Patent Application
20130320639
The invention relates to a compressed air supply installation according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention further relates to a pneumatic system having a compressed air supply installation of this kind according to claim 15.
A compressed air supply installation is used in all kinds of vehicles, particularly to supply vehicle air suspension systems with compressed air. Air suspension systems may also include level control mechanisms, with which the distance between the vehicle axle and the vehicle body can be set. An air suspension system in a pneumatic system referred to above comprises a number of air bellows pneumatically connected to a common line (header), which lift the vehicle body as they fill up and lower it as they deflate. As the distance between the vehicle axle and the vehicle body, or ground clearance, increases, the spring deflections become longer and even relatively significant surface unevenness can be overcome without coming into contact with the vehicle body. Systems of this kind are used in off-road vehicles and sports utility vehicles (SUVs). Particularly in the case of SUVs with very powerful engines, it is desirable for the vehicle to be provided, on the one hand, with comparatively low ground clearance for high-speed road driving and, on the other hand, with comparatively high ground clearance for off-road driving. It is furthermore desirable for a change in ground clearance to be made as quickly as possible, thereby increasing demands in relation to the speed, flexibility and reliability of a compressed air supply installation.
A compressed air supply installation for use in a pneumatic system with a pneumatic unit, for example a previously described air suspension system, is operated using compressed air from a compressed air supply, within the limits of a pressure level of 5 to 20 bar, for example. The compressed air is made available to the compressed air supply using an air compressor. The compressed air supply is pneumatically connected to a compressed air connection to supply the pneumatic unit and, on the other hand, is pneumatically connected to a vent port. By means of a vent valve arrangement, the compressed air supply installation and/or pneumatic unit can be vented towards the vent port by releasing air.
In order to guarantee long-term operation of the compressed air supply installation, said system comprises an air drier, with which the compressed air can be dried. The accumulation of moisture in the pneumatic system, which can otherwise lead to valve-damaging crystal formation and other undesirable effects in the compressed air supply installation and in the pneumatic unit at comparatively low temperatures, is thereby avoided. An air drier comprises a drying agent, customarily a granulate fill, through which the compressed air can flow, so that the granulate fill is able to adsorb moisture contained in the compressed air at comparatively high pressure. An air drier may, where appropriate, be designed as a regenerative air drier. This involves dried compressed air from the air suspension system being passed through the granulate fill at comparatively low pressure in counter-current or co-current flow relative to the filling direction during each venting cycle. The vent valve arrangement may be opened for this purpose. For an application of this kind—also referred to as pressure swing adsorption—it has proved desirable for a compressed air supply installation to be flexibly and at the same time reliably designed. In particular, comparatively rapid venting should be made possible, yet there should be a sufficient pressure swing to allow regeneration of the air drier.
A solenoid valve for the implementation of a multiple function may be realized with at least three connected pneumatic chambers—namely for the pneumatic connection of functionally different pneumatic chambers which are always separate and have different pressures applied to them—having two mechanically separate lifting armatures in a common exciter winding of the solenoid valve. Each of the lifting armatures is allocated to a different separate pneumatic chamber in this case. A dual-armature solenoid valve of this kind is disclosed in principle in DE 201 60 30, for example, or in applications made by the applicant, such as DE 35 01 708 A1 or DE 10 2006 041 010 A1, for example. The basic method of operation of a dual-armature solenoid valve can be derived from the applicant's application DE 10 2004 035 763 A1, for example.
The applicant's application DE 35 429 74 A1 discloses a level control mechanism for vehicles with air filters, with which a predetermined distance between the vehicle cell and the vehicle axle can be maintained by inflating or deflating the air springs according to the vehicle load. The mechanism contains a safety valve that can be controlled using the pressure in the air springs. A compressed air supply installation of this kind, as referred to above, can be further improved.
DE 199 11 933 B4 discloses a compressed air generator having an air drier with a first compressed air supply line, wherein the compressed air is conducted through a drying agent, and with a second compressed air supply line, in which the compressed air is not conducted through the drying agent.
A compressed air supply installation of the kind referred to above is also disclosed in EP 1 165 333 B2 in the context of a pneumatic system with an air suspension system, as referred to above. Apart from a separately closable main venting line, this exhibits a high-pressure venting line with an additional high-pressure vent valve alongside the main vent valve pneumatically actuated using a control valve in the main venting line and which is connected in parallel to the main venting line. The free flow-through cross-section of the separate high-pressure vent valve is smaller than that of the main vent valve. A compressed air supply installation of this kind can be further improved. It has been demonstrated that when a compressed air supply installation of this kind is vented via the high-pressure venting line, dry air is vented, which is not used to regenerate the drying agent. This represents an unnecessary waste of dry air, particularly in the event that a suitable flexible, rapid and yet reliable actuation of the compressed air supply installation with a correspondingly high actuation rate should be necessary for the above applications. Although a main vent valve which can be configured with a comparatively large nominal width can be pneumatically pre-controlled via the control valve provided with a comparatively small nominal width, an arrangement of this kind designed for the indirect connection of a pressure volume is comparatively expensive.
A compressed air control mechanism with an air drier is disclosed in EP 1 233 183 B1, the housing of said air drier containing a cup-shaped drying container, the inside of which is connectable via the housing firstly to a pressurizing agent source and secondly to a connection element in the form of a pressure reservoir and/or an air spring via a valve opening towards these. The housing exhibits an air inlet and an air outlet for compressed air in each case, said air being conducted in a flow direction from the air inlet through the drying container to the air outlet, in order to inflate the at least one connection element. For deflation, the compressed air is removed in the opposite flow direction from the air outlet through the drying container and the housing and out of the latter. A controllable directional valve is integrated and fitted into the housing of the air drier, said valve serving to allow the air into the inside of the housing and the drying container during deflation. A directional valve controlling the discharge channel is actuated by at least one further controllable directional valve using the pressure during deflation. This directional valve is arranged substantially outside the housing of the air drier.
A compressed air system with an outlet valve which can be charged by a compressor and exhibits a compressed air unit is disclosed in DE 32 16 329 C2, wherein a pressure-retention valve is provided in a flow-back line between the compressed air storage container, on the one hand, and the container holding a drying agent and also the outlet valve, on the other. The outlet valve and a pressure regulator regulating it are continuously connected to a hollow rod by the container holding the drying agent.
These and other solutions from the prior art for an air drier have proved to be comparatively demanding in terms of installation space. It would be desirable for a compressed air supply unit having a vent valve arrangement and an air drier to be set up in the most space-saving manner possible.
It is at this point that the invention comes into play, addressing the problem of specifying a simplified compressed air supply installation for the operation of a pneumatic unit, which is comparatively space-saving in design and is particularly improved relative to the prior art. In particular, a vent valve arrangement and an air drier in the compressed air supply installation should be arranged as compactly as possible relative to one another. In particular, the venting and/or drying output of the compressed air supply installation should be improved. In particular, the acoustics of the compressed air supply installation should be improved, particularly during venting. The problem addressed by the invention is likewise one of specifying an advantageously designed pneumatic system with the compressed air supply installation.
In relation to the compressed air supply installation, the problem is solved by the invention by means of a compressed air supply installation of the kind referred to above, in which the features of the characterizing part of claim 1 are provided according to the invention. The invention leads to a pneumatic system in claim 15 with a compressed air supply installation according to the invention.
The invention is based on the assumption that the configuration of the vent valve arrangement in relation to the drying container of the air drier still offers potential for saving installation space in a compressed air supply installation. Solutions previously disclosed in the prior art envisage a vent valve arrangement essentially outside a drying container of the air drier. The invention has recognized that a drying container in the air drier can be advantageously configured, in order to house a vent valve arrangement at least partially in an installation space provided for the drying container. Provision is made according to the invention for the drying container to exhibit a wall forming a recess free from drying agent and for the vent valve arrangement to be disposed at least partially in said recess. A boundary of the recess is formed particularly by an outwardly facing side (in other words, by a side of the wall facing away from the granulate in the drying container) of the drying container wall.
The invention has recognized that this installation space-saving measure can be introduced without any losses in terms of function for the air drier or the vent valve arrangement and can actually be used for the advantageous synergistic operation of the air drier and the vent valve arrangement. A vent valve arrangement can be advantageously realized in a compact manner due to the attachment practically within a substantially cylindrical installation space contour of the drying container. The recess formed by the wall extends within the cylindrical installation space contour. In other words, a free space formed by the recess is created in the installation space contour, in which the solenoid valve arrangement is at least partially housed. The drying container thereby protectively surrounding the solenoid valve arrangement advantageously performs an acoustics-improving function. Moreover, the invention has recognized that due to the advantageous configuration of the solenoid valve arrangement in a section surrounded by the wall of the drying container, waste heat from the vent valve arrangement can be used to dry the granulate. The compressed air supply installation is more compactly and efficiently designed overall than has been the case in systems disclosed in the prior art.
The idea behind the invention is particularly advantageously realized in that the vent valve arrangement is configured with a valve housing completely in the drying agent-free recess of the drying container, i.e. practically without projecting out of the recess, except for incoming lines. The idea behind the invention is not limited in principle to a particular kind of vent valve arrangement; instead, any appropriately suitable vent valve (e.g. in the form of a single vent valve or as part of a vent valve arrangement with a plurality of vent valves) provided with the advantages according to the invention may be arranged in the drying agent-free recess of the drying container. The vent valve arrangement is advantageously created in the form of a controllable solenoid valve arrangement having a solenoid part and a pneumatic part. The pneumatic part particularly includes the pneumatically active parts like the valve as such. The pneumatic part advantageously exhibits an armature connected to the valve body, wherein the valve body is mounted on a valve seat and the armature can be activated by the solenoid part, i.e. part of the solenoid part. The solenoid part particularly includes the electrically and/or magnetically acting parts, such as the actuating and control means for the valve, such as the coil with the armature and coil body and also a control line or the like. At least the pneumatic part and/or the solenoid part is/are advantageously arranged in the recess. It has proved particularly successful for at least one or a plurality of elements of the pneumatic part and/or the solenoid part—particularly a valve seat, a valve body, a coil body, an armature and/or a sealing element—to be arranged in the recess. The pneumatic part and/or the solenoid part is/are advantageously arranged wholly or at least partly in the recess. The pneumatic part and the solenoid part are preferably arranged in a common valve housing. The valve housing is preferably arranged in the recess. The wall forming the recess particularly advantageously serves as the valve housing.
It has proved advantageous for the drying container to surround the solenoid valve arrangement on at least two sides, preferably on three sides or on all sides, except for the supply lines. The air drier, particularly the drying container itself, can preferably be flowed through in a reversible flow manner, i.e. bidirectionally, via air ports.
Further advantageous developments of the invention can be derived from the dependent claims and they specify in detail advantageous possibilities for realizing the idea explained above within the framework of the problem being addressed and also in relation to further advantages.
In a particularly preferred development, the recess is arranged symmetrically to an axis of the drying container. The recess is preferably arranged parallel and/or centrally to the axis of the drying container. This also enables there to be a comparatively uniform and particularly complete flow through the drying granulate in the drying container, notwithstanding the recess situated there. The recess advantageously exhibits a channel through the drying container through which compressed air can flow. The channel advantageously connects to a free space without any fittings upstream of the vent valve arrangement. The free space and the vent valve arrangement are preferably axially disposed relative to one another. The aforementioned developing structure envisages in principle a functional division of the drying container in an axial and radial direction. In particular, the drying container firstly exhibits a container volume with the drying granulate in an annular, radially outwardly lying casing section conducted about an axis. The container volume can be particularly evenly flowed through by a vent flow P and/or a supply flow
The solenoid valve arrangement is preferably configured for the direct connection of a total compressed air volume. In particular, the solenoid valve arrangement is free from a control valve for this purpose. It has been demonstrated that a direct connection of a total compressed air volume can take place in a comparatively short time—the compressed air supply installation thereby enables comparatively rapid venting of the pneumatic system. This is particularly advantageous in the case of SUVs and other sports vehicles. In some cases, these require the ground clearance or another chassis setting to be changed comparatively quickly. Moreover, a comparatively rapid venting of the compressed air supply installation may be necessary for regeneration of the air drier.
Moreover, within the framework of the idea behind the invention, it is also possible in principle for the vent valve arrangement to be configured as an indirectly pre-controlled solenoid valve arrangement. A control valve and a relay valve are provided for the indirect connection of a compressed air volume. An indirectly pilot-controlled solenoid valve arrangement may be configured for preferred rapid venting, in that a control valve exposed to partial pressure is designed to control the relay valve. Another possibility is to expose the control valve to a total pressure of the compressed air volume and to provide the control valve exposed in this manner to control the relay valve. This leads to a so-called normal venting function of the indirectly pilot-controlled solenoid valve arrangement.
In a particularly preferred first variant, it has proved advantageous for the vent valve arrangement to be created in the form of a controllable solenoid valve arrangement with a solenoid part and a pneumatic part. The pneumatic part advantageously comprises a primary valve and a secondary valve. The primary valve and the secondary valve can preferably be activated using a common control means acting on both, particularly of the solenoid part of the solenoid valve arrangement. In a particularly preferred embodiment of this variant, the primary valve and the secondary valve are formed in a common housing as a dual-armature solenoid valve. In this variant, a valve may quite generally be provided, which comprises a primary armature bearing a first sealing element of the primary valve and a secondary armature bearing a second sealing element of the secondary valve, wherein the primary armature and the secondary armature are arranged in a common coil body.
The valves of the solenoid valve arrangement, particularly the primary valve and the secondary valve of the dual-armature solenoid valve, may be connected in parallel or in series, normally open or normally closed, in any combination. A series arrangement and parallel arrangement of the primary and secondary valve is suitable for a particularly flexibly configured time switching sequence of the primary and secondary valve, so that different nominal widths can be made available at different times for the venting line. In this way, pressure peaks during venting can be reduced and therefore acoustics improved, in particular a venting bang can be avoided. A parallel arrangement has additionally proved particularly advantageous to a gradual increase in the nominal widths available for the venting line, so that particularly rapid venting can take place and a venting bang can be avoided. Excessive acoustics or else a venting bang is always a risk during the venting process if an excessively large volume of compressed air is vented in too short a time, i.e. when there is an excessive pressure amplitude. On the other hand, a comparatively high pressure swing amplitude is desirable for the best possible regeneration of the air drier. The conditions required for increased efficiency in relation to venting and drier regeneration, on the one hand, and low-noise operation, on the other, may therefore be inconsistent with one another. The previously described idea behind the invention achieves a particularly advantageous compromise between drier regeneration and venting efficiency, on the one hand, and acoustics, on the other. Moreover, a reliable and structurally simplified solution according to the invention can be achieved in that the primary valve and the secondary valve can be activated using a common control means of the solenoid part of the solenoid valve arrangement acting on the primary valve and secondary valve. In other words, practically a common solenoid part of the solenoid valve arrangement can be used for the primary valve and the secondary valve of the pneumatic part.
The aforementioned first variant with two vent valves facilitates a particularly advantageous, flexible handling, both of the venting of the compressed air supply installation or the pneumatic system and also of the regeneration of the air drier. It has been shown that an advantageous adjustment of the nominal widths of the primary valve and the secondary valve not only allows regeneration of the air drier to take place, but moreover, venting of the compressed air supply installation, without excessive acoustics, particularly allowing a venting bang to be avoided.
In a likewise preferred second variant, the vent valve arrangement may be created in the form of a controllable solenoid valve arrangement with a single solenoid valve. Both the first and also the second variant of the aforementioned development are suitable for the direct connection or indirect connection of a total compressed air volume of the aforementioned kind.
For a solenoid valve in the solenoid valve arrangement for forming the vent valve arrangement in both the aforementioned variants, an elastomer valve seat or a metal valve seat has proved particularly robust and resistant. A metal valve seat allows small opening strokes, as there is no elastomer indentation as in an elastomer valve seat. This means that the solenoid valve arrangement may be compact in design. In principle, an elastomer or a metal may also be used for a sealing element of a solenoid valve.
Within the framework of a particularly preferred development, the compressed air supply installation is realized in the form of a mechanism with a housing arrangement, wherein the housing arrangement comprises a number of sections. It has been demonstrated that the sections of a housing arrangement can be disposed relative to one another in an appropriate manner, advantageously in a U-form. It is particularly advantageous for there to be a drive disposed in a first section. The compressor that can be driven by the drive is advantageously disposed in a second section. The air drier and the vent valve arrangement are advantageously disposed in a third section connected to the second section via a pressure sources interface. Particularly when using a U-shaped arrangement of sections, the arrangement of the third section in a leg of the U-shaped arrangement has proved advantageous. In this way, pneumatic and/or control-electrical and/or electrical interfaces may be arranged horizontally when the compressed air supply line is installed in a vehicle. The aforementioned division may, in principle, also be achieved by arranging the first to third section in a configuration other than a U-shape, e.g. in a Z-shaped configuration.
The drying container advantageously forms part of the housing arrangement. This leads to a weight saving and a reduction in the number of parts in a compressed air supply installation. In particular, a cover housing a seal is provided as part of the housing arrangement, wherein the cover closes off the recess with the solenoid valve arrangement situated therein.
It has been demonstrated, moreover, that the cover may be designed to accommodate pneumatic and/or control-electrical and/or electrical functional means, such as an interface, electrical and/or pneumatic lines, valves, or the like. The cover may be particularly designed to provide pneumatic interfaces—such as the compressed air supply interface and the vent interface or a valve in the form of a return valve. The cover may particularly provide an electrical interface—such as a control interface.
It is particularly advantageously provided that a so-called venting section of the air drier, also referred to as the vent cap, is at least partially disposed in the housing arrangement section. In particular, a venting section of the air drier is at least partially arranged in the cover. The venting section is at least partially divided into pneumatic lines, preferably by a molded seal. A seal in the cover can thereby be advantageously used for sealing purposes and for structuring the venting section. The housing arrangement and/or cover can thereby be simplified in structural terms.
A cover is particularly modular in design. The cover is preferably constructed from a number of cover panels. A first cover panel preferably exhibits pneumatic functional means, particularly at least a pneumatic line, at least a seal and/or a pneumatic interface. A second cover panel exhibits control-electrical and/or electrical functional means, preferably at least an electrical control line and/or at least an electrical and/or control-electrical interface.
The connection of a compressed air supply installation in specific form can be achieved and varied overall by a cover provided with the aforementioned functional means, without the air drier or the housing arrangement in the housing parts having to be changed significantly. This facilitates standardized production of the compressed air supply installation with customized adjustments being made more easily, flexibly and cost-effectively by means of the cover.
Exemplary embodiments of the invention are now described with the help of the drawing. This is not necessarily intended to represent the exemplary embodiments to scale, but rather the drawing is produced in a schematic and/or slightly distorted fashion for illustrative purposes. With regard to additions to the teaching immediately recognizable from the drawing, reference is made to the pertinent state of the art. It should be taken into account here that multifarious modifications and alterations affecting the form and detail of an embodiment can be undertaken without deviating from the general idea behind the invention. The features of the invention disclosed in the description, in the drawing and in the claims may be crucial to the development of the invention, both individually and also in any combination. In addition, all combinations of at least two of the features disclosed in the description, the drawing and/or the claims fall within the framework of the invention. The general idea behind the invention is not limited to the exact form or detail of the preferred embodiment shown and described below or limited to an object, which would be limited in comparison with the object claimed in the claims. Where dimensional ranges are specified, values lying within the aforementioned limits should also be disclosed as limiting values and be randomly used and claimable. For the sake of simplicity, wherever appropriate the same reference numbers are used below for identical or similar parts or for parts with an identical or similar function.
Further advantages, features and details of the invention emerge from the following description of the preferred embodiments and also from the drawing. In the drawing:
The compressed air supply installation 10 is used to operate the pneumatic system 90 in the form of the air suspension system and supplies the header 95 thereof via a compressed air connection 2. The compressed air supply installation 10 further exhibits an air supply 0 for drawing air via a filter 0.1 and a vent port 3 to release air via a filter 3.1 into the environment. A filter 3.1 or 0.1 is positioned downstream of the vent port 3 in the venting direction or upstream of the air supply 0 contrary to the filling direction. The pneumatic system 90 in the form of the air suspension system is arranged downstream of the compressed air connection 2 in the filling direction. The compressed air supply installation 10 moreover exhibits an air condenser 21 in the form of a compressor in a pneumatic connection between the air supply 0 and the compressed air supply 1, said compressor being driven by a motor M and provided to supply the compressed air supply 1 with compressed air. An air drier 22 and a first throttle 31, in the form of a regeneration throttle in this case, are further disposed in a pneumatic connection between the compressed air supply 1 and the compressed air connection 2. The filter 0.1, the air supply 0, the air compressor 21, the compressed air supply 1, the air drier 22 and a first throttle 31 are arranged along with the compressed air connection 2 in a compressed air line 20 forming the pneumatic connection to the header 95 in this order.
In a pneumatic connection between the compressed air supply line 1 and the vent port 3 in the compressed air supply installation 10, a vent valve arrangement in the form of a controllable solenoid valve arrangement 40 with a solenoid part 43 and a pneumatic part 44 for releasing air into a vent port 3 is provided. The solenoid valve arrangement 40 is configured in a venting line 30 forming the pneumatic connection, which exhibits a second throttle 32 as a vent throttle between the compressed air supply 1 and the solenoid valve arrangement 40. The solenoid valve arrangement 40 in this case is formed with a normally closed, single solenoid valve, which is activated via the control line 65.
A line section of the venting line 30 forming a pneumatic chamber on the pressure source side is advantageously provided for the pneumatic attachment of the solenoid valve arrangement 40 and the second throttle 32 to the compressed air supply line 20—to compressed air supply 1 in this case. The connection to the compressed air supply 1 between the air compressor 21 and the drier 22 results in compressed air being vented via the venting line 30 when the compressed air supply installation 10 is vented, said compressed air being removed upstream of the air drier 22, to put it simply, in other words, as undried air.
It is evident from the depiction of the embodiment in
The mode of operation of the compressed air supply installation 10 is illustrated in detail with the help of
When the final reservoir pressure in the pneumatic system 90 is reached—within a pressure range of roughly 15 to 20 bar in the reservoir and 5 to 10 bar in the bellows in this case—the compressed air supply installation 10 is vented. A greater nominal width dimension is provided for the second throttle 32 between the compressed air supply 1 and the solenoid valve arrangement 40 than for the first throttle 31 between the air drier 22 and the compressed air connection 2. This produces the greatest possible pressure drop for the regeneration of the air drier. This allows an advantageous venting of the compressed air supply installation 10 and/or regeneration of the air drier 22 at an advantageously set pressure level. The greater the nominal width spacing, the better the regeneration of the air drier 22, since a comparatively increased pressure drop and therefore sufficiently high pressure change amplitude can thereby be achieved. In the present case, a venting of the compressed air supply installation 10 can take place once the final reservoir pressure has been reached, i.e. once the so-called reservoir filling end has been reached, and also when a vehicle is lowered during normal operation by opening the solenoid valve arrangement 40. Regeneration of the air drier 22 and also quick, flexible venting through the configuration of the nominal widths of the throttles 31, 32 is appropriately guaranteed.
The compressed air supply installation 10 in
The cover T exhibits a compressed air supply interface E2 for the compressed air supply 2 referred to above. The first throttle 31 is formed with a defined nominal width in this case as an opening in the drying container 58. The cover T also forms a vent interface E3 for the vent port 3 referred to above. The cover T also forms an electrical control interface S for connecting the aforementioned control line 65 to the vent valve arrangement EVA. The cover T is largely congruent with a base contour of the drying container 58 in terms of its dimensions and can be placed on the drying container 58 in a virtually custom-fit fashion.
A housing part of the third section 53 is formed in this case by means of a wall W of the drying container 58 filled with dry granulate and by means of the cover T. The dry granulate is held under pressure by a spring F in the drying container 58. The wall W in turn forms at the bottom end of the drying container 58 a recess G arranged symmetrically to a largely central axis X of the drying container 58, said recess being free from drying agent. Following the idea behind the invention, a vent valve arrangement EVA is housed in the recess G largely symmetrically, i.e. parallel and centrally to the axis of the drying container 58 in this case. On the bottom side the cover T tightly closes off the recess G along with the vent valve arrangement EVA contained therein. By means of the U-shaped arrangement of the first, second and third sections 51, 52, 53, an installation space-saving housing arrangement 50 is provided, which also allows horizontal interfaces—namely as S, E0, E2, E3. Moreover, a weight saving is achieved in that the outer contour of the drying container 58 of the air drier 22 and the cover T is used as part of the housing arrangement 50.
As part of the housing arrangement 50 of the compressed air supply installation DLVA, the cover T not only receives seals for closing off the third section 53 in a compressed air-tight manner. In addition, lines 72 which connect to corresponding ducts in the drying container 58 and are at least partially conducted in the cover T project into the cover T. To form the lines 72, the seals in the cover T are realized as a molded seal 71. This divides a vent section also referred to as a vent cap at least partially into lines 72. Moreover, the cover T is crossed by interfaces. A compressed air supply interface E2 for the compressed air connection 2 and a vent interface E3 for the vent port 3 of the compressed air supply installation DLVA are thereby formed.
The control interface S is used to connect the vent valve arrangement EVA to the control line 65 referred to above.
The generalized symbolic representation of the vent valve arrangement EVA in this case particularly comprises a solenoid valve arrangement 40, 40′, in which both the arrangement of the pneumatic part 44 or 44′ and also of the solenoid part 43 or 43′ is provided in a common valve housing and in the recess G formed by the wall W. With this embodiment, a particularly compact arrangement can be achieved through a development of the idea, e.g. by placing the solenoid valve arrangement 40, 40′ in the recess G formed by the wall W of the drying container 58.
In particular—as shown in detail by
Based on
The arrows in
To provide an additional explanation,
The control interface S particularly comprises a contact to the control electronics SE, which can be connected with a control line 65 to the solenoid valve arrangement 400′—to the coil body 63′ in this case. To this extent, the control interface S is conducted through the first cover panel T1, preferably to a non-pressurized location. By means of the control electronics SE connected in this manner, a control signal can be passed on from the control line 65 to a control connection S′ of the second cover panel T2. The control interface S and the control connection S′ are connected via the control electronics, which are preferably also connected to further control lines not shown here and thereby centrally process bundles of suitable control signals from the solenoid valve arrangement 400′ and also from the further compressed air supply installation 10, 10′ and supply them to the control connection S′. These may comprise, for example, control signals and also sensor signals, as well as data signals too. Path sensor signals, level signals or data signals for vehicle data or system requirements are mentioned by way of example. Sensor signals from pressure and temperature sensors may also be bundled in the control electronics SE.
The board carrying the control electronics SE may also advantageously directly carry a sensor system, for example a pressure sensor and/or a temperature sensor. The control electronics SE may comprise suitable components for processing the sensor signals from this sensor system, so that corresponding sensor signals can be tapped via the control connection S′ straight from the board of the control electronics SE.
In this way, a control unit can be realized in principle on the second cover panel T2 with the control electronics SE, said control unit working with a sensor system on the second cover panel T2 and also with the mechanics or pneumatics on the second cover panel T1 and the compressed air supply installation 10, 10′. In this way, a complete mechatronic system can be formed by means of the cover T′ incorporating the compressed air supply installation 10, 10′.
The solenoid valve arrangement 400 can be identified in
In a modified solenoid valve arrangement 40.1, in
The dual-armature solenoid valve described here in
Within the framework of a further modified solenoid valve arrangement 40.2 in
A significant difference between the solenoid valve arrangements 40.2 and those in
Switching currents for the sequential or simultaneous switching of the primary valve 41 and the secondary valve 42 in a solenoid valve arrangement 40.1 or 40.2 can be configured accordingly. Both the primary valve 41 and the secondary valve 42 can be switched through arrangement in a common coil body 63 via the same control current.
In summary, a compressed air supply installation DLVA, 10, 10′ for operating a pneumatic system 90, particularly a vehicle air suspension system, has been described, which comprises:
an air supply 0 and an air compressor 21 for supplying a compressed air supply 1 with compressed air,
a pneumatic connection, particularly a venting line 30, with a vent valve arrangement EVA and a vent port 3 for venting air, and
a pneumatic connection, particularly a compressed air supply line 20, with an air drier 22 and a compressed air connection 2 for supplying the pneumatic system 90 with compressed air, wherein the air drier 22 exhibits a drying container 58 containing a drying agent through which compressed air can flow. It is provided according to the invention that the drying container 58 exhibits a wall W forming a recess G free from drying agent and the vent valve arrangement EVA is arranged at least partly in the recess G. In the embodiment of a structural realization illustrated in
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2010 054 704.2 | Dec 2010 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP11/05864 | 11/22/2011 | WO | 00 | 6/11/2013 |
