With workers constantly on the go, having to move from one job site to another, a machine that you can carry along the way with ease seems like a gold mine. Any construction worker, carpenter, electrician or even a camper can value a pancake air compressor. A pancake air compressor is lightweight and portable. It can run on gas or electricity and is fuel- and energy-efficient.
Design
A pancake air compressor has an oil-less design and is low-maintenance. It typically has less bulk than standard air compressors, and its style comes in a metal square or rectangular shape with wheels. The motor is under the compression tank, and a pressure gauge as well as a release valve sits on top of the compression tank. There are two quick-release air ports on one side of the compressor and an intake manifold that is usually opposite.
How It Functions
When you turn on the compressor, a driveshaft rises up into the lower half of the compressor, and here is when you hear the power. Inside the compressor tank is a division of three parts; in one part there are two particular pistons that are separate from the other two sections. A heavy plastic diaphragm divides the sections within the compressor tank, with one piston placed under each chamber. The piston can push against the diaphragm and cause the space in between the two chambers to increase or decrease.
Suction
A piston beneath the compression chamber helps the compressor retract air, while a piston that is situated under the holding case allows it to extend. If the piston is not pressing against the compression chamber it will permit the air bag to return to its full expanded size. When this happens, it generates a low-pressure suction within the compression tank and sucks the air through the intake manifold through a one-way controller.
Movement
The piston situated below the chamber retracts the air, so you can reverse the air movement. When this happens it compels the air from the compression tank into the holding chamber and also through a one-way valve. This movement re-occurs hundreds of times within a minute and stops only once the pressure gauge result arrives at the max internal pressure. When the pressure gauge hits its max it will send a signal that automatically turns the machine off.
Portability and Use
According to John White, author of "A Buyer's Guide to Portable Air Compressors," a pancake air compressor is easy to move and store. You can use it at a remote worksite or for DYI projects such as repairing a roof or putting up bookshelves. It also can keep toys, tires and other inflatable items full and ready for your use.
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