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EP-4736990-A1 - VEHICULAR AIR DRYER SYSTEM, AIR DRYER, PNEUMATIC VEHICLE SYSTEM AND VEHICLE

EP4736990A1EP 4736990 A1EP4736990 A1EP 4736990A1EP-4736990-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicular air dryer system (10), comprising: - a dryer inlet (1) configured to receive air from a compressor discharge line (11), - a dryer outlet (2) configured to supply dried air, - a desiccant cartridge (22) configured to receive the air from the dryer inlet (1) via a dryer inlet line (1A) and to provide the dried air for outputting to the dryer outlet (2) via a dryer outlet line (28), - a dryer exhaust (3), - a pneumatically controlled valve assembly (30, 40) being configured to selectively exhaust air from the compressor discharge line (11) and/or from the desiccant cartridge (22) via the dryer exhaust (3), and - a control valve assembly (59) configured to provide control pressure signals (CP1, CP2, CP3) to at least one of the pneumatically controlled valve assembly (30, 40) and a compressor (91) connected to the compressor discharge line (11). Furthermore, the invention relates to an air dryer (20) for a vehicular air dryer system (10), to a pneumatic vehicle system (90) and to a vehicle (70).

Inventors

  • ROBAK, MAREK
  • SEMENIUK, MACIEJ

Assignees

  • ZF CV Systems Europe BV

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20241029

Claims (17)

  1. A vehicular air dryer system (10), comprising: - a dryer inlet (1) configured to receive air from a compressor discharge line (11), - a dryer outlet (2) configured to supply dried air, - a desiccant cartridge (22) configured to receive the air from the dryer inlet (1) via a dryer inlet line (1A) and to provide the dried air for outputting to the dryer outlet (2) via a dryer outlet line (28), - a dryer exhaust (3), - a pneumatically controlled valve assembly (30, 40) being configured to selectively exhaust air from the compressor discharge line (11) and/or from the desiccant cartridge (22) via the dryer exhaust (3), and - a control valve assembly (59) configured to provide control pressure signals (CP1, CP2, CP3) to at least one of the pneumatically controlled valve assembly (30, 40) and a compressor (91) connected to the compressor discharge line (11).
  2. The vehicular air dryer system (10) according to claim 1, wherein the pneumatically controlled valve assembly (30, 40) comprises - a purge valve (30) comprising a first purge valve port (31) connected to the dryer inlet line (1A) and a second purge valve port (32) connected to the dryer exhaust (3), and - a switching valve (40) comprising a first switching valve port (41) connected to the dryer inlet line (1A), a second switching valve port (42) connected to the desiccant cartridge (22), and a third switching valve port (43) connected to the dryer exhaust (3).
  3. The vehicular air dryer system (10) according to claim 2, wherein the pneumatically controlled valve assembly (30, 40) is arranged in a valve housing (45) mechanically connected to a cartridge holder (21a) receiving the desiccant cartridge (22) and wherein the purge valve (30) and the switching valve (40) are arranged in parallel in the valve housing (45).
  4. The vehicular air dryer system (10) according to claim 3, wherein the purge valve (30) and the switching valve (40) extend vertically to the cartridge holder (21a).
  5. The vehicular air dryer system (10) according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the purge valve (30) and the switching valve (40) comprise a common bottom element (46a) having a first purge valve seat (47a) for the purge valve (30) and a first switching valve seat (48a) for the switching valve (40).
  6. The vehicular air dryer system (10) according to claim 5, wherein the valve housing (45) comprises a second switching valve seat (48b) for the switching valve (40).
  7. The vehicular air dryer system (10) according to claim 6, wherein the valve housing (45) further comprises a second purge valve seat (47b) for the purge valve (30) and wherein the purge valve (30) or the valve housing (45) comprises a blocking element (47c) for limiting a purge valve stroke (47d) of the purge valve (30) to a lower valve stroke compared to a switching valve stroke (48d) of the switching valve (40).
  8. The vehicular air dryer system (10) according to any of claims 2 to 7, wherein the purge valve (30) and the switching valve (40) share a common exhaust volume (46c) arranged in a bottom area (46b) of the valve housing (45).
  9. The vehicular air dryer system (10) according to claim 8, wherein a silencer (46d) is arranged in the common exhaust volume (46c).
  10. The vehicular air dryer system (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein the vehicular air dryer system (10) comprises a recharging arrangement (14) for selectively recharging the dryer inlet line (1A) with compressed air from the dryer outlet line (28) or from a supply line (12) connected to the dryer outlet (2).
  11. The vehicular air dryer system (10) according to claim 10, wherein the recharging arrangement (14) comprises a refill valve (16) arranged in a bypass line (15) connecting the dryer inlet line (1A) with the dryer outlet line (28).
  12. The vehicular air dryer system (10) according to claim 11, wherein the refill valve (16) is pneumatically controllable in coordination with the purge valve (30).
  13. The vehicular air dryer system (10) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the refill valve (16) comprises a flow restrictor (17).
  14. The vehicular air dryer system (10) according to claim 10, further comprising a regeneration line (27) bypassing an outlet check valve (25) in the dryer outlet line (28), wherein the vehicular air dryer system (10) is configured to recharge the dryer inlet line (1A) with compressed air from the dryer outlet line (28) via the regeneration line (27).
  15. An air dryer (20) for a vehicular air dryer system (10) according to any preceding claim, the air dryer (20) comprising: - a dryer inlet (1) configured to receive air from a compressor discharge line (11), - a dryer outlet (2) configured to supply dried air, - a desiccant cartridge (22) configured to receive the air from the dryer inlet (1) via a dryer inlet line (1A) and to provide the dried air for outputting to the dryer outlet (2) via a dryer outlet line (28), - a dryer exhaust (3), and - a pneumatically controlled valve assembly (30, 40) being configured to selectively exhaust air from the compressor discharge line (11) and/or from the desiccant cartridge (22) via the dryer exhaust (3).
  16. A pneumatic vehicle system (90), comprising: - a compressor (91) connected to the dryer inlet (1) via a compressor discharge line (11), - the vehicular air dryer system (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, - a pneumatic consumer system (173) connected to the dryer outlet (2) via a supply line (12), and - an electronic control unit (97) configured to control the control valve assembly (59).
  17. A vehicle (170), in particular a commercial vehicle (220), comprising the pneumatic vehicle system (90) according to claim 16.

Description

The present disclosure relates to a vehicular air dryer system. Furthermore, the present disclosure relates to a an air dryer for a vehicular air dryer system, to a pneumatic vehicle system with a vehicular air dryer system and to a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, comprising the pneumatic vehicle system. Many vehicles comprise one or several pneumatic consumers, such as brake cylinders, height adjustment cylinders, and/or a sensor cleaning system, without being limited thereto. To provide compressed air to a pneumatic consumer system, a compressor may be provided. For various types of pneumatic consumers, it is desirable that the humidity of compressed air is reduced prior to providing the compressed air to the pneumatic consumer. A vehicular air dryer comprising a desiccant cartridge may be installed downstream of the compressor. Vehicular air dryer systems may be configured to provide a desiccant regeneration. US 2013/0195682 A1 and EP 4 112 399 A1 disclose pneumatic vehicle systems that comprise an air dryer system with at least one pneumatically controlled valve. Generally, the vehicular air dryer system may comprise an air dryer inlet configured to receive air from a compressor discharge line, a dryer outlet configured to supply dried air, a desiccant cartridge configured to receive the air from the dryer inlet via a dryer inlet line and to provide the dried air for outputting to the dryer outlet via a dryer outlet line, and a dryer exhaust. The vehicular air dryer system may be configured to be operated in a drying mode and in a regeneration mode. In the drying mode, a humid compressed air flow provided by the compressor may be guided through the desiccant cartridge, wherein the desiccant in the desiccant cartridge is configured to adsorb moisture from the humid compressed air flow. Since the desiccant may reach a saturated condition after having adsorbed a certain level of moisture, the desiccant cartridge may be regenerated in the regeneration mode. In the regeneration mode, a comparatively dry regeneration air flow is guided through the desiccant which consequently may desorb moisture to the regeneration air flow. The regeneration air flow may be guided through the desiccant cartridge in a reversed flow direction compared to the compressed air flow. The regeneration air flow may be vented via the dryer exhaust. The desiccant may, for instance, be a suitable adsorbent as e.g. zeolite. Since the desiccant may be prone to degradation, the desiccant cartridge may be configured to be exchangeable and may be replaced, for instance, after a certain amount of drying and regeneration cycles. Venting the desiccant cartridge via the dryer exhaust, for instance when venting a humidified regeneration air flow in the regeneration mode, may be associated with simultaneous venting of the dryer inlet line. Depending on a selected type of compressor connected to the dryer inlet line via the compressor discharge line, the pressure decrease in the dryer inlet line may affect the operational efficiency of the connected compressor. Furthermore, it may be required to set the compressor to an off-load state in which the compressor is idle or stopped when the vehicular air dryer system is operated in the regeneration mode. Conversely, venting of the compressor discharge line, in particular in a drying mode of the vehicular air dryer system, may affect a pneumatic consumer system connected to the vehicular air dryer system. In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicular air dryer system being operable in a more versatile, flexible and efficient manner. In particular, it is an object to provide a vehicular air dryer system with improved venting functionality. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved air dryer for a vehicular air dryer system, an improved pneumatic vehicle system and an improved vehicle comprising a pneumatic vehicle system. Aspects and embodiments of the invention provide a vehicular air dryer system, an air dryer for a vehicular air dryer system, a pneumatic vehicle system and a vehicle comprising a pneumatic vehicle system as indicated in the appended claims. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicular air dryer system, comprising: a dryer inlet configured to receive air from a compressor discharge line,a dryer outlet configured to supply dried air,a desiccant cartridge configured to receive the air from the dryer inlet via a dryer inlet line and to provide the dried air for outputting to the dryer outlet via a dryer outlet line,a dryer exhaust,a pneumatically controlled valve assembly being configured to selectively exhaust air from the compressor discharge line and/or from the desiccant cartridge via the dryer exhaust, anda control valve assembly configured to provide control pressure signals to at least one of the pneumatically controlled valve assembly and a compressor connected to