An air supply unit with an internal integrated water trap

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of vehicle air suspension system, and discloses an air supply unit with integrated water trap, which comprises a compressor and a control module, a heat preservation cavity is formed in the shell of the control module, and a water trap is installed in the heat preservation cavity, the water trap comprises a drying agent and a heating sleeve wrapped around the drying agent, the heating sleeve is electrically connected with a control circuit board, and the air inlet channel and the air outlet channel at both ends of the heating sleeve are communicated with a booster cavity of the compressor through a flow structure inside the shell, and the outer side of the heating sleeve is isolated from the air path through a plurality of sealing rings. The water trap is integrated in the control module, external pipelines are not needed, the system integration is greatly improved, the volume and weight are reduced, the leakage risk and the regeneration energy consumption are reduced, the air flow distribution is optimized, and the water removal efficiency and the system operation stability are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of automotive air supply unit technology, specifically to an air supply unit with an integrated water eliminator. Background Technology

[0002] In existing technologies, the air supply unit of a vehicle air suspension system typically consists of a compressor assembly and a dryer assembly. The dryer often employs a heated structure and is integrated with the compressor, solenoid valves, controller, and other components. In this system, the controller module is responsible for motor drive, solenoid valve drive, and the interaction processing of various sensor signals. The system regulates the gas pressure between the air spring and the air tank through the switching action of the solenoid valves, or draws in external air to replenish the system when the air volume is insufficient. Simultaneously, after the dryer reaches saturation with absorbed moisture, it needs to be regenerated through electrical heating and gas circulation. The humid gas generated during regeneration is discharged outside the system via a solenoid valve.

[0003] However, existing air supply units still have the following shortcomings: First, the dehydration function mostly relies on the dryer as an adjunct, or uses a separate dehydrator for independent arrangement, resulting in low overall system integration, large size, large space occupation in the vehicle compartment, and poor layout flexibility; Second, the separate dehydrator needs to be connected to the compressor and dryer through external pipelines, which increases the risk of pipeline leakage and airflow resistance, and reduces system operating efficiency and response speed; Third, the regeneration process of the dehydrator is not well coordinated with the control of the compressor and solenoid valve, resulting in high regeneration energy consumption and unstable regeneration effect, affecting the system's continuous dehydration capacity. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention provides an air supply unit with an internally integrated water separator, which can solve the problems of low overall system integration, large size, and increased risk of pipeline leakage and airflow resistance caused by the separate and independent arrangement of water separators in the prior art.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: an air supply unit with an integrated desiccant, comprising a compressor, a control module mounted on one side of the compressor, the control module comprising a housing and a control circuit board disposed within the housing, the interior of the housing forming an insulated cavity, a desiccant installed within the insulated cavity, the desiccant comprising a desiccant and a heating sleeve encapsulating the desiccant, the heating sleeve being electrically connected to the control circuit board, an air inlet channel being provided on the heating sleeve near one axial end, and an exhaust channel being provided on the heating sleeve near the other axial end, the air inlet channel and the exhaust channel being connected to the pressurization chamber inside the compressor through an air inlet flow structure and an exhaust flow structure inside the housing, respectively. This fully utilizes the unused internal space of the control module housing to integrate the desiccant, eliminating the need for a separate desiccant housing, significantly reducing the overall volume and weight of the air supply unit, and improving system integration; the closed structure of the insulated cavity effectively reduces heat loss during the desiccant heating and regeneration process, reducing regeneration energy consumption. The heating sleeve is in direct contact with the desiccant, with a large heating area and direct heat transfer, resulting in uniform heating of the desiccant and significantly higher regeneration efficiency than traditional external heating devices. At the same time, the air path is integrated into the control module housing, eliminating the external connection pipeline between the dehydrator and the compressor, shortening the airflow path, reducing airflow resistance and pressure loss, and improving the system's response speed.

[0006] Preferably, an inlet / outlet isolation sealing ring is provided between the outer middle of the heating sleeve and the inner wall of the insulation cavity. An inlet sealing ring and an exhaust sealing ring are also provided at both axial ends of the outer side of the heating sleeve. The inlet channel is located between the inlet sealing ring and the inlet / outlet isolation sealing ring, and the exhaust channel is located between the exhaust sealing ring and the inlet / outlet isolation sealing ring. These multiple sealing rings divide the annular space between the outer side of the heating sleeve and the insulation cavity into independent inlet and exhaust chambers, preventing short-circuiting of the airflow between the inlet and exhaust. This ensures that all compressed gas entering the desiccant can flow completely through the desiccant for dehydration treatment, thus improving dehydration efficiency.

[0007] Preferably, the water separator also includes an end cap, one side of which is embedded in a through hole on the side wall of the compressor valve block for positioning, and the other side of which is connected to the heating sleeve, with the connection position forming an exhaust channel. The axial positioning of the water separator is achieved by utilizing the existing structure of the compressor valve block, eliminating the need for additional positioning structures on the control module housing. The exhaust channel is integrated into the connection position between the end cap and the heating sleeve, eliminating the need for additional independent exhaust pipe design, thus simplifying the process.

[0008] Preferably, the desiccant is provided with pressure plates on both axial sides, and the pressure plates are evenly distributed with through holes. A pre-tightening elastic element is installed between the pressure plate near the exhaust passage and the end cap. The evenly distributed through holes on the pressure plates allow the airflow to be evenly distributed across the entire cross-section of the desiccant, avoiding excessively high local airflow speeds that could lead to insufficient desiccant adsorption. At the same time, the pre-tightening elastic element can apply a continuous axial pre-tightening force to the pressure plates, keeping the desiccant in a compressed state at all times. This prevents the desiccant from loosening, colliding, or pulverizing under airflow impact and vehicle vibration, effectively extending the service life of the desiccant.

[0009] Preferably, the pre-tightening elastic element is located in the middle of the end cap and includes an annular base plate. Multiple radially extending support springs are provided along the edge of the annular base plate. These support springs are curved and abut against the pressure plate. An annular positioning rib is provided on the bottom side of the annular base plate and is embedded in a positioning groove on the inner side of the end cap. The multiple support springs are evenly distributed, allowing the pre-tightening force to be applied evenly to the entire end face of the pressure plate, ensuring uniform force on the desiccant. The curved structure has good elastic deformation capability, effectively absorbing axial vibrations of different amplitudes, and its shock absorption effect is superior to that of ordinary cylindrical springs. The connection method of embedding the annular positioning rib into the positioning groove is simple to assemble, provides reliable positioning, requires no additional fasteners, and improves assembly efficiency.

[0010] Preferably, a flow divider is installed between the pressure plate and the heating sleeve near the air inlet channel. The flow divider includes a cover plate and sidewalls along the edge of the cover plate. Air inlet gaps are evenly distributed on the sidewalls at positions corresponding to the air inlet channel. Multiple flow divider grooves are evenly arranged around the center of the cover plate. The air inlet gaps evenly distribute the circumferential airflow entering from the air inlet channel to the entire circumference of the heating sleeve, preventing airflow from concentrating in a certain area and entering the desiccant. The flow divider grooves further evenly distribute the circumferentially dispersed airflow to the entire cross-section of the desiccant, allowing the airflow to flow uniformly through the desiccant in a laminar flow state, improving the desiccant's adsorption efficiency and service life. Therefore, the flow divider, installed between the pressure plate and the heating sleeve near the air inlet, simultaneously supports the pressure plate, evens the airflow, and initially filters large particulate impurities, eliminating the need for additional support structures and pre-filters, thus simplifying the internal structure of the desiccant.

[0011] Preferably, filter cotton sheets are provided between the pressure plate and the desiccant. These sheets effectively filter out tiny particulate impurities in the compressed gas, preventing them from entering the desiccant and clogging the pores of the molecular sieve, thus extending the desiccant's service life. They also act as a buffer layer, preventing wear and pulverization caused by direct contact between the metal pressure plate and desiccant particles. Furthermore, the filter cotton sheets absorb high-frequency noise generated during airflow, reducing system operating noise.

[0012] Preferably, the heating sleeve includes a printed heating plate at its top and an electrical connector connected to the printed heating plate. The electrical connector passes through the insulation cavity and is electrically connected to the control circuit board. The resistance paste is directly printed on the top of the heating sleeve using a thick film printing process, and the heating area covers the entire upper surface of the heating sleeve, resulting in good heating uniformity and fast thermal response. The electrical connector avoids interference and damage risks caused by external wiring, thus improving the reliability of the electrical system.

[0013] Preferably, both the air intake and exhaust flow structures are L-shaped pipes, with one end sealed to the valve block of the compressor, allowing the airflow to smoothly turn 90° within the control module housing, thus avoiding the impact and turbulence caused by the right-angle turn of the airflow.

[0014] Preferably, the air intake channel and the exhaust channel are multiple elongated slots arranged circumferentially, which greatly increases the flow area of ​​air intake and exhaust, reduces airflow resistance, and improves the inflation and deflation speed of the system. The elongated slots are evenly distributed circumferentially, which allows the airflow to enter and exit evenly along the circumference of the heating sleeve, ensuring that the entire circumference of the desiccant can participate in the adsorption and regeneration process, thereby improving the utilization rate of the desiccant.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: The dehydrator is integrated into the air supply unit and is set up as a whole with the dryer assembly. The air intake and exhaust passages are connected to the compressor booster chamber through the internal flow structure of the housing, forming a closed internal air circulation, avoiding the leakage risk caused by external pipeline connection and improving the reliability of system operation. At the same time, the compressed gas directly enters the dehydrator from the compressor booster chamber, and the dehydrated gas is directly returned to the compressor to participate in subsequent air circuit regulation, making the air circuit process simple and efficient. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a front sectional view of the present invention; Figure 2 for Figure 1 Enlarged structural diagram at point A; Figure 3 This is a front view structural diagram of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the water separator of the present invention; Figure 5 This is a first-view perspective three-dimensional structural diagram of the water separator of the present invention after removing the heating sleeve and end cap; Figure 6 This is a second-view perspective three-dimensional structural diagram of the water separator of the present invention after removing the heating sleeve and end cap; Figure 7 This is a structural diagram of the pre-tightening elastic element of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the airflow direction of the water separator of the present invention.

[0017] Figure label: 1. Control module; 2. Compressor; 3. Pressure chamber; 4. Dehydrator; 5. Control circuit board; 11. Housing; 12. Insulated inner cavity; 21. Valve block; 41. Desiccant; 42. Heating sleeve; 43. Diverter plate; 431. Inlet notch; 432. Diverter groove; 44. Pressure plate; 441. Through hole; 45. Filter cotton sheet; 46. Exhaust sealing ring; 47. Inlet and outlet air isolation sealing ring; 48. Inlet sealing ring; 49. Exhaust flow structure; 51. Electrical connector; 52. Pre-tightening elastic element; 521. Annular base plate; 522. Annular positioning rib; 523. Support spring; 53. Positioning groove; 54. End cap; 55. Inlet flow structure; 56. Inlet channel; 57. Exhaust channel. Detailed Implementation

[0018] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention.

[0019] like Figure 1-8As shown, to address the problems of low overall system integration, large size, and increased risk of pipeline leakage and airflow resistance caused by the separate and independent arrangement of water separators in existing technologies, this invention provides the following technical solution: an air supply unit with an internally integrated water separator, including a compressor 2, a control module 1 installed on one side of the compressor 2, the control module 1 including a housing 11 and a control circuit board 5 disposed within the housing 11, the interior of the housing 11 forming an insulated inner cavity 12, a water separator 4 installed within the insulated inner cavity 12, the water separator 4 including a desiccant 41 and a heating sleeve 42 enclosing the desiccant 41, the heating sleeve 42 and the... The control circuit board 5 is electrically connected. An air inlet channel 56 is located near one axial end of the heating sleeve 42, and an exhaust channel 57 is located near the other axial end of the heating sleeve 42. The air inlet channel 56 and the exhaust channel 57 are connected to the pressure chamber 3 inside the compressor 2 via the air inlet flow structure 55 and the exhaust flow structure 49 inside the housing 11, respectively. This fully utilizes the internal unused space of the control module housing to integrate the desiccant 4, eliminating the need for a separate desiccant housing, significantly reducing the overall volume and weight of the air supply unit, and improving system integration. The closed structure of the insulation cavity 12 effectively reduces heat loss during the desiccant heating and regeneration process, lowering regeneration energy consumption. Simultaneously, the insulation cavity 12 physically isolates the desiccant 4 from the control circuit board 5, preventing the high temperature during desiccant regeneration from being transferred to the control circuit board, ensuring the operational stability and lifespan of electronic components. The heating sleeve 42 is in direct contact with the desiccant 41, providing a large heating area and direct heat transfer, resulting in uniform heating of the desiccant and significantly higher regeneration efficiency than traditional external heating devices.

[0020] Meanwhile, the air path is integrated into the control module housing, eliminating the external connection pipeline between the dehydrator and the compressor, shortening the airflow path, reducing airflow resistance and pressure loss, and improving the system's response speed.

[0021] Specifically, the housing 11 of the control module 1 is injection molded from PA66+GF30 engineering plastic, and has a pre-reserved cylindrical heat-insulating cavity 12 inside. The inner wall of the heat-insulating cavity 12 can be lined with 1mm thick aluminum silicate insulation cotton. The water separator 4 has an overall cylindrical structure and is coaxially embedded in the heat-insulating cavity 12. The main body of the water separator 4 is an aluminum alloy heating sleeve 42, which is filled with spherical molecular sieve desiccant. An air inlet channel 56 is opened on the side wall of the heating sleeve 42 near the upper axial end, and an exhaust channel 57 is opened near the lower axial end. The air inlet channel 56 communicates with the air inlet chamber, and the exhaust channel 57 communicates with the exhaust chamber.

[0022] In this embodiment, an inlet / outlet air isolation sealing ring 47 is provided between the outer middle of the heating sleeve 42 and the inner wall of the insulation cavity 12. An inlet sealing ring 48 and an exhaust sealing ring 46 are also provided at the outer axial ends of the heating sleeve 42, respectively. The inlet channel 56 is located between the inlet sealing ring 48 and the inlet / outlet air isolation sealing ring 47, and the exhaust channel 57 is located between the exhaust sealing ring 46 and the inlet / outlet air isolation sealing ring 47. These multiple sealing rings divide the annular space between the outer side of the heating sleeve and the insulation cavity into independent inlet and exhaust chambers, preventing short-circuiting of the airflow between the inlet and exhaust. This ensures that all compressed gas entering the desiccant can flow completely through the desiccant for dehydration, improving dehydration efficiency. Simultaneously, the coordinated arrangement of the three sealing rings not only achieves effective isolation and sealing of the air path but also provides radial positioning and shock absorption for the heating sleeve, preventing radial movement of the desiccant due to vibration during vehicle operation, avoiding misalignment of the air path and wear of components, and improving the reliability of the system. Specifically, all three sealing rings are made of fluororubber that is resistant to high and low temperatures and oil, with a Shore hardness of 70±5HA. A first annular groove, a second annular groove, and a third annular groove are sequentially formed on the inner wall of the insulation cavity 12 from top to bottom. An inlet sealing ring 48 is installed in the first annular groove, an inlet / outlet isolation sealing ring 47 is installed in the second annular groove, and an exhaust sealing ring 46 is installed in the third annular groove. After installation, the outer sides of all three sealing rings are interference-fitted with the inner wall of the insulation cavity 12, with an interference amount of 0.3mm. The inlet channel is located between the first and second annular grooves, and the exhaust channel is located between the second and third annular grooves, thus forming an upper inlet chamber and a lower exhaust chamber on the outer side of the heating sleeve.

[0023] In this embodiment, the water separator 4 also includes an end cap 54. One side of the end cap 54 is embedded in a through hole on the side wall of the valve block 21 of the compressor 2 for positioning. The other side of the end cap 54 is mated with the heating sleeve 42, and the mating position forms an exhaust channel 57. The axial positioning of the water separator is achieved using the existing structure of the compressor valve block, eliminating the need for an additional positioning structure on the control module housing. The exhaust channel is integrated into the mating position between the end cap and the heating sleeve, eliminating the need for a separate exhaust pipe design, thus simplifying the process. Specifically, the end cap 54 is die-cast from ADC12 aluminum alloy and is generally stepped cylindrical. The outer diameter of the boss transitions with the inner diameter of the circular through hole on the side wall of the compressor valve block 21, and a sealing ring is installed between them. This circular through hole is used during the installation of the piston rod assembly inside the valve block 21. After installation, it is directly sealed with the end cap 54 without the need for other components to block it. The upper edge of the end cap has an annular sidewall as a mating part, forming an exhaust channel 57 between it and the heating sleeve 42.

[0024] In this embodiment, pressure plates 44 are provided on both axial sides of the desiccant 41. Through holes 441 are evenly distributed on the pressure plates 44. A pre-tightening elastic element 52 is installed between the pressure plate 44 near the exhaust channel 57 and the end cap 54. The evenly distributed through holes on the pressure plates 44 allow the airflow to be evenly distributed across the entire cross-section of the desiccant, preventing excessively high local airflow speeds that could lead to insufficient desiccant adsorption. Simultaneously, the pre-tightening elastic element 52 applies a continuous axial pre-tightening force to the pressure plates, keeping the desiccant in a compressed state and preventing it from loosening, colliding, or pulverizing under airflow impact and vehicle vibration, effectively extending the desiccant's service life. The two pressure plates 44 are respectively arranged on both axial sides of the desiccant 41, and together with the pre-tightening force of the pre-tightening elastic element 52, firmly clamp the desiccant 41 inside the heating sleeve, ensuring uniform desiccant filling density and preventing voids in the upper part caused by desiccant settling, which would affect the dehydration effect. Specifically, the pressure plate is made of 304 stainless steel by stamping, with a thickness of 1mm and a diameter consistent with the inner diameter of the heating sleeve. The surface of the pressure plate has evenly distributed circular through holes with a diameter of 2mm, and the center-to-center spacing of the through holes is 3mm.

[0025] In this embodiment, the pre-tightening elastic element 52 is located in the middle of the end cap 54. It includes an annular base plate 521. The edge of the annular base plate 521 is provided with a plurality of radially extending support springs 523. The support springs 523 are curved and abut against the pressure plate 44. The bottom side of the annular base plate 521 is provided with an annular positioning rib 522. The annular positioning rib 522 is embedded in the positioning groove 53 on the inner side of the end cap 54. The multiple support springs are evenly distributed, which can evenly apply the pre-tightening force to the entire end face of the pressure plate, so that the desiccant is subjected to uniform force. The curved structure has good elastic deformation ability and can effectively absorb axial vibration of different amplitudes. The shock absorption effect is better than that of ordinary cylindrical springs. The connection method of the annular positioning rib being embedded in the positioning groove is simple to assemble, reliable in positioning, and does not require additional fasteners, thus improving assembly efficiency. The point contact method between the support springs 523 and the pressure plate 44 reduces the contact area and reduces noise during vibration transmission.

[0026] In this embodiment, a flow divider 43 is installed between the pressure plate 44 near the air intake channel 56 and the heating sleeve 42. The flow divider 43 includes a cover plate and a side wall along the edge of the cover plate. Air intake notches 431 are evenly distributed on the side wall at positions corresponding to the air intake channel 56. Multiple flow divider grooves 432 are evenly arranged around the center on the cover plate. The air intake notches 431 can evenly disperse the circumferential airflow entering from the air intake channel to the entire circumference of the heating sleeve, preventing the airflow from concentrating in a certain area and entering the desiccant. The flow divider grooves 432 further evenly distribute the circumferentially dispersed airflow to the entire cross-section of the desiccant, so that the airflow flows evenly through the desiccant in a laminar state, improving the adsorption efficiency and service life of the desiccant. Therefore, the diverter plate is installed between the pressure plate and the heating sleeve near the air inlet end, simultaneously supporting the pressure plate, uniformly distributing airflow, and initially filtering large particulate impurities. This eliminates the need for additional support structures and pre-filters, simplifying the internal structure of the dewatering device. Specifically, the diverter plate 43 is injection molded from PPS engineering plastic with a thickness of 2mm. The side wall height of the diverter plate 43 is 10mm, and eight rectangular air inlet notches are evenly distributed on the side wall, corresponding to the six elongated air inlet channels on the heating sleeve 42. Eight fan-shaped diverting grooves are evenly distributed around the center of the cover plate of the diverter plate 43.

[0027] In this embodiment, filter cotton sheets 45 are provided between the pressure plate 44 and the desiccant 41, which can effectively filter out small particulate impurities in the compressed gas, prevent impurities from entering the desiccant and clogging the pores of the molecular sieve, and extend the service life of the desiccant. They also act as a buffer layer, avoiding wear and pulverization caused by direct contact between the metal pressure plate and the desiccant particles. The filter cotton sheets can also absorb high-frequency noise generated when the airflow passes through, reducing the operating noise of the system. The filter cotton sheets are made of polyester fiber needle-punched cotton, with a thickness of 1mm and a density of 300g / m³. 2 Its diameter is the same as that of the pressure plate.

[0028] In this embodiment, the heating sleeve 42 includes a printed heating plate 421 at its top and an electrical connector 51 connected to the printed heating plate 421. The electrical connector 51 passes through the insulation cavity 12 and is electrically connected to the control circuit board 5. The resistance paste is directly printed on the top of the heating sleeve using a thick film printing process, achieving a heating rate of up to 10℃ / s. The heating area covers the entire upper surface of the heating sleeve, resulting in good heating uniformity and fast thermal response. The electrical connector 51 avoids interference and damage risks caused by external wiring, improving the reliability of the electrical system. Specifically, the electrical connector 51 uses a fisheye pin and is connected to the control circuit board 5 by crimping, eliminating the need for welding. This simplifies the assembly process, ensures reliable connection, and facilitates subsequent disassembly and maintenance. The fisheye structure has good contact performance, effectively absorbing displacement caused by vibration and ensuring the stability of the electrical connection. The top of the heating sleeve 42 is sintered with an alumina ceramic substrate with a thickness of 0.5 mm. The printed heating plate 421 uses a thick film printing process to print ruthenium-based resistive paste onto the ceramic substrate to form a serpentine heating circuit. The rated power of the heating circuit is 100W and the rated voltage is 12V. The two electrodes of the printed heating plate 421 are respectively soldered with fish-eye pins.

[0029] In this embodiment, as Figure 4 As shown, both the intake flow structure 55 and the exhaust flow structure 49 are L-shaped pipes, one end of which is sealed and connected to the valve block 21 of the compressor 2, so that the airflow can achieve a smooth 90° turn in the control module housing, avoiding the impact and turbulence caused by the right-angle turn of the airflow.

[0030] In this embodiment, as Figure 4 As shown, the air intake channel 56 and the exhaust channel 57 are both multiple elongated slots arranged circumferentially, which greatly increases the flow area of ​​air intake and exhaust, reduces airflow resistance, and improves the inflation and deflation speed of the system. The elongated slots are evenly distributed circumferentially, which allows the airflow to enter and exit evenly along the circumference of the heating sleeve, ensuring that the entire circumference of the desiccant can participate in the adsorption and regeneration process, thereby improving the utilization rate of the desiccant.

[0031] In this embodiment, as a specific implementation method: Compressor 2 includes a motor, compressor piston assembly, valve block 21, solenoid valves, pressure sensor, intake and exhaust seats, and a one-way valve assembly. The motor drives the first and second pistons of the compressor piston assembly to reciprocate within the pressure chamber 3 of valve block 21 via a crankshaft connecting rod mechanism, thereby compressing the gas. Multiple solenoid valves are integrated on valve block 21 to control the switching of the gas path, enabling gas replenishment, pressure regulation, and exhaust functions. A pressure sensor is installed on the main gas path of valve block 21 to monitor the system pressure in real time and transmit analog signals to the control module.

[0032] As the working principle of this embodiment: When the pressure sensor detects that the pressure in the air spring or the air tank is lower than the set lower limit, the control circuit board 5 outputs a PWM drive signal to the motor. The motor drives the compressor piston assembly to reciprocate in the pressure chamber 3, drawing in the outside air filtered by the filter and compressing it to 0.8-1.0MPa.

[0033] The compressed high-temperature and high-pressure gas enters the air intake structure 55 through the gas outlet of the booster chamber on the valve block 21, and then flows into the air intake chamber in the heat-insulating inner cavity 12. The gas enters the interior of the water separator through the air intake channel 56 on the side wall of the heating sleeve 42, and first passes through the air intake notch 431 on the side wall of the diverter plate 43 and the diverter groove 432 on the cover plate, and is evenly distributed across the entire cross-section of the heating sleeve 42.

[0034] The uniformly distributed gas passes sequentially through the through-hole 441 of the upper pressure plate 44 and the upper filter cotton sheet 45, then enters the desiccant 41. The spherical molecular sieve desiccant captures water molecules in the gas through physical adsorption, lowering the gas dew point to below -40℃. The dried gas then passes sequentially through the through-hole of the lower filter cotton sheet 45 and the lower pressure plate 44, enters the end cover 54, and is then discharged from the exhaust channel 57. Subsequently, it returns to the return port inside the valve block 21 through the exhaust flow structure 49.

[0035] Finally, the dried high-pressure gas, under the control of the solenoid valve, is delivered to the corresponding air spring or air tank to complete the gas replenishment process. Throughout the process, the EV valve replaces the traditional power limiting valve, achieving smooth exhaust under high pressure.

[0036] Desiccant regeneration process: When the system's cumulative running time reaches 100 hours, or when the control circuit board 5 detects that the desiccant adsorption is saturated, it will automatically enter the regeneration mode.

[0037] First, the control circuit board 5 drives the solenoid valve to switch the air path, closing the connection with the air spring and air tank, thus forming a closed loop between the desiccant and the compressor. Then, the control circuit board 5 outputs a 12V DC voltage to the printed heating plate 421, which begins to heat up, transferring the heat to the heating sleeve 42, thereby uniformly heating the desiccant 41 inside.

[0038] When the temperature of the desiccant 41 rises to 120℃±5℃, the adsorbed water molecules desorb and become water vapor. At this time, the motor runs at a low speed of 1000r / min, driving the gas to circulate in a closed loop. The gas carrying water vapor returns to the compressor through the exhaust channel 57 and the exhaust flow structure 49, and is then discharged to the outside of the system through the solenoid valve.

[0039] After the regeneration process lasts for 8 minutes, the control circuit board 5 cuts off the power to the printed heating plate 421, and the motor continues to run for 1 minute to completely expel the residual water vapor inside the dehydrator. Subsequently, the solenoid valve switches back to the normal operating air circuit, and the system returns to standby mode.

[0040] Vehicle height adjustment process: When the vehicle height sensor detects that the vehicle height deviates from the set value, the control circuit board 5 drives the corresponding solenoid valve to operate according to the deviation signal.

[0041] Raising the vehicle body: Open the air passage between the air tank and the corresponding air spring. The high-pressure dry gas in the air tank enters the air spring, causing the air spring to extend and raising the vehicle body. When the height reaches the set value, close the solenoid valve.

[0042] Lowering the vehicle body: Open the air passage between the corresponding air spring and the exhaust port. The gas in the air spring is discharged to the outside of the system through the solenoid valve, the air spring shortens, and the vehicle body lowers. When the height reaches the set value, the solenoid valve closes.

[0043] During vehicle height adjustment, if the system pressure is below 0.6MPa, the compressor will automatically start to replenish air. The air replenished during this process is also dried by a dehydrator to ensure that the air entering the air spring and air tank is always dry, preventing parts from rusting and freezing.

[0044] It should be noted that all directional indicators (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 each component in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indicator will also change accordingly.

[0045] Furthermore, in this invention, descriptions involving "first," "second," etc., 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. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly and specifically defined.

[0046] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connection," "fixed," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "fixed" can mean a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; it can mean a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can mean a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can mean the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0047] Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other, but only if they are feasible for those skilled in the art. If the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be considered that such combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by the present invention.

Claims

1. An air supply unit with an internal integrated water trap, comprising a compressor (2), a control module (1) is installed on one side of the compressor (2), the control module (1) comprises a shell (11) and a control circuit board (5) arranged in the shell (11), characterized in that, The interior of the housing (11) forms an insulated inner cavity (12), and a water separator (4) is installed inside the insulated inner cavity (12). The water separator (4) includes a desiccant (41) and a heating sleeve (42) that encloses the desiccant (41). The heating sleeve (42) is electrically connected to the control circuit board (5). An air inlet channel (56) is provided on the heating sleeve (42) near one axial end, and an exhaust channel (57) is provided on the heating sleeve (42) near the other axial end. The air inlet channel (56) and the exhaust channel (57) are respectively connected through the housing (11). The air intake structure (55) and exhaust structure (49) inside the compressor (2) are connected to the booster chamber (3) inside the compressor (2), making full use of the internal idle space of the control module housing to integrate the water separator (4), without the need for an additional independent housing for the water separator, reducing the overall volume and weight of the air supply unit and improving the system integration; the closed structure of the heat-insulating inner cavity (12) can effectively reduce the heat loss during the heating and regeneration process of the water separator, reduce the regeneration energy consumption, and the heat-insulating inner cavity (12) physically isolates the water separator (4) from the control circuit board (5), preventing the high temperature during the regeneration of the water separator from being transferred to the control circuit board; An air inlet / outlet isolation sealing ring (47) is provided between the outer middle part of the heating sleeve (42) and the inner wall of the heat insulation cavity (12). An air inlet sealing ring (48) and an exhaust sealing ring (46) are also provided at the outer axial ends of the heating sleeve (42). The air inlet channel (56) is located between the air inlet sealing ring (48) and the air inlet / outlet isolation sealing ring (47). The exhaust channel (57) is located between the exhaust sealing ring (46) and the air inlet / outlet isolation sealing ring (47). The air inlet channel (56) and the exhaust channel (57) are both multiple long strip-shaped through grooves arranged along the circumference. The coordinated arrangement of the three sealing rings not only achieves effective isolation and sealing of the air passage, but also plays a role in radial positioning and shock absorption of the heating sleeve, preventing the water separator from radially moving due to vibration during vehicle operation, and avoiding misalignment of air passage connection and wear of components. The elongated grooves are evenly distributed around the circumference, allowing airflow to enter and exit uniformly along the circumference of the heating sleeve. This ensures that the entire circumference of the desiccant participates in the adsorption and regeneration process, thus improving the utilization rate of the desiccant.

2. The internal integrated dewatering air supply unit of claim 1, wherein: The water separator (4) also includes an end cap (54), one side of which is embedded in a through hole on the side wall of the valve block (21) of the compressor (2) for positioning, and the other side of which is connected to the heating sleeve (42) and the connection position forms an exhaust channel (57).

3. The internal air supply unit with integrated dewatering according to claim 2, characterized in that: The desiccant (41) is provided with pressure plates (44) on both sides of the axial direction. The pressure plates (44) are evenly arranged with through holes (441). A pre-tightening elastic element (52) is installed between the pressure plate (44) near the exhaust channel (57) and the end cap (54).

4. The air supply unit with an internally integrated water separator according to claim 3, characterized in that: The pre-tightening elastic element (52) is located in the middle of the end cap (54), and includes an annular base plate (521). The edge of the annular base plate (521) is provided with a plurality of radially extending support springs (523). The support springs (523) are curved and abut against the pressure plate (44). The bottom side of the annular base plate (521) is provided with an annular positioning rib (522). The annular positioning rib (522) is embedded in the positioning groove (53) inside the end cap (54).

5. The air supply unit with an internally integrated water separator according to claim 3, characterized in that: A flow divider (43) is installed between the pressure plate (44) near the air intake channel (56) and the heating sleeve (42). The flow divider (43) includes a cover plate and a side wall provided along the edge of the cover plate. Air intake notches (431) are evenly distributed on the side wall at positions corresponding to the air intake channel (56). Multiple flow divider grooves (432) are evenly provided around the center on the cover plate.

6. The air supply unit with an internally integrated water separator according to claim 3, characterized in that: A filter cotton sheet (45) is provided between the pressure plate (44) and the desiccant (41).

7. The air supply unit with an internally integrated water separator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The heating sleeve (42) includes a printed heating plate (421) located on its top and an electrical connector (51) connected to the printed heating plate (421). The electrical connector (51) passes through the heat-insulating inner cavity (12) and is electrically connected to the control circuit board (5).

8. The air supply unit with an internally integrated water separator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The air intake flow structure (55) and the exhaust flow structure (49) are both L-shaped pipes, one end of which is sealed and connected to the valve block (21) of the compressor (2).

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