Central gas source for external load gas supply

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of central gas sources, solves the problems that an existing central gas source is poor in output gas quality, tedious in system connection, low in integration level and inconvenient to assemble, and discloses a central gas source for external load gas supply, which comprises a pneumatic block, a compressor assembly, an ECU controller assembly and a dryer assembly. The compressor assembly is installed on the side face of the pneumatic block. The pneumatic block is of an integrally-formed structure, a switching valve set, an air valve set, an air inlet one-way valve, an air filter, a power limiting valve and a sensor assembly are integrated in the pneumatic block, and a valve seat for air inlet and exhaust and an air pipe connector are arranged in front of the pneumatic block. The ECU controller assembly is located on the rear end face of the pneumatic block and is parallel to the motor. The dryer assembly is located on the lower end face of the pneumatic block. And an external load inflation valve is also arranged in the pneumatic block. According to the invention, the integration level of the system is improved, external pipelines are reduced, the system structure is simplified, the installation and maintenance are more convenient, and the fault occurrence rate is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of central gas source technology, and more particularly to a central gas source for supplying gas to external loads. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, as new energy vehicle manufacturers strive to enhance their product competitiveness, air suspension has been used to create a differentiated and superior driving experience. Furthermore, due to increasingly fierce competition, the price of vehicles equipped with air suspension has continued to decline. The market has placed new demands on air spring systems for better driving experience, higher reliability, and lower costs. As a crucial component of a vehicle's active suspension system, the air suspension system consists of an air supply unit, air springs, damping devices, a lateral stabilizer, a height valve, a guide force transmission mechanism, an air tank, and piping. It can adjust the stiffness and damping of the suspension in real time according to the vehicle's motion and road conditions, ensuring the suspension system is in optimal shock absorption and providing excellent comfort under various road conditions.

[0003] Currently, the air supply units used in automotive air suspension systems on the market have many problems: low output gas pressure, low adjustment sensitivity, large size, heavy weight, high noise, and poor heat dissipation, making them unsuitable for high-end cars. Existing air supply systems have a large number of control valves, cumbersome connections, and non-adjustable safety pressure, requiring dynamic control of gas inflow and outflow to adjust the stiffness and length of the air springs and control the inflation and deflation of the air suspension supply unit to achieve the adjustment function of the air suspension system. Some devices integrate the air compressor, air dryer, and multiple pneumatic valves into a single pneumatic block to reduce external pipelines and electrical connections, but the problems of air dryer failure and low regeneration efficiency still exist. At the same time, the integration is not high, and assembly is inconvenient.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a highly integrated, reliable, and efficient air supply unit for a central air source to supply air to external loads, in order to solve the problems in the existing technology. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to solve the problems of poor output gas quality, numerous control valves, complicated connections, low integration, and inconvenient assembly in existing air supply units, and to propose a central air source for supplying gas to external loads.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: a central air source for supplying air to an external load, comprising a pneumatic block, a compressor assembly, an ECU controller assembly, and a dryer assembly;

[0007] The compressor assembly includes a compressor and a motor. The compressor is connected to the motor via a drive rod, and the compressor assembly is mounted on the side of the pneumatic block.

[0008] The pneumatic block is a one-piece molded structure. The pneumatic block integrates a switching valve group and an air valve group. The switching valve group and the air valve group are respectively connected to the ECU controller assembly. The switching valve group is used to switch the airflow direction, and the air valve group is located on the front end pipe of the external load to control the gas pressure and regulate the gas flow.

[0009] The ECU controller assembly is located on the rear end face of the pneumatic block and is arranged parallel to the motor. The ECU controller assembly integrates a solenoid valve coil and a chip for controlling the opening and closing of the valve assembly.

[0010] The dryer assembly is located on the lower end face of the pneumatic block. The dryer assembly includes a dryer and a throttling check valve for filtering and drying the gas entering the pneumatic block.

[0011] The pneumatic block integrates an air intake check valve and an air filter. The front end of the pneumatic block has a valve seat and an air pipe connector for air intake and exhaust. One end of the air intake check valve is connected to the air filter through a pipe. The front end of the pneumatic block is also provided with an air outlet, which is connected to various external loads and air storage components through a pipe.

[0012] The pneumatic block is also equipped with an inflation switching valve, which is used to directly inflate the external load.

[0013] Furthermore, the motor and compressor are integrated into a single design, and the piston is driven by an eccentric wheel transmission to achieve gas compression and discharge.

[0014] Furthermore, the gas storage assembly includes a low-pressure gas storage tank and a high-pressure gas storage tank, and the throttling check valve is located at the front end of the connecting pipeline to the low-pressure gas storage tank and the high-pressure gas storage tank.

[0015] Furthermore, the output end of the low-pressure gas storage tank connected to the external load is equipped with a pressure reducing valve.

[0016] Furthermore, the compressor assembly is connected to a power limiting valve via a pipe to control the output power of the compressor assembly, and the power limiting valve is located inside the pneumatic block.

[0017] Furthermore, the air valve assembly includes a multi-stage adjustable flow valve and a pressure limiting valve, wherein the pressure limiting valve is configured to have adjustable safety pressure.

[0018] Furthermore, it also includes a gas path system, which includes gas path one, gas path two, gas path three, gas path four, and gas path five. Gas path one supplies gas from the compressor assembly to the external load after passing through the drying assembly and with switching valve one open. Gas path two supplies gas directly to the external load from the high-pressure gas storage tank when switching valves two and three are open. Gas path three supplies gas from the compressor assembly to the high-pressure and low-pressure gas storage tanks through the drying assembly when switching valves four and five are open. Gas path four supplies gas from the high-pressure gas storage tank to the compressor assembly when switching valves one and three are open, and the gas from the compressor assembly supplies gas to the external load after passing through the drying assembly. Switching valves one, two, three, four, and five form a switching valve group, and the air valve group is distributed at the end of the external load connecting pipeline.

[0019] Furthermore, the gas path system is equipped with sensor components for detecting the temperature, humidity, and pressure of the gas.

[0020] The present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0021] 1. In this invention, by integrating the motor and compressor into a single unit and arranging them on the left side of the pneumatic block, the system integration is significantly improved, external piping and electrical connections are reduced, the system structure is simplified, installation and maintenance are made more convenient, and the failure rate is reduced.

[0022] 2. In this invention, the ECU controller is arranged on the rear end face of the pneumatic block parallel to the motor, which achieves a more compact and efficient layout, improves the overall performance and reliability of the system, and reduces energy consumption.

[0023] 3. By arranging a dryer on the lower end face of the pneumatic block, combined with the integrated solenoid valve and air circuit design inside the pneumatic block, efficient air filtration and recycling are achieved, effectively solving the problems of air dryer failure and low regeneration efficiency in the existing technology.

[0024] 4. The design of integrating solenoid valve coils and chips into the ECU assembly enables the sending and receiving of control commands, improving the system's response speed and reliability, and reducing energy consumption and failure rate. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the gas circuit system connection principle for a central gas source for supplying gas to an external load, as proposed in this invention.

[0026] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a central gas source for supplying gas to an external load, as proposed in this invention.

[0027] Figure 3 This is a partial zoning diagram of a central gas source for supplying gas to external loads, as proposed in this invention.

[0028] Legend: 1. Pneumatic block; 10. Switching valve assembly; 11. Air valve assembly; 12. Inlet check valve; 13. Outlet; 14. Air filter; 15. Power limiting valve; 106. External load charging valve; 2. Compressor assembly; 20. Compressor; 21. Motor; 3. ECU controller assembly; 4. Dryer assembly; 40. Dryer; 41. Throttling check valve; 5. External load; 60. Low-pressure air tank; 61. High-pressure air tank; 62. Pressure reducing valve; 63. Throttling check valve; 101. Switching valve one; 102. Switching valve two; 103. Switching valve three; 104. Switching valve four; 105. Switching valve five; 106. Charging switching valve; 107. Sensor assembly. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The present disclosure will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present disclosure more clearly, and should not be used to limit the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

[0030] Figure 1-3 This invention provides a schematic diagram, structural diagram, and partial partition diagram of a gas supply system for a central gas source used to supply gas to an external load. (See also...) Figure 1-3 In this embodiment, each module (device, component, etc.) will be discussed in detail.

[0031] A central air source for supplying air to external loads includes a pneumatic block 1, a compressor assembly 2, an ECU controller assembly 3, and a dryer assembly 4, with each component physically integrated and connected around the pneumatic block 1.

[0032] The pneumatic block 1, as the core structural component and air passage hub, is manufactured using an integrated molding process, forming multiple complex mounting cavities inside. The compressor assembly 2 is mounted on one side of the pneumatic block 1. The compressor assembly 2 includes a compressor 20 and a drive motor 21. Preferably, the motor 21 and the compressor 20 are designed as an integrated unit. The piston is driven to reciprocate through an internal eccentric wheel transmission mechanism, thereby realizing the intake, compression and discharge of gas. The compressor 20 is directly connected to the output shaft of the motor 21 through a drive rod, resulting in a compact structure and high transmission efficiency.

[0033] An ECU controller assembly 3 is arranged on the rear end face of the pneumatic block 1. The mounting plane of the ECU controller assembly 3 is parallel to the axis of the motor 21. The ECU controller assembly 3 integrates a control chip, a drive circuit, and multiple solenoid valve coils. These solenoid valve coils cooperate with the valve core components of each solenoid valve installed inside the pneumatic block 1. The ECU controls the movement of the valve core through electrical signals emitted by the ECU, thereby realizing the opening and closing control of each air passage valve. The ECU controller assembly 3 is connected to the motor 21, external sensors, etc. through wiring harnesses to realize comprehensive monitoring and intelligent control of the system's operating status.

[0034] A dryer assembly 4 is installed on the lower end face of the pneumatic block 1. The dryer assembly 4 includes a dryer 40 and a throttling check valve 41. The dryer assembly 4 is used to cool, filter and dry the high-temperature and high-pressure gas entering the pneumatic block 1 or discharged by the compressor 20, removing moisture, oil and impurities. The dried clean gas then enters the integrated gas path inside the pneumatic block 1 for distribution. The dryer assembly 4 is directly integrated below the pneumatic block 1, which shortens the connecting pipeline, reduces possible leakage points, and facilitates the collection and discharge of condensate.

[0035] The pneumatic block 1 internally integrates a switching valve group 10 and an air valve group 11, both of which are electrically connected to the ECU controller assembly 3. The switching valve group 10 consists of multiple two-position three-way solenoid valves, including switching valve one 101, switching valve two 102, switching valve three 103, switching valve four 104, and switching valve five 105, which are used to change the direction of the main airflow according to different working mode commands, so as to realize the path switching between the air supply source (compressor 20 or air storage component) and the target (external load 5 or air storage component).

[0036] The air valve assembly 11 is distributed on the front-end pipe or port connected to the external load 5. It is mainly used to precisely control the parameters of the output gas. The air valve assembly 11 includes a multi-stage adjustable flow valve and a pressure relief valve. The flow valve can adjust the flow rate of the output gas in stages or steplessly to adapt to the needs of different loads. The pressure relief valve is used to ensure that the output pressure does not exceed the set value. Its safe pressure threshold can be adjusted as needed to play a safety protection role.

[0037] The pneumatic block 1 also integrates an intake check valve 12 and an air filter 14. The intake check valve 12 is used to prevent gas backflow. One end of it is connected to the air filter 14 through an internal pipe. After being filtered by the air filter 14, external air can enter the system through the intake check valve 12. The front end of the pneumatic block 1 is provided with multiple interfaces, including valve seats for intake and exhaust and standard air pipe connectors, as well as an air outlet 13 for connecting external loads 5. The air outlet 13 can be connected to various different external loads 5 (such as wheels) and air storage components through pipes.

[0038] The gas storage assembly may include a low-pressure gas storage tank 60 and a high-pressure gas storage tank 61 for storing compressed gas, balancing system pressure fluctuations, and providing instantaneous high-flow gas supply capacity. A pressure reducing valve 62 is provided at the output end of the low-pressure gas storage tank 60 that is connected to the external load 5 to provide a stable low-pressure gas source.

[0039] The pneumatic block 1 is also equipped with an external load 5 inflation valve 106. This valve is usually a solenoid valve controlled by an ECU, and its outlet is directly connected to a quick-connect fitting. It can be used to quickly inflate independent external loads 5, such as under-inflated tires, which do not have high requirements for air quality.

[0040] To optimize system performance, a power limiting valve 22 can also be connected to the output pipe of the compressor assembly 2. This valve can be integrated inside the pneumatic block 1. The power limiting valve 22 automatically releases pressure according to the system pressure feedback signal, controlling the output power of the compressor 20 within the set range, avoiding overload of the motor 21 and saving energy.

[0041] The system's gas path can form multiple working paths through the combined action of the switching valve group 10, including gas path one, gas path two, gas path three, and gas path four. Sensor components 107 are also installed at the connection nodes of the entire gas path system to detect the temperature, humidity, and pressure of the gas in real time. The signals from these sensors are fed back to the ECU controller assembly 3 to provide data for the system's intelligent control, fault diagnosis, and safety protection.

[0042] In the specific implementation case one: direct gas supply mode (routine operation)

[0043] When the system needs to directly supply air to the external load 5, the ECU controller issues a command to start the compressor assembly 2. The air that has been processed by the air filter 14 is compressed by the air intake one-way valve 12. The compressed gas first enters the pneumatic block 1 and flows through the dryer assembly 4 installed on the lower end face for drying and purification. The dried gas passes through the throttling check valve, and the ECU controls the switching valve 101 in the switching valve group 10 to open. The compressed air is then regulated by the air valve group 11 (controlling the flow rate and limiting the maximum pressure) and delivered to the external load 5 through the air outlet 13 on the front end face of the pneumatic block 1. This path is called air path one and is suitable for continuous air supply scenarios that require air dryness.

[0044] In the specific implementation case two: rapid gas supply mode

[0045] When the external load 5 requires a rapid response, the system can switch to a rapid gas supply mode. The ECU controller controls the opening of switching valve 2 102 and switching valve 3 103, and the stored gas in the high-pressure gas tank 61 flows directly to the external load 5. This path is the second gas path, which reduces airflow resistance and increases the gas supply speed.

[0046] In the specific implementation case three: Gas storage tank supply mode

[0047] When the system is idle, compressor 20 can charge the gas storage components. When charging the high-pressure gas storage tank 61, switching valve 4 104 is opened. After the compressed air is dried by dryer 40, it is charged into the high-pressure gas storage tank 61 through throttling check valve 63 and switching valve 4 104. When charging the low-pressure gas storage tank 60, switching valve 5 105 is opened. After the compressed air is dried by dryer 40, it is charged into the low-pressure gas storage tank 60. This path is gas path three. The low-pressure gas storage tank 60 directly outputs a large amount of low-pressure clean gas to the external load 5 through pressure reducing valve 62.

[0048] In the specific implementation case four: rapid adjustment of high-pressure gas supply

[0049] When high-quality, high-pressure or precise compressed gas is required, the ECU controller assembly 3 controls the opening of switching valve 101 and switching valve 303. The gas stored in the high-pressure gas tank 61 is directly input into the intake pipe of the compressor assembly 2. After the compressor assembly 2 compresses the gas twice, the compressed gas is directly supplied to the external load 5 after passing through the dryer assembly 4.

[0050] In the specific implementation case five: external gas supply

[0051] The compressor assembly 2 supplies compressed air directly to external equipment with low air quality requirements through the air switching valve 106. This mode is independent of the fixed load air supply network inside the system, and is flexible and convenient to operate.

[0052] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions, and variations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. In conclusion, if those skilled in the art, inspired by this description, design similar structural methods and embodiments without departing from the inventive spirit of the invention, such designs should fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A central gas source for supplying gas to an external load (5), characterized in that, Includes pneumatic block (1), compressor assembly (2), ECU controller assembly (3), and dryer assembly (4); The compressor assembly (2) includes a compressor (20) and a motor (21). The compressor (20) is connected to the motor (21) via a drive rod. The compressor assembly (2) is mounted on the side of the pneumatic block (1). The pneumatic block (1) is an integrally formed structure. The pneumatic block (1) integrates a switching valve group (10) and an air valve group (11). The switching valve group (10) and the air valve group (11) are respectively connected to the ECU controller assembly (3). The switching valve group (10) is used to switch the airflow direction. The air valve group (11) is located on the front end pipe of the external load (5) and is used to control the gas pressure and regulate the gas flow. The ECU controller assembly (3) is located on the rear end face of the pneumatic block (1) and is arranged parallel to the motor (21). The ECU controller assembly (3) integrates a solenoid valve coil and a chip for controlling the opening and closing of the valve assembly. The dryer assembly (4) is located on the lower end face of the pneumatic block (1). The dryer assembly (4) includes a dryer (40) and a throttling check valve (41) for filtering and drying the gas entering the pneumatic block (1). The pneumatic block (1) integrates an intake check valve (12) and an air filter (14). The front end of the pneumatic block (1) has a valve seat and an air pipe connector for intake and exhaust. One end of the intake check valve (12) is connected to the air filter (14) through a pipe. The front end of the pneumatic block (1) is also provided with an air outlet (13). The air outlet (13) is connected to various external loads (5) and air storage components through a pipe. The pneumatic block (1) is also equipped with an inflation switching valve (106) for directly inflating the external load (5).

2. A central gas source for supplying gas to an external load according to claim 1, characterized in that: The motor (21) and compressor (20) are integrated into one unit. The piston is driven by an eccentric wheel to achieve gas compression and discharge.

3. A central gas source for supplying gas to an external load according to claim 1, characterized in that: The gas storage assembly includes a low-pressure gas storage tank (60) and a high-pressure gas storage tank (61), and the throttling check valve (40) is located at the front end of the connecting pipeline between the low-pressure gas storage tank (60) and the high-pressure gas storage tank (61).

4. A central gas source for supplying gas to an external load according to claim 3, characterized in that: The output end of the low-pressure gas storage tank (60) connected to the external load (5) is equipped with a pressure reducing valve (62).

5. A central gas source for supplying gas to an external load according to claim 1, characterized in that: The compressor assembly (2) is connected to a power limiting valve (22) via a pipe to control the output power of the compressor assembly (2). The power limiting valve (22) is located inside the pneumatic block (1).

6. A central gas source for supplying gas to an external load according to claim 1, characterized in that: The air valve assembly (11) includes a multi-stage adjustable flow valve and a pressure limiting valve, wherein the pressure limiting valve is configured to have adjustable safety pressure.

7. A central gas source for supplying gas to an external load according to claims 1-6, characterized in that: It also includes a gas path system, which includes gas path one, gas path two, gas path three, and gas path four; gas path one is where the gas from the compressor assembly (2) passes through the dryer assembly (4) and is supplied to the external load (5) with the switching valve one (101) open; gas path two is where the high-pressure gas tank (61) directly supplies gas to the external load (5) with the switching valve two (102) and switching valve three (103) open; gas path three is where the gas from the compressor assembly (2) passes through the dryer assembly (4) to the high-pressure gas tank with the switching valve four (104) and switching valve five (105) open. (61) Low-pressure gas tank (60) supplies gas; gas path four is that when switching valve one (101) and switching valve three (103) are open, high-pressure gas tank (61) supplies gas to compressor assembly (2), and the gas from compressor assembly (2) is supplied to external load (5) after passing through dryer assembly (4); the switching valve one (101), switching valve two (102), switching valve three (103), switching valve four (104), and switching valve five (105) form switching valve group (10), and the air valve group (11) is distributed at the end of the external load (5) connecting pipe.

8. A central gas source for supplying gas to an external load according to claim 7, characterized in that: The gas path system is equipped with a sensor assembly (107), which is integrated into the pneumatic block (1) and is used to detect the temperature, humidity and pressure of the gas.

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