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The Mitch patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,091,638) discloses the internal cooling of a hermetically sealed rotary refrigeration compressor. The compressor is provided with a means for handling the oil and refrigerant vapor mixture to provide sufficient cooling of the motor without external precoolers and related conduits and apparatus. The oil is collected and directed so that the flow is along the internal surface of the hermetic shell so that the shell itself functions as a heat exchanger.
The Stofen patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,311,439) discloses an dental air compressor system wherein the motor and compressor are enclosed within a substantially air-tight cabinet for maintaining quiet operation of the unit. This patent describes the use of circulating air which is routed over the compressor to maintain the temperature at a safe level.
The Pownall patent (U.S. Pat. No. 2,606,430) discloses a multiple stage air compressor system wherein the compressor is run in oil to lubricate the bearings of the compressor as well as cool the unit. A separating device is used in this system for separating the entrained oil from the compressed gas so that the outlet gas is relatively oil-free. This patent does not directly relate to the applicant's invention in that it is a large compressor system and there is no direct correlation with the type of system which is disclosed in this application.
The Schibbye patent (U.S. Pat. No. 3,945,216) also discloses a compressor which utilizes an oil separator to separate oil from the compressed refrigeration gases. The oil that is used in this system has a considerably high viscosity which is used to aid the separation function of the system.
The Yanik patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,060,340) is presented to show the operation of a compressed air system which utilizes an outlet unloading valve. In this system the outlet pressure is removed or unloaded from the outlet of the compressor when it is stopped. A diversion valve is included to provide for blocking any connection of the compressor inlet with the discharge pressure side of thedental air compressor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a quiet running, oil free air supply for a dental delivery system. In conjunction with this the applicants have designed a completely portable dental operating unit which utilizes modular construction. The individual components of the unit are individually housed in separate box-like containers or modules with the modules designed to interfit and lock with each other to form a work console arrangement. There can be any number of modules forming the console, but it has been found that three modules have proven to be quite satisfactory.
The reason for providing the dental delivery system in modular form is to make it easier to transport and store when patients are serviced in distant or remote locations. The operating unit when the modules are assembled is arranged so that the bottom or lowermost module has a pair of wheels while the upper unit is provided with a handle so that the dental delivery system can be easily moved, similar to the common "dollie". Thus, the dental delivery system can be used in the dentist's office and then moved out of the office to patients' homes, hospitals or business offices. This is a desirable alternative to the present permanent systems and allows the dentist to go to the patient instead of forcing the patient to travel to the dentist.
The present invention provides an oil-free, quiet running pressurized air supply for the dental delivery system. In order to provide the quiet or noise-free characteristic that is so necessary in work of this nature a hermetically sealed refrigeration compressor has been modified and converted in such a way as to provide the unique and unobvious results which are provided by the system.
The high pressure utility air system which is provided by the present invention includes the hermetically enclosed dental air compressor which contains internal collant oil and includes an auxiliary oil cooling and temperature control loop as well as a high pressure air outlet system. Because of the nature of the compressor which is used and the fact that the inlet air passes through the housing of the compressor unit, inlet air as it enters the compressor is entrained with coolant oil vapor which helps to lubricate as well as cool the internal components of the compressor. Because of the use the coolant oil in this way the outlet pressurized air contains a relatively high concentration of oil vapor which is carried with the air as it leaves the compressor unit. This air is passed through an oil coalescer or filter which filters out any contamination or particles as well as condenses the oil to collect the oil in the bottom of the coalescer. Thus, as air leaves the coalescer, it is substantially contamination and oil free. At this point, the air passes through a check-valve and a quick disconnect so that the outlet air from the compressor can be connected to other modules in the delivery system where it is stored in a suitable pressure tank or reservoir. The storage tank, in turn, is connected to a manifold for distribution to the necessary dental tools and accessories.
It is extremely important to maintain the temperature of the motor and compressor within thedental air compressorunit at a safe operating temperature so that the unit can be used for continued or intermittent use. In order to accomplish this, the applicants have provided a unique circulating system whereby the oil is drawn off of the lower portion of the housing of the compressor by a suitable motor-driven pump with the oil forced through an air cooled radiator with the cooled oil directed back into the housing of the motor compressor unit. Since the control of the temperature of the compressor is critical to the satisfactory operation of this unit, the return oil entering the compressor housing is arranged to impinge directly on the top portion of the compressor cylinder head. Since this is the area of highest temperature, it is necessary to control this temperature as well as the other heat generating areas of the unit. With the oil impinging directly on the cylinder head, the oil flows downward across the compressor and motor returning to the reservoir in the lower portion of the housing. In this way, the cooled oil absorbs the generated heat energy from the dental air compressor and motor and maintains the temperature of this unit at a safe operating level.
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