Air dryer, control method of air dryer and vehicle

Abstract

The invention discloses an air dryer, a control method of the air dryer and a vehicle, the air dryer comprises a drying cylinder assembly, a drying channel is formed in the drying cylinder assembly, and a drying agent is arranged in the drying channel; the detection module is used for detecting the current expansion rate of the drying agent; and the control module is used for selectively controlling the airflow in the drying channel to flow along a first direction or a direction opposite to the first direction according to the current expansion rate. According to the air dryer, the control module can flexibly control the flow direction of the air flow in the drying channel according to the expansion rate of the drying agent in the drying channel, for example, the air flow flows in the drying channel in the first direction or in the direction opposite to the first direction, the wet water state of the drying agent can be accurately detected, and the drying effect of the drying agent is improved. And the drying performance and the regeneration condition of the drying agent can be monitored, and repeated utilization of the drying agent is achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of air drying, and in particular to an air dryer, a control method of the air dryer and a vehicle with the air dryer. Background Art

[0002] In the related technology, the air compressor of commercial vehicles is an accessory of the engine assembly, which provides compressed air for the air brake system of the whole vehicle. The compressed air discharged by the air compressor is first dried by the adsorption of the dryer to treat the high-humidity compressed air, and then circulated to the air storage cylinder and the brake mechanism. The current method for estimating the moisture content of the desiccant has a large deviation, resulting in the desiccant being unable to accurately meet the actual drying needs, and there is room for improvement. Summary of the invention

[0003] The present invention aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, the present invention provides an air dryer, which can accurately detect the moisture content of the desiccant, thereby ensuring the drying effect of the air dryer.

[0004] An air dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a drying tube assembly, a drying channel is formed in the drying tube assembly, and a desiccant is arranged in the drying channel; a detection module, the detection module is used to detect the current expansion rate of the desiccant; and a control module, the control module is used to selectively control the airflow in the drying channel to flow in a first direction or in a direction opposite to the first direction according to the current expansion rate.

[0005] According to the air dryer of the embodiment of the present invention, the control module can flexibly control the direction of the airflow in the drying channel according to the expansion rate of the desiccant in the drying channel, such as making the airflow flow in the drying channel along a first direction, or along a direction opposite to the first direction. Not only can the wetness state of the desiccant be accurately detected, but the drying performance and regeneration status of the desiccant can also be monitored to achieve repeated use of the desiccant.

[0006] In an air dryer according to some embodiments of the present invention, a fixed baffle and a movable baffle are provided in the drying cylinder assembly, the drying channel includes an expansion space between the fixed baffle and the movable baffle, the desiccant is provided in the expansion space, and the movable baffle is adapted to move relative to the fixed baffle as the desiccant expands and contracts.

[0007] According to some embodiments of the air dryer of the present invention, the detection module includes a displacement sensor, the displacement sensor is used to detect the displacement of the movable baffle, and the detection module is configured to obtain the current expansion rate according to the displacement.

[0008] The air dryer according to some embodiments of the present invention further includes an elastic member, which is pressed against a side of the movable baffle away from the fixed baffle, and is used to apply an elastic force to the movable baffle to press the desiccant toward the fixed baffle.

[0009] In the air dryer according to some embodiments of the present invention, a limiting groove is provided on the side of the movable baffle away from the fixed baffle, the elastic member is constructed as a spring, one end of the spring is located in the limiting groove and presses against the inner end surface of the limiting groove.

[0010] According to the air dryer of some embodiments of the present invention, the fixed baffle and the movable baffle are spaced apart and relatively distributed in the air flow direction in the drying channel;

[0011] The fixed baffle is provided with a first air vent which penetrates along the thickness direction, and the movable baffle is provided with a second air vent which penetrates along the thickness direction.

[0012] The air dryer according to some embodiments of the present invention further includes an inner cylinder, wherein the inner cylinder is installed in the drying cylinder assembly, and the inner cylinder and the drying cylinder assembly together define the drying channel.

[0013] In the air dryer according to some embodiments of the present invention, the drying channel includes an inner channel and an outer channel, the inner channel is formed in the inner cylinder, the outer channel is formed between the inner cylinder and the drying cylinder assembly, and the desiccant is disposed in the inner channel.

[0014] According to some embodiments of the air dryer of the present invention, the outer channel is distributed around the inner channel;

[0015] One end of the inner channel is communicated with one end of the outer channel, and the other end of the inner channel and the other end of the outer channel are communicated to the outside of the drying cylinder assembly.

[0016] In the air dryer according to some embodiments of the present invention, the drying cylinder assembly is formed with a first flow port and a second flow port, the first flow port and the second flow port are respectively connected to the drying channel, and the first direction is the flow direction from the first flow port to the second flow port.

[0017] According to some embodiments of the air dryer of the present invention, the drying cylinder assembly includes a drying cylinder and a base, the base is connected to one end of the drying cylinder, the drying channel is located in the drying cylinder, and the first flow port and the second flow port are both provided on the base.

[0018] In the air dryer according to some embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of the first flow openings are provided, and the plurality of the first flow openings are spaced apart and distributed around the second flow opening.

[0019] In the air dryer according to some embodiments of the present invention, an internal thread is formed in the second flow port, and the second flow port is used for threaded connection with an external shell.

[0020] According to the air dryer of some embodiments of the present invention, the base is further equipped with a sealing structure, the sealing structure is used to seal against the external shell, and the sealing structure is distributed around the first flow port and the second flow port.

[0021] In the air dryer according to some embodiments of the present invention, a first filter structure is provided in the drying channel between the first flow port and the desiccant, and a second filter structure is provided between the second flow port and the desiccant.

[0022] The invention also provides a control method for the air dryer.

[0023] According to the control method of the air dryer of the embodiment of the present invention, the control method is applicable to any of the air dryers described above, and the control method includes:

[0024] Detect the current expansion rate of the desiccant;

[0025] According to the current expansion ratio, the airflow in the drying channel is selectively controlled to flow in a first direction or in a direction opposite to the first direction.

[0026] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the control method of the air dryer includes:

[0027] When the current expansion rate is less than or equal to the minimum expansion rate, the airflow in the drying channel is controlled to flow along a first direction.

[0028] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the control method of the air dryer includes:

[0029] When the current expansion rate is greater than or equal to the maximum expansion rate, the airflow in the drying channel is controlled to flow in a direction opposite to the first direction.

[0030] The present invention also provides a vehicle.

[0031] A vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises the air dryer described in any one of the above embodiments.

[0032] The advantages of the vehicle, the control method of the air dryer and the above-mentioned air dryer over the prior art are the same and will not be described in detail here.

[0033] Additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will be given in part in the following description and in part will be obvious from the following description, or will be learned through practice of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and easily understood from the description of the embodiments in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0035] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an air dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 2 is a graph showing the relationship between the desiccant and the expansion rate of the air dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 3 4 is a flow chart of a method for controlling an air dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Reference numerals:

[0039] Air dryer 100,

[0040] Drying cylinder 11, base 12, fixed baffle 13, movable baffle 14, annular flange 141, limiting groove 142, desiccant 15, elastic member 16, inner cylinder 17,

[0041] Inner channel 21, outer channel 22, first flow port 23, second flow port 24,

[0042] annular sealing seat 31, elastic sealing body 32, annular foot seat 33, annular sealing member 34, first filtering structure 41, second filtering structure 42,

[0043] Displacement sensor 5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals throughout represent the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and cannot be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0045] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" and the like indicate positions or positional relationships based on the positions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present invention. In addition, features defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of the present invention, unless otherwise specified, "multiple" means two or more.

[0046] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection, or it can be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, or it can be the internal communication of two components. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0047] Reference below Figure 1 An air dryer 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is described. The air dryer 100 can detect the current expansion rate of the desiccant 15 through a detection module to accurately determine the dryness or wetness of the desiccant 15, and then accurately adjust the drying function of the air dryer 100 to achieve accurate drying of the compressed air.

[0048] like Figure 1 As shown, an air dryer 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a drying cylinder assembly, a detection module and a control module.

[0049] A drying channel is formed in the drying cylinder assembly, and a desiccant 15 is arranged in the drying channel. The detection module is used to detect the current expansion rate of the desiccant 15, and the control module is used to selectively control the airflow in the drying channel to flow in a first direction or in a direction opposite to the first direction according to the current expansion rate.

[0050] In other words, when the air dryer 100 dries the airflow, the airflow can be introduced into the drying channel, and after being dried by the desiccant 15, the airflow is discharged from the drying channel to realize the gas drying process, that is, the airflow flows from the drying channel along a first direction; and, when the desiccant 15 is dried for a long time and the humidity is too high, dry gas can be introduced into the drying channel to take away the moisture in the desiccant 15, thereby realizing reverse drying of the desiccant 15, that is, the airflow flows from the drying channel in a direction opposite to the first direction, thereby realizing repeated use of the air dryer 100.

[0051] The detection module is used to detect the current expansion rate of the desiccant 15, that is, the current expansion rate of the desiccant 15 can reflect the wet state of the desiccant 15. It should be noted that the desiccant 15 is a water-absorbing material, and when the humidity of the desiccant 15 is low, the expansion rate of the desiccant 15 is low, and when the humidity of the desiccant 15 is high, the expansion rate of the desiccant 15 is high, and Figure 2 As shown, the volume expansion rate of the desiccant 15 is nearly proportional to the water content, that is, as the water content of the desiccant 15 gradually increases, its volume expansion rate also gradually increases, and thus, the water content of the desiccant 15 can be reflected by the change in the volume of the desiccant 15. It should be noted that when the water content of the desiccant 15 is low, its water absorption performance is strong, and when the water content of the desiccant 15 is high, its water absorption performance is low.

[0052] In this way, when the current expansion rate shows that the water content of the desiccant 15 is low, the external airflow that needs to be dried can be passed into the drying channel, and the desiccant 15 is used to absorb water to achieve the drying effect on the airflow. When the current expansion rate shows that the water content of the desiccant 15 is high, the external dry gas can be passed into the drying channel, and the dry gas can be used to absorb water for the desiccant 15 to achieve back-blowing drying of the desiccant 15, which is beneficial for the desiccant 15 to be dried again, and further the desiccant 15 can be repeatedly used.

[0053] According to the air dryer 100 of the embodiment of the present invention, the control module can flexibly control the direction of the airflow in the drying channel according to the expansion rate of the desiccant 15 in the drying channel, such as making the airflow flow in the drying channel along a first direction, or flow in a direction opposite to the first direction. Not only can the wetness state of the desiccant 15 be accurately detected, but the drying performance and regeneration status of the desiccant 15 can also be monitored, thereby realizing repeated and multiple uses of the desiccant 15.

[0054] In some embodiments, a fixed baffle 13 and a movable baffle 14 are provided in the drying cylinder assembly, the drying channel includes an expansion space between the fixed baffle 13 and the movable baffle 14, the desiccant 15 is provided in the expansion space, and the movable baffle 14 is adapted to move relative to the fixed baffle 13 as the desiccant 15 expands and contracts. In other words, the fixed baffle 13 is fixedly installed in the drying channel, the movable baffle 14 is movably installed in the drying channel, and the desiccant 15 is located between the fixed baffle 13 and the movable baffle 14.

[0055] In this way, during the process of the desiccant 15 absorbing water, its own volume gradually increases, and the desiccant 15 can gradually push the movable baffle 14 to move in the direction away from the fixed baffle 13, while during the process of the desiccant 15 dehydrating, its own volume gradually decreases, and the movable baffle 14 can move toward the fixed baffle 13 as the volume of the desiccant 15 decreases. It should be noted that the spatial width of the expansion space in the moving direction of the movable baffle 14 can remain constant, that is, the expansion rate of the desiccant 15 can be directly reflected by the moving amount of the movable baffle 14, thereby, the change of the expansion rate of the desiccant 15 can be more intuitively obtained.

[0056] In the specific structure, the fixed baffle 13 and the movable baffle 14 are spaced apart and relatively distributed, and the shape area of ​​the fixed baffle 13 and the shape area of ​​the movable baffle 14 can be set to be the same, which is conducive to more accurately reflecting the expansion change of the desiccant 15.

[0057] In some embodiments, the detection module includes a displacement sensor 5, which is used to detect the displacement of the movable baffle 14. The detection module is configured to obtain the current expansion rate based on the displacement, that is, the expansion rate of the desiccant 15 in the present invention can be indirectly obtained through the displacement sensor 5, that is, when the expansion rate of the desiccant 15 is obtained, there is no need to set a pressure sensor, a flow sensor, etc., which not only reduces the number of sensors set, but also reduces the conditions for calculating the current expansion rate of the desiccant 15, which is conducive to the rapid calculation of the current expansion rate.

[0058] Therefore, when detecting the current expansion rate of the desiccant 15, it can be determined by the displacement change of the movable baffle 14 relative to the fixed baffle 13, which not only improves the estimation accuracy of the water saturation of the desiccant 15, but also helps to simplify the method of obtaining the current expansion rate of the desiccant 15, thereby improving the control efficiency of the air dryer 100.

[0059] The displacement sensor 5 can be fixedly installed in the drying cylinder assembly, and as Figure 1As shown in , the movable baffle 14 is spaced apart from the fixed baffle 13 in the vertical direction. The movable baffle 14 can be arranged to move along the vertical direction with the desiccant 15 when the desiccant 15 expands or contracts. For example, when the desiccant 15 expands and increases in volume, the movable baffle 14 moves upward, and when the desiccant 15 dehydrates and decreases in volume, the movable baffle 14 moves downward. At the same time, the displacement sensor 5 is arranged on one side of the movable baffle 14 in the moving direction, as shown in FIG. Figure 1 As shown in the left side of FIG. , the displacement sensor 5 can effectively detect the displacement of the movable baffle 14 to improve the accurate detection of the expansion rate.

[0060] In some embodiments, the air dryer 100 also includes an elastic member 16, which presses against the side of the movable baffle 14 away from the fixed baffle 13. The elastic member 16 is used to apply an elastic force to the movable baffle 14 to press the desiccant 15 toward the fixed baffle 13, that is, the movable baffle 14 can move under the elastic action of the elastic member 16 and the expansion action of the desiccant 15.

[0061] In other words, the elastic member 16 and the desiccant 15 are respectively located on two sides of the movable baffle 14 that are away from each other. Figure 1 As shown in FIG. 1 , the desiccant 15 is located at the lower side of the movable baffle 14 , the elastic member 16 is located at the upper side of the movable baffle 14 , and the elastic member 16 is pressed between the movable baffle 14 and the inner wall of the drying cylinder assembly.

[0062] Among them, after the desiccant 15 absorbs water and expands, it pushes the movable baffle 14 to move upward, and the elastic member 16 is gradually compressed. After the desiccant 15 is dehydrated, the force it generates is smaller than the force of the elastic member 16 on the movable baffle 14, so that the movable baffle 14 moves downward under the action of the elastic member 16, so that the expansion rate of the desiccant 15 can be reflected by the position of the movable baffle 14.

[0063] In specific design, the elastic member 16 can be provided as one, two or more.

[0064] In some embodiments, a limiting groove 142 is provided on the side of the movable baffle 14 facing away from the fixed baffle 13, and the elastic member 16 is constructed as a spring, one end of the spring is located in the limiting groove 142 and presses against the inner end surface of the limiting groove 142, thereby limiting the elastic member 16, ensuring that the elastic member 16 can be directional and retracted during the movement of the movable baffle 14, and ensuring that the movable baffle 14 can move with the expansion and contraction of the desiccant 15.

[0065] Specifically, Figure 1 As shown, the movable baffle 14 is formed with a protruding annular flange 141 on the side away from the fixed baffle 13. The annular flange 141 defines a limiting groove 142. The annular flange 141 can limit the elastic member 16 to allow the elastic member 16 to extend and retract in a directional manner. The structure is simple and reliable limiting can be achieved.

[0066] In some embodiments, the fixed baffle 13 and the movable baffle 14 are spaced apart and relatively distributed in the air flow direction in the drying channel, such as Figure 1 As shown in FIG, the airflow direction of the drying channel in the expansion space is along Figure 1 In the up and down directions, that is, the movable baffle 14 and the fixed baffle 13 are arranged to be spaced apart and distributed in the up and down directions, the movable baffle 14 and the fixed baffle 13 are directly opposite to each other in the up and down directions, and the areas of the sides of the movable baffle 14 and the fixed baffle 13 facing each other can be set to be the same, so that when the movable baffle 14 moves relative to the fixed baffle 13, the displacement of the movable baffle 14 can accurately reflect the expansion rate of the desiccant 15.

[0067] The fixed baffle 13 is provided with a first vent hole extending through the thickness direction. Figure 1 The upper and lower sides of the fixed baffle 13 are connected through the first air vent, and the movable baffle 14 is provided with a second air vent that penetrates along the thickness direction. Figure 1 The upper and lower sides of the fixed baffle 13 are connected through the second air vent, thereby, by providing the first air vent and the second air vent, the expansion space can be connected in series in the drying channel through the first air vent and the second air vent, ensuring that the airflow entering the drying channel can enter the expansion space and contact the desiccant 15, thereby achieving drying of the airflow or back-blowing drying of the desiccant 15.

[0068] During the specific design, both the first air hole and the second air hole can be set as small holes with smaller apertures, and the number of the small holes can be set to multiple, which can not only ensure that the airflow flows smoothly through the first air hole and the second air hole, but also prevent the desiccant 15 from entering the first air hole and the second air hole to affect the deviation of the expansion rate, thereby improving the accuracy of the expansion rate detection.

[0069] In some embodiments, the air dryer 100 also includes an inner cylinder 17, which is installed in the drying cylinder assembly. The inner cylinder 17 and the drying cylinder assembly together define a drying channel. Therefore, by setting the inner cylinder 17, the space inside the inner cylinder 17 and the space outside the inner cylinder 17 can be used to form a drying channel, enriching the shape of the drying channel, and facilitating the extension of the length of the drying channel, thereby facilitating the drying effect of the airflow.

[0070] In a further embodiment, the drying channel includes an inner channel 21 and an outer channel 22. The inner channel 21 is formed in the inner cylinder 17, and the outer channel 22 is formed between the inner cylinder 17 and the drying cylinder assembly. In this way, after the airflow outside the drying channel enters the drying channel, it can first pass through the inner channel 21 and then flow to the outer channel 22, and then flow out from the outer channel 22, or flow into the outer channel and then flow out from the inner channel, thereby increasing the length of the drying channel.

[0071] Specifically, Figure 1 As shown, the outer channel 22 is located outside the inner channel 21, and the extension direction of the outer channel 22 is parallel to the extension direction of the inner channel 21, that is, the drying channel is close to twice the length of the inner channel 21 or the outer channel 22, and is also close to twice the length of the drying cylinder assembly, thereby increasing the internal stroke of the drying channel.

[0072] The desiccant 15 is disposed in the inner channel 21, that is, the desiccant 15 is located in the inner cylinder 17, and as Figure 1 As shown, the fixed baffle 13 and the movable baffle 14 are both installed in the inner cylinder 17, the fixed baffle 13 is located at the bottom of the inner cylinder 17 and supports the desiccant 15, and the movable baffle 14 is located at the top of the inner cylinder 17 and can move with the expansion of the desiccant 15. At the same time, a displacement sensor 5 can be set on the top inner wall of the inner cylinder 17 to detect the position of the movable baffle 14 through the displacement sensor 5, wherein the annular flange 141 of the movable baffle 14 is arranged close to the displacement sensor 5, and the displacement of the movable baffle 14 can be driven by detecting the displacement of the annular flange 141.

[0073] In some embodiments, the outer channel 22 is distributed around the inner channel 21, that is, the outer channel 22 is constructed as an annular channel, one end of the inner channel 21 is connected to one end of the outer channel 22, and the other end of the inner channel 21 and the other end of the outer channel 22 are connected to the outside of the drying cylinder assembly, so that the external airflow can pass through the inner channel 21 and the outer channel 22 and then flow to the outside again.

[0074] In other words, the space between the outer wall of the inner cylinder 17 and the inner wall of the drying cylinder 11 can be constructed as an outer channel 22, so as to increase the spatial volume of the outer channel 22, thereby facilitating increasing the air flow of the drying channel and enhancing the drying efficiency.

[0075] In some embodiments, the drying cylinder assembly is formed with a first flow port 23 and a second flow port 24, the first flow port 23 and the second flow port 24 are respectively connected to the drying channel, and the first direction is the flow direction from the first flow port 23 to the second flow port 24. Therefore, when the airflow flows from the first flow port 23 through the drying channel to the second flow port 24, the airflow flows from the first direction, and in this process, the airflow enters the desiccant 15 for drying, the first flow port 23 serves as the inlet, and the second flow port 24 serves as the outlet; and when the airflow flows from the second flow port 24 through the drying channel to the first flow port 23, the airflow flows from the direction opposite to the first direction, and in this process, the airflow enters the desiccant 15 to dehydrate the desiccant 15, the second flow port 24 serves as the inlet, and the first flow port 23 serves as the outlet.

[0076] Therefore, by detecting the current expansion rate of the desiccant 15 , the flow direction of the airflow in the drying channel can be switched according to the current expansion rate, so as to achieve the drying effect and dehydration effect of the desiccant 15 .

[0077] Specifically, Figure 1 As shown, the first flow port 23 is connected to the bottom of the outer channel 22, and the second flow port 24 is connected to the bottom of the inner channel 21, so that the airflow can flow from the first flow port 23 through the outer channel 22 and the inner channel 21 in sequence to the second flow port 24, or from the second flow port 24 through the inner channel 21 and the outer channel 22 in sequence to the first flow port 23, and the structure is simple.

[0078] In some embodiments, the drying cylinder assembly includes a drying cylinder 11 and a base 12, the base 12 is connected to one end of the drying cylinder 11, and the drying channel is located inside the drying cylinder 11. In other words, the base 12 can be configured to be detachably connected to one end of the drying cylinder 11 so that the internal space of the drying cylinder 11 can be selectively opened or closed.

[0079] Specifically, Figure 1 As shown, the drying cylinder 11 is constructed as a hollow cylinder with a closed upper end and an open lower end, and the base 12 is connected to the lower end of the drying cylinder 11 to seal the lower end of the drying cylinder 11. When the base 12 is disassembled relative to the drying cylinder 11, the inner cylinder 17 can be installed in the drying cylinder 11 or removed from the drying cylinder 11. After the base 12 is installed in the drying cylinder 11, the base 12 can support the inner cylinder 17 to ensure that the inner cylinder 17 is stably positioned in the drying cylinder 11.

[0080] The first flow port 23 and the second flow port 24 are both arranged on the base 12, that is, the first flow port 23 and the second flow port 24 are both arranged on the same end of the drying cylinder 11. In this way, when the air dryer 100 is connected to the external shell, the first flow port 23 and the second flow port 24 can be connected to the components on the external shell, reducing the difficulty of installation.

[0081] In some embodiments, the first flow opening 23 is provided in plurality, and the plurality of first flow openings 23 are spaced apart and distributed around the second flow opening 24, wherein Figure 1 As shown, the second flow port 24 can be arranged in the middle of the base 12, and the second flow port 24 is directly connected to the lower end of the inner channel 21, and the diameter of the second flow port 24 is larger than the diameter of the first flow port 23, and the first flow port 23 is connected to the lower end of the outer channel 22, wherein the outer channel 22 is constructed as an annular channel.

[0082] Thus, a plurality of first flow openings 23 can be provided, and the plurality of first flow openings 23 can be distributed at intervals along the circumference of the outer channel 22 at the end of the outer channel 22, so that the plurality of first flow openings 23 can be respectively connected to the outer channel 22, thereby increasing the flow rate of the outer channel 22. In other words, providing a plurality of first flow openings 23 can make good use of the circumferential space of the outer channel 22 and increase the inlet and outlet flow rates.

[0083] In some embodiments, an internal thread is formed in the second flow port 24, and the second flow port 24 is used for threaded connection with the external shell, that is, the drying cylinder assembly can be connected to the external shell through the internal thread at the second flow port 24, so as to be suitable for connection with an external air source or air storage structure.

[0084] It should be noted that the air dryer 100 may include a dryer body and a dryer cylinder assembly, the dryer body having a dryer shell, and the dryer cylinder assembly may be connected to the dryer shell so that the dryer cylinder assembly is installed on the dryer body. Further, the dryer body may be provided with an air compressor and an air storage container.

[0085] Specifically, when the drying cylinder assembly is connected to the dryer housing, the plug of the dryer housing can be extended into the second flow port 24 to be connected by threaded connection, so that the drying cylinder assembly and the dryer housing are detachably connected. The first flow port 23 can be connected to the air compressor, and the compressed gas in the air compressor can enter the drying channel from the first flow port 23 for drying, and the gas storage container can be connected to the second flow port 24, so that the dried airflow in the drying channel enters the gas storage container for storage, thereby achieving the drying of the compressed gas. Alternatively, when the water content of the desiccant 15 is high, the dry gas in the gas storage container can be passed from the second flow port 24 into the drying channel, and then flows out from the first flow port 23, thereby achieving the dehydration of the desiccant 15.

[0086] In some embodiments, the base 12 is also equipped with a sealing structure, which is used to seal and press against the external shell, and the sealing structure is distributed around the first flow port 23 and the second flow port 24. Thus, the sealing structure can enable the drying cylinder assembly and the dryer shell to be well sealed, thereby ensuring that the airflow between the drying cylinder assembly and the dryer body flows accurately without leakage.

[0087] Specifically, the sealing structure may include an annular sealing seat 31 and an elastic sealing body 32. The annular sealing seat 31 is installed between the base 12 and the dryer housing, and the elastic sealing body 32 is configured as an annular sealing ring, which is pressed between the base 12 and the dryer housing to perform elastic sealing therebetween. The annular sealing seat 31 has a sealing groove open toward the dryer housing, and the elastic sealing body 32 is installed in the sealing groove and at least partially extends from the sealing groove to press against the dryer housing to achieve sealing fit.

[0088] In some embodiments, a first filter structure 41 is provided between the first flow port 23 and the desiccant 15 in the drying channel, so that the airflow entering the first flow port 23 can be filtered by the first filter structure 41, thereby improving the cleanliness of the airflow entering the desiccant 15.

[0089] It should be noted that if Figure 1 As shown, the base 12 is installed at the lower end of the drying cylinder 11, and the base 12 is spaced apart from the lower end of the inner cylinder 17 to form an end space, and an annular foot 33 is provided in the end space, and the annular foot 33 separates the end space into an internal space and an external space, the external space is connected between the first flow port 23 and the outer channel 22, and the internal space is connected between the second flow port 24 and the inner channel 21, and the first filtering structure 41 is located in the external space, which can filter the airflow between the first flow port 23 and the outer channel 22.

[0090] An annular seal 34 may be provided between the annular foot 33 and the base 12. The annular seal 34 is an elastic member 16, which allows the internal space and the external space to be elastically sealed through the annular seal 34, thereby avoiding air flow between the internal space and the external space and improving the reliability of the dryer.

[0091] In some embodiments, a second filter structure 42 is provided between the second flow port 24 and the desiccant 15 , so that the airflow entering the second flow port 24 can be filtered by the second filter structure 42 , that is, the cleanliness of the airflow entering the desiccant 15 is improved.

[0092] Specifically, Figure 1 As shown, a second filtering structure 42 is provided between the desiccant 15 and the fixed baffle 13 . The second filtering structure 42 is located directly above the second flow port 24 , so that the airflow entering from the second flow port 24 can be filtered.

[0093] The present invention also provides a control method for the air dryer 100 .

[0094] According to the control method of the air desiccant 15 of the embodiment of the present invention, the control method is applicable to the air dryer 100 of any of the above embodiments, and the control method includes:

[0095] S1: Detect the current expansion rate of the desiccant 15; by detecting the current expansion rate, the water absorption state of the desiccant 15 can be obtained, that is, when the water content of the desiccant 15 is low, the airflow can be dried by the desiccant 15, and when the water content of the desiccant 15 is high, the desiccant 15 can be actively dehydrated by an external dry airflow to achieve repeated use of the desiccant 15.

[0096] Specifically, the expansion rate of the desiccant 15 can be detected and determined by the displacement sensor 5 of the detection module, which can be specifically embodied in the displacement detection of the movable baffle 14 , that is, the expansion rate of the desiccant 15 can be accurately moved and determined by the displacement amount of the movable baffle 14 .

[0097] S2: According to the current expansion rate, selectively control the airflow in the drying channel to flow in a first direction or in a direction opposite to the first direction.

[0098] That is, after determining the moisture content of the desiccant 15 according to the current expansion rate, the airflow in the drying channel can be controlled to flow in different directions, such as controlling the airflow to flow in a first direction so that the desiccant 15 dries the external airflow, or controlling the airflow to flow in a direction opposite to the first direction so that the desiccant 15 is dehydrated and dried by the dry gas, thereby realizing a back-flushing design.

[0099] Specifically, in some embodiments, Figure 3 As shown, the control method includes:

[0100] When the current expansion rate is less than or equal to the minimum expansion rate, the airflow in the drying channel is controlled to flow in the first direction, that is, the water content in the desiccant 15 is very small, so that when the current expansion rate is less than or equal to the minimum expansion rate, the desiccant 15 has good water absorption, and the airflow in the drying channel can be controlled to flow in the first direction, so that the desiccant 15 absorbs water and dries the incoming gas to achieve the drying function.

[0101] Specifically, the compressed gas of the external air compressor can be controlled to enter the drying channel from the first flow port 23 to contact the desiccant 15 to achieve dry water absorption, and then flow out from the second flow port 24 to achieve the drying process of the gas.

[0102] And, in some embodiments, the control method includes:

[0103] When the current expansion rate is less than or equal to the maximum expansion rate, the airflow in the drying channel is controlled to flow in the direction opposite to the first direction. That is, the water content in the desiccant 15 is very large, so that when the current expansion rate is greater than or equal to the maximum expansion rate, the water absorption of the desiccant 15 is low, and the airflow in the drying channel can be controlled to flow in the direction opposite to the first direction, so that the external dry gas enters the drying channel to dehydrate the desiccant 15, and the back-blowing dehydration effect is achieved, which is conducive to the repeated use of the desiccant 15.

[0104] Specifically, the dry gas from the external air compressor can be controlled to enter the drying channel from the second flow port 24 to contact the desiccant 15 to achieve drying and dehydration, and then flow out from the first flow port 23 to achieve the dehydration process of the desiccant 15.

[0105] And, if Figure 1 As shown, the control method is actually executed:

[0106] The air intake of the air compressor can be controlled first. During the air intake process, the current expansion rate of the desiccant 15 is detected, and the current expansion rate is compared with the maximum expansion rate. If the current expansion rate is greater than or equal to the maximum expansion rate, the air intake is controlled to end and exhaust backwashing is performed. If the current expansion rate is less than the maximum expansion rate, the air intake is continued. During exhaust backwashing, the current expansion rate of the desiccant 15 is detected, and the current expansion rate is compared with the minimum expansion rate. If the current expansion rate is less than or equal to the minimum expansion rate, the backwashing is ended. If the current expansion rate is greater than the minimum expansion rate, the exhaust backwashing is continued.

[0107] The present invention also provides a vehicle.

[0108] According to the vehicle of the embodiment of the present invention, the air dryer 100 comprises any one of the above-mentioned embodiments. The control module of the air dryer 100 can flexibly control the direction of the airflow in the drying channel according to the expansion rate of the desiccant 15 in the drying channel, such as making the airflow flow in the drying channel along a first direction, or flow in a direction opposite to the first direction. This can not only accurately detect the wet state of the desiccant 15, but also monitor the drying performance and regeneration status of the desiccant 15, thereby realizing repeated use of the desiccant 15.

[0109] Therefore, in the process of using the air dryer 100, there is no need to use sensors such as pressure, flow, and temperature, the amount of real-time data processing is less, the monitoring of the saturation degree of the desiccant 15 is more accurate and efficient, the backflush loss of the dry gas is reduced to the greatest extent, the operating frequency of equipment such as the air compressor is reduced, and the energy consumption of the whole vehicle is reduced, the overall performance of the air suspension system is improved, and the service life is extended. In addition, the present invention can also monitor the regeneration degree of the dryer in real time. In addition, the performance attenuation of the desiccant 15 can also be judged by the change in the volume expansion rate of the desiccant 15 in multiple cycles.

[0110] In the description of this specification, the description with reference to the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "illustrative embodiments", "examples", "specific examples", or "some examples" means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the schematic representation of the above terms does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described may be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner.

[0111] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and variations may be made to the embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, and that the scope of the present invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An air dryer, characterized in that: include: A drying cylinder assembly, wherein a drying channel is formed in the drying cylinder assembly, and a desiccant (15) is arranged in the drying channel; A detection module, the detection module is used to detect the current expansion rate of the desiccant (15); A control module is used to selectively control the airflow in the drying channel to flow in a first direction or in a direction opposite to the first direction according to the current expansion rate.

2. The air dryer according to claim 1, characterized in that A fixed baffle (13) and a movable baffle (14) are provided in the drying cylinder assembly, the drying channel comprises an expansion space located between the fixed baffle (13) and the movable baffle (14), the desiccant (15) is arranged in the expansion space, and the movable baffle (14) is adapted to move relative to the fixed baffle (13) as the desiccant (15) expands or contracts.

3. The air dryer according to claim 2, characterized in that The detection module comprises a displacement sensor (5), the displacement sensor (5) being used to detect the displacement of the movable baffle (14), and the detection module being configured to obtain the current expansion rate according to the displacement.

4. The air dryer according to claim 2, characterized in that: It also includes an elastic member (16), the elastic member (16) being pressed against a side of the movable baffle (14) facing away from the fixed baffle (13), the elastic member (16) being used to apply an elastic force to the movable baffle (14) to press the desiccant (15) toward the fixed baffle (13).

5. The air dryer according to claim 4, characterized in that A limiting groove (142) is provided on the side of the movable baffle (14) facing away from the fixed baffle (13); the elastic member (16) is constructed as a spring; one end of the spring is located in the limiting groove (142) and presses against the inner end surface of the limiting groove (142).

6. The air dryer according to claim 2, characterized in that: The fixed baffle (13) and the movable baffle (14) are spaced apart and relatively distributed in the airflow direction in the drying channel; The fixed baffle (13) is provided with a first air vent extending through the thickness direction, and the movable baffle (14) is provided with a second air vent extending through the thickness direction.

7. The air dryer according to claim 1, characterized in that It also comprises an inner cylinder (17), wherein the inner cylinder (17) is installed in the drying cylinder assembly, and the inner cylinder (17) and the drying cylinder assembly together define the drying channel.

8. The air dryer according to claim 7, characterized in that The drying channel comprises an inner channel (21) and an outer channel (22), wherein the inner channel (21) is formed in the inner cylinder (17), and the outer channel (22) is formed between the inner cylinder (17) and the drying cylinder assembly, and the desiccant (15) is arranged in the inner channel (21).

9. The air dryer according to claim 8, characterized in that The outer channel (22) is distributed around the inner channel (21); One end of the inner channel (21) is connected to one end of the outer channel (22), and the other end of the inner channel (21) and the other end of the outer channel (22) are connected to the outside of the drying cylinder assembly.

10. The air dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The drying cylinder assembly is formed with a first flow port (23) and a second flow port (24), the first flow port (23) and the second flow port (24) are respectively connected to the drying channel, and the first direction is the flow direction from the first flow port (23) to the second flow port (24).

11. The air dryer according to claim 10, characterized in that The drying cylinder assembly comprises a drying cylinder (11) and a base (12), wherein the base (12) is connected to one end of the drying cylinder (11), the drying channel is located in the drying cylinder (11), and the first flow port (23) and the second flow port (24) are both arranged on the base (12).

12. The air dryer according to claim 11, characterized in that The first flow openings (23) are arranged in plurality, and the plurality of first flow openings (23) are distributed at intervals around the second flow opening (24).

13. The air dryer according to claim 11, characterized in that An internal thread is formed in the second flow port (24), and the second flow port (24) is used for being threadedly connected to an external shell.

14. The air dryer according to claim 13, characterized in that The base (12) is also equipped with a sealing structure, which is used for sealing against the external shell, and the sealing structure is distributed around the first flow port (23) and the second flow port (24).

15. The air dryer according to claim 10, characterized in that A first filtering structure (41) is provided in the drying channel between the first flow port (23) and the desiccant (15), and a second filtering structure (42) is provided between the second flow port (24) and the desiccant (15).

16. A control method for an air dryer, characterized in that: The control method is applicable to the air dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 15, and the control method comprises: Detecting the current expansion rate of the desiccant (15); According to the current expansion ratio, the airflow in the drying channel is selectively controlled to flow in a first direction or in a direction opposite to the first direction.

17. The control method of the air dryer according to claim 16, characterized in that: The control method comprises: When the current expansion rate is less than or equal to the minimum expansion rate, the airflow in the drying channel is controlled to flow along a first direction.

18. The control method of the air dryer according to claim 16, characterized in that: The control method comprises: When the current expansion rate is greater than or equal to the maximum expansion rate, the airflow in the drying channel is controlled to flow in a direction opposite to the first direction.

19. A vehicle, characterized in that: An air dryer comprising the air dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

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