid and is therefore able to absorb the vibrations produced by the compressor. The compressor drive motor is mounted to the underside of the platform on means for moving the motor with respect to the platform to adjust the tension in the compressor drive belts. The water used to operate the water ring vacuum pump is circulated first through a heat exchanger adjacent the outlet of the compressor and then through the water ring vacuum pump.

dental air compressor dental compressor