Compressor assembly and air supply unit

Abstract

The present invention relates to a compressor assembly and an air supply unit. Specifically, the present invention relates to a compressor assembly for an air supply unit (900) for a vehicle, comprising: a compressor for providing pressurized air, having a compressor housing (420); at least one mounting bracket (430) fixed to the compressor housing (420); and for each mounting bracket (430) a support portion (100) for connecting the compressor assembly to a housing structure (910) of the air supply unit (900). The support portion (100) includes a flexible hollow bellows (120) adapted to receive a gas medium (200), the bellows (120) including at least one mounting member, in particular a recess, adapted to receive the mounting bracket (430), and the bellows (120) being adapted to be pneumatically inflated from an unpressurized state to a pressurized state, wherein the mounting member is adapted to mechanically connect the bellows in the pressurized state to the mounting bracket by form-fitting locking.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a compressor assembly for an air supply unit for a vehicle, the compressor assembly comprising: - a compressor for providing pressurized air, having a compressor housing; - at least one mounting bracket, wherein the at least one mounting bracket is fixed to the compressor housing; - a support portion for each mounting bracket, the support portion being adapted to connect the compressor assembly to a housing structure of the air supply unit, in particular fixed thereto in a damped manner. Background Art

[0002] Compressor assemblies, in particular devices for fixing a compressor in a vehicle, are generally well known. DE11 2014 005 119 T5 discloses an electric compressor in which an electric motor, a compression mechanism driven by the electric motor, and an inverter for driving the electric motor are integrated, and the electric compressor is attached and fixed to a vehicle via a support bracket. The support bracket has: a compressor-side bracket fixed to a bottom portion of the electric compressor; a vehicle-side bracket fixed to the vehicle; and three elastic members disposed between the compressor-side bracket and the vehicle-side bracket. Two of the three elastic members are arranged from the centroid position of the electric compressor towards the electric motor, while the other elastic member is arranged from the centroid position towards the compression mechanism.

[0003] EP 0 904 962 81 discloses a compressor assembly for an air supply unit for a vehicle as mentioned in the introduction, as a mounting structure for an electric motor-driven compressor applied to a hybrid vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a vehicle electric motor for driving the vehicle, the mounting structure comprising: a compression mechanism for compressing a fluid; and a compressor electric motor integrated with the compression mechanism to drive the compression mechanism, wherein the electric motor-driven compressor is mounted on the internal combustion engine in such a manner that the compressor electric motor is positioned closer to the center of gravity of the internal combustion engine than the compression mechanism. In the structure disclosed in EP 0 904 962 81, the compression mechanism is only driven by the electric motor; the compressor electric motor includes an approximately cylindrical stator core, a rotor for rotating in the stator core, and the compression mechanism is only driven by the electric motor; the compressor electric motor includes an approximately cylindrical stator core, a rotor for rotating in the stator core, a motor housing for accommodating the stator core and the rotor, and a fixing portion including bolt holes, and bolts are inserted into the bolt holes to fix the motor housing to the internal combustion engine, and the fixing portion is formed on the motor housing at a position deviated from a portion corresponding to the stator core.

[0004] Despite these generally advantageous ways of installing a compressor in a vehicle, there is further potential for improving the mounting characteristics, especially with regard to reduced vibration transmission. Therefore, it is desirable to solve at least one of the above-mentioned problems. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The compressor assembly should be improved with regard to a reliable mounting that especially allows for reduced vibration transmission.

[0006] According to the invention, a compressor assembly as described below is proposed.

[0007] Specifically, a compressor assembly for an air supply unit of a vehicle is proposed, the compressor assembly comprising: - a compressor for providing pressurized air, having a compressor housing; - at least one mounting bracket, wherein the at least one mounting bracket is fixed to the compressor housing; - for each mounting bracket a bearing portion for connecting the compressor assembly to a housing structure of the air supply unit that is especially dampingly fixed.

[0008] According to the invention, it is proposed that - the bearing portion comprises a flexible hollow bellows that is adapted to receive a gas medium, wherein the bellows comprises: - at least one mounting element, especially a recess, that is adapted to receive the mounting bracket, and - the bellows is adapted to be pneumatically inflated from an unpressurized state to a pressurized state, wherein - the mounting element is adapted to mechanically connect the bellows in the pressurized state to the mounting bracket, especially by form-fitting locking, which especially results in an undercut that is adapted to prevent relative movement between the bellows and the mounting bracket in the axial direction.

[0009] The invention is based on the finding that when mounting the compressor assembly to the housing structure of the air supply unit, it is generally advantageous to provide means for absorbing and / or damping vibrations. By providing a bearing portion that comprises a flexible hollow bellows adapted to receive a gas medium, the bellows acts as an air spring and significantly absorbs and / or damps vibrations that would otherwise be transmitted from the compressor assembly via conventional bearing portions to the housing structure of the air supply unit and vice versa. Furthermore, in the common case where the air supply unit is part of a vehicle, vibration transmission between the compressor and the vehicle can be advantageously reduced.

[0010] According to the invention, it is especially recognized that, since the bellows is adapted to be pneumatically inflated from an unpressurized state to a pressurized state and the mounting element is adapted to fix the bellows to the mounting bracket, a reliable and easy assembly method is achieved and the assembly work and the number of required assembly parts can be advantageously reduced.

[0011] Despite the spring flexibility of the bellows, the term "form - fit locking" is used to describe the property of the mounting element, i.e., restricting the movement of the mounting bracket relative to the bellows, especially in the axial and / or radial directions.

[0012] In view of the object of the invention and with regard to further advantages, further embodiments of the invention show particularly advantageous possibilities for implementing the concepts described above.

[0013] According to a further embodiment, a fixing element is proposed which is adapted to mechanically connect the bellows to the housing structure of the air supply unit. In particular, the fixing element comprises one or more mechanical components, especially screws or similar threaded components, for generating a force, especially a compressive force, in order to fix the bellows to the housing structure of the air supply unit. By applying screws or similar threaded components, a re - fastenable connection can be advantageously achieved.

[0014] Preferably, a mounting assembly is proposed which has mounting screws, especially mounting nuts, and is adapted to apply an axial compressive force to the bellows or to the bellows skin of the bellows by tightening the mounting screws and / or the mounting nuts. In some embodiments, the mounting assembly may comprise a mounting screw and a mounting nut which are adapted to engage with each other and apply a compressive force in the region between the mounting screw head of the mounting screw and the mounting nut.

[0015] Preferably, it is proposed that the mounting assembly is part of the fixing element and is adapted to inflate the bellows from an unpressurized state to a pressurized state. The mounting assembly is adapted to increase the pressure acting on the bellows by applying a compressive force and inflate the bellows from an unpressurized state to a pressurized state, as a result of which at least one mounting element, especially a recess, will be formed in order to hold the mounting bracket of the compressor assembly in a form - fit locking manner. Once a certain distance between the mounting screw head and the mounting nut or a certain (reduced) axial extension of the bellows has been reached by tightening the mounting assembly, the inflation process can be considered complete.

[0016] Preferably, it is proposed that the mounting assembly is part of the mounting element and is adapted to clamp the bellows skin in a force - locking manner, especially to clamp the bellows skin sealingly at a clamping orifice located in the mounting element. The mounting assembly is adapted to hold the bellows skin by applying a compressive force, especially to hold the bellows skin between the mounting screw head and the mounting nut, which results in a force - locking and thus fixes the mounting assembly to the bellows. Furthermore, especially if the bellows has a clamping orifice, the force - locking of the mounting assembly can have a sealing function, which prevents air from escaping from the inner space of the bellows of the bellows.

[0017] According to a further embodiment, it is proposed that the mounting assembly includes at least one mounting screw washer, and the at least one mounting screw washer is adapted to distribute the compressive force over the bellows, in particular over the end face of the bellows of the bellows. One or more washers can be inserted on the mounting screw between the mounting screw head and the mounting nut in order to achieve a better distribution of the compressive force. Such washers are particularly advantageous for bellows of the airtight type that are inflated to a pressurized state by the compressive force.

[0018] According to a further embodiment, it is proposed that the bellows is airtight. Such an airtight bellows has the advantage that it requires relatively little assembly and operating effort, since no pressure supply is required to inflate the bellows to a pressurized state.

[0019] Preferably, it is proposed that the bellows includes a pressure port which is adapted to receive a gas medium in order to pneumatically inflate the bellows to its pressurized state. In particular, the pressure port is adapted to pneumatically connect the bellows to the inflation line of the housing structure, in particular to the compressor line. The bellows having such a pressure port can advantageously be inflated by applying pressurized air, and the pressurized air can in particular be obtained from the compressor assembly mounted with the support portion. Due to the constant availability of the pressurized air, for example in the case of a pressure loss, the bellows can be reinflated in order to maintain the damping function of the bellows in the long term.

[0020] Preferably, it is proposed that the fixing member includes: - a hollow cylindrical body having a threaded surface which is adapted to engage with a corresponding support thread of the housing structure, and - the hollow cylindrical body is adapted to hold the bellows in a clamped and / or form-fitting locking manner. Such a hollow cylindrical body constitutes an advantageous construction for fixing the bellows to the housing structure and for providing a pressure port (in particular a gas passage leading to the interior space of the bellows) for inflating the bellows. In order to attach the bellows to the hollow cylindrical body, the hollow cylindrical body can have a flange, web or similar radially or axially extending thin-walled portion that can be plastically deformed during assembly in order to permanently clamp the bellows skin and thus hold it in place.

[0021] Preferably, a valve is proposed which is adapted to pneumatically close and open the pressure port and / or pneumatically close and open the pneumatic connection between the inflation line and the bellows. By using such a valve, the inflation of the bellows can be controlled. In addition, for example in the case of replacing the compressor assembly, drainage can be achieved by opening the valve before disassembly to allow the pressurized air to escape from the interior space of the bellows.

[0022] Preferably, it is proposed that the valve is a check valve which is adapted to open in the flow direction from the charging line to the bellows and to close in the opposite direction. By using such a check valve, it is ensured that the pressurized air (when available) is always guided into the interior space of the bellows, but cannot escape from the interior space of the bellows due to the locking function of the check valve in the opposite flow direction.

[0023] Preferably, the bellows is made of rubber. Rubber has the advantage of being a widely available structural material with well-known properties. In particular, the flexible mechanical properties, i.e., its elasticity and flexibility, make rubber particularly suitable for applications in air spring bellows.

[0024] Preferably, it is proposed that the bellows is rotationally symmetric.

[0025] Preferably, the mounting includes a rotationally symmetric recess, in particular a rotationally symmetric recess coaxially aligned with the bellows. Such a rotationally symmetric recess and / or rotationally symmetric bellows results in a relatively simple geometric configuration of the bellows and thus makes the bellows easy to manufacture. In an embodiment where the mounting includes a recess coaxially aligned with the bellows, the forces generated by the mounting of the compressor assembly are advantageously introduced into the bellows in the central region, particularly at the center of gravity of the bellows.

[0026] In a second aspect, the present invention provides an air supply unit for a vehicle, the air supply unit comprising: - a compressor assembly according to the first aspect of the present invention, - a housing structure having at least one mounting seat, the at least one mounting seat being adapted to receive at least one bellows support.

[0027] According to a further embodiment of the air supply unit, it is proposed that the housing structure includes: a charging line, in particular a compressor line, which is adapted to pneumatically connect a pressure outlet, in particular the pressure outlet of the compressor assembly, to a pressure port of the bellows support. By using such a charging line, the bellows can be inflated through an integrated pressure line without the need for any further pressure lines and / or further installation work.

[0028] According to a further embodiment of the air supply unit, it is proposed that a valve is located in the charging line, wherein the valve is adapted to pneumatically close and open the pressure port and / or pneumatically close and open the pneumatic connection between the charging line and the bellows. Such a valve function can be achieved by integrating it into the charging line without further increasing the complexity of the support and / or the bellows itself. Therefore, the support can be replaced without replacing the valve. In addition, before disassembling the support, the supply of pressurized air can be conveniently blocked by the valve in the charging line.

[0029] According to a further embodiment of the air supply unit, it is proposed that the housing structure is a casting structure. Due to its manufacturing process, the casting structure allows for the relatively easy integration of the inflation line into the structure by casting (in particular without any drilling). BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Some aspects of the present disclosure may be best understood from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. For clarity, the figures are schematic and simplified, and they only show details to enhance the understanding of the invention while omitting other details. Throughout, the same reference numerals are used for the same or corresponding parts. The individual features of each aspect may be combined with any or all of the features of other aspects. These and other aspects, features, and / or technical effects will be apparent from the illustrations described below and will be elucidated with reference to the illustrations described below:

[0031] Figure 1A 、 Figure 1B : Two illustrations of a first embodiment of the invention with a form-fitting locking mount and a pressure port

[0032] Figure 2 : Illustration of a second embodiment of the invention with a mounting assembly and a pressure port

[0033] Figure 3A 、 Figure 3B : Illustrations of third and fourth embodiments of the invention with an airtight bellows and a mounting assembly

[0034] Figure 4A 、 Figure 4B 、 Figure 4C : Schematic installation sequence DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0035] Figure 1AShows a support part 100 of a compressor assembly according to the concepts of the present invention. The support part 100 includes a bellows 120, and the bellows 120 is adapted to mechanically connect a mounting bracket 430 of a compressor housing 420 to a (not shown) housing structure 910 that is fixed to an air supply unit 900, particularly in a damped manner. The support part 100 includes a fixing part 160 in the form of a hollow cylindrical body 162. The hollow cylindrical body 162 includes a cylindrical gas passage 163 in its center, and the cylindrical gas passage 163 is adapted to pneumatically connect the bellows internal space 126 of the bellows 120 to an inflation line 940 of the air supply unit 900, particularly a compressor line 942. For such a pneumatic connection, the bellows 120 includes a pressure port 150 on a second supply unit side bellows end face 180, and the pressure port 150 is located at the gas passage 163 of the fixing part 160. The bellows skin 122 of the bellows 120 is held by the fixing part 160 (here the hollow cylindrical body 162) in a clamping manner. For this purpose, a rotationally symmetric web 165 of the hollow cylindrical body 162 is bent inward to engage with the bellows skin 122 and / or to form-fit lock and / or force-lock the bellows skin 122.

[0036] The bellows 128 is rotationally symmetric with respect to the axial direction AA. The bellows 120 includes a mounting part 130, and the mounting part 130 is on a compressor side bellows end face 178 that is positioned opposite to the supply unit side bellows end face 180.

[0037] The mounting part 130 is adapted to receive a radially and outwardly extending mounting shoulder 432 of the mounting bracket 430. Particularly when the bellows 120 is in an unpressurized state SU, the mounting shoulder 432 can be inserted into the mounting part 130, and the mounting part 130 here includes a recess 132 in the form of a rotationally symmetric recess 134. In the illustrated embodiment, the rotationally symmetric recess 134 has the shape of a negative frustoconical recess 134.1. By applying pressure to the bellows internal space 126 via the inflation line 940, the bellows 120 can be inflated from its unpressurized state SU to a pressurized state SP. In the said pressurized state SP, the flexibility of the bellows 120 decreases due to the increased internal pressure, and thus the shape of the bellows 120 becomes stiff. Due to the shape of the negative frustoconical recess 134.1, particularly the fact that the recess diameter DR increases towards the inner side of the bellows 120, and the corresponding shape of the mounting shoulder 432, once the bellows 120 is inflated to its pressurized state SP, the mounting shoulder 432 will be form-fit locked in the rotationally symmetric recess 134.

[0038] Figure 1B Shows in connection with Figure 1AA support part 100 similar to the shown support part. The support part 100 is shown in an installed state and is mechanically connected to the housing structure 910 of the air supply unit 900. The mechanical connection is established by the engagement of the threaded surface 164 of the hollow cylindrical body 162 with the support thread 916 of the housing structure 910, where the support thread 916 is located at the mounting seat 920 of the housing structure 910. The housing structure 910 further includes an inflation line 940, where the inflation line 940 is pneumatically connected to the bellows internal space 126 via the mounting seat 920 to inflate the bellows 120 from the unpressurized state SU to the pressurized state SP. In particular, the inflation line 940 can be a compressor line 942, which pneumatically connects the bellows internal space 126 to the pressure outlet 950 of the compressor. Via such a compressor line 942, the bellows 120 can be directly inflated from the unpressurized state SU to its pressurized state SP by the compressor mounted with the support part 100 of the air supply unit 900. The bellows internal space 126 is filled with a gas medium 200 flowing in the flow direction DF from the inflation line 940 to the bellows internal space 126, especially air 202. In particular, the air 202 can be provided by the compressor in the form of pressurized air DL. The housing structure 910, especially the mounting seat 920, or the support part 100, especially the hollow cylindrical body 160 and / or the pressure port 150, can include a valve 460 for controlling the inflow or outflow of the gas medium 200 into or from the bellows internal space 126. In particular, the valve 460 can be a check valve 462, which allows the flow of the gas medium 200 in the flow direction DF while blocking the flow in the opposite direction.

[0039] Figure 2 Shows a second embodiment of the support part 100' according to the concept of the present invention. As previously in Figure 1A and Figure 1BDifferent from the embodiments shown, the mounting member 130' of the bellows 120' of the support portion 100' includes a recess 132' in the form of a rotationally symmetric recess 134 (in particular a cylindrical recess 134.2). The mounting member 130' further includes a mounting assembly 136 having a mounting screw 138 and a mounting nut 140. By tightening the mounting screw 138 onto the mounting nut 140 and thus applying a compressive force FC to the bellows skin 122, the mounting assembly 136 establishes a mechanical connection between the bellows 120' and the mounting assembly 136 by clamping. To establish the mechanical connection, the mounting screw 138 is first inserted through the pressure port 150 of the support portion 100' in the unmounted state and then further through the clamping aperture 124. The mounting screw 138 includes a screw head 138.1 and / or a washer 138.2, the diameter of the screw head 138.1 and / or the washer 138.2 being greater than the diameter of the clamping aperture 124. The mounting nut 140 includes a hollow cylindrical shaft 140.1 having an internal thread 140.2 adapted to engage with the mounting screw 138. Thus, in the tightened state of the mounting assembly 136, the bellows skin 122 of the bellows 120 is tightly clamped between the screw head 138.1 or the washer 138.2 and the shaft 140.1.

[0040] After the installation of the mounting assembly 136 and before the bellows 120' is inflated, the mounting bracket 430' is held loosely between the mounting nut 140 and the bellows 120'. The axial dimension of the mounting nut 140 in the axial direction AA and the axial dimension of the recess 132 of the bellows 120' are selected such that when the bellows 120 is inflated in its pressurized state SP, it will firmly press the mounting bracket 430' against the mounting nut 140, thereby establishing a form-fit locking of the mounting bracket 430'. The inflation of the bellows 120' can be achieved via an inflation line 940, which is similar to the embodiments shown previously.

[0041] In an alternative embodiment, the hollow cylindrical shaft 140.1 of the mounting nut 140 can be separated from the mounting nut 140 as a single part or can also be attached to the mounting bracket 430'.

[0042] In a preferred embodiment, especially when the mounting assembly 136' is part of the fixing member 160 of the airtight bellows 120”, the hollow cylindrical shaft 140.1 of the mounting nut 140' can have a defined axial length that limits the extent to which the mounting screw 138' can be tightened and thus defines the minimum axial extension of the bellows 120”.

[0043] Figure 3AShows a third embodiment of the support part 100" according to the concept of the present invention. The support part 100" includes a bellows 120", which is airtight and thus does not include a pressure port or a similar gas passage. The bellows internal space 126' is filled with a gas medium 200, in particular an inert gas 204. The inert gas 204 has the advantage of reducing the temperature influence on the bellows and in particular increasing the frost resistance.

[0044] The bellows 120" includes a mounting part 130", the mounting part 130" includes a recess 132 in the form of a circumferential recess 134.3, and is adapted to receive the mounting bracket 430" of the compressor assembly. When the bellows 120" is in its pressurized state SU, the circumferential recess 134.3 is adapted to hold the mounting bracket 430" in a form-fitting locking manner.

[0045] The fixing part 160' includes a mounting assembly 136', wherein the mounting assembly 136' includes a mounting screw 138' and a mounting nut 140'. The fixing part 160' further includes a rotationally symmetric recess 134 in the form of a cylindrical through-hole 134.4. The cylindrical through-hole 134.4 is adapted to receive the mounting assembly 136' in order to mechanically connect and in particular fix the bellows 120" to the mounting seat 920 of the housing structure 910 of the air supply unit 900. By tightening the mounting nut 140' onto the mounting screw 138' and thus by reducing the axial distance between the mounting nut 140', in particular the mounting nut flange 140.2, and the mounting screw 138', in particular the mounting screw head 138.1, the bellows 120" is compressed, and the mounting assembly 136' is further adapted to inflate the bellows 120" from the unpressurized state SU to the pressurized state SP. In this embodiment, the concept of pneumatically inflating the bellows 120 is achieved via mechanical compression in the form of a compression force FC exerted on the bellows 120" by the mounting assembly 136' achieved by tightening the mounting assembly 136.

[0046] In its unpressurized state SU of the bellows 120", the unpressurized bellows outer diameter DBO1 is equal to or less than the bracket inner diameter DBI of the bracket orifice 434 of the mounting bracket 430", so that the bellows 120" can be inserted into the bracket orifice 434. In some embodiments, the unpressurized bellows outer diameter DBO1 may also be slightly larger than the bracket inner diameter DBI, as long as the bellows 120" can be inserted into the bracket orifice 434 due to its flexibility. Upon inflation, in the pressurized state SP of the bellows 120", the bellows 120" increases its diameter to the pressurized bellows outer diameter DBO2 due to axial compression, and the pressurized bellows outer diameter DBO2 is larger than the bracket inner diameter DBI. Due to the compression and the increase in diameter, a circumferential outer recess 134.4 is formed, and due to the shape of the circumferential outer recess 134.4, the bellows 120" holds the mounting bracket 430 in a form-fitting locking manner.

[0047] Figure 3B A fourth embodiment of the support portion 100"' is shown, which is different from the third embodiment particularly in that the mounting assembly 136" of the fixing member 160" includes a first mounting screw washer 138.2A and a second mounting screw washer 138.2B.

[0048] The mounting screw 138" includes a mounting screw head 138.1' and is adapted to directly engage with the thread of the mounting seat 920' (not shown) of the housing structure 910 of the air supply unit 900.

[0049] Both the mounting screw washers 138.1A and 138.1B have a washer diameter DW that is equal to or larger than the pressurized bellows outer diameter DBO2 of the bellows 120"'. With such a washer diameter DW, the first mounting screw washer 138.2A completely covers the first upper bellows end face 178' of the bellows 120"', and the second mounting screw washer 138.2B completely covers the second supply unit side bellows end face 180' of the bellows 120"'. With such mounting screw washers 138.1A and 138.1B, when the bellows 120"' is pneumatically inflated by tightening the mounting assembly 136", the compression force FC applied by the mounting assembly 136" on the bellows 120"' can be evenly distributed over the entire bellows end faces 178' and 180'. Such mounting screw washers can also be applied to other embodiments (e.g., Figure 3A the embodiment shown in) to achieve a more uniform force distribution, and is particularly advantageous for embodiments including airtight bellows.

[0050] The mountings 130, 130', 130'' can include feature markings 142 as guiding means for the assembly process. In the illustrated embodiment, the feature marking 142 of the circumferential outer recess 134.3 includes a colored circumferential area that must be aligned with the bracket orifice (not shown here, see Figure 3A ) before inflating the bellows 120''' to its pressurized state SP.

[0051] Figures 4A to 4C Show the process of assembling a support with an airtight bellows 120'' according to the concepts of the present invention. In Figure 4A , the bellows 120'' is shown in its unassembled and unpressurized state SU, having a bellows outer diameter DBO1. Figure 4B Show the process of inserting the bellows 120'' into the bracket orifice 434 of the mounting bracket 430''. As Figure 4C shown, once the bellows 120'' is inserted such that the feature marking 142 is aligned with the mounting bracket 430, the mounting assembly 136' can be inserted into the bellows 120 and fastened to inflate the bellows 120'' from the unpressurized state SU to the pressurized state SP.

[0052] List of reference numerals

[0053] 100, 100', 100'', 100''' Support

[0054] 120, 120', 120'', 120''' Bellows

[0055] 122 Bellows skin

[0056] 124 Clamping orifice

[0057] 126, 126' Bellows internal space

[0058] 128 Rubber

[0059] 130, 130', 130'' Mounting

[0060] 132, 132' Recess

[0061] 134 Rotationally symmetric recess

[0062] 134.1 Negative frustoconical recess

[0063] 134.2 Cylindrical recess

[0064] 134.3 Circumferential outer recess

[0065] 136, 136', 136'' Mounting assembly

[0066] 138, 138' Mounting Screws

[0067] 138.1, 138.1' Mounting Screw Heads

[0068] 138.2, 138.2' Mounting Screw Washers

[0069] 140, 140' Mounting Nuts

[0070] 140.1 Hollow Cylindrical Shaft of Mounting Nut

[0071] 140.2 Mounting Nut Flange

[0072] 140.3 Mounting Nut Washer

[0073] 142 Feature Mark

[0074] 150 Pressure Port

[0075] 160, 160', 160” Fasteners

[0076] 162 Hollow Cylindrical Body

[0077] 163 Gas Passage

[0078] 164 Threaded Surface of Hollow Cylindrical Body

[0079] 165 Rotationally Symmetric Web

[0080] 166 Fixing Hole

[0081] 168 Fixing Assembly

[0082] 170 Fixing Screw

[0083] 172 Fixing Nut

[0084] 174 Washer, Compressor - Side Washer

[0085] 176 Washer, Supply - Unit - Side Washer

[0086] 178, 178' First Bellows End Face, Compressor - Side Bellows End Face

[0087] 180, 180' Second Bellows End Face, Supply - Unit - Side Bellows End Face

[0088] 200 Gas Medium

[0089] 202 Air

[0090] 204 Inert Gas

[0091] 420 Compressor Housing

[0092] 430, 430', 430'' mounting brackets

[0093] 432 mounting shoulder

[0094] 434 bracket orifice

[0095] 450 pressure outlet

[0096] 460 valve

[0097] 462 check valve

[0098] 900 air supply unit

[0099] 910 housing structure of the air supply unit

[0100] 912 casting structure

[0101] 916 support thread of the housing structure

[0102] 920 mounting seat

[0103] 940 inflation line of the housing structure

[0104] 942 compressor line of the housing structure

[0105] 1000 vehicle

[0106] AA axial direction

[0107] DBI inner diameter of the bracket

[0108] DBO1 outer diameter of the unpressurized bellows

[0109] DBO2 outer diameter of the pressurized bellows

[0110] DF flow direction from the inflation line to the bellows

[0111] DL pressurized air

[0112] DR diameter of the recess

[0113] FC compression force

[0114] FL force locking

[0115] PL form-fit locking

[0116] PLU undercut

[0117] SP pressurized state

[0118] SU unpressurized state.

Claims

1. A compressor assembly for an air supply unit (900) of a vehicle (1000), comprising: - a compressor for providing pressurized air (DL), the compressor having a compressor housing (420), - at least one mounting bracket (430), wherein the at least one mounting bracket (430) is fixed to the compressor housing (420), - one support portion (100) for each mounting bracket (430), the support portion (100) for connecting the compressor assembly to a housing structure (910) of the air supply unit (900), characterized in that - the support portion (100) includes a flexible hollow bellows (120), the bellows (120) being adapted to receive a gas medium (200), wherein the bellows (120) includes at least one mounting member (130, 130', 130”) adapted to receive the mounting bracket (430), and - the bellows (120) is adapted to be pneumatically inflated from an unpressurized state (SU) to a pressurized state (SP), wherein - the mounting member (130, 130', 130”) is adapted to mechanically connect the bellows (120) to the mounting bracket (430) in the pressurized state (SP) by form - fit locking (PL).

2. The compressor assembly according to claim 1, including a fixing member (160), the fixing member (160) being adapted to mechanically connect the bellows (120) to the housing structure (910) of the air supply unit (900).

3. The compressor assembly according to claim 2, including a mounting assembly (136, 136', 136”) having mounting screws (138) and having mounting nuts (140), the mounting assembly being adapted to apply an axial compressive force (FC) to the bellows (120) or a bellows skin (122) of the bellows (120) by tightening the mounting screws (138) and / or the mounting nuts (140).

4. The compressor assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that the mounting assembly (136, 136', 136”) is part of the fixing member (160) and is adapted to inflate the bellows (120) from the unpressurized state (SU) to the pressurized state (SP).

5. The compressor assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that the mounting assembly (136, 136', 136”) is part of the mounting member (130, 130', 130”) and is adapted to clamp the bellows skin (122) by force - locking.

6. The compressor assembly according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the mounting assembly (136, 136', 136”) includes at least one mounting screw washer (138.2, 138.2A, 138.2B), the mounting screw washer being adapted to distribute the compressive force (FC) over the bellows (120).

7. The compressor assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, the bellows (120) is airtight.

8. The compressor assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, the bellows (120) includes a pressure port (150), and the pressure port is adapted to receive a gas medium (200) for pneumatically inflating the bellows (120) to its pressurized state (SP).

9. The compressor assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that, the fixing member (160) includes: - a hollow cylindrical body (162) having a threaded surface (164), and the threaded surface (164) is adapted to engage with a corresponding support thread (916) of the housing structure (910), and - the hollow cylindrical body (162) is adapted to hold the bellows (120) by means of clamping fixation and / or form-fit locking fixation.

10. The compressor assembly according to claim 8, further comprising a valve (460), and the valve is adapted to pneumatically close and open the pressure port (150) and / or pneumatically close and open the pneumatic connection between the inflation line (940) and the bellows (120).

11. The compressor assembly according to claim 10, wherein, the valve (460) is a check valve (462), and the check valve is adapted to open in the flow direction (DF) from the inflation line (940) to the bellows (120) and is adapted to close in the opposite direction.

12. The compressor assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, the bellows (120) is made of rubber (128).

13. The compressor assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, the mounting member is a recess.

14. The compressor assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that, the mounting assembly (136, 136', 136”) is adapted to sealingly hold the bellows skin (122) at a clamping orifice (124) located in the mounting member (130).

15. The compressor assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that, the mounting screw washer is adapted to distribute the compressive force (FC) on the bellows end faces (178, 180) of the bellows (120).

16. An air supply unit (900) for a vehicle (1000), comprising: - the compressor assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 15, - a housing structure (910) having at least one mounting seat (920), and the at least one mounting seat (920) is adapted to receive at least one bellows support portion (100).

17. The air supply unit (900) according to claim 16, characterized in that, The housing structure (910) includes an inflation line (940) that is adapted to pneumatically connect a pressure outlet (450) to a pressure port (150) of the bellows support (100).

18. The air supply unit (900) according to claim 17, wherein, valves (460, 462) are located in the inflation line (940), wherein the valves (460, 462) are adapted to pneumatically close and open the pressure port (150) and / or pneumatically close and open the pneumatic connection between the inflation line (940) and the bellows (120).

19. The air supply unit (900) according to claim 17, wherein, the inflation line (940) is a compressor line (942).

20. The air supply unit (900) according to claim 17, wherein, the pressure outlet (450) is the pressure outlet (450) of the compressor assembly.

Images