Pipe heating device, braking system and vehicle

Abstract

The application discloses a pipeline heating device, a braking system and a vehicle, relates to the technical field of heating control, and is arranged in a pipeline to be heated and comprises a pipeline heating control module, an environment sensing module, the environment sensing module being arranged at an air inlet and outlet position of the pipeline to be heated, the environment sensing module being connected with a first end of the pipeline heating control module, and the environment sensing module being used for collecting environment characteristics of the pipeline to be heated, and an expansion tank heating module, the expansion tank heating module being connected with a second end of the pipeline heating control module and being arranged at a position to be heated of the pipeline to be heated, and the expansion tank heating module being arranged to be controlled by the pipeline heating control module to heat the position to be heated when the environment characteristics are to-be-heated characteristics. The application improves the safety of the pipeline heating device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of heating control technology, and in particular to a pipeline heating device, a braking system, and a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] With the increasing use of braking systems in vehicles and other fields, users have also placed higher demands on the heating methods of pipes in braking systems.

[0003] Traditional pipeline heating devices involve adding intelligent control electric heating cables to the heat dissipation pipes from the air compressor to the dryer section of the braking system. This method has certain drawbacks. The electric heating cable needs to be wrapped or attached to the metal pipe. Due to the continuous vibration and bumps during vehicle operation, the cable's connection points are prone to loosening or breakage, or the insulation layer may be damaged due to friction with the vehicle frame or pipes, leading to short circuits, power outages, or leakage. In other words, this design of pipeline heating devices is prone to short circuits, power outages, or leakage due to loose or broken connection points or damage to the insulation layer caused by friction with the vehicle frame or pipes, resulting in low safety. Utility Model Content

[0004] The main purpose of this application is to provide a pipeline heating device and vehicle, which aims to solve the technical problem of low safety of pipeline heating devices.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this application provides a pipe heating device, which is installed on the pipe to be heated, and the pipe heating device includes: Pipeline heating control module; An environmental sensing module is installed at the air inlet and outlet positions of the pipe to be heated. The environmental sensing module is connected to the first end of the pipe heating control module and is used to collect the environmental characteristics of the pipe to be heated. An expansion tank heating module is connected to the heating position of the pipeline to be heated. The expansion tank heating module is connected to the second end of the pipeline heating control module. The expansion tank heating module is configured to be controlled by the pipeline heating control module to heat the heating position when the environmental characteristics are the heating characteristics.

[0006] In one embodiment, the second end of the anti-pipeline heating control module includes a power control terminal, the position to be heated includes the tank setting position at the lowest horizontal point in the pipeline to be heated, and the expansion tank heating module includes: An expansion tank is disposed at the location specified in the tank body and is connected to the pipe to be heated; A heating unit is disposed at the heating position of the expansion tank, and the power supply terminal of the heating unit is connected to the power control terminal. The heating unit includes at least one of a heating resistor and a heater.

[0007] In one embodiment, the second end of the pipeline heating control module further includes a temperature acquisition end, and the expansion tank heating module further includes: A temperature sensor is installed at the detection location of the expansion tank and is connected to the temperature acquisition terminal.

[0008] In one embodiment, the air inlet and outlet positions include the air outlet of the pipe to be heated and the air inlet of the pipe to be heated, and the environmental sensing module includes: A first pressure sensor is disposed at the air inlet and is connected to the first end of the pipe heating control module. A second pressure sensor is disposed at the air outlet and is connected to the first end of the pipeline heating control module.

[0009] In one embodiment, the pipe heating control module includes: A heating control unit, the first end of which is connected to a temperature sensor in the expansion tank heating module and a first pressure sensor and a second pressure sensor in the environmental sensing module; A heating power supply, the control terminal of which is connected to the second terminal of the heating control unit, and the output terminal of which is connected to the power supply terminal of the heating unit in the expansion tank heating module.

[0010] In one embodiment, the heating control unit includes: A first comparator, the first input terminal of the first comparator is connected to the temperature sensor, and the second input terminal of the first comparator is connected to a preset value generator; A first drive switch, the first end of which is connected to the output of the first comparator, and the second end of which is connected to the first pressure sensor; A second drive switch, the first end of which is connected to the output of the first comparator, and the second end of which is connected to the second pressure sensor; The second comparator has its first input terminal connected to the third terminal of the first drive switch, its second input terminal connected to the third terminal of the second drive switch, and its output terminal connected to the control terminal of the heating power supply. The second comparator is configured to output a high level when the input value is within a preset difference, and to output a low level when the input value is outside the preset difference.

[0011] In one embodiment, the heating control unit further includes: A timer, wherein the first control terminal of the timer is connected to the output terminal of the second comparator, and the output terminal of the timer is connected to the control terminal of the heating power supply, and the timer is configured to continuously output a low level to the control terminal of the heating power supply for a preset duration when the output terminal of the second comparator outputs a low level; A timer, the control terminal of which is connected to the output terminal of the second comparator, is set to trigger timing when the output terminal of the second comparator outputs a high level; A timing controller, wherein the first terminal of the timing controller is connected to the output terminal of the timer, and the second terminal of the timing controller is connected to the second control terminal of the delay unit, and the timing controller is configured to control the delay unit to output a high level to the control terminal of the heating power supply when the timer reaches a preset timing duration.

[0012] In addition, to achieve the above objectives, this application also provides a braking system, which includes the above-mentioned pipe heating device, air compressor and condenser; The pipeline heating device is installed between the air compressor and the condenser in the pipeline to be heated.

[0013] In one embodiment, the braking system further includes: An air dryer, wherein the air inlet of the air dryer is connected to the air outlet of the condenser via a first pipe; An air storage tank, the air inlet of which is connected to the air outlet of the air dryer via a second pipe.

[0014] In addition, to achieve the above objectives, this application also provides a vehicle that includes the aforementioned braking system.

[0015] This application provides a pipeline heating device, installed on a pipeline to be heated. The pipeline heating device includes a pipeline heating control module; an environmental sensing module, which is located at the air inlet and outlet of the pipeline to be heated and connected to a first end of the pipeline heating control module, and is used to collect environmental characteristics of the pipeline to be heated; and an expansion tank heating module, which is connected to the heating position of the pipeline to be heated and connected to a second end of the pipeline heating control module. The expansion tank heating module is configured to be controlled by the pipeline heating control module to heat the heating position when the environmental characteristics are suitable for heating. This pipeline heating device combines the connection of the expansion tank heating module to the heating position of the pipeline with the collection of environmental characteristics of the pipeline to be heated by the environmental sensing module. The system determines whether to activate the heating function of the expansion tank heating module. When the environmental characteristics are suitable for heating, the module is controlled to heat the desired location. This is because the expansion tank heating module is designed to heat only the specific location, not the entire pipeline. Furthermore, the module, primarily composed of the expansion tank, can be directly connected to the pipeline, rather than being wrapped or attached. This avoids the problems associated with electric heating cables, which are often wrapped or attached to metal pipes. These cables are susceptible to loosening or breakage due to continuous vibration and bumps during vehicle operation, or insulation damage from friction with the vehicle frame or pipelines, potentially leading to short circuits, power outages, or leaks. By connecting an expansion tank heating module directly to the desired location within the pipeline, the system provides targeted heating, thus enhancing the safety of the pipeline heating device. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the frame of the first embodiment of the pipeline heating device of this application; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a commonly used pipeline heating device. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the frame of the second embodiment of the pipeline heating device of this application; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the frame of the fourth embodiment of the pipeline heating device of this application; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the control process of the pipeline heating device of this application; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the overall framework of the pipeline heating device of this application.

[0017] The realization of the purpose, functional features and advantages of this application will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] Explanation of icon numbers: 200. Pipe to be heated; 210. Air inlet; 220. Air outlet; 230. Position to be heated; 10. Pipe heating control module; 20. Environmental sensing module; 30. Expansion tank heating module; 310. Air compressor; 320. Condenser; 330. Air dryer; 340. Air tank; 21. First pressure sensor; 22. Second pressure sensor; 31. Expansion tank; 32. Heating unit; 33. Temperature sensor; 11. Heating control unit; 12. Heating power supply; 1A. First comparator; 1B. Preset value device; 1C. First drive switch; 1D. Second drive switch; 1E. Second comparator; 1F. Delay unit; 1G. Timer; 1H. Timing controller; 410. Instrument cluster; 420. Low-voltage charging module; 430. Vehicle controller; 440. All-in-one controller. Detailed Implementation

[0019] It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of this application and are not intended to limit this application.

[0020] To better understand the technical solution of this application, a detailed description will be provided below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific implementation methods.

[0021] Taking the heating of pipes in buses (especially new energy buses) as an example, one can refer to... Figure 2 , Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a commonly used pipeline heating device. To prevent icing in the pipeline between the air compressor 310 and the air dryer 330, a smart-controlled electric heating tape is typically added to the heat dissipation pipeline from the air compressor 310 to the dryer. The electric heating tape prevents icing by controlling active heating. After the vehicle starts, the thermostat continuously monitors data from the temperature sensor (this data can be ambient temperature or pipeline surface temperature). A trigger threshold is preset in the thermostat. When the monitored temperature is below this threshold, the thermostat determines there is a risk of icing, outputs current to the electric heating tape, and the tape begins to heat up. The heat generated by the electric heating tape is directly conducted to the pipeline and then transferred to the compressed air flowing inside through the pipe wall. When the temperature is above this threshold, the system considers it safe, and the electric heating tape remains de-energized to save energy. This heating method has at least the following five drawbacks: First, electric heating tape is a high-power auxiliary load (usually several hundred watts or even thousands of watts), and it consumes a lot of electricity when working for a long time in cold environments.

[0022] Secondly, electric heating cables are usually wrapped or attached to metal pipes. The continuous vibration and bumps during bus operation can easily cause the connection points of the electric heating cable to loosen or break, or the insulation layer of the cable body to be damaged due to friction with the vehicle frame and pipelines, resulting in short circuits, power outages or leakage.

[0023] Third, when the heat tracing cable fails, troubleshooting is quite troublesome. It requires checking section by section whether the problem is with the heat tracing cable itself, the power supply, or the thermostat. If the heat tracing cable is damaged, the old cable usually needs to be removed and a new one re-wound and installed, which is a cumbersome, time-consuming, and labor-intensive operation.

[0024] Fourth, if the temperature control system (such as the thermostat) fails, causing the heating cable to overheat continuously, it may ignite surrounding insulation materials, oil stains, or plastic parts, causing a fire.

[0025] Fifth, a complete electric heat tracing system not only includes the heat tracing cable itself, but also requires a thermostat, circuit breaker, power cord, high-temperature pressure-sensitive tape (to fix the heat tracing cable), aluminum foil tape (to enhance heat conduction), stainless steel cable ties, waterproof junction box, etc., increasing the complexity of the system. Furthermore, the installation and wrapping of the electric heat tracing cable is very inconvenient, making it difficult to ensure a tight seal with the pipes, affecting heat conduction efficiency. Maintenance and replacement often require disassembling other components, resulting in a huge workload.

[0026] Sixth, the initial investment cost of a reliable heat tracing system (including heat tracing tape, thermostat, installation materials and labor) is relatively high.

[0027] Therefore, based on the shortcomings of the above-mentioned pipe heating devices, the electric pipe heating device of this application is proposed. The main solution of the embodiment of this application is: by connecting the expansion tank heating module 30 to the heating position 230 of the pipe to be heated 200, and at the same time combining the environmental sensing module 20 to collect the environmental characteristics of the pipe to be heated 200 to determine whether to activate the heating function of the expansion tank heating module 30, so that when the environmental characteristics are suitable for heating, the expansion tank heating module 30 is controlled to heat the heating position 230. This is because the design of the expansion tank heating module 30 is actually only for targeted heating of the heating position 230, and not for heating the entire pipe. The expansion tank heating module 30 is actually based on the expansion tank 31 and can be directly connected to the pipeline, rather than being wrapped or attached. This avoids the problem of the electric heating cable needing to be wrapped or attached to the metal pipeline, which is prone to loosening or breaking of the connection points of the electric heating cable due to continuous vibration and bumps during vehicle operation, or damage to the insulation layer of the cable body due to friction with the vehicle frame and pipeline, resulting in short circuits, power outages or leakage. In other words, by connecting an expansion tank heating module 30 to the heating position 230 of the pipeline 200 to be heated, the heating position 230 can be heated in a targeted manner, thereby improving the safety of the pipeline heating device through the connection method.

[0028] Based on this, the present application provides a pipeline heating device, referring to... Figure 1 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the pipeline heating device of this application.

[0029] Reference Figure 1This application provides a pipe heating device, which is installed on the pipe 200 to be heated. The pipe heating device includes: Pipeline heating control module 10; An environmental sensing module 20 is set at the air inlet and outlet of the pipe to be heated 200. The environmental sensing module 20 is connected to the first end of the pipe heating control module 10. The environmental sensing module 20 is used to collect the environmental characteristics of the pipe to be heated 200. The expansion tank heating module 30 is connected to the heating position 230 of the pipeline to be heated 200. The expansion tank heating module 30 is connected to the second end of the pipeline heating control module 10. The expansion tank heating module 30 is configured to be controlled by the pipeline heating control module 10 to heat the heating position 230 when the environmental characteristics are the heating characteristics.

[0030] In this embodiment, a pipeline heating device is installed in the pipeline to be heated 200. This is primarily achieved by an environmental sensing module 20 located at the inlet and outlet of the pipeline. The environmental sensing module 20 collects environmental characteristics of the pipeline to be heated 200. For example, the controller within the pipeline heating control module 10 determines if the environmental characteristics meet the requirements for heating, such as temperature and pressure difference within the pipeline (e.g., temperature S and pressure difference D). When the environmental characteristics meet the requirements, the expansion tank heating module 30 is controlled by the pipeline heating control module 10 to heat the location 230 to be heated. This achieves localized low-power heating of the location 230, precisely targeting the ice blockage risk point, i.e., the location 230 to be heated. The location 230 to be heated can be the lowest horizontal point within the pipeline, as this location is most prone to water accumulation and freezing at low temperatures. Therefore, the expansion tank heating module 30, by directly connecting to the heating position 230 of the pipe to be heated 200, effectively becomes part of the pipe, achieving a shift from "extensive global heating" to "precise targeted unblocking." This reduces the heating target from several meters of pipe to the expansion tank, a key component of the heating module 30—a miniature metal valve body—significantly reducing the heat load. Consequently, its operating power drops from hundreds of watts to tens of watts, resulting in a significant reduction in vehicle auxiliary energy consumption. For example, a resistor or heater with heating function can be directly integrated inside the expansion tank heating module 30 to heat the expansion tank, eliminating the need for lengthy electric heating tapes and complex wiring harnesses. Only inlet and outlet air connectors and an electrical connector remain externally, enabling "plug-and-play" operation. This significantly reduces external wiring and interfaces, eliminating faults caused by vibration wear, insulation aging, and loose wiring, thereby improving the safety of the pipe heating device.

[0031] In this embodiment, a pipeline heating device is provided, installed on the pipeline 200 to be heated. The pipeline heating device includes a pipeline heating control module 10; an environmental sensing module 20, which is installed at the air inlet and outlet of the pipeline 200 and connected to the first end of the pipeline heating control module 10, and is used to collect environmental characteristics of the pipeline 200; and an expansion tank heating module 30, which is connected to the heating position 230 of the pipeline 200 and connected to the second end of the pipeline heating control module 10. The expansion tank heating module 30 is configured to be controlled by the pipeline heating control module 10 to heat the heating position 230 when the environmental characteristics are suitable for heating. This pipeline heating device achieves this by connecting the expansion tank heating module 30 to the heating position 230 of the pipeline 200 and simultaneously combining the environmental characteristics collected by the environmental sensing module 20. The feature determines whether to activate the heating function of the expansion tank heating module 30. When the environmental feature is suitable for heating, the expansion tank heating module 30 is controlled to heat the position 230 to be heated. This is because the expansion tank heating module 30 is designed to specifically heat the position 230 to be heated, rather than heating the entire pipeline. Furthermore, the expansion tank heating module 30 is based on the expansion tank 31 and can be directly connected to the pipeline, rather than being wrapped or attached. This avoids the need for the electric heating cable to be wrapped or attached to the metal pipeline, which could lead to loosening or breakage of the connection points of the electric heating cable due to continuous vibration and bumps during vehicle operation, or damage to the insulation layer of the cable body due to friction with the vehicle frame or pipeline, causing short circuits, power outages, or leakage. In other words, by connecting an expansion tank heating module 30 to the position 230 to be heated in the pipeline 200, the heating position 230 is specifically heated, thus improving the safety of the pipeline heating device through this connection method.

[0032] Furthermore, based on the first embodiment of this application described above, a second embodiment of the pipeline heating device of this application is proposed, referring to... Figure 3 , Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the second embodiment of the pipeline heating device of this application. The second end of the pipeline heating control module 10 includes a power control terminal, the heating position 230 includes the tank setting position at the lowest horizontal point in the pipeline 200 to be heated, and the expansion tank heating module 30 includes: Expansion tank 31 is installed at the tank body location and connected to the pipe to be heated 200; Heating unit 32 is located at the heating position of expansion tank 31. The power supply terminal of heating unit 32 is connected to the power control terminal. Heating unit 32 includes at least one of heating resistor and heater.

[0033] Furthermore, the second end of the pipeline heating control module 10 also includes a temperature acquisition end, and the expansion tank heating module 30 also includes: Temperature sensor 33 is installed at the detection position of expansion tank 31 and is connected to temperature acquisition terminal.

[0034] In this embodiment, the heating location 230 includes the tank installation position at the lowest horizontal point in the pipe 200 to be heated. The expansion tank 31 is then installed at this location and connected to the pipe 200. A heating unit 32 is integrated at the heating location on the expansion tank 31, and a temperature sensor 33 is integrated at the temperature acquisition location to achieve heating and temperature detection functions for the expansion tank 31. For example, the heating location can be the bottom of the expansion tank 31, i.e., the lowest horizontal point during installation, allowing for targeted heating of areas where water has accumulated and frozen. The detection location can be set on the inner wall or outer side of the expansion tank 31, allowing for subsequent control based on the acquired internal and external temperatures. Because the expansion tank 31 module is used as a sealed and waterproof integrated module, it causes minimal damage to existing pipes. Furthermore, this module achieves an IP67 or higher protection rating for the entire circuitry, and the expansion tank 31 itself also possesses multiple functions including buffering and flow stabilization, water storage, and intelligent drainage. On the other hand, the modular design of the expansion tank heating module 30 means that in the event of a failure, only the entire integrated module needs to be replaced, eliminating the need for cumbersome disassembly and significantly reducing maintenance time and costs. At the same time, the price of the expansion tank module 31 has a cost advantage over electric heating tape technology, thereby reducing the cost of achieving pipeline heating.

[0035] In one embodiment, a drain valve with a drainage function can also be set at the lowest horizontal point of the expansion tank 31. After heating is completed, the air compressor 310 will be started and the forced drainage switch will be pressed to force the expansion tank 31 to drain (there must be air pressure in the expansion tank 31 to drain). Alternatively, a liquid level sensor can be set at the bottom. After the liquid level defined by the liquid level sensor is reached, the forced drainage switch of the expansion tank 31 will be automatically activated to drain the water formed by heating, so as to ensure the normal operation of the entire expansion tank heating module 30.

[0036] In one embodiment, based on the first and / or second embodiments of this application described above, a third embodiment of the pipe heating device of this application is proposed. The air inlet and outlet positions include the air outlet 220 and the air inlet 210 of the pipe to be heated 200. The environmental sensing module 20 includes: The first pressure sensor 21 is installed at the air inlet 210 and is connected to the first end of the pipe heating control module 10. The second pressure sensor 22 is located at the air outlet 220 and is connected to the first end of the pipeline heating control module 10.

[0037] In this embodiment, the air outlet locations include the air outlet and air inlet of the pipe 200 to be heated. Air inlet 210 refers to the air outlet of the air compressor 310, and air outlet 220 refers to the air inlet of the condenser 320. By detecting the pressure on both sides of the entire pipe 200 to be heated, for example, if the pressure difference between the two sides exceeds a user-defined pressure difference threshold, it is determined that the large pressure difference is due to icing, and the expansion tank heating module 30 is then instructed to use its internal heating unit for heating. Because other pressures need to be detected, the first pressure sensor 21 and the second pressure sensor 22 are generally installed on the inner wall of the pipe to detect the internal pressure value. It is worth noting that the pressure difference threshold can be obtained based on multiple icing experiments, thus ensuring accuracy in actual use.

[0038] In one embodiment, based on the first, second, and / or third embodiments of this application described above, a fourth embodiment of the pipe heating device of this application is proposed, referring to... Figure 4 , Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the framework of the fourth embodiment of the pipeline heating device of this application. The pipeline heating control module 10 includes: The heating control unit 11 has its first end connected to the temperature sensor 33 in the expansion tank heating module 30 and the first pressure sensor 21 and the second pressure sensor 22 in the environmental sensing module 20. Heating power supply 12, the control terminal of heating power supply 12 is connected to the second terminal of heating control unit 11, and the output terminal of heating power supply 12 is connected to the power supply terminal of heating unit 32 in expansion tank heating module 30.

[0039] Furthermore, the heating control unit 11 includes: The first comparator 1A has its first input terminal connected to the temperature sensor 33 and its second input terminal connected to the preset value unit 1B. The first drive switch 1C has its first terminal connected to the output terminal of the first comparator 1A and its second terminal connected to the first pressure sensor 21. The second drive switch 1D has its first end connected to the output of the first comparator 1A and its second end connected to the second pressure sensor 22. The second comparator 1E has its first input terminal connected to the third terminal of the first drive switch 1C, its second input terminal connected to the third terminal of the second drive switch 1D, and its output terminal connected to the control terminal of the heating power supply 12. The second comparator 1E is configured to output a high level when the input value is within a preset difference, and to output a low level when the input value is outside the preset difference.

[0040] In this embodiment, when the expansion tank heating module 30 starts heating, it primarily determines the start time based on its own temperature sensor 33 and the pressure sensor installed in the environmental sensing module 20. For example, see [link to example]. Figure 5 , Figure 5This is a schematic diagram of the control flow of the pipeline heating device of this application. When the temperature sensor 33 detects that the ambient temperature or internal air temperature is ≤1℃ (this temperature value can be set), and the detected air pressure P1 of the first pressure sensor 21 at the air outlet of the air compressor 310 is greater than or equal to the detected air pressure P2 of the second pressure sensor 22 at the air inlet of the condenser 320 for a period of time, and the pressure difference between the two is ≥1 bar (can be set), it is determined that ice blockage has occurred. Then, a fault alarm message can be issued through sound and text to prompt the driver to stop the vehicle. At the same time, the vehicle controller 430 issues a heating start command. After receiving the command, the low-voltage power distribution module 420 (which can be the heating power supply 12) powers on the heating unit 32 in the expansion tank heating module 30, and enters the heating mode. Furthermore, when the temperature value of the temperature sensor 33 is less than the preset value set in the preset valuer 1B (assuming it is set to 1℃), the first comparator 1A outputs a high level; conversely, when the temperature value of the temperature sensor 33 is greater than or equal to the preset value set in the preset valuer 1B, the first comparator 1A outputs a low level. The first drive switch 1C and the second drive switch 1D can be switching transistors or triodes, and are set to conduct at a high level. That is, when the first comparator 1A outputs a low level, the first drive switch 1C and the second drive switch 1D, and consequently the second comparator 1E has no output, and therefore no control command is sent to the control terminal of the heating power supply 12; when the first comparator 1A outputs a high level, the first drive switch 1C and the second drive switch 1D output the pressure values ​​of the first pressure sensor 21 and the second pressure sensor 22 respectively, and send them to the second comparator 1E. Because the second comparator 1E is set to output a high level when the input value is within a preset difference, and output a low level when the input value is outside the preset difference. For example, if the pressure difference between the first pressure sensor 21 and the second pressure sensor 22 is within 1 bar, the output terminal will output a high level; conversely, if the pressure difference between the first pressure sensor 21 and the second pressure sensor 22 is beyond 1 bar, the output terminal will output a low level. Therefore, in this case, the heating power supply 12 can be set to output current at a low level and disconnect the circuit at a high level. This allows for power supply to the heating unit 32 when the temperature is less than 1°C and the pressure difference is beyond 1 bar, thereby heating the location of the expansion tank 31 inside the pipeline to achieve the pipeline heating function. It is worth noting that the above high / low level triggering or power supply methods can be designed in advance and will not be elaborated upon here.

[0041] In one embodiment, reference may be made to Figure 6 , Figure 6This is a schematic diagram of the overall framework of the pipeline heating device of this application. The entire device can be controlled by a vehicle controller 430, with the expansion tank heating module 30 serving as an external temperature signal acquisition element and heating execution element. A combination instrument cluster 410 serves as a fault alarm and display element. Signal acquisition elements such as temperature sensors 33 and pressure sensors are included. Temperature and pressure signals are parsed by the instrument cluster and sent to the CAN (Controller Area Network) bus to complete the logical closed loop. Specifically, the temperature sensor 33 on the expansion tank heating module 30 acts as an ambient temperature sensing source, detecting the ambient temperature. The temperature information is uploaded to the CAN network, where the vehicle controller 430 performs logical judgment and issues start / stop commands for the heating function. Furthermore, the multi-function controller 440 can also coordinate the control of the entire braking system and the entire pipeline heating device.

[0042] In one embodiment, the heating control unit 11 further includes: The first control terminal of the delay unit 1F is connected to the output terminal of the second comparator 1E, and the output terminal of the delay unit 1F is connected to the control terminal of the heating power supply 12. The delay unit 1F is set to output a low level to the control terminal of the heating power supply 12 for a preset duration when the output terminal of the second comparator 1E outputs a low level. Timer 1G, the control terminal of timer 1G is connected to the output terminal of the second comparator 1E. Timer 1G is set to trigger timing when the output terminal of the second comparator 1E outputs a high level. The timing controller 1H has its first terminal connected to the output terminal of the timer 1G and its second terminal connected to the second control terminal of the delay unit 1F. The timing controller 1H is set to control the delay unit 1F to output a high level to the control terminal of the heating power supply 12 when the timer 1G reaches the preset timing duration.

[0043] In this embodiment, after the heating mode is activated, the vehicle controller 430 (which can directly control the heating control unit 11) will issue a heating stop command only when the pressure difference between the pressure sensor P1 at the outlet of the air compressor 310 and the pressure sensor P2 at the inlet of the condenser 320 is less than 1 bar for a certain period of time. Alternatively, the vehicle controller 430 will issue a heating stop command 10 minutes after the heating mode is activated (the freezing point melting time, which can be set according to regional differences). For example, on the one hand, the first control terminal of the delay 1F and the output terminal of the second comparator 1E can be used. That is, when the output terminal of the second comparator 1E outputs a low level, the delay 1F will continuously output a low level to the control terminal of the heating power supply 12 for a preset duration. The preset duration can be 10 minutes. The preset duration can be set using a combination of timer 1G and timing controller 1H. That is, timer 1G is used to count 10 minutes, and after 10 minutes, the timing controller 1H controls the delay 1F to stop the delayed output. Of course, if the delay timer 1F still receives a low level at the output of the second comparator 1E, the heating time will continue for another 10 minutes. Furthermore, when the pressure difference is less than 1 bar, the high level at the output of the second comparator 1E will disable the delay timer 1F, and the high level will stop the power supply to the heating unit 32, thus completing the entire heating process. Because the expansion tank heating module 30 with integrated heating function is used for heating at this time, the direct connection reduces implementation costs and improves safety.

[0044] Based on the above embodiments of the pipeline heating device, a braking system is proposed, which includes the above-mentioned pipeline heating device.

[0045] In this embodiment, the above braking system uses a pipeline heating device. The expansion tank heating module 30 is connected to the heating position 230 of the pipeline 200 to be heated. Simultaneously, the environmental sensing module 20 collects environmental characteristics of the pipeline 200 to determine whether to activate the heating function of the expansion tank heating module 30. When the environmental characteristics are suitable for heating, the expansion tank heating module 30 is controlled to heat the heating position 230. This is because the expansion tank heating module 30 is designed to specifically heat the heating position 230, rather than heating the entire pipeline. Furthermore, the expansion tank heating module 30 actually heats only the heating position 230, not the entire pipeline. The expansion tank 31 is the main component, and it can be directly connected to the pipeline, rather than being wrapped or attached. This avoids the problem of the electric heating cable needing to be wrapped or attached to the metal pipeline, which is prone to loosening or breakage at the connection points of the electric heating cable due to continuous vibration and bumps during vehicle operation, or damage to the insulation layer of the cable body due to friction with the vehicle frame and pipelines, causing short circuits, power outages, or leakage. Specifically, an expansion tank heating module 30 is connected to the heating position 230 of the pipeline 200 to be heated, allowing for targeted heating of the position 230, thus improving the safety of the pipeline heating device through this connection method. It is worth noting that the pipeline heating device can also be installed at other pipeline locations requiring heating; this is not limited to these locations.

[0046] In one embodiment, the braking system further includes: Air dryer 330, the air inlet of air dryer 330 is connected to the air outlet of condenser 320 through the first pipe; The air inlet of the air storage cylinder 340 is connected to the air outlet of the air dryer 330 through a second pipe.

[0047] In this embodiment, after heating is completed, the compressed air is dehumidified in the air dryer 330 and then enters the air storage tank 340 for later use. Of course, the braking system may also include other components, which will not be described in detail here. It can also be installed in other pipe locations in the entire braking system where icing may occur, which will not be described in detail here.

[0048] Based on the above embodiments of the pipeline heating device, a vehicle is proposed, which includes the above-described braking system.

[0049] In this embodiment, the above braking system connects the expansion tank heating module 30 to the heating position 230 of the pipe to be heated 200, and simultaneously uses the environmental sensing module 20 to collect environmental characteristics of the pipe to be heated 200 to determine whether to activate the heating function of the expansion tank heating module 30. When the environmental characteristics are suitable for heating, the expansion tank heating module 30 is controlled to heat the heating position 230. This is because the expansion tank heating module 30 is designed to specifically heat the heating position 230, rather than heating the entire pipe. Furthermore, the expansion tank heating module 30 actually uses the expansion tank 31... The primary method is to connect directly to the pipeline, rather than wrapping or attaching it. This avoids the problems associated with wrapping or attaching electric heating cables to metal pipes, which can lead to loosening or breakage of the cable connections due to continuous vibration and bumps during vehicle operation, or damage to the insulation layer of the cable itself due to friction with the vehicle frame or pipelines, causing short circuits, power outages, or leakage. Instead, an expansion tank heating module 30 is connected to the heating position 230 of the pipeline 200 to provide targeted heating, thus improving the safety of the pipeline heating device. It is worth noting that the entire system can also be installed on other hardware requiring pneumatic braking; this is not a limitation here.

[0050] The above are only some embodiments of this application and do not limit the patent scope of this application. All equivalent structural transformations made under the technical concept of this application and using the contents of the specification and drawings of this application, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included in the patent protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A pipe heating device, characterized in that, The pipeline heating device is installed on the pipeline to be heated, and the pipeline heating device includes: Pipeline heating control module; An environmental sensing module is installed at the air inlet and outlet positions of the pipe to be heated. The environmental sensing module is connected to the first end of the pipe heating control module and is used to collect the environmental characteristics of the pipe to be heated. An expansion tank heating module is connected to the heating position of the pipeline to be heated. The expansion tank heating module is connected to the second end of the pipeline heating control module. The expansion tank heating module is configured to be controlled by the pipeline heating control module to heat the heating position when the environmental characteristics are the heating characteristics.

2. The pipeline heating device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The second end of the pipeline heating control module includes a power control end, the position to be heated includes the tank setting position at the lowest horizontal point in the pipeline to be heated, and the expansion tank heating module includes: An expansion tank is disposed at the location specified in the tank body and is connected to the pipe to be heated; A heating unit is disposed at the heating position of the expansion tank, and the power supply terminal of the heating unit is connected to the power control terminal. The heating unit includes at least one of a heating resistor and a heater.

3. The pipeline heating device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The second end of the pipeline heating control module also includes a temperature acquisition terminal, and the expansion tank heating module also includes: A temperature sensor is installed at the detection location of the expansion tank and is connected to the temperature acquisition terminal.

4. The pipeline heating device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The air inlet and outlet positions include the air outlet of the pipe to be heated and the air inlet of the pipe to be heated. The environmental sensing module includes: A first pressure sensor is disposed at the air inlet and is connected to the first end of the pipe heating control module. A second pressure sensor is disposed at the air outlet and is connected to the first end of the pipeline heating control module.

5. The pipeline heating device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The pipeline heating control module includes: A heating control unit, the first end of which is connected to a temperature sensor in the expansion tank heating module and a first pressure sensor and a second pressure sensor in the environmental sensing module; A heating power supply, the control terminal of which is connected to the second terminal of the heating control unit, and the output terminal of which is connected to the power supply terminal of the heating unit in the expansion tank heating module.

6. The pipeline heating device as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The heating control unit includes: A first comparator, the first input terminal of the first comparator is connected to the temperature sensor, and the second input terminal of the first comparator is connected to a preset value unit; A first drive switch, the first end of which is connected to the output of the first comparator, and the second end of which is connected to the first pressure sensor; A second drive switch, the first end of which is connected to the output of the first comparator, and the second end of which is connected to the second pressure sensor; The second comparator has its first input terminal connected to the third terminal of the first drive switch, its second input terminal connected to the third terminal of the second drive switch, and its output terminal connected to the control terminal of the heating power supply. The second comparator is configured to output a high level when the input value is within a preset difference, and to output a low level when the input value is outside the preset difference.

7. The pipeline heating device as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The heating control unit also includes: A timer, wherein the first control terminal of the timer is connected to the output terminal of the second comparator, and the output terminal of the timer is connected to the control terminal of the heating power supply, and the timer is configured to continuously output a low level to the control terminal of the heating power supply for a preset duration when the output terminal of the second comparator outputs a low level; A timer, the control terminal of which is connected to the output terminal of the second comparator, is set to trigger timing when the output terminal of the second comparator outputs a high level; A timing controller, wherein the first terminal of the timing controller is connected to the output terminal of the timer, and the second terminal of the timing controller is connected to the second control terminal of the delay unit, and the timing controller is configured to control the delay unit to output a high level to the control terminal of the heating power supply when the timer reaches a preset timing duration.

8. A braking system, characterized in that, The braking system includes the pipe heating device, air compressor, and condenser as described in any one of claims 1 to 7; The pipeline heating device is installed between the air compressor and the condenser in the pipeline to be heated.

9. The braking system as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that, The braking system also includes: An air dryer, wherein the air inlet of the air dryer is connected to the air outlet of the condenser via a first pipe; An air storage tank, the air inlet of which is connected to the air outlet of the air dryer via a second pipe.

10. A vehicle, characterized in that, The vehicle includes the braking system according to any one of claims 8 to 9.

Images