Air Suspension Drying System for Height Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The closed-circuit type air suspension system experiences degradation due to air leakage when not used for a long period, leading to a shortage of compressed air, which prolongs the time required for vehicle height adjustment.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a first dryer in the passage connecting the compressor and the tank, and a second dryer in the passage connecting the compressor and the air suspension, allowing ambient air to be compressed and dried before being supplied directly to the air suspension, thereby maintaining efficient vehicle height adjustment even with a shortage of compressed air in the tank.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If compressed air is stored in a tank and supplied through a compressor (closed-circuit type), then the amount of compressed air delivered can be increased and vehicle height adjustment time can be reduced, but the system function degrades due to air leakage when the vehicle is not used for a long period
Solution Approach 1:
A check valve is introduced as an intermediary component between the tank and the air suspension. This check valve allows air to flow from the tank to the air suspension but prevents backflow, thereby maintaining residual pressure in the tank even when the system is not in use for extended periods. This simple intermediary device effectively prevents air leakage while maintaining the closed-circuit system's rapid adjustment capability.
2Ease of operation
If vehicle height adjustment is performed when there is a shortage of air in the system, then the air suspension can still operate, but the compressed air in the tank runs short, supply is stopped, ambient air must be compressed and filled into the tank, and a great deal of time is required
Solution Approach 1:
The check valve performs a preliminary action by maintaining residual compressed air in the tank during periods when the vehicle is not in use. This preliminary preservation of air pressure ensures that when the vehicle is next used, the tank already contains sufficient compressed air to perform height adjustment operations without needing to first refill the tank from ambient air, thus avoiding significant time delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The check valve provides beforehand cushioning by preventing complete depletion of air from the tank. It maintains a cushion of residual pressure that acts as a buffer, ensuring that the system can immediately resume normal operation after prolonged idle periods without requiring a time-consuming refilling process.
3Device complexity
If a single dryer is used in the system, then the structure is simpler, but the system cannot rapidly supply dried compressed air to the air suspension when the tank air is low
Solution Approach 1:
The drying function is segmented into two independent dryers: one positioned in the air intake passage and another in the passage connecting the tank to the air suspension. This segmentation allows each dryer to operate independently and simultaneously dry air at different stages of the system, ensuring that dried compressed air can be rapidly supplied to the air suspension even when tank air levels are low, without significantly increasing overall system complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration reduces the time needed for vehicle height adjustment by continuously supplying dried compressed air to the air suspension, even when the tank's air is low, and allows for a smaller compressor, lowering system costs.
Implementation Method 1
a first dryer drying air flowing through the first passage
Implementation Method 2
a second dryer drying air flowing through the second passage
Implementation Method 3
a compressor compressing air
Data Source
AI summary
An air suspension system includes air suspensions (1, 2) performing vehicle height adjustment in response to supply and discharge of air, a compressor (3) compressing air, a tank (4) storing compressed air, a first passage (6) connecting between the delivery side of the compressor and the tank, and a second passage (7) connecting between the delivery side of the compressor and the air suspensions. A first dryer (10) is provided in the middle of the first passage to dry air flowing through the first passage. A second dryer (11) is provided in the middle of the second passage to dry air flowing through the second passage. Thus, compressed air generated from ambient air sucked in by the compressor can be dried by the second dryer and supplied directly into the air chambers of the air suspensions.