Pneumatic supply system

Abstract

The invention discloses a pneumatic supply system, which relates to the field of pneumatic supply, and is characterized in that a two-stage compression framework comprising a low-pressure compression unit and a high-pressure compression unit is constructed, an air storage unit is used as an intermediate air source buffer, and a plurality of controlled valves in a valve group unit are matched to flexibly schedule an air flow path; a plurality of originally dispersed and independent gas source systems are successfully integrated into a single integrated system; the control unit can analyze the target pressure value in the gas use request in real time and execute intelligent hierarchical regulation and control. By means of the design, wide-range working pressure from low pressure to high pressure is covered, and invalid energy consumption of the high-pressure compression unit under the low-pressure working condition is remarkably avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of pneumatic supply, and more particularly to a pneumatic supply system. Background Technology

[0002] With the rapid development of vehicle electrification and intelligence, the application scenarios of in-vehicle compressed air are becoming increasingly diverse, covering a variety of functions such as seat massage and pneumatic adjustment, oxygen generation systems, sensor and camera cleaning, automatic tire inflation, active side-wing drive, air suspension, and inflation of outdoor equipment (such as air mattresses and inflatable boats). The pressure and flow requirements of the above application scenarios vary significantly, with the working pressure range typically spanning from 100 kPa to 18 bar. However, in existing technologies, vehicles typically have separate air supply systems (such as independent air suspension compressors, seat air pumps, or portable air pumps) for different functional modules. This decentralized air supply solution has many drawbacks: First, multiple independent air pumps, dryers, and control components lead to high system costs, occupy a significant amount of vehicle layout space, and increase vehicle weight. Second, the usage frequency of each independent air supply system varies greatly, resulting in low overall equipment utilization. Third, existing single-level air supply designs cannot flexibly accommodate the diverse needs of a wide range of pressure levels (such as low, medium, and high pressure), lacking the ability to coordinate and schedule based on pressure levels. Finally, the drying devices in traditional air circuits mostly use disposable adsorption structures, lacking effective online regeneration capabilities, and are often always connected in series in the working loop. Forced drying is performed regardless of whether the air-using terminal has dryness requirements, which not only causes unnecessary energy loss but also accelerates the saturation and failure of the desiccant due to the inability to regenerate, leading to frequent replacement of drying components and significantly increasing the maintenance cost throughout the entire life cycle. Therefore, how to develop an on-board pneumatic supply system that can integrate and meet the requirements of different pressure levels and dryness, has the ability to dry and regenerate or intelligent bypass, improves equipment utilization and optimizes energy consumption has become a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved by those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To overcome the shortcomings of existing decentralized gas supply systems, such as high cost, poor pressure adaptability, and frequent maintenance due to the lack of regeneration capability in the drying device, this invention proposes a pneumatic supply system, comprising: The low-pressure compression unit is configured to provide compressed gas within a first pressure range; The high-pressure compression unit is configured to perform secondary compression on the input gas to provide compressed gas in a second pressure range higher than the first pressure range; The gas storage unit is configured to receive and store compressed gas from the low-pressure compression unit; A valve assembly unit, located in the pneumatic circuit, includes multiple controlled valves; The control unit, which is signal-connected to the valve assembly unit, is configured to parse the current gas demand request, which includes at least a target pressure value. The control unit generates control commands based on the analysis results and drives the corresponding controlled valves to operate, in order to: When the target pressure value is within the first pressure range, the gas source is made from the low-pressure compression unit and output. When the target pressure value is within the second pressure range, the gas source is at least one of the low-pressure compression unit or the gas storage unit, and is output after secondary compression by the high-pressure compression unit.

[0004] Furthermore, it also includes: There are at least three output paths: the first output path, the second output path, and the third output path. The drying unit is configured to dehumidify the flowing compressed gas; The gas demand request also includes a target dryness level; The control unit is also configured to generate corresponding control commands based on the target drying level and drive the corresponding controlled valves to operate, in order to: When the target pressure value is within the first pressure range, the control unit selectively, based on the target dryness level, performs the following: The output gas from the low-pressure compression unit is controlled to be directly output through the first output path; The output gas originating from the low-pressure compression unit is controlled to flow sequentially through the drying unit and the gas storage unit before being output through the second output path; The gas in the gas storage unit is controlled to be output through the second output path; When the target pressure value is within the second pressure range, the gas that has been compressed twice by the high-pressure compression unit is controlled to continue flowing through the drying unit for dehumidification and then output through the third output path.

[0005] Furthermore, the control unit is also configured to perform a desiccant regeneration process: When the cumulative operating time of the drying unit reaches its corresponding preset operating time and the current pressure value of the gas storage unit is greater than the first preset threshold, a control command is generated to drive the corresponding controlled valve to actuate, so that the gas in the gas storage unit is backflushed to the drying unit and then output.

[0006] Furthermore, the low-pressure compression unit includes a low-pressure compressor and a first one-way valve; The inlet end of the first one-way valve is connected to the outlet end of the low-pressure compressor, and the outlet end of the first one-way valve constitutes the output end of the low-pressure compression unit.

[0007] Furthermore, the high-pressure compression unit includes a high-pressure compressor and a second one-way valve; The inlet end of the second one-way valve is connected to the outlet end of the high-pressure compressor, and the outlet end of the second one-way valve constitutes the output end of the high-pressure compression unit.

[0008] Furthermore, the target drying grade includes a first drying grade and a second drying grade; The drying unit includes a first dryer and a second dryer; The air inlet of the first dryer is connected to the output of the low-pressure compression unit, and its air outlet is connected to the air inlet of the high-pressure compressor. The air inlet of the second dryer is connected to the output of the high-pressure compression unit; The first dryer is configured to perform a first-stage dehumidification treatment on the gas to achieve a first drying level; the second dryer is configured to perform a second-stage dehumidification treatment on the gas to achieve a second drying level higher than the first drying level.

[0009] Furthermore, the valve assembly unit includes: The first discharge valve is connected to the air inlet of the first dryer; The second discharge valve is connected to the air inlet of the second dryer; The first gas path switching valve has one end connected to the connecting pipeline between the gas outlet of the first dryer and the gas inlet of the high-pressure compressor, and the other end connected to the gas storage unit. The second gas path switching valve has one end connected to the connecting pipeline between the first gas path switching valve and the gas storage unit, and the other end connected to the gas outlet of the second dryer. A first on / off valve is provided on the first output path; A second on / off valve is provided on the second output path; A third on / off valve is provided on the third output path.

[0010] Furthermore, the control unit is specifically configured as follows: When the target pressure value is within a first pressure range and the target drying level is a first drying level, the control unit is configured to execute the following logic: If the current pressure value of the gas in the gas storage unit is less than or equal to the fourth preset threshold, then a control command is generated and executed to open the first gas path switching valve and the second on / off valve, close the second gas path switching valve, the first on / off valve and the third on / off valve, so that the output gas from the low-pressure compression unit flows through the first dryer and the gas storage unit in sequence before being output. If the current pressure value of the gas in the gas storage unit is greater than the fourth preset threshold, a control command is generated and executed to open the second on / off valve, close the first gas path switching valve and the second gas path switching valve, so that the compressed gas stored in the gas storage unit is directly output through the second output path. When the target pressure value is within the first pressure range and the target drying level indicates that drying is not required, control commands are generated and executed to open the first on / off valve, close the first gas path switching valve, the second gas path switching valve, and the third on / off valve, so that the output gas from the low-pressure compression unit is directly output.

[0011] Furthermore, the control unit is specifically configured as follows: When the target pressure value is within the second pressure range and the current pressure value of the gas storage unit is greater than the second preset threshold, a control command is generated and executed to open the first gas path switching valve, the third on / off valve, close the second gas path switching valve, the first on / off valve and the second on / off valve, so that the output gas from the gas storage unit is processed by the high pressure compression unit and the second dryer in sequence before being output. When the target pressure value is within the second pressure range and the current pressure value of the gas storage unit is less than or equal to the second preset threshold, a control command is generated and executed to open the third on / off valve, close the first gas path switching valve, the second gas path switching valve and the first on / off valve, so that the output gas from the low-pressure compression unit is processed by the high-pressure compression unit and the second dryer in sequence before being output.

[0012] Furthermore, the control unit is also configured to perform a desiccant regeneration process, specifically including: When the cumulative running time of the first dryer reaches the first preset duration and the current pressure value of the gas storage unit is greater than the first preset threshold, a control command is generated to close the second on / off valve and the second gas path switching valve, and open the first gas path switching valve and the first discharge valve, so that the gas in the gas storage unit backflows to purge the first dryer and is discharged through the first discharge valve. When the cumulative operating time of the second dryer reaches the second preset duration and the current pressure value of the gas storage unit is greater than the first preset threshold, a control command is generated to close the second on / off valve, the third on / off valve, the first gas path switching valve, and open the second gas path switching valve and the second discharge valve, so that the gas in the gas storage unit backflows to purge the second dryer and is discharged through the second discharge valve.

[0013] Furthermore, the control unit is also configured to: Upon receiving a pressure relief command for the third output path, determine whether the current pressure value of the gas storage unit is less than a third preset threshold. If so, the third on / off valve and the second gas path switching valve are opened, and the second discharge valve and the first gas path switching valve are closed, so that the gas is guided back to the gas storage unit from the third output path; If not, the second gas path switching valve is closed and the third on / off valve and the second discharge valve are opened, so that the gas is discharged from the third output path through the second discharge valve.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects: (1) This invention constructs a two-stage compression architecture including a low-pressure compression unit and a high-pressure compression unit, uses an air storage unit as an intermediate air source buffer, and coordinates with multiple controlled valves in the valve group unit to flexibly schedule the airflow path, successfully integrating multiple originally dispersed and independent air source systems into a single integrated system; the control unit can analyze the target pressure value in the air demand request in real time and perform intelligent graded control. This design not only covers a wide range of working pressures from low pressure to high pressure, but also significantly avoids the ineffective energy consumption of the high-pressure compression unit under low-pressure conditions; in addition, by sharing core components such as the control unit and the air storage unit, it effectively solves the problems of high cost, increased vehicle weight and limited layout space caused by dispersed configuration in the prior art, and greatly improves the space utilization and equipment integration of the whole vehicle.

[0015] (2) In this invention, the gas storage unit serves as a key intermediate gas source buffer node in the two-stage compression architecture, and is connected to the outlet of the low-pressure compression unit and the inlet of the high-pressure compression unit, respectively. Compared with the instability of the actual output pressure of the low-pressure compression unit fluctuating with the operating conditions, the gas storage unit can provide stable intake pressure to the high-pressure compression unit through buffer regulation; this pressure stabilization measure effectively improves the effective intake pressure of the high-pressure compression unit, thereby reducing its compression ratio, improving compression efficiency, reducing exhaust temperature rise, and significantly enhancing the operational reliability of the system.

[0016] (3) This invention constructs an independent dryer regeneration flow path through the controlled valves in the valve group unit, and uses the gas storage unit as the regeneration gas source, realizing the online self-regeneration function without the need for an external gas source. When the control unit detects that the cumulative running time of the drying unit has reached the preset duration and the pressure in the gas storage unit meets the regeneration threshold, i.e., the first preset threshold, the control unit automatically schedules the valve group unit to switch the airflow path, guiding the high-pressure gas in the gas storage unit to blow back into the drying unit, and discharging the adsorbed moisture to the atmosphere through the exhaust channel. This design ensures that the desiccant can periodically restore its adsorption capacity during continuous vehicle operation, maintaining a constant dryness of the output gas, and significantly improving the stability and reliability of the gas supply quality under long-term operating conditions.

[0017] (4) The present invention sets up an intelligent pressure relief and energy recovery mechanism for the third output path, which effectively solves the energy waste caused by the direct discharge of high-pressure gas. This control strategy, which is based on the real-time pressure status of the gas storage unit to accurately schedule the actions of the third on / off valve, the second gas path switching valve, the second discharge valve and the first gas path switching valve, not only realizes the energy recovery of high-pressure residual gas under low-pressure conditions of the gas storage unit, but also realizes safe pressure relief and desiccant recovery under high-pressure conditions, which significantly improves the energy utilization rate and operating economy of the system. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a pneumatic supply system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The following are specific embodiments of the present invention, which are described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0020] Example 1 To overcome the shortcomings of existing decentralized gas source systems, such as high cost, poor pressure adaptability, and frequent maintenance due to the lack of regeneration capability in drying devices, such as... Figure 1 As shown, an embodiment of the present invention proposes a pneumatic supply system, comprising: The low-pressure compression unit is configured to provide compressed gas within a first pressure range; The low-pressure compression unit includes a low-pressure compressor LP and a first one-way valve; The inlet end of the first one-way valve is connected to the outlet end of the low-pressure compressor LP, and the outlet end of the first one-way valve constitutes the output end of the low-pressure compression unit.

[0021] The high-pressure compression unit is configured to perform secondary compression on the input gas to provide compressed gas in a second pressure range higher than the first pressure range; The high-pressure compression unit includes a high-pressure compressor HP and a second check valve. The inlet end of the second one-way valve is connected to the outlet end of the high-pressure compressor HP, and the outlet end of the second one-way valve constitutes the output end of the high-pressure compression unit.

[0022] The gas storage unit is configured to receive and store compressed gas from the low-pressure compression unit; A valve assembly unit, located in the pneumatic circuit, includes multiple controlled valves; The valve assembly unit includes: The first discharge valve EL is connected to the air inlet of the first dryer; The second exhaust valve EH is connected to the air inlet of the second dryer; The first gas path switching valve LT has one end connected to the connecting pipeline between the outlet of the first dryer and the inlet of the high-pressure compressor HP, and the other end connected to the gas storage unit. The second gas path switching valve HL has one end connected to the connecting pipeline between the first gas path switching valve LT and the gas storage unit, and the other end connected to the gas outlet of the second dryer. A first on / off valve is provided on the first output path; A second on / off valve is provided on the second output path; A third on / off valve is provided on the third output path.

[0023] It should be noted that, in order to achieve independent and precise control of different gas demand requests and avoid gas leakage or pressure interference in non-demand states, this embodiment is equipped with independent on / off valves at the inlet of each output path.

[0024] Specifically, a first on / off valve is provided on the first output path; a second on / off valve is provided on the second output path; and a third on / off valve is provided on the third output path. The control unit is communicatively connected to the valves on each of the above paths to perform independent on / off control.

[0025] It should be noted that the second output path is an output path of the gas storage unit, and the second on / off valve is connected in series on this branch to control the on / off of the gas supply from the gas storage unit to the downstream.

[0026] In this invention, the gas storage unit serves as a key intermediate gas source buffer node in the two-stage compression architecture, connected to both the outlet of the low-pressure compression unit and the inlet of the high-pressure compression unit. Compared to the instability of the actual output pressure of the low-pressure compression unit, which fluctuates with operating conditions, the gas storage unit, through buffering and regulation, can provide stable intake pressure to the high-pressure compression unit. This pressure stabilization measure effectively increases the effective intake pressure of the high-pressure compression unit, thereby reducing its compression ratio, improving compression efficiency, reducing exhaust temperature rise, and significantly enhancing the operational reliability of the system.

[0027] The control unit, which is signal-connected to the valve assembly unit, is configured to parse the current gas demand request, which includes at least a target pressure value. The control unit generates control commands based on the analysis results and drives the corresponding controlled valves to operate, in order to: When the target pressure value is within the first pressure range, the gas source is made from the low-pressure compression unit and output. When the target pressure value is within the second pressure range, the gas source is at least one of the low-pressure compression unit or the gas storage unit, and is output after secondary compression by the high-pressure compression unit.

[0028] Also includes: There are at least three output paths: the first output path, the second output path, and the third output path. The drying unit is configured to dehumidify the flowing compressed gas; The target drying grade includes a first drying grade and a second drying grade; The drying unit includes a first dryer and a second dryer; The air inlet of the first dryer is connected to the output of the low-pressure compression unit, and its air outlet is connected to the air inlet of the high-pressure compressor HP. The air inlet of the second dryer is connected to the output of the high-pressure compression unit; The first dryer is configured to perform a first-stage dehumidification treatment on the gas to achieve a first drying level; the second dryer is configured to perform a second-stage dehumidification treatment on the gas to achieve a second drying level higher than the first drying level.

[0029] The gas demand request also includes a target dryness level; The control unit is also configured to generate corresponding control commands based on the target drying level and drive the corresponding controlled valves to operate, in order to: When the target pressure value is within the first pressure range, the control unit selectively, based on the target dryness level, performs the following: The output gas from the low-pressure compression unit is controlled to be directly output through the first output path; The output gas originating from the low-pressure compression unit is controlled to flow sequentially through the drying unit and the gas storage unit before being output through the second output path; The gas in the gas storage unit is controlled to be output through the second output path; When the target pressure value is within the second pressure range, the gas that has been compressed twice by the high-pressure compression unit is controlled to continue flowing through the drying unit for dehumidification and then output through the third output path.

[0030] The control unit is also configured to perform a desiccant regeneration process: When the cumulative operating time of the drying unit reaches its corresponding preset operating time and the current pressure value of the gas storage unit is greater than the first preset threshold, a control command is generated to drive the corresponding controlled valve to actuate, so that the gas in the gas storage unit is backflushed to the drying unit and then output.

[0031] The control unit is specifically configured as follows: When the target pressure value is within a first pressure range and the target drying level is a first drying level, the control unit is configured to execute the following logic: If the current pressure value of the gas in the gas storage unit is less than or equal to the fourth preset threshold, then a control command is generated and executed to open the first gas path switching valve and the second on / off valve, close the second gas path switching valve, the first on / off valve and the third on / off valve, so that the output gas from the low-pressure compression unit flows through the first dryer and the gas storage unit in sequence before being output. If the current pressure value of the gas in the gas storage unit is greater than the fourth preset threshold, a control command is generated and executed to open the second on / off valve, close the first gas path switching valve and the second gas path switching valve, so that the compressed gas stored in the gas storage unit is directly output through the second output path. Specifically, when the control unit receives a user request that the target pressure value is within the first pressure range and the target dryness level is the first dryness level, the system will intelligently select one of the following two operating modes based on the real-time pressure status within the gas storage unit: 1. Low-pressure gas replenishment mode (when the gas storage unit pressure is ≤ the fourth preset threshold): The control unit starts the low-pressure compressor LP to generate compressed gas. After the gas flows through the first dryer for dehumidification, the control unit opens the first gas path switching valve LT and the second on / off valve, establishing a connected path from the low-pressure compressor → first dryer → gas storage unit → second output path. At this time, the newly generated dried gas, after flowing through the gas storage unit (as a pressure stabilizing buffer node), is directly delivered to the downstream gas-consuming terminal through the second output path, simultaneously replenishing the gas volume of the gas storage unit.

[0032] 2. Direct supply mode from inventory (when the gas storage unit pressure > fourth preset threshold): The system directly calls upon the pre-stored, previously dried compressed gas in the gas storage unit. The control unit only opens the second on / off valve and strictly closes the first gas path switching valve LT and the second gas path switching valve HL, establishing an independent direct supply path from the gas storage unit to the second output path, directly exporting gas from the gas storage unit to the downstream gas-consuming terminal.

[0033] Strict interlocking and security strategies: In low-pressure gas supply mode, to avoid gas diversion or pressure crosstalk, the control unit implements a strict interlock shutdown strategy: Cut off non-target paths: Ensure that the first on / off valve, the third on / off valve, the second gas path switching valve, the first discharge valve, and the second discharge valve are always closed, physically blocking the gas flow to the first output path, the third output path, and the atmosphere.

[0034] When the target pressure value is within the first pressure range and the target drying level indicates that drying is not required, control commands are generated and executed to open the first on / off valve, close the first gas path switching valve LT, the second gas path switching valve HL, and the third on / off valve, so that the output gas from the low-pressure compression unit is directly output. Specifically, when the control unit receives a user request that the target pressure value is within the first pressure range and the target drying level indicates that drying is not required, it starts the low-pressure compressor LP to generate compressed gas within the first pressure range. Simultaneously, the control unit precisely opens the first on / off valve located on the first output path, establishing a gas supply path from the outlet of the low-pressure compressor LP through the first check valve and then through the first on / off valve directly to the downstream gas-using terminal (such as a tire inflation port or cleaning nozzle). This ensures that the gas is delivered directly to the corresponding gas-using terminal in a state that meets the pressure requirements without undergoing drying treatment, avoiding unnecessary energy consumption and desiccant loss.

[0035] More importantly, to ensure that the first output path forms an independent low-pressure direct supply circuit and to prevent compressed gas from being diverted to the second output path, third output path, or gas storage unit, which could lead to insufficient gas supply pressure or flow loss at the target terminal, the control unit executes a strict interlock shutdown strategy while executing the aforementioned start command: The control unit keeps the second and third on / off valves, as well as the first gas path switching valve LT, the second gas path switching valve HL, the first discharge valve EL, and the second discharge valve EH related to the gas storage unit and the drying and regeneration flow path, all in the closed state. By physically cutting off the connection between the first output path and the gas storage unit, the second output path, and the third output path, an independent low-pressure direct supply circuit is constructed. This effectively blocks the reverse flow path of high-pressure gas to the low-pressure end, ensuring that the first output path operates independently only within the set low-pressure range, unaffected by other high-pressure operating conditions or pressure fluctuations in the gas storage unit.

[0036] Furthermore, when the control unit detects that the gas request signal for the first output path has disappeared (e.g., a shut-off command has been received), the preset gas supply duration has been reached, or the intake pressure of that path has reached the upper limit threshold for that type of terminal, the control unit immediately closes the first on / off valve and stops the low-pressure compressor LP (if there are no other gas requests at this time), while maintaining the current state of all other controlled valves (usually closed), allowing the system to return to standby safety mode. This logic completely eliminates the risk of pressure crosstalk caused by valve leakage or malfunction, ensuring the safety and stability of the system under different operating conditions.

[0037] When the target pressure value is within the second pressure range and the current pressure value of the gas storage unit is greater than the second preset threshold, a control command is generated and executed to open the first gas path switching valve LT, the third on / off valve, close the second gas path switching valve HL, the first on / off valve and the second on / off valve, so that the output gas from the gas storage unit is processed by the high pressure compression unit and the second dryer in sequence before being output. When the target pressure value is within the second pressure range and the current pressure value of the gas storage unit is less than or equal to the second preset threshold, a control command is generated and executed to open the third on / off valve, close the first gas path switching valve LT, the second gas path switching valve HL, and the first on / off valve, so that the output gas from the low-pressure compression unit is processed by the high-pressure compression unit and the second dryer in sequence before being output.

[0038] Specifically, when the control unit receives a gas demand request where the target pressure value is within the second pressure range, the system will intelligently select one of the following two booster gas supply modes based on the real-time pressure status within the gas storage unit: 1. Direct pressurization mode of gas storage unit (when the current pressure value of the gas storage unit is greater than the second preset threshold): At this time, the gas pressure in the gas storage unit is sufficient and can be directly used as a high-quality gas source for the high-pressure compression unit. The control unit generates control commands to open the first gas path switching valve LT and the third on / off valve, and to close the second gas path switching valve HL, the first on / off valve, and the second on / off valve.

[0039] In this mode, the output gas from the gas storage unit flows through the high-pressure compression unit for secondary pressurization and the second dryer for deep drying, and then is output to the third output path through the opened third on / off valve.

[0040] 2. Low-pressure compression unit direct-connection boosting mode (when the current pressure value of the gas storage unit is ≤ the second preset threshold): At this point, the residual pressure in the gas storage unit is insufficient to support efficient pressurization, and the system automatically switches the gas source. The control unit generates control commands to open the third on / off valve, close the first gas path switching valve LT, the second gas path switching valve HL, and the first on / off valve (at this time, the low-pressure compression unit starts).

[0041] In this mode, the output gas from the low-pressure compression unit flows directly through the high-pressure compression unit for pressurization and the second dryer for drying, and then is output to the third output path through the opened third on / off valve.

[0042] During this process, the control unit also executes the aforementioned strict interlock shutdown strategy, that is, keeps all valves not related to the current gas supply path (including the first on / off valve, the second on / off valve, and the second gas path switching valve, etc.) in the closed state, so as to completely block gas crosstalk and ensure that the high-pressure gas flow is delivered to the third output path in a directional and safe manner.

[0043] Through the above-mentioned gas supply mode based on the second preset threshold, the system can prioritize the use of pre-stored gas to improve response speed when the gas storage unit pressure is sufficient, and seamlessly switch to low-pressure direct supply mode when the pressure is insufficient to ensure continuous and stable high-pressure output. This effectively avoids frequent start-stop of the low-pressure compression unit and optimizes the overall energy efficiency of the system while meeting the needs of vehicle body posture adjustment.

[0044] The control unit is also configured to perform a desiccant regeneration process, specifically including: When the cumulative running time of the first dryer reaches the first preset duration and the current pressure value of the gas storage unit is greater than the first preset threshold, a control command is generated to close the second on / off valve and the second gas path switching valve HL, and open the first gas path switching valve LT and the first discharge valve EL, so that the gas in the gas storage unit backflows to purge the first dryer and is discharged through the first discharge valve EL. Specifically, to achieve the regeneration and recovery of the desiccant in the first dryer, the control unit constructs a dedicated regeneration flow path from the gas storage unit to the atmosphere during the purging operation: the first gas path switching valve LT and the first discharge valve EL are opened, causing the compressed gas in the gas storage unit to flow in reverse (or in a directional direction) through the first dryer and be discharged to the atmosphere. Simultaneously, the control unit strictly implements an interlock strategy, closing the second gas path switching valve HL, all on / off valves (including the first, second, and third on / off valves), and the second discharge valve EH. This control logic ensures that all gas released from the gas storage unit flows directionally through the first dryer for purging, guaranteeing the safety and efficiency of the regeneration process.

[0045] When the cumulative operating time of the second dryer reaches the second preset duration and the current pressure value of the gas storage unit is greater than the first preset threshold, a control command is generated to close the second on / off valve, the third on / off valve, the first gas path switching valve LT, and open the second gas path switching valve HL and the second discharge valve EH, so that the gas in the gas storage unit backflows to purge the second dryer and is discharged through the second discharge valve EH.

[0046] Specifically, when the control unit detects that the cumulative operating time of the second dryer has reached the second preset duration and determines that the current pressure value of the gas storage unit is higher than the first preset threshold, it will generate a dedicated regeneration control command: close the second on / off valve and the third on / off valve and the first gas path switching valve LT, and at the same time open the second gas path switching valve HL and the second discharge valve EH.

[0047] In this controlled state, the high-pressure gas in the gas storage unit is guided into the second gas path switching valve HL, and flows in reverse through the second dryer to remove the adsorbed moisture, and finally discharged into the atmosphere through the opened second discharge valve EH. This process efficiently completes the regeneration and recovery of the second desiccant.

[0048] This invention constructs an independent dryer regeneration flow path through controlled valves in the valve assembly unit, utilizing the gas storage unit as the regeneration gas source to achieve online self-regeneration without the need for an external gas source. When the control unit detects that the cumulative operating time of the drying unit has reached a preset duration and the pressure within the gas storage unit meets the regeneration threshold (i.e., the first preset threshold), it automatically schedules the valve assembly unit to switch the airflow path, guiding the high-pressure gas from the gas storage unit to be blown back into the drying unit, and discharging the adsorbed moisture into the atmosphere through the exhaust channel. This design ensures that the desiccant can periodically restore its adsorption capacity during continuous vehicle operation, maintaining a constant dryness of the output gas and significantly improving the stability and reliability of the system's gas supply quality under long-term operating conditions.

[0049] The control unit is also configured to: Upon receiving a pressure relief command for the third output path, determine whether the current pressure value of the gas storage unit is less than a third preset threshold. If so, the third on / off valve and the second gas path switching valve HL are opened, and the second discharge valve EH and the first gas path switching valve LT are closed, so that the gas is guided back to the gas storage unit from the third output path; Specifically, when the control unit receives a pressure relief command for the third output path and detects that the current pressure value of the gas storage unit is lower than the third preset threshold, the system will prioritize the execution of the gas recovery strategy to optimize energy efficiency.

[0050] Under this condition, since the pressure inside the gas storage unit is low, it has the space and ability to receive the return gas. The control unit will generate the following control command: open the third on / off valve and the second gas path switching valve HL, and at the same time close the second exhaust valve EH and the first gas path switching valve LT.

[0051] Through this valve combination, the high-pressure gas in the third output path is no longer directly discharged into the atmosphere, but is instead guided to flow back to the gas storage unit for storage via the opened second gas path switching valve HL. This process recovers the compression potential energy that might otherwise be wasted back into the gas storage unit for subsequent gas supply needs, thereby significantly reducing the start-up frequency of the low-pressure compression unit and improving the overall energy utilization efficiency of the system.

[0052] If not, the second gas path switching valve HL is closed and the third on / off valve and the second discharge valve EH are opened, so that the gas is discharged from the third output path through the second discharge valve EH.

[0053] Specifically, when the control unit detects that the current pressure value of the gas storage unit is higher than or equal to the third preset threshold, it indicates that the gas storage unit is in a high saturation state and does not meet the conditions for safely receiving return gas. At this time, the system will automatically switch to the safe direct discharge strategy.

[0054] Under this operating condition, in order to prevent the gas storage unit from overpressured or the system from becoming unstable due to forced reinjection, the control unit will generate the following control command: close the second gas path switching valve HL, and at the same time open the third on / off valve and the second exhaust valve EH.

[0055] Through this valve combination, the gas in the third output path is discharged to the atmosphere via the opened second exhaust valve EH. Although this mode does not recover gas energy, it ensures that the vehicle attitude adjustment (pressure relief) action can still be executed quickly and safely when the gas storage unit is at full load, avoiding slow pressure relief or pipeline risks caused by excessive back pressure, and ensuring the system's response speed and operational safety.

[0056] This invention incorporates an intelligent pressure relief and energy recovery mechanism for the third output path, effectively addressing the energy waste caused by the direct discharge of high-pressure gas. This control strategy, based on the real-time pressure status of the gas storage unit, precisely schedules the actions of the third on / off valve, the second gas path switching valve, the second discharge valve, and the first gas path switching valve. This achieves energy recovery from high-pressure residual gas under low-pressure conditions in the gas storage unit, while simultaneously enabling safe pressure relief and desiccant recovery under high-pressure conditions, significantly improving the system's energy utilization and operational economy.

[0057] Specifically, the detailed structure and control logic of the third output path are explained as follows: In this embodiment, the third output path physically comprises multiple parallel sub-paths, such as corresponding to multiple independent airbag units located at different wheel positions in the vehicle's air suspension system (i.e., left front airbag, right front airbag, left rear airbag, and right rear airbag). Accordingly, the third on / off valve is not a single valve, but rather comprises multiple sub-valves corresponding one-to-one with each sub-path (e.g., ...). Figure 1 The system includes FL (front left), FR (front right), RL (rear left), and RR (rear right) solenoid valves. Each sub-valve is connected in series on an independent sub-path to individually control the air supply to the corresponding airbag unit.

[0058] In this embodiment, opening the third on / off valve is a broad operational concept, and its specific execution includes the following two scenarios: Fully open mode: The control unit controls all sub-valves included in this third on / off valve to be in the open state; Partial opening mode: Based on the received specific opening and closing commands for each sub-valve, the control unit controls only some of the sub-valves included in the third on / off valve to be in the open state, while the remaining sub-valves remain closed.

[0059] It should be noted that: When the control unit performs the operation of opening the third on / off valve, it follows the following priority logic: Prioritize responding to specific instructions: If the control unit receives a specific opening or closing instruction for each sub-valve, it will execute the aforementioned partial opening mode according to the instruction; Default full-open strategy: If the control unit does not receive the specific opening and closing instructions for each sub-valve (the control unit only receives the gas demand request), the control unit will execute the above full-open mode by default, that is, open all sub-valves to meet the basic gas demand.

[0060] In other words, the partial opening mode means that the control unit independently and selectively sends an opening command to any one or more sub-valves among FL, FR, RL or RR according to the vehicle body posture adjustment requirements, while the remaining sub-valves remain closed.

[0061] In summary, whether the control unit opens some sub-valves based on specific instructions or opens all sub-valves by default due to the lack of specific instructions, it is considered to have successfully executed the operation of opening the third on / off valve as described in this embodiment.

[0062] Also includes: The first pressure sensor PL is installed on the connecting pipeline between the outlet end of the first dryer and the first gas switching valve LT. The second pressure sensor PH is located at the outlet end of the second dryer; The first pressure sensor PL is configured to detect the pressure at the outlet of the first dryer when the first gas path switching valve LT is closed, or to detect the pressure value of the gas storage unit when the first gas path switching valve LT is open. The second pressure sensor PH is configured to detect the pressure at the outlet of the second dryer when the second gas path switching valve HL is closed, or to detect the pressure value of the gas storage unit when the second gas path switching valve HL is open.

[0063] The system also includes a third one-way valve, whose inlet end is connected to the atmosphere along with the inlet end of the low-pressure compressor, and whose outlet end is connected to the inlet end of the high-pressure compressor HP. This valve is used to draw in air directly from the outside as a supplementary air source when the system needs it (such as when the pressure at the inlet end of the high-pressure compressor is insufficient).

[0064] This invention successfully integrates multiple previously dispersed and independent air source systems into a single integrated system by constructing a two-stage compression architecture comprising a low-pressure compression unit and a high-pressure compression unit, utilizing an air storage unit as an intermediate air source buffer, and cooperating with multiple controlled valves in the valve group unit to flexibly schedule airflow paths. The control unit can analyze the target pressure value in the air demand request in real time and perform intelligent graded control. This design not only covers a wide range of working pressures from low to high pressure, but also significantly avoids the ineffective energy consumption of the high-pressure compression unit under low-pressure conditions. In addition, by sharing core components such as the control unit and air storage unit, it effectively solves the problems of high cost, increased vehicle weight, and limited layout space caused by dispersed configuration in existing technologies, greatly improving the space utilization and equipment integration of the entire vehicle.

[0065] It should be noted that all directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in the embodiments of the present invention are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of the components in a specific posture (as shown in the attached figures). If the specific posture changes, the directional indication will also change accordingly. Furthermore, descriptions involving "first," "second," or "a" in the present invention are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, features defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. In the description of the present invention, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly defined. In the present invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and defined, the terms "connection," "fixed," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "fixed" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can be the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly defined. For those skilled in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in this invention can be understood according to the specific circumstances. Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments of this invention can be combined with each other, but only on the basis that those skilled in the art can implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this invention.

Claims

1. A pneumatic supply system, characterized in that, include: The low-pressure compression unit is configured to provide compressed gas within a first pressure range; The high-pressure compression unit is configured to perform secondary compression on the input gas to provide compressed gas in a second pressure range higher than the first pressure range; The gas storage unit is configured to receive and store compressed gas from the low-pressure compression unit; A valve assembly unit, located in the pneumatic circuit, includes multiple controlled valves; The control unit, which is signal-connected to the valve assembly unit, is configured to parse the current gas demand request, which includes at least a target pressure value. The control unit generates control commands based on the analysis results and drives the corresponding controlled valves to operate, in order to: When the target pressure value is within the first pressure range, the gas source is made from the low-pressure compression unit and output. When the target pressure value is within the second pressure range, the gas source is at least one of the low-pressure compression unit or the gas storage unit, and is output after secondary compression by the high-pressure compression unit.

2. The pneumatic supply system according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: There are at least three output paths: the first output path, the second output path, and the third output path. The drying unit is configured to dehumidify the flowing compressed gas; The gas demand request also includes a target dryness level; The control unit is also configured to generate corresponding control commands based on the target drying level and drive the corresponding controlled valves to operate, in order to: When the target pressure value is within the first pressure range, the control unit selectively, based on the target dryness level, performs the following: The output gas from the low-pressure compression unit is controlled to be directly output through the first output path; The output gas originating from the low-pressure compression unit is controlled to flow sequentially through the drying unit and the gas storage unit before being output through the second output path; The gas in the gas storage unit is controlled to be output through the second output path; When the target pressure value is within the second pressure range, the gas that has been compressed twice by the high-pressure compression unit is controlled to continue flowing through the drying unit for dehumidification and then output through the third output path.

3. A pneumatic supply system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The control unit is also configured to perform a desiccant regeneration process: When the cumulative operating time of the drying unit reaches its corresponding preset operating time and the current pressure value of the gas storage unit is greater than the first preset threshold, a control command is generated to drive the corresponding controlled valve to actuate, so that the gas in the gas storage unit is backflushed to the drying unit and then output.

4. A pneumatic supply system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The low-pressure compression unit includes a low-pressure compressor and a first one-way valve; The inlet end of the first one-way valve is connected to the outlet end of the low-pressure compressor, and the outlet end of the first one-way valve constitutes the output end of the low-pressure compression unit.

5. A pneumatic supply system according to claim 4, characterized in that, The high-pressure compression unit includes a high-pressure compressor and a second one-way valve; The inlet end of the second one-way valve is connected to the outlet end of the high-pressure compressor, and the outlet end of the second one-way valve constitutes the output end of the high-pressure compression unit.

6. A pneumatic supply system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The target drying grade includes a first drying grade and a second drying grade; The drying unit includes a first dryer and a second dryer; The air inlet of the first dryer is connected to the output of the low-pressure compression unit, and its air outlet is connected to the air inlet of the high-pressure compressor. The air inlet of the second dryer is connected to the output of the high-pressure compression unit; The first dryer is configured to perform a first-stage dehumidification treatment on the gas to achieve a first drying level; The second dryer is configured to perform a second stage of dehumidification on the gas to achieve a second drying level higher than the first drying level.

7. A pneumatic supply system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The valve assembly unit includes: The first discharge valve is connected to the air inlet of the first dryer; The second discharge valve is connected to the air inlet of the second dryer; The first gas path switching valve has one end connected to the connecting pipeline between the gas outlet of the first dryer and the gas inlet of the high-pressure compressor, and the other end connected to the gas storage unit. The second gas path switching valve has one end connected to the connecting pipeline between the first gas path switching valve and the gas storage unit, and the other end connected to the gas outlet of the second dryer. A first on / off valve is provided on the first output path; A second on / off valve is provided on the second output path; A third on / off valve is provided on the third output path.

8. A pneumatic supply system according to claim 7, characterized in that, The control unit is specifically configured as follows: When the target pressure value is within a first pressure range and the target drying level is a first drying level, the control unit is configured to execute the following logic: If the current pressure value of the gas in the gas storage unit is less than or equal to the fourth preset threshold, then a control command is generated and executed to open the first gas path switching valve and the second on / off valve, close the second gas path switching valve, the first on / off valve and the third on / off valve, so that the output gas from the low-pressure compression unit flows through the first dryer and the gas storage unit in sequence before being output. If the current pressure value of the gas in the gas storage unit is greater than the fourth preset threshold, a control command is generated and executed to open the second on / off valve, close the first gas path switching valve and the second gas path switching valve, so that the compressed gas stored in the gas storage unit is directly output through the second output path. When the target pressure value is within the first pressure range and the target drying level indicates that drying is not required, control commands are generated and executed to open the first on / off valve, close the first gas path switching valve, the second gas path switching valve, and the third on / off valve, so that the output gas from the low-pressure compression unit is directly output.

9. A pneumatic supply system according to claim 7, characterized in that, The control unit is specifically configured as follows: When the target pressure value is within the second pressure range and the current pressure value of the gas storage unit is greater than the second preset threshold, a control command is generated and executed to open the first gas path switching valve, the third on / off valve, close the second gas path switching valve, the first on / off valve and the second on / off valve, so that the output gas from the gas storage unit is processed by the high pressure compression unit and the second dryer in sequence before being output. When the target pressure value is within the second pressure range and the current pressure value of the gas storage unit is less than or equal to the second preset threshold, a control command is generated and executed to open the third on / off valve, close the first gas path switching valve, the second gas path switching valve and the first on / off valve, so that the output gas from the low-pressure compression unit is processed by the high-pressure compression unit and the second dryer in sequence before being output.

10. A pneumatic supply system according to claim 7, characterized in that, The control unit is also configured to perform a desiccant regeneration process, specifically including: When the cumulative running time of the first dryer reaches the first preset duration and the current pressure value of the gas storage unit is greater than the first preset threshold, a control command is generated to close the second on / off valve and the second gas path switching valve, and open the first gas path switching valve and the first discharge valve, so that the gas in the gas storage unit backflows to purge the first dryer and is discharged through the first discharge valve. When the cumulative operating time of the second dryer reaches the second preset duration and the current pressure value of the gas storage unit is greater than the first preset threshold, a control command is generated to close the second on / off valve, the third on / off valve, the first gas path switching valve, and open the second gas path switching valve and the second discharge valve, so that the gas in the gas storage unit backflows to purge the second dryer and is discharged through the second discharge valve.

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