Compressed Air Supply System Venting Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Compressed air supply systems for vehicles face challenges in achieving high pressure amplitude and rapid venting functionality while maintaining simplicity and avoiding residual pressures that can lead to unstable system operation and reduced regeneration behavior in air dryers.

Innovation Solution

A pressure-maintaining pneumatic device is connected to the control line, which keeps the pressure control connection under control pressure independently of the vent line and main pneumatic line pressures, eliminating the need for residual bellows pressure and allowing for variable control pressure settings, enabling venting down to ambient pressure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If a solenoid valve arrangement with a control valve is used to enable rapid venting, then venting speed is improved, but residual pressure remains in the system leading to unstable operation and reduced regeneration behavior

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveventing speedVSAvoidsystem stability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the control pressure function from the main pneumatic line by introducing a separate control line connected to a pressure source. This allows the control pressure to be maintained independently in the control line even when the main line is vented to ambient pressure, enabling complete venting without residual pressure that would cause instability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces a control line as an intermediary between the pressure source and the control valve. This control line acts as a mediator that maintains control pressure independently of the main pneumatic line pressure, allowing the control valve to function properly even when the main line is fully vented.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the vent valve nominal width is increased to enable rapid venting, then venting capability is improved, but solenoid coil power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveventing capabilityVSAvoidsolenoid coil power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the direct mechanical relationship between solenoid coil and vent valve with a pneumatic control system. The solenoid coil now only needs to control a small control valve that regulates control pressure, rather than directly actuating a large vent valve. This substitution allows the vent valve to have a large nominal width for rapid venting while the solenoid coil consumes minimal power.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If control pressure is dependent on bellows pressure, then system simplicity is maintained, but venting pressure amplitude is limited and rapid venting cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidventing pressure amplitude
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the pressure control function from the main pneumatic system by creating a separate control line with its own pressure source. This segmentation allows the control pressure to be independently optimized for rapid venting while the main pneumatic line handles the bulk air flow, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and pressure amplitude.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 solution enhances the venting functionality with high pressure amplitude and rapid venting capabilities, improving the reliability and flexibility of the compressed air supply system while maintaining a simple solenoid valve arrangement and reducing the risk of partial valve closure and instability.

Implementation Method 1

A pressure-maintaining pneumatic device is connected to the control line, which keeps the pressure control connection under control pressure independently of the vent line and main pneumatic line pressures

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure maintenance:

Implementation Method 2

a solenoid valve arrangement with a control valve for controlling a vent valve

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolenoid actuation: Solenoid

Implementation Method 3

An air dryer has a desiccant, usually a bed of granules through which the compressed air can flow, so that the bed of granules--at comparatively high pressure--can absorb moisture contained in the compressed air by absorption

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 4

The compressed air supply system can be vented to the environment via a solenoid valve arrangement forming a vent valve arrangement by releasing air in one or more vent connections

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure differential flow: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP2809533B1Compressed air supply system, pneumatic system and method for operating a compressed air supply system and/or pneumatic system
Publication Date: 2018.10.24 ZF CV SYST HANNOVER GMBH
  • EP2809533B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2809533B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2809533B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a compressed air supply system for operating a pneumatic system, in particular an air suspension system of a motor vehicle, comprising: a compressed air feed (1); a compressed air connection (2) to the pneumatic system (90); a ventilation connection (3) to the surroundings; a pneumatic main conduit (60), which has an air drier (61) between the compressed air feed (1) and the compressed air connection (2); a ventilation conduit (70) between the compressed air connection (1) and the ventilation connection (3); a magnetic valve arrangement (80) comprising a control valve (81, 81', 82") for controlling a ventilation valve (71), the control valve (81, 81', 82") being connected to a control valve connection (X2, Y2) in a pneumatic control conduit (110) that is connected to a pressure control connection (71S) of the ventilation valve (71), and the ventilation valve (71) being connected to a ventilation valve connection (X1, Y1) in the ventilation conduit (70). According to the invention, a pressure-maintaining, pneumatic device (120) is connected to the, in particular in the pneumatic control conduit (110) and is designed to maintain the pressure control connection (71S) under control pressure when the ventilation valve connection (X1, Y1) of the ventilation valve (71) in the ventilation conduit (70) is open, independently of pressure in the ventilation conduit (70) and/or the pneumatic main conduit (60).