A History of Air Compressors

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Air compressors are used in a variety of industries to provide compressed and pressurized air for many applications. These devices are now even used to power construction and manufacturing equipment and to drive control system valves; earlier compressors were much less versatile. The advent of air compressors dates back thousands of years.

The earliest air compressor was actually the human lung. Since the human body can exhale oxygen, people once used their breath to stoke fires. The trend of providing our own air pressure faded around B.C. as the practice of metallurgy became prevalent.  Metalsmiths were melting down various materials such as gold and copper, and they soon realized that higher temperatures were needed.

Healthy lungs can only produce .02 to .08 bar (1 bar equates to 14.5 psi) of air pressure&#;hardly adequate for metalworking tasks. Also, the carbon dioxide content in human breath wasn&#;t helpful for sustaining fires. The demand for stronger air compressors began to grow as time progressed.

In B.C., a new type of air compressor was invented, called bellows. This device was a hand-held (and later foot-controlled) flexible bag that produced a concentrated blast of air ideal for achieving higher temperature fires. Years later in , professional engineer John Smeaton designed a water wheel-driven blowing cylinder that slowly replaced the bellows.

Though Smeaton&#;s device was efficient, it was replaced in turn by the blasting machine invented by John Wilkinson in ; Wilkinson&#;s blasting machine became the archetype for later mechanical air compressors.

Air compressors were used for more than just metalworking in those days; they were also used for mining and fabricating metals and providing ventilation to underground areas. During the construction of the Italy-France rail system, compressors were often used to move large air volumes into the 8-mile construction tunnel. Soon after, people conceptualized more ways to utilize the technology.

By , people began using air compressors to transmit energy. Austrian engineer Viktor Popp created the first compressor plant in Paris in ; in just three years, Popp&#;s 1,500 kW compressor plant grew to 18,000 kW. More innovations in air compression kept improving upon the process, and soon began incorporating electricity and pneumatic energy.

Today, there are so many diverse types of modern air compressors to consider. Compressed Air Systems offers a vast product line that includes reciprocating, oil-less, vehicle-mounted, and other air compressors depending on your specific requirements.

Contact us today to find out how we help you find the right compressor for your application.

Whether it&#;s for personal or professional reasons, many people use air compressors every day. But when you go to turn on your air compressor, do you ever think about its history? Probably not! We&#;re not just experts in air compressor sizes in &#;we also know quite a bit about their history.

Continue reading to learn more about the backstory behind air compressors.

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It began with bellows

In B.C., humans invented a rudimentary version of a bellow that could blow pure oxygen into a fire. Not only would a bellow keep the fire going for longer, but it could also raise the temperature of the flame, making metallurgy and other crafts easier.

Though small improvements came along here and there, the basic bellow design remained unchanged for three millennia. In the mid s, inventor John Smeaton found a way to automate bellows by rigging the machine to a waterwheel.

The first air compressors

John Wilkinson took Smeaton&#;s design and patented the hydraulic blowing machine in . His invention was able to increase the airflow rate for blast furnaces, drastically increasing the production rate of cast iron. These hydraulic blowing machines can be thought of as the first air compressor for sale.

From powering digging tools in metal mines to running entire fabrication plants, compressed air began being used in a variety of different industries as technology improved over the next few centuries. As electricity use became more widespread in the early to mid s, air compressors switched from being powered by steam to electricity.

The road to modern air compressors

The use of compressed air blew up (no pun intended) in the s. People realized air compressors could be used for everything from powering tanks in World War I to building skyscrapers and residential homes in the suburbs. We also wouldn&#;t have mass-produced packaged foods or appliances if companies didn&#;t use compressed air in their manufacturing plants.

As we found more uses for compressed air, the tools only became more and more popular across the globe.

The many uses of compressed air today

From handheld models to large, stationary units, there are a ton of different air compressor sizes in that can be used in a variety of ways.

Home improvement DIY-ers, mechanics and construction crews can use air compressors to power their hammer drills, nail guns, sanders, riveters, jackhammers and a ton of other tools. Powering these tools with compressed air saves people from some hard labor and makes the job a ton faster.

Larger air compressors can be used for filling gas tanks, powering HVAC systems, inflating tires or even cleaning a messy workstation. Talk to a professional air compressor salesman about which compressor is right for your application.

Purchase your new compressor today

Now that you know a little bit more about the history of air compressors, it&#;s time to start shopping for yours. Come to Wenniger Compressor Co. today to check out our air compressor for sale in .

In addition to selling the best air compressors, we offer a variety of air compressor services like repairs, maintenance and installation. Visit our shop, or give us a call today to see what we can do for you.

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